Sunday, September 29, 2013

God's Amazing Beauty


     Hi everyone,  I am still learning on this "blogging stuff", and I did get this peacock feather copied and pasted from another page, but I am not sure why I can;t move it over?????  Someday, with months of practice, maybe I will be good at it.  Yesterday, my husband and I met a friend and we went to the annual "Barn Fest" in our neighboring town.  My friend bought a group  of peacock feathers which were tied together with a bow, and is planning on using them as decorations in her new apartment.  I would have liked to have bought some also, but decided our cat would probably have too much fun.
     As I stood and looked at the amazing beauty of this elegant feather, I was fascinated at its design.  I have always thought they were beautiful, but for some reason, when I really studied this intricate sample of God's power, I realized that He really can do absolutely anything.  The perfection of this feather with its beautiful details is simply mind boggling to me.  Seriously, He made this feather to be part of one of His creations, and the peacock walks around with innocence of having no idea how beautiful it is.  God has made each one of us as beautiful also, but sometimes we just can't see it ourselves. Let us rediscover the amazing power of God and all that He has made beautiful! Let us never doubt the beauty He can create out of what we may think might be an ugly mess at times!! 
     Genesis 1:31  God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good."
      I find it very fascinating and beautiful beyond my imagination!!!! 


Sunday, September 22, 2013

Full Moon

Hi  Friends,
     As we were at the campground last night seeing the full moon over the pond, it almost looked like it could have been this picture.  I remember years ago writing a poem about a full moon, and the sadness that my heart was feeling at the time, yet the power of knowing that if God could create something of this magnitude for us to witness the beauty, He could certainly take care of the problems that were invading my life at that time.  He did just that!  I look back now and realize the strength that I have received from just looking into a full moon.  They are so beautiful, and especially in the fall.  If God can place a full moon in the sky, He can certainly cure any addiction, He can heal a family of the turmoil they have endured because of addiction, and He can certainly  give everyone involved the strength they need to conquer what has been lost in the past. The next time you have the opportunity to just sit outside in the quietness of the still evening, and stare into the deep beauty of a full moon, do not pass it up.  It may just give you the peace you need to keep going, no matter what is going on in your life.
     This week, I will be going to give a presentation to a group of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders about the dangers of alcohol and drugs.  I will be sharing the story of my son's life with them, in hopes that they do not follow his footsteps.  My prayer when I leave there, will be that my son's death saved at least one of them from that horrible and destructive road. (Deep down I always have hope in my heart that his death will save everyone of them).  I pray that they will hear every word and that my son's death will touch the depth of their hearts.
     Psalm 104:19 You made the moon to mark the seasons.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Congratulations on 2 years recovery!!!!

Congratulations on 2 years sober Shawn!!!!!!!!!!!  Today is a day when my heart cries happy tears for someone whom I care about very much who has made it 2 years sober!!  This mother's heart could not be prouder!!  He may not be my son, but he is my son's age, and I have been praying for him with all of my heart to remain strong!!  I believe that he has been a huge inspiration for anyone in recovery to know that they, too, can make it with a lot of determination, willpower and most of all, dependence on the ONE who can make it possible!! Congratulations my dear Shawn, may you continue to be strong and may you know that I will continue to pray for you.  May your two years sober bring you even more strength than what you thought possible!!  Love ya!  God bless you with everything you need to continue on this journey of recovery!!!!!!!!!!
     "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME" Phil 4:13

Saturday, September 14, 2013

A week of obstacles

prgrsvimghttp://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4904780783157801&w=103&h=103&c=8&pid=3.1&qlt=90&rm=2Dear Friends,
     I write tonight with praying hands, for it has been a very hard week with many obastcles to overcome, yet with prayer and faith, I am reminded that God is in control and that with putting my trust in Him, these days allow me to  bring me closer to Him.  Through the tears this week, I was reminded of how much I have to depend on God to get me through.  Through the moments of discouragment, I was reminded of how much I have to continue to put my trust in Him.  I sometimes forget that He is running the show, and no matter how much I worry, if I would just give it all to Him in the first place, it would go as He wants it to.  I believe the roadblocks that sometimes easily work themselves into our lives, are sometimes what we need to have to work harder and to keep the fight in us when we are tired.  They can remind us to never give up even when we feel like we are not making a differrence.  Just when we throw our hands up into the air, and say "I cannot do this any longer", God sends us someone to remind us that we can.  Thank you Donna, for reminding me of that this week, and for praying for me, and with me, during our phone conversation.  I know that I felt the Holy Spirit as you were praying, and I am hoping that I will be able to pass that strength onto others who are also tired of the fight! Don't give up no matter how tired you are!!  Don't quit just because obstacles are getting in your way!  Use them as defense mechanisms to keep going!!!  And always remember, that God will never give you more than you and He cannot handle together!

Monday, September 9, 2013

Finding Serenity

Lake Ontario At Sunset Dear Friends,
     Today is one of those days when I wish I were sitting here on this beach and soaking in all of the serenity that this scene holds.  I can just feel the ocean air coming into my being and the calmness that it can bring.  Watching the sun casting a beautiful shadow of its beauty on the water gives me a sense of God's power.  Looking at the picture gives me the feeling that nothing is too big for God to handle, and if He can create something of this magnitude, He can certainly take the fear away from me. He can without a doubt  bring to me a sense of serenity that so often I cannot find at times when I need it.  God is there at the end of that ocean, He is with us as we walk this journey of life that feels so uncertain at times.  He can help bring us peace.......we just have to allow ourselves to be able to breath in deep enough to capture it.  May His peace flow into your being today!

Saturday, September 7, 2013

A special birthday!

     Three years ago today, I waited most of the day at the hospital waiting for a special little boy to be born.  My son who had just passed away in April, was now going to be a daddy again.  It was bittersweet to be there waiting for the moment of his birth, and knowing that his daddy would not be there to hold him, and would never be able to hold him ever.  I was so emotional that day, wondering what it would have been like to watch Marjoe holding his precious little son just moments after his birth.  I wondered what it would have been like to see the expressions on his face as he held this new precious gift of life.  I also wondered what it would be like when this little baby would grow up and ask , "Where is my daddy?", knowing that somehow we would have to explain to him how drugs had stolen his father's life from him. No child should ever have to go through this, and it happens more and more all of the time.
     Today is a special day when we celebrate my grandson's third birthday.  I will watch him unwrap his presents with tears welling up in my eyes, knowing that my son should be there smiling.  I will watch him smear cake and ice cream alll over himself as he smiles because he knows all eyes are on him.  I will cry inside knowing his daddy should be here, and I will see all that he is missing.  I never want another child to lose a parent because of alcohol or drugs.  I never want another child to grow up and have to hear the words, "Your daddy died because of drugs." Today, memories flood my mind thinking back to the day when my son called me and told me that they were expecting a baby.  I remember the joy in his voice, and the excitement he shared with me over the news.  Today, my heart is saddened in knowing that he is not here to see the excitement of his little boy celebrating his third birthday.  Today, I will cry tears of happiness for this gift of life that our family has been blessed with, but I will also cry tears of sorrow that he will never know his daddy throughout his entire life.
     Drugs do not only affect the person involved, they affect many many lives, and unfortunately, it lasts forever.  Our family will never again be the same, and this birthday party with an empty seat will remind me us of that.  May God bless all of you who are going through this same journey of sadness and emptiness.  May you be filled with peace and acceptance, as I pray for our own family  to have the same.  Happy 3rd Birthday little Masen, and may your daddy be watching you from the gates of Heaven! 

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

One word can make a difference!

This morning when I woke up, I decided to go into the computer and read the blog I wrote last night, just to see if it posted ok.  (I am still working at learning!) Well, after reading it, I realized that I left out ONE word and it changed the whole meaning of what I wrote.  Half way down, where it reads, "I pray that any of you who may be reading this............I left out the word WHO is on the road of addiction  and it changed the entire meaning of what I was saying.  It seems impossible that one word can make a difference in something, but it does.  That only goes to prove that saying I "CAN" --that one word will make a huge difference.  As I write this, a song is playing on the radio by Downhere called  "Rest" .  It is based on Matthew 11:28, "Come to me all you who are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest".  The first time I heard that song after Marjoe died, it was like Jesus and him were speaking to me.  During his recovery, he had written me a poem, based on lyrics from a song, and at the bottom of the page, he wrote "Matthew 11:28", and he sketched a box around it with a somewhat star beside of it.  If any of you are heavily burdened this day, go to that scripture and meditate on it for a few minutes, and know that God is with you at every minute.  I know my son found strength in that during his rehab, and I know he wants me to use it now when I get weary.  I hope you use it too........................  well, I will try once again, to publish this, and see if I am learning at this point.  Have a blessed day!!

Monday, September 2, 2013

Stay Positive!!!

    I will admit, this computer stuff does not come easy for me.  I am trying to stay positive  but have a difficult time even trying to create a blog.  (Sandra and Jimmy worked so hard to get this website, and I feel like I should have taken lessons to keep up with what I should be doing.
     A few weeks ago, my husband and I met a beautiful young lady who had a wonderful personality.  I had no idea when she first approached us that she was battling an addiction.  It broke my heart when I heard these words coming out of her mouth, "I just can't say no!"  Tears came to eyes with no warning at all when I heard her comment.  I know she did not want to see my tears, but I told her she needed to see them.  I looked directly into her eyes, and I said to her, "You are convincing yourself that you can;t say no, why don't you say to yourself, "I CAN say no!!"  I told her to say that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me--Phil 4:13.  I suddenly remembered the words that my son had said on his graduation rehab day to everyone there, "IF YOU THINK POSITIVE, POSITIVE THINGS WILL HAPPEN, AND IF YOU THINK NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE THINGS WILL HAPPEN."  Those words will stay freshly imprinted in my mind forever.  He was right, and now that he is gone, there is nothing that I can do to help him, but I pray that any of you who may be reading this is on the road of addiction, or in recovery, that those famous words of my son will be able to have a positive impact on your train of thought.  I pray that you will begin to think positive, and allow positive things to happen in your life.  NEVER LET GO of your hope for better days to come, NEVER LET GO of the positive ideas that can form in your mind.  But do LET GO of the negative thoughts that can destroy you, pull you down, take away your hope, or even steal your very life.  Be strong, tell yourself that you CAN do it, that you WILL do it, and that you WILL make it!!!!! Our minds can only be as strong as we allow them to be.  With God guiding our thoughts, we are able to use His strength to say NO, when other wise we could be too weak.  NEVER LET GO of that thought! 
     To the young lady we met that evening, please tell yourself that "I CAN SAY NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"   Say it over and over and over until you convince yourself that you can.  Do not let the evil force tell you any different, and remind yourself that with God at your side, you will be stronger than what you ever imagined. 
     When working on the computer, I have to tell myself the same thing.  I battle all the time with not wanting to do things on a computer, and not being too experienced with it, makes me nervous.  Before I lost my son, office work would have been the last thing I would have chosen to do, but now getting this ministry going, seems to have changed my whole direction in life.  Sometimes, we just have to tell ourselves, "I can do it", and "I will do it", even though at times, we feel like the most inadequate person in the world for the job.
     I hope all of you stay positive, and I will work hard at doing the same.