Poetry & Prose - "The Light of Your Presence"

The Light of Your Presence and the Fire of Your Glory set my heart ablaze.

            Forever I will love you and for all eternity I will sing Your praise.

My spirit is refreshed in the Water of Life flowing from Your Throne.

            Gladness of heart and fullness of joy are found in You alone.

I will lift up my eyes unto the hills where my help comes from.

            You are the Rock upon which I stand and into Your Presence I run.

For You alone are my hiding place and I put my trust in You.

            You lift me up on Eagle’s wings and my strength is renewed.

When the storm clouds gather with waves crashing all about, 

            You are a very present help in trouble removing all fear and doubt.

Even in the midst of the raging seas and all hope seems to be gone,

            You fill my life with joyous laughter and my heart overflows with song.

Your refreshing Wind blows over me like a gentle breeze,

            Touching my heart with Your mercy, grace and peace.

 Your loving kindness breathes new life into my soul.

             The sweet Rain of Your Spirit revives me and makes me whole.

You fill me with Your song in the midnight hour and You are my living hope.

            You mean everything to me for You are my eternal home.

 Let Your Light shine through me as I learn to walk in your ways.

            Lord, let me live in the Light of Your Presence every single day.

Contributed by Lesta of Heartsong Treasures.  Used by permission.

Happy Reading in Poetry's Presence

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Answers in Faith ~~ Implementing Your Love Language

Amidst the season of gift giving, is receiving gifts your love language?  Do you happen to know your love language?  It took me awhile to discover mine, and believe it or not, it was through adverse circumstances that I fully recognized it!

Here's a great website link for more information on this vital subject: 

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/communication-and-conflict/learn-to-speak-your-spouses-love-language/understanding-the-five-love-languages

The following quote from the Focus on the Family article best describes my love language, i.e., Words of affirmation:

"One way to express love emotionally is to use words that build up.  Solomon, author of ancient Hebrew Wisdom Literature, wrote, 'The tongue has the power of life and death' (Proverbs 18:21, NIV).  Many couples have never learned the tremendous power of verbally affirming one another.

"Verbal compliments, or words of appreciation, are powerful communicators of love.  They are best expressed in simple, straightforward statements of affirmation, such as:

'You look sharp in that suit.'
'Do you every look incredible in that dress!  Wow!'
'I really like how you're always on time to pick me up at work.'
'You can always make me laugh.' "

As I previously mentioned, when someone hurled a cutting word my way, it bothered me greatly and diminished my creativity.  Conversely, as an example, when I would bake something special for my family, my husband would say, "Wow, that looks like it belongs in Sunset magazine!"  The compliments made me flourish and have remained as jewels in my heart.  

Now you might comment, "Well, no one likes to be ridiculed or verbally attacked." Agreed, but when God has created us with our specific love language, assaults thereon deplete our reservoirs of creativity and the ability to function in our given language.

The five love languages are not solely for couples.  Since they are resident within each one of us, they are to be exercised and lavished upon our children, grandchildren, co-workers, neighbors, or whomever.  

If you're unsure of your language, there are online quizzes that you can take to discover yours!

I decided to exercise my love language toward my youngest grand kiddos this year when specifically selecting the above words of affirmation for them.  I typed their first and middle names and using the first letter of each name, I blessed them with words that will still be inside their spirits as well as their picture frames for many years to come.

For those of you who have read my book titled Stirrings of The Spirit, you are very familiar with why these grandchildren are such special treasures since God miraculously spared their mother's life twenty-five years ago.

I hope you don't mind the extra-large picture in this post as I wanted to convey the full context of my message.

Plan to bless someone by discovering and implementing your love language. You're sure to make this world a better place if you do!

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Poetry & Prose ~~ "Choices"

CHOICES

In the beginning when God breathed His life into man,

He had a specific purpose and eternal plan.

He gave us a free will choosing how to live our lives,

Giving us the choice to believe in Him and do what is right.

 Knowing that many opportunities will come my way,

I will try to make the right choices every day.

Learning to listen to the Spirit’s still small voice,

He will guide and direct me to make the right choice.

 Choosing life over death, love instead of hate,

Mending relationships before it’s too late.

Living a selfless life by taking up my cross,

Serving those in need not counting the cost.

Showing those around me that I care.

Spreading joy and gladness instead of despair.

Speaking life giving words of encouragement,

Bringing hope in times of discouragement.

Telling others about God’s love and gentleness,

Extending mercy through thoughtful acts of kindness.

Seeing the best in others, not looking for the worst,

Praying for blessings instead of speaking a curse.

Trusting in His Spirit, resting in His mercy and grace,

I want to make the world around me a better place.

Although I may stumble and fall, which no doubt I will,

I will always run to Jesus knowing He loves me still.

  Contributed by Lesta of Heartsong Treasures

Happy Reading in Poetry's Presence!

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Poetry & Prose ~ "Recipe for Daily Living"

                         
                                                               
                                                   "RECIPE FOR DAILY LIVING"

Mix together:

10 cups of good thoughts

10 cups of good deeds

10 cups of consideration for others                

20 cups of sacrifice for others

20 cups of well beaten character flaws

30 cups of forgiveness

This is to be mixed thoroughly with tears of sympathy.  Flavor the mixture well with gifts of love, mercy, and grace.  Top with prayer and faith to lighten the ingredients and to raise the texture to great heights in daily living.  Bake well in the heat of human kindness and serve with a smile. 

Serving size is 100 cups per person per serving to be used when needed, contains all the nutrients for a healthy life, and is calorie free.

GUIDELINES FOR DAILY LIVING

Rejoice forevermore

Pray without ceasing

In everything give thanks

Doing good to all

Speaking evil of no one

Hearing all sides before deciding

Thinking before speaking

Withholding an angry tongue

Asking forgiveness for all wrongs

Forgiving others

Being patient towards all

Disbelieving evil reports

Praying for those who despitefully use you

SAYINGS

Love and forgiveness is Christianity in action.

God loves to work when nothing and no one else will.

The law says “I have to” 
Love says “I want to” 

Grace says “I can and I will”

Happy Reading & Daily Living!

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Poetry & Prose ~~ "True Beauty"

"True Beauty"

Does not matter the race, color or creed,

Or the current fad, latest trend or fashion design,

True beauty can only be seen in those

Whose heart is genuine, loving and kind.

You can see it in the twinkle in someone’s eyes,

And in a smile that comes from the heart.

You can hear it in softly spoken words,

Sharing the mercy of God, His hope to impart.

You can feel it in the gentle touch of a helping hand,

And hear it in a child’s laughter as they play.

You can experience it in hugs freely given,

And see it in the face of a new born babe.

You can see it in hands that are lifted high in praise,

While tears are streaming down another’s face.

You can hear it in a new song being sung,

As one experiences a special touch of amazing grace.

It can be felt and seen in the eyes of those who

Face life’s storms with strength, courage and peace,

Knowing that their trust and hope is in God alone,

And He is with them in their time of need.

It is when we look beyond the outward appearance,

And look into the heart of those we meet,

That we will experience the depth of God’s love for us,

And share it with others as it was meant to be.

As we learn to see others through the eyes of love,

And look at things from God’s point of view,

We will be filled with His compassion for all,

And see His beauty that is kind, loving and true.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time

and He has put eternity in their hearts……...” 

Ecclesiastes 3: 11

Contributed by Lesta of Heartsong Treasures

Poetry for the soul ~~ Happy Reading!

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Labels

When you hear the word labels, what is the first thing that comes to mind?  It might well be a sticker such as the one pictured above. While required in the food industry, there is another kind of label that I am referencing this morning, and that would be the type we apply to people which would be the verb usage of the word as opposed to the noun.

If the application is an affirmative one, no problem, and all the better; however, if it carries a negative connotation, there can be far reaching effects, especially if it was applied without substantiation.  Enter the world of opinion which seems to have no end.

Take a moment to reflect upon your life.  Have you been the unfortunate recipient of an unkind or unhealthy label glued to you?  What effect did this have on you in the past, and are you still struggling under the weight of it today?

My sweet mother, Rita, who is no longer with us, counseled her children that she was rearing in the 1960’s with, “If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.”  As I wondered about the possible origin of that saying, I came across the following information:

“Quote Investigator: The earliest evidence located by QI was published in a magazine profile of Alice Roosevelt Longworth titled “The Sharpest Wit in Washington” published in “The Saturday Evening Post” issue of December 4, 1965. Interestingly, the expression was not spoken; instead, it was embroidered on a pillow. Also, the word “good” was used instead of “nice”. Boldface has been added to excerpts: 1

We walked to Mrs. Longworth’s upstairs sitting room, where she often reads until six o’clock in the morning. Books were piled everywhere on the tables and on the floor, and contemporary newspaper clippings were strewn on the side tables. Coyote skins were lying on the backs of two large, comfortable chairs, and on one of the chairs was a pillow with the words, IF YOU CAN’T SAY SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT SOMEONE, SIT RIGHT HERE BY ME.”

While I can’t speak to the veracity of the above, a portion of the description of Mrs. Longworth’s upstairs sitting room could apply to my little living room, i.e., books piled everywhere and contemporary newspaper clippings strewn on the side tables and so forth.  It was my daddy, Trapper Fred, who had coyote skins lying on the backs of chairs inside our house located on Sage Creek Farms.

What I can speak to is sharing with you some of the steps that I have taken to formulate new labels in my life.  One of the key aspects of formulating is to create or devise a strategy for positive change.

• I changed my thoughts, ergo, I changed my world.  I am endeavoring to become who I was destined to be, not who or what someone else thought I should be.  Critic Land has no population shortage.
• There has been a saying floating around of late which goes something along the lines of, “If I had to cut you out of my life, you provided the scissors.”  At first blush, that may sound sort of humorous.  Truth be known, if there are people in our lives who create toxic atmospheres and do not have our best interests at heart, is there wisdom in continuing to foster that friendship and/or relationship if the other person is unwilling to contribute in a positive sense?  You have to be the judge of that situation.  Negativity breeds negativity.  The converse of that is true as well.
• Foods are fortified with vitamins and minerals which are essential for good health.  How many of you recall the cartoon character Popeye the Sailor?  Popeye began as a character in Elzie Segar's daily strip, Thimble Theatre.  He quickly became popular and the Fleischer brothers, Max and Dave, turned him into a cartoon in the early 30's.  His first appearance was July 14, 1933.  His little jingle was,

                                                “I'm Popeye the Sailor Man

                                                 I'm Popeye the Sailor Man

                                                 I'm strong to the finich

                                                 Cause I eats me spinach

                                                 I'm Popeye the Sailor Man.”

• While continuing to eat my spinach, I also drew up a blueprint to fortify my life.  A defensive framework was set in place for protection.  Healthy relationships are as vital for daily living as is healthy eating.
• Most importantly, I endeavor to apply Ephesians 2:20 to my daily life, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  [Emphasis mine]. According to Strong's Concordance of the Bible, the Greek meaning of the word peripateo is to walk.  In other words, it's a way of life.  Realizing that I may fall short of this, I must continue to walk!

I would enjoy hearing from you regarding this aspect of labels along with strategies you have implemented to fashion and affix new ones.

Happy Reading, Labeling, Eating & Walking!

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