My Dad was a gifted whistler – he could whistle any tune and give it trills, melody and bring delight to the ears he reached.  Well, except for my Mom who has some strange idea that whistling brings moths into the house (don’t ask – I don’t get it either ~lol)

“How Great Thou Art” & “If  I Were A Rich Man” were some of his favorites.  But he had a repertoire of funny lymericks too and his face would light up as he brought music into our home, our car or wherever we were.

I learned to whistle from him, but am nowhere near as gifted!  He really whistled beautifully…

What is my point, exactly?  Well, I really don’t have a point as such – just a memory of someone who chose to smile when he was sad, chose to laugh when he was worried, chose to bring a smile to your face instead of a harsh reply to your lips, and chose to help others when help was just what he may have wished for himself…

Someone who would stare trouble in the face ~ and whistle a tune as if to say “Nope, I’m not gonna let you get me down!”

“Whenever I feel afraid I hold my head erect
And whistle a happy tune
So no one will suspect
I’m Afraid.
While shivering in my shoes I strike a careless pose
And whistle a happy tune
And no one ever knows I’m afraid.
The result of this deception
Is very strange to tell
For when I fool the people
I fear I fool myself as well!
I whistle a happy tune
And ev’ry single time
The happiness in the tune
Convinces me that I’m not afraid.
Make believe you’re brave
And the trick will take you far.
You may be as brave
As you make believe you are “

~I  Whistle A Happy Tune from The King and I” ~

Every single day I am reminded of him ~ the pain of missing him is there, still;  but the joy of knowing him lifts my heart and shapes me into someone who recognizes my very own choice to be happy and smile no matter what…

Peace Out!       ~7~

After my post of yesterday, this was the message in today’s devotions:

“The Lord desires for us to move beyond the shame of past mistakes and into His calling for our lives. He will restore us to useful service in the Kingdom. It takes time and it is a process, but the Almighty God still has a plan for each of our lives. He intends to replace disgrace with rejoicing, so that we may show our world that we are living miracles.”  (Read the entire Devotions at http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/)

The Lord never moves away from us – we move away from Him!  But He is always there, waiting for us to grasp His hand once again, so He can lead us in His way for us…

AMEN!!  Enough said…

7

That’s how I feel – it’s been a very long time since I posted here and much has happened!  In the long run, all has worked for good, but in the process, it didn’t always seem that way!  And I can say quite unequivocally that I have been thrown completely off-track…

As Christians, we are taught that the closer we draw to God, the more active the enemy becomes as he seeks to do just that – throw you off-course!   My experience over the past year has shown me that in my weakest moments, God was strongest in my life, until the enemy decided to throw some things in my way to offset my course and direction…

No, I didn’t have any unfortunate incidents!  I didn’t have misfortune or horrible experiences; in fact, I had all the opportunities God set before me and was, as always, very blessed…

What the enemy did was throw in DISTRACTION!!!  What a horrendous word – it means “having one’s attention drawn away“.  Can you imagine anything worse than having your attention drawn away from the One who gives everything for you and to you?

In a study conducted by Gloria Mark, an associate professor at the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Science in conjunction with Gallup Management Journal on distraction in the workplace, the study showed that the cause of  distraction was that most people suffered from both internal and external interruptions, meaning that they interrupted themselves and were also victims of outside interruptions. 

This is a most interesting finding if you look within yourself to see how it relates to your own personal experience.

I was  interrupted – no doubt about that – but I allowed myself to be; I opened the door and took the interruption from there on to a pinnacle in my life.

And all the while I could see in my mind’s eye what was happening – the distraction deepened and just like that, I was set off course…  Doesn’t say very much for my commitment as a Christian, does it?

This brings to mind a funny conversation I had with a friend last year:  I was rambling on about my plans for the following day, which was a Sunday.  As I spoke, I kept saying I should go to Church, but this or that excuse!  My friend just listened to me and then came out with “Take your time, don’t worry, God will just wait till you can make it!”

He said it as a joke and it was funny at the time -yet, it makes two very important points: One is it’s a wake-up call to examining your priorities.  The other and more important, though, is that it’s kind of true!!! 

God has not tired of me and my distractions – He has not let go of me!  Every day He reminds me of His love for me, His patience with me and He works in my life and in my heart to help to bring me home!!!

Psalm 23

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

 ² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
       he leads me beside quiet waters,

 ³ he restores my soul.
       He guides me in paths of righteousness
       for his name’s sake.

 ⁴ Even though I walk
       through the valley of the shadow of death, ^[a]
       I will fear no evil,
       for you are with me;
       your rod and your staff,
       they comfort me.

 ⁵ You prepare a table before me
       in the presence of my enemies.
       You anoint my head with oil;
       my cup overflows.

 ⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me
       all the days of my life,
       and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
       forever.

If, at times, you feel like you’re drowning, just reach out your hand ~ for He is there waiting for you…

Peace Out,

7

Well, this is a bit selfishly inclined, but I just thought I’d put down my top 10 to help y’all out in the future!!!  LOL

1.  Gift card to Target – $5.00/$10.00/$20.00 – $5,000.00!!!!  Whatever – it will all be appreciated greatly!!!

2.  Gift Card to Forever 21 – any denomination is okay – no pressure!

3.  Gift Card to Doubleday Book Club

4.  A massage/spa day (within reason – no ridiculously expensive spas – not worth the money)

5.  Ballroom Dancing Lessons and a partner to go with

6.  Gift Card to the movies

7.  Gift Card to Chilis, Outback, PF Changs, etc

8. Of course, wine, wine and more wine!!!

The last two are going to be a bit more challenging:

9. Insight and understanding

10. Discernment of God’s will for me…

So, there you go!!!  Now you just have to check the list and its all so easy!!!

Latahs!

7

I am a COMMITTED christian – Jesus is the CEO, Saviour of my life… But I love some stuff that traditional christians may frown at – Dance hall (I LOVE my dance hall!!!!) for example!!!

I have other things I like that the “CALL” teaches me to give up – and so I STRUGGLE!!!!  You either look at me and see this nice christian girl, or you see the freak that lives deep within me…  And I gotta tell you - I love the freak sometimes!!!!  Midas loves the freak!  I can party with the best of them without being disgraceful, disrespectful of self or of Midas!!! 

But it is a struggle isn’t it – knowing where the line starts and where it ends…  I wish I knew…  Because at the end of the day – its more important to me to follow Jesus than to have fun!!!!  I’m just not sure they’re mutually exclusive…  Help me here Lord!!!!

Peace Out!

7

Now, let me just forewarn you – I like an odd mix of genres – I enjoy different movies for different reasons and don’t have one type of favorite.  In fact, I tend to classify my favorite movies as the ones I could watch over and over again each time I come across them at whatever stage they’re at!!! 

With that disclaimer in place (smile) here they are:

1.   The Sound of Music (my all time favorite movie ever)

2.  Bambi – the first movie I remember ever going to see with my parents at The Harbour View Drive In in Jamaica!!!

3.  To Kill a Mockingbird – also one of my absolute favorite books!!!

4.  Shawshank Redemption – don’t ask me why, too many reasons to list  - just LOVED it!!!!

5. The Silence of The Lambs 

6.  Oliver Twist

7. Save The Last Dance

8. Bridget Jones’ Diary

9. City of God

10. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

I know – its a strange mix… But that’s me – a strange blend of personalities all into one person!!!!    (Get it – All about eve)

Have a great weekend and, don’t forget, if you get the opportunity, stop by our internet campus at www.flamingoroadchurch.com.  Services on Sundays at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.  You WILL NOT regret the time, I promise you!!!

Till next time,

7

Will Durant

I grew up in a very Catholic home, with very spiritual parents.  Like many people, that can either influence you to be the same or to rebel, and I guess I was somewhere in between for much of my adult years.  When I moved to Florida, I was very fortunate and blessed to achieve success in my career – pretty much a level of success I’d never achieved before.  Things were good – but I was riding on my belief that this success was really due to my efforts – or the joint efforts of my husband and myself…

Yesterday, a couple friends of mine were talking about life and why it is that some lessons are so costly to learn… well, we learned that our success was not of our own making – but a blessing – a gift from God and that our lives were filled with the material and no spiritual focus or gratitude for it whatsoever… 

You know that saying “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away…”  I’m not saying that we lost everything – what I’m saying is that business got very tough and we lost our confidence and our hope – and we were LOST for a good while!!!

In one of my most hopeless moments, a friend’s invitation to church started a sequence of events that totally transformed my life… and did so in a way that left no doubt whatsoever that God was teaching me, helping me, nurturing me – guiding me through the darkness to see the real light – the light of knowing that all things come from HIM, and that you can have a little or you can have alot – but you always have HIM!!!   And that transformed my life…

For a while I was SOOO excited by this awakening that it was all I could talk about – I just HAD to share the amazing ways God was SHOWING me He was working in my life!   I got the “Jesus Freak” title, the people who expressed their weariness of hearing me talk about it, or their resentment of it…  I also had many who came forward to encourage me – but I have to admit that after a particularly biting discussion with someone I love very much, I grew quiet on the subject and just did my thing in private!

Now, today, I’m stepping out in faith, because I have something to brag about – GOD loves me!  God is working in my life, He is guiding me and holding my hand daily as I walk through every challenge and every blessing!!!  He is putting people and opportunities in my life to help me to grow in faith and when I mess up – HE loves me anyway!!!

Yesterday at church we talked about envy and that when you WANT something, you somehow convince yourself that you NEED it…  For the past few weeks, I’ve been convincing myself that I needed to win a $5000 Target gift card for taking an online survey   

(I know, I’m an idiot)…

Now I know that I want and I NEED God to be the director and CEO of my life – and you know what’s so exciting?

HE IS!!!

7

There are some things that no matter what is going on in your day, the sight of them bring you joy and make you smile!  Have you ever thought about that? 

For me, I could be having the worst day and I see a sunflower and it makes me SMILE!!!   I don’t know why – they just seem like such a happy, joyful flower!  Makes me think of that scripture:

Matthew 6: 28-29 “And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”

If you look at the intricate make-up of a sunflower, they’re absolutely amazing!!!

I also love to see my Mom dressed in yellow, because when she wears yellow, it reminds me of sunshine…  I think my Dad must have seen that too, you know!

I love stormy nights when I’m tucked in at home – I’m a little bit afraid of thunder (not so much the lightning, which I know makes NO sense), but I love the wailing of the wind, the pounding of the rain against my roof and the safety of being next to my hubby as nature displays her force…

I keep a picture of my Dad on my desk….   He passed away five years ago now, and everytime I look at him, it makes me smile.  And you know what – when I know I’ve done the right thing – the thing that would have made him proud, I SWEAR his smile seems wider and brighter!!! 

To me, anyway… and THAT makes me smile!!!

What about you – what makes you happy?  Its so much more fun to think about that than the things we worry about in life…

So what’s your story?

7

Ever wonder who died and made you Boss of trying mend all relationships?

Ever wonder why you even care???

There are days like today that severely test the very fibre of my commitment to Christ!!!  I feel like swearing, cursing, turning my back on people – and for what?  I don’t know that they even know what they did!!!

Days like today are the most challenging as a Christian…  These are those kinds of days when you’re asked to overlook your pride and to be humble as Christ was humble…

Matthew 16:25  “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it”

Colossians 3:12 “Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe youselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14. And over all these virtues put on love,which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3: 8 “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips.”

I guess I had better go sleep on those scriptures…