Rocked By The Father

I don’t recall when it started but I remember once asking my grandmother when would it stop. Better yet how would I stop. It had become such a habit, one that embarrassed me to the core. I was in my teens and I was worried I would rub my hair out to a bald spot. She told me one day it would just happen. Not to worry about it. It would stop on its own.

I think it has been going on now for about fifty years, me rocking myself to sleep. I’ve had times not realizing I had stopped and times when it was incessant. I don’t know how my family was even able to sleep with me and tolerate the movements that and the cool air that would rush in between the swaying. They did it because they loved me and they knew it brought me some peace.

Today in service at church I heard the pastor speaking about how God rocks us in his arms and for the first time I fully understood why I do it. The father is comforting me like only he can. No matter how happy or unhappy, tired, fearful or anxious I may have been only the Father’s rocking can bring me comfort and lull me to sweet sleep. No one else has ever been able to completely give me that kind of peace. The peace that surpasses all understanding. Even though I did not understand why I was rocking God knew what I needed and he provided it. In that period of rest God was empowering me with inner strength through his Spirit preparing me to receive the love of Christ so I could continue on in whatever was to come. What a blessing that the Father loves us so much.

Our service today was based on Ephesians 3:14-21 – Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth.

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:14-21‬ ‭NIV

How is God comforting you and bringing you strength?

I pray this passage speaks to you in some way and you know Christ’s love is available to you.

Thank you for perusing and may God be with you tonight and always.😘

http://bible.com/111/eph.3.15-21.niv

Do Good!

Pinwheel 6. Do Good Wonderers.

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/gal.6.2.niv

I’m reminded to try to do Good to every one I intersect with. When I was performing judicial duties I came across many people who were in the midst of a sinful situation. I ways tried to be compassionate to their plight wishing I could do more for them beside the legal aspects. I wish I would have prayed for them and told them about the love of Jesus and how it was available to them. I carried many of their burdens trying to make sure they knew their legal right and what the law afforded them. I should have talk to them about what God offered them……salvation. The time has passed for them so I’ll share the message with you.

God sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is Love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.

May peace be with you and thank you for perusing.

Fasting

Sitting here at Dunkin’ Donuts thinking about how Jesus saved my life while eating a donut and drinking coffee. I have a Doctor appointment in about an hour. It is not going to look good now. I thought it was to be earlier with fasting labs. I hadn’t eaten a thing since yesterday evening. I was ready. Turns out I was early and I am to go back later. I needed to get something to eat to cover all the insulin I injected earlier. So here I sit while sugar ooze through my veins thinking about how Jesus saved my life.

This is a testimony on how we don’t pay attention to our own sins. It just came to mind how ungrateful this act is. Intentionally, unintentionally everything we do counts. It just started out as having a donut. That simple, the adversary got me to do harm to myself. I’m not going to dwell on it. I messed up. I’m going to pray over it and move on.

Father,

Thank you for convicting me and blessing me. Please forgive me for my arrogance and ignorance. In not really thinking about it, I took a chance on possibly damaging my body causing an early ending to my life. Forgive me for not thinking of your perfect will for my life. Forgive me for not thinking of my family. Forgive me for not cooperating with the medical team you laid out for me to be healed. Forgive me for not showing courage and strength when the adversary tempted me. Lord, I love you and I will do better. The victory belongs to you Lord. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

I invited you into my day to hopefully show how easily we can be tempted. We need to be watchful at all times. How can we serve God’s will on this earth if we are not ready and able to serve. What is your weakness?

Glory be to God for giving me the courage to write this message.

Denise

Rising Above It

I’m trying to stay focused on God but something happens to me when I hear a lie.  I just go all willy-nilly on a person.  From 0 to 100 and back down to 75 is how my husband used to explain it.  And it hurts.  Not just me but everyone who is in the room, within earshot even.  I hear them questioning what or who set me off.  I didn’t want to be that person,  I don’t even know when she appeared or when I became the one person I swore I would never be.   I pray to bind that personality and I feel the difference when I hear the lie.  I try to stay centered.  Sometime I perfect it with grace.  Other times I catch myself in mid hype and slow down the reaction.  It’s the journey I’m traveling.  The road to the crown is bumpy.  It is my destination so I try to rise above it.

<a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/willy-nilly/”>Willy-nilly</a&gt;

 

Wanderlust

Wonderers;

I’m packing my toothbrush once again and Alex and I are heading to Tulsa, Oklahoma.   Six months ago I would have never thought I would see this city,  it wasn’t even on my bucket list.  But God had another plan for me.  I wanted to travel.  I thought about being an airline stewardess when I graduated from high school but fear of being inadequate stopped me dead in my tracks.  I wasn’t pretty enough.  Everyone always said I was cute but stewardesses back then were gorgeous.  I was too skinny and any other negative thing I thought of that held me back.  I see they have relaxed the standard.😋  Good for them.  I have met some wonderful everyday kind of people.  The elite have no power now.  Just genuinely nice people.

God is giving me the opportunity to live out the life I wanted for myself and my children.  He took me back to the age of 17 just before I married and had children to remove the spirit of inadequacy.  I’m not going to waste it.  I bought 6 toothbrushes to start,  I never bring back the one I used in another environment (my dad’s rule😋) and I plan on leaving alot more behind before I’m done.  Lord willing.

I’ll be singing like Shirley Jones this weekend.  Ohhhhla homa!!!!!  I can’t hardly wait.

Venture out with me Wonderers.  I promise I’ll take plenty of pictures.

God is knocking.  Are you listening?

Have a joyous day.  I’m praying for you all.

Walk in Joy!

<a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/toothbrush/”>Toothbrush</a&gt;image

Inside or Outside

In today’s time who would have thought you could be in a place with no internet connection?  In the inner city no doubt!  I’m living the dream traveling on a road trip but no matter what state of the art equipment you possess it means nothing without a signal.  I’ve used 30gb of data in a week whereas that’s the usual plan for a household of 5 for a month and usually rolling over data.  So let me be truthful I used 38gb in a week.

It now comes down to two choices.

I could stay dormant in my home with unlimited wifi and reach out to the world and beyond from my office chair, or

I could go out into the world and use up the data reaching out to people telling them about my observations and experiences.

Inside is like a silent prayer between me and my God where I patiently wait for a reply.  Outside I’m boldly praying to God and the universe and even better he’s loudly answering my prayers with clarity.

Even in this heat this is a “no brainer.”   I am going outside right after I upgrade my plan to unlimited data. 😊

There’s so much to see, so much to do.  Do it with wonder.

May the day bring you Joy!

<a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/dormant/”>Dormant</a&gt;

Power Soaked

Joy to you Wonderers:😍

I’m late for Mundy Madness due to traveling.  I am in Philadelphia now and am ready to tell my story if you can forgive me.

The  water park is one of my favorite places even when I don’t get in the water which can happen.

My oldest treated us to Six Flags for 4th of July. How exciting for me to watch them have fun and see the fireworks. As soon as we get into the park the oldest decides we must get lockers for our stuff. Wait a minute! All your life I have been guarding everyone’s assets while we were on an adventure but now that you are in charge we need lockers? Smart move! 🤔

While we were at the counter waiting to pay for the locker code (I was free) the oldest says something totally unbelievable. She tells her sister, “Go down to the lazy river and get on it and mom and I will meet you down there.”

Now for those of you who don’t know my baby girl, she has a learning disability. What that means is her thought process is different that anyone else’s normally is. Like how she sees good in everyone even when they mistreated her. A quality I wish I possessed. Everybody is her best friend.

Well the oldest, who has a degree in special education thinks she can communicate better with the youngest. I have to admit she has taught me a thing or two but this time, she made a mistake. My mind told me to call a foul but I didn’t. I pray a prayer of protection over them and let the games begin!

It is about 1:00 p.m. when we get to the lazy river. No youngest or the grand around to see. So we start walking around looking. You know what’s real? You don’t remember what your people look like or what they are wearing when your looking for them. I started remembering some of the safety tips like write your name and phone number on the skin and cover it with liquid bandage. Which of course we didn’t do. Around 3:00 p.m. the oldest is frantic. I suggested we go get something to eat. I was hot and tired. I was almost ready to quit the game. I got a pizza. Hot dog and cotton candy. Oh yeah and a Diet Coke.  I love amusement parks where you can magically eat anything you want and not gain a pound because your walking around in the heat. I choose a table right across from where we last seen those two jokers. I figured one of them will think to go back to where we divided. I mean when they got tired or hungry they would think to come back. So we sit and wait and I tell the oldest why she can’t let her sister out of her site. She is no different then her except she didn’t get to experience free will and every chance she gets, she’s going to take it. 

An hour later the oldest says, “Your so calm. You have really lightened up.” I tell her my strategy, why we are sitting across from customer service. She gets something to eat and tries to relax. I silently say another prayer. Suddenly the oldest remembers she took the grand baby picture on her phone. She wants to ask security to help find them. When we get to the counter I say, “You know we are going to be here until the park closes.” No sooner than I say it there is an announcement that the park is closing due to a storm warning. And behold, I turn around and there they are. The sky opens up and it pours down rain.  Unbelievable right?  We walked around the water park for 5 hours and did not get on one ride but we left soaked in knowledge.

There is power in the tongue. There is power in your prayers

Walk in JOY Wonderers and have a blessed day.

Caper

Edited in sincerity to the Quest of the Pineapple.

We were starting on another journey you and I. The dynamic duo, we called ourselves. Preparing for another caper. We were magical together. Polar opposites. My strengths were your weaknesses. Your strength were my weaknesses. Together we were one person. No one could touch us. No one could go around us. Impenetrable!

Somewhere we made a wrong turn. A decision we would have to face dire consequences for. Somewhere in our quest for greatness we forgot how we came to be so powerful. We started with just love. Love that kept us talking all night about our dreams and aspirations. Love that made us silly and adventurous. We had found each other. Our soulmate. We thought we did it ourselves and the powers that be excused our innocence. Young love can be foolish.

He put us together against all odds. The things we had in common in the beginning against the things years later we still couldn’t understand how we ended up together. Even with our differences, he put us together for a purpose for the unbelieving spouse will sanctify the other. But somewhere we made a wrong turn and we misjudged the covenant we agreed to when we were united. We were moving in our own power, depleting our resources. All the while the superpowers kept feeding us granting permission for us to keep fighting evil. So stupid we didn’t show enough gratitude, enough love, enough praise that the evil doers came in through the weakest links of our shield. Our faith in God. We didn’t even notice when the smoke bomb was thrown in. We kept touching it not knowing what it was only knowing that we seeing thing different than before. We just kept up the superhero appearance before man. Thinking we were battered but not beaten and we began to believe we did not need all the strength of the superpower. We were doing it, the dynamic duo. We had it all in our own right.

The enemy penetrated our camp spreading their venom all around. We breathed it in and it worked against us. We were battling a different kind of crime. No longer were we fighting the enemy we were fighting against ourselves. We became so weak in the mind, body and spirit we didn’t even think to call to the higher power. We tried to save each other and exhausted what power we had left. Loves make you want to try even when you know you can not win by yourselves. Thankfully the higher powers came to our rescue although they could only save one of us. I’m not sure which one of us was saved. All I know for sure is I was left to warn the heroes that replace us.

Turn back and plan your capers together and use your powers for good. Remember even after the crowd praises your accomplishments, you are not operating as the dynamic duo. You have the God Squad, the Holy Trinity ~ The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost.

My sidekick of 30 years has hung up his cape but I have comfort that I am not alone. I’ve tightened my belt and picked up my shield. Me and The Squad are still on the quest.

Call on Jesus.  He will answer.  It is not too late to save each other.  It is not too late to save yourself.

2 You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by GOD. You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, GOD, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I’m going to do what you tell me to do; don’t ever walk off and leave me. (‭Psalm‬ ‭119‬:‭2‬ MSG)

<a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/caper/”>Caper</a&gt;

Into Every Life Rain Must Fall

Good morning Wonderers!

I hope you’ve got your coffee and are ready to hear a little of my madness. It’s been a while so please be patient with me. 

This summer being the great mom that I am, I purchased season passes to Carowinds, our local amusement park.  Let’s not stop there I also purchased the drink plan and meal plan.  Such a good mommy!  Like the mom who sprinkles flour on her face when she makes rice crispy treats. 😜 Really though I have loved saying several times a week I might add, “Let’s go the Carowinds for dinner!”   Every time-they react like it’s the first time I said it this season.   Mental note moms:  Children are so easy. 

Now let me inform you I am not the amusement park type. I am not really the wanna be outside in the heat type either. My idea of “Ruffin it” is continental breakfast at Holiday Inn Express. 😳 And I don’t do rides. I do eat all the snacks under the rides while I wait although I’m not supposed too.  Heck, if the lines are long enough, the world may never know!  It will be our secret.

On to why you’re here.   I decided there was a ride I wanted to try.  It’s a ride that goes to air traffic control height and it looks like a carousel in the sky.  My mission for the summer Wonderers!  I thought, I’ll have to ease my way into it.  J who is 6, wants to ride the swings. She just made the height chart and is super excited.   I thought this to be the first step to my victory.  She carefully selected her seat and waited for the ride to begin.  I just grabbed the first seat I came too.   I noticed she kept looking at me and I wondered if she was scared.  Maybe I should have sat next to her.  At lift off I was feeling a little panicky and when it started to swing I gripped the chains and started mumbling to Jesus.   I could hear J laughing. I tried to open my eyes to see if she was laughing at me but the roof of an adjacent building was coming at me so I shut my eyes again. I was whimpering like a baby.   I was really feeling anxious so I started praying for the Lord to stop the ride.   As the ride started to lower I gave up all claims to ride the big carousel in the sky.   My dream had been dashed and to make matters worst when the ride stopped and I opened my eyes my swing ramjacked the swing in front of me.   Only mines did that. Everyone else’s stopped on point. Maybe that was the insult of being on the kiddie ride. When it was time to get off J turned to me and said, “that’s why I get on the inside swing!   How humiliating!  She did see me shivering in the air.

At the next ride I stayed on the ground and got me a funnel cake with powder sugar, vanilla ice cream and strawberries.   I deserved it!  Just when I sat down to eat it, it started to rain.  Okay Derrick, okay God y’all got jokes.   I looked inside my healthy backpack and “ Shazam!”  Pulled out a ziplock bag!

Girl Scouts prepared me well.   If you can’t fly high at least be able to cover ground. Oh! I gonna have to put that on a flag or something.


Have a great Monday Wonderers and thanks for perusing.