Tag: friends

Exposing What’s Within

On By gaillovesgodIn Poetry, reblogging, Uncategorized4 Comments

gaillovesgodspoetry

A little girl sad and quiet
Leaned against the tree.
She has failed to save her friend
From a violent tragedy.
A life was lost and thrown away
To hide the sinner’s sin.
But God is watching everything
And exposes what’s within.
A hiker comes across the girl,
And can sense what is wrong.
Both the girls lost their fight
Against someone too strong.
The surviving girl is rescued,
And is evidence of the crime.
Justice is given to the man
Who is now serving time.

12.2.19 Monday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: The loss of a friend

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Versatile Blogger Award 5.26.18

On By gaillovesgodIn Awards & Tags35 Comments

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.”
– Isaiah 55:8 KJV

You surely have that right, Lord. I would have never thought You would use me this way, nor this blog, nor pour blessings all over me with so many blogger friends and blog awards! Your love comes in so many ways that delightfully surprise us. Just as You have surprised me with the blessing of a dear Brother in Your Son’s name as a blogger friend. You allowed Stu of Something to Stu Over to nominate me for the Versatile Blogger Award tonight. Bless him and his ministry, Lord. Be His strength and His protection.

Thank you, Stu, for your thoughtfulness in nominating me! May the Lord bless you as richly and as generously as He does me in reading your blog, and being blessed with your friendship in Christ! Family in Christ! 🙂
Me and God love you, Brother!

What is the Versatile Blogger Award?

• The versatile blogger award is given to bloggers by bloggers as a recognition of the uniqueness of their content and individuality.

• It is also a way to honor bloggers who bring something special to your life whether every day or now and then.

• The award is run by VBA. Check them out.versatile-blogger-awardRules!

• Thank the person who gave you this award.

• Include a link to their blog.

• Next select and nominate 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly for the Versatile Blogger Award — you might include a link to this site.

• Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

Nominees:

Eclipsed Words recently wrote What If I Fly? and I loved it! ❤
Real as the Streets recently wrote Recovery Road. bravely personal and honest!
Carmen Leung recently wrote on her Hiking Zion National Park. Stunning pics!
Stumbling About Our World wrote a fun note caled 70 Random Facts About Me.
Justified and Redeemed recently wrote Why I Choose Modesty in an Immoralist Society.
Realistic Beginner recently wrote 31. What Next? We all ask it!
Bittersweet Diary recently wrote Musing on Quarter Night. Love loss is hard.
God’s Food Heals recently wrote Are You a Coeliac? Hop over and find out.
My God Speaks recently wrote Conquering Sin. Great post!
Dreamer’s Outlet last wrote Monday Mantra: You Are a Piece of Art. I reblogged.
Create in Me recently wrote Liebster Award. Surprising her with Versatile! 😉
December Rose recently wrote Sneakers on Half the Band. Nice poem!
God’s Heavenly Daughter last shared Psalm 3:3. Beautiful!
Riventures recently wrote To My Senior Friends... Sweet note.
Peacock Poetry recently wrote Celebrating Creating. So generous!

7 Facts About MySelf

  1. I love God!
  2. I love Jesus!
  3. I love the Holy Spirit!
  4. I love hymns.
  5. I love sermons.
  6. I love my son, my family.
  7. I always want you to know that God loves you!

Congrats to all the nominees and mentioned! 🙂 Please do not feel obligated to participate. If you decide to, no rush. Do it in your time, your way. God’s perfect time is just that… perfect! 🙂
God loves you!

Walking the Walk, #4 Smell Walk

On By gaillovesgodIn Walking the Walk Challenge5 Comments

OH how fabulously wonderful You are, Lord. Absolutely fabulous! In who You are! In where You are! In how You are! I am so blessed to have met You here in this new favorite place You have given me. You have been whispering this place to me for quite some time, and I have tried to research as much as possible on how to meet You here. Yet today, You have spoken clearly, and delightfully surprised me!

It’s known for its gardens, but this is winter, so it was “barren” of the flowers everyone brags about. Yet I feel like it’s an earthy wonderland! It’s so beautifully designed. A beautiful use of concrete and earth in perfect blend… if there can be such a thing. It’s outdoors and yet so clean! Pristine! You are beautiful… wonderful… in Your time… in Your place! ❤ I go inside.

You first catch my attention with heritage… and have me think.

Ar1

What is an important tradition in my family or community?
The only thing that comes to mind are family dinners we use to have at my grandmother’s house. My mom’s family use to have holiday dinners there. There was no certain time of day. Aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, spouses, grandchildren, great grandchildren and several family friends would come and go throughout the day. When my grandmother passed in February of 2000, we no longer saw each other much, unless it was a funeral.

What have I learned by being a part of it?
Family can be so precious… even dysfunctional families. Enjoy the time while you can. It won’t last. It makes me think of one of my favorite gospel songs every time I lose someone I love…. I’ve Got More to Go to Heaven For (Than I Did Yesterday).

I’VE GOT MORE TO GO TO HEAVEN FOR
I’ve been on my way to Heaven… For a long, long time.
And many things have happened… That clouded up my mind.
But I am more determined… To walk the narrow way
For I’ve got more to go to Heaven for… Than I had yesterday.
CHORUS:
There’s a golden street to walk upon… A bell I’m gonna ring,
A brand-new angel in the choir… I wanna hear her sing.
There’ll be a lot of friends a-waiting… When I walk through the gate
I’ve got more to go to Heaven for… Than I had yesterday.
I’ve been through lonesome valleys… I’ve climbed the highest hill,
I’ve known the joy of living… In the center of God’s will.
I’ve watched the angels come and take… My loved ones home to stay
I’ve got more to go to Heaven for… Than I had yesterday.

You continue to have me think on family tradition.

Ar2

Banana Pudding was our family tradition…
for every holiday… sometimes every meal.
Banana Pudding and Sweet Tea! ❤
“O taste and see that the Lord is good:
blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”
– Psalm 34:8 KJV

Now You turn my focus to water… Your gift to life.

Ar3

Seeing this makes me think of the struggle I have with dehydration, and this makes for a great motivator and reminder! It also reminds me of when I was doing Lovely A’s 21 Day Self Care Challenge on her Discovering Your Happiness website. My response was noted on Self Care Challenge Day 8: Water. I actually took the picture thinking of her! ❤

Chewing Gum comes from a tree! Wow! I did not know that! 🙂

Ar4

I love corn, beans, and squash! A tasty dinner to me, Lord! 🙂

Ar5

After hearing some Native Americans narrate different nature topics and traditional stories, I venture outside. I have no pictures. I started just enjoying things when I sat down for the stories. I’m walking where there are normally gardens and flowers, so says the guy when I came in and every touring person that passes me. Yet I am not the least bit disappointed. Perhaps because I have not come to see them. I have come to see You!

Again the place just seems like the most tenderly fabulous earthy wonderland! I find one of the many beautifully designed areas to sit in, and just take You in. The sun is so bright and beautiful on this winter day, and the wind just does what it wants with my hair. But it’s OK. It’s comforting… because it’s You… being playful… being tender… being loving… being personal… being You! This place reminds me of places people have introduced to me in the past. For some reason I start thinking of those special faces.

Counselors, teachers, friends who have taken moments out to sit and talk with me… knowing that I am claustrophobic… and very uncomfortable with talking inside closed walls… while a clock ticks… reminding of how unimportant my words are, so make it quick for the one who is listening. But not here. Outside in a warm sun… with no clock hovering over me. It makes me miss them so. I have so much I wish I could talk to them about. They broke protocols and rules to go out of their way to help save me from things in my life when I did not know I needed saving from anything. My heart aches for them. I miss them as much as I miss family… even if some them were dysfunctional as well.  How human we all are. Yet we are Your humans! Thank You, Lord, for going out of Your way today to meet me here. I will be back!

As I start to walk away from this area, a smell permeates my air. And I can smell how beautiful it is! So pleasant! So comforting! There’s just something about it that smells like… You! I see nothing but barrenness until suddenly I see a sign that says Lily of the Valley! *GASP* Oh dear Lord! My favorite song! My grandmother’s favorite flower, and a name sweetly referenced to You!

Lily of the Valley – hymn lyrics by Charles W. Fry
I have found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll. 
CHORUS:
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tow’r;
I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart and now He keeps me by His pow’r.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal.
[CHORUS]
He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
From His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll.
[CHORUS]

It’s not visible, but I can smell despite the darkened earth. Praise Your name I can smell! I have been trying to do the Smell Walk, #3 of the 50 Walks within the Walking the Walk Challenge with Lovely A of Discovering Your Happiness, but have just not been able to smell! I had done Walking the Walk, #3 Delight Walk in its place. But I smelled that lovely Lily of the Valley! ❤ And this was before I had the occipital nerve block last week, of which I felt it opening my sinus within minutes.

As I continue to walk, I smell another familiar aroma… Spruce… everywhere! It smells so good! And just as I think of touching out of curiosity, You remind me of my allergies and sensitivities. I’ll never forget Scratch and Sniff 203! That was my Botany class. In lab exercises we walked the college campus scratching and sniffing twigs, flowers, branches (that we were warned not to touch because of chemicals to protect them). I had the worst allergic reaction I have had involving a fever. A high fever that did not break until the 9th day of a 10 day antibiotic course. No more Scratch and Sniff, Professors! 😉

All of this beautiful smell within a seemingly lifeless foliage makes me think on how filthy I must have looked to You underneath all of my sin when my soul laid beneath the dead and broken leaves, the barren dark branches, and this uninviting view. Yet You saw beauty in me. You saw You in me! Again I think of my counselors and teachers You used to save me, to clean and toil the surface, to dig out the roots and choking weeds, to rid me of that one dark blot…. multiplied by a thousand. Thank You for coming for me! Thank You for the souls You blessed me with. Help me to thankful for those I still have!

One last sign on the way out… is a Fabulous answer to prayer!

Ar7

I continue to walk around and then find this sign telling me of several small trails! Could this be answer to prayer, and a guide for the 50 Walks in the Walking the Walk Challenge! Absolutely! Thank You for this day! For this intoxicating scent! For these fond memories of people I miss so much! Thank You for just being You! As Always! ❤

 

“NEW” Series, #2 Music Playlist

On By gaillovesgodIn "NEW" Series31 Comments

How lovely You are, Lord, to give us such delights as music! You allowed music through fellow believers, and even dear friends. Coming into Christmas You already had friends sharing music and videos that became favorites. This is new in many ways because for quite a few years now music has just been… music. Even if I happened to love or enjoy something, it was just that moment. I didn’t have the time or desire to feel anything to take with me.  But You have renewed a joy and a comfort in music.

How perfect is the message in Hayley’s song “Called By Love” by Red Letters. You used a dear friend to remind me that when the devil tries to tell me I have no right to listen to or sing with Your music that I am called by love to worship You. I need to worship You to keep my strength up against the one who hates me to have any… especially in You!

You used my dear friend Aney to introduce me to “The True Love of God” by The Church of Almighty God to remind me the “It’s [Your] tender words that water and nourish me to grow up. It’s [Your] stern words that encourage me to stand up again.” That is the truth of Your love. The music lifts my spirit with its light beat.

You surprised me with a new favorite video “You Are More” by Tenth Avenue North. You used Life With Jesus to introduce me to this reminder that I am more than the choices that I have made because I have been remade. It’s not about what I have done, but about what You have done for me. It’s not about how I feel, but what You felt to forgive me, and how You felt to make me loved.

“All The Way in Your Company” by The Church of Almighty God was so cute, and so me and You. The video story and message is a theme song for us. It is a great theme song for our Walking the Walk journey! I would love to be able to run, but as long as I am walking with You, whether on the Parkway, the ball field, running errands, or the days that will leave me in my bed. If I am with You, I am exactly where I need to be!

You used Hayley again to remind me with “He Has Freed Us” by RedLetters that [You] will carry us through every trial in life, that [Your] love is perfect, and [Your] ways are right. [You] have freed us.

And oh how You continue to amaze me through Hayley even more! When she told me of her song “I Choose Life” by RedLetters after she read my post Choose Life as a theme for this year, I was so excitedly in awe of You! You had used Deuteronomy 30:19-20 to inspire her, myself, and so many others at the same time. I will ever be so grateful for Your bringing Hayley into my life, and for allowing me to hear Caralyn’s podcast on A Jew & A Gentile Walk Into a Bar… Mitzvah. I am eagerly awaiting Hayley’s CD. 🙂

I can’t remember how You brought me to “Sleeping At Last” by Saturn. It’s not even Christian music. But You had me pay attention to the message. “How rare and beautiful it truly is that we exist.” It was You and me again… more You speaking to me. So I listen… again and again… and again. ❤

So then You give me “Old Church Choir” by Zach Williams. I LOVE this song. You help me get to a place where I put aside all the noise and voices in my head, and just enjoy You! You let me know that when I do that…“There ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy!” Praise Your Holy name! This is definitely a motivating and strengthening song, all wrapped up in a delightful joy! ❤

Lastly, You used Kristi Ann to just steal my heart again. “Still” by Hillary Scott & The Scott Family. How do I never stop falling in love with You!! You know that all I need is to be still and know that You are parting waters, and moving mountains that I don’t even see. All You need is for me to be still. ❤

So this is the playlist You have given me. I love that You think of me, and whisper my name into someone’s ear. I am grateful You give us music. Thank You for renewing music for me! Thank You for reminding me of the weapon it is against the very one who hates me spending that quality time with You. I look forward to whatever You bring my way. As long as You are there… I’m ready.

“Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.” – Psalm 33:3

“And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” – Psalm 40:3 

“NEW” Series, Introduction

On By gaillovesgodIn "NEW" Series9 Comments

“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
 – Isaiah 43:19 KJV

Lord, here we are… finally getting around to this “NEW” series You whispered into my ear in December to begin in January. Not necessarily to celebrate a New Year or as a resolution. But to give glory to You for new things… new blessings that You have sent my way… and will be sending yet. I have so much to thank You for… including this new year of life. Thank You for helping me to Choose Life and to continue to Look Up. ❤

Just coming into this week was challenging. On New Year’s Eve, unpredicted layers of black ice froze the roads over so quickly that the roads looked normal and clear. Though cars and people were unable to drive or walk without accidents, the radar was showing nothing. Two tractor trailers jackknifed making it 7 hours before my brother, brother-in-law, and family friend got off the local interstate. During that time, when the car idled the heat did not work. After getting off and getting gas, the car wouldn’t go into gear from idling in the cold so long. It took another 4 or 5 hours to get a tow and home.

During that time, our heat went out. We have propane heat, and a wood stove for back up, but the furnace stopped and we ran out of wood and coal. It took the week to get the furnace working, the ice out of the gas tank regulator, some wood and coal for the stove, as well as get the hot water back. So many souls You sent. And that stranger that said, “It’s a God thing. Don’t ask questions.” May You bless each one so richly!

During this whole time, You had so many WordPress friends praying and sending encouraging messages when they didn’t even know what was going on. How much their prayers were needed… and heard… and answered! Thank You for each one!

So what has the new year brought so far? New challenges, of course! Anyone who thinks they will be without struggles, falls, challenges (of a negative nature), or no problems at all are setting themselves up for that inevitable discouragement that follows an unrealistic outlook. But it also brought new reasons to pray, to exercise faith, to witness to strangers, to meet new fellow believers, to see that there are still people who do good.

Thank You for fixing the furnace, hot water heater, gas regulator, for wood and coal, names of reliable sources for the future, new friends, and a renewed sense of family seeing things through together. Thank You for safety. Thank You for the driver who towed family off the roads. I have so many praises to give You that I’m sure I’ll fail to remember them all. Likewise, I have many people to pray over. But I can trust You with each prayer and praise. Your answered prayers and mercies are new every morning.

I also trust You to help me remember those things that You had laid on my heart to include in this “NEW” Series. It’s not to be just January. Your newness in our lives is ongoing. Whenever You lead, I will thank and praise. So let’s get started because as the song says, “I’ve got so much to thank [You] for.” ❤

Gifts 2017 #23 Christmas Cards

On By gaillovesgodIn Gifts 20174 Comments

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Christmas Countdown: Christmas Cards and notes are a gift! Christmas cards can cheer, encourage, lift a lonely soul, update, inform, or simply send a greeting. Praise the Lord for ones that explain the true meaning of Christ, or simply display the wonder of a Heavenly King coming as a manger baby to save a dying world.
I was blessed to receive 13 greetings… 6 by postal mail, 1 at church, 3 by email, 2 by Facebook Inbox, and one delightful international surprise phone call from my Australian daughter Andi! 🙂

Below are some of the cards. Some cannot be displayed or mentioned of sender or what country they serve as missionaries. But because they can see this post, I want to say, “Thank you! Merry Christmas! Praying for you! Me and God love you!”

From LeneinJapan (Wrestling with Faith – Dancing with Jesus, and Song of Virginity)

 

From a long time dear friend at my stepdad’s church friend

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From another dear church friend where our sons were in youth group together.

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From a long time family friend I know through my mom.

img_20171224_210916249468982.jpg

 

From my Canadian friend of the Quill 😉 Sayer Teller of Oaken Wood

IMG_20171225_002441

I will be using this one to say Merry Christmas to each and every one of you! It’s a picture I took years ago of one I had but lost. I do not remember who sent it, but it is so beautiful! Happy Birthday to that little darling in the manger. ❤ I love you, Jesus!

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Gifts 2017 #7 Friendship

On By gaillovesgodIn Gifts 2017, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Christmas Countdown: God gave me the gift of Seeds of friendship. So thankful for His planting them into my life. Whether they be neighbors, church friends, childhood friends, work friends, school friends, college friends, family friends, friends from being known as someone’s mom, Jaycee friends, Facebook friends, of the blessed community of WordPress friends… or even just as beautiful friends in Christ… I am blessed with each one. Even my friends in heaven… who give me reason and hope for heaven! ❤

“Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
– John 15:13 KJV

That would be our best friend Jesus! ❤

Unique Blogger Award 12.13.17

On By gaillovesgodIn Awards & Tags13 Comments

 

the-unique-blogger-awardGod, You have surprised me with a new award… the Unique Blogger Award. You, Oh Lord, make this blog Unique! There is No One like You! How truly honored Lovely A and I are to have Your whispers come our way! How blessed we are for the Holy Spirit to guide us in being wise to listen… and obey. Thank you for whispering my name into her ear. May You receive all the glory and praise this award allows and shares. 🙂

Congratulations, Lovely A (aka Discovering Your Happiness) on your Unique Blogger Award! And your 44,000 views! God is certainly “shining sunlight” all over your followers through your posts. It shows in your views… consistently growing so well. You might hit 45,000 before I finish this post! 50,000 is just around the corner! 🙂

Just keep letting His “Son shine” in and through you, and the Lord will keep whispering! Keep obeying and He will never cease to amaze you! ❤ He loves you! And He always will!

PS. I love discovering my happiness in your surprise messages! 😉 Thank you!

Answering the Questions:
1. What are your 2018 goals?
Lord willing, follow God and choose life.
2. What are your top 3 ways to reduce stress?
alone time with God, prayer, writing
3. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Wherever the Lord leads me.

Nominees:
Elan Mudrow
Frank Solanki
Inner Man Theatre
The Word
Red Letters
Oaken Reed
Song of Virginity
Comeback Pastor
Beauty Beyond Bones
Invisibly Me
My God Speaks
Blue Heron Cove
The River Walk
Kristi Ann’s Haven
Walking With the Way
Lebana’s Journal
Table 41
Single and Redeemed
The Joy of Menopause

My Questions for Nominees:
1. How did you first learn about WordPress?
2. Where in the world do you live?
3. Do you know how much God loves you?
You are so Unique to Him! ❤

Congratulations to the nominees! May everyone who reads this post know how unique you truly are… especially to the One who made you! ❤ He loves you!

 

Gifts 2017 #4 Family, Heaven, Technology

On By gaillovesgodIn Gifts 2017, Uncategorized8 Comments

Christmas Countdown: Family is a gift. As we have lost so many, it makes each one still here a gift. I thank God for my sister Sandra, my son Anthoni, my brother Nathan Brookshire, my brother-in-law Tim, my stepdad Bobby, my uncles, my aunts, and of all my cousins, and that includes adopted, foster, and in-laws. I will be tagging you each that I can on FB. The most important thing we learn from family is we do not choose them. God does. God wants us to know it’s ALL about being His children, and trusting in God the Father, His precious Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We are ALL family in Him. THANK YOU, GOD ❤ for family!!

Heaven is a gift. Heaven is not just a place that awaits us, but it holds some of the people whom we love and miss so dearly! We have family, friends, church family, and so many more safely in the arms of the One Christmas is all about. We will meet that special Someone some day, and His Dad! And just think… all of those He used US to either lead to salvation or encourage in some way will be there too! Then one final Christmas day, WE will receive our gift of entering Heaven, and taking up residence in the home He went away to prepare for us! ❤

Technology is a GIFT: It may seem trivial to say this, but by the grace of God there is so much that can be done through technology: listening to audio-bibles, sermons, hymns, Christian radio, Christian Christmas music, encouraging others, praying for others, watching a plane fly across the country to keep up with loved ones making it safely home, using Google maps to help someone lost while on cellphone, and so much more, including this moment of being able to praise my Lord before the world! ❤ Love you, Father! ❤ Love you, Jesus! ❤ Love you, Holy Ghost! ❤

“Asking Myself” Lovely A’s 50 Questions

On By gaillovesgodIn Random Challenges, Uncategorized12 Comments
  1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
    However old I really am. 😉 If I were able to be how old I feel, I would be 21! It’s the closest age to being a child without having to give up my legal rights. But I have no right to my life. It belongs to Christ. I freely gave it to Him because He gave His for me. ❤ I am the age He has given.
  2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?
    Depends if God is saying “Do” or “Be still and know that I am God”
  3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
    Paul addressed that very thing in Romans 7. It’s because we are in the flesh until the day we die, therefore evil is present despite the good.
  4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
    That depends on God’s will for my life… if God says, “Speak of these things” or “Keep Guard over the door of thy mouth”
  5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
    That ALL would know and love the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost!
  6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
    God’s will… Lord willing, that would be writing.
  7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
    I am doing what I believe in… trusting God with my life.
  8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
    There are things I would like to change, but I trust I am who I am in Christ by leading the life that God designed and allowed specifically for me.
  9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
    0% God has always had control and always will!
  10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
    They should be the same, but if I am doing God’s will, both are covered.
  11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?
    Say a quick prayer under my breath as I calmly  but firmly point out to the three “friends” their behavior and/or comments, asking how they would feel facing such ridicule and humiliation from a friend. Offering support to the friend being unjustly attacked.
  12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
    God loves you! He created you. He loves you, and He always will! ❤
  13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?
    If we are talking about rushing to save someone in a deadly situation, of course I would not worry about traffic laws or such; but if we are talking about doing just anything to save a loved one from something they should not be doing, and helping would be enabling or justifying a wrong behavior… then no! God is the only one who knows what’s best in each situation. Trust and Obey.
  14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
    Yes. In my writing. Not by my doing, but by His.
  15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
    I go to God about every single thing in my life, regardless of how trivial it may seem. If God says, “No” when the world says, “Are you crazy? Everyone does.” So be it! If God says, “Yes, absolutely!” when the world says, “Are you crazy? No one does.” I don’t care! If it bores, annoys, or offends that is their problem. It is not my desire to do those things, but I ought to obey God rather than man!
  16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
    Well the things that make me happy are God, so anyone who does not care for God will not be happy with Him. Everyone finds happiness in different things.
  17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?
    Fly! A passport, money, opportunity, fear, anxiety, God’s blessing.
  18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
    It’s always possible. I trust God to let me know, or have me just let go.
  19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
    Australia! God has placed so many friends in my life that are from Australia, and He uses Lovely A  and a few others to keep that hope alive!
  20. Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
    Of course. Slightly. It doesn’t “push” the elevator but it does encourage the sensor that is waiting on a set time before the door closes to detect a need to close. I learned this from some electrical engineering buddies.
  21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
    A joyful simpleton so that I could experience God’s abundant joy! ❤
  22. Why are you, you?
    Because God made me, Me! 🙂
  23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
    I wish I could say yes, but that would be dishonest to my friends… especially to my best friend Jesus!
  24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
    They are equally unfortunate. They are both sad situations.
  25. What are you most grateful for?
    Jesus dying for me on the cross to reconcile me to my Father ❤
  26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?
    This is a painful one to answer, as most days I feel like I am struggling with both. They are both cruel. They both rob you of friendship, love, family, support, and anything else. If God allows my choice, I would do neither. It would mean never remembering Him and His great love. 😦
  27. Is it possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
    Yes. To know Christ is to know the way, the truth, and the life. He doesn’t mind us challenging Him or the truth. But it is not necessary.
  28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?
    No. And according to God’s Holy word, He promises it never will because I gave my life… my soul… to Him. 
  29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?
    I do remember extremely upsetting things from 5 years ago. Of course they matter now. They remind me of what Christ has brought me through.
  30. What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?
    swimming. I loved to swim! I loved the feel of the water… the feeling of being wet. I loved feeling my body float… pain free! ❤ I miss it!
  31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
    This is another hard one because I don’t have passion for anything other than loving Christ. If it weren’t for that I would struggle to feel life. When improvements in my health gave me the hope that I could run again, swim again, live again. But that was tragically replaced with a cruel reality. Now I find what life I can in being able to walk and live. Dreaming of flying makes me smile. Walking (or flying) with Jesus makes it all worth while.
  32. If not now, then when?
    I really don’t care about this kind of question. It just exhausts me to even think about. Christ… everything for me is about Christ. Including living!
  33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
    Writing and flying are what comes to mind. I’m doing one, and following God for when He will allow the other.
  34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?
    Yes. It’s a good feeling. It happens all the time with Christ! 😉 ❤
  35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
    Because they have to defend against those who hate.
  36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
    Yes! Absolutely! By reading God’s word, praying, and trusting God.
  37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
    It would depend on if I liked the job I was doing, or if it was what God called me to do. He could either be supplying money to change jobs, or support the one I have.
  38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
    I would rather have what God wants to give me, where He wants to give it.
  39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?
    Sometimes
  40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
    When God called me to leave my church, even though I loved them so much.
  41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
    As many unsaved souls that God knew I could reach for Him!
  42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
    No
  43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
    Being alive is just physically being here, pretty much like a 100% brain dead bedridden patient. Truly living is living life abundantly… with joy… doing!
  44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
    When God has made it clear it is His will.
  45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
    Because we have learned the cost it takes to endure a mistake… the energy.  We fear we may not survive the next one.
  46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
    live… sing… fly… live… abundantly!
  47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
    As I was typing this. I noticed I am becoming… have been exhausted, and wonder if I will make it through this before falling asleep.
  48. What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?
    I love Christ! Yes! Not only does my username say so, but I try to tell everyone in any way I can. If all else fails, I have at least declared my love for Him! ❤
  49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?
    Lord willing. Only He knows. Only He can! Allow!
  50. Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?
    I am absolutely letting Christ make them for me! It doesn’t mean I lay down and do nothing. Quite the contrary. I am actively seeking to do what He expects of me each day! I have decided to follow Christ, and that makes me accountable! Faith without works is dead! A testimony testifies for or against the one who openly proclaims.
    Lord, the way this was formatted did not allow for me to write this as a letter to You, but You understand the format of my heart. I pray these answers glorify You. They are as true as I understand them to be. I pray they do whatever You have intended for Lovely A’s “Ask Yourself“, as she asked me to answer these. I hand them over to You! In the Lovely name of Christ Jesus, Amen! ❤

It’s Snowy Around Here

On By gaillovesgodIn Uncategorized, Writing10 Comments

Lord, I was going to call this 1st Snow 2017, but many could debate that as there has been “some” snow here and there. It is the 1st “big” snow. Everyone has been posting their pics. I am 3 days late, but it was a big enough snow to leave plenty laying around, as you can see from the neighbor’s snow man. Anthoni and Sandra (son and sister) were so excited about that snowman.

There was snow out back everywhere too. 😉

I then ventured out front… well to the porch anyway.
As you can see the steps were a bit snowy too. 🙂

I took a picture of the car, but the sun made such a glare. At first I was going to delete it, but thought, “That is exactly what it’s like trying to look at everything when not in the shade. Let them see just how blinding it is.“

The same thing happened with the wishing well.
(which is leaning now) 😦

Even the bushes were still holding snow pretty good. And considering where they were near the house, that would explain why we lost satellite service. We were very blessed, Lord, to have only been without Satellite. I pray for our family and friends who were (and some still are) without power, water, or heat.

But from the looks of the tree closest to the house not having as much now, that would explain why the satellite came back on yesterday afternoon. 🙂1stsnow.10

Yep, it was pretty snowy around here, and still is. But with Your help, I will get that snow off the car, and get to my therapy tomorrow. For while I am praying to You for my therapists to get their cars, driveways, and steps cleared safely as well, I am also reminded of the stanza from Amazing Grace that sings,

“The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.”

May we be ready for that day, Lord.

 

An Elevating Adventure

On By gaillovesgodIn Uncategorized16 Comments

This weekend my son Anthoni and I were invited to watch a young friend sing a solo while playing her guitar. It had been quite awhile since I went to anything downtown. My anxiety and my health make it challenging just to get through my day. But Belle was singing and playing in front of a large crowd for the first time, and had personally invited us. We wanted to support her. We had known her since she was a little girl.

Many of you may remember me mentioning watching her and her little brother Trey getting baptized this summer in my post on the 30 Posts Challenge: #20 River Baptism.

Anthoni and I made it downtown. It was an adventure we had not done in quite some time. We did not know the place we were going to, so we asked a parking attendant for info. After parking and attempting to follow our given instructions, we ended up going through a hotel entrance I knew (which was the long way around, but saved the day with familiarity.) I was glad I took the time to Google it and study the map. Through the hallway, we found where we should be, and got in line. We even got to speak with Belle and her family for a few minutes before the show.

Time to buy the tickets!

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and receive our program.

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After Anthoni got some popcorn, we were able to be seated with Belle’s family. It was nice being able to say hello and catch up a little bit. They were able to tell us about Belle’s school, that the space was actually owned by a church but was being lent out to the school for the program, and what Belle would be doing. We got to looking through our program as they were explaining.

We were so excited to see it… Belle Solo!

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We had wait until after a couple of skits, a couple of bands, some others singing, dancing, and even several young people taking turns on “silks” (as it read). Silks were basically long draping silks that were being climbed, swung on, hung from, and included using a ring at times… big enough to serve as a tire swing hanging from a tree in the backyard.

Then we saw a familiar face in a beautiful dress coming to the microphone with her guitar in hand. What a lovely sound. Oh How He Loves is what she sang. I wish I had pictures, but her dad was kind enough to give permission to use a video.

I already loved this song, but oh how beautiful she made this song of how much God loves us… that He is jealous for us… in a good way. I was so thankful the Lord allowed me the opportunity, the health, and even the quality time with my son. It was awesome! She was awesome. She performed a lot of different material in the program in addition to her solo, and was able to do each task beautifully.

She was making a beautiful testimony for the Lord. If this is what she sounds like in just getting started, imagine what the Lord has planned for her as she becomes seasoned with her gifts. God will be magnified greatly!

“Being confident of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
– Philippians 1:6 KJV

Thank you, Lord, for letting us make it! Thank you for the night. ❤

Praying for you, Belle! You have become such a lovely young lady! I am confident that God has great things in store for you… for His great pleasure! He loves you! ❤ And so do we!

The Gift of Kindness

On By gaillovesgodIn Uncategorized19 Comments

Dear Lord, how kind You’ve been to me through so many. I was writing to You the other day about Losing… It. I had a very challenging day because I am mixing up my appointments, my medicines, even my conversations. The next day was just as bad with my making it to an appointment I “didn’t have,” and “did not” have a follow up because I had “not” the conversation I thought I had with my therapist. At least I wasn’t missing one! 😉 I had to bring these things to You.

“If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction”
– Job 10:15 KJV
“In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.”
– Psalm 71:1 KJV

It was all I could do to stay awake under the wheel. I had not eaten, so in trying to do so I found myself waking up choking on my food. This is where my son took the wheel, and kept an eye out on for me eating. Once we got home I was able to finish a part of my meal and fell asleep.

“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
– Hebrews 4:9 KJV

I slept from 6:30PM and woke up at 3:30am… without even a flinch. This is a big deal for me because of my struggle to sleep. It helped that my son had the night off, and I had no morning appointments. I used the bathroom, ate a bite to take more meds, and within in an hour fell asleep again until 9am. I awoke rested, and was able to rest peacefully for 3 hours while doing devotions and check in online. Oh did You allow the kindness to continue!

“And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.’
– 2 Peter 1:7 KJV
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
– 1 Thessalonians 5:11 KJV

So many kind and encouraging comments from others. Such emboldening comments from fierce prayer warriors and encouraging warriors! The battle that was waging on my behalf! Wow the thoughts I’m ashamed to say that were not in range, but You sure shot them my way with Denise, Piers, Arnya, Margaret, LaBranda, Natasha, Heather, KJ, Anita, and so many others through likes and e-mails. How delighted was my soul, lifted by Your loving edification. WordPress itself is filled with such a rich community of believers, and those who have chosen that good thing that will not be taken from them. They took the time to stop, listen, and encourage.

“And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
– Luke 10:41-42 KJV

Being so rested actually makes me feel like I’m in a strange fog… like I’m out of place… and need to get myself together to be capable… and yet I feel too peaceful to rush just yet. How about we just led You lead, and trust the rest of the way to You. That sounds and feels much better. How about I follow Your wisdom. How about I just appreciate the abundant joy found in Your kindness, and in the kindnesses of those You send my way. You are so beautiful in all Your ways! Help me to trust them… always!

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
– Proverbs 3:5 KJV
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
– Proverbs 30:5 KJV