What Good Do My Prayers Do, Anyway?

 

I thank the Lord that my prayers ARE fervent and effective and so are yours!  Hallelujah!

“….The effectual and fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much.” – James 5:16 KJV

While reading through a social media post the other morning, I realized suddenly, that my prayers are not without effect – even when I cannot see the effects they bring.

Mine is not the place to make decisions for others, but to pray God’s perfect will over their lives.

I can do that.

We’re all given free will, which at some point, we begin to exercise for ourselves. This includes our grown children, our friends and neighbors, our parents; all our relatives and loved ones. And yes, even the dictator in a foreign land.

What a sneaky ploy of the enemy to try to convince us that our prayers have no effect!

It’s a lie.

Satan speaks to what we can see with our carnal eyes, the eyes we see the world through – the eyes that look at circumstances instead of looking at what God has to say about it. And God – will always have the final word!

Hallelujah!

What an effective way to get someone to stop doing something: to convince them that it’s not doing any good at all.

What a cunning lie to plant in the mind of God’s people: to get them to focus on circumstances that seem frustrating at best.

All the while – God is at work on the hearts of our loved ones.

Guess where we were when God found us? Yes! In sin! Is there any doubt that that’s exactly where He’ll find our loved ones? (Romas 5:8)

Do not relent. Your prayers ARE fervent and effective!

“….The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:16 NIV

Some may call into question my righteousness, or their own. But remember, we’re not righteous in and of ourselves, we’re MADE righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:21) So don’t let Satan twist that lie into your brain. Your prayers ARE effective and powerful because you ARE righteous! Jesus did that for you! When you asked Him to forgive your sin and to live in your heart – God made you the righteousness of Christ. You put on HIS righteousness.

Keep praying. And when you pray, listen for God’s direction.

He knows better than we do where the wounds are in our loved one’s hearts. He knows better than we do what will soften their hearts and open their spiritual eyes and ears. And He knows what blanket of lies they’re comfortable beneath, and fully able to rip it off of them.

By His GOODNESS He draws us to repentance. (Romans 2:4) With His great love, mercy and compassion, He holds us all in HIS heart.

Yes, the people we’re praying for get to choose for themselves. And yes, that can look scary sometimes.

But the “odds” are stacked against the enemy. He’s a defeated foe. He was conquered right along with death, hell and the grave long before Jesus even walked the road to the Cross, way back when the Trinity came up with the plan! On that Cross – Jesus suffered and died to provide for our redemption. His work is not in vain.

Have faith, my friend. For without it, it’s impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

We don’t need to fight Satan; Jesus took on that job.

We’re to fight the good fight of faith. (1 Timothy 6:12)

And believe me, Satan will attack you on every front he finds available in attempt to steal that faith from you. BUT GOD gave you that faith. Hang on to it. Endure to the end.

You’ve still got it! Don’t rely on circumstances to be your measuring stick for successful prayer. Rely on the Word of God.

Yes, your prayers ARE fervent AND effective! Hallelujah!

“….The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” – James 5:16 NLT

 

What Are You Questioning?

 

(pinterest)

Seldom, but sometimes I sit down at my keyboard and ponder what to write. Usually, something is already itching at my fingertips and words come out without effort. Today, I pondered.

I consider myself a follower. Yes, I follow Jesus – and I love that I love my Leader!

But I’m a follower with leadership skills and abilities, so sometimes, when I’m following, I want to tell my leader(s) “better ways” to get the tasks done. Some call it being bossy.

Being a follower, one who can follow instructions – I crave instructions for the most complicated things in life. Don’t tell me how to better make a pan of lasagna, though I’m open to suggestions. But those complex things, like how does a person resolve anger issues or put their past to bed – those need step by step directions! Maybe implausible, because we’ll heal somewhat differently, even if there are basic principles that would help us all.

(clipartlibrary)

Sometimes I get frustrated with self-help books and want to scream at the author, “Just tell me what to do!”

Life doesn’t always work that way.

Even here with my blog posts, some readers may want answers to life’s great questions. I can share with you the answers I’ve personally discovered, but they may not be YOUR answers. The only One with all the answers is the One I hope to point you to with every post I share.

“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.”

-         Proverbs 25:2 KJV

And in case you didn’t know, you ARE a king.

Revelation 1:5-6 tell us that Jesus “loves us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

(newspring .cc)

God wants you to have all the answers, and He uses us to help each other. But the most important thing He wants from you is your heart and He longs to give you His. He wants to talk WITH you, He wants to do life with you. He wants to give you the best life possible, He wants to heal all your hurts. He wants to set you free. He wants to live in you – and He wants you to live in Him. He wants you to put Him first because He put YOU first. Yep – there’s that intimacy thing again.

I can point you to Him all I want.

(pinterest)

But till you sit down with Him and have those conversations you’ve been avoiding, you’ll still ache. You’re not hiding. Not really.

Is it time yet? Are you TIRED ENOUGH YET of carrying the weight of your troubles?

God isn’t mad at you. Not at all. Run to Him. Be healed. Get alone with Him.

Psalm 139 describes the God’s perfect knowledge of everything about you. Read it here:  Psalm 139

What I DO Know

 

(wallpapercave .com)

As I was laying in bed praying for you the other night, this is what I felt God had me write down for you.

I don’t know a lot of things. I know you believe there’s a God; I don’t know your thoughts towards Him. But I do know His thoughts towards you. (See Psalm 139)

I do know that He loves you.

I do know that He isn’t mad at you.

I do know that He isn’t punishing you for anything (Jesus already took all your punishments when He went to the cross for you).

I do know that He’s reaching out to you, always.

I do know that He’s always with you, whether you realize it or not – and whether you want Him there or not.

I do know there’s no place you can go where He isn’t already there.

I do know what great value He places on you. Jesus values you so much that He chose to die in your place so that you can live in His place.

I do know that this great value has nothing to do with what you do or choose not to do; your value is intrinsic (you were born with it).

I do know that He has a plan and purpose for your life.

I do know that God created you in His own image.

I do know that He’s filled you with gifts and talents and promise.

I do know that He always wants to communicate with you, even when you think you can’t hear His voice.

I do know that He wants you healed and whole, inside, and out.

I do know that He loves the people you love.

I do know that He loves the people you hate or are angry with. He’s reaching out to them, too.

I do know that the Psalmist David said that God keeps your tears in a bottle, and that your prayers are a sweet-smelling savor to Him.

I do know that He sings over you.

I do know that He sees you, all the time.

I do know that He knows your thoughts before you even think them.

I do know that He’s already planned a way out of every trouble you’ll get yourself into.

I do know that He wants to live in your heart and that He wants you to live in His.

I do know that He’s already provided all you need; all you’ll ever need.

I do know that He’s already positioned friends and allies for you, right when and where you’ll need them.

I do know that He breathed life into you for His own precious reasons.

I do know that He’s protected you when you weren’t even aware that He was there.

I do know that He’ll continue to be your protection.

I do know that He’s not “out there somewhere” but that He’s as close as the mention of His Name.

I do know that He’s given His children His power and authority.

I do know that He always gives you choice, the right to choose Him or to ignore Him.

I do know that God’s heart is your home.

I do know that when no one sees you or what you’re going through, He does.

I do know that He will always be speaking to your heart.

I do know that you can hear Him when He speaks.

I do know that He made you strong, but that He is stronger and that He shows up in your times of weakness.

I do know that your feelings don’t explain the situation.

I do know that He doesn’t just want you to know about Him, but that He wants you to know Him, personally and intimately.

I do know that He always wants your love and your praise and your thankfulness.

I do know that with every temptation, He’s already provided an escape.

I do know that He wants you to see yourself the way He sees you.

I do know that He trusts you.

 

I do know that I love you, too, even though I’m not always with you.

I do know that I pray for you every day.

I do know that He hears my prayers for you, every single time I pray.

I do know that He hears you, every single time YOU pray.

I do know that He gave me these words just for you, for good reason.

Standing on the Edge of Revelation

 

(picture from wallpapercave.com)

To me, intimacy is a big deal. I want intimacy with the people in my life.

I’ve noticed, though, that so many people in my life would rather keep to themselves. They don’t seem to want intimacy with their friends and family members. It’s not that they seem to have some big, deep, dark secrets in their lives that they’re hiding from people. Maybe it’s just that in a society that affords us so little privacy, they’re trying to create a private place. Maybe it’s just a matter of boundaries, of which I have too few.

The other night, in the middle of an emotional prayer… I may have gained a little insight on intimacy - or the fear of it. 

With great excitement, I prayed -

Heavenly Father, I love You. I adore You. I worship You! Help me to revel in You, to delight in You, to walk in Your presence and breathe my every breath in You, to bring my every thought to You.

Help me to see you with my spiritual eyes. I know that You see all of me. Allow me to see inside of You, allow me to look into Your heart. I need to see what You see, to feel what You feel.

Then, suddenly, I was afraid to see.
I looked away. My excitement went from a rolling boil to the simmering of a desperate plea.

Father, draw me close. Draw me closer and closer until I'm nestled in Your arms and can feel Your breath against my face and our hearts beat together as one. You created me and know my inner most thoughts, fears and longings, You know my desire to be completely immersed in You.

Don't let me go.
Hold me tight.
I need You.

Knowing intimacy is shared, fear wrapped her boney fingers around my tongue.

Now my prayer was filled with weeping.

Your love will be too great! Your pain will be too deep.
I feel as though I'll sink into the vast pool of Your love and the depth will overwhelm me.
If I drown in Your love, though I'm so terribly afraid of drowning, yet, let me abide there. Saturate me.
I long to explore the untouched places in Your heart.

Still afraid, but reassurance begins to creep in.

Your Word so often reminds me to fear not...
Your mercy exposes Your patience with me.
Your grace displays Your compassion for me.

I want to run completely into You. No looking back. No hesitation.
You didn’t give me a spirit of fear or timidity! You gave me Your Spirit of power, and of love and of a sound mind.

 

Questioning and reasoning peek into the conversation.

 

What will it take to step forward and leave my fear behind? What am I afraid to commit?
You are my Lord, my Savior, my God and my King. Surely my heart will explode with Your love. That’s a good thing! That’s the goal!

 

Submission falls over me with refreshing peace.

 

Father, replace any fear in me with Your holy boldness.
Have mercy on me, Lord. Snatch me up into Your arms of grace. Rescue me.
Again.

Again, I fell asleep as God continued to work on entwining my heart with His.

(from thommiodem.com)

Bug on a Trail

 

I'm always looking for spiritual parallels, because sometimes if you're not paying attention, they're lost on you. 

 

Since my husband retired, we've been going hiking in the mornings. We're walking, but I call it hiking because we're on trails out and about in the open spaces of the Colorado Springs area. Some trails are rocky, some sandy, some paved. 

 

Shout out to my friend Kelly for the new, pink trekking poles! I love them! Thank you, Kelly. 

 

While huffing and puffing uphill, my walking stick/trekking pole came down right next to a giant beetle. 

 

Whew! That was close. Almost crushed him.

 

I wondered; did he even see my pole? Did he know how close he just came to painful death? Did his heart race at the narrow escape?

Do bugs praise God?

 

(from boingboing.net)

Or perhaps he never saw it coming; never even noticed my pole less than an inch from his black, shiny body. 

 

How often do we miss God's protection?

 

We'll never know how many times divine intervention saved us from disaster, or even death. 

 

God's not finished with us yet!

 

As the decades flitter by and time piles up behind us, most of us can recall hard times. But we're here today. 

 

So many of us have survived some tough stuff. After a battle in India, Winston Churchill said, "I've been preserved for higher things." 

 

Why am I here?

 

I ask myself that question plenty. 

I need to be asking God and watching for His answers.

 

Why are YOU here?

 

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

 

The Struggle is Real

(Picture from livestrong.com)

What an honor to be asked to share a guest blog for Positively Debbie! She never ceases to amaze me with her courage, tenacity and determination. She continues to inspire me and encourage me in my fitness journey as I watch her push forward with hers.

It’s not just about weight loss, but that seems to be where we measure it the most. For me, it’s clearly about what I do and don’t put into my mouth; that’s where my weakness seems to triumph over me, daily.

I tend to look at things through the mirror of parallels – what’s going on around me spiritually while I take part in what’s going on around me physically?

My weight loss pendulum swings far to the heavy side, at the moment. As I age, it’s quite tempting to blame the advancing years for the slowing down of my body. It’s also easy to blame my emotions for the Doritos and pizza my mouth craves.

I’ve read some terrific books over the years (here’s a great one: - Made to Crave, by Lysa Terkeurst).

And, I’ve met some fabulous encouragers, those who’ve gone before me in this fitness journey, and met it with success. Debbie is one of those who’ve faced the battles, though different in appearance from my own, the roots are the same.

Among so many things, we face loneliness (empty nest syndrome), sadness (the absence of loved ones), hormonal fluctuations, boredom, and an overall emptiness that longs to be filled.

The way I see it, the deciding factor for reaching our fitness goals is simply: with what do I fill my gaping voids?

Another great book? I AM, by Michele Chusatt

Sometimes, I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m a Christian, because too often, there’s a lack of evidence with which I could be convicted as such. I feel like many could judge me and say, “If this God of yours truly loves you, why doesn’t He help you with these important areas of life struggles?”

And that’s just the kind of thing the enemy tries to silence me with, not being a good example before my fellow strugglers.

But, the blame lies with me. Enough of this banter that says, “…it’s not your fault…” Indeed, most of the time, it IS my fault. I get to choose whether I listen to the voice of logic and reason that tells me the bag of Doritos I’ve hidden for myself is the wrong place to go for validation and acceptance. I know in my heart, that God has already validated my heart, and has unconditionally accepted me, blemishes and all. He waits eagerly to meet my every need. He longs to be my source, for everything. Better yet, He loves me – always has, always will.

Yet… I too often seek refuge in a salty snack. Why? I suppose if I had all the answers, my book would be the next best seller and I wouldn’t have a weight loss care in the world.

The answers that I know will truly work, are those answers that have worked for me in the past:

*Get my eyes on Jesus, not on the weight scale. What we look at determines what fills our minds. Is my mind on God? Or on that little digital number that can ruin my day?

*Turn to the Bible before I lunge for the snacks. Most often, the desire for the snack disappears. My focus determines my actions.

*Get my praise on! Don’t listen to sad, sappy love songs where the songwriter ended up on the losing end of things!

*Listen to what God says about me, not what the world tries to force down my throat. I AM worthy of love, I AM accepted and justified, through Jesus Christ! Gone are the days of shame, Jesus has washed me clean of all that. The enemy of my soul loves to drag me down with his lies and a big bag of chips.

*Recognize: I GET TO CHOOSE. With every single choice presented to me throughout my day, I get to choose my response.

*My go-to passage in the Bible: Philippians 4:4-8 – Think on the good things!

Of course, eating clean and moving more are pivotal, but, we have to get to a place where we recognize that we deserve to eat clean and move our bodies. The lie that it’s just not worth it, we’re just not worth it – is the chain that binds us to unhealthy habits (whether it’s overeating, or overconsumption of alcohol or any other addiction that tempts us).

(Picture from Pinterest.com)

 Thank you for hearing my “points to ponder”.

Here’s a poem I wrote a few years back while seeing the weight scale greet me with pleasantries each morning. But, it’s true, even when the scale is mean to me.

Perhaps you didn’t hear me when I said I’d lose this weight

I meant it when I said it and you cannot change my fate

In Jesus’ Name I cast down any morbid enemy

that would try to take my freedom

and my grace away from me

I rebuke you, I resist you and you cannot steal my day

I choose this day Whom I shall serve,

and I shall serve His Way

I choose to live and not to die, I’ll walk a life of faith

I choose to lose the extra weight I’ve carried and I hate

In Jesus’ Name I’ll not give in to worldly ways and whine

I’ll not go running back to food for comfort for my mind

The God that made the universe and holds it in His Hands

Can surely take me through this trial into the promised lands

My mind’s made up, I’ve turned my face

away from earth’s rewards

I’ll draw upon my GOD as I take up His trusty Sword

I’ll fight the battle to be fought and know that I will win

His Sword is filled with Living Words

that keep my soul from sin

His Word will build me up

and keep me from the snares of man

He’ll fill me up with all I need -as only Jesus can

He Himself said meat is just to do His Father’s Will

He is the Bread of Life and will sustain me ever still

I’m living proof that Jesus truly saves, forgives and keeps

He’ll sanctify me daily as I yield my heart so deep

The wounds that I have carried for so many haunting years

Are healed in Jesus’ Precious Name, erased with all my fears.

~Helen Williams! c  2002

Prayer Challenge

(My own photo. Dave and me on Pikes Peak.)

I remember the phrase, the family that prays together, stays together. Yeah, it’s a cliché, but for those families that truly pray together I believe there’s a bond that unites their hearts in a special way, no matter what; even when disagreements and family arguments make their way into our lives.

I grew up in a Catholic family that prayed together almost every single night until us kids got to our teen years. My mom had us get on our knees and recite memorized prayers before a crucifix or a Catholic statue before bed. Some nights it was hard not to giggle, exchanging glances and wobbling on our knees.

Now that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Himself, it’s easier to commit to prayer time because I’m spending that time talking with my very best friend. And talking is what I do the most. I’m sure He’s pleased with the fact that I’m learning to listen, too.

Is it now “nerdy” or “geeky” to pray? Is it too old-fashioned? Or is it merely the enemy’s plan to rob us of our strength, because united in prayer we’re a strong force to reckon with?

Some of my biggest blessings come through my husband laying his hand on my head every morning and praying over me before he goes to work. Not a complaint passes through my lips without him praying over whatever has me upset. I’m honored to be his wife, He loves me with a never-ending love; unconditionally. His love is without limitations.

We draw incredible strength from praying, out loud, together. It’s empowering and draws us even closer, creating more intimacy between us.

A guest speaker at our church, Pastor Deo from Uganda said, “Prayerlessness means you believe you can do everything in your own strength, without help from God. Depend on God!”

Pastor Deo went on to exhort, “Personal prayer alters have been destroyed, family prayer alters have been broken down and church prayer alters are formal and weak.”

Does this describe your prayer life?

I’d like to toss out a challenge.

Couples: etch out a few minutes each morning or evening to pray, out loud, together. Commit to it for a week and let me know what, if anything, changes in your lives. Singles: take that same time to commit to prayer everyday and watch for the results in your day-to-day life, and if you wouldn’t mind, fill me in.

We need to be entering into communion with the God of the universe; and seeking His heart on every matter, from our relationship with Him, to our knowledge of Him and His ways, to what’s on His heart and in His plans. Simply spouting off a grocery-type list of requests probably yields very little change.

We can be interceding for our children, our family relationships, our marriages and the marriages of those around us. The enemy seeks to destroy our children by hijacking our marriages. Yes, sometimes divorce seems to be the only answer to marital problems. But, sometimes it’s just the easiest or fastest to come by. In the long run, it can give Satan and his minions leverage against us, and our children. If you’re already in a blended family, pray for strength and unity, and courage to face life’s problems together.

We can be interceding for the unborn in our world, that the wombs that house them truly are the safest place they can be. We can come against radical Islam and witchcraft (which yes, is very much a reality) and against evil powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wickedness in high places. Our battle is not with each other, though often it appears so.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” – Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

I look forward to hearing about what prayer is doing in your life!

An Inspiring Challenge

(picture from motivationalmemo.com)

Breezing into this challenge and presuming it will be easy, but we shall see. My friend Debbie extended the challenge she was given, to her friends, and I in turn, extend it to you. Can you come up with 100 positive things about your life?

I thank God for each of these phenomenal blessings. I’m forever grateful to serve and be in love with the God Who just can’t stop blessing!

(These 100 blessings/positive things in my life are not necessarily in numerical order, I’m not ‘ranking’ them. AND, I apologize for how long this became and for how the spacing freakishly changed on me; I honestly can't explain it and I'm too tired to continue wrestling with it. You don’t have to read it all at once if you don’t want to, but be sure to come back and finish!)

1.           Jesus is my Savior, my Lord and my best friend. He loves me unconditionally and forever.

2.       Dave is my husband, my best friend in the flesh, and the love of my life. He loves me unconditionally and forever, too! (He can’t help himself!)

3.        My firstborn child is my amazing, handsome, strong, intelligent and charismatic young man who proudly serves our country as a member of the elite group of men known as Army Airborne Soldiers, and he’s gifted me with two incredible grandsons.

4.           My second born child is my beautiful, precious Princess – she’s brave and kind and has one of the biggest hearts on the planet, and has gifted me with four incredible grandchildren.

5.         My third born child is my baby, though he’s bigger than I am. He’s my Marine, my courageous, disciplined, handsome, faithful son, who’s blessed me with three more incredible grandchildren. I am blessed, indeed.

6.             My first grandson, Kyle.

7.             My second grandson, Collin.

8.             My third grandson, Johnny.

9.                         My fourth grandson, Josef.

10.                        My fifth grandson, Joseph.

11.                        My first granddaughter, Versais.

12.                        My second granddaughter, Fiona.

13.                        My third granddaughter, Abigail.

14.                        My fourth granddaughter, Temperance. (I’ve listed the grandchildren by age, not necessarily the order they came into my life.) Each grandchild brings their own unique blessings into my life and love for them is unconditional and forever, just like their parents.

15.                        I was raised by amazing, loving parents who were my first glimpse into what God Himself might be like. Have I always agreed with them? No. But I haven’t always agreed with anyone, as far as I know.

16.                        I have a gorgeous daughter in law that loves me and a wonderful new son in law who loves me – and I love them both with all my heart. If you’re going to love my children, you’ve got to know you have a special, permanent place in my heart.

17.                        I’m growing more beautiful every day, because I’m recognizing my own beauty a little more each day.

18.                               I live in a very happy home!

19.                       My wonderful husband brings home enough of a paycheck that I’m not forced to work to pay the bills. I can’t tell you how grateful that makes me. Should I choose to get a job, it will be just that – a choice.

20.                        I have an abundance of friends and acquaintances that love me. Even the ones who really know me! I don’t dare try to mention names or we’d be here many, many days….

21.                        I’m forgiven.

22.                        I’m generally surrounded by kindness.

23.                       I have many gifts and talents, some of which I’m just discovering now. Life gets better every day!

24.                        I’m learning self-discipline and the process of implementing boundaries in my life. This is VERY liberating. Sure, I should have established this years ago – but, rather than get down on myself for not yet having “arrived” in life, I’m getting there!

25.                        I love my yoga classes and my yoga instructor.

26.                        My car is paid for and still doing me proud and it’s ten years old already!

27.                        I have five wonderful siblings, whom I love with all my heart. We may not all live close together or see each other as much as we could/should, be the ties that bind us together are very stretchy!

28.                        I have a plethora of nieces and nephews who are each adorable and incredible blessings to me, whether they realize it or not.

29.                        I love to write. YOU love to read!

30.                        I love to read.

31.                        I love food. And I’m learning to recognize the real stuff from the imposters that have poisoned my body for too many years and making healthier choices every day.

32.                        I’m becoming involved in politics, learning so many new things about the ways our local and state and federal government work, and don’t work. It’s not fair to complain if I’m not taking steps to educate myself and contribute some good to the situation.

33.                        I’m stronger than I ever thought I would be, and getting stronger every day. The exciting part is, I’ve become aware of that strength.

34.                        I pray. For myself, for you, and for every stranger God lays on my heart. And I know that I know that I know that my prayers are heard and answered. And I know that God won’t compromise anyone’s freedom of choice simply because I’ve prayed. I trust Him with that.

35.                        I’m a giver.

36.                        I’m learning to be a receiver.

37.                        Now that I’ve finally taken the dive and got myself a new cell phone, I’m actually not afraid of it or the changes it represents. Gone with the old! Into the new. Do I know how to use it yet? Not completely. But I’m not afraid of the new technology. I thought I would be.

38.                        I have great hair! Is that a vain thought? I don’t care.

39.                        I’ve reconnected with cousins and old friends through Facebook and it’s wonderful!

40.                        I love the breezes God sends my way.

41.                        I love the sunshine. And I treasure it even more after a few days of gray skies.

42.                        I love TREES! And praise God, the longer I live, the more different types I get to see – and touch!

43.                        I love beaches; the warm, beautiful sandy beaches of the east coast in particular, though Hawaii has some great ones, too.

44.                        I’ve been blessed to travel with my precious husband to places I never dreamed I’d see.

45.                        I have some incredible memories. Sadly, though, I have a lot of great memories I can no longer remember, but – praise God for the ones I can recall!

46.                        I can sing, and I can do it quite well. Perhaps not as well as I once could, but I have fun with it!

47.                        Dave and I still have date nights. Often! We’re nerdy, crazy mad in love with each other.

48.                        Most of the people I know are honest, for the most part.

49.                        I have some fantastic, anointed pastors.

50.                        I trust that my best days are ahead of me!

51.                        The Sky Sox stadium is within walking distance from my house. I don’t go to nearly enough games, but I can if I choose to.

52.                        I know how to adapt, improvise and overcome!

53.                        I own a treasure of great books and a world of information is quickly and freely available to me with a keystroke and an internet connection.

54.                        My house is yellow. I always wanted a yellow house. This particular shade might be a bit bold, but hey – it’s super easy to locate my house, even from miles away. Yes, I say that with a smile on my face.

55.                        I trust easily.

56.                        I forgive easily.

57.                        My home has great city views and views of the mountains, as well. I drink it all in, daily.

58.                        I don’t dread birthdays anymore.

59.                        I don’t fear death anymore.

60.                        I am trusted.

61.                        I’m funny! It’s not always intentional, but, I can sure make people laugh. Thank God for my dad’s words of wisdom: “Helen, they’re not laughing AT you, they’re laughing WITH you.” Me: “But, Dad, I’m not laughing.” Dad: “Start!”

62.                        I love to wash my dishes by hand.

63.                        I love a good hot bath, and a soak in a nice, deep hot tub.

64.                        I’m very healthy. Sure, I have my aches and complaints from time to time, but overall, I’m very healthy. Yay!

65.                        I have great dreams. I write down the ones I see as most powerful.

66.                        I have God’s Word, both the logos and the Rhema!

67.                        On days when I can’t seem to sit still and focus on written words, my computer will read to me!

68.                        I love going for walks with Dave, and he loves walking with me.

69.                        We do it too often, but I love going out to eat with Dave, more face time!

70.                        After sitting through the rain, we get the smell of freshness that no other scent can parallel.

71.                        Just today, as I wearily drove through a drive-through for a drink, a small boy who doesn’t know me at all – blew me a kiss!

72.                        How positive and wonderful is this one? I live in a world filled with colors!

73.                        I love the birds that come to visit every day and bring joy to my yard with their songs.

74.                        I love 70s music and can listen to it any time I want to!

75.                        I have affordable health insurance. I did BEFORE Obamacare, too.

76.                        I love the sound of my children and grandchildren’s laughter.

77.                        Dave doesn’t snore anymore! I can sleep!

78.                        I have spell-check! It’s not necessary to embarrass myself publically.

79.                        I’m blessed with a wonderful Bible teacher who comes to hold Bible studies here in my own home.

80.                        I see beauty in everyone. Everyone!

81.                        Even with my eclectic tendencies, I’m learning to be more organized. Baby steps, Helen. Baby steps.

82.                        I know much of God’s Word by heart, yet each time I read it, He gives me fresh revelation.

83.                        I’m surrounded by talented, strong, inspiring people.

84.                        I don’t easily attach to material possessions.

85.                        Most days, I bubble over with joy. Perhaps not all day long – but, the joy is always there.

86.                        I’ve learned to “think on the good things”. (Philippians 4:8)

87.                        I like who I am.

88.                        I like who Dave is. And I like who we are together.

89.                        Coffee. ‘nuff said.

90.                        Oh, and chocolate!

91.                      It seems there’s always someone around to give me a hug when I need one.

92.                        We’re in our 37^th year of marriage and growing stronger every day.

93.                        I have some wisdom to go with the (few) gray hairs I’ve acquired.

94.                        My heart grows larger all the time, there’s always someone new to make room for there.

95.                        Dave and I can’t dance, but we do anyways, when no one is looking…

96.                        I love a good, rhyming poem, especially if I wrote it.

97.                        I love it when a light bulb goes off in my mind, though it can be frustrating when I can’t seem to communicate what I just got understanding on.

98.                        I love that you’re still reading this list!

99.                        I love water. I have a healthy respect for it, too. But I love drinking cold water and sitting in hot water.

100.                   I love that there is so much good in my life, that I believe I could come up with another list just as long as this one, just as quickly.

Thank you for your time and attention. I hope you’re inspired to write your own list. If it lifts you up and encourages you, post it on a wall somewhere you’ll see it often, so you’ll remember to stir up the good gifts in your life and remember to rejoice, in the midst of the rainy days.

God is merciful and gracious to us. He is faithful to us. And He loves us, even when we don’t return that love. There is nothing we can do to make Him stop loving us. Hallelujah! What a very long gratimoment! Thank you, Stacy Voss for giving us the gift of gratimoments to hold on to!

(picture from offbeatworlds.com)