I lit a candle for Tuesday
who left us much too soon.
It's flicker barley noticed
In the corner of the room.
That one lone candle seemed too small
to celebrate a life
who touched so many, young and old
Whose love burns ever bright.
And so I lit another, and then another still,
till each room held a light,
now burning, each for Tuesday,
most precious in God's sight.
Today she lives in glory
before the Father's throne.
He holds her for us, briefly
till we reach our Heavenly home.
She worships with the angels,
And dances with the King
and if you listen carefully
you may just hear her sing.
She's running through fields of flowers
and walking streets of gold.
She knows of joys unspeakable
and mysteries untold.
She waits for us to join her
to hold her once again.
We celebrate the life she lived,
her love will never end.
I shed a tear for Tuesday,
I could not help but weep
to know the angels behold her smile
while we longed for her to keep.
So light a candle for Tuesday
remember her star shone bright
and still is brightly shining
through the power of His might.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
What is Liberty?
It has been said that freedom isn't free.
The truth of this statement is never more true, than when we consider the Lord Jesus Christ.
Because of the political climate of our country, I, like so many others, have been anguished to watch our freedoms, one by one being eroded. Most of us have taken the freedoms we have known in this country for granted. Those freedoms have come at the cost of many men's lives. I have mostly thought of freedom in these terms. Yet, as I began to look at what Jesus said about freedom, I realized that the ultimate cost He paid, brings the only true freedom we can ever experience.
We can live in a country that protects the individual freedoms, of it's countrymen, but if we are spiritually bound, we are never truly free.
Jesus came to "set the captives free". Of Himself He said, "whom the son sets free, is free indeed".
The question remains, how do we enter into this glorious freedom?
By taking God at His word, we can enjoy true freedom.
He paid for our entire redemption, spirit soul & body, when he died on the cross.
Take the promises in His word, apply them to your life, and trust in His everlasting promises.
He will never fail you.
The truth of this statement is never more true, than when we consider the Lord Jesus Christ.
Because of the political climate of our country, I, like so many others, have been anguished to watch our freedoms, one by one being eroded. Most of us have taken the freedoms we have known in this country for granted. Those freedoms have come at the cost of many men's lives. I have mostly thought of freedom in these terms. Yet, as I began to look at what Jesus said about freedom, I realized that the ultimate cost He paid, brings the only true freedom we can ever experience.
We can live in a country that protects the individual freedoms, of it's countrymen, but if we are spiritually bound, we are never truly free.
Jesus came to "set the captives free". Of Himself He said, "whom the son sets free, is free indeed".
The question remains, how do we enter into this glorious freedom?
By taking God at His word, we can enjoy true freedom.
He paid for our entire redemption, spirit soul & body, when he died on the cross.
Take the promises in His word, apply them to your life, and trust in His everlasting promises.
He will never fail you.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Remembering Lolly
Lolly is a nickname, given to me by my childhood best friend, Janie's, grandmother, Bridie Murphy.
Bridie was an Irish immigrant, whom I loved. She thought I was a gypsy, because I liked to go barefoot, and did so, most of the time, weather permitting. I was a free spirit back then & guess I still am.
She taught me lots of things, one of which,was how to make a splendid pot of beef vegetable soup. I remember her giving me a purple & white lace hankie, which I treasured, for many years. We spent many summer afternoons, hanging laundry out to dry, in their back yard.
"Lolly" is a pet name, derived from Laurel, and it means sweet, or candy. I never knew that until today. I just knew that when I was called by that name, it made me feel loved.
For some reason, I have taken to calling myself by this childhood nick name again, recently. It reminds me of my childhood innocence.
Reliving those tender years, I recalled a day when a neighborhood bully approached my friend Janie & I and began to taunt her about a physical infirmity she had at the time, which effected her appearance. Dumbfounded, and enraged, I pushed him to the ground, and ran home, crying hysterically to my mother and leaving my friend, and the bully, speechless. I simply couldn't understand how anyone could be so cruel to someone as sweet as my dear friend, for something which she had absolutely no control over! Not only was I outraged, but I felt tremendous sorrow for my friend, understanding, perhaps for the first time, the pain she carried every day, at looking different from other children. I knew then, that this wasn't the first time she had been abused for her infirmity- it was simply the first time I had ever witnessed it.
I believe that was a defining moment in my life.
That was the first of many times when I have defended the defenseless. Call it righteous anger, or not, I hate to see anyone being mistreated, or taken advantage of.
My point, in recalling this event, is not to be self absorbed, or self righteous, but to remind myself, and hopefully you, gentle reader, ( if there are any of you out there!) that I am still in many ways, that little girl, that passionately defended my friend. That is part of my authentic self, whom I had lost sight of.
What I hope, is that by writing this blog, it will help me to begin to live my life in such a way, that I let that person flow out of me, again.
I believe that God, in His wisdom, puts gifts & talents in each of us, not so we can glory in them, but for His glory, and the good of our fellow man. In losing sight of my genuine self, and thereby becoming self absorbed, I have failed to live an authentic life, by not standing up for those who have no voice. That is not to say this is the only way to do so, but for me, it is one way, I can allow God's spirit to flow through me. Jesus, in His mercy, consistently reached out to the needy and those less fortunate. Can I close my eyes to them, and call myself His follower? I cannot.
Realizing that none of this is about me, is ,the beginning of gaining some wisdom. Our lives were never meant to be about living for ourselves, but for the One who created us, and thereby, being an extension of His love.
I haven't done enough of that in my life. Lolly would have. I choose to remember Lolly, the real me, and allow her to love through me.
Bridie was an Irish immigrant, whom I loved. She thought I was a gypsy, because I liked to go barefoot, and did so, most of the time, weather permitting. I was a free spirit back then & guess I still am.
She taught me lots of things, one of which,was how to make a splendid pot of beef vegetable soup. I remember her giving me a purple & white lace hankie, which I treasured, for many years. We spent many summer afternoons, hanging laundry out to dry, in their back yard.
"Lolly" is a pet name, derived from Laurel, and it means sweet, or candy. I never knew that until today. I just knew that when I was called by that name, it made me feel loved.
For some reason, I have taken to calling myself by this childhood nick name again, recently. It reminds me of my childhood innocence.
Reliving those tender years, I recalled a day when a neighborhood bully approached my friend Janie & I and began to taunt her about a physical infirmity she had at the time, which effected her appearance. Dumbfounded, and enraged, I pushed him to the ground, and ran home, crying hysterically to my mother and leaving my friend, and the bully, speechless. I simply couldn't understand how anyone could be so cruel to someone as sweet as my dear friend, for something which she had absolutely no control over! Not only was I outraged, but I felt tremendous sorrow for my friend, understanding, perhaps for the first time, the pain she carried every day, at looking different from other children. I knew then, that this wasn't the first time she had been abused for her infirmity- it was simply the first time I had ever witnessed it.
I believe that was a defining moment in my life.
That was the first of many times when I have defended the defenseless. Call it righteous anger, or not, I hate to see anyone being mistreated, or taken advantage of.
My point, in recalling this event, is not to be self absorbed, or self righteous, but to remind myself, and hopefully you, gentle reader, ( if there are any of you out there!) that I am still in many ways, that little girl, that passionately defended my friend. That is part of my authentic self, whom I had lost sight of.
What I hope, is that by writing this blog, it will help me to begin to live my life in such a way, that I let that person flow out of me, again.
I believe that God, in His wisdom, puts gifts & talents in each of us, not so we can glory in them, but for His glory, and the good of our fellow man. In losing sight of my genuine self, and thereby becoming self absorbed, I have failed to live an authentic life, by not standing up for those who have no voice. That is not to say this is the only way to do so, but for me, it is one way, I can allow God's spirit to flow through me. Jesus, in His mercy, consistently reached out to the needy and those less fortunate. Can I close my eyes to them, and call myself His follower? I cannot.
Realizing that none of this is about me, is ,the beginning of gaining some wisdom. Our lives were never meant to be about living for ourselves, but for the One who created us, and thereby, being an extension of His love.
I haven't done enough of that in my life. Lolly would have. I choose to remember Lolly, the real me, and allow her to love through me.
Friday, September 11, 2009
The REAL you
Beneath the facades, persona's, titles, roles, outside expectations, demands, and shallow existences, there abides in every one of us, our authentic selves, trying to escape.
Be honest, if not with me, with your self, maybe for the first time in a very long time, don't you long for the freedom to live the life you know you were meant to live, but somehow, aren't?
This blog is about discovering who we are, at our very core, frailties, and all, and coming into the destiny held out before us.
Connecting with our core values, and true selves, requires brutal honesty.
If we aren't living a life that reflects who we are, at our very core, we do both ourselves, our Creator, as well as the world a huge disservice.
The world needs to see the awesomeness of the gifts inside of us all.
Let's stop hiding, and take the time to reevaluate which paths we've chosen and why.
I couldn't sleep last night, and during the wee hours, pondered what passions have been woven through my life, form my earliest memories.
Love of nature, music, creativity, books, spirituality, nutrition- these have defined me over the course of my life.
My goal is to discover more of the gifts within me, as well as the path to freedom, to express those gifts, and be all that I was created to be.
Freedom isn't just about living in a society, where we possess the freedom, to fulfill our own dreams, or freedom to worship how & where we desire to, but true freedom means that the outside forces, that have kept us living in shadow, and distorted the purity of our authentic selves, are thrown aside, allowing us to be free indeed.
Then we can know the truth and the truth can set us free. Truth is a person, not just a concept.
I have met Him and He is lovely indeed.
Be honest, if not with me, with your self, maybe for the first time in a very long time, don't you long for the freedom to live the life you know you were meant to live, but somehow, aren't?
This blog is about discovering who we are, at our very core, frailties, and all, and coming into the destiny held out before us.
Connecting with our core values, and true selves, requires brutal honesty.
If we aren't living a life that reflects who we are, at our very core, we do both ourselves, our Creator, as well as the world a huge disservice.
The world needs to see the awesomeness of the gifts inside of us all.
Let's stop hiding, and take the time to reevaluate which paths we've chosen and why.
I couldn't sleep last night, and during the wee hours, pondered what passions have been woven through my life, form my earliest memories.
Love of nature, music, creativity, books, spirituality, nutrition- these have defined me over the course of my life.
My goal is to discover more of the gifts within me, as well as the path to freedom, to express those gifts, and be all that I was created to be.
Freedom isn't just about living in a society, where we possess the freedom, to fulfill our own dreams, or freedom to worship how & where we desire to, but true freedom means that the outside forces, that have kept us living in shadow, and distorted the purity of our authentic selves, are thrown aside, allowing us to be free indeed.
Then we can know the truth and the truth can set us free. Truth is a person, not just a concept.
I have met Him and He is lovely indeed.
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