When I'm Listening

When I’m Listening

When I stand in reverent wonder,

Atop mountains on an autumn day,

Though it’s not a voice like rolling thunder

I hear what my Redeemer has to say.

I close my eyes to better hear it,

The gentle rustling of the autumn leaves.

A warm, sweet whisper joins my spirit,

A sound like the wind blowing through the trees.

Embraced in hues of gold and red

Surrounded by His grace

My heart listens carefully to what is said,

As the gentle breeze caresses my face.

Vibrant leaves catch the wind

Floating about in majestic glory

His voice tenderly blankets me like a flawless friend,

Whose love is an unending story.



His whisper tells of how He planned for me

Before creation was spoken

Even when time was yet to be,

His plans would not be broken.

His promise is full of hope and love

And shines like dew drops glistening

His voice spans the air as wings of a dove

And speaks to me when I’m listening.

Photography is from my beloved Great Smoky Mountains.
Poetry and photography property of www.AmusingMargaret.com 

This video is amazing.    

Even if you've seen it before, it's so worth watching again.

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

Monday Musings: The Forgiveness Edition

Reading some Facebook comments this morning, I came across a name that took me back to elementary school.  The name, when I see it, never brings good memories, and today was no exception.  Perhaps I hold unforgiveness…I am not sure…maybe it is just that I remember.   Memories exist, and they pop into my mind every now and then, especially when there’s a reminder.

 Unforgiveness, I’ve heard it expressed,

Is like drinking poison and hoping someone else gets sick.

She’s long gone from this world, this first grade teacher who made my first year of school a nightmare.  I would not have wished bad things for her, even if she were living to this day.  My second grade teacher was much better, and the rest of my years at Underwood Elementary were pleasant enough.

My third grade teacher, whom I really liked, was the principal when my daughter was enrolled.   She handled a situation involving my daughter very badly, in my opinion, and I wrote her a scathing letter….and copied the superintendent of education.   Did I over-react?  Possibly…but she did, indeed, handle a delicate situation rather coarsely.   She also discussed it with the grandmother of the little boy involved, and when I saw her (the grandmother) in WalMart shortly after the incident, she told me that if I had any problems with her grandson to contact her, not the school.  The grandmother is gone from this world, too, but the memories still remain.

What does one do with bad memories?  Granted, my “bad” recollections are nothing in comparison to the memories of so many hurting people.    But a hurt is a hurt, and memories do exist.   Unforgiveness doesn’t have to be attached to the thoughts, but how can you be sure that you aren’t just remembering, but that a little unforgiveness is lingers?

My spell check keeps trying to tell me “unforgiveness” is not a word.

It is now.

One of the toughest forms of forgiveness is that of our own actions, inactions, bad choices, stupidity…forgiving ourselves for our past.  And whether we know it or not, there may be people holding grievances against us for some callous thing we said or did, and we don’t even realize we’ve hurt someone.

Today, I’m choosing forgiveness.   Every fiery dart aimed at me today will be met with a shield of forgiveness.  Grudges are never worth hanging to, and especially when it gives something “bad” even the tiniest bit of power in my life.    

It’s a beautiful Monday.   

May you find forgiveness in your heart 

for whatever bad memory haunts you.

And may it be as easy as a walk in Deibert Park

Photos below....

  

   

Deibert Park, Florence, Alabama.

All photos belong to AmusingMargaret.com

Another entry on forgiveness you may enjoy HERE.  

It Just Doesn't Care

::::Groan::::

I’m back to wearing Maypop jeans.   My Maypops.  Jeans that may pop anytime.  Addiction doesn’t care that not so long ago, these tight jeans were a little loose. 

Who knew that getting back on the wagon after a fall would be much more difficult than the first time up there?  Addiction doesn’t care that I’d rather be riding in the wagon than walking this road.

Addiction screams in my head until I give in, then it promptly chastises me for being weak, and tells me how worthless I am.  It doesn’t care that I beat yourself up with guilt. 

 Orlando...I think...definitely Florida.

Addiction doesn’t care that no matter how I try,

I can’t make a humorous post about addiction.

So, I’ll just have write a positive post.

When I wake up in the morning, I wish that I wanted to act right, but I really want to eat.  It’s the sugar in me…and addiction doesn’t care that it takes my focus off of God and onto myself and my need desire to feed.

Central Florida Zoo

I’m about to get angry at addiction, not that addiction cares.   But as a child of God, I do not have to lie down and continue to give into the sin and shame of gluttony.  I am not a slave to sin, and it is for freedom that Christ set me free.   Addiction doesn’t care that it gets in my way of remembering all the good things, the promises that I have available.   I don’t have to continue to walk in addiction, when Freedom Road has an address with my name on it!  That’s right, addiction, I have a home on Freedom Street, not skid row!

Addiction doesn’t care that God longs to change me, if I will let Him.  I am sure He is teaching me things as I struggle; it’s up to me to learn and stop struggling, to be still and know that He is God.   Addiction doesn’t care about me, but God does.

Deibert Park...love the reflection!

Forgive me as I post, yet again, the poem I wrote in 2009…because it’s something I need desperately to remember.

No Survivor Am I

My worth isn’t measured by my current condition,

Opinions of others, or my present position.

Though my foot may slip, I am not incomplete,

My failures are never my final defeat.

By God’s grace, I’ll dance though the fire,

Knowing by faith I’ll not drown in the mire.

A survivor is never what I shall be

But a powerful overcomer for others to see.

My suffering, I’ll know, was never in vain,

Seeing someone’s miracle brought out of my pain.

My destiny isn’t sealed by today’s situation,

For my current position is not my final destination.

Have a great weekend!!

Thursday Thunderings

Does anyone else find it disturbing that the very ones (Obama/Reid/Democratic Congress) who refuse to compromise on Obamacare will not be forced to use it?  As of this morning, they still will not negotiate.  Whether you are for it or against it, you surely know there are a lot of issues with the Affordable Care (ACA, aka Obamacare) which need discussion.  Very disconcerting, indeed.  Troublesome times.  I am praying today for our leaders…even the ones I find myself disliking more each day.  I ask that you pray, too.

I don’t know how the ACA is going to affect our doctor situation.  I fully expect the selection of good doctors to become smaller and smaller if Obama has his way.  Strong delusion boggles the mind. 

You may not believe it, but there are things I don’t say because I don’t want to offend people I like who believe so very differently from me.   There are things I am not saying today.

Then, there are things I probably shouldn’t say, but say anyway.   Like…

Dear Receptionist:

Girl, I really wanted to tell you because you’re my age, and I think you’d be embarrassed to know that your bright flowered panties were showing through your light tan pants.   Yep.  Every print and line.   And you wore it all day long, because I didn’t see you until after 2 p.m.

I’m getting old and feel like I’m falling apart.  That, or my new doctor (whom I really like) is actually paying attention to what I’m saying, and is sending me for further testing.  I like my new doctor, and I’m trying not to remember that every time I find a doctor I like, they leave town.  I’m thinking that’s not because they had me for a patient, but because it’s a small town with lots of doctors.

And I am growing straw in place of hair.   I used to have a nice, thick, head full of pretty hair.  I took it for granted…it was just always there.   Now I have straw, I tell you!  I sure wish I had my hair back. 

And gray roots?  It has a lot of nerve needing to be colored, which is a major factor in the straw condition of my hair!

Let’s not even mention fine lines…nothing “fine” about that.  Some of my lines are graduating into grooves.  Deep.  Grooves.  Not groovy.

 Happy Friday Eve, Y’all.

Phillip Bentley/Huntsville Hospital vs Citizens of the Shoals

I usually leave this type of entry to ShoalandaSpeaks.  But I’m mad.  I’m mad at our brain-dead congress, government shutdowns, Obamacare, and people like local business man Phillip W.  Bentley, who, in no way has the best interest of Shoals citizens foremost in his mind, even though his business is here. 

Below is a letter to the editor that our “local” news rag the Times Daily (AKA Times Faily and Totally Decatur) refused to print.   I think the fine people of this area would like to know...

RE: Conflict of Interest

Mr. Phil Bentley is the Chairman of the Huntsville Hospital Healthcare Authority. Mr. Bentley is also the owner of Bentley Chevrolet Cadillac in Florence.

The new hospital planned by RegionalCare Hospital Partners (d/b/a Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital) will provide equipment and services that are currently not available in the Shoals area. Therefore currently, many patients must be moved from any Shoals hospital to Huntsville Hospital for treatment and care.  The time lost by this movement can be critical and often fatal.

When the new hospital is complete, these patients will be treated locally and valuable (often life-saving) time will be saved. This time saving will reduce the Huntsville Hospital patient load.

If the Huntsville Hospital Board, under Mr. Bentley’s leadership, continues to play an influential role in the future of healthcare in the Shoals area, we as citizens should question our continued support of his business located in our community.

It is interesting to note that Huntsville Hospital is affiliated with Helen Keller Hospital. Helen Keller Hospital has been fighting the new hospital since they perceive that it will lead to their demise. There is a need for Helen Keller Hospital in the Shoals area. Some of their services, such as Physical Therapy and WellCare, are the best operated and staffed I have ever seen anywhere. Unfortunately, the Helen Keller staff has been using old data to substantiate their battle, rather than looking to the future growth of this entire area. As I indicated earlier, the only real loser of Shoals area patients is Huntsville Hospital, not Helen Keller. Therefore, Mr. Bentley has been quietly letting the public think that Keller is the loser, not Huntsville.

As a Muscle Shoals resident, I consider the new hospital an indispensible improvement to the overall health care available in the entire Shoals (Colbert and Lauderdale counties) area. Therefore, I urge our citizens to purchase vehicles from other automobile agencies in this area.

A concerned Shoals area citizen.

Zingers and Pictures

I posted these "zingers" in April...I am posting it again for my own sake.  I am not sure why, but I am still dealing with the urge to eat.  Still no bread, chips, sugar, etc., but I have had sugar free candy.   It didn't seem to bother me before, but I am wondering now if that has something to do with my yearn to feed.   It's not overwhelming, but I can't deny that it's there.  I guess I need to reevaluate, readjust...rethink.

Weight loss zingers for the Child of God

• It’s going to take more time than you planned for or wanted it to.
• If you weigh every day, be prepared for fluctuations and say no to discouragement.  Patience is vitally important.
• You may possibly temporarily gain weight with exercise.
• There will be days you don’t do everything “right.”
• There will be days you don’t do anything “right.”
• If you rely on your own strength, you will invariably struggle.
• If you rely on God’s strength, you can pick up on Monday where you left off on Friday…after that weekend food-fest.   And He will help you to overcome those overdone weekends and/or nights.
• God hears every prayer for freedom, but He requires you to believe that you have what He has already paid for with the blood of His son, our precious Jesus.
• You will hit plateaus.
• Some plateaus last a long time.   Again, patience.
• You may need to give up sugar.  It certainly helped me.
• You can do this…even if you need to lose 175 pounds.
• You don’t have to wait until Monday to start.
• You don’t have to wait until tomorrow to restart.

News Day Tuesday: The Prisoners of War Edition

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,

against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and

against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12  

Do you know about American citizen Kenneth Bae?  There has been more coverage of Pastor Saeed Abedini, but today, I’ll tell you about Kenneth, who is languishing, in poor health, in a North Korean “special labor camp,” for such crimes as crossing the border to feed orphans, deemed by North Korea as hostile acts to bring down its government.  From the Huffington Post: 

Bae's trial on charges of "committing hostile acts" against North Korea place in Supreme Court on Tuesday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.
He was arrested in early November in Rason, a special economic zone in North Korea's far northeastern region bordering China and Russia, state media said. The exact nature of Bae's alleged crimes has not been revealed. Friends and colleagues say Bae, a Korean American who was living in Washington state, was based in the Chinese border city of Dalian and traveled frequently to North Korea to feed orphans.

There is a petition to prod our government  to step in and do as much as we can do for his release.   You can visit/sign that petition HERE.

Both Mr. Bae and Pastor Saeed, and their families, desperately need our prayers.  There is a petition for Pastor Saeed as well…you can find that HERE. 

Please consider signing these petitions.

Though it's not always in the mainstream media, not only are Christians being imprisoned, they are persecuted, tortured and killed daily.  If I were in their shoes, my continuous prayer would be, "Come quickly!  Even so, come Lord Jesus!"  praying for the rapture.   

I wonder how much longer God will listen to the desperate cries of His children before Jesus comes back to take us Home? 

Are you ready?