A conversation I had today, had me really thinking on my drive home. So here I am posting. The conversation was about professing to be a follower of Jesus. This got me thinking about the seeds within, that we profess to be cultivating in “the way” of Jesus VS the seeds we are actually planting and cultivating in our lives daily. I had to ask myself, Am I “representing” my BFF and His Ways daily? Wouldn’t you know it with that question, here came God with a verse via Pastors Perspective radio show, that got me digging even deeper in thought. Matt. 6:19-21 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  I realize everyone wasn’t in on my conversation but, the bottom line bears these questions to those “professing” to be walking with Yeshua (Jesus);  ” HOW Ya Livin?” What do I treasure? Do my actions reflect my profession of        “I am a Christian? ” (a follower of Christ) Can Jesus be seen in Me? Are those actions serving not only me but, my neighbor? (family, friends, co workers, and literal neighbors) Am I storing up (planting) good seed (treasures of Love, Joy, Comfort, etc)  for heaven? Or am I more talk of intention all the while planting seeds (words) that will only bear weeds of earthly drama? So, like the nursery rhyme, I ask myself and You, ” Renee’, Renee’ (use your name) how Does your garden grow? ”

After meditating on this all this and pondering the questions, I personally see good fruit in many areas of my garden but, I unfortunately found some more weeds I need to pull too. Yep, my garden is still a work in progress..Thing about those darn weeds (words of complaint, backbiting, grumbling…etc ), they most often have deep roots and I know I will need some help to fully eradicate those devils. So off I go, to seek the wisdom of whom I profess to follow, the Master Gardner, my BFF, Jesus. I realize more and more each day, my heart & souls desire is that my good seed (words) grow to be His Words and my answers become, ” My garden is growing well, Praise Be to my Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Mother.”  Lord knows, it takes all of the family of God (which includes my earthly family, extended and blood born) to really make the garden grow to it’s highest good. As a helpful tool I will refer to this verse, Hebrews 12:15 – “( I will be) Looking (more) diligently (at my actions) lest (I) any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [in me], and thereby many be defiled.”

Yes, Yes…our actions (seeds planted) within our neighbors (friends, family, coworkers, etc) do take root and have a effect within their gardens. It might be a shallow root and not take hold or it just might be a seed that lands deep and produces more than you ever thought it would. (good or bad) Think about that and how your words have affected others or theirs have affected you. Notice when you dig deep, the base of the root of those binding weeds is Fear (of some form or fashion). But, no worries, Praise God for ” Grace, Mercy, Compassion, & most of all LOVE. Cause, There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. And Jesus Love is a Perfect Love. That is why it is a perfect seed to plant within your inner garden. Yep for me it’s  “The Only Way” to go.

Shalom!

Here we go cruising up on Thanksgiving. A time to gather with family, friends, co workers, and our neighbors. (be they strangers or known) A time to break bread, share heart warming dishes, and Give Thanks for our Blessings. A time to reflect and remember the intention of this day. Did you know the original intention was a time of sharing & celebrating the harvest between the Pilgrims and the American Indians? The 1st thanksgiving had 90 American Indian attendees and 53 Pilgrims celebrating the blessings of their abundant harvest. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)

Today, we need to remember that call to Unity & to share the harvest the Earth is still providing for us ALL. It is a time to consciously set aside our differences, serve one another with ” the Love of God within us”  and to share the Blessings bestowed upon us daily. It is another opportunity to ” CHOOSE” the path of Love, Peace, & Giving. As we come upon this day I suggest you & your family set aside 20 mins, get a pen and paper, & each of you think about your blessings. Write them down and keep them to share at the table before you carve the Turkey. (you could share your list with your FB family too)  I am confident you will enjoy hearing and seeing how much each of us are blessed in so many ways, not to mention the many different gifts (seeds) that will be shared. In doing this you are planting “Thanks & giving” into the inner garden of all those at the table.

No plans this Thanksgiving or you want to share your abundant harvest in some other ways, here are some other suggestions of how you might spend part of the day:  Volunteer to help feed the homeless in your community. Or make the turkey with a couple of sides – make sandwiches & put them with the sides in one of the nice reusable shopping bags, then you (& family) go to the homeless community in your area and share your gift bag with the homeless personally. Got a neighbor, one of our military away from home, or co – worker who is alone and has no family around…invite them to dinner or take them a plate. These choices are sure ways of “giving and Thanks”

Now I end this post with 2 things:  Thankfulness I am able to write and share the seeds God plants within my garden &  this website with recipes of my Fav Thanksgiving food ” Mac & Cheese!”  http://allrecipes.com/recipes/509/main-dish/pasta/macaroni-and-cheese/

Shalom!!!

Only You determine your Future. God has given you all the tools to tap into your full created “self” – you are created in His image after all. What and who you become is up to You. Yes, the first 18 years were not all yours…but, even parts of those 18 ” you were planting the seeds of the future with your “Choices” – good and bad. Those “your Choices” times are Yours always, you can’t blame the results on anyone else.  The good news is: at anytime you can change ” your Choices” planting new seeds in the inner and outer gardens of your life. And over time how you cultivate and care for what your planting will determine what fruit the new gardens bear. Just like the Earth we came from We have seasons, times of drought, and our environment within and without can be changed based on “Choices”, ” Cultivation” , and Caring. (TLC – tender loving caring bears the best fruit. smile)

A mandatory training at my job really got me thinkin’ deeper into how my choices effect not only itty bitty ole me..but, the Big Picture as a whole. Out of that training I have taken on a new daily manta ” I will treat others as I want to be treated”  Then I had to ask myself, ” Exactly, How do I want to be treated?”  After ponding that question awhile , God showed me there is a way to the road of ” all things work to the good” and “Joy can come in the morning” IF I so Choose to seek it out. Then it All depends on the route I choose to take. Will I go round in circles, cause I can’t let go of whatever?  Or could just a little pulling of the weeds while singin’ ” Love and Happiness. ” bring sunshine to my day?

When God created us He did Not create us to live lives of Misery & Pain. He even sacrificed His Son to take our ass whippin’ for us! ” It is FINISHED”  He said. We ARE Forgiven and Love shall abound. No more abuse, No more whippin’s!  What part can you not see ” I TOOK it already ”  In this Life, We are not called to be abused by others, commit abuse on others, or to abuse ourselves. What part are we Not understanding? Love is the Key and isn’t nearly as hard as so many are making it out to be. Oh and the Lies we believe instead of trusting and believing the family of God. I like Many even believed the lies of Old,  in the thinking ” sometimes you just gotta give them kids a whuppin’ ” Not a beating but, ” get them thighs.” Duh, That is so Not the seeds you want to plant. God showed me, ” Do you like that ? Do I feel like a Loving Father with this method to You?” It is Love that works things to the good and changes things my people. Did that ass whippin’ your brother Yeshua took look like Love to you!  Not did He look like love … I am asking did the Whippin’ look like Love? God allowed Yeshua to come that He might show us how Love does work and the fruit thereof. Stop, get quiet, can’t you hear God saying, ” Look at my Son, He is so full of Love He asked to be allowed to plant the seeds of his Love in the gardens of His Brothers and Sisters” (that’s you and I) so the whippin’s could STOP. He came willingly saying..” Hear me,I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalms 32:8. The foundation of Yeshua’s teaching needing only 2 commandments Matthew 22:36-40. ( please open & read these verses slowly)https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2022:36-40   In these 2 commandments of His Love  “we are washed clean – white as lambs wool” – (Isaiah 1:18)   What are we doing Choosing Not to cultivate those seeds planted that we Will have a good harvest?”  Why are so many Choosing to allow the weeds of life to bind us in which the only result will ultimately be burying the good seeds of: Love, Joy, Forgiveness, Peace…. Weeds that keep us stuck in the days of old riding the same carousel round and round we go – and crazier expecting a different outcome. Wake Up..the different outcome happens in your Choices and those choices will keep coming all the days of your life and so will the consequences thereof. Have you ever watched the difference in the life that chooses to learn from it’s mistakes & move forward making the necessary changes…changes that are in “tune” with all things around it choosing good seeds to cultivate and plant. Watch how the garden grows, creates, and bears an awesome harvest. You will see some changes in each season but, each time it dies down with some TLC it comes back even stronger..more hybrid better than the last time. Only enough weeds are allowed to creep to keep the gardener on his/her toes that they don’t get carried away into thinkin’ they are greater than the Creator. smile   Then watch a life that chooses to neglect the seeds of Hope and Love popping up within and instead buries them deeper and deeper and just sitting stuck doing what there told or what everyone else is doing. Whoooo is me, what now? That life should it choose to remain unattended and tilled will become ” these dry bones”. Unhappy and dissatisfied with Life. People we need to return to the Love and Peace of our Brother, Yeshua!!! Embrace the fun and good things of the 60’s Love and Peace Era. Get together on Earth in nature and Dance, Laugh, enjoy all the Blessings God created us to have. We need to Choose Good Things if we want a Good Harvest and in your choosing you need to remember part of the Way in having the best garden is to share your seeds of Love. You say you got a bad kid…well Try taking away the phone, TV, Computer, & such and “You” spend time with your bad kid. Do some gardening together, do chores together..make him/her responsible and you take responsibility too – TALK to him/her – Don’t whip ’em and send them off hurt and you hurting too. Hug on them, find out what is the Problem! I am here to testify I have given Love and I have Not given it when I should have and I am here to tell you I got just what I planted. Good and Bad results. And sometimes it is really hard to get to the root of those bad seeds planted and get them out of your garden. But, good news is,” You CaN dO it!! In this moment your next Choice of seed Can begin a New Garden within. Praise God ” all things have overall worked out to the good for me and mine”  just as He promised. But, I did have to go through some droughts before I learned what and how TLC works..but, now I can say with confidence, that’s the sure fire ticket for the inner and outer garden to bear good fruit and abundant harvest for you and those around you. Yes indeed TLC !  I share these seeds of Words because I pray you receive them and they will bear good fruit in your garden too. And on that note, I sign off with a couple of great supporting vines for your garden: 1st what a Sufi master told me, ” Have no Expectations”. 2nd what I learned from Yeshua,  I have to Trust in His Love, LET Go of my past mess so I can Move forward and Bring forth the Best garden within me – oh and don’t look back…the consequences can be rough! Genesis 19:26.  SMILE HUgs!

As I listened to my Fav song, “The Question Is” by the Winans the Spirit washed over me and let me know “My Will is that you Live in Love Today…in this moment..receiving my Love and Blessings. Then go out and Pay Attention to your neighbors, friends, family…I will lead you daily in ways you can do my Will in each moment. And don’t always be looking to go out somewhere else to do My Will.  There are times it is My Will you just Rest in Me, share time and Love with Me, & share My Love with yourself that you will gain strength and then you can go out and share with others. My Will is Not Always joining groups and overextending yourself in the “attempt” to do My Will. There are Seasons in Life when you need to focus on Me, focus on Self, and FOCUS on your Own Family or extended family & sometimes little things could be a very Big Thing in those lives right there in your midst. When I want you to step out in a bigger way, I will let you know. Just seek me, pay attention in the day to day, and allow the doors to open that are My Will.  You will know them because they will open easily without your fretting, pushing, and trying to force yourself in. Listen to your inner voice and listen to What your neighbor, friends, family, Children and Grandchildren are saying or maybe Not saying. EVERYONE has things happening in Life…some shared and some not…some are in a season of Joy while others are in a season of sorrow…there is a reason for that. Those in the season of Joy should be comforting those in the season of sorrow…in this balance, strength, and harmony can be obtained and Both Feel My Love and My Will.

Take a moment and listen to my Fav song & Know You are Loved and doing His Will is Not hard.  I pray this song will touch you as much as it does me each time I hear it. It sure has carried me thru and makes me think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTGaZXsRgvo

Over the last few days, I have had several conversations that revealed how important it is to look at the bigger picture. And not just on a person to person level but, in many levels of Life.  Let’s begin with the person to person level. Say you are at work and someone you are dealing with appears to have a nonchalant (indifferent) attitude or they just don’t seem to pick up on all their duties. Initially, you may think, “How irritating, they need to get with it and do their part” or “what is wrong with them?” Stop yourself from these thoughts and consider the bigger picture.Even though someone may have years of experience (or so it appears) maybe at their other job they only did portions of the duties required by the position they are in now. Or maybe they have a health problem that is holding them back and they just aren’t sharing how much it is affecting their ability to do their job. Why wouldn’t they say something? Maybe they are on a very tight budget and scared they would loose their job. Don’t get me wrong I am not justifying people doing a half steppin’ job. But, before we judge, we should take a look at the bigger picture.

Here is another scenario. Religion & Spirituality. Two different walks entirely. So when you are talking to, listening to someone in regards to their beliefs, Remember you need to look at the bigger picture before you determine if you are talking about the same subject. You may be coming from a place of personal spiritual relationship with God & whom you are speaking to may be coming from a place of tradition, culture, Religious foundation in which they believe is a personal relationship with God. What do I mean? Let’s use Christianity. Everyone that says they are a Christian does not have a personal relationship with God. My parents for example. If asked they would say, ” We are Presbyterian Christians & go to church on Sunday. We tithe too”  Unless of course they don’t like how the church is spending the money then all tithing stops and they quit going. When asked do you read your Bible?  “No, we go to church on Sunday.” In fact, if you talk about God very much they would say, ” Let’s talk about something else”  I run into this often in conversations. “Renee’  we know you love the Lord but, it is not politically correct to talk about God with just everyone and let’s just talk about regular stuff OK? That’s just a little to personal”  Don’t get me wrong I am not going to take God out of my conversation but, I am learning I must look at the bigger picture with individuals as to much conversation about my BFF, Jesus can turn someone away instead of draw one closer.

My last scenario is about Earth. As we go thru our day to day we take for granted all this Earth provides. Many throw trash out our car windows, growers spray dangerous pesticides on the food we consume which in turn create disease, we abuse the water in our rivers, lakes, and ocean. It is scary when you go to the beach what trash you find in it and on our beaches. We clear cut trees in the extreme in the name of building new communities. That isn’t necessary, it takes away from the beauty of the neighborhood, and is Not good for the environment. But, it is easier that way to build a bunch of new houses. People seem to think they need a 2,000 sq ft home and there are only 2 people living in the home or maybe it is a 2nd home and NO ONE lives in it 8 months out of the 12. While at the same time we have families with No home, no place to lay their head. We need to Look at the Bigger Picture and what this is doing to our Kingdom here on Earth. We need to look and work on some solutions and have some respect for one another and this Home God gave us. We need to get over ourselves and come together and work together on some solutions…So today I ask you look at the Bigger picture. Peace.

As I am cleaning house and tending to my patio garden this morning, today’s post hit me. Why? I was thinking how much time it takes to take care of just ME & my 1 bedroom apartment, while working full time. Then I thought back to when I was raising my girls,working full time (and many times) extra side jobs, wondering How did I do all this? We went places and did things, I cleaned, cooked, shared some Love and even had a husband (or man) in the mix. And ladies we all know Men need attention. I even went out dancing at least twice a month & made it a point to go walking at least every other day 3-5 miles! The thought of  going out dancing and coming in late sounds impossible now on top of a 40 hr work week. I even looked back just a few years ago at how I was working 2 jobs and caregiving for my parents, wondering How did I do that? Cause now working a 40 hr week, cleaning, cooking, & sharing the love with family and friends while trying to fit in a few activities seems to be A lot.  And I don’t have a husband now to clean up after. Yet Still here I am, the day quickly ticking by, oh so quickly, and I am wondering how I am going to fit in getting just ” My ” stuff done to keep my home and myself cared for ?

I definitely want to say; working Moms, “single Dads”, and Wives remember to give yourselves a pat on the back during this season of your life. I am Not saying it is not hard work if you are a stay at home Mom or wife because that is a full time job in and of itself. And that is the Point…taking care of the home, family, extended family, and Yourself is a lot of work! So to add in the full time job just amazes me how God provides just the right amount of energy and tenacity to get it all done.

All that said I gotta sign off now and get back to my list of stuff to get done. LOL  As I am working along I will be praying for Everyone to remember How amazing God is and YOU are as you do all the things you need to do throughout each day. I pray each family grows to appreciate one another and in that appreciation everyone pitches in so not one carries more load than another in the household. And I ask, Please pray for me that I gain a little more of that energy from days gone by, cause I really want to fit back in at least 30 mins a day of exercise. Something I know boosts your metabolism and gives you energy…not to mention better health. But, dog where do I fit that in? Cause I am tired at the end of the day after work & then do all the stuff that needs done before I hit the hay.  I did it before and I just have to remember how I did that! LOL Please feel free to comment back with any tips on how to accomplish adding in this one more thing. smile  Cause I refuse to accept, in this later season of life, that I can’t do some tweeks to my time management and fit in this one more very positive thing.  Wish me luck and I will be praying for all of you too cause I can’t imagine that some of you don’t need some energy prayers too!

Hugs and Have a Blessed Day!

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. In the day to day, do you notice who these contributors are?

Today is a day, we the working people, celebrate our hard work and our contribution to our society. This is something many of us don’t really think about or honor much. This day is a Really important day to be Honored and Celebrated. We need to heighten our senses in what each and every job provides in our communities & show some Love to our fellow workers on this day. Be sure to at least say “Thank You” to those who serve you in their job. And in your job, “be that best that you can be” and an appreciation harvest will come your way too. (love that saying, “Be the best that you can BE”) Did you know there are 71 verses in the bible about working? http://www.openbible.info/topics/hard_work    A few of my fav are?  Genesis 2: 16 ” The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Proverbs 16:3 ” Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. ” Proverbs 6: 6-8 “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest ”  Galatians 6:9 ” And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ”  James 2:17 “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead”

Notice in my 1st verse choice it is clear God created us to take care of ( work ) planet Earth and keep it… care for it, live with & on it which takes work. All things take Care and Work, even Faith or they will be Dead. (in some form and fashion if not literally) Yes, it is due to our work & the work of our neighbors we have food, water, cars, TV’s, fun places to go, music, Relationships (yes, relationships…good ones take working Love to stay alive), & my list can go on and on and 0n. Ponder that.

I close with these areas of service, I believe we definitely need to give more Thanks and appreciation to:

The Cleaning industry…janitors & maids. Trash Pick up. Truck/airlines/buses/ trains/ Delivery Drivers, CNA’s at our hospitals and I know that list goes on but for now Just think on these and be surprised at the awareness it will open within you. How would your neighborhood be without  the Trash Pick Up?  Yuck ! And now think about doing that job, smelling the trash, literally picking it up at times the truck can’t all day long. Keep an eye out for your trash pick up and take them a batch of nice smelling cookies or bagels or something & say Thank You. Janitors and Maids: Just imagine if no-one came and cleaned your place of employment or the hotel you stayed in this weekend…  again Yuck & without the wonderful maids job you would be “working” on your vacation hmmmm, think about how important that job of Labor is, I don’t want to clean bathrooms and change beds for everyone on my vacation. ..so Tip the Maid ! Maybe get her a massage gift card cause their bodies have got to ache at the end of the day. The Transportation/Delivery World: Boy! when I think of this one I can see how Our life existence could come to a halt without these Jobs! Just think – our Food, medicines, office supplies, gasoline to the gas station so we can drive our cars to work, computer deliveries/repairs, transportation workers that take many working people to their jobs! Do you ever consider bringing a little gift to the bus driver or tip the airline steward…they are serving you drinks after all.  Or stop in a truck stop and by a trucker a meal or just walk up to the trucker/ and say THANK YOU! CNA’s at our hospitals – Boy what a job that is…bathing people, cleaning up throw up, you get my drift. When caring for my parents the last year of their lives I really came to know what a Blessing these jobs of service provide and what Angels the CNA’s can BE. What a job for such low pay and so many are doing that job with a smile. We definitely need to THANK them any chance we get. Here are some ideas: get with out local hospitals and nursing homes and do appreciation days for the CNA’s or gift cards. We acknowledge the Nurses a lot but, the CNA gets left behind a bit to often. It’s great to focus on the patients but, we need to honor and give Kudos to the staff who are caring for those patients. What a great idea just struck me…Take a little time (like 2 hrs) on Labor Day & go lend a hand to the service workers, cause these jobs don’t get the day off.  Visit a patient, pick up the room while you visit, or take the patient outside for some air. This helps the CNA more than you realize, it keeps the patient busy and off their buzzer ringing for the CNA to come do this and that.  Don’t have time to spare, take a gift that will aid in the service worker getting a bit of fun and relaxation on Labor. Like a basket of goodies for the break room or have Starbucks coffee and tea with bagels delivered on each shift. (bet if you approach Starbucks they might even give a discount to the cause)  There is another worker that we need to show more Love, the customer service workers at our Restaurants/Fast Food, Stores, Drs. office front desk and phone reps…again not such high paid jobs typically but, where would our communities be without their “working” at their job?  Wouldn’t hurt to give a gift card to them sometimes too and at least acknowledge them when we are in front of them. Say something pleasant, Put your Phone down!, stop complaining they aren’t friendly (do you pay attention to how many people are rude to these positions?) Instead of complaining, Be nice and you will be surprised at what kind Words & thankfulness can do to a persons energy when interacting with you.

So, there ya have it…. My employer CHMB has a ” You are a Star” appreciation entry to show appreciation to our fellow employees for work they do that affects our daily job. This Thank you entry put that person in a Raffle drawing & then staff person not only gets an email letting them know they are appreciated and why…they have potential to win a prize. So, let’s follow that lead and get out there & show some ” Your are Appreciated” Thankfulness on Labor Day to those working neighbors who serve you providing many of your needs.  Think about it…if this caught on, no matter what the job is, we would likely All end up with someone showing appreciation in every job out there (including yours) smile. We would all be more encouraged and I can say with confidence there would be a lot more smiles and work would be less stressful.

Yikes the heat has arrived. Hopefully, it is not long lived but, while it is here I thought it a good time to share some tips on Keeping Cool. Relax by the pool and read a book…not your laptop which generates heat but a nice book. Another good thing about books: you don’t have to worry about them getting wet, so don’t take your fav…just take a good paperback.

By Noon: Keep the blinds and curtains closed, you can reduce the heat by 45%!  Not using your AC, here is a desert tip: When the air outside is dry and cooler than the air inside, hang a damp sheet in an open window. Incoming breezes are cooled by the evaporating water. Put a shallow bowl of ice in front of a fan & have a seat … ahhhhh refreshing. I personally love this one: Keep a spray bottle in the refrigerator, and when the going gets hot, give yourself a good squirt. This is a great one to take down by the pool, to the lake, or to the beach too.  Put a wet wash cloth in the freezer, once cold put it on the back of your neck…WoW does that cool your body down. Let your computer take a nap. Set it to go into low-power “sleep” mode if you are away from it for more than 10 minutes and it will give off less heat. When you’re finished for the day, shut the machine down completely. Despite what some IT guy may have told you years ago, properly shutting down and restarting modern-day computers won’t put undue strain on the hardware.

Eat lightly and Swig often: To replace the moisture that you lose as you perspire, be sure to drink. As you lose water to dehydration, your body temperature rises, so replacing fluids is essential to keeping cool. Avoid beverages that contain alcohol, caffeine, or lots of sugar, which are dehydrating. If you know you are going out in the heat, put a bottle of water in the freezer half full the night before, then you can keep cold water with you for your outing the next day.  “Also opt for hydrating foods,” says Deena Kastor, a marathon runner and an Olympic bronze medalist. “Try a smoothie for lunch, and add more fruits and vegetables to all your meals. Watermelon has the greatest water content of any food out there.”

Oh, and if you are a plant and/or pet lover, don’t hibernate indoors forgetting to keep your plates/pets hydrated too.

Well, that’s it for me, I have to go load my little lunch bag with my frozen water and some cold plums so I can go enjoy some good music in the park.  Have a great day!

While “We” may have to accept the things we cannot change, it does not mean “things can’t change and Don’t change”, including people. As Jesus said in Matt.19:24-27, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁵ When His disciples heard it, astonished they asked, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶ Jesus responded saying, “With men this is impossible, but with God All things are possible.”   So, see All can be saved.

Now, the questions are; ” Do you believe Jesus words” with God ALL things are Possible” ? Or because you have tried and tried to change a person or hoped they would change and haven’t yet, do you believe the statement,  “we have to accept the things we cannot change”? More and more I hear ” it is what it is and that is just how they are, there is no changing them, you just have to accept the things you cannot change.”  I have caught myself saying & feeling that way too. Which is really kinda crazy for me, as I KNOW a person can change. I AM a person who God changed. How many of you have you formed opinions, cast stones, and walked away? Here are a few other questions; ” Have there ever been times in life that you made wrong choices or lived a lifestyle that was not “acceptable” as far as society goes?” What were you doing as a teens and/or in your early 20’s – maybe even older? If you were anything like me, I REALLY made some Bad choices. On that note, let me stop and give some praise. ” I Praise God there were those that Believed “with God All things are possible”! And that didn’t give up on me and maintained hope that Love heals and changes even the impossible things of man. I am so Grateful that even when many in the world saw me as an outcast, He kept His promises just as revealed in this verse. Jeremiah 30:17  “I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion(renee), for whom no one cares!’  And trust me there were plenty who voiced that ” for whom no one cares”..ok,let’s get back on track and tell you why am I on this today?  I was having a conversation in which judgment has been made on a young woman based on the choices she has made over the last 7 plus years of her life. Granted many of those choices were very sad for her and down right hurtful to those around her. Especially her little boy, who being a Loving child loves her anyway. Praise God. Now in her mid 20’s it appears “maybe” she is trying to make some new choices that can have the potential to bear “good things”. Problem is, her bad choices have such a presence, that all many can see are the weeds in her inner and outer garden and since it is an Ugly garden the response seems to be; “she is to far gone, she will not change, so accept it and Leave her Alone.”  (leave Her Alone, an awful route to take when dealing with a troubled young person). The belief is she is up to something and her motives could not possibly be she is trying to change for the better. Track history has made it’s judgment and is standing firm….No chance that ” with God change is possible.”  This conversation & the fact I just finished reading the book, “The Shack” well it really struck a cord. (in the shack God brings to the key persons attention how everyday we are busy passing judgment on others & More than we even realize this puts us in bondage and those we interact with.) What’s really awful, God opened my eyes that I stand guilty of this myself where she is concerned. In past discussions about this young woman, I too passed judgment and took the attitude, accept that she will Not change leave her Alone. OUCH!! she is so much like I was. Today I come with a sad heart that I took that route. And a glad heart that I was strongly reminded of how I of all people,  know better. That “By Experience” I Know Change, even when a person is at their worst, is Possible. As a teen and woman in my 20’s, I was a total “screw up” , a lying, cheating, drug addicted, hard hearted angry young woman. Again , I must give Praise that God stepped in with His Angels and those He hand picked to show me some Love, Mercy, and Forgiveness and it was in ALL that “Love” the transformation of both my inner and outer garden Did transform. And Praise God He is still sending His Love thru this young woman, so I can see the new kinds of weeds popping up in my inner  garden. Ones of judgment, which were part of the damage in the first place in my teens & for years just kept burying me deeper in a hole. Oh My, God; I almost became the judgmental holier than thou person that created the angry young Me. While overall I AM as my name means, “Reborn” in Him, I am making much better choices in many areas, I do have ears to hear and eyes to see, and am SOOOOO Grateful for it All. But, look! just like that, I almost got bound up in the oh so painful damaging views and attitudes of “Judgment” instead of showing His Love…like the so much Love He has given to me. Oh, I am so thankful for all those who Chose to Trust In His Promises, who Believed “with Him all things are possible”, who prayed for me and allowed Him to show them The Way to deal with me… I am so grateful they Listened to what & how He was telling them to Love me and give me Grace, Forgiveness, Mercy, and Comfort. For 3 days now it has been brought  to my remembrance, We must never forget the many circumstances that create the angry & hurtful person that we are passing judgment on. And that it is thru New circumstances wrapped in LOVE that change can heal that person too, just like it did you. So, today I pray for those of us that have gotten caught in fear, pain, and/or the holier than thou attitude. Know these are Not a good choices either. Remember why and who helped you make it thru & show that Love & Be that person. Don’t let Self righteousness, fear or hurt take you on a journey where you forget where “you” came from, how “You” got there, & that you too have not always been perfect either….Keep in mind His words, As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one – Romans 3:10.  It is amazing to me how & who the Holy Spirit used to reveal a bad road I was taking and stopped me so I don’t continue to cast my stones. Wow, in this moment God brings this verse to mind:   John 8:7  “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone .” 

I see how easy it is to still (at 60 years old)  “get a little to big for my britches”, how we tend to have momentary lapses of where we came from or how it felt when we were the one “cast out”. And how instead of throwing stones we need to be more like my BFF, our Brother, Jesus & instead Be as He is LOVE.. ” showing His Love just as He has showed us so much Love…even when He surely could have justifiably cast stones”  I see how easy it is for words like we have to accept the thing “we” can’t change to mislead us if we aren’t careful. True “We” may not be able to change someone or even some things But, “with God “‘s help and guidance “all things are possible” (even what appears to be impossible) On that note, without mentioning names, I sign off today asking for prayer for ” the young lady” of whom I speak of in this post. Pray that God brings all the right people and Angels to Love & aid in the transformation of her inner garden. Her little boy needs that, her family needs that…SHE Needs that.  Pray for all those who were hurt by her, cause right now they All really need some healing and they need to remember to Trust that “ with God all things are possible”.  I mean, Really, Wouldn’t it be awesome to once again watch Love and all it’s attributes, prevail and  bear a good harvest?

Love and Peace to all.

1st let’s address what is Light?  It is the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible; illumination; a form of electromagnetic radiant energy; a brightness; something having little weight.  These definitions manifest in various forms. As always I like to reveal some verses describing the meaning of the Words I share. In reference to LIGHT in His Word I find these are most appropriate for todays post. Genesis 1:3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light  1 John 1:5 says, “God is Light; in Him there is no darkness”  Ephes 5:14 “for it is Light that makes everything visible “….. As always it is to your benefit to read the verses surrounding my choices…in doing so Much more Light will be revealed. Smile

2nd let’s literally look at some benefits of Light? Both physically and spiritually. 1.) the LIght of the sun/ SON boosts Serotonin..read that again then read the verses again. Both do Literally boosts and enhance your Mood. Researchers from the Baker Heart Research Institute in Melbourne found that levels of serotonin—a neurotransmitter that regulates appetite, sleep, memory, and mood—are lower during the winter than the summer. ( it has also been proven those who spend time in the Word sleep better and have a better attitude about life. Ask anyone who reads or listens to even 10 mins a day of His Word) The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University conducted a study proving Stress and Pain are reduced with Daily Sunlight. They found that patients who were placed in bright rooms reported less perceived stress and took less medication per hour than patients in dim rooms. This study also suggests that even indirect exposure to sunlight (i.e. through a window) can improve one’s mood & lesson their pain.  Now back to the LIGHT of the SON, Yeshua, it has also been proven the Light of His Word lessons Stress and Pain. How? Yeshua’s walk of Love itself brings Light to the darkness within which in turn makes your burdens “have less weight” (becoming Light). A brighter Attitude lessens the pains both within and without. I am happy to testify both Spiritually and Physically of the “natural” healing of the Light of His Love and His Word. Check out my little book, “Somewhere in Between” and it will reveal the benefits of His Light in my times of darkness. And here is a site with a great testimony of a woman in New York with painful tumors on the nerves of her feet who decided to seek the Light of the SON’s healing Love in place of surgery : http://www.rdohealingministry.org/testimonials/   These testimonies reveal the Truth in the verse of John 1:4 “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His Life brought light to everyone.”  However, like Everything Else, both the sun and the SON should Be Enjoyed in Moderation. Excessiveness with either destroys the benefits of the Light.  You say, “what? Moderation of the SON?”  Yes, Yeshua and His Word taken to excessiveness no longer edifies, no longer operates in the benefits of it’s Light & Love but, instead becomes the Bondage of the distortion of Man (taking the Word out of context) closing the door on His Light & once again creating darkness both within and without here on Earth. If you read further in Genesis you will see how in God’s creation there is both Darkness and Light and both do serve a purpose in the operations of His Universe. In the moderation of darkness there is a time of Rest.  Plus, in His creation & in the discoveries of Science it is made clear we Can’t have one without the other! There is a positive and negative energy flow within ALL life and one needs the other to perform at there optimum strength. It is in moderation and time spent in both the darkness and the Light, all things Grow and burst forth into the Light producing a good harvest. smile  Darkness is like Weeds it can choke you out or serve a purpose. In our outer gardens it is proven weeds have their good side. Under controlled circumstances, a number of beneficial weeds can greatly benefit our gardens. They hold top-soil, pull up water and nutrients, provide food, help control insects and more. In our inner gardens the weeds of Life situations can either bury us in the darkness OR under “controlled circumstances” those weed situations can make us strong as we work our way Thru pulling them out that we to might provide an abundant harvest amoung those we Love. Example: Grieving the loss of someone/something, this weed can be beneficial as we go thru a releasing process.. Or allowing ourselves to embrace the blues and goThru them that we might become aware of what we need to weed out so that the good seed within might burst forth and enjoy the Light of Love to its fullest. Do you see the importance of moderation?  It is not healthy to clear cut the garden leaving no support in His grand design. Can you see how both Science and His Word operate as One? Only mankind divides the two and all to often take things to excess avoiding & destroying that which can and Will make us stronger. It is not “natural” to live Life hidden in the darkness or in to much light. It was Not God’s intention in the Beginning & it still isn’t.

Read Genesis 1: 1-31 for the full picture of how Science (nature) and His Word work together as One. Right off the bat it reveals how Light and Darkness are necessary. The Creation of the World : ” In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God (Love)was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night…..”  Clearly if darkness was to be totally eliminated He would have wiped it out “in the beginning”.  You see how Light was necessary to balance the extremes of Darkness? in the extreme, darkness creates a lack of growth, chaos, despair, & ultimately death. Yet in moderation: The earth, including mankind, still enjoy some of the benefits of its infancy in creation. In God’s creation, nature and it’s storms, rain, and darkness purify the earth. And check out this scientific article reveals how Darkness benefits our health  http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=117447  As this reveals it turns out we need darkness to make our immune systems work. Scientists have now discovered that only when it’s really dark can your body produce the hormone called melatonin. Melatonin fights diseases, including breast and prostate cancer.  Do you see HOW SMART GOD IS? He created a Natural healing in His original design of earth. At the same time notice how scientists are just getting it. LOL  This isn’t new news…it was revealed ‘in he beginning”…. Boy can Man be slow on the uptake – hard headed is what I always say. Don’t get me wrong, at times I am one who is double hard headed!! Praise God I can also testify, as I go thru my seasons I continually grow, finally get it, and do have my times I too burst forth in His Light bringing a good message which reaps good harvest. (just as He promised.) So, today I give thanks to Science and the sharing of knowledge by our scientists & at the same time I give heartfelt thanks to Jesus (Yeshua) who continually guides me in The Way to operate in both the darkness and the Light that I might gain the best of both. I sign off saying this: Whether we want to admit it or Not, the Truth is; God is the Master Gardner & Master Scientist who created the Light and IS the Light in which both darkness and Light manifest the Best of all things right here on this ole Earth.

Now having gained some Light from the Word of the SON, it’s time I head out by the pool and get the beneficial Vitamin D gained from the Light of the Planet, Sun. May you all enjoy the sharing of these words and may your day be filled with….

Peace and Love!