Archives for March 2013

Five Minute Friday~Broken

29 March, 2013 by Celeste Vaughan 9 Comments

Broken.

I get so frustrated over broken dishwashers, piled up laundry, and dog hair on the floor. I forget what’s important. I am broken.

Young school children happily carrying on their day have their lives abruptly and horrifically taken by a crazed gunman. Our community is broken.

Pornography is readily available to anyone on the Internet. Many dollars and days are being spent in Washington DC arguing gay marriage. Drug addiction is rising faster than ever before. Our nation is broken.

Orphanages are overflowing in Russia and Romania. Thousands of children in India are enslaved in rock quarries where they work, sleep, and eat one meal a day. Our world is broken.

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26 ESV)

Thankfully, Jesus is not broken. He died on the cross to make us whole, bearing the burden of all our sin.

He is whole, and through him I can be whole. Our community can be whole. Our nation can be whole. Our world can be whole.

Why won’t we accept Him?

It takes less than the five minutes I took to write this post.

Linking up with Lisa-Jo over at The Gypsy Mama today for Five Minute Friday. Check out all of the other posts linked up today!

Filed Under: Five-Minute Friday

A Letter to My Enemy

26 March, 2013 by Celeste Vaughan 23 Comments

Maybe having my wisdom teeth pulled was my first mistake. At only 16, the decision was made for me. There must be a reason God gave us “wisdom” teeth, regardless of who actually named them. The pain from that surgery was the first time I let you into my life. You did a good job. You took away my pain and only made me a little nauseous. After a few days, the pain was gone, and so were you. Good riddance.

At twenty-five, my beautiful 6lb, 2oz baby Miranda arrived, feeling more like a baby moose being pushed through my body, so there you were to comfort me again. Oh, how I welcomed you. My 115lb body didn’t quite know what was in store with childbirth and nursing. I’d never really experienced much pain before. I did not like it. Especially when I wanted to focus on the joy of my new baby girl. Once again, you got me through the pain. I let you go. My Miranda was all I needed.

Four years later, a bouncing 7lb, 7oz baby Trevor arrived. He was quite the popular baby. At one time there were seventeen visitors in my hospital room. I didn’t have time to deal with all those people and pain, so there you were…again. The nurses brought you to me every four hours like clockwork. Other than a little grogginess, I was able to enjoy our growing little family…and all of the extras. After a few days of rest at home, I was back to normal and you were gone again.

Once again, four years later, little Marlee entered the world, exactly like her brother at 7lb, 7oz. My body was a pro at this baby thing by now, but no one saw the migraine train headed my way. The doctor said sometimes epidurals could cause headaches. The nurses, right on cue, brought you to me, as I needed you. Because of the headaches I guess, they sent me home with more of you.

Epidural or not, those migraine headaches came to stay. You relieved the pain until I could see a neurologist who could get the headaches under control. After a few tries, he found a way to prevent the headaches, so I reluctantly let you go again. The ax constantly chopping away at one side of my brain made me hesitant to let you go, but a new medicine just for migraines did the trick.

Until one day, happily painting with my kids at a birthday party, I had a grand-mal seizure, causing a gash in my head. Other seizures quickly followed, resulting in a broken tailbone, a broken eye socket, and a broken nose, lots of doctor appointments, and finally, sinus surgery.

I welcomed you back into my life with open arms and you helped me get through every day of the two months it took to get through my nasal nightmare. Finally, the day the doctor pulled the packing from my nose, my pain was gone. I said good-bye to you again. Away in the medicine cabinet you went.

The next day, I felt horrible. I thought I had the stomach flu. I was feverish, had chills, my body was achy, and I was throwing up constantly. The achiness and headache were unbearable, so I reached up into the medicine cabinet and pulled you back out. I couldn’t believe the effect you had on me. I went from feeling like hell to perfectly normal within about thirty minutes. No more aching, no more chills, no more vomiting. It was that moment I realized it.

I was addicted to you.

You don’t target just the teens, the homeless, the party animals, the celebrities, the politicians, the gangs, or even the leather-wearing Goths with multiple piercings. You target good moms too.

Despite having my wisdom teeth removed, I’m a little older, and a lot wiser now. You taught me the hard way, but you taught me well. A lesson I will never forget. Little by little, you worked your way into my life, making me need you more and more each time. Until one day, I couldn’t let you go. You invaded my brain to the point that it could not feel normal without you. And in the process, you shattered my soul.

Thankfully, God is in the business of miracles and redeeming shattered souls.

Thankfully, God is in the business of tearing apart every tool that Satan tries to use to destroy his children, including you.

Thankfully, God empowers his children to do good works for Him.

Thankfully, I am one of God’s children.

So watch out. Together, we’re coming after you.

Filed Under: Freedom in Christ, Miracles Do Happen, Overcoming Addiction

Free April Facebook Timeline Cover for Spring

23 March, 2013 by Celeste Vaughan Leave a Comment

Spring has sprung!

Enjoy this free timeline photo for your Facebook page! Spring brings so much new beauty to the earth. (Feel free to click here to tweet and share.)

If you like what I’ve created for you would you do me a favor?

Just share this post using the “Share the Love” buttons at the bottom of the page, or subscribe to my blog in your email.

I loved working in the pharmacy because people came to me. Selling myself? Not a fan.

I don’t have a drop of salesman’s blood in my body,so I would love some help from you!

To make this photo your facebook timeline photo:

1. Click on the photo and a menu will come up where you choose “save image as.” (Use a two-finger click on the photo on a mac and right click on the photo on a PC)

2. In the window that comes up you can rename your photo and choose where to save it (I always save to my desktop, then move it later if I want to keep it.)

3. Then click save.

4. Go to your facebook page.

5. Put the cursor on your timeline photo, and you will see the option to “change cover” appear. Click on it.

6. Choose the option to “upload a photo.”

7. When you click on “upload a photo” your files will appear.

8. Choose desktop (or wherever you saved your photo) and highlight your new timeline photo, then go to the bottom of the page and click “choose.”

That’s it! The image is already the correct size for the timeline cover.

Shoot me a comment if something doesn’t work. Help me work out the kinks This is my fist attempt at providing a free photo for download, and I want to give you more!

Filed Under: Free FB Timeline Covers

Five-minute Friday~Remembering to be Thankful

22 March, 2013 by Celeste Vaughan 13 Comments

Five minutes. Okay. I can do this. This is my first time participating in the five-minute Friday linkup, but I thought it would be a great exercise to hone my writing skills…or just randomly throw my thoughts out to the world-wide web I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker over at The Gypsy Mama and today’s topic is “Remember.”

My hubby has been out of town for the last three days, so it’s been just me at home with the kiddos. Three years ago, I wouldn’t have been capable or trustworthy enough to handle it. Headaches, seizures, depression, insomnia, addiction…I was a mess.

So this morning, though I really wanted to stay in bed, I got up, got the kids ready, and made it to school with time to spare. Sounds so simple, doesn’t it? For me, it used to be impossible. Besides the fact I was a wreck personally, I couldn’t drive anyway because of the seizures. Way too much responsibility fell on my hubby. Those memories make me sad, but I do remember. I do remember all that he did. And does.

I don’t praise him enough, usually because then I never hear the end of it. But he is awesome.

So honey, I hope you read this! This Five-Minute Friday is in honor of you…because when you’re gone, I realize all you had to do for the seven years I was gone…or at least not completely present.

I love you!

Filed Under: Five-Minute Friday

How to Identify an Unknown Pill: Drugs.com Tutorial

19 March, 2013 by Celeste Vaughan 4 Comments

A few posts ago I did a tutorial on drug interactions. As I said then, it’s so important for us, as patients, to take responsibility for our own health and educate ourselves so we are not so dependent on others.

With the availability of the internet and some direction on which sites are reputable, there is TONS of FREE education right here at our fingertips. As I love to say, my go-to’s are God and Google. (Care to tweet that?)

Today, I’ve created a quick tutorial using drugs.com to show you how to identify an unknown pill. (You can tweet that too )

If there’s anything you don’t understand or would like more information about, please don’t hesitate to leave me a comment or if you want to send me a private message use my “contact me” link in my menu bar. If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you can click the photo and connect with me on facebook. (I always love new facebook friends!)

And don’t forget, right in the upper right-hand corner you can just plug in your email and hit “subscribe” and you’ll get my posts in your inbox. And I don’t have one of those “don’t reply” emails, when you get my post you can send me an email with any questions if you aren’t comfortable leaving comments.

Here ya go…hope it’s helpful!

Filed Under: From the Pharmacy

Author Interview~The Greatest Book Ever Written

3 March, 2013 by Celeste Vaughan 10 Comments

I don’t normally do author interviews on my blog, but this is one Author that had to be recognized.

This is an interview with the author of THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK EVER WRITTEN. Click here to tweet 🙂

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. I do not faint or grow weary; My understanding is unsearchable. (Isiah 40:28)

I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.(Revelation 1:8)

I am the Lord. The true God. The living God and the everlasting King. At my wrath, the earth quakes and the nations cannot endure my indignation. (Jeremiah 10:10)

I made the earth by my power. I established the world by my wisdom and by my understanding stretched out the heavens. (Isiah 44:6)

I am the Father, from whom all things a all people exist. (1 Corinthians 8:6)

I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself. (Isaiah 44:24)

I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. (Isaiah 43:11)

I gave my one and only son so that no one who believes in him should ever perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3;16)

I am the cleanser of all sin, the forgiver of all unrighteousness to those who ask. (1 John 1:9)

I am the God who works wonders. (Psalm 77:14)

I am the Father of all mercies; the God of all comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3)

I am the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

I have plans for you. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

I am love. (1 John 4:8)

What do you do when you are not writing?

I am always at work with my children. I pursue a constant loving relationship with them that is real and personal. I invite them to become involved with me and my work through my writing. I communicate with my children constantly, though they do not always listen or hear. Besides my writings, I reveal myself to my children through works and prayer. I am everywhere, always. My favorite thing is to see what my children accomplish through me, in my name.

When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I began writing my words on the heart of Moses nearly 3500 years ago, and continued to impart my spirit on those who actually wrote down my words for 1800 years. I revealed the last book of the Bible to my Apostle, John, 70 years after my son’s crucifixion, which took him approximately 25 years to complete.

Where do you get your ideas?

That’s simple. My ideas come from truth. All of my writing is for the purpose of teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16) All of the stories in my word are true— for the purpose of teaching my children in the ways that are right and just, and to prepare them for things to come. (John 16:13)

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

There was no such thing as a printing press. All of my writing was hand written in scrolls. But in the 1450’s, Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press and the first book to ever be printed was the Bible, in Latin. Since then, it has been translated into the english language and has been printed in many versions. Somewhere between 2.5 and 6 billion copies have been sold.

How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?

Word of mouth.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. (Mark 16:5 ESV)

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

All of the events in my word are true. The historical and prophetical events have been proven over and over again.

How did you come up with the title?

The word Bible comes from the Greek work “Biblos,” which is translated “book.”

It came from the my heart, the author of your lives. I have inspired the writing of the definitive book on all mankind.

What project are you working on now?

I am constantly working in the lives of my children to expand the boundaries of my kingdom. Simply put, I’m knocking on the heart of each of my children so that everyone might spend eternity with me in Heaven.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

People say that the Bible contains too many supernatural events to be true. But if you believe in Me, the creator of the universe, then why is it so difficult to believe in miracles? Celeste can tell you. She experienced one of my miracles first-hand.

The best compliment is for one of my children to let me into their heart to be their Savior, then let my light shine through them.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Of making many books there is no end and much study is wearisome to the flesh. (Ecclesiastes 12:12b NKJV)

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (Psalms 139:16 NLT)

My heart is overflowing with good news. I will direct my song to the king. My tongue is a pen for a skillful writer.
(Psalms 45:1 GW)

Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.
(Isaiah 30:8 KJV)

Oh, that my words could be recorded. Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument, carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead, engraved forever in the rock. “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! (Job 19:23-27 NLT)

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5 ESV)

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22: 36-40 ESV)

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Though the Bible was completed years ago, it still lives today. It lives through my works every single day. Though the state of the world saddens me, I have already overcome it (John 16:33). I work every second to inspire, encourage, and empower my children to be bold, and be a light in the dark and final days.

Therefore you must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:44 ESV)

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Knowing that not all would choose Me, and be doomed to a fate worse than they could ever imagine.

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8 ESV)

Filed Under: Freedom in Christ, Living in Faith, Living with Purpose, Your Relationship with God