“Unstoppable” by Kirk Cameron {…and a Facebook Friday Timeline Cover}

4 October, 2013 by 7 Comments

Last month I wrote a post titled, “Where is God When Bad Things Happen to Good People?” and gave my thoughts on that age-old question. Tonight we saw Kirk Cameron’s new documentary, “Unstoppable” in which he goes in his own journey after losing a young friend to cancer to answer that same question. While many of our conclusions were similar, one of his insights just…well…knocked me right upside the head. 

We know the Bible contains story after story of bad things happening to good people and we see how God uses them for His kingdom. But there’s one story I never thought of…and it’s the most obvious and answers the question better than I ever could.

What is the single worst event that happened in the Bible? And who did it happen to? 

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The brutal beating, tearing of his skin, nailing of his hands and feet to the cross, and the waiting…and finally his death. And all of that happened to the only sinless human being this world has ever seen. And why did all of those bad things happen to the best person? 

To save the world. 

 

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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. Wink

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Filed Under: Free FB Timeline Covers, Freedom in Christ, Have an Eternal Perspective, Living in Faith, Your Relationship with God

“Where is God when bad things happen to good people?”

11 September, 2013 by 11 Comments

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We seem to be in a season of suffering. And we are especially sensitive today since it’s the anniversary of 9/11. It seems that bad things are happening to people all around us. Finances, divorce, drugs, death…and the list goes on and on. Just this week a friend of my daughter’s drowned at Lake Keowee trying to help another girl.

So the age-old question, once again, is asked, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

Is God punishing us? Does he not care? Is he too busy for me?

The answer to all of those questions is unequivocally NO. God loves us beyond what we could ever imagine. We are his children.

…For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Hebrews 13: 5-6 NLT)

My friends Betsy and Bob (who I visited this summer) are missionaries in Prague, Czech Republic. So many people think, “Wow…what a great place to be a missionary. How hard can it be in comparison to Ethiopia or India or another third world country.” Believe me. It’s hard. I saw it first hand. Europe is not a third world country and most people in Europe don’t think they need God. Why would they when their lives are hunky-dory? So actually convincing people that having a relationship with God is a good thing—that it’s necessary—is very difficult. To even broach the subject requires months of developing a personal relationship with them. That’s love, people. And it takes a lot of it.

Here’s the thing. Our suffering increases our awareness of God’s presence.

Sometimes we need to emptied of our own resources and pride so we can rely on Him.

Does he cause our suffering? I don’t think so. But he does walk through it with us, whether we realize it or not. He will dwell with us through the pain.

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? (Matthew 6:30 NLT)

Often when we are in the midst of a trial we may feel underserving of God’s love. It’s certainly not uncommon for our own sin to be the cause of our suffering. In my case, even though I ended up dependent and then addicted to a narcotic from a medical condition, the desperation shame was there, none the less. Even though I knew better, on a subconscious level, I pulled away from God because I felt underserving of His love…and His grace and mercy.

Nothing we can do can make us unworthy of God’s love. We may feel like He’s not there when we are suffering, when in fact, we are the ones pulling away from Him!

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (Isaiah 59:1 ESV)

But why? Why have our sins separated us from God when He sent His son to die on the cross for our sins? When Jesus’s blood covers our sin? It’s us. What if we separate ourselves because we don’t feel worthy?

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; (Isaiah 59:1 ESV)

God loves you. No matter what. 

Don’t let the trickery of the enemy deceive you into believing you are not worthy. All of God’s children are worthy in His eyes. He didn’t send Jesus…His only son…for someone he didn’t love. He sent His son for you.

Let Him walk beside you during the hard times. Let his peace flow over you. I’m a believer in imagery. When I’m in the shower, I will often pray and imagine the water as the peace of God flowing down over my head. Crazy? Maybe. But it works.

And a final thought that brings it home for me is this: There is only ONE person in all of history that was perfect. That was Jesus himself. He walked and lived on this earth as a human for 33 years, not sinning even once. And what happened to this perfect human being? He suffered the most horrific death I could imagine…being nailed to a cross and left to die a slow, painful death in front of a crowd of people some cheering because He was being put to death, and some His faithful followers, crying tears of sadness. But what happened when this horrid thing happened to this perfect human? The world was saved. By God sending his son Jesus to willfully let the Romans and Jews hang him on the cross to die, He gave us the opportunity to have eternal life with Him in Heaven. He gave us…horrible sinners…a way out of this sinful world. What better example of what CAN happen when bad things happen to good people.

The Shower

Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

Never forget….

He loves you. He is with you. You are worthy. 

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Filed Under: Fighting Your Fears, Freedom in Christ, Living in Faith, The Power of Prayer, Your Relationship with God

Just Northwest of the Cows~A Free Facebook Timeline Cover

24 August, 2013 by 5 Comments

 

I know, I know. I’ve been AWOL for awhile! Shortly after my last post, I went to Europe…which I planned to blog through…but really had no idea how busy and tired and jet lagged and overwhelmed I would be. And yes, a little homesick too. Don’t get me wrong, it was an awesome trip. But my emotional brain was just too tired to blog my way through the trip. I’ll be sharing pics and stories though…don’t worry! Wink

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As soon I returned from Europe, I attended the She Speaks conference in Charlotte, then spent two weeks trying to get my house back in order after having to move out, have the floors refinished, and move back in…all the while getting my oldest daughter, Miranda, ready to move to college.

Isn’t her dorm room cute???

So Miranda’s off to college, Trevor started high school, and Marlee is big man on campus in the 5th grade…though little Marlee will never really be big man on any campus Wink

So this is why I’ve been AWOL. But the break has been good. I think I was getting a little burnt out spending so much time in front of this computer screen.

I thought I’d kick off the fall with a free facebook timeline cover for you from the midst of the Swiss Alps.

One of the many highlights of my trip was the day we spent in Switzerland driving over the Swiss Alps (in a 5 speed btw)  to go see the Matterhorn.

When we got over the river…

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And around the bends…

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And Past the flags…DREAM_SIZEIMG_7426

And over the tracks…DREAM_SIZEIMG_7492

And past the cow paths…DREAM_SIZEIMG_7228

And through the Edleweiss…DREAM_SIZE_MG_0152

And just northwest of the cows, where you could still hear the cowbells ringing in the distance…DREAM_SIZEIMG_7409

We found the sweetest little church, nestled right there in the midst of God’s creation…DREAM_SIZEIMG_7576RICH

It was magical. And inspiring. And enchanting.

So to share a little of this magic with you I’ve created for you a free facebook timeline cover complete with easy step-by-step instructions:

It helps me remember just how big God is…DREAM_SIZEIMG_7576 copyRICH

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. Wink

 

Happy fall y’all (well almost) …I’ll be talking to you more soon!

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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 bodyEmbarassed,so I would love some help from you!Kiss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Blog Series, Free FB Timeline Covers, Life Through the Lens, Your Relationship with God

To be whole…check out the GRAFFITI on the other side of the street

8 June, 2013 by 4 Comments

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How can you understand what it’s like to be homeless if you’ve always had a roof over your head?

How do you know what it feels like to starve if you’ve always had food to eat?

How do you know what it’s like to be thirsty if you’ve always had clean water to drink?

We  take for granted the things we are used to having every day. (Tweet that Smile)

     Would you appreciate staring at your beautiful daughter more if you were once blind?

     Would you be more anxious to listen to the sound of wind blowing through the trees if you lost your hearing for a period of time?

     Would you hug your husband more if you knew he would never walk through the door again?

Goodness knows I’m as guilty as anyone. We get so wrapped up in our lives…it all becomes about us. I, I, I, me, me, me.

We stay so busy in our own shoes, we don’t think about what it may be like in theirs. (You can tweet that too Wink)

My new internet buddy over at Positively Alene has challenged us to step out of our comfort zone. Step “over the tracks” so to speak to meed people we wouldn’t otherwise encounter. She has a great new book out on the subject, GAFFITI~Scribbles from Different Sides of the Street,graffitibook which she cowrote with a homeless man. Talk about perspective! And now she is offering a free Bible Study the book, GRAFFITI Study and Do, that you can download by clicking HERE.

In all honesty, I stumbled into this study before I really knew what it was all about. I read a blog post from one of my favorite blogggers, Susan Stillwell about “sharing my summer story.” If you read lots of blogs, you know it’s common to skim titles and first paragraphs and then go back and read them later. Only I signed myself up for the GRAFFFITI challenge before I went back to read.

Well, this summer is going to be very busy, and it has already started. While I may not get headed to Guatemala or even to the soup kitchen anytime soon, I will be headed to different sides of the street…and the world.

Just this week, we moved out of our house for our floors to be redone because of a leak and we are staying just off of a very busy intersection. One of the ones where we see men with the “will work for food” signs on each corner almost daily. As a woman with my children normally in the car, I say a prayer for them and move on. I hate it…every time. But unfortunately, we don’t live in the most trusting society. Thursday afternoon however, in the midst of 5:00 traffic on Woodruff Rd., Marlee (my 9-year-old) and I passed a family on the side of the road with a sign that read, “Lost My Job, Please help, I have two children to take care of. God Bless You.” And his wife and one of his children were sitting on the side of the road with them. I wanted to help them, but had no cash. Traffic was ridiculous, so we had to pass them by. But neither of us could get them off our mind.

We then pulled into the IHOP (which was packed with graduation celebrations) and purchased a $50 gift certificate, which also came with two $5 coupons, and fought the traffic to get back to them. They were extremely appreciative. I thought I saw the wife tear up.

As I said, we are certainly not in a third world country, but we live in a society where people still need help. I wish we could trust everyone we saw, and know that we are not being scammed. But here’s the thing. Marlee and I gave in the spirit of love. In the spirit of Jesus. I have no idea what happens to most of the money that I give…whether it’s at church, sponsoring a child, or handing it t someone on the street. But I do know that God nudged me to take action. He will take it from there and that’s all I need to know.

So I suppose this is the beginning of my GRAFFITI summer. Please don’t hate me, but my other side of the street will be the other side of the world in Prague in July. But you know? People need to see the love of God just as much there as anywhere. They might just not always know it.

Have you found yourself out of your comfort zone lately? Intentionally? Or without even realizing it?

What did you do to make a difference?

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Do you remember the American Idol runner up Chris Sligh? He passed one of those men with the “will work for food” sign right here on this same intersection. He passed the fellow with the sign and immediately wanted to turn around. Only if you know the traffic on Woodruff Rd, you’d understand that it took him thirty minutes to get back to the intersection and the man was gone. He pulled over on the side of the road and wrote this song: Knowing the story behind it makes it that much more powerful.

Filed Under: Compassion, Freedom in Christ, God-Sized Dreams, Living in Faith, Living with Purpose, Real Relationships, The Power of Prayer, Your Relationship with God

God-Sized Dreams~When God says, “Come here for just a minute…”

16 April, 2013 by 8 Comments

I’m linking up with Holly Gerth at God-Sized Dreams today and this prompt really whalloped me over the head, so I decided to make it today’s prescription.

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Could someone maybe have shared that little tidbit of information with me 10 years ago when I had my first grand-mal seizure? 

I probably wouldn’t have listened anyway. I was too wrapped up in my own little pity party to hear what anyone else was trying to tell me…including God.

When I had the very first seizure and had to stop driving, I remember having the thought, “Okay God. I have no idea what’s going on but maybe you want David and I to spend more time together. Only one driver in the family will certainly  increase some together time.” So I went with it. Briefly.

It wasn’t long before I got impatient (which is nothing like me Wink,) and started searching not for the why this happened, but how to fix me. So instead of being alone with God, I brought in doctors, nutritionists, books, medicine, friends, chiropractors, needles (the acupuncture kind)…anything or anyone I thought would “fix” me. I’m sure the pharmacist in me (you know, the science nerd) wanted to know the answer—the cure. For seven years I searched for that cure. Then, in the midst of all that great fixing I was doing, I ended up hooked on narcotics. What a genius.

So all of this could have been avoided if I’d just let God “pull me aside for a bit?” UUGGGHHHH!  I hope not. We do need to be still and listen. We do need to soak up the wisdom He as for us in his word. We do need to talk to Him…constantly. But sometimes, He needs to teach us more. And I think God was preparing me for one of his God-Sized Dreams, it just took me a few years to hear what he was trying to tell me.

As a pharmacist, I was essentially a drug dealer. Just legal. 

Pain pills. Sleeping pills. Mood-stabelizing pills. Anti-anxiety pills. Antipsychotics. Amphetamines. So many addictive medications people are so desperate for. Sure I could tell them how to take them, the side effects, cautions, interactions…but no matter how much information I could give them, I had absolutely no understanding of the desperate, lonely place they were in. Their personal prison of drugs. Sure, they are prescription drugs, so our society accepts them as the norm. No one realizes the havoc they wreak internally and externally.

Yes, I’d say God pulled me aside for a bit. Seven years of a bit. But WOW, I never would have guessed the plan and purpose He had for me. Once I finally listened and heard, He healed me of it all…overnight. The good-old-fashioned-miracle kinda healing. My hubby, my kids, my parents, my in-laws, my friends…they all saw it. And God made it evident. No question about it. I was healed.

The paradigm shift God gave me during those seven years gave me a whole new perspective on people. God calls us to…

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 

(Matthew 22: 37-40)

Love God. Love People. That’s it. 

He doesn’t exclude drug addicts, sex offenders, homosexuals…no one. Do we have to love what they do? No. God just calls us to love them. Not their stereotype. Not their addiction. Not their appearance.

And I have to add how incredibly freeing it is to realize we are not the judge, God is. 

So if something happens that interrupts your life, on matter how big or how small, seek God. See if He’s trying to pull you aside for a bit. Maybe if you listen a little better than I did it won’t take seven years! Wink But however long it takes, trust me. It’s worth it.

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Filed Under: Handling Stress, Living in Faith, Your Relationship with God

Author Interview~The Greatest Book Ever Written

3 March, 2013 by 10 Comments

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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)

The Love of God

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)

 

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

“Change your thoughts and you change your world”~Norman Vincent Peale

31 December, 2012 by 22 Comments

 

One of the first non-fiction books I ever read was The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. I was in my first year of college at Clemson University, and I was hopelessly homesick. My mom put everything into my hands she could to help me through that first semester at Clemson, and that book was part of the package.

It’s a shame wisdom comes with age, but I’m sure it’s all part of God’s plan. That’s one of those questions I’ll ask Him someday.  From that first year at Clemson, through pharmacy school at USC, marriage, three children, too many funerals to count, seven years of grand-mal seizures and migraine headaches and addiction to narcotics, God has instilled much wisdom. My hubby has always said, “Hindsight is 20/20” and he is so right. Even after all of the struggles of life I’ve survived, I still need reminders to help remember what’s important in life.

I’ve always said I wish I could write on the inside of my eyelids, so I’d get a subliminal message every time I blink. So for the first ten days of the new year, I thought I’d share some of those “eyelid reminders” with you and remind myself in the process.

So join me for the next ten days for some “celestial” wisdom (celestial meaning “heavenly,” of course)…thoughts to renew your mind and so that you might be transformed to live a happy, God-centered life.

P.S. Sign up for your prescriptions to come right to your email so you don’t miss any 😉

As a bonus start to a blessed new year, here’s a free printable for your fridge, mirror, or wherever you might need a little reminder and join along with me as we go through these thought for the first ten days of 2013. SmileI’m thinking my bathroom mirror…enjoy!

Click here to download the free PDF printable: Click here to download your “Ten Thoughts” Printable 🙂

Ten LIfe-Changing Thoughts for a Happy 2013

 

Filed Under: Beating Depression, Brain Functions, Freedom in Christ, Handling Stress, Have an Eternal Perspective, How to be Happy, Living with Purpose, Marriage Menders, Parenting Tips, Real Relationships, Simplify Your Life, Ten Thoughts for a Happy, God-centered Life, Your Relationship with God

From a Mother’s Perspective

2 December, 2012 by 5 Comments

As we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent, anticipating the celebration of the birth of our Savior, I’ve been trying to imagine the birth of Jesus from different perspectives. We read the Christmas story year after year, but we are always spectators, watching from a distance.

What would it be like to be the one chosen to give birth to Jesus?

Listen to this song by Francesca Battistelli and imagine these words are being spoken by you, the mother of Jesus, Savior of the world.

Filed Under: Worship Through Music, Your Relationship with God Tagged With: , , , , ,

Washington D.C.~In Honor of Our Veterans

11 November, 2012 by 6 Comments

I’m sleepy.

It’s a little after 8:00 a.m. and I’m sitting at church before the early service while Trevor is in band practice. If you know me, you know I’d rather be home in my bed planning to come to the 11:0o service.

I’m trying to get used to my new WordPress blog. I could post so quickly on blogger, but this is taking a bit longer to learn, and life is super busy right now. My brain is tired!

So, in an attempt to get used to this new process and give you guys something to look at (provided you haven’t forgotten about me by now 😉 I though I’d post some pictures of our trip to Washington DC. We made it just before Sandy hit the northeast. After five days in Washington DC with 115 eighth graders, we made it home at 1:00 a.m. on the Sunday morning that Sandy hit.

It was a whirlwind trip, leaving at 5:am on Tuesday morning and touring Washington DC from 7:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. every day through Friday, then hitting Kings Dominion on Saturday on our way home.

Although it was a busy trip, I left with a new appreciation for our veterans. Arlington Cemetery and the tomb of the unknown soldier left me speechless. And believe me, that’s hard to do.

Now that I think about it, I’m probably just still sleepy from the trip!

Okay, I’ll let the pictures upload while he preaches…

 

Now that I’ve heard the sermon for today I have to share a little more about my Washington trip.

We went to Union Station to let the kids shop, eat, and have a little free time. I was enjoying some free myself without kids, checkout out a menu and a much needed salad bar when a very tall man with a full beard, dressed in all black and somewhat intimidating approached me from behind and asked me point blank if I’d buy him dinner. I really don’t know why I was surprised. After all, we were in a train station in a big city, but I suppose I still had my Simpsonville brain on.

My first thought was I must have the word “sucker” written on my forehead. But thankfully, my Jesus eyes quickly shifted my paradigm.

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:40 Msg)

I don’t know this man’s story, and I only had a brief encounter with him. But I did buy him a good meal and have the brief opportunity to wish him good luck on his journey, but more than luck, God’s blessing. I shared with him Jeremiah 29:11:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

 I will never know what happened to this man, but thankfully, I planted a seed. I gave.
{The least of these~Jesus}
Btw, if you’re wondering, the sermon today was about the good samaritan.

Enjoy the pics! Wish we could have had an effect on the election while we were in Washington 🙁 Four more years. Sorry my friends. Keep praying for our country and our president—whether he’s the one you voted for or not.

 

 

Filed Under: Just for Fun, Life Through the Lens, Real Relationships, Uncategorized, Your Relationship with God Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Serving a Supernatural God in an Ordinary World—Is He Your Superhero?

25 September, 2012 by 10 Comments

 

For seven years I sought the help of medical doctors, psychologists, chiropractors, and other natural healers to cure me of grand-mal seizures, migraine headaches, depression, and opiate addiction. I hate the think about the thousands upon thousands of dollars I spent doing so.

All that time, I had a direct line to a Superhero. I kept relying on worldly resources when I really needed the Great Physician. The creator of the universe. The ultimate healer. The one who holds the answers to every question. The one who holds the master plan.

As is human nature, I looked for answers myself. I failed. As a Christian, I had direct access to the supernatural. Being born again give you access to the spiritual world. I mean think about it. “Born Again.” You certainly can’t be stuffed back into your mother’s uterus!

 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 NLT)

Born again = Born from above.

I just had to get past myself to realize it. Which apparently took seven years, because apparently I’m fairly stubborn. Once I finally stopped looking inward, and began looking upward, asking God his plan, he healed me overnight. Exactly two years ago today.

On September 25, 2010, I woke up completely free.

Seizures? Gone.

Headaches? Gone.

Depression? Gone.

Addiction? Gone.

He reached his arm down into this ordinary world, and lifted me up to a supernatural place. Other than a few minor headaches, I can honestly say I’ve been completely free from seizures and all medication.

Happy Birthday to me!

Do you have a problem that is beyond your control? Release it to God. Seek out his plan. He can handle it. He’s THE SUPERHERO.

 

From my heart,

Celeste

Filed Under: Beating Depression, Chronic Illness, Fighting Your Fears, Freedom in Christ, Living in Faith, Living with Purpose, Miracles Do Happen, Overcoming Addiction, The Power of Prayer, Uncategorized, Your Relationship with God Tagged With: , , , , , ,

“Hold on God, I’ll be there in a minute!”

8 August, 2012 by 2 Comments

Whenever I yell through the house to the kids, their first response is “Hold on.”

It doesn’t matter why I’m calling them—to come down for supper, finish a chore, or eat a hot fudge sunday, the response is still the same.  “Hold ooonnnnn!”

As a parent, it drives me crazy. When I call them, I want and expect them to come.

As children of God, how often do we put him on hold?

  • God, let me just get through these e-mails first, then I can do my devotion.
  • God, if you will just let me get this car paid off, then I will give more to you.
  • God I know you want me to be more involved at church, but I’m so busy with work right now. I’ll have more time for you when tax season ends.
“God doesn’t give us children to make us 
better parents, he gives us children 
to make us better children.” ~Betsy Kenney
The world will do everything possible to keep Jesus out of sight and out of mind. We much intentionally make Jesus a part of every day. In a recent sermon at Brookwood Church, Mike Hepola listed five things necessary to get to Jesus:
  • Identify the roadblocks that keep you from Jesus. Like fear of criticism? Time? 
  • Get rid of  excuses.
  • Don’t hide your pain. God is strongest when we are weak. 
  • Express faith and experience the miracle of forgiveness~as far as the east is from the west.
  • Live in a way that represents a changed life. A changed life is contagious. 
Don’t settle for a life that is void of Jesus.

The Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay. 

You never know when the next day will be your last.
From my heart,
Celeste
Filed Under: Your Relationship with God Tagged With: ,

The Great Depression, the Road to Freedom

4 July, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I’ve often said that anyone who has not experienced true depression cannot really understand it. 

About four years ago, while still in the midst of my depression, someone recommended The Shack by William P. Young. As soon as I realized the youngest daughter in the story disappears, I put down the book. Marlee was five at the time and it was more than I could bear to read. But since God lifted my depression, I picked it back up and finished it. I’m so glad I did.

As I describe my years of depression as The Great Depression, this author refers to it as The Great Sadness. When I try to describe the way depression feels, I suppose the pharmacist comes out in me, because I always describe it as “all of the nerve endings in my body were heavy and weighing me down.” I think William Young’s description in The Shack is more understandable: 

“Emotions are the colors of the soul; they are spectacular and incredible. When you don’t feel, the world becomes dull and colorless. Just think how The Great Sadness reduced the range of color in your life down to monotones and flat grays and blacks. “


The dictionary defines “dark” as the absence of light. Depression is darkness. God tells us in John 12:46 that he has come into the world as a light, so that NO ONE has to live in darkness. 

When Isaac Newton was dabbling in his many scientific experiments, he used a prism to see what exactly made up the color “white.” What he found was that white light is the effect of combining the visible colors of light in certain proportions. In other words, white is the combination of all the colors of the rainbow. 



God came as the light. He also gave us a promise when he created the rainbow. 

I think being raised with religion all around me, I took the light for granted. I couldn’t see the colors in the relationship. As a friend of mine explained it well, those were my “ivory tower” days. I lived in the white tower but I couldn’t see the colors that it contained. 

During my depression, a black tunnel lay before me. Now I see that Jesus was my “light at the end of the tunnel.” Now that I have experienced darkness—the absence of light—colors have a whole new meaning for me. 

My Great Depression led me to freedom. It painfully guided me to the color that Jesus provides in my relationship with Him. My world is no longer shades of gray. Whether you feel like depression is an obstacle for or not, Jesus can make your life into the most beautiful rainbow you’ve ever seen. 

Jesus is the light. Seek Him. Read about Him. Talk to Him. Have faith in Him. 

Religion will always let you down. A relationship with Him will never let you down. 

From my heart,
Celeste
Filed Under: Beating Depression, Brain Functions, Freedom in Christ, Your Relationship with God Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Make-a-change Monday~Prayer & Circumstance

11 June, 2012 by Leave a Comment



Have you ever heard God speak? 


If God called you on the phone, would you recognize his voice? 


I remember as a teenager trying to figure out if God was telling me to do something, or if it was just made up in my head. It can be very confusing to know God’s voice as opposed to the “voices in your head” if you don’t talk to him—and listen to him—enough. 


Many people ask, “Why pray if God already know what’s going to happen?” Here’s the answer: 


Prayer doesn’t change God, it changes us. 

When we seek God’s help through conversations with him and through specific requests, and he answers us, our faith is increased. If we never ask, however, and he gives us whatever we need, our faith is not changed. We chalk it up to circumstance. 

Let me give you two examples. 

Me? A Speaker? 

I went to a speaker’s conference in October of last year. Everyone tells me that with the type of book I’m writing, I need to be a speaker as well. If you know me at all, you know I hate speaking in front of a group of people. One of the things I liked about being a pharmacist is that I didn’t have to sell myself. I stood behind the tall counter and people came to me…one at a time. But I felt like God was nudging me in that direction, so I went.

After the conference, all of the other speakers got their one-sheets ready to be put in a database of speakers to be “on the market.” But not me. I obeyed God and went to the conference, but specifically told God afterwards that if he wanted me to speak at an event, he was going to have to “drop it in my lap.”

Four months later, I was on my way to church with my family and I pulled my phone from my purse and put it in my lap. I turned it on to see if I had any Words with Friends moves, and I saw I had a new text: 

Now how was that for an answered prayer? Even though it wasn’t quite the answer I was hoping for, I certainly couldn’t deny that God had heard exactly what I said and responded in such a way I knew it was him. 


Her Ship Came In. 


My very oldest friend Jacqueline (not in age but in how long I’ve known her) was having a financial crisis a few weeks ago. It was Friday and her family had $30 to make it on until Tuesday. Pretty tough for a family of four, and that included the weekend. She and her husband have both gone back to school for the last few years, and have really struggled financially, saving and getting by the best they could. She was really at her wit’s end at this point, and prayed, “Okay God, it’s time for my ship to come in.”

Now back up a few months for an important detail: Jacqueline’s husband opened something in the mail that had to do with her mom’s estate. He handed her the letter and told her it looked fairly important. She responded by sending them a copy of the death certificate and the other information they needed to settle the issue. 

On this gloomy Friday afternoon, as she was wondering how in the world her family would make it on this $30, she went to the mailbox. In it was an envelope, with the return address simply as “SHIP.” Not thinking too much about it, she opened it to find a check for $10,000.

How’s that for an answered prayer?  

It turns out that the unresolved issue from her mom’s estate was money that had not been claimed, and the company who was now handling that went by the name, or acronym, “SHIP.” 

Jacqueline prayed that prayer on that Friday when she was in a bind. God orchestrated the $10,000 check several months before. That check was coming. God knew she would need it. But when she prayed and her “SHIP” came in, her faith grew by leaps and bounds! 



It’s so easy to recognize God’s voice—even when it’s not audible—when we talk to him enough to recognize when he answers. 


So here’s my {make-a-change} Monday challenge for you: Pray specific prayers. Pray believing that God can and will answer your prayers. It may not be an immediate answer, and the answer may not be what you want to hear. But he will answer, and when he does, your faith will skyrocket. 


From my heart, 
Celeste

P.S. I did speak at the event for Mauldin First Baptist. I was a nervous wreck at first, but God calmed my nerves as all of the women there were so sweet and receptive to what I said. It was a great first speaking event. 🙂

Filed Under: Living in Faith, Living with Purpose, Make-a-change Mondays, Miracles Do Happen, The Power of Prayer, Your Relationship with God Tagged With: , , ,

Make-a-change Monday~Shift Your Paradigm

1 May, 2012 by 4 Comments


Do you know what a “paradigm shift” is? It must be a fairly important concept to understand. When I looked up the word “paradigm” in the dictionary to give you a definition, I actually found “paradigm shift” in the dictionary. I expected to find “paradigm,” but not “paradigm shift.” 

paradigm shift
noun
a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions.
I believe the term probably became worthy of a space in the dictionary when The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey was published. 
Here’s the example of a paradigm shift he shares in the book: 

I remember a mini-paradigm shift I experienced one Saturday morning on a subway in New York. People were sitting quietly—some reading newspapers, some lost in thought, some resting with their eyes closed. It was a calm, peaceful scene.

Then suddenly, a man and his children entered the subway car. The children were so loud and rambunctious that instantly the whole climate changed. 

The man sat down next to me and closed his eyes, apparently oblivious to the situation. The children were yelling back and forth, throwing things, and even grabbing people’s papers. It was very disturbing. And yet, the man sitting next to me did nothing. 

It was difficult not to feel irritated. I could not believe that he could be so insensitive as to let his children run wild like that and do nothing about it, taking no responsibility at all. It was easy to see that everyone else on the subway felt irritated, too. So finally, with what I felt was unusual patience and restraint, I turned to him and said, “Sir, your children are really disturbing a lot of people. I wonder if you couldn’t control them a little more?”

The man lifted his gaze as if to come to a consciousness of the situation for the first time and said softly, “Oh, you’re right. I guess I should do something about it. We just came from the hospital where their mother died about an hour ago. I don’t know what to think, and I guess they don’t know how to handle it either.”

Can you imagine what I felt like at that moment? My paradigm shifted. Suddenly I saw things differently. I felt differently, I behaved differently. My irritation vanished. I didn’t have to worry about controlling my attitude or behavior; my heart was filled with the man’s pain. Feelings of sympathy and compassion flowed freely. “Your wife just died? Oh, I’m so sorry! Can you tell me about it? What can I do to help?”

Everything changed in an instant. 

Did it give you chills to read that story? 
Not to completely stereotype myself, but I grew up as a Southern-Baptist-only-child-goody-two-shoes kind of girl. My life was wonderful. I succeeded at most anything I attempted, and I held myself to very high standards. You know…the perfectionist. While I am grateful to my parents for the wonderful childhood I had, being a perfectionist did not serve me well. 

When my world was turned up side down with the onset of grand-mal seizures and the following drug addiction, I spiraled into adeep depression. I really believe I could have handled the seizures and all the came along with them—no driving, no bathtub/swimming alone, bumps and bruises—but the fact that I “allowed myself” to end up addicted to pain medication was just too much. It was the infamous straw that broke the camel’s back. 

The thing was, when I finally admitted to the world that I’d had an addiction, so many people said, “Of all the people I thought could become a drug addict, I never would have believed it would be you.” And I say, “Me either!” 
Anytime I had to go to the hospital for anything (usually seizures, but once a bad stomach bug I picked up in Florida), I told them no narcotics because I had been addicted. Now, this was after I got off the Lortab. While I was still struggling, I welcomed pain meds at the hospital! Anyway, as soon as I was labeled an “addict,” I was treated differently. And no, it was not in my imagination. 
Its really funny—and yet not so funny—how God gave me a serious paradigm shift. For the first fourteen years I worked as a pharmacist, I was judgmental of my customers who came in every month for pain medicine. I didn’t want to be, but I couldn’t help it. I could not understand how they were so dependent and desperate for their pain pills every month. WOW did I get some empathy lessons. My perspective changed completely when I learned first hand how they felt. I found myself walking in their shoes. 
So my challenge for you today is to not be judgmental. Let God be the only judge. Know that no matter how a situation seems, there is always more than meets the eye. When you find yourself passing judgment, remember that God loves everyone, and he is the only judge. It’s very freeing to be able to love people for the messed up humans they are, and let God do the judging!
Don’t wait for something to shift your paradigm, shift it yourself.  
From my heart,
Celeste




Filed Under: Freedom in Christ, Have an Eternal Perspective, Make-a-change Mondays, Making Changes, Your Relationship with God Tagged With: , , , , ,