Forty Plus Miles

        Let it have it's way, this unearthly peace. Let it work deep down, washing pain and hurt with hope. Let the peace of Jesus make you whole, restored again; and be thankful.           Seek His presence and His help, He will show you how.  -inspired by Colossians 3:15  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

I wish I had something clever to say, here on this unusual Monday. I wonder if I should stop and pray, or simply stay in weird rhymes today. I wish I had something clever to say, here on this unusual Monday; writing and creating anyway. I wish I knew what to say, here on this unmotivated Monday; writing and creating weird rhymes anyway. I'm lookin’ and seein’ there was something to say: create anyway even on a strange day, whether or not it's a strange Monday. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

          I told a “Stall Time Story” to our son tonight at bed. I hadn't told those in a while. When he was really little I used to tell them at bath time (usually when he didn't wanna finish bath time; hence the name).            He asked for one tonight, and I told it. I didn't think I had it in me to tell one tonight (it's been a rough few weeks after losing a job the 14th); by the grace of God I was able to though. I didn't realize how fun, therapeutic, and empowering it would be though; for both of us.             What healthy, life-giving habit are you revisiting? How is it giving life, healing, empowerment to you and those around you?  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank...

       We (my son and I) were reading about David and Goliath this morning. There was something that surprised me when reading though. What would be promised to the one who kills Goliath was mentioned several times. First the Israelites were speaking of it, then David asked about it twice (see 1 Samuel 17: 25-30).         I was surprised because I had never noticed HOW much this was mentioned before; then wondered today WHY it was given SO MUCH importance.         David asked twice about what was promised. He wouldn't let that good thing be kept from him (when his brother tried to sideline him). He sought to gain clarity on what good was promised (to make sure he understood what was promised). Thank You Jesus for such understanding You give! Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), ple...

It's surprising, these small moments of grace.  Hope in hard truths that also bring grace. Caught by surprise when I shouldn't have.  It's surprising, these small moments of grace, Letting it take root again.  Letting revelations do a good work. It's surprising, these small moments of grace. Hope in hard truths that also bring grace. -Inspired by Hebrews 12:4-11 Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support!

"Repeat yourself.", instructions that echo inside. "Learn again.", guidance seen in thoughts.  So I write what I can in familiar styles.  Taking it in word for word, line for line.  "Learn again.", guidance seen in thoughts. Rehearsing styles once more while improvising. Taking it in word for word, line for line.  Writing what is discovered, word for word, in each line.  Rehearsing styles once more while improvising. Repeating the familiar in a new way.  Writing what is discovered, word for word, in each line.  Enjoying it, this familiar new friend.  Repeating the familiar in a new way.  So I write what I can in familiar styles.  Enjoying it, this familiar new friend.  "Repeat yourself.",  instructions at echo inside. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with...

 Grieving souls: man, dog. Walking together. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support!

         It's been quiet off and on. Busy screams while creativity tries to talk; so I lean in further, wait a little longer, express something in creating with a pen and some words. "Results may vary. ", a warning of caution I saw somewhere that I can't forget, that I can't remember it's origin either though. "Vary they will.", I think to myself; still I write.             I write of the slide in my mind, the family enjoying "playtime" together that I don't know yet. I watch them in my imagination, wondering what they'll do next. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support!

           It's somewhere in the middle, and I don't know where to start. It's somewhere in the transition, and my mind is cloudy, frozen in the journey; so I walk.             I walk, not knowing what this is. I walk, unsure of the next step. I walk, in prayer, with pen in hand as I listen, remembering Jesus is good, and He will fill in the blanks, making all things right.  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support!

          Here in The valleys You hold us still. On rocky paths we are not alone. You may look hidden, but You never are; we see Your heart for us and it's good. Thank You Jesus! We see You!  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support!

I saw life today, and it was amazing.  I saw creativity at work in creation.  I saw life in unique and beautiful ways.  I saw life today, and it was amazing.  I saw the contrast and the camouflage; somehow.  I saw the stick bug amaze once more.  I saw life today, and it was amazing.  I saw creativity at work in creation.  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support!

          I don't know where this is going; only that I can't ignore it. Some wave crashing down upon me. It's wild, uncontrollable, and it's all I can do to not scream.          I don't know where this is going; these words I'm writing, this soul I'm expressing......... So I just write. I write as this wave crashes over me. I write as life unearths me and sets me in a heavenly mindset. Here I swim, flow into and above the surface, where Jesus teaches me how to not be overcome but thrive. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support!

          Live a little, breathe a little, take things off your To-Do list if you need to, and add only one or two: -look around, -be grateful.           There is life happening all around us (even in the busy) that can empower us to “…dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” (Psalm 37:3 b); even when we feel like we're just surviving sometimes.          And if you see some guy riding on the back of a shopping cart in a Walmart parking lot to his car, don't worry, it's just me, “enjoying the ‘safe pasture’ “ as I “dwell in the land”.  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support!

       It's beautiful, the dark night that's there, the early morning rising that stumbles from it's slumber and begins. It's beautiful, the hidden even I've missed sometimes, as the night brews a celestial coffee of sorts, pours a cup for the rising day on it's way to it's sleep in the hand off of beginning.          Day announces it's beginning, caffeinated as it seems, and it's beautiful; beautiful in the hidden transition that becomes plain as we are willing to look. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

           Flying free, through the winds that carry. No worry, no agenda, just a gentle ride through. Flying free, this dandelion, and I with it, escaping life's stresses for a while; a healthy distraction as I ride this plant. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

          To begin again, in change again, of weather and life that goes again. To try again, to live again, past busy and constant where it's tough again. To thrive again, regardless of hardships again, focusing not on circumstances but Jesus again; where I begin again, to live again.  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

             This is down, buried somewhere in the dark underneath unpleasant work disguised as crawling underneath a building. This is down, seen in front of me as I lay on my back, looking upward in hopes of gaining energy again from exhaustion that is giving me a one-two punch.                "This is down", surprising me at first, written on the bottom half of floorboards that have worn down the original wording, rearranging to the surprising message that strikes me; three words now changing and speaking powerful truths. Creativity sees it, acknowledges the reality of a difficult time, while counting it blessed to have a way to help a tired soul express themselves in a constructive and creative way.                "This side down", seeing both messages, through creativity and reality, what it started out as, building something large and massive only to become something ...

           Flying, flying, and I am watching, somewhere in the heat of an endless summer that keeps trying to hold us. Gliding, gliding, riding fire's winds, those of an August summer heat overstaying it's welcome in this September month. Watching still as wonder enters the scene of daily living, as Heaven offers serenity in a brief moment.             Here I pause, take joy in the blessing of dragonflies colorful and bold, flying on a hot summer's work day; a summer still there, in September. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

              I'll write about faces, times and places, three come to mind, where margin I still find. I'll write about family, write happily, even here in the busy. I'll write about faces, in busy times and places.  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

      Through windows I see, see beauty and wonder, God's glory in creation; I see the reflection, pointing back to Him.        Through windows of the created I look, to consider what I see, this beautiful thing that points to the most beautiful one, Jesus.        Through laundromat windows I look at it's reflection staring back at me, grateful to Jesus for beauty in the heat. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

           Do I have faith, faith that grows, even in uncertain times? Do I still hope even when things aren't easy or right, certain that good will still be? Seeing the miles crossed I remember, remember the goodness of God all the way. Seeing those milemarkers of life's roads I remember as I take time to reflect, considering His faithfulness even in my faithlessness. I still consider these things and my faith builds. Yes, I still have faith. Yes, I still hope. Refusing to go without. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

          Pausing, reflecting, to not let them leave me. Binding 'round my neck, writing upon my heart; let love and faithfulness be found in me, never leaving. Let them be found in me, in Jesus' name.  -Inspired by Proverbs 3:3 Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

        To hope in fire and flames, rise and walk without fainting. To hold faith of a promised good still to be. To know grace unwavering in parched dry lands walked through; ONLY in Jesus, ONLY through Jesus is such a feat possible. In Him, and Him alone will I hope.  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support!