My Life in Red and White

So I've been making my 'Happiness is ....' list. Its a list of things that I'm grateful for. I'm learning to apply 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to every aspect of my life. So in that moment of gratitude, I simply say 'Happiness is ... and i complete it with what I'm grateful for! so in no particular order of priority, here's my 'Happiness is list. HAPPINESS IS ..... J  Happiness is ..... family we fight we quarrel but we know at the end of the day, we've got each other. J  Happiness is ..... clean underwear you never really appreciate it until you run out  J  Happiness is ..... having a good night's sleep Trust me! I know! no barking dogs, crying babies or calls to prayer! (I love them all, but I love my sleep too!) J  Happiness is .....   Coldstone   ice cream on a hot afternoon no further explanations needed! J  Happiness is ..... memories Good memories,  bad memories, memorable memories or the memories you downright want...

Was it before or after the rain? Waking up with a vague reminder A torrent went through here yesterday Branches hanging, leaves strewn all over Makeshift sand dunes in the middle of the road Dust bins turned over, revealing their contents or was it hearts torn open spilling their secrets Was it before or after the rain? Thunder, lightening,  Raised voices, shrieking, screaming Gusts of wind, puffs of breath, in anticipation of a storm Was it before or after the rain? Raindrops pelting warm into the hot dry earth Teardrops falling, cold hearts holding reproach Was it before or after the rain? Waking up with a vague reminder A hole in my heart A torrent went through here yesterday I know, I still feel it Was it before or after the rain?

The  Lord  is my shepherd;      I have everything I need.   He lets me rest in fields of green grass      and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.   He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths,      as he has promised. Even if I go through the deepest darkness,      I will not be afraid,  Lord ,      for you are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me. You prepare a banquet for me,     where all my enemies can see me; you welcome me as an honored guest      and fill my cup to the brim. I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life;       and your house will be my home as long as I live. Psalm 23 GNT A mighty fortress is our God

But for you, sunrise!   The sun of righteousness will dawn on those who honor my name, healing radiating from its wings. You will be bursting with energy, like colts frisky and frolicking. Mal. 4:2 (MSG) Hello Grief,  Its been a while since we've been friends. Since you walked into my life on that sunny January afternoon a few years ago. Now you've refused to leave. I know you, what you feel like, what you look like and even what you sound like. It's interesting that whenever I think our friendship's over, you manage to find your way back and restart it all over again. It's like a roller coaster ride with no end in sight. at first it was exhilarating, but now, i'm tired! Tired of this ride, tired of the "oohs" and "aahs", tired of the "eyah's" and pitied glances, tired of the careful words and practiced gimmicks, I'M TIRED! They tell me our relationship has to go through five stages in order to get resolved, but th...

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Romans 8:28   (AMP) 'Every cloud has a silver lining'... that's how the saying goes. But sometimes, it's hard to see the silver lining in the dreary dark clouds. Disappointments have a way of leaving one with a 'wasted' feeling. Like waking up with a hang over and wondering ... 'why did I do this to myself?'. But disappointments leave you feeling hungover on hope. Yup. Hope. That light at the end of the tunnel, that ray of sunshine we keep waiting for ... but when it never comes we wonder? 'why?' That's the word that captures the hungover feeling ... 'WHY?' 'Why did I bother to put myself out there and hope?' 'WHY?'  We feel like sometimes letting sleeping dogs lie is good and sometimes burying ...

Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it." Jerimiah 1:12 NASB I have a theory, a random one I haven't bothered to substantiate that God places people in our lives in particular seasons for a reason. He knows ahead the challenges that we will face and divinely orchestrates our movements, causes our paths to cross and 'voila!' that's how we get life long friends or people who come into our lives for a season. Isn't that the story with almost every relationship we've had? strange meetings, chance happenings, one word, one look, a sneeze, a 'bless you', then we get talking and God knits our hearts together. I have friends who've become my sisters. I'm from a pretty large family, so I really had no need of getting more sisters, but life happens in the strangest ways and throws together east and west and south!  'voila!' three sisters! one from the east, one from the south ...

Be gone despair! The Lord is by my side Dark it may be and dreary still With the eyes of faith I see sunrise, bright and beckoning. Be gone despair! forcing me to focus on the present This little dark blip in the colorful canvas of my life I look ahead knowing that this dark blip makes the kaleidoscope of life much beautiful And darkness and light He made them all. Should He choose that for a second I remain in the dark to appreciate the beauty of the light? I’ll sit still and learn my lessons, with my heart focused on hope. Be gone! Be gone despair!

This was copied from my devotional  'Streams in the Desert' for the 9th of February. Somehow, this passage keeps reminding me of what progress in walking with God is all about. It reminds me that I need to trust God always! His plans, His purposes, His ways... though I can't see the full picture sometimes, and though I can't feel Him sometimes, I need to trust that He's always there, looking out for me. Because He cares for Me! He answered her not a word ( Matt. 15:23 ). He will be silent in his love ( Zeph. 3:17 ). It may be a child of God is reading these words who has had some great crushing sorrow, some bitter disappointment, some heart-breaking blow from a totally unexpected quarter. You are longing for your Master's voice bidding you "Be of good cheer," but only silence and a sense of mystery and misery meet you --"He answered her not a word." God's tender heart must often ache listening to all the sad, complaining cri...