FAITH

It wasn’t really raining, but it had been all day long. The sky was completely gray, but it was a light gray so as to let a percentage of sun shine through the clouds. 45%, I would say.

close up photo of pampas grass
Photo by Andrea Garibay on Pexels.com

So it was something like this, except one shade grayer. Where it still felt early enough in the day, and it was a cool dusk. My smartphone was at home, on my bedside table, and I was glad to be accompanied by only God and nature.

It felt good just to be out there, walking. Taking in all of the scenery. And pondering.

Who am I? What type of woman am I becoming? Someone whose company I would wish to seek?

Have I grown colder, or warmer?

Rougher, or softer?

More kind or less.

More patient? Or less.

Has pressure made me into more of a diamond, or a broken vessel?

I want to be on a boat and hear the sound of the waves lapping up onto the sides. I want to see sea foam and watch it bubble onto land with the flow and quickly disappear into the sand. It’s so clichΓ© but I love watching the water form a circle around my feet when the waves break on the shore. I taste the salty air in my mouth and feel a breeze circling around my head. I’ll be back to you soon.

And I began singing. Prayers, mostly. Giving thanks for all that I saw around me. And prayers for my feet and legs; the ability to walk. My mouth, my voice. I gave thanks for simple things that are usually subconscious; realizing that it was only by the grace of the Giver of these gifts that I was blessed with them.

Lord, I thank you that not only do You have my life in your hands, but You gave me my life. Now I ask you for Your strength to walk this life uprightly. To not grow weary of doing good works. To keep a perspective much bigger than myself. To look into the unseen, and see with Your eyes.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7

Help my spirit worship You in every situation. Help me listen to Your voice and not miss a beat of what You would have me to do.

xxx

V

The power of a smile :)

There will always be those people that want to ruin your day. They blindside you with a rude comment. They try to confuse you by contradicting themselves and then denying they ever had a change of mind. They lie to you, plot against you, are jealous of you, and are hateful. The world is full of these people! And there’s only one thing to do.

Smile.

Ohhh yes. Smile and shake it off.

They don’t deserve your power. They’re trying to crush you and rob you, but they aren’t able to for this simple reason:

If God is for you, who can be against you? Romans 8:31

So Smile.

Not in a conniving, evil way. But in a way that is based on a sigh of relief once you realize that Nothing formed against you shall stand. Isaiah 54:17

And ask God to help you forgive that person in your heart… truly forgive them. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse their wrongdoing, but it does release you from their grip on your consciousness and heart.

I dunno about you, but I feel better!!!!!!!!!!!1

Smile!

xxx

V

Good morning.

It’s been a little while πŸ™‚

May 26, 2023. I like this day so far <3

In order to get the creative juices flowing, I’m going to post a series of spring photos:

And after posting that one, I realize half of these daisies are dead. Awesome

The above photo is a bit blurry but it does show off my cute wittle teapot and favorite tea cup

I used an AI generator to make this picture of Jesus and I am absolutely amazed at the power of AI to generate images. Wow.

Like, how else would I get this picture of two baby potatoes holding hands under the moonlight?!?!! HAHA! I’m in loooooooove

Dude this is beach sand. Also kinda blurry, sorry, but I was amazed at all of the different colors, shapes and sizes of pebbles that made up the sand at this particular beach. WOW

Need a hand?

The beach is not as far as I think sometimes lol, I should go more often! Actually, here we are at the end of May… June arriving next week…. that means SUMMER sooo yeah I’m going to try on my wetsuit and get rolling. I’m a little nervous to surf cuz it’s been a couple years, but I’m lighter than I was in 2020 and have been doing strength training so I think I’ll be better at surfing this year! #agingbackwards <3

The only thing is…

If I’m for real gonna try and go a few times I need a surf buddy. My previous surf buddy is in a really busy season and won’t be able to accompany me, so I will have to find someone else. And find, I will! LOL my ambition is high when I keep my prize in sight. I should make a vision board with pictures of surfing, and maybe that’ll keep me focused. But also, weighing what my priorities really are… so let’s do that:

  1. Relationship with God
  2. Relationship with my husband
  3. Other relationships with family and friends πŸ™‚
  4. Work work work work
  5. Health and fitness

I mean that’s basically it lol

So now I wanna make a few goals. Always good to have goals so ya not just living a stagnant life. A good way to do this IS to make a vision board – you know what, I’ma do this and put all sorts of inspirational things on it including surf boards, healthy recipes, a picture of someone running and swimming, nature scenes…. I want to go outside for walks more, and go to the beach more… I want to drink lemon water each morning lol, and do good things for my health. I actually had avoided getting sick for over a year (minus a stomach bug) but got a cold recently. DANG lol but ayy one time in a year isn’t too bad.

Long story short, health, wellness, vital relationships, making time for enjoying God’s beautiful creation, working hard but not letting it rule your life… are all things that allow someone to truly live, and not miss all of the life around them!

My husband made me a delicious omelette recently, and went as far to make me a paper rose that he placed on top. He set out coffee and cookies. What a sweetheart.

Guys, if you’re feeling stuck, look at a few pictures in your camera roll and remind yourself of life, good moments. You will feel inspired after doing that. Everything I just wrote and came up with sparked from seeing the picture of the beach waves. It’s too easy to get trapped in our own minds these days and have technology suck the life out of us. Don’t forget about creativity. Don’t forget about using your God-given brain and all of the things you can come up with; plans, goals, ways to bless others… Let’s get out there and LIVE!

Oh yeah, and surround yourself with like-minded individuals. That is SO important. If you spend your time with people who are going nowhere in life, it’ll be much harder to get to the places that you want to go.

Okay, that’s all.
Bye for now!

<3 <3 <3

xxx

V

WADDUP

Listen up everyone! Today is a new day so let’s make the most out of it. Whatever things you keep putting off saying you will do it tomorrow…. do it today! Tomorrow is not promised.

These flowers don’t look like anything very impressive but I am proud to say that they have been living in this vase for over 3 weeks. Actually, it’s been 1 month. I’m truly shocked and delighted in these little guys. It’s amazing what pouring a little bit of water onto something living will do.

Speaking of living water, let’s pour “living water” of encouragement and love into our relationships. Everybody out here is living this hard life and trying to make the best out of their situations. The least we can do is support one another and show compassion. Things may be easy for me today and hard tomorrow, and vice-a-versa with someone else. We don’t need to add to the hatred in the world and kick other people when they’re down and add to the madness.

It’s amazing what a smile will do πŸ™‚

I just want to take a moment to show some gratitude to God. I look around and realize that everything I have came from Him.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above,Β coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,Β who does not changeΒ like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

God does not change. He’s not nice today and rude tomorrow. He doesn’t get tired of loving us. He doesn’t give up on us and stop pursuing us and fighting for us. He’s not fickle and flaky.

He’s firm. Foundational. Strong. He doesn’t crack. He’s supportive. He upholds. He protects. He’s welcoming and inviting. His presence is comforting. He is peaceful to be around. I am so thankful for Him.

Lord, thank you so much for letting me know you. Thank you for answering my prayer ten years ago. When I asked for your help. Thank you for leading me in righteousness and helping me to choose your ways. Your ways are so much higher than my ways. I choose selfishly and narrow-mindedly when I’m not relying on your wisdom to guide me to make the right choices. You long for me to be dependent on You and trust you to live this life with you, not apart from you. You are my best friend, my guide, my Truth. I live because you live in me.

I hope your day is more fragrant than this rose, more pleasing to your eyes than its’ petals, and flourishes more vivaciously than its’ leaves <3

xxx

V

“Snackage”

always surrounded you. Usually in the form of Cheetos cheese puffs, oreos, pringles, and anything chocolate. “Snackage” was one of so many words that we generously added to the English language in all of our astute intellectualness. We renamed objects that had perfectly “good” names but were no longer suitable to the environment that we were building for ourselves. One that surpassed reality and added layer after layer of silliness, life, and drama.

There’s so much I want to say about you but I don’t know where to begin. One of my favorite ongoing memories of you was when I would take leftover food home from bible study and bring it to you. After a few weeks of telling everyone “it’s for Barb” people began to question whether or not you really existed. So then you became the fictional “Barb”. They even went so far as to all take a permanent Sharpie marker and sign their names on one of the Styrofoam clamshell containers that probably contained some of Brenda’s famous chocolate cake. Even “your friend Dennis” signed it. They kept this up until one day, whether a couple members of bible study met you at a Christmas concert at the Ferguson Center at CNU. They couldn’t deny your existence any longer. In other words, you were secretly famous.

And now you’re with Jesus.

xxx

V

Thanksgiving

A few things I’m thankful for this morning:

-forest green high-waited jeans πŸ™‚

-silver padded vest πŸ™‚

-brown suede shoes πŸ™‚

-airstream coffee mug

-cute husband <3

-zucchini noodles πŸ˜€

-Trader Joes harvest sauce πŸ™‚

-autumn weather

-giant pumpkins

-goodness, faithfulness and provision of God. I can’t even being to write everything He has done for me.

-vision of the future and what’s to come!

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I woke up feeling excited this morning. Excited about getting some stuff done. Excited about making some plans. About getting outside on this beautiful day. Excited about future prospects and opportunities. About changes. About new beginnings. About starting fresh.

Thank you Lord. For teaching me.

You are not done yet. The good work that you begun in me WILL be perfected.

Have an awesome day everyone.

xoxox

V

At Peace

I am at peace. Because I am in Peace. You are Peace. The Prince of Peace.

Thank you for protecting me from every storm.

Thank you for sustaining me even during the drought. Even during the heat. I will not fear the terror of night. I will not fear the arrow that flies by day. I will not fear the pestilence.

I find shade and refuge in your shadow, O Lord.

You are my hope. You are my foundation. You are my refuge. I hide myself in the shadow underneath your wing. Thank you for caring for me and for loving me. You are the God Who Sees.

You are the deliverer. You have given me Life.

You are Holy and mighty. You are magnificent, perfect and pure.

You are caring and generous. You are the great provider, sustainer and lover of my soul.

You can bear fruit in the desert places and even make water come out of a rock. Nothing is impossible for you <3

Thank you for always allowing my faith to be tested and for making me resilient to all of the unknowns around me. Why would I focus on the unknowns when the “knowns”, the truths about you are so powerful, life giving and refreshing?

You are a breath of fresh air that we are invited to breath over and over again. You are who upholds us. You hold us together. You hold all of our cells together.

Your beautiful creation is a testament to your intelligence, artistry and magnificence.

You are in absolute perfect control and I thank you Lord for being the guide of my life. My light. You are my light. The light that guides my feet. I absolutely need you and simply ask you to direct my thoughts. Holy Spirit, help me take my thoughts captive and make them obedient to you.

Help me not dwell on the what-ifs and the disappointments, the what-could’ve-beens. You are enough and you have never failed me yet.

Your promise still stands. All of your promises still stand because you are faithful to your word. You are who you say you are and you have never changed. The same God forever and always, and we can count on you to be who you say you are.

Thank God for these truths in Christ Jesus, Amen!

Happy Monday everyone πŸ™‚

xxx

V

Morning Prayer

It was so nice to wake up early today and walk! The air was not as cool as I thought. The weather said 66 degrees and I assumed it would feel like 50 degrees because it’s been so hot here lately. But it felt perfect. It was one of those mornings where I was absolutely ready to get out of bed and start my day.

Lord, thank you for this Tuesday morning. Thank you for sunlight. I can’t imagine the world without the strong light from your incredible sun. And then there’s the spiritual light from your Son. Wow. You bring such brightness and warmth to the world and to my heart and soul through your good gifts and creation; which are, in essence, reflections of You. I am so thankful to know You and to know the Truth. Please use me this day in whatever way you see fit. Help me be obedient and listen to the sound of your small voice. Thank you for teaching me that the last shall be first, and it’s always better with fewer words than many babbling words. Help my words to be small in quantity, but rich in life-giving power.

And lastly, Lord, because I must go… help me choose to rejoice today, despite any limitations, pains, struggles, fears, worries, anxieties, stresses, unknowns, things I can’t fix. Because my sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory which will be revealed in me! Amen! Romans 8:18

He loves you!!!!!!!!!!!!

xxx

V <3

Take Five

I’ma just take five minutes or so and write whatever on earth comes to my mind. So. We started our painting company. And… it’s been a busy summer! I can’t beLIEVE we are here mid-way through August. The last 7 weeks have absolutely FLOWN by. I’m just glad my husband and I made some intentional time to have fun πŸ™‚

Lol. We took more pictures but they are all just awful. Gotta work on picture taking skills. Actually, I’m the only inept one. He is an awesome photographer.

Well I definitely just got distracted and came back 2 hours later! So much for that 5 minute brain dump post. πŸ˜›

Hope y’all have an amazing weekend. If you are in a relationship, look for the best in your partner today. Don’t meditate on the worst or on one little annoyance (or maybe a whole list!) because if you are with them there also is a whole list of amazing things that you love about them. And if you’ve forgotten those traits, it’s time to start looking again πŸ™‚

Cheers!

V

Trusting You

Trusting you… What exactly does this mean?

Knowing that you’ll follow through and do what you’d say you were going to do.

Depending on you. Because you are dependable.

Leaving it to you, because you’ll get it done.

I say that I trust you with my tongue. Now time to practice that.

I give you my life.

I give you my love.

I give you my heart.

I give you my trust.

I’ll give you my time… I’ll wait before you.

Only teach me how to trust you.

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..

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I guess this means I don’t have to worry about gas prices.

I don’t have to worry about grocery prices.

I don’t have to worry about being provided for in any way.

I don’t have to worry about success.

I don’t have to worry about moving up in the world.

I don’t have to worry about people I can’t control.

I don’t have to worry.

At all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It’s just about obedience. Trust and obey, for there’s NO other way.

<3

xxx

V