Encouraging Poster Pics!

I've come across many "poster pics" on fb that I find encouraging and thought-provoking. I'd like to share a few that I found today at: Words of Wisdom, along with some comments and additional links. Enjoy!!

Poster Pic 1 - Learn to Love
This poster pic reminds me of a story about thorns and being thankful for the thorns in our lives. If you wish to read it, you can read it here: Thankful for the Thorns

 

 Poster Pic 2 - God will never leave you empty.
This reminds me that God loves us and knows what's best for us. If He asks us to let go of something, or even chooses to "prune" us, it's because He has something better in mind for us and for those whose lives we touch. God knows how to give the perfect gifts to us.

Poster Pic 3 - Searching
What a great reminder that I am the only one who can make changes in my life.

Poster Pic 4 - 7 Rules of Life
It's taken me quite a while to learn these rules. Some of them, I'm still learning. Even so, I believe they are all true.

Poster Pic 5 - The Best Place in the World
What an amazing and special place to be.

Poster Pic 6 - Actions Speak Louder Than Words

This is a great reminder of how what we think is not seen and our actions speak louder than words. It also reminds me that "faith without works is dead." I need to be sure my words and actions and thoughts are the same and coming through in my interactions with others.

Poster Pic 7 - I am Your Parent
I believe this is true of GRANDPARENTS, as well! :)

Poster Pic 8 - Beautiful Has Nothing To  Do With Looks
I like this saying. If someone knows that they are loved, they will be more open to listening to another and even, perhaps, look to them as a role model or mentor. These types of people, those who love us and we know we are accepted by them, no matter what, are remembered forever... just like my grandmother who died when I was twelve. Since love never ends, I know her love continues for me, too!

Poster Pic 9 - Faith is Taking the First Step 
Sometimes, I can be afraid to take the next step... in doing something new or in doing what I need to do. Interestingly, when I take that "one step," it opens up a whole new set of steps and opportunities that I didn't have before! Although, I don't necessarily know where my "first step" or the next one will lead to, I can take those steps with that God know where they lead. If I follow His lead or His "still, small voice," I know He will be there beside and within me, giving me the strength and wisdom to do what He asks of me and "make my path straight." I hadn't really thought that "just one step" can also be a step of faith, when we don't know where we are going or what will happen. Even so, the Lord is with me and also with you, if we just acknowledge and trust Him.

Poster Pic 10 - Friends That are Like Family
On days when my family seems distant or far away, it's nice to know that friends who love me and show me trust, honesty, love, and respect are truly "family" to me and will always be family to me! Thank you to those of you who are friends like that to me!

Poster Pic 11 - 8 Things to Give Up
This is a great reminder of things to give up... not necessarily" just for Lent" or for a season, but in order to be a healthy, integrated self. I'm still learning how to "give up" these things and probably will always need to make conscious choices to choose to think differently. I think it would also be helpful for me to replace these choices with confidence, thankfulness, courage, encouragement, affirmations, making decisions and moving on, humility, and self-awareness and acceptance.

Poster Pic 12 - The Most Beautiful People
Oftentimes, we do not know the stories behind the lives of people, even when we think we know the person well, and the struggles and difficulties they have gone through or are going through. This poster pic reminds me of a poetic story, The Most Beautiful Flower, by Cheryl Costello-Forshey. It has an unexpected twist that I think will touch your heart. May you find it beautiful, too, and may you find yourself, becoming more and more beautiful on the inside, as well! You can read it at: "The Most Beautiful Flower" and other poems, too!

Well, that's all for now! I hope you enjoyed these poster pics with me!

Precious Linda

Clichés and Half-Baked Truths

A lot of sayings have been passed on from generation to generation. Many have nuggets of truth and wisdom.  Others, however, are only partially true or not true at all.  Perhaps someone has encountered a “dumb blonde,” once in a while, but it certainly doesn’t mean that all blondes are like those depicted in the “dumb blonde jokes.”  

One saying I have heard and used is, “Parents have eyes in the back of their heads!” Yes, parents do have a way of knowing things that go beyond what they can see with their own two eyes. They hear things and listen well to the words between what is said or they watch the body language or facial expressions of a person.

Even so, as I contemplated talking with a friend about things I’d rather not remember, things that might fall under the category of family secrets, I found myself saying, “I can’t say anything about what I feel or think.”

“Why not?” she asked?

“Because parents have eyes in the backs of their heads,” I replied.

She looked at me and asked, “Is that true?”

“No,” I answered.

“Are they here?”

“No,” I answered, again.

“So, they won’t know unless you tell them or I do. I won’t and it’s your choice, if you tell them.”

She was right. Parents do not have eyes in the back of their heads, so some clichés, although partially true, may not be true at all!

Precious Linda, c. 2014.

Held in the Palm of His Hand

I came out to the living room this morning, preparing to sit and write in my favorite chair, when I saw the figurine a friend lent me yesterday, sitting on the round table next to my chair. 

My eyes teared up with joy and delight, a surprise to my system and being, as I thought of God’s love for me, that He holds me such that nothing can ever snatch me out of His hand and, also, as I thought of my friend’s expressions of compassion for me, knowing that her thoughts are with me, wishing me the best, even when we aren't together.

As I gently picked up the small figurine and held it in my hand, I pictured and sensed the Lord, holding me lovingly, cradling me in His hands and arms and heart, with the love of a mother or grandmother for her beloved child or grandchild.

Lord, may I never lose sight of this thought, belief, and sense of knowing that you will always hold me close in the palm of Your hand.

I love You, Lord! Forever! Amen!

Linda

The bottom of this figurine is printed with the following:

Palm of My Hand

See!

I will not

forget you…

I have carved

you on the palm

of my hand.

Isaiah 49:15

c. 1983, Roman, Inc.

See also Isaiah 49:15-16 and the verse I was thinking about: John 10:28-29.

You can find these verses at: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+49%3A15-16&version=NIV and http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+10:28-29.

Unexpected Gifts of Love

It’s amazing to me, how the gift of love can touch my heart, in unexpected ways.

Today, as I read the following post from a friend on Facebook, tears filled my eyes and ran down my face:

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:7-10 (NIV)

The reminder that God loves me, wherever I am, even when I’m feeling “in the dumps,” even when I feel afraid, even when I live with fear, not from the present, but buried deeply in the recesses of my mind and soul, even then, even there, God is with me!

The amazing love of God that knows no end and the gift of a friend who posted these verses for me to see, and the knowledge that God orchestrated this gift for me to receive this morning, overwhelms me with gratitude for God and gratitude for the gifts of love that are shared by others who know His love and are able to express it to others, from places deep within.

I am grateful for the gift of love, no matter what form it takes or how it’s delivered. Love is an eternal gift that touches my heart and spirit… forever.

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for this wonderful reminder of Your amazing love and Your desire for me to be in loving relationship with You, all the days of my life, until You bring me home. Thank You also for friends who share gifts of love with me and with others! AMEN!!