Apr
2011

The Tangerine

categories: Broken Heart, Freedom, Healing, Love

I had been working in the yard for a few hours and decided to take a break and have a tangerine.  I love a cold tangerine!  I plopped down into a comfy chair on the deck, put my feet up and preceded to to peel the tangerine.  I started at the bottom and peeled and peeled and peeled.  It takes time as you know.  As I was peeling I thought about us – us being me, you, people.  I thought about how once we accept Christ He works on us kind of like I am working on this tangerine.  He starts with the first layer, the hardest layer.  Maybe the layer is anger, abuse, alcoholism, drug addiction, unworthiness, fear, sexual addiction – well there are many  more examples but you understand what I am saying.  Anyway, it takes time and sometimes the pieces don’t want to come off but he continues to work on us, never leaving, caring and loving.  Finally the hard shell is gone but what is that? A softer covering that has to be peeled away and just to tease us we see the wonderful fruit peeking through here and there!  So what is all of this?  I thought I was doing so well!  Is it gossip, white lies, taking something that isn’t mine?  I pray for God to help me and He does, He continues to peel and peel and peel.  He loves me and shows me that as He tenderly works on me.  Suddenly there it is!  The fruit, beautiful, colorful, a gift.  But what is this – tiny little pieces that didn’t come off.  Its ok though because I know God will take care of that too!  So that’s what I thought about while I was sitting on the deck having a tangerine!

©2011 Debbie Downs


Apr
2011

One Heart. One Mind. One Love.

categories: Blogging, Love, Relationships, Trust, truth

What do you think of when you think of One heart, One mind, and One love?  It makes me think of how much we have in common as human beings and don’t even realize it. I believe we all are running after the same thing more than anything.  What is it we want more than anything? What is it we chase after in life? What is it that is going to bring us contentment and peace above all else?

From my perspective, it is love. Like you, I want a love that comes from a place of sincerity and truth. I want love from a heart that accepts me. I want it from a heart that honors me. I want love from one who knows the True love. (more…)


Mar
2011

The Paintbrush

categories: Creativity, Love

Have you ever considered that you are a paintbrush on a canvas that is larger than life itself? Have you ever wondered about how you can bring change into people’s lives? Have you ever wondered what your purpose is here? These are a few of the many questions that may run through our hearts and minds, as we go through each day. But, what if you saw a place where God brought change?  What if you viewed life from a totally different perspective, believing you could be a catalyst for change? What if instead of sitting in your room (job, marriage or friendships), and  feeling sorry for yourself  you funneled that energy into expressions of love, through doing something creative? Did you know that many people feel like they have no purpose in their lives? In all my years, I can truthfully say I have never met anyone that did not feel that way at one time or another in their journey. When you feel this way, you are not alone! If we can begin to recognize those kinds of thoughts are creeping into our mind and understand they intended to hold us back from our purpose, we have won more than half the battle!  When I have felt this way, I turned my heart to the greatest artist, our Creator, and asked for His guidance. Incredibly, He always answers and as I trust Him, He leads.

The painting you see above is a creation by my amazing and talented sister. She has always been creative, but never realized how special and valuable her creations were. I am thankful that she has realized her true worth and value and as a result, is allowing her personal paintbrush to create, and bring glory to God!  She is an amazing woman of great strength, character, beauty and love. She is incredibly creative, using talents from deep inside of her heart.  To hear her tell it, she was just messing around and having fun. I think that is what living is all about, messing around, being creative and having fun while we do it!

I hope that the beauty of her art brings joy and blessing in your life-like it has to mine. Oh by the way, me sharing this message with you is just me messing around!  I get great joy from sharing how creativity and freedom arrives through discovering your true identity and when others realize they are a paintbrush in the hand of the Almighty Creator!

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Mar
2011

GoD and DoG

categories: Forgiveness, Freedom, God and Dog, Love

Isn’t it wonderful that we have a God who loves us through everything! We are so blessed to have a God who looks beyond our imperfections, accepts us in our confusion and makes a way for us to come to HIm, loving us too much to leave us where we are.  Even if we already follow Christ, we sometimes get confused and wonder why we do not feel His presence.  I was going through my inbox today and read a devotional I received from Guideposts weekly inspiration.  This is a beautiful story and video about God and His forgiveness. I could not wait to share it with all of you, my friends and readers.

I love how Wendy Francisco’s struggle, through a very tough marriage followed by a painful divorce, led her to eventually discover that God loved her even when her life was falling apart.  After Wendy went through her healing and regained focus and stability in her life, she remarried. One night, following an episode with her dog earlier in the day, she was talking with her husband when she suddenly ran out of the room telling him she had to write a song.

Wendy sat down to write and her husband joined her, adding his talents of singer and songwriter. A few months later  the couple sang the song publicly for the first time and they received support from many friends and onlookers encouraging them about the song. Wendy and her husband made a video, posted it on YouTube and a webpage followed to meet the requests of their friends and fans. What an exciting story!

As Wendy shares through her song, Jesus shared with us thousands of years ago, the message of freedom through forgiveness of yourself and one another, still rings true today. When we truly forgive one another and ourselves, we are released from the paralyzing effect of blame and provided newfound freedom to grow and develop to offer inspiration to those in our circle of influence!

Why do you think others struggle with forgiving?

Who do you believe is the best teacher and example of forgiveness?

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Mar
2011

His Hand

categories: Faith, Love, Trust

I was sad

so you held my hand

and when I wept

you dried my tears.

You made me think

about who I am

and said to me

come and rest.

We talked until

my heart was full,

you said I am precious.

I cling to that.

We are intimate,

I trust what you say,

You saved me Lord

and I have peace.

I won’t let go

of the hand I took.

 

© Copyright 2011, Debbie Downs

 

 

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