Don't Give Up!

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 
I Samuel 1:10

Hannah was being tortured by her rival and in a very dark place in her life because she wanted so badly to have a child.

But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara which means bitter for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. Ruth 1:20

Ruth was bitter because of the death of her husband and two sons. 

These ladies responded with their emotions weeping in anguish and a bitter heart. They didn't walk around with a smile on their face and trying to think positive. They were in the darkest place as we so often find ourselves in times of crisis. Hannah cried out to God bargaining with him for a child. Naomi worked the fields and still did what she knew had to be done to put food on the table for herself and Ruth.

They could not see or imagine how wonderful their futures would turn out in spite of their emotions. God blessed them both in a great way that they could not have imagined. When all was lost for them both, it was only the beginning of their story.

Our lesson is to hang on in spite of the emotions of grief, bitterness, heartache and loss. No matter how much you feel your emotions are not showing your faith and trust, God will still move in your life. Sometimes we find ourselves in a difficult situation but don't give up!

 This is a picture taken of Palm Beach Island and the connecting bridge I took April 13, 2008.

A Love Lesson

"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12

One of the best books I read on relationships was "His Needs Her Needs" by Dr. Willard Harley. It was a real eye opener for me to understand my husband and the responsibility I had to be a better wife. My husband grew up with 4 sisters so he already had a better understanding of women in general. It wasn't until we began to apply some of those principles that we saw a great difference in our marriage.

After attending a Promise Keepers Conference many years ago my husband implemented something he learned there that he continues to do today. He began to sit down each day to talk and listen. At first it was a bit strange and then some days we found ourselves talking for several hours. He has been great about making sure we still do this and what a difference it makes on our relationship.

There are so many wonderful tools today to show us how to have a better marriage. I am grateful to those who take time to write and teach about these principles in order for many of us to make changes and live more wonderfully with those we love. Another great book written is "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman which taught me so much about myself.

My prayer: Lord show me how to love like you have loved me!

My mom took this picture of people dancing when she was visiting Paris, France in 2010.

A Category 5 Storm

 

Life is so full of storms it seems, just like hurricane season they come when you are not ready and when you least expect it and you are never prepared. Who can prepare for the day to day dramas that affect all of us in one way or the other except to trust in God to take care of us in the midst of each crisis. The hope we have that he is continuously holding on to us as the storms of life are knocking us down and that we will be able to get back up and go on with our life once again.

I think about the young men and women giving their life in the war for all of us here to have a better quality of life and the men and women before them. Personally, I have not had to give up my life for anything or anyone. I feel blessed and privileged to know that there are people I do not even know who are fighting for you and me. That encourages me to keep going no matter what storm I may be facing today. These are people who see something bigger than themselves and are willing to take a risk daily for something they believe in.

During the last few years of hurricanes, like everyone else has experienced, every plant in my yard died except one bougainvillea. It actually bloomed even more after the hurricane and that reminded me so much of people in my own life that persevere through it all. They are such an encouragement  to me and my family as they bloom in this garden called life!

My prayer and challenge today is to be more like the bougainvillea and that I may bloom more after the storms passes. (written in 2006 during Hurricane Season)