Lesson’s Learned While Grieving

Grieving What I have learned Along the Way

1. Initially everything is a “fog” because we are in disbelief or shock as to what just happened. It is my belief that this is God’s way of protecting us, because if we had to process all the information at one time, it would literally blow our minds.
2. People move on in life around you, time doesn’t stand still even though you feel like it does for you. You may have emotions centered on other people you care about moving on with their lives, as well as people will expect you to “move on with your life” which can only be done when you are ready. Growth happens, you may not be aware of it initially, but you do process through grieving, and reminders are not necessary.
3. In the beginning you will want to “save” everything, find a special place to put your loved one’s items, and do save them. You may not be ready to “deal” with them now, and that is okay, just set them aside so that they are there when you are ready.
4. Initially, your focus is on the date of death, you will focus on the loss, what you were doing, what that person was doing; the “day and time” will be your central focus that is okay. Later on, you focus will shift from that day to days that you had celebrated together in the past, birthdays, Christmas, family traditions. When the time comes, the death date may not want to be your central focus, and that is okay, in fact, that is good, it represents growth.
5. Remember your loved one’s “treasured items” may simply be that, something that brought them pleasure. You may find that it brings you pain, a sad reminder, and that it does not bring you joy in viewing. That is okay; simply understand to them it was treasured, and that you do not have the same feelings or recollection. Put the item aside in your “special box” and you can process it at a different time.
6. Initially, your emotional pain is so raw, that it feels “to the bone”, and that you literally will die from a broken heart. You will always have a void, but time does change things, there will be a day when you can smile again. You just have to move through the process.
7. Grieving is a process. It comes in stages that we all must go through. You may delay it, but you cannot avoid it, embracing the stages and move through them. You cannot go around grief; it will be waiting for you later if you do not process it.
8. You may feel the need to re-create or re-construct you loved one’s final moments, especially if it is an accident. That is normal, and for some can give closure. It is completely up to the individual. (Medical records etc.)
9. It is completely normal to “be mad at God” for what happened in fact, sometimes expected. It is okay, and it is a normal emotion. Talk it through and sort out your feelings.
10. The best thing you can do is share you experience with others that understand exactly what you are experiencing. Find a support group, if you need to talk to someone professionally, which is a healthy step to take. Example, “Compassionate Friends” is a very good group for those who have lost children.
11. It is completely NORMAL for you to want to talk about your loved one. Expect that after time, those around you will feel uncomfortable talking about it with you. They expect you to “move on, get over it”. The reason is THEY are uncomfortable talking about your loved one with you, because they cannot fix it for you. People who are grieving will always talk about their loved ones; it keeps them “alive” in our mind. People that have also experienced grieving will want to talk about them with you, and will want you to listen to them about their loved ones, that is why support groups are so important.
12. Compassion is the greatest gift you can give someone, and is given to you through the experiences you go through in life.
13. Early in your “journey” because that is what the process is, find a special place for your loved one’s pictures that brought you joy, display them, and put up special keepsakes with them. Remember there will be items; including photographs that will bring you pain (pictures of the casket, accident scene, etc). Sometimes it is best to put those things that are extremely painful, feel free to put those things away for a time being). You can always add and put away things as you feel necessary and ready.
14. Know that God is Good. We may not understand why things happen the way that they do, but that He is always in control and has Mercy and Grace. One of the greatest things for me to realize was that my loved one was not in any pain, even though I would have thought he would have been, the human body has an amazing ability to protect you, with blocking pain.

Rick Warren is A Bridge-Builder Article (re-blogged)

This article was written by Brandon Cox, a writer who is talking about my Pastor Rick Warren. He did not have a re-blog app on his blog, but I desperately wanted to share with you. I get so tired of hearing, Rick Warren is this…. or he believes this… Read the article and see truly what Pastor Rick Warren does, love one another. All credit goes to Brandon Cox, very well written.

It wasn’t long ago that I wrote a response to critics claiming that Rick Warren endorses “Chrislam.” My frustration then remains my frustration now, namely, that people will follow their first impulse, believe whatever comes up in Google, and assume the worst in the name ofdiscernment, which is ironic since real discernment is about digging for truth instead of believing a first report.

The latest debacle surrounds a partnership between Saddleback Church and the Muslim community of Orange County, as reported by Jim Hinch in the Orange County Register. There are people who are constant critics of Rick and I fully expect, with any major news story, they will highlight minor points and twist them to fit their preconceived idea about Rick as the pseudo-evangelical heretic. God will handle such critics in His own way and time, as He sees fit.

I’m more concerned about the evangelical leaders who, because of those outspoken and overly-harsh critics, will be questioned by their church members every time they quote Rick or refer to him in some way. After the sermon, someone will ask the Pastor, “Are you sure you want to be following a guy who… supports Islam? promotes ‘Chrislam?’ embraces higher mysticism? etc.” To you, who courageously lead your churches and love Pastor Rick, I want to share some clarity.

Theologically, there are two points that surface repeatedly among questioners. One surrounds the verbiage that Christians and Muslims worship the “same God.” This is a rather poor choice in terminology, but the misunderstanding is understandable. What Saddleback really affirms is that both Christians and Muslims are monotheists – that we both worship one God, and that the deities of which we both speak share many similarities. Neither the Christian leaders, nor the Muslim leaders involved in the

discussion have ever affirmed that Jehovah and Allah are the “same God.”

So “we both worship one God” is easily interpreted as “we worship the same God” but wrongly so. There is simply an affirmation that both Christians and Muslims are monotheists. Pastor Warren and Saddleback still affirm, without reservation, that Jesus Christ is the One and only Savior of the world. But the point of the discussion between the two groups wasn’t to point out differences but to point out similarities, not for the purpose of highlightingsameness between the two religions, but rather the ability for the two religions to tackle issues, side-by-side.

You may disagree with this approach. You might feel that Christians shouldn’t work alongside Muslims, even with differences clearly stated, to accomplish common goals. Disagreeing with this approach is acceptable, branding Rick Warren as a false teacher is not. Disagree with Pastor Rick’s methodology if you wish, but don’t misrepresent his theology, which is clearly Christocentric.

The second point with which people have had questions pertains to an agreement between Saddleback and the Muslim community that “we will not try to convert one another.” Leaders have questioned, does Rick not believe in the necessity of evangelism and the Great Commission? Does he not see conversion to the faith as necessary for entrance into eternal life with Christ?

Again, based on Rick’s track record of having spent over thirty years building a church that constantly shares the gospel (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and salvation in Him alone by grace alone through faith alone), continually baptizes far more new believers than their critics, and having sponsored the planting of churches around the globe, I would assume the benefit of the doubt might be extended to him. But since the question has been raised, let it be understood that Rick Warren unequivocally espouses the necessity of evangelism to the life of Christianity, to the vitality of the church, and to the gathering of all nations to Jesus Christ.

It is the method of evangelism that becomes the important issue. Saddleback is merely challenging Christians to state the truth of their faith, share their story, and demonstrate the love of Jesus. Out of this kind of living, without any manipulative or coercive tactics, people of any non-Christian background will be enticed to ask more questions. Not once has Rick encouraged Christians to hide their faith or obscure the specific nature of their salvation experience. On the contrary, Saddleback regularly trains thousands of individual believers in how to share their faith while believing that the gospel, in an of itself, can be entrusted to a sovereign God to draw and save those who are willing to seek and ask.

In other words, we don’t have to “get people to convert.” Our obligation, according to the Great Commission, is to go and tell all the nations about the gospel of Jesus Christ, leaving the results entirely in the hands of the Holy Spirit. The Great Commission is not about getting people to exchange one religion for another. It’s about sharing the story in both word and deed and demonstrating the irresistible, life-changing power of Jesus Christ.

Any time a leader like Rick Warren steps outside of the comfortable bubble of our evangelical tribe to extend a hand of friendship to a people with such different beliefs, the rest of us feel a little shaky, perhaps even a little afraid of what might happen if we totally opened our hearts and arms to those on “the other side.” Our sense of hoping to preserve the safe distance between us andthem is, perhaps, the greater problem in this story. Jesus once challenged an entire generation of Jewish leaders to consider forsaking their legalistic safety zone to embrace prostitutes, tax collectors, and Samaritans. Maybe He’s still challenging us today…

Source: BrandonACox.com.

 

 

 

Setting Smart Goals in the Daniel Plan

Taken from Rick Warren’s Daniel Plan Journal.

Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound) Goals, similar to what we talked about in chapter 6 in The Daniel Plan on the Focus Essential. Goal setting is a spiritual discipline like prayer and spending time alone with God. In fact, goals can be an act of stewardship or worship where you say, “God, I want to make the most of what I’ve been given” or “God, I give you back the life you’ve given to me, and I want to go in your direction.”

Specific goals are clear and distinct. This is where you understand exactly what is expected and why it is important. A specific goal usually answers the Five “W” questions: What? Why? Who? Where? Which? (Identify the requirements and constraints in the areas of faith, food, fitness, focus, and friends.)

To set specific goals, you need to know the difference between pressures and priorities, activity and achievement, and what’s urgent and what’s important. If you focus your energy on goals that aren’t God-directed, your energy won’t have much power. Paul modeled this in 1 Corinthians 9:26: “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.” Energy that is focused has enormous power.

Measurable emphasizes the need for tangible benchmarks. If a goal is not measurable, how will you know whether you are making progress? Measuring your progress helps you stay on track and keeps you excited. A measurable goal answers questions such as “How much?” and “By when?”

Attainable means the goals need to be realistic, even though it’s okay to have big dreams. Extreme goals usually invite failure and frustration. When you identify the goals that are most important to you, you will figure out ways to make them happen.

At the same time, you also need to realize that attainable doesn’t mean only the goals you can accomplish in your own power. If you can do it in your own power, then you don’t really need any faith. Goals can stretch your faith and affirm your trust in God.

Relevant means goals that matter. A relevant goal answers “yes” to these questions: Is it worthwhile? Is this the right time? Does it match your other efforts and needs? This also means your goals are relevant to God and bring him glory. Any goal that brings you closer to God and makes you want to serve him and others is a goal that matters. The apostle Paul encouraged us to “make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it” (2 Corinthians 5:9).

Time-bound stresses the importance of attaining the goal within a certain time frame. When you use time-bound criteria, you will be able to measure your goals and focus your efforts on a specific deadline.

Here are examples of seven SMART Goals:

1. Lose 30 pounds in six months. 2. Walk, as if I am late, four times a week for forty-five minutes with my walking partner. 3. Do a complete kitchen cleanse (that is, clean out the kitchen of all unhealthful food) once a week. 4. Spend one night a week with friends reading and discussing The Daniel Plan material. Call in between meetings for encouragement and accountability. 5. Spend five to ten minutes a day journaling my progress. 6. Spend ten or more minutes a day in prayer or reading my Bible. 7. Eat Daniel Plan – approved foods at least 90 percent of the time.

Working toward SMART Goals will give you the direction you need to focus on what’s really important. You will record these on pages 22 – 24 and revisit them every ten days.

The Daniel Plan Your New Life

Welcome to a New Way of Life

(written by Rick Warren)

Even though I grew up in the church, I have never heard a single sermon about the body. Not one. I have heard sermons about the importance of your spirit, your soul, your mind, your character, and your values.

I believe it’s safe to say most Christians don’t have a “theology of health.” Yet the Bible teaches us that our bodies are very important to God, and he wants us to take care of them.

We developed the biblically based Daniel Plan at Saddleback to help you understand what God says about your body and why it’s important physically, mentally, and spiritually to maintain good health. God created you with a purpose. To fulfill that purpose, you need to take care of the body God gave you. Doing so will give you more energy. It will increase your stamina. It will help you handle stress and maintain a positive attitude.

We have designed this journal to guide and encourage you through the first forty days of The Daniel Plan. Every day we will provide you with biblical inspiration that teaches the spiritual significance of getting healthy and staying healthy, while reminding you that God is for you and your success in The Daniel Plan.

In addition, we will give you a tip or short activity to help you take one step at a time toward your health goals. We will also ask you questions so you can assess your health, stay motivated, track your progress, and adopt new habits.

Describing your journey in a written format helps you to stay focused on your goals and provides you with a motivational record that ultimately helps to sustain your momentum. Making progress in one area often spills over and creates a positive impact in other areas. This progress develops a win-win cycle to keep you moving forward. Most of all, we hope The Daniel Plan will help you stay focused on God. As you depend on him more and more, you will become stronger. And instead of craving other things that don’t support your goals, you will crave your time alone with him.

I have been a pastor for more than thirty-five years, and I have noticed that there tends to be three major reasons we give up on our many commitments to get and stay healthy:

1. We try to change through willpower instead of God’s power. For most of us, willpower will work for about three weeks. Then we get tired and frustrated and go back to activities that are harmful to our health. By its very nature, willpower means you are forcing yourself to do something your body doesn’t want you to do. That is why most of our New Year’s resolutions don’t last. We try to keep them by willpower instead of God power.
2. We try to change using wrong motivations instead of God motivations. When the goal is all about “me” — how I look or feel — it’s usually not enough to keep most people going. There’s nothing wrong with those types of goals. In fact, looking healthy and feeling healthy are good goals.

But we need something greater than ourselves to help us stick it out, particularly when the journey gets tough. The Daniel Plan lifestyle supports your health and maximizes your ability to fulfill the mission God has planned for you.

3. We try to change by ourselves instead of with other people. You were made to grow and mature in community. It’s nearly impossible to have lasting change in your life without support and encouragement from others. That’s why we emphasize the need for friends as you work toward better health.

Going through The Daniel Plan with others weaves pleasure into your journey. That doesn’t mean it will be easy, but it does mean you will have the joy of knowing you are accepted and loved by friends who are as committed to good health as you are.

I believe you will enjoy life on The Daniel Plan. Most people and their energy increases, they start sleeping better, their relationship with Christ deepens, and their whole outlook on life becomes brighter. Their motivation kicks up a notch, and the benefits start rolling in. I can’t wait to hear how God will use a healthier you in the years to come. Welcome to an amazing, lifelong journey!

Written by Rick Warren

God Sized Dreams!!

It is amazing the thoughts that can come into your mind, and like a filing system your brain automatically scans it over, and either keeps the thought as realistic, or discards it away.  Keep in mind that this brain processing is based on what we as humans believe to be realistic based on our thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It does not mean that it is accurate. Sometimes your thoughts are so big that it is impossible for your mind to grasp, those are what I call “God Size Dreams,” visions that are so big that they seem impossible to fulfill.

This is where faith comes into play. I know that my purpose is to be a vessel for God, obedient to his teaching, and his timing. It is a daily, step by step journey, but I can say that it gets more enjoyable day by day. The last few days it has been placed on my heart that the East Coast needs an extension of Saddleback Church, which is located in California. Rick Warren is a spirit filled, “purpose driven” dreamer with a heart and passion for God. When I think about the idea of helping to start a church out here, my thoughts automatically tell me that it is not possible! My mind and emotions tell me your too busy, too inexperienced, have no idea what you are doing to even think about starting such a project such as that. Well, my mind is thinking on the human term, no on the terms of God. If Rick had stayed a dreamer, he would not have been obedient to God, and the church that we now know as Saddleback would not be here today. It is crazy to think that he as a young pastor just decided one day to move his young family out to California to start-up this church.  It is even crazier for the mind to remember that Peter walked on water! Peter was actually doing what no other man could do,  but only when he had his eyes on Jesus was he able to do this. The minute he looked away, down into the water he went.

I felt the same way today, I talked to a friend at Saddleback of my ambition online, and right after I sent the message self doubt filled my soul, with what in the world are you thinking? This is crazy!!! Well, it probably is a bit out there on my normal scheme of thoughts, but I know that  through God anything is possible. Rick Warren said it best when he said, “Where God guides, He provides!” That is the absolute truth, I have seen it happen time after time!

Do you ever feel like when you are reading the stories in the Bible, that the people in the stories were not normal, every day people? I used to think that to do the will of God, you had to be pretty special! I never thought about the reformed drug addict, high school drop-out, every day average person to do such great and wonderful things for God! I have since learned that God will use anyone He see’s that is obedient, and willing to be a vessel for Him. He will give that person all the resources needed to do the job, and the wisdom and guidance to complete his mission.

I don’t know what the future holds, I do not even know if this vision will come to play. I do know that I am waiting, and willing to be used by God in any way that He see’s fit. Please pray for me for discernment and obedience to do God’s Will.

What is This Thing Called Grief?

“Grief is not what you expect, and its reality, is not something you could ever imagine.”  Judy Brizendine

“Grief is a demanding, confusing detour in life’s journey, but it is not the final destination. Your road does not end there. You are not alone, God loves you more than you can possibly imagine, and He’s looking for you, even if you’re not yet trying to find Him.”

“Journaling helps release everything bottled up tightly inside you. Sometimes talking about personal feelings is difficult, so writing helps you process these painful emotions and advances your healing.”

The best way out is always through~ Robert Frost.

“Unexpected death, instantly my entire world- and the way I related to it changed. Only those who have experienced the devastating loss of someone extremely close will understand. Only those who have faced first hand, the unbelievable depths of grief have the capacity to understand. And until my grief experience, I did not understand either. Incomprehensible, indescribable grief. Thus began an inescapable journey-one I did not expect nor certainly want. Yet this unwelcome journey has been a life-changing experience of wide-spread proportions- with changes that are still happening today, more than thirteen years later.”

“In spite of everything, I can tell you with absolute certainty there is hope, even during the darkest, seemingly most hopeless times of grief. I can tell you with confidence, that in time, your life can be rich, satisfying, and fulfilling in new ways because of your grief experience- if you allow it to be so. The choice is yours.

Grief is a process. It takes time, Remember; hope is still alive, even if you can’t see it yet. The only way to healing, is to go through the grief stages, you cannot avoid them, go around them, delay them, for if you do, and it will be sitting there waiting for you! It is unavoidable, but once you do, there is light on the other side. You do not have to do it alone there is always a person you come in contact with who has been through the same thing, that is how God works, yours never alone, and He is always there! (2 Corinthians 1;3-6)

What does Grief Look Like?

GRIEF– In the Beginning

• an overwhelming, indescribable pain
• all consuming
• shocking and numbing to our senses
• aloneness
• a multitude of tangled emotions
• an altered reality
• heavy and exhausting
• a total upheaval
• an inward-focused look

GRIEF , as it Progresses is……

• a disorderly process
• a journey through unknown territory
• unpredictable tears
• ocean waves that crash suddenly upon us
• an intense emotional pain and sadness
• moments of sharp, unexpected anger
• living life on “auto-pilot”
• at times, completely draining- physically, emotionally, and spiritually
• intermingled with fear, anxiety, and confusion
• realization of shattered dreams

You may also experience…

• hollowness
• detachment, disconnection
• a state of lost security and instability
• difficulty concentrating, and making decisions
• overly sensitive feelings
• physical discomfort- tightness in chest, rapid heartbeat or skipped beats, sleep changes, changes in eating habits, nausea, and hyperactivity or complete exhaustion.

Along with grief comes…

• the need to talk
• the need to be heard
• the need to know someone cares (really cares)

 

GRIEF- later on (could be years after the loss) may show up as…..

• tears, especially when triggered by reminders
• changes in feelings, thoughts and attitudes- “new perspectives”
• changed identity and new roles
• an ongoing, lengthy recovery that lasts much longer than we wish or think.
• A re-mapping of life- a need to form new routines, interests, or relationships
• A progression of letting go or “release”.
• A new “normal” (whatever that is for you)

 

 

And then, perhaps…..

• Refocused thinking and planning
• A new examination of life, priorities, and faith
• A greater awareness of other’s needs and hurts
• A heightened sense of time’s finite nature
• Renewal within yourself (if you choose)
• New dreams for the future

 

GRIEF- possibilities, even later in the process, may include…

• A desire to help others
• A compassion for others
• A greater comprehension of love
• Personal growth
• A stronger faith and desire to know God on a much deeper level.

“Grief is like a foreign language when we first confront it: awkward, unfamiliar, unwieldy, and overwhelming.”

“Making sense of the chaos of grief is a process of your own design carried out on your own timetable, along with certain people you choose to let you travel your path to healing. Take one step at a time, you’re so much stronger than you think. You can do this, and it is worth the price. Realize, no one can do it for you.”

You may also feel like you are all alone, but God promises you, He will NOT leave you! He is in control, and HE has good plans in store for you. Trust His Words, and hold tightly to His Promises!

I know what I am doing, I have it all planned out- plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.  Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)

All Credit goes to the author of the book listed below, Judy Brizendine could not have written it more beautifully, so all credit goes to her.  If she had written an article, I would have simply re-blogged the article.

Brizendine, Judy, “Stunned by Grief- Remapping your Life When Loss Changes Everything.”  Bennett Knepp Publishing, 2011.   Isbn: 978-0-9831688-1-2

 

 

How Important Is Water to Our Body?

“Water is the medium in which all other nutrients are found.”

Water is made up of three simple molecules- two hydrogen’s and one oxygen that bind together to form one molecule of water, the most abundant and important substance both on Earth and in the human body.

The adult body is at least 60% water, but this percentage is even higher before birth. As late as 32 weeks of gestation, the fetus is more than 80% water and is surrounded by the ocean like water of amniotic fluid. The fetus continuously swallows this fluid for nourishment- each day about 250 milliliters for every kilogram of body weight. (The equivalent for an adult of about 5 gallons per day.) Without this constant swallowing of water and nutrients, the fetus, would become malnourished and the digestive system itself could not be properly formed.” (Haas, 2006)

Water is so important and is the primary component of all the bodily fluids- blood, lymph, digestive juices, urine, tears, and sweat. Water is involved in almost every body function: circulation, digestion, absorption, and elimination of wastes. (Haas, 2006)

Whenever I feel tired or sick, the first thing I do is reach for a glass of water. In the morning while I am taking my vitamins, I drink a 20 oz glass of water . I really believe that it “wakes up” my organs and gets my day going. I know if I drink a soda, I will begin to feel tired, and usually need to balance out my body with a glass of water.

Many people believe that water has the ability to heal the body and the mind. Physical wounds are also healed through water. The bloodstream carries repair substances to the injury site;  in which  81 percent of our bloodstream is water. In the human body, urine consists of 95% water, and sweat is 99% water. When toxins enter our body, most of the time urine and/or sweat are the one that carries it out. Water is fundamental to life!

The human body needs about twelve cups of water each day to stay hydrated. Although not all twelve cups need to come from water that is consumed through drinking, we are not drinking enough to stay healthy. On an average four cups of the required twelve cups of water come from water in our foods, which would not be bad if we consumed the ideal remaining 8 glasses of water  a day. The problem according to Wirtlin Worldwide, a market research company,  is that 20 % of us drink no water at all, and 42% of us consume a mere two glasses  or fewer. At the same time, we are consuming, on average 1.8 cups of coffee, 1.3 cups of soda, 1.2 cups of mind, and 1.1 cups of juice a day, often loaded with sugar. (Haas, 2006 p 14)

What happens to our body is we become dehydrated!   Dehydration is linked to chronic health problems of adult-onset diabetes, arthritis, asthma, back pain, cataracts, chronic fatigue syndrome, colitis, depression, heartburn, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidney stones, lupus, migraines, multiple sclerosis, and muscular dystrophy. Even three to four cups of water a day is not enough to lower risk for these problems. We must increase our water intake! (Haas, 2006 p 14).

The problem in America is that we drink too much coffee, soda, and sugar drinks.  It is often thought that because it has water in the solvent, it is okay but they do not realize that coffee for example, is a diuretic and can actually cause us to excrete more water than it contains. Soda with so much sugar in it, actually upsets the water balance. When the highly sugar concentrated water in soda enters our digestive system, it can cause the body to “steal” water from elsewhere to dilute the soda and make it less concentrated. The Soda problem is referred to as hyperosmotic load.

It makes me think that the water that was drank in the Biblical days and the decline of it, somehow played a definite part in the length of the human life span.  We are living shorter and shorter life spans as compared to Biblical days, I wonder, don’t you?

 

 

Haas, Elson M. “Staying Healthy with Nutrition, Celestial Arts  Publishing, Toronto, (2006).

I

Beauty…

It is such a humbling experience to sit and watch God’s majestic beauty in power
as the is ocean constantly in motion. It’s the little things that we often are too
busy to notice. Have you done everything you wanted to do today? I am learning
it’s not about things, or possessions that we should work for, it’s about people!

Loving people with such an innocence of a small child. No ulterior motives, no
needs to be met, just simply enjoying another person. We are all created for
interaction and relationships with other people. I have heard that we as humans
work our whole life for the gold mine at the end of the rainbow, but during that
time it is easy to become strained in the one’s you love. That is Satan’s tactic. He is slow, and patient to keep hammering and chiseling away at your heart and soul.

I often sit and think about who I was, and where I was before God saved me! Where would I be without His grace and mercy? Life is precious and fragile, I learned that when I lost my brother, Daniel.

I have learned the difference between happiness and Joy!  I do not want happiness as much as I desire Joy! When you have joy in your life, you are able to see and appreciate all the other beautiful gifts that God bestows on our lives like His Grace and Mercy.

I am so thankful for the Grace and Mercy that God has shown to me in my life, and in the lives of those I love.

You came to my rescue, I have grace that restores, grace that redeems, grace that releases me to worship you wholeheartedly. Miracles!

Joy is what I feel when I am talking with you God! After finding out what joy is in you Lord, I don’t
care if I ever experience another blessing, you are enough! You are my King!

Jesus, there is so much healing and peace in just saying your name! Thank you for you love, friendship, grace, and mercy!

Peace,
Traci