Hands of Love in the Aftermath...

There is so much that goes on in a given 24 hour period, and now that we are dealing with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, it only adds to the stress and daily hardships we face. Some of us still do not have power, others have downed trees, damaged property. I am particularly heartsick for my friends who have suffered significant losses, including one dear couple who lost their only home which was at the Jersey Shore. I cannot even wrap my brain around the videos and photographs that have been shown in the media of towns like Seaside Heights and Long Beach Island wiped out.

For those of us who still have power and heat, but are at a loss to even know where to begin to help your friends and neighbors, may I suggest one or more of the following?

1) Pray, Pray, Pray – for them, with them

2) Wrap your arms around them if possible and just hug them, silently. Let them cry and grieve.

3) Offer them your home, your shower, a meal, a ride.

4) If you have a generator, offer it to them, or if you’re using it, offer them an extension cord hookup!

5) Help them begin the clean-up process – don’t say, “Oh if you need anything just let me know.” Be there – show up and say “put me to work.”

 

6) Call and text to let them know you’re thinking of them and praying for them.

In the days to come as the rebuilding begins, continue these things, and send a card, give them a gift card to help them replace items if they can, continue to bring meals, offer babysitting. Help them feel some sense of being normal in the midst of chaos. Give them a big gift basket filled with everyday items they may have lost – think along the lines of a shower wishing well basket, or everyday pantry items like flour, baking soda and powder, rolls of wax paper or aluminum foil – you know what I mean! Stop by with a cup of coffee from Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts and sit for 15 minutes. Let them cry when then need to, and help them laugh through their pain.

The main thing is – be there for them consistently through the long haul. They’re going to need to more than you or they realize. We’re all still in shock and reeling from the storm. Do one simple thing… then another… then another. It is amazing how those seemingly miniscule acts will make such a lifelong impact. Reach out and be the hands, the heart and the loving arms of Jesus.

If you can think of other ways, please share them here in the comments section, or email me at westudygodsword@gmail.com.  I'd be happy to share your ideas!

Blessings,

Linda

Haiku of the Heart

Though sadness is not

Tangible, the weight to the

Heart is arduous

Hoboken Haiku

Which path should I take?
The Hoboken rain is cold
And my heart shivers

Never Forget

Matthew 10:29-31

I love this verse, song and artwork!

080612 Monday

Sleepy Monday feet
Shuffle from rain to office
I miss my warm bed

Image: "Walking in the Rain" by Emiel Hansen

Words

Today's powerful blog is by my friend and fellow writer, Pam Manners.

WORDS

Words -- meant for life.
Creating life.
In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God
And the Word WAS God.

Logos.
In the beginning, God spoke the world
Into being,
Bringing life into
Existence.
Everything began with a word
From the Word.

Words -- meant for:
Communication
Encouragement
Instruction
Inspiration
Wisdom
Healing

Words -- meant to:
Show love
Bring joy
Ease pain
Give hope
Convey beauty

But like everything else
We’ve taken and twisted and turned them into
something else entirely.
Crushing others beneath the weight of our hate-filled words
Burning them with the fire set by our own tongues.

Words -- spoken out into the cosmos
Never to return
Reverberating down towards
Generations to come.

Words -- once released from our lips,
They cannot be retrieved,
Like a kite on a string
Caught up by a powerful wind,
Unable to be reeled back in.

Words -- dripping with hatred’s
Poisonous venom.

Words -- they can be stricken from the record,
But not from a heart, mind and soul.

In real life, once uttered,
There is no Edit button to click on
And change them.

Words -- in real life,
They cannot be rewound
And deleted.

Words -- once made ready, aimed and fired at us
They are:

Forever embroidered onto us
Indelibly ingrained within us
Permanently tattooed upon us

Words -- that hurt and maim
Carelessly thrown our way
Like verbal daggers that wound and scar
Slicing deep into our inmost being.

Words -- that bring about death
Like grenades set to explode,
Thoughtlessly dropped into our laps
By those with no regard for us
Or our emotional well-being.

Words.
In the beginning -- created for life.
Created by God.
For good.
For OUR good.

Words.
Today -- and every day
May you think before you speak.
Choose wisely what you will bring to others with your words:
Joy or sorrow.
Encouragement or despair.
Wisdom or foolishness.
Healing or destruction.
Life or death.

My Own Fault

How often I have lived in the heavy chains of "It's My Own Fault." I felt I had no right to pray because I had chosen to walk my "not God" path and was living with the consequences of my choice (let's call it what it is --my sinful disobedience). The weight is suffocating and filled with despair.

Today I read a beautiful devotional by one of my lifetime favorite authors, Elisabeth Elliot. In her clear and poignant way she wrote about this in a way that needs to be passed along to anyone dealing with self-flogging, festering fault. I pray you will also be blessed with her devotional. May I also recommend reading any of her many books --life changing!

http://www.elisabethelliot.org/devotional.html

Someone who is suffering as a result of his own foolishness or failure may read these words. These griefs are hard indeed to bear, for we feel we might easily have avoided them. We have no one to blame but ourselves, and there isn't much consolation there. Sometimes we imagine that we must bear this kind of trouble alone, but that is a mistake. The Lamb of God, slain for us, has borne all of our griefs and carried all of our sorrows, no matter what their origin. All grief and sorrow is the result of sin somewhere along the line, but Christ received them willingly. It is nothing but pride that keeps me from asking Him to help me to bear the troubles which are my own fault.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, take away mine.
I take Him at His word indeed,
Christ died for sinners--this I read--
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior.
(Dora Greenwell)

Daily devotions courtesy of Devotions.org, a ministry of Back to the Bible.

Blessings,
Linda

$hopping $ans $pending = $illy $avings!

There's this fun imaginary world called http://www.polyvore.com/, where you can play big girl dress-up to your heart's content.  Here's the fun part - instead of creating lessons in lusting and discontent and coveting, you just gather all these terrific outfits together and then use them when you do go to your normal shops, consignment stores and second-hand gently used boutiques.  The clothes on the site are absolutely over-the-top reDUNK-Qlous expensive (mostly), so you just laugh at the prices, put your dream outfits together, then let your creativity loose while matching the crazy $$$ items with something more realistic for most of us who live on planet Earth!  My Grandma used to call it "having champagne taste with a beer wallet."

Girls just wanna have fun (and maybe the occasional pretty outfit). 

10 Mood-Boosting Foods You Can Grow: Organic Gardening

10 Mood-Boosting Foods You Can Grow: Organic Gardening

Tender Talk Tuesday

Taken from http://www.coachlindabush.com/

Today we’re going to exercise the strongest muscle you have – your tongue. We haven’t been able as a society to tame it yet, but today you and I will work on it.

For today, I want you to be mindful/intentional of every word that comes out of your mouth. Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Will it comfort/ease/help, or will it hurt, criticize and tear down? Is it something you would say in front of the person you’re discussing? Is it soothing, like balm on a wound, or is it a verbal bullet that sears through the soul like fire?

Just for today, for this one day only, say only something that will be kind… sweet… calming… use your words like a cozy warm blanket to envelope the spirit of everyone you meet. Wrap up your words like precious treasures with cheer, reassurance, humor that isn’t sarcastic or at someone’s expense. Refrain from any cursing or off-color remarks.

Even work on the tone of your voice – keep it soft, warm and loving. Cushion your volume with a gentle spirit. Often speaking softer causes people to listen more and pay attention, especially if you are one who relies on communication via yelling and repetition (i.e., nagging).

Find words of respect and encouragement for your husband/significant other, words of love for your children and friends, words of support for your coworkers and people you meet throughout the day. Surprise a stranger with a kind word, a word of thanks or praise. And if you have been using silence as a weapon, melt it with courage to be the first to speak – in love.

The power you wield with your words is more influential than you can imagine. Lydia Snider wrote that each day the average person will say 2,250 words to 7.4 other individuals. Will yours hurt or heal? Use them well. They may make all the difference to one person’s life today.

Blessings,

Linda

I was really touched today with a blog posting from the blogsite "Keeping It Personal" by Teri Johnson.  To read her whole terrific blog please visit her website by surfing to http://keepingitpersonal.com/2012/04/be/.  I appreciated her reflections and the associated Scripture verses.  As someone who is prone to dwell on the negatives and the what-might-be's, her blog was a timely reminder to me that God is always, always in charge, and that I need to seek HIM for my answers, my goals/dreams/visions, and my day-to-day living.  I pray you will enjoy her blog as well!

Blessings, Linda
******************************************

How can we keep the goal, dream, vision, and passion alive – when we experience setbacks and negativity? How can we live a life of contentment and gratefulness on our winding journey?



FIRST we must understand that it starts with ME – I mean YOU – I mean it starts with ourselves, each individually. We are responsible only for ourselves. Period.


When we feel restless, discontent, or if we find ourselves having too many pity parties alone – LOOK in the mirror – examine your life today – REFLECT on these 5 “P” words:


1. PATIENCE = Things happen on God’s timetable, not our timetable. We do not want to get ahead of His perfect plan.


“Stand firm, and you will win life.” Luke 21:19


2. PERSPECTIVE = Take a step back and look at the big picture. Ask yourself, how important is it really?


“You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.” Philippians 4:19


3. PERSEVERANCE = Press on – If you are confident you are going where God wants you to go, living in His will, don’t give up.


“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9


4. PURPOSE = Why are you where you are; today? Look for ways to be a light in your world, everyday, in every relationship, in every situation, in your current place – regardless if it’s where you want to be.


“Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21


5. PRAYER = Whisper this simple prayer, “Father, open my eyes to see, open my ears to hear, open my heart to know, what You want for my life. Amen” Expect God to reveal Himself to you daily. Look for Him.


“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” Colossians 4:2

The Heart of the Question

The Heart of the Question | Discovery | Scripture Union USA

This was a good devotion that I wanted to share with you. 

Confessions of a Girly-Girl

Yes, I’m a self-confessed girly-girl – dresses, makeup, clothes, shoes, perfume… the whole nine yards. Yes, I have a closet filled with imaginary outfits on pinterest (click HERE). Hey - don't judge, it's my way of being frugal!! And yes, I am the only woman I know who carries a pair of emergency earrings in her car, in case I rush out in the morning and (gasp) forgot to toss them on. I am a woman of the 80s, so don’t even TRY to take away my hairspray or you might lose use of your hand. (However, I’d be more than happy to share if you just ask.) I love walking through makeup stores and allowing my senses to dance with delight to the colors and possibilities and olfactory pleasures. I think of it as a big girl equivalent to being a kid in a candy store with two bits in her pocket. Sadly, the wrinkle cream that swears my cheeks will mimic that of an newborn’s backside costs WAY more than two bits! Hmmm… maybe I should just smear baby oil and diaper rash cream all over my face. But I digress…


I’m also a child of the 60s, so there is a certain conflict to my old “part my long blonde hair in the middle, no makeup, no bra, torn jeans and daisies” barefoot all-natural granola-eatin' hippie spirit. Unfortunately, some of those choices are simply not options anymore. I am seriously devoted and bound (yes, pun fully intended) to my collection of lovely unmentionables now, and it would be a sin to society to go without… people running and screaming, “My eyes! My eyes!” The drama is just too much for me to fathom. I’m sure a therapist would have a field day with my dual personalities… and those are only two inside the madness that is me. But I digress…

What I’m trying to say here is that all the external workings of beauty, from hair/makeup/nails/perfume to clothing/stockings/shoes/handbags mean absolutely nothing if I do not practice beauty from the inside out. Unkind words smear even the most elegant lipstick into lip-sick ugliness. Manicured nails become claws when catty, and pedicured feet are repulsive when running to tell a tale on another. An icy, harsh look makes even the most fetching eyes hard and unattractive. Bitterness, anger and a fermenting attitude age one more than a lifetime in the summer sun.

Join me today in exercising your innermost beauty – that of a loving heart, a spirit of compassion, kindness and humility. Wear gentleness and patience as soft, glowing garments more alluring than any earthly designer could envision. The most beautiful accessories are a warm smile and a loving soul.

Remember - you are most stunning when you strip away everything that entangles the unique and most beautiful you inside.


Blessings,

Linda

An example of what I consider to be beautiful:

The Leaves Whisper

The Empty Sweater

The empty sweater

Hangs limp, lonely on the chair

Never to be filled

Morning Song

Lilting through the blue

Air of the frosty morning

Feathered silver notes

Morning Musings

Morning swallows me
Like a cold cup of coffee
The taste is bitter

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today I want to pay tribute to the most amazing woman I know – my Mom. It’s her birthday today, and I would like this opportunity to sing out her praises.

She is a VERY active member of Curves gym, and has well over 1,000 visits in the last few years. All you have to do is ask her to show you her guns, and that sleeve is up and bicep curled!

She has a heart “as big as the all outdoors” (as my Grandmom used to say). She is loving and giving, and is a tigress when it comes to her family. She is our matriarch.

Her faith in God never fails, and she is a prayer warrior.

Her life hasn’t been easy, but you’d never know it from her cheerful disposition. Mom’s sense of humor is funny, zany, warped and wonderful – I call her my “Crazy Old Broad”. She plays practical jokes on me, and sometimes we get to laughing so hard I cry.

She’s wise, and always ready to listen and not judge – I know her love is steadfast, even when I’ve messed up oh-so-many times in my life. She’s got the best Mom-hugs in the world! She is my biggest cheerleader and always supports me, even if she doesn’t always agree or understand.

She’s also an incredible Grandmother, and her nickname is “Gooma” – so of course we call her “The Goom”, The Goomeister”, “Goominator”, and I call her Momma Pajama or MPJ for short.

She’s the only person I’ve ever heard of who actually ran away and joined the circus! (Oh am I gonna pay for letting that out!) Yep... yep... My Mother IS the ORIGINAL wild woman!


I have the honor/blessing/privilege of having her with me since her home burned down about a year and a half ago. She walked away with nothing but quite literally the shirt off her back, and yet she has always looked at the bright side and counted her blessings. Mom doesn’t hold “things” tightly – her family and friends are her greatest treasures.

But let me tell you, Mom is our family’s greatest treasure. She is gutsy, courageous and strong, and is always there when we need her. She is my hero, my inspiration, and my love and respect for this woman knows no bounds. Truly, the words haven’t been invented yet to describe her.

So happy birthday, my bestest friend and Crazy Old Broad Mom. You are the absolute best Mom E-V-E-R, and I love you and thank God every single day that He blessed me with you. Here’s to another year of love, laughter, good health, blessings and all the happiness your beloved heart can hold.

Psalm 31:28-29 – “Her children arise and call her blessed; many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

Haiku 012412

Dancing on the snow
Glistening pas de bourrée
The pines rue their roots