Sunday Scribbling: Dear Diary

Sunday Scribblings

Dear Diary,

Why is it so hard for me to keep a journal? I write a few entries, read them, realize how boring my life sounds, and then quit the journal. I need to change my thinking about journaling. It should be a place where I can be honest with myself and work through my problems. Through journaling I can be inspired to write and do new things. I've read that my journal can be: an idea book, a place to record my thoughts and feelings, a sketchbook, a place to write my prayers, a record of my life, a place to collect quotes and writing prompts. I don't have to follow certain rules, because it's for me. In a journal, the pressure is off. I can just write.

I didn't realize that so many grey hairs would be sprouting at the age of 38. I used to think that if I wanted to do something, that I needed to do it by 40. Boy was I wrong. Yes - my body is slowing down and I require daily meds to function. However, my mind and spirit are growing. Things are starting to make sense now. I'm beginning to realize how I can overcome the obstacles in my life. I'm beginning to believe that my dreams will come true. Knowledge and wisdom are starting to build up in my brain. I have experienced many things and learned from many mistakes. My relationship with God is growing; I'm beginning to value it. I see how I need Him to lead me and strengthen me. I have hope in my future, because I have hope in God's will for my life.

New idea to pursue: Start a blog where I can write using writing prompts on the Internet.

What I want to do today: Play Chicken Foot with the kids. Spend some alone time talking with my 10 year old daughter. She's going through a weird stage right now. I want her to know that I'm there for her - that I support her.

Prayer: Dear Lord, What do you want me to do today? I have some ideas. I have my mental list. But there is only so much time today. What things should I scratch off my list? Is there something that I should do or someone I should talk to or encourage? Please show me.

Shari

Sunday Scribbling: The Defeat of the Foul One

The writing prompt for Sunday Scribblings this week is "Foul"

So, I'll start by saying that I am feeling very foul. I got a nasty cold and I think I can trace it back 8 days ago when I went to Wal-mart. I've spent most of the day in bed, which is not normal for me. It's just a cold. These are my only accomplishments for today:

• watched an episode of Brady Bunch (Greg had a groovy crush on his math teacher- that's kind of foul.)
  
• heated up frozen chicken nuggets (fowl) and frozen french fries for my kids' dinner
• wrote this post about The Foul One

The Defeat of the Foul One

The Foul One was created as an anointed angel. However, due to his self-centered pride, he tried to make himself equal with The Holy One. This got him kicked out of heaven, taking 1/3 of the holy angels with him - those fallen angels became his evil demonic followers.

There is no truth in the Foul One. He does know The Truth and works hard to get you to doubt Truth. He dangles temptation hoping to get others to fall, too.He schemes and cunningly deceives, looking to destroy someone's life. He's especially drawn to those who don't follow The Holy One, wanting to devour them before they decide to believe in The Truth.

The good news is that the Foul One has limitations. He is not omnipotent ,or omniscient; his time is limited, and he knows it. Therefore he is going to hurriedly take down as many humans as he can. And this is the bad news. The Foul One gets humans to do his dirty work for him - perverting the truth, slandering each other, destroying their own lives through addictions, becoming false teachers that draw in the people by offering some promise, but unable to deliver. He also gets us to kill for him - murdering the unborn children, euthanizing the elderly and disabled, and killing themselves through suicide.

There is more good news though. A time will come when The Holy One will send The Foul One, and all his death and hell to a lake of fire forever. "Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Revelation 20:10

When we die, all people of the world will have to give an account of how they lived. We all will be judged. Did we follow the truth of The Holy One, or did we let The Foul One corrupt our hearts?

The Foul One and his followers will be defeated. The Holy One and his followers will live forever in true peace.

Hell's Best Kept Secret

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Sunday Scribbling: Miscellaneous Resources for Emotional Healing

(Instead of Categorized Resources.)

The writing prompt for Sunday Scribblings this week is "Miscellaneous". I've wanted to put the following resources on my blog, but haven't known where. So, I'm going to use this opportunity to list some of the resources available to aid in emotional healing. They are books and services that I believe may be very helpful to some people.

New Life Call Center (free) This organization offers free prayer counseling. They can also help you locate a professional counselor or support group. They are used to getting 20,000 calls a month. Call 1-800-NEW-LIFE. (24 hours)

Hope for the Heart Call Center (free) Do you need to talk to someone who cares? They are always there to talk, pray or just listen. They don’t offer professional counseling, but they can provide you with spiritual guidance, heartfelt prayer, honesty, resources and connections to skilled Christian counselors. They are waiting day and night to help you in any way they can. Call 1-800-488-HOPE (4673)

Free Suicidal Help Call 911 or 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). There is help for you. People are waiting to help you. It is never okay to act on your thoughts of suicide. Getting help is the answer.

Unplanned Pregnancy Information (free) They will help you find a pregnancy resource center in your area for free services and answers to questions about abortion, pregnancy tests, STD's, adoption, parenting, medical referrals, housing, and many other issues. 1-800-395 HELP or contact them by Email.

Healing is a Choice (book) The power to heal-physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually-is in God’s hands. But the choice to be healed is yours. The author outlines ten choices crucial to receiving healing and ten lies that can prevent you from making them.

Laughing in the Dark: A Comedian's Journey Through Depression (book) Each chapter includes a look into Chonda Pierce's personal journey, insights learned while laughing in the dark,and expert advice from a psychotherapist for those struggling with depression.

Good Grief (book) This book will guide readers through the ten stages of grief: shock, emotion, depression, physical distress, panic, guilt, anger, resistance, hope, and finally, acceptance.

Lose It For Life: For Permanent Weight Loss (book) This is a balanced program that deals with the physical, emotional and even spiritual elements that lead to weight loss. It will help you face the emotional issues that are causing you to overeat.

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Sunday Scribbling: The Woman at the Travel Plaza

The writing prompt for Sunday Scribblings this week is "Fellow Travelers". Through out my traveling, I have met some very interesting people, enough people to fill a book. However, one woman quickly comes to my mind - the woman at the travel plaza. (Travel plazas are service centers along the interstate turnpikes with restaurants, restrooms, and gasoline pumps.)

About 8 years ago, our family made a major move to the East Coast. We drove 3000 miles to a home and town that we had never seen. It was adventurous, but also scary. Moving is expensive and we didn't have much money. So, we planned to keep the travel expenses as low as possible. To save on food and lodging costs, we decided to drive straight through sleeping in the car and buying our food at grocery stores. However, we didn't understand the reality of the facilities available along the turnpikes. There aren't very many towns along the interstates. Instead, motorists stop at travel plazas for food and gas. The prices at travel plazas were higher then we had expected to pay. This added much stress to our trip.

I remember being in a travel plaza in Pennsylvania. My husband and I were anxiously discussing which fast food we should buy for our family. We walked between the different menu boards in the food court, comparing prices. Well, there was a woman who was watching us. She came up to me and handed me $20. She said that she was traveling with a group of women from her church. She noticed the size of our family and knew that traveling could be expensive. She felt like God wanted her to come offer this money to us. I quietly said a thank you. Then she smiled and rushed away. I stood there with my mouth hanging open. Nothing like that had ever happed to me before. Hoping to thank her again, I looked around the crowded room. But, she was already gone.

So, I'd like to express my appreciation to this woman. I'll probably never know your name or see you again. God prompted you to do something and you obeyed Him. You showed my family kindness, in a respectful way. You made a positive impact on me that will effect the rest of my life.

Some may call this a random act of kindness. Some will call this Christian charity. I call it a message from God. He was reminding me that I didn't need to worry about our current situation or the ones we may face in the future. God would always provide for my family.

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Sunday Scribbling: My Funeral Date

The writing prompt for Sunday Scribblings this week is "Date". Instead of writing about my wedding date, or my most romantic date - I was inspired to write about my funeral date. (kind of morbid, huh?)

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 7:1-2:
"A good reputation is better than a fat bank account.
Your death date tells more than your birth date.
You learn more at a funeral than at a feast (party).
After all, that's where we'll end up. We might discover something from it."

When I die, I don't want any regrets. I need to make sure that what I am living for now is worth dying for. A lot of the things I keep myself busy with just don't matter. Like most people, I give much of my attention to what is happening now. I should be doing more things that have long term benefits, thinking more about eternity.

Tonight, I heard Dr. Royce B. Short say - "No one is ready to live until he is ready to die. You don't know what is important in the present until you see it in the backdrop of eternity."

This is what we can learn at a funeral:

• We are reminded of our mortality. One day we will die.
• Our minds think about what matters most in life.
• We may ask - What do I need to change in my life?
  
• We contemplate rearranging our priorities.
• We consider excluding things that can shorten our earthly life.
  
• We understand that life will be meaningless if we live just for this life, not considering eternity.
  
• We remember that we can't take our stuff with us.
• We realize that now is the time to turn to God. Time goes by really quick. Death is final. We have to prepare now to meet our Creator.
  

On the day of my funeral, it is my desire that people talk about my character. Hopefully, they will tell about how I had a positive impact on other people and that I enjoyed serving God.

So, I had better get busy so I can give them something good to talk about.

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Sunday Scribbling: A New Woman

The Sunday Scribblings prompt for this week is "New".

This year, I want to be a new woman with a new attitude. I want those I know to say: "Hey. Is there something different about you?"

• Away with the bitterness. It only hurts me when I hang on to the hurt, feeling too wounded to forgive.
• Away with the impatience. God sure has been patient with me. He waited 17 years for me to get back to church.
• Away with fear and worry. I've finally realized that it really doesn't make my circumstances better.
• Away with competitiveness. Jesus wants us to work together and encourage each other.
• Away with laziness. I only have so much time on this earth.
• Away with unhealthy eating habits. I want that physical energy back, that I had 7 years ago.
• Away with being unappreciative. God gives me blessings every day, things I don't deserve and haven't earned.
• Away with hoping in my plans. They've been known to change for the better. Thank you, Jesus.
  

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Sunday Scribbling: Now and Then

The Sunday Scribblings prompt for last week was "Now and Then".

My physical circumstances aren't much different "Now" then they were "Then". I still have: the same lack of money, the same debt, the same rented house, and the same lack of prospects. But, now my spirit and mind are different.

You see, the difference between "Now" and "Then" is that - Now, I am living in God's Will. I decided to stop worrying about what I don't have. It's so much easier saying: Lord, what do you want me to do today? He sends little opportunities and people my way. Well, they seem little to me. However, if they are part of God's Will, then they are part of His big plan.

Telling God that I want to live in His Will can be scary. It's not about telling him where I'm willing to serve or live. Currently, I live 3000 miles from where my extended family lives. This was never part of my plan, but I know beyond a doubt that I am living exactly where God wants me to live. My physical circumstances haven't improved by living here, but my Christian walk has improved. My ministry for Jesus has grown.

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