Good Sense…..Makes Good Sense

My 5:45 am early morning walks are getting darker and darker. I thought, because it’s summer, that it would stay bright and light at least until September, but not so. I walk that early before it gets so hot outside. But this morning, it was pitch dark so I knew I needed to take my flashlight to brighten my way. I’m glad I did.

I had the good sense to know I made the right decision when I came across this handle that I could easily have tripped over. I’m still in recovery from the face plant that I encountered a few weeks ago, simply because my foot hit a heave in the street. Then, not much further down the road, this rag was in the street and I could have gotten tangled up in it.

I started singing that old African American spiritual song: “All night, all day, angels watching over me, my Lord. All night, all day, angels watching over me!” Thank God for my guardian angels who I’m sure have double duty over me!

And, without that flashlight, I might have missed seeing this frog. I took the photo and bid him farewell and thought: “Could this be my Prince Charming and I should have kissed him?”

I don’t like to over-spiritualize everything in my life because God gave us “good sense”. But, still I believe that “good sense” really is the Holy Spirit Who Jesus said would be ours when He ascended to heaven. So, call it what you may, I still believe good sense, our conscience and Holy Spirit are one and the same when we acknowledge Him. The Bible teaches us that those who put their faith in Christ for salvation, receive the person of the Holy Spirit for indwelling. The Holy Spirit within us is the source of all knowledge and of all common sense.

Jesus said in John 14:15-17 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

Thanks, God, for the help AND the Helper! Thanks, God, for my angels! Thanks, God, for the good common sense you gave us. May we activate and appreciate all the gifts You have given us because You love us so much!

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Typically, I'm not, because usually there's a little light of some kind around that helps us see a path we're on. I'll admit, though, while at my kids' home in Austin and I was staying at the guest house for a while....late at night when I walked between the two houses, I did get an eery feeling about a bobcat or another creature jumping out at me. LOL! Then on Monday morning when the electricity was completely out in their home and it was pitch black in the room and house, I did think about those who are seeing impaired and I had a new appreciation for their abilities and courage to live life so fully. I was thrilled I had my mini flashlight with me to help me navigate through the house.

I saw this photo online and tweaked it a little and made it my own as I thought about how the "darkness" was taking over way too many of my friends' lives. Their children are afraid to sleep without a light on in the room and another friend said she needed the TV going to get to sleep. I saw the shades pulled down in a friend's home. Seemed she was preferring the darkness. Each of these precious people, and perhaps, some of you, need to hear these words today. The darkness is afraid of your light and when your light shines brightly..... the darkness will run in fear.

I heard Australian speaker, Christine Caine, tell this story about her little girl. "When my daughter, Sophia Joyce, was very young, we were shopping at a Wal-Mart. We love America for your Wal-Marts! It’s the only place I know of where I can get a casserole and a flat-screen TV at 3:00 a.m. Sophie wanted a flashlight and had the perfect one picked out. Unfortunately Wal-Mart’s flourescent lighting doesn’t make for the best conditions to test out a flashlight. At the register, she was so excited to go home and try out her new little gadget. She said, “Come on, Mum! Let’s go find some darkness.” The lady at the register must have thought I was crazy. I was so excited about the insight of my little girl in that moment. I gave her the whole spiel. “Sophia, what you just said shows more spiritual maturity than most Christians ever reach. We will absolutely go find some darkness!”

And, that precious story speaks volumes about us and our lights. Often, we are so introspective about our fears, anxieties, and the darkness around us, that we fail to realize we don't have to stay there.....in that darkness. We can literally counterattack that darkness by turning on THE LIGHT within us, and when we do that -- we will shine so brightly that the darkness just can't stay. And, the best part? Not only will the darkness be dispeled in our lives...it will light up the world around us. So, as Christine told her little girl......let's go find some darkness and turn our LIGHTS on brightly and just see the change we'll make for ourselves and those around us today!

Cuddles from Heaven and on Earth

Day 280 of Photo Inspirations - Cuddles From Heaven & On Earth
Going to church was one of my favorite "date" places to go to with my Sweetheart.  It seemed that the presence of the Lord brought us even closer together when we were there.  He would hold and caress my hand, put his arm around me, and whisper "I love you".  And I don't think God was jealous one bit when we expressed our love to each other there.  In fact, He was probably applauding that affection and love -- after all, that precious love between a husband and wife is one of His most marvelous creations.

Genesis 2:21-24 "So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”  That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."  Talk about GENIUS and master-designed creations!!!!  God is the MASTER CREATOR!!

In the sweetness of God's love and our love, God blessed us with a friendship with a precious family. Howblessed we were when Owen, their 3rd-born, this adorable 10 year old pictured here, became our godson. We were so blessed to be there 10 years ago when he was baptized -- thus my photo inspirations for today.  We took being godparents very seriously -- praying for him, celebrating him and continuing to give him the reasons why he is so precious and beautiful and reminding him that God has so much potential in his future.  We always made it a big deal to celebrate his baptism every year.  After all, that's when he came into the "Family of God". And that's what I did yesterday -- I had been in Seattle on September 25th -- his actual baptism day.  I want to continue to influence this little guy in his relationship with Jesus.  If I can have a small hand in that, I say, "Here's my hand, Lord!"  His card said, "This little light of Owen's.....he's gonna' let it shine!"  And, I gave him a flashlight as a little reminder.  BIG smiles!

Yesterday was special, but as I said in the first paragraph here, my sweetheart and I made going to church a place where our love for each other increased.  So when he graduated to heaven (5 years next month), I could have only thought of how much I missed him when I went to church.  But I think, he AND God had something special in mind.  Owen took over where my sweetheart left off. To this day, since Ron's exit, Owen runs to sit by me in church.  He wraps his arms around me, holds my hand and kisses my cheek.  Oh, yes, I sense heaven with me when Owen is with me.  I am loved here and from up there.  Yes, his little light shines brightly in my life!

The Dark is Afraid of Me

Day 38 - Photo Inspiration --
This was a random photo that inspired me a few days ago,.  I tweaked it a little and made it my own as I thought about how the "darkness" was taking over way too many of my friends' lives.  A couple of days ago, I read where a friend's little girl was very afraid of the dark.  And, a few days ago, I heard a friend say, "I'm too hurt to to try again."  Today, I saw the shades in my friend's home.  Seemed she was preferring the darkness.   Each of these precious people, and perhaps, some of you, need to hear these words today.  The darkness is afraid of your light and when your light shines brightly.....the darkness will run in fear.

I heard Australian speaker, Christine Caine, tell this story about her little girl.  "When my daughter, Sophia Joyce, was very young, we were shopping at a Wal-Mart. We love America for your Wal-Marts! It’s the only place I know of where I can get a casserole and a flat-screen TV at 3:00 a.m.  Sophie wanted a flashlight and had the perfect one picked out. Unfortunately Wal-Mart’s florescent lighting doesn’t make for the best conditions to test out a flashlight. At the register, she was so excited to go home and try out her new little gadget. She said, “Come on, Mum! Let’s go find some darkness.”  The lady at the register must have thought I was crazy. I was so excited about the insight of my little girl in that moment. I gave her the whole spiel!  “Sophia, what you just said shows more spiritual maturity than most Christians ever reach. We will absolutely go find some darkness!”

And, that precious story speaks volumes about us and our lights.  Often, we are so introspective about our fears, anxieties, and the darkness around us, that we fail to realize we don't have to stay there.....in that darkness.  We can literally counterattack that darkness by turning on THE LIGHT within us, and when we do that -- we will shine so bright that the darkness just can't stay.  And, the best part?  Not only will the darkness be dispeled in our lives...it will light up the world around us.  So, as Christine told her little girl......let's go find some darkness and turn our LIGHTS on brightly and just see the change we'll make for ourselves and those around us today!