The human spirit is God-given; it is a tough hunk of plunder and pluck; yet when that ‘spirit’ is not surrendered to God…unclean spirits come in to take up residence - here is a view:

 *fear  (the biggest manipulator)

 *timidity  (don’t extend for you will be    rejected)

 *manipulation  (another word for controlling to protect)

 *dis-trust (everyone, especially God is the enemy)

 *vulnérable (victim)

 *dark (afraid of being found out)

 *loneliness (as an ache..will fill that hole with whatever)

 *isolation (no one else feels like me; a reject)

The solution:

“And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.” (Jesus.. found in Luke 6)”

    (pwoods)

"Standing in the Need of Prayer"

". . . even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation, for a hypocrite could not come before Him. I know that I shall be vindicated! If now I hold my tongue, I perish." (Job 13)

Many times I've read Job, but this passage about defending one's self before God is so honest--"For a hypocrite could not come before You."

There's no place for pretense with God! He already knows what I'm thinking, but I need to tell Him! It's not that "He" needs my confession or my ranting--it's all about me trusting Him with my most hidden self and knowing above all--He loves me!  "It's me, it's me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer!" In this, I am cleansed from hidden sins such as pride,  fear, deep-seated anger, control--need I go on?!  

(pwoods)

 

I will Arise!

I love these words: "Arise and stand here". . .

I hear Jesus speaking these words into my spirit today:

Arise. . . get up from whatever has you down

Stand. . . and face life, accept your challenge

right here on This Spot!

right here This Moment!

right, where You Are! 

God never calls us to stand and run away, but instead, He puts steel in our backbone to do what needs to be done on this footbridge that I call 'my path'.

Right here!

Right Now!

I will Arise!

(pwoods)

 

 

In a world full of broken people, broken systems, broken laws, and broken hearts I asked God, How can I be a 'broken healer'? And the words came clearly from The Word, "Therefore it is good to do good on the Sabbath." (Matt.12:12)  I'm thinking about brokenness and God gives me an answer that has to do with the law??? God knows broken people don't need to hear my survival rules (laws). . . they need what I need: a loving hand, words of affirmation, and encouragement. In that I'm a list maker the list began: 1) love notes 2) phone calls 3) a hug 4) a wee gift for no reason. My SIL will out of the blue send us a catered meal from a local restaurant and she lives far away. 

This goodness is not just a Sunday thing, It's not about going to church; it is doing good to anyone God places in our path and doing it with purpose on any day. I tell you truly this healing goes both ways, I am healed in my broken places when I give to another and the person who receives the no-strings-attached gift of love is healed in broken places that I'll never know about. Give big as unto the Lord! 

Yep giving is the healer of broken hearts, broken systems, broken laws, and broken people. Remembering the Coke ad from years ago ~ I'd like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony. . . Well, perhaps if I give what I've been given, it will become the song that we the broken can sing in perfect harmony... the harmony of love. The gift that keeps on giving. (pwoods)  

 January 14, 2021

In this world of ordinary people, extraordinary people, I'm glad there is you! Through the years, sixty-two and counting Gerald has been my go-to guy and now I am his everything person, his keeper, caregiver, decision-maker, constant step-up girl. The journey of Alz/Dem. is a long, dark road with some light along the way that can make you feel like there's hope for change, but the change is never for the better, it just becomes: "It is what it is." What am I going to do about it? How can I change for the better?  How can I become better than who I am? Where will I go for strength for this day? How long do we have? All these questions become resources rather than a sore when I look to God each morning for my strength, my hope, my constant desire for more of God rather than more of myself. I confess: I've run out of 'myself', and I think that is key to what I need each day, just more of Him and less of me.

An ordinary girl in an ordinary world, looking to an Extra-Ordinary God. I'm so glad there is YOU!

(pwoods)

A New Planting

 Sunday morning, 2/6/11
 Yesterday we bought this honeysuckle vine and the house that goes with it. . . I know it doesn't look like much now, but come Spring there will be wonderful blooms and a fragrance that will take me back to my childhood and the honeysuckle vine that grew on the fence at Granny's house. 
When we learned that we would be moving after less than two months, I thought, okay we just do the next thing.  There's never any reason to worry when God is in control for like the honeysuckle vine I can bloom anywhere He plants me come Spring.  There've been some cold winters and shriveled up times, but sure 'nuf I found I could still  bloom and even smell good again. 
I'm making plans for the move, arranging furniture as I lay upon my pillow, hanging the windows with colorful fabrics and creating menus to share with friends.  We'll be there in about a month, a new planting, a new adventure and new Spring to bloom in this new assignment that the Master gardener has planned for G & me and our little Suzy. 
Come by to see us and we'll sit on the patio and let the honeysuckle waft its magic to produce memories that we can share from our multiple plantings. Paulette

The Journey of Friendship

Someone said, "friends are family that you get to pick".  Well, I love that concept, but I think it goes beyond my choosing, to God choosing for me the people who were to populate my world.  I never could have chosen the delightful, complicated, challenging, mysterious, stubborn, precious, aggravating people in my life without God just dropping them right in my pathway.  The route that my life has taken started so small and it has taken me into places I didn't know existed and into the lives of people who certainly didn't know that I existed, yet the place and the people were just my size.  We fit so well that I didn't want to move beyond that comfortable place into the unknown.  I like cozy, comfortable, familiar and warm up close, I'll see you in a minute relationships, but God  who always knows what I need before I know, of course, has chosen to disrupt my nest making many times.  Making me "choose" His way, sometimes kicking and screaming.  Why can't things stay the same and why can't I braille  the faces of the ones I love for always??  Because He knows that I need some new people in my life to confront the comfortable, cozy existence that I would choose, and I would miss my next best friend.
I have decided that God is populating my heavenly neighborhood with the people I've known through the years.  I don't get to keep them here, but there it will be the sweetest neighborhood - well, you'll know, you'll be there.  I've collected some of the best cooks in the world, some of the most terrific communicators, some of the dearest listeners and some of the most ordinary folk, like myself.  We never get it all said, never get enough time to listen to the cutest stories and surely never enough time to taste all the fantastic food. 
This painting is of my friend, Windell.  He and Judy came into my life 52 years ago and they stayed through the college years, the young married years, the baby years, the pastoring years, the retirement years, the times of celebration and the times of utter sorrow.  In this picture, which represents peace to me ~ he is waiting on Judy while she shops ~ I trust that he is as patient as he appears for I know that Judy has never failed to have a blast wherever life finds her.  She's probably off talking to someone and I can just hear her laughter . . . it always makes me smile.  She's not in a hurry, when she's with you, you're the most important person in the world.  I need Judy in my world and she will be in my heavenly neighborhood!
Having gone to Clovis this week, made me aware of my precious "chosen" family.  How could humans love each other so deeply and not be in daily communication?  It has to be a God thing.  Well, I surely do feel loved this afternoon and I thank the Father for his family plan.  Oh, how sweet to be hugged and lied to about your age, to weep together and to laugh until you would shame your Mother.  Be sure to take the time to give your heart away to another.   We are all so needy when it comes to unconditional love and compassion. 
I challenge you to walk in a plain path with no hidden alcoves, let yourself get hurt and then heal.  Forgive and repair the breach.  Let God take you where you  wouldn't choose and let Him give you the people that will keep on extending that heavenly neighborhood!
I pray favor over your life today and  always!
Paulette