FAITH

Time for this week's link up with Karen Beth for Tuesday @ Ten where we have a full week to write on the word prompt.

This week's word is:

Found on Pinterest

Faith

What IS faith?

According to dictionary.reference.com, Faith is:

1. "confidence or trust in a person or thing";

2. "belief that is not based on proof";

3.  "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion;

4.  "belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.";

5.  "a system of religious belief;

6.  "the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc.";

7.  "the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc.";

8.  "Christian Theology.  The trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved."

Most of these definitions could be used for any "general" showing of "faith"; but the ones that I would focus on are numbers 2, 3 and especially 8.

Faith for me - as a Christian, a Child of God - is the belief and trust in God, based on His Word that I have studied, and my knowledge that I have accepted this "unseen God" as my Lord and Savior.

This quote from Hebrews 11:1 says it for us in a beautiful way:

In fact, faith is:  "I can't see God, but I love God", as my not-quite four year old grandson told me last night!  Well said, my little one; well said!!

The truth from a four year old is that we have not seen God; yet we believe in Him.  We know that He is our Creator, our Father, our Savior.  He hears our every prayer, whispered or not; He answers our prayers according to His plans for our lives.  We have not seen God; yet we love God.

Thank you God - Amen!

RJD Day 19 - Random Story Lines

Sharing Day 19 of Random Journal Day's "21 Days of Journaling in January".  Slowly catching up; but the fun with Dawn has actually ended.  We are moving into something new - 

but since I am still behind, I will continue to post until I am finished!

The prompt for Day 19 is "The Power of Words".  The ideas shared were good ones; but I decided to share some of the entries from my "Random Story Lines."

A few years ago I purchased a blank book - a journal; but a little different than others I've had.  This book was called "The Blue Day Notebook" by Bradley Trevor Greive (see more about the author here).

Inside the book are lined and some unlined pages.  At the bottoms of each page are whimsical little drawings, created by the author; and his cute little frog highlights the pages.

The day I purchased the book, I made my first entry - just as I would in any other new journal.

But there was something a little different about this journal; it just wasn't meant to be used as a journal to record my day to day events, and maybe a few special happenings...

No; this book was different and needed to be used in a different way...

Perhaps a place to put a different twist on the words I would share!  With a bit of artistic flair on the pages - 

So, I started what I called "Random Story Lines" where I used the words printed at the top of each page to write a story that continued throughout the book!

In between the pages of my story, I used colored pencils and markers to doodle and do my "squiggly" art; and an occasional actual journal entry!

For today's prompt - The Power of Words - I wanted to use the story lines from the first three of these story entries, using a total of 18 words...

It wasn't just the poetry that had her thinking of him - of home.  It must have been hard keeping their secret.  Now it was calling to her again...making her heart jump, her feet dancing with the thought of seeing him again.  Suddenly the soft fragrance of vanilla brought her thoughts back to reality.  Or was it? (written 4/29/04)

Once I returned home, there she was - my sister!  And she had found her old flame - or was he mine?  Those same thoughts came to mind again, that secret we shared; that love.  But, all I found was the cheese hidden behind the pumpkin - and the only living creature was the cat!  What did this all mean?  Was our secret out? (written 5/31/04)

She left on her journey and I didn't know when she would return.  Nothing on earth had saved us, and the secret still remained.  The silence was terrifying, but somewhat soothing, too.  A honey of a day, I'd say, with the ocean's sound in the distance, the pelican somewhere close, and all that green!  The fields of grass and weeds, the forest of trees...where had she gone?! (written 1/21/06)

These are the first three...

What do you think of my Random Story Lines?!  Want  to read more??  Let me know in the comments, and I will continue to share the story; and I may even ask for help in naming my story!!!

RJD Day 16 Prompt - Every Picture Tells a Story

Sharing Day 16 of Random Journal Day's "21 Days of Journaling in January".  The fun with Dawn and all the bloggers has actually ended; but since I am still behind, I will continue to post until I am finished!

The prompt for Day 16 is "Every Picture Tells a Story" with several ways to write (or draw!) using the ideas Dawn has shared on her site - enthusiasticallydawn.com.

I found this picture browsing quotes, pictures and other things on Pinterest...

Photo Credit

seyed mostafa zamini

via photopin cc

So, my task is to write with this picture in mind...

Standing in the open doorway, just above the stairs in front of me, my mind wanders to what may lie beyond the door.

The stone is cold to my touch as I slowly begin to climb...

One step -

     Two steps -

          Three steps -

               Four steps -

Pausing briefly, I turn to beckon my friend to follow me up the stairs...

Hesitation doesn't get the mystery solved;

so, I continue...

Five steps -

     Six steps -

          Seven steps -

               Eight steps -

Almost to the top of the stairs...

What will I find on the other side of that doorway?

Don't we sometimes spend our lives that way?  Afraid of taking a step into the unknown of our life - what God has led us to that we have no idea where it will lead us?

"Who are those who fear the Lord?

He will show them the path they should choose."

Psalms 25:12 (NLT)

We do not need to fear what is on the other side of that doorway; because God is there with us.  He will show us the right path we should take -

even if it brings us through an unknown doorway!

So, I continue...

Nine steps -

     Ten steps -

And behold the beauty of the garden and the courtyard where I sat and prayed...

Well, I didn't really find that doorway or the beautiful courtyard garden...

but, I found a quiet spot to sit and think and meditate and write; and I found that peace that comes only from God!

Thank you, God, for a beautiful place of peace!  And for leading me to and through the doorway!

FOCUS

Time for this week's link up with Karen Beth for Tuesday @ Ten where we have a full week to write on the word prompt.

This week's word is:

Finding it hard to focus now - on much of anything, including writing.

Nothing in particular causing that "un-focused" feeling...

Just having a hard time catching up on things; and trying to keep up with what I want to focus on -


And it would seem the inability to focus has consumed me so much that...

while supposedly fixing grilled cheese sandwiches on the stove-top...

I turned the heat up high - then turned away to butter the rest of the bread -

and the next thing I knew, flames were climbing from around the pan up to the top of the stove!!  I had the exhaust fan on and quickly turned the burner off - just in time!  As the heat decreased, the flames also decreased...

But -

Well, let's just say the smoke alarm works!  It blared for almost five minutes before we could get it stopped; and with the balcony door opened, the burner cooling off and the exhaust fan, we managed to get it all under control.

And later I found our poor cat huddling under my computer table...poor thing was scared to death!

What caused the burner to flame up so fast?

A few days ago I was boiling water, milk and butter to make boxed mashed potatoes...

and let it boil over when I turned my back to work on something else on the counter -

that is what was causing the burning when I turned it up higher to toast the bread!

What I need is a griddle!

And to FOCUS on what I am doing instead of getting side-tracked!

FINALLY - finished this week's Tuesday @ Ten post!!

RJD Day 14 Prompt - My Perfect Day

Sharing Day 14 of Random Journal Day's "21 Days of Journaling in January".  The fun with Dawn and all the bloggers actually ends on the 25th; but since I am still behind, I will continue to post until I am finished!

I may just write some of the last week's posts in my hand-written journal (yes, I do still write in my journal!)...they are a bit more "personal"!

But the prompt for Day 14 is "My Perfect Day"...

What would a perfect day look like for me?

Wake up after a good night's rest.

Read Bible and Devotions;

Journal my thoughts.

Eat a healthy and filling breakfast.

"Dress" for the day...

or not - some days it's great to stay in pj's!

Write for an hour...

or two or three!

Eat a delicious lunch.

Work on something creative!

Read for an hour...

or two or three!

Take a nap;

a "cat nap" or a long "bear-like" nap!

Take a long walk,

and enjoy God's beauty!

Write or read a bit more,

whichever calls to me!

Eat a light dinner.

Get ready for bed.

Read more...

Go to bed

for another

good night's rest!

All alone!

No stresses or pressures or TV blaring or horns honking or any of those other "noises"!

Just the sounds of God's world: the birds singing; water flowing down the mountains; a slight breeze in the air...

All alone!

I could do that...

This would be a Perfect Day!

But, "Perfect Days" are meant to be shared -

So, I would share it with my family and friends!

But, just once - I would love to enjoy My Perfect Day!!

RJD Day 13 Prompt - God, Aslan and Creation

Sharing Day 13 of Random Journal Day's "21 Days of Journaling in January"; check Dawn's blog here and join the fun!

Today's prompt is to write about a time in history that you would like to spend with God.  I thought about what Biblical "story" I would want to be there for; but, at first couldn't quite decide when that day would be.

But, after reading "The Magician's Nephew", Book #6 of "The Chronicles of Narnia" series, I decided I would like to be there when God created the heavens and 

the earth:

"In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.  Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light."  (Genesis 1:1-3 - NRSV)

So, why did "The Magician's Nephew" inspire me to choose being with God for the creation?  This book, though it is #6 in the series, was actually written after the first five!  It was written to tell the story of Narnia's creation!

In Genesis, "the earth was formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep..."; in "The Magician's Nephew", Aslan "sings Narnia into existence" from the dark nothingness.

Reading about the creation os Narnia showed me just how God made everything we have out of nothingness!!

And made me wonder what it would be like to actually see God at work, creating our world and everything in it!

What an awesome sight that must have been!

Thank you, God, for creation!  Thank you for those who have a creative mind and who write beautiful stories that share Your truths!  May we use the resources You have created to share Your Good News.

RJD Day 11 Prompt - Rich and Famous

Sharing Day 11 of Random Journal Day's "21 Days of Journaling in January"; check Dawn's blog here and join the fun!

Today's prompt allows us to dream a bit...

I have always wondered what it would be like to be RICH - not necessarily famous; but rich for sure!

What would I do with the money:  what would I buy?  How would I act or react to being so rich?  Would I quit my job; move into a big house?  Share my riches?

Yes, I have always wondered...

But, I am not...

...well, the prompt actually was "if you suddenly became wealthy; or 'disgustingly rich', what would you do...

So, I will go with the prompt and explore my options!

I would buy all three of my adult children and their spouses a house, and a car for each of them...

Then, I'd buy my husband and I a condo or town home or maybe even a house, and new cars as well.

Disgustingly rich?

I would make sure all four of those homes were furnished just the way each family wanted it to be done!

I would take the entire family on a super awesome vacation!  Maybe we would go to Disney World for a week!  Or, to the mountains; or on a cruise.  Or a European vacation...

who knows!  Maybe we'll do all of them!!

I would make sure there was enough money to put aside so all six of my grandchildren would have money to go to college; wherever they wanted to go!

But...

I have played the lottery here in Florida...

...and have never even won the cost of that ticket!

I have entered all sorts of contests for cash prizes...

...no such luck for me!!

I have won a few prizes and things over the years; but not really a lot of money...

I have come to the conclusions that God does not want me to be rich in money, or "things".

There are not enough "riches" on this earth that would make me happy!  I do not need them for my life to be blessed!  God gives me so many blessings that I cannot even begin to count them!

So...

...but it was FUN to dream!