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How to receive God’s provision. | Janet Perez Eckles

7 Nov

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Janet Eckles Perez

It was 84 degrees in Orlando a few days ago. Yet, I carried my jacket inside the local movie theater. The interior is like an igloo. And the fact that I’m always cold doesn’t help.

We walked in and ran into the friendly manager. As we chatted with her, I asked her, “Why do you guys keep the temperature so low? I think next time I’ll bring my earmuffs.”

She laughed. “The temperature is set as if the theater was full,” she said. “Even if there are 5 people, the temperature setting never changes.

“Oh.”

I put on my jacket as hubby and I headed to find our seats.

That night under my cozy covers, I had a comforting thought. Contrary to the one-setting thermostat at the theatre, God doesn’t have one setting to His love. He’s provision is unique to each of us, our situation and our challenges.

He doesn’t give us less than we need. He’s not a moment late or a moment too soon. His love is uniquely customized according to the emotional coldness we might feel on that moment, on that day or season.

Have you been there? As you read this, you might be in the ditch of hardship, yet He has the rope long enough to get you out. That’s because He’s so divinely aware of all our struggles. He knows the degree of our pain and has the exact amount of comfort. He knows the depth of our financial failures and has the perfect provision to lift us up. And when overwhelmed by life’s trials, He has the right quantity and customized solutions.

Visit Janet’s website to read more:  How to receive God’s provision. | Janet Perez Eckles

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Three secrets to get a good night’s sleep. | Janet Perez Eckles

17 Oct

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Turken

Naked Neck Chicken (Turken)

“Wait a minute,” I said, “let me put on some lipstick before you shoot that video.”

Why can’t I toss vanity out the window? But dare I say that we all have a trace of that from time to time, don’t we?

Some of us are way too conscious. We dress well to look sharp, dress up so we look great, wear black to look thin, fix the hair so we look young, and dress down to look cool.

And beyond how we look, we strive to do what might be impressive. We try hard to reach the top, get busy doing good stuff or even go places to rave about what we did.

Those efforts aren’t bad, unless they rule our lives. Or unless they stir electric signals to the brain, keeping it awake when it should be resting.

Jan-TurkenThis past Saturday, at the Access Life event for individuals and their families living with disabilities, a sort of strange animal taught me a big lesson about total trust and rest. I got to hold a “turken” or naked neck chicken. This peaceful little creature is half turkey and half chicken. The body of a chicken, the neck of a turkey and the head of a chicken. Since I’m not able to “see” it, I imagine it to be a sort of ugly creature.

But does it even show concern about its looks? You tell me. As I held it, it fell asleep. It had no clue a blind woman was holding it. It didn’t care how it looked, what appearance it displayed or even care about who took its picture. It showed no worry about others staring at her.

Why can’t we be like that? Why can’t we rest in peace just the way we are—with failures that might be known. With flaws that stand out. With weaknesses that are evident, or things left undone? And in face of it all, we, dare to live in complete trust. In total peace. And undisturbed confidence, the kind of confidence that we too fall asleep in God’s arms.

But we can. And here are three steps to enjoy sweet sleep in those long nights:

Visit Janet’s website to read more:  Three secrets to get a good night’s sleep. | Janet Perez Eckles

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Five secrets to looking younger. | Janet Perez Eckles

10 Oct

commons.wikimedia.org

Last Friday, I got dolled up. I even dabbed some lip gloss. Hubby and I headed to have our pictures taken for our church’s directory. He looked sharp in his black suit and I tried to look my best in my red dress. As we waited our turn, a friend came out from her session with the photographer. “So, how did you like the pictures he took?” I asked. “Ugh, I don’t know,” she said in a lamenting tone, “the problem is they look like yourself.” I laughed. Why is it that we’re never pleased with our looks, our image, the way we display the years that sweep by? And why does depression set in when another birthday approaches? Is that you? Cheer up. Here are five ways to look younger on the inside so the image can reflect on the outside.

Be sure to visit Janet’s blog for the rest of the story.

Five secrets to looking younger. | Janet Perez Eckles

What’s Been Happening

We got in the car last Saturday evening, heading out to dinner with our favorite friends. We chatted about fun stuff on the way to the restaurant. And the gift certificate made it even more enjoyable. No bill after the meal!

Well, when we walked in the door, the place was, yikes, loud, I mean really loud. Logically it had to be because it was a sports bar. We asked for a quiet table, and the hostess chuckled. “No such a thing.”

While we munched the yummilicious food, we found ourselves enjoying the football game…and guess who ended up shouting to cheer the team? Yes, we did. It was our table that cheered like everyone around us. Imagine that.

From now on, we’ll just settle in whatever restaurant of life God takes us…it may end up being more fun than we expect.

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Settling in for Fall

8 Oct

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I'm a winner

I think we may be settled into the mountains for the duration of fall.  Of course, I may be wrong about that. We tend to have trouble settling in one place.  Last weekend we attended a family reunion in the Raleigh, NC area. When my mom’s family gets together, a lot of talking and laughing goes on and a lot of food gets eaten. As the food line was forming, my cousin, Nancy and I were eyeing the homemade mac and cheese and considering our chance of getting some before it was gone. I talked Nancy into sliding through the line and getting us a plate of the yellow yuminess to share while we assessed the various cakes and pies on display. As the line shortened, Nancy took up a place in line but I headed straight to the desserts and grabbed a piece of the chocolate cake that had been teasing my taste buds. Have you ever eaten a ding-dong cake? Oh my. For a while now, eat dessert first, has been my motto when the desserts look especially good.  It would have been a tragedy if I had choked on a fried corn bread stick and missed that cake!

On our drive back to the mountains, we noticed that more trees had begun to clothe themselves in their fall wardrobe. Next week the colored leaves are supposed to be at their peak and we are looking forward to having family come and stay for the week. Fall also ushers in craft shows, festivals and an abundance of apples. I have apples cooking in my crock pot as I type this. I went to the vegetable stand this morning and chose an assortment of local varieties to make applesauce and I added a touch of local honey to it. I know it will be delicious because I think I sampled every type of apple as I peeled them.

This morning a low fog hung over the mountains. The contrast of fog and fall color was beautiful and oddly soothing. Our flowers haven’t made up their mind about fall. The roses continue to bloom and the blue Hydrangea, which did not bloom all summer, are blooming now. I think we missed giving them a spring feeding and confused them with a late summer feed.

Got a little behind on weeding!

The cool weather here is a blessing after the heat of Florida. I plan to enjoy every moment of it. Wherever you are, I hope you enjoy your version of fall too.

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Five questions and answers for a victorious life.

3 Oct

Walking by Faith, not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Janet Eckles Perez

This past Saturday night, I, hubby, and our two grandkids sat on lawn chairs at a nearby park. All was dark except for the screen playing the movie, “Cinderella.” Grandkids wiggled with excitement at this fun outside movie theatre.

“Are there hot dogs around here?” my 5-year-old grandson asked.

Hot dogs? He knows how I feel about junk food. His 7-year-old older sister knows they are not a healthy option. In fact, she’s quick to tell others about their unhealthy ingredients.

I glanced toward him and gave a slight frown. “Kam, don’t you remember what I told you?” I said, “hot dogs aren’t good for you. They have toxins.”

“Nana,” he said with the same conviction of a politician, “I like them. You don’t. We all have different taste buds.”

What? He didn’t trust my assertion of the truth and at his age, he questioned my teaching?

Hiding a tad of shame, I questioned God, too. I hesitated in believing in His ability to hold me steady during storms, to soothe my soul when tragedy struck, and to restore my life again.

But my belief increase when Job’s story was told of the pain, the loss, and the suffering he endured. He first complained until his friends said: “Quit quarreling with God! Agree with Him and you will have peace at last.” (Job 22:21, The LB-Paraphrased)

Read the rest of the article on Janet’s website

http://www.janetperezeckles.com/uncategorized/five-questions-and-answers-for-a-victorious-life.html

Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event?

What an honor it would be for me to delight those who attend your women’s gatherings, retreats, church congregation or corporate events. Since speaking is my passion, I reach the hearts of my audiences by evoking laughter and also some tears by blending Scripture, impacting real-life examples and practical steps to begin a triumphant life today.

Here are some of the topics you can choose from.

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Fruit ‘n Nut chewy Granola bar

29 Sep

I think I may love this recipe. It sounds simple and I can buy the fruit and nuts at a reasonable price from Aldi.

Aromas and Flavors from my Kitchen

Chewy healthy granola bar Chewy healthy granola bar

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Last week I had some shopping errands to run. While on my way back I happened to drive past my college(the place where I did my under graduation). I have some lovely memories of those days. It was so many years since I passed out of  college and I hadn’t had a chance to visit it.I decided to pull over and see the college from inside.It was 3 in the afternoon and the classes had just ended for the day and it was an appropriate time to do so. I wondered if it was still the same old beautiful campus or there were any major structural changes.Filled with excitement and nostalgia I entered the gates of my  alma mater. The campus was still as beautiful,the buildings well maintained and the lawns as well manicured as before.Wow! Nothing had changed.

I visited the classrooms where I studied,  the cafeteria, library,lecture halls…

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Electronic Flu

3 Sep

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I'm a winner

Are you retired and feeling burned out? I couldn’t ever imagine feeling that way while I was still  working. Yet that is exactly what happened to me. Each week I spend hours online, being social and learning everything I can about marketing novels. I enjoy doing it, but even a good thing can become overdone. I was certainly overdone.

Fortunately God knows my needs before I do and we were offered the opportunity to cruise  at a very low rate. As time drew closer I went through my eReader selecting books I wanted to read and put them in a collection. By the time I finished, I had forty books for my one week cruise, maybe a bit over optimistic.

On a hot Saturday in August the three of us boarded  the ship and made our first big decision.  We were going to skip the welcome aboard show and spend the time on the upper deck, hoping to see a sunset. (We have cruised many times but have seen very few sunsets, due to dinner and show schedules.)

Well worth missing the show.

Well worth missing the show.

That set the tone for the rest of our vacation. “No Schedules, No Plans” Formal night? Who needs it? We chose alternative dining and had the chance to enjoy talking with the servers and the grilled steak in that venue is way better than the steak in the dining room. I do have to add an addendum here. Rebekah did have a schedule as she had a deadline to meet with her fabulous editor, Clive S Johnson.

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Rebekah working to make her deadline.

 By the end of the cruise, we had attended one afternoon show and one movie in the theater. We even skipped all the dining rooms one night and opted for room service.

The best part was being completely unplugged. Instead of internet, I opted for good old-fashioned reading pleasure.

 I had planned to download more books to my device when I went ashore to an internet cafe, but we didn’t bother getting off the ship except for a shore excursion in Jamaica. I didn’t come close to reading forty novels, but five is not too shabby.

The Books

Amelia’s Story by D.G. Torrens

I have been wanting to read this books for ages. The author experienced abuse that no child should ever have to endure from a mother. Yet the story showed me a young girl of great courage and spirit. I am looking forward to reading the sequel which I believe will pick up around age eighteen.

Think by Valerie Howard

After reading Amelia’s Story, I chose Think for my next read and it was a perfect choice after the emotion of Torrens’ novel.  While Amelia  was an outspoken heroine, Nicole, the main character of Think is just the opposite. She is stressed to the max trying to say the right thing and stuffing down her emotions. That is until she meets an odd man at the pharmacy.

Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula by Elise Stokes

This is book one of the Cassidy Jones series. It falls into the Young Adult genre and for several years I put off reading it because I thought it was a kid book. Wrong. YA books are awesome. I read this one out-of-order as I read the fourth book Cassidy Jones and the Luminous first. After reading it, I knew I had to have the whole series.  Cassidy is involved in a lab accident that causes her DNA to mutate. The mutation led to her having supercharged senses and they scared her. I don’t read superhero books but this series is special and readers of any age will enjoy the books. I hope book five will be coming  out in the near future.

Army of the Worn Soles by Scott Bury

Scott is a member of a writing Face Book group, Art Knows No Bounds which I am a member of. We hosted his cover reveal on Rebekah Lyn Books  and I knew as soon as I heard the story behind the book, that I had to read it. For a history fan, the first sentence of the blurb hooked me.

“A Canadian is drafted into the Soviet Red Army in 1941, just in time to be thrown against Nazi Germany’s invasion in Operation Barbarossa.”

The novel is a based on facts Scott gathered from conversations with his father-in-law over a number of years. A popular author I read calls books like this one, “Faction.” It is a fascinating look into the life of an unwilling soldier in the Red Army. It does have strong language, but appropriate in a war setting.

Murder for Glacier Blue by Diane Rapp

This book is part of the author’s High Seas Mysteries series. All the stories are set on cruise ships, so a perfect read! I have read other books in the series and it was fun to reunite with Kayla and Steven, especially since this is their wedding cruise. Of course Kayla and Steven always fall into a mystery and a murder and this book is no exception. I have to confess I am still reading this one. I am feel like I am on the cruise with them and loving the scenery. I am almost to the wedding part and I can’t wait to see how that turns out. Will the horrid ex be a problem, will anyone else die?

. Before the cruise I felt used up. I think I was suffering from “electronic flu.” I believe it is quite common in today’s world. Employers are now considering allowing employees to use their electronic devices while working, thereby enabling the spread of the flu. Is there a cure? Yes, find a quiet place and read a good book!

My next read is Burnt Secrets by Barbara Martin. I planned to read it on the cruise but I  hadn’t downloaded it to my device. It is set in the Smoky Mountains (My favorite place) and I am sure it will be a good read.

Random photos

I worked hard today.
Tea at Good Hope Plantation, Jamaica
Murders scare me
Our version of afternoon tea.
You can’t ake me leave.

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Flying Legends Airshow~Part 2

2 Sep

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

1

 Day 2 – Thursday July 2nd

We landed at London-Gatwick Airport in a typical cloudy/fogy English day. I was surprised when stepping out of the airport to find it as hot and humid there as it had been in Orlando when I left. I took the local commuter train from the airport to Crawley (10 minutes) where I had scheduled the pickup of my rental car.

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It was a 5-minute uphill walk in that heat and humidity to the Arora Hotel where the Budget Rental Car office was located. At check-in, the only instructions I received regarding how to operate the rental car was how to open the trunk. If you haven’t driven a modern car recently, let me tell you, the multitude of bells and whistles can be overwhelming. It took me all day to figure out how to operate the cruise control, and I never did figure out how to turn off the rear window wiper. The avoidance control system on the car was something else. I can see that a one-button programmable trip control for automobiles (while you sleep) is just around the corner.

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Once I got on the road, “Day 1” almost turned into a total disaster! Nothing seemed to be working. My iPhone had no bars and my Garmin wouldn’t work. Ron had told me not to make or receive phone calls while I was in the UK, so I wondered around a large portion of the southeast of England that day, asking for directions, and staying lost almost of the time. It didn’t take me long to realize that I was going to be absolutely lost without “Greta” (my Garmin) during this entire trip, so when I was able, I sent Ron a text for “HELP” hoping he would receive it.

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I learned right-a-way that trying to learn all the rules, regulations and road etiquette in the UK, while driving on the “wrong” side of the road and trying to read the road signs, is a daunting task. Parking is a whole new experience, and I don’t think I’ll ever understand how that works!

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Somehow, during all that running around lost, I did manage to locate the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum situated on the old WWII Tangmere airfield. This museum had a small collection of aircraft outside and in one small hanger.

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The Goodwood Aerodrome in Chichester was RAF Westhampnett during WWII where No. 145 & 602 Squadrons were stationed, during the Battle of Britain. I learned that it was from this airfield that Douglas Bader flew his last sortie. Today it is a private airfield where they host airshows and auto racing events.

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I was so tired and frustrated by 4 o’clock in the afternoon that I just had to stop, take a Stress Gummy, and pray for help from my Friend upstairs. Thankfully Ron called and was able to help me with most of my problems. That allowed me to continue on to find the Solent Sky Museum in Southampton, which is a small museum with one large hanger and 18 beautifully restored aircraft inside.

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Then it was on to check out the Bournemouth Aviation Museum just outside the city of Bournemouth. This museum only had 7 aircraft outside, none of which were in the best condition.

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Then, Greta started acting up, (taking me along farm backroads and through small neighborhoods) before I finally found The Kings Arms, located in the small village of Georgeham, Devon outside Exeter. This 600 year old Pub & Inn was showing its age, but was well kept. When I walked into the pub that evening, the owner looked up from pulling a pint of ale and said, “How can I help you Mate?” He was a great host and carried my bag up the two flights of narrow stairs to my room. Boy did the bed feel good that night!
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—–To be Continued—–

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Hurricane Mania

1 Sep

Woo-hoo we have a guest blogger today! We have been trying to convince our friend,  Pam to try her hand at blogging ( she is an excellent writer) for years-Onisha

Hurricane Spaghetti Plot

A friend, and a new Florida resident, asked for “storm wisdom and suggestions”….so here goes, my tongue-in-cheek, short version of how to deal with Hurricane Mania in Florida.

   

Florida Homeowner 101 Tutorial –

9 Steps for a Safe Hurricane Experience

1. “PREP”  No matter what is happening around you, try to remain calm until 24 hours before landfall (and have a room reservation inland with a 24-hour free cancellation policy).  While remaining calm,  it’s ok to pull out the pre-packed Hurricane Prep Kit/Bin/paper sack from underneath the staircase before, or at the 72-Hour mark before landfall. This action is socially acceptable as a Florida resident. New to Florida?  You are allowed to use your “call a friend, option, search the Internet, wander around the plywood section at Lowe’s, or look helpless by the flashlights. You are even allowed to worry a little as long as it directs you into a smart action plan.

2. “KEEPING INFORMED”  It’s ok to watch local weather folks but remember to breathe deeply between reports/updates. Updates will continue to look differently as the event progresses-lots of times for the good-but you should kinda worry when your outside cat turns up missing (they sense these things) or the weather channel brings on the gray haired experts (who aren’t normally on camera) or they start broadcasting live feeds at the end of your driveway!

3. “FOOD”  Check the expiration dates on canned goods (last BIG Florida storm was 10 years ago). Respect Tropical Storms-they are not “an out of the woods” trump card. Power goes out with 45 mph winds too!  If you lose power have a pact with your family or friend that everyone crashes at the “house with power”; “Tag-you’re it” agreement. Not really a legal document but you may get a free meal out of it.

4. “SPIRITUAL SPIN”  You can remain in denial until the 24-Hr. mark.  Still time to pray the storm away at this point. Others may already be praying; it’s time for you to hop on and join them to make sure you are part of the action (this has worked MANY times in Florida).  When you finally see where landfall is going to happen, and its somewhere else, God will forgive you if you think/say “Thank God it went somewhere else!”.  Just don’t repeat that to your friend who just lost his roof in another state.

5. “PARTY TIME” It’s ok if you have a “cone party” but NOT a Hurricane Party!  Cone parties are for watching the shifting of the cone landfall probability maps on TV.  You can serve a spaghetti dinner, as they are now referring to the different tracking models as “spaghetti” maps. These predictions come everywhere from the National Weather Center, colleges (from Master Program students??!), Weather Underground (from Underground Atlanta? Or Natchez Under the Hill?), and from the freelance “weatherman” who is tracking the storm from his den while watching football and the Weather Channel updates.

Hurricane Parties are still NOT in vogue in Florida or smart!  Give the cops your next of kin’s phone #.

6. “OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER”  “Hope for the Best but Prepare for the Worst -just get ready!” Message from the Governor usually happens before or around the 72-Hour mark or whenever they can’t figure out where it’s going.

7. “COMMUNICATION”   No! You may not have phones, texting, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, etc available for crucial updates and calls for help. Figure it out. Your phone may not be able to get you help as you are under rubble or broke down on the road, unless you have great confidence that cell tower #20 is up and running or that your phone battery has juice!  Don’t take chances thinking technology (and the Weather Channel app) replaces early preparedness or common sense. Ever heard of batteries, weather radios, and flashlights?  Think ancient survival.  Call an old person if that’s a reach for you. Also, think,”I’m an idiot” for taking a video outside in 80 mph winds for a FB post.

8. “THE ESSENTIALS”  Filling the tub with water is not so you have water if your son’s wife goes into labor (hot water needed for that you know) or to be used for drinking water (is YOUR bathtub really THAT clean?).  Tub water does work for flushing the toilet-do I need to spell it out? Young person-YouTube may have a video for you on this simple procedure.

9. “WEAK MOMENTS”  Know that you may “chicken out” after holding out until the 24 hour mark….especially if Mother Nature decides to deliver a surprise or two-like making a right hand turn straight into the coast, or slowing down until it’s a monster storm large enough to cover Florida coast to coast on the radar!  It’s ok to panic, but only for a moment (you must NOT appear as an unprepared Florida resident a.k.a. stupid). Just pack the dog and cat and RUN if not too late.  Try not to ride out the storm in the road gridlock or at the 7-11 where the line to the bathroom is 28 and one wheelchair deep!  Also remember your fellow evacuees will not be in a pleasant mood, may be hungry or may be regretting their decision to place their lives in the path of a fickle storm-be prepared for glares, lane blocking, horn blowing and……

In conclusion, there’s not a perfect “10 steps for Hurricane Safety” in this post, just an apology from this humble writer that she couldn’t come up with 10, and a reminder that there is no “perfect, tidy” fool-proof plan. Just go back to Steps 4 and 6 and go by that-take it from this storm veteran and be Safe, Smart, and Senile-no not senile!   but you get the idea!

Just be prepared-visit with friends in the grocery store-have a plan and plywood-and know if you live in Florida long enough you will see some kind of storm in your lifetime.

Blessings and in Sincerity, Pam

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He Was There All the Time

31 Aug

He Was There All the Time copy

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Author, Poet and ArtistSometimes I write down what I think the Holy Spirit is saying to me. It’s as if I were sending God a letter. At other times I sit and wait to hear what He says back. Yesterday I wrote out 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” That was, of course, exactly what I needed to hear.

After I had thought about it for twenty-four hours I felt like writing some more. I don’t pretend to have any answers, and I’m sure I make mistakes, but here’s what I wrote: (I write in second person because it makes the message more personal. Perhaps you do this too.)

Beloved, I felt God say, sometimes you recall hard things in your life that you wish had happened differently. You feel sorrow that you had to go through those experiences. You try to reconstruct ways in which outcomes would have been better if circumstances had been different. None of that does any good. Do you know why? It’s because I, The Father, set up those circumstances or, at least allowed them for my purposes.

My dear child, wouldn’t it make you angry to think I had set you up for hurt — that I deliberately ruined at least a part of your life?

More likely you think I wasn’t even there and that you caused everything yourself. It is so easy for you to come up with the wrong perceptions. It’s as if there were a part of your brain that insisted on lying to you. It’s a trickster, a devil, a demon, the flesh, the self, the carnal nature. It makes up stories about your life and then you cling to them. It says seek always, but do not find. It desperately needs intimacy with you in order to feed itself. It is false. Only I am true.

You have always had choices. Sometimes the choices you made were less than productive, but I didn’t leave you alone on dark paths of fear, bitterness, and greed. I went with you. I buffered the cold winds when I knew something would be too much for you. I worked always to bring you to my side

Could the same scary things have happened if you had made right and good choices? Yes and no. Every choice sent you down a different path so that every one of them had a potential for a different outcome.

Remember, dear one, your life in Me is a finely choreographed dance. You need to rehearse with me so that our steps will match. I have plans for good for you and not for evil. Remember, you need me and I need you. I have always loved you and I always will. Nothing you could ever do would change that.

“He Was There All the Time”

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