Could it be that I have reached a small but exciting milestone here at Carolynn' Whispered Words? This being my 100th post I would like to have a celebration. Let us celebrate with words. Here then is a list of words that are floating through my mind today:
Honesty
Joy
Believe
Hope
tears
God
Power
Beauty
Adventure
Repentance
Oh, I could go on and on. The point is that in just bringing these words to you I am almost certain I trigger a memory for you. Maybe you would like to share one here. Maybe you could just share one with someone who needs to know you care.
I may have triggered a new thought that you could write about or tell. Whatever I have sparked in you from these words I hope they will be the stones that make ripples in the water and that you will find a smile playing along.
Enjoy your day. Enjoy the words that create smiles.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Free Speech
As I listened to the presidential debate last night I was struck by something that hit a note with me. Maybe you heard it too.
I do not know anyone who likes others to speak for them if they are able to express their thoughts themselves. It was a bit disturbing that Obama seemed to answer every question only partially for himself but wholeheartedly for McCain! He would offer a vague answer for his reply and then go into great detail as to McCain's' stance on the issue.
I was looking for Obama's true message and it seems he does have one. He is ready to tell everyone what everyone else is doing wrong. His message is I am right because I don't do anything!
I don't like all the politics going on right now. I fear for our country. I have been praying for God to turn the hearts of our citizens back to Him and away from the god of money and fame. I know of many who like Obama and even consider that he is our last hope. I think he even thinks so. I am drawn to McCain's' humility. I am repulsed by Obama's pride. I need no other king but King Jesus!
I am taking a stand right now. If Obama is elected as the next president I will not bow down to his reign as if he were a king or a god. He will be given presidential acknowledgements and I will of course pray for him and the decisions he will make, but I will not allow him or any elected official to rescind my rights without a fight.
This is my humble (or maybe not so humble) opinion. I do not agree totally with McCain but I will stand against anyone who seems to think he speaks for everyone. I do not want others to speak for me! God, Himself, offers me that freedom!
I do not know anyone who likes others to speak for them if they are able to express their thoughts themselves. It was a bit disturbing that Obama seemed to answer every question only partially for himself but wholeheartedly for McCain! He would offer a vague answer for his reply and then go into great detail as to McCain's' stance on the issue.
I was looking for Obama's true message and it seems he does have one. He is ready to tell everyone what everyone else is doing wrong. His message is I am right because I don't do anything!
I don't like all the politics going on right now. I fear for our country. I have been praying for God to turn the hearts of our citizens back to Him and away from the god of money and fame. I know of many who like Obama and even consider that he is our last hope. I think he even thinks so. I am drawn to McCain's' humility. I am repulsed by Obama's pride. I need no other king but King Jesus!
I am taking a stand right now. If Obama is elected as the next president I will not bow down to his reign as if he were a king or a god. He will be given presidential acknowledgements and I will of course pray for him and the decisions he will make, but I will not allow him or any elected official to rescind my rights without a fight.
This is my humble (or maybe not so humble) opinion. I do not agree totally with McCain but I will stand against anyone who seems to think he speaks for everyone. I do not want others to speak for me! God, Himself, offers me that freedom!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
God Moments
I have read and am now rereading the book "Chasing Daylight" by Erwin McManus. It is a very thought provoking book. Deep thoughts. Pondering thoughts. Not ones I can slide past and say I understand.
One of the thoughts that keeps winding around my brain is about God moments. These are moments when we are faced with a choice. We can seize the opportunity that God has presented to us or we can ignore or refuse it. In seizing it we encounter purpose and God in a special way. To ignore or refuse the opportunity we lose the chance to change the future for the good for ourselves or for someone else.
Lately I feel bombarded by God moments! It seems they are rushing towards me with full force. I am stunned and awed. I am grasping for them sometimes with boldness and other times with timidity. God has reminded me that He has given me a spirit of power and love and a sound mind. I must presume that if I am offered God moments then He certainly believes that I am able to accept and fulfill the tasks set before me.
Like a friend of mine has recently said: I can only make it by walking hand in hand with Jesus. I might add that I think Jesus only lets go of my hand long enough for me to be free to reach out and grab the opportunity. It is always my choice. He is always near.
One of the thoughts that keeps winding around my brain is about God moments. These are moments when we are faced with a choice. We can seize the opportunity that God has presented to us or we can ignore or refuse it. In seizing it we encounter purpose and God in a special way. To ignore or refuse the opportunity we lose the chance to change the future for the good for ourselves or for someone else.
Lately I feel bombarded by God moments! It seems they are rushing towards me with full force. I am stunned and awed. I am grasping for them sometimes with boldness and other times with timidity. God has reminded me that He has given me a spirit of power and love and a sound mind. I must presume that if I am offered God moments then He certainly believes that I am able to accept and fulfill the tasks set before me.
Like a friend of mine has recently said: I can only make it by walking hand in hand with Jesus. I might add that I think Jesus only lets go of my hand long enough for me to be free to reach out and grab the opportunity. It is always my choice. He is always near.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Feelings
I believe that you can't control your feelings. You can only control what you do with your feelings. I think it is true because a feeling rushes in on me, and I find that I cannot choose how I am going to feel at a particular moment. I can, however, choose what to do once the feeling reveals itself.
Lately, I am dealing with feelings that are associated with loss. No, I have not had a major loss through a death, but even minor losses can evoke strong emotions. I am sad and I am grieving over things that others do not understand. At least they seem to feel free to tell me that I shouldn't feel the way I do. I should be happy. I should think of all the new possibilities for me in the future. I should not dare to feel sad over the ending of good things in my life. I should dare not feel these events as a loss but as ....what?
To tell you the truth, I do see the good side of these event. I do have feelings of excitement, hope, and anticipation. Good feelings are walking hand in hand with grief and sadness. I am certain that you have had that same kind of experience with feelings: mixed up colors washing over you in waves. One splashes over in blues and violets, the next with a bit of sunshine.
My life is a rainbow of feelings, and though you may not want me to feel sadness and grief, I do. I humbly ask you to please let me feel. It is a gift from God so that my life is rich with color! With all that is happening I really don't want to see red when you try to stop me from being me. Could you maybe enjoy the rainbow with me? Can you find a place to let a few tears fall for me alongside the smiles? In that, you will help to make the sad times short, and offer a little more sunshine to my life. Thanks.
Lately, I am dealing with feelings that are associated with loss. No, I have not had a major loss through a death, but even minor losses can evoke strong emotions. I am sad and I am grieving over things that others do not understand. At least they seem to feel free to tell me that I shouldn't feel the way I do. I should be happy. I should think of all the new possibilities for me in the future. I should not dare to feel sad over the ending of good things in my life. I should dare not feel these events as a loss but as ....what?
To tell you the truth, I do see the good side of these event. I do have feelings of excitement, hope, and anticipation. Good feelings are walking hand in hand with grief and sadness. I am certain that you have had that same kind of experience with feelings: mixed up colors washing over you in waves. One splashes over in blues and violets, the next with a bit of sunshine.
My life is a rainbow of feelings, and though you may not want me to feel sadness and grief, I do. I humbly ask you to please let me feel. It is a gift from God so that my life is rich with color! With all that is happening I really don't want to see red when you try to stop me from being me. Could you maybe enjoy the rainbow with me? Can you find a place to let a few tears fall for me alongside the smiles? In that, you will help to make the sad times short, and offer a little more sunshine to my life. Thanks.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
A Birthday About Me
Do you remember your 7th birthday? I do. I remember it being a day filled with sevens. I won a prize because I drew a lucky number seven. I visited a children's' TV program where I was seventh in line to walk the plank of the pirate ship. I had seven candles. It seems it is a big year for little ones. It certainly is one that I remember in a big way.
At seven we seem to finally understand what birthdays are all about. They are all about ME! Birthdays are not about the Mom who carried me for nine months or about the hours of labor and pain it took to bring me into the world. It is not about Dad who paid for all or most of the bill. It is not about the friends and family who brought gifts. It is about me, the one who just happened to show up on that date!
Okay, so I'm not 7 but my granddaughter is. It has been a big day for her! She has told each of us what she expects for her birthday. She wanted everything to be all about her. She made sure she had a celebration fit for her. Aren't we all a bit that way? Even if we say "no birthday this year" aren't we making the day ours in a back handed way? We choose to tell others that they are not allowed to celebrate even if they want.
I want to celebrate my birthday too. It is coming in a few days. I may not be as demanding , or extravagant as my granddaughter but I want a celebration just the same. It will be a celebration of life. My life has been so blessed. God has given me life through my parents and the fullness of life through family and friends. I hope to celebrate my life in a way that God will be magnified. My birthday will be about me. It will be about me living life the way God intended, maybe not perfectly, but certainly with a willing and celebratory spirit.
My dear little sweet Brooke, Happy 7th birthday! Today it is all about you! Be blessed!
At seven we seem to finally understand what birthdays are all about. They are all about ME! Birthdays are not about the Mom who carried me for nine months or about the hours of labor and pain it took to bring me into the world. It is not about Dad who paid for all or most of the bill. It is not about the friends and family who brought gifts. It is about me, the one who just happened to show up on that date!
Okay, so I'm not 7 but my granddaughter is. It has been a big day for her! She has told each of us what she expects for her birthday. She wanted everything to be all about her. She made sure she had a celebration fit for her. Aren't we all a bit that way? Even if we say "no birthday this year" aren't we making the day ours in a back handed way? We choose to tell others that they are not allowed to celebrate even if they want.
I want to celebrate my birthday too. It is coming in a few days. I may not be as demanding , or extravagant as my granddaughter but I want a celebration just the same. It will be a celebration of life. My life has been so blessed. God has given me life through my parents and the fullness of life through family and friends. I hope to celebrate my life in a way that God will be magnified. My birthday will be about me. It will be about me living life the way God intended, maybe not perfectly, but certainly with a willing and celebratory spirit.
My dear little sweet Brooke, Happy 7th birthday! Today it is all about you! Be blessed!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Interruptions
Interruptions are frustrating. I just had a big interruption and it changed my whole direction. OOPS! There comes another one! They come like commercials during a really captivating show. Sometimes one after another, sometimes it is only one. Either way they distract and confuse.
It does help to own an attitude of acceptance and flexibility when dealing with interruptions. I can even remember that whatever happens to me will be used for good in my life. I can also remember that sometimes I am the interrupter! I can be the irritant to someone else. If I want others to forgive my hindrances in their day, then I must do the same.
I won't ask that interruptions come, but I will not allow them to make life miserable. I won't promise never to interrupt you, but I'll try to be more considerate. Maybe we can make something useful from those pesky pauses to our work and our plans!
It does help to own an attitude of acceptance and flexibility when dealing with interruptions. I can even remember that whatever happens to me will be used for good in my life. I can also remember that sometimes I am the interrupter! I can be the irritant to someone else. If I want others to forgive my hindrances in their day, then I must do the same.
I won't ask that interruptions come, but I will not allow them to make life miserable. I won't promise never to interrupt you, but I'll try to be more considerate. Maybe we can make something useful from those pesky pauses to our work and our plans!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
A Safe Place
I've said it before, yet it seems appropriate that I say it again. I want to be perfect. I want to be right every time I make a choice. Sadly, I fail often. I really hate to fall flat on my face, but then I do another mess up and tell others when I fail.
I want sympathy, or maybe someone to tell me I really didn't mess up things. I don't usually get that or at least not convincingly. My life has been an open book, but recently I've taken to the position of keeping things between me and God. Oh, but there are times I shout out the trips, goofs, pie-in-the-face bloopers that embarass me and cause me to regret ever opening my mouth.
I've had quite a few of those times recently. The sad realization is that in opening my mouth I am closing my heart to those I trusted. I opened myself up to the inspection of others and that inspection failed. My next failure is that I no longer want to allow them as a confidant again. I do not want to be with them for fear of telling all and leaving with the truth of my failure blazoned on my chest (or at least my face!)
Is there a balance? I truly believe that in sharing we can grow and live life more abundantly. In my experience, however, it is hard to share freely when the other person holds back, or the other person thinks it necessary or their position to fix my problems.
Are you safe? Are you a person in which my life , my feelings, my joys, sorrows, and failures are safe with? Are you the one to whom I can take my broken life to and trust that you will gently carry it to the only One who knows, loves and fixes perfectly? I want to be that kind of person. I want to be safe for others because I know how much it hurts to fall victim to a misunderstanding between friends.
Right now my walls protect me and give me time to heal. Be patient. If you are a safe place for me wait till I am ready to open the door of my heart. Till then it will stay between me and my Savior Friend. I know He is safe!
I want sympathy, or maybe someone to tell me I really didn't mess up things. I don't usually get that or at least not convincingly. My life has been an open book, but recently I've taken to the position of keeping things between me and God. Oh, but there are times I shout out the trips, goofs, pie-in-the-face bloopers that embarass me and cause me to regret ever opening my mouth.
I've had quite a few of those times recently. The sad realization is that in opening my mouth I am closing my heart to those I trusted. I opened myself up to the inspection of others and that inspection failed. My next failure is that I no longer want to allow them as a confidant again. I do not want to be with them for fear of telling all and leaving with the truth of my failure blazoned on my chest (or at least my face!)
Is there a balance? I truly believe that in sharing we can grow and live life more abundantly. In my experience, however, it is hard to share freely when the other person holds back, or the other person thinks it necessary or their position to fix my problems.
Are you safe? Are you a person in which my life , my feelings, my joys, sorrows, and failures are safe with? Are you the one to whom I can take my broken life to and trust that you will gently carry it to the only One who knows, loves and fixes perfectly? I want to be that kind of person. I want to be safe for others because I know how much it hurts to fall victim to a misunderstanding between friends.
Right now my walls protect me and give me time to heal. Be patient. If you are a safe place for me wait till I am ready to open the door of my heart. Till then it will stay between me and my Savior Friend. I know He is safe!
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