Is It A Mountain...or Just A Bump in The Road?

Let me begin with an acknowledgement that many of you reading this, most likely don't know me, personally. In fact, I know this to be true from the stats I read on my site. So, because of that, I want you to know I realize I'm a bit hard to understand at times. I can be evasive and a bit confusing because my brain tells me to be.

My world consists (much of the time) through metaphoric murmurings. In other words, I like comparing metaphors to real life situations. Doesn't everybody? 

Even though I thought it quite evident that was what I was doing, it was brought to my attention that the reader couldn't connect the dots. Thus this preview...

Anywho...

Today, I have a new sticker that I recently purchased off Etsy. When it arrived, I immediately placed it on my (also recently purchased) laptop computer.

It says, "I've survived too many storms to be bothered by a few raindrops." And of course...this is a metaphor. Mostly. Purposefully.

Many of you know, and remember with great fondness, my sister, Becky. She was my confidant, my protector, my inspiration, for many of my earthly years. She went home in 2008, but there are days I still feel her close by. 

Today is one of those days. My new sticker brought her to mind. She probably made sure of that...if indeed those gone on can reach earth from there. We are told that nothing will hinder us, once we are there. So...possibly heaven's citizens can touch earth's? Or maybe it's just our memories of them that inspire us.

Her thing was, "Is it a mountain to climb, or just a bump in the road?" Mountains take a lot of prayer and letting go of what we hold dear...that being control. Control of any given situation. Control of what (or who) we felt needed our guidance.

Bumps in the road were things we just needed to slow down for. Things that actually required control. Control of our emotions, our desires, our dang-its.

The sticker I found on Etsy reminded me of the storms of life this almost 79 year old has experienced. Storms that required laying down her own will for that of another so that she might survive until the storm subsided. 

And then it brought my thoughts to the raindrops now falling (metaphorically) that actually feel like a storm brewing. But what we fail to realize, occasionally, is that rain can be refreshing when we allow it to be. Rain can sooth us when we begin to see its purpose. Literally and metaphorically...

Still...it might be wise to cover ourselves in prayer, and those we hold close, before the incoming weather has a chance to become something much bigger...all-the-while realizing it could just be  raindrops falling around us. A re-set of sorts. A cleansing. Not a destructive storm. 

One never knows for sure...until it plays out.

Praying continually, here you will find me...in Mary's World.

Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?

Stay with me for a short while...this one is short, but needs read in it's entirety to understand the point.

Life gets hard, even difficult to maneuver at times. It's in those moments I call to remembrance what God has promised me. 

"I will never leave you. Never forsake you." ~Hebrews 13:5 (Wherever I am, there He is!)

"I am as close as your breath." ~Genesis 2:7 (He has put His life inside my lungs, that I might truly live life to the fullest)

"All you need do is call my name and breathe me in. I give you life." ~Job 33:4 (There's no name as sweet and calming as the name of Jesus) 

We can do difficult things because of His guidance. But we must listen. That's all He asks of us. To follow the sound of His voice. Do what we know to do, and listen...

As I listened to Genesis 18 this morning, a piece of the Scripture was dropped into my heart that caused me to hit "pause" and sit for a bit thinking about it. It wasn't as strong as a full on body slam...but close.

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" ~Genesis 18:14

Sarah, Abraham's 90 year old wife, laughed when she overheard a conversation between God (an angel of the Lord) and her husband. God had promised them a son that would usher in a lineage of people that would eventually give the world a saviour. Years ago!!! And here he comes to confirm that promise years after they were waaaayyyy too old. Honestly, I think I may have laughed, too, at that point. 

They had waited so long, Sarai (her name at the time) gave up hope of it ever happening, so decided to take matters into her own hands (we've ALL done this, right?) and do what any true Israelite would have done (even though she was Hebrew) and produced a child through a surrogate, of sorts. Her hand-maiden. That was how it was done back in the day.

As I sit here, pondering the message God was putting out there for these two; one past the age of entertaining the act of doing his part in this processes, and the other past the age of actual child bearing, it had to be a bit daunting...and even laughable. Don't you think?

And yet...is anything too hard for the Lord? 

The God of all creation, who hung the stars in space and caused the world to rotate as He filled it with life-giving creatures, plants, and vegetation? Is anything too hard for Him? Yeah...I think not.

The impossible things of life is where God does His best work! (Read that again)

In the things most difficult for us, the things we have tried so very hard to control and can't seem to make much of a difference in...there He is! THERE HE IS!!! So not a one of us can boast as to how we made things good, even great, as hard as we try. Things we have given everything for, and yet they seem to still be chaotic, at best. Unsolvable...

That's where our God steps in and says "Watch what I will do for you." ~I Samuel 12:16 

Is anything too hard for the Lord? 

Ask Him for ears to hear clearly. There may not be instant gratification, but there will be peace of mind while walking through the mire of any given situation. Just knowing He is for us...not against us, will help us to hear directions more clearly.

Breathing in His goodness, here you will find me...in Mary's World.

Is Love Blind?

It's a show on Netflix. Is Love Blind flashes across the opening episode as the show begins. A "show" in the most literal terms. 

Hopeful singles prepare for a marriage partner by visiting small rooms, known as "Pods," that are sectioned off where neither participant can see the other. All they have to go on is the voice of the one they're "dating", and the words that are being said to them by the other. All to see if there could possibly be a connection of sorts. Guided mostly by feelings and blind trust. First two mistakes...

Judge me if you must, but there are times when walking in the undesirable places of this world, wisdom grows. But, when we say, "I would never do that," we are actually confirming we are better than the ones who are doing "that". And...we may be. At that time in our lives. Better, not because of who we are, but better because we have found truth. Found what gives real peace as we follow our life's journey. And it's not in the "try before you buy"...at least not in this instance.

John Bradford, a 1550's Christian martyr, said this: "There, but by the grace of God, go I." At a time when Mary (Bloody Mary) Tudor ruled England, and many were being put to death, burned at the stake, because of their Protestant faith, John was humbled when seeing so many having to die for what they believed. Yet, he too, was eventually martyred. We all are no better than the next. We've just walked different paths.

I've walked in the dust of the earth, and I've walked on freshly swept streets, so-to-speak. I have experienced both sides of dark and light. Both sides of fear and peace. I prefer peace...

So much could be said about this particular Netflix series. But, I won't. It has been some time since last indulging, because the program quickly creates an unsettled feeling inside of me. It's hard to watch these clueless people humiliate themselves...and me. Just being a part of the human race, causes me to wince just a little when watching people willingly open themselves to ridicule. 

Anyway...Is love blind?

I would say there are times we all can experience blindness, yet have sight. Season 10 just wrapped up. I stumbled upon it a few nights ago when looking for something to relax with before bedtime. I know. TV is usually a poor choice. Whether it is just a news station, or a Chicago PD show. Worst things to end a day with. But, I do. Most nights...

At the end of each season, Is Love Blind, has a Reunion segment. It was that, that I stumbled upon. My immediate thoughts were, "Hmmm...I wonder who got tricked this time," and "How bad was it?" It's the nosey side of me. If I can find someone less intelligent than myself, I win. Right? Ughhh...

Remember the statement I made in the 3rd paragraph of this post? The undesirable places creating wisdom, part? Welllll....this particular reunion of season 10 participants, struck a note in me. Can't say that has EVER happened before. One of the couples that actually made it to the marriage altar, and were thought to have a "happy ever after" life in front of them, didn't. 

Four months in and the guy leaves. His reason? "I couldn't live up to the standards required because of trust issues with her past relationships with men." She went into the relationship with binoculars. Fully expecting her worst fears to transpire. Poor guy didn't have much of a chance. And he was young, so hadn't fully understood that marriage is a selfless life. One where we give our all, and expect good things to return to us. But if they don't, we keep giving to the one we claim to love, even in the hard times. Selflessly...

And that is what hit me...

So many of us carry baggage from past relationships into new relationships, walls up and ready to engage should any appearance of possible betrayal come front and center. We listen for it. We expect it. And, I'm not saying we should totally let our guard down; past hurts and wounds are real, and we want it all behind us. Hoping there is someone who will treat us as the gift we are. (Did I hear a laugh just now?) The gift that needs cared for. The gift that needs cherished.

Trust is earned. Or is it innocent until proven guilty? Same thing, right? Let's be honest, here. We all judge. We do. How can we not? The voice of reason is loud and clear. Even when looking at a books cover, we make a judgement call most of the time. Is this book something I want to engage with? Then you open the cover and read the forward. That tells us if we should be interested, or not.

We do the same with humanity. We look at the "cover". Does it impress us? We read the forward by listening to what comes out of the mouth. That should be our first stop. How do they communicate? The way they use language is very important, in my book. The expressions they provide tell us more than most realize. I am constantly reading body language (which my husband laughs at). That's the way I approach anyone. Friend or foe.

So, yes. Innocent until proven guilty. However, the statement that came from this Is Love Blind guy, caused something inside me to take notice. Something that made me ask myself some hard questions. Something that made me ask just how hard has it been to live with me? I think I'm a pretty great gal, yet some would say Dennis has been a saint throughout our marriage. Which I've never been able to figure out. We both have had our fair share of being an instigator, and he is a great guy. But sainthood??? He works on it from time to time. And then there's me. I'm a lot. 

Still a gift from God, but a lot at times...

Being a sharpening tool, here you will find me...in Mary's World. 

#myworld #lifeasiseeit #myjourney #islovetrulyblind #innocentuntilguilty

P.S.

Love is a choice. We choose. We learn what love truly means.