Listen to your heart!

Listen to your heart!

“Have you ever held something in your heart and wanted it to talk and just couldn’t find the words? I think artist have a way of speaking that gives your secrets away. I saw the work of this artist today; and thought, how can she reveal my secrets like this?
Would just love to hear from you on what these ear-bugs might be saying?” Sara

Violette, the artist says; “Hello Creatives! I made this little heart this morning for my messy art daily challenge!
It was pretty messy as it was painted entirely on a piece of cardboard with my fingers! I figured little headphones listening to a heart were kind of cute and appropriate. To me “listen to your heart” means going within if you have a question. You can listen to your heart by being still and noticing the changes inside. Do you feel a queasiness, a tightening or do you have a sense of expansion and joy that bubbles up inside when you think about your question?

Often i say yes to things too quickly before checking inside if it’s a right fit for me then i end up feeling overwhelmed. The ball is either dropped or I perform the task grudgingly which means my whole heart won’t be into it. Can you relate to this? Do you regularly check inside when you have an important decision to make?”

Check Amazon for, Journal Bliss byViolette [Paperback]
Violette (Author)

Acts 2:46

Acts 2:46

By Tammy Holton
Have you ever gone to a local butcher to buy meats? Your
plans were to buy sausage and maybe some pork chops, at the most, 8 or 10, but when the lady behind the counter ask you how many you wanted, you tell her 14. Two days later you discover why 14 pork chops, was in God’s plans…..two precious friends were able to come and sit at your table and dine, with your family. The blessing of sharing a little food with others and preparing a special desert, to brighten another. And, the most amazing part of God’s plan they were on a mission of helps to another. And, needed a kindness stop to refresh and revive them on their travels!

Have you read or heard God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform? (Matthew 15:32-39) When I think of how Jesus fed the multitude with fish and loaves, I think on food and numbers He must know His math! And, miracles he performs at the hands of our small task? What a wonder!

“…and shared their meals with great joy and generosity–” Acts 2:46 Love, from Tammy, Chris, Nicholas and Nathaniel Holton

Rena’s Doll Story

Rena's Doll Story

Told and illustrated by Rena Oynes from her Journal pages of “The Doll Within Me” from Sara Craddock’s Doll Book. I hope all that read this book will write their story and share.

When I was young my Dad would always wait until Christmas Eve to get a doll for each of his little girls. As I have thought about it there was never really enough money for the dolls so the last minute shopping meant the dolls were at a much lower price. There was no getting the doll everyone else had, but at least it was a doll. Later as time went by he would place the doll under the Christmas tree to remind him of us as we sometimes did not come home for Christmas. How precious. My own Mom would make dolls for people who needed a special touch. She was drawn to people who had children with cancer and would make dolls with their clothing for them. One little girl was buried with her doll. My mother made dolls for her future grandchildren and made one to be baby Jesus when Christmas pageants occurred. Recently one was used to tell the story of baby Jesus at a BSF Children’s meeting. Somehow dolls seem to grab hold of our emotions.

I was so fortunate for so long to work with children in the public school setting. With retirement I find myself going back to my roots with a Mom who had a love for children of all ages and loved to see them happy with each doll given. A few years ago Dorothy who was a Lily and I designed a pattern for a doll that we liked that was put into Samaritan Purse Christmas boxes. Many wonderful Lilies participated and we all had great fun doing a project that we knew would touch the lives of the children who received them. I even saw a husband of one of the wives who was deligently working on a doll sit in the floor listening and observing his wife’s delight over the little doll. At that time I never thought I’d be making dolls again. Here I am and when the call came, I thought yes Lord, I like my Mom, would love to touch another with a special gift of a doll. My mother crocheted hers but I can sew and paint so as you see this little creation is sewn and painted to bring about her character. I pray the woman who receives will be so excited as I was to see her take form in my hands. Poor thing had to take many a scissor and needle, plus globs of paint, cloth, lace and yarn. Yes this is a new season of my life. I can say honestly that God has something for every season of our lives. What a precious God we serve. I would have never guessed that God would have moved me to Alabama and used my love of HIS children of all ages, sewing and painting to bless his people. Thank you God. I LOVE YOU.

Stay Awhile

Stay Awhile

Stay Awhile
And see what I have to say.
Toads, frogs and crocodiles
Know the value of staying awhile.

Wait at your post gate,
for entrance is only seconds away.
You’ll hear the sound
And straight through you’ll go.

Your gait and my harness
Will train the soul.
Soothe the emotions.
Heal the psyche and
Set your spirit free.

Splashes of color
From rays of the sun
Begin to form crystal beads
That glimmer like the seas.

When only you stay awhile
You will see
Awhile is rest in the bosom of God.
The sound you will hear is the
Gentle tick of the Father’s Heart.

Yes, stay awhile and love
Will implode while negatives float away.
It’s worth the life of toad, frog, crocodile
To stay awhile and find your Doll.

(C)Sara Craddock 10/3/13

art by Deborah Chaves, see books at Amazon.com

Karen Langford Brown ‘s Story

HI SARA,

I have read and reread your book, “The Doll Within Me,” for several weeks, and asked God to send me His message for me to write. You see, I have to wait on the Lord and not try to go ahead of Him. 🙂 The ego likes to suppose things that aren’t necessarily so. I have always loved that Dr Dyer described the ego as “Edging God Out,” so I try to go slow and easy before proceeding.

Very, very surprised at the writing that came after much contemplation. Hope you enjoy.

Love & Blessings,
Karen

Twin meaning: one of two offspring born at the same birth. A counterpart.

THE TWIN WITHIN

When I was young and there was no money
for frivolous things such as a doll
Actual needs were so much greater
as I look back and do recall.
But then I was but a little girl
wishing for just a Barbie doll
Not understanding or realizing that
my wish was Oh, so small!

God has brought me to a time in life
where He showed me that within
He had created a beautiful doll
that was actually my twin!
He said that when I was born
her spirit was with me
She would abide with me forever
and one day I would see…

The beautiful doll that is my spirit
was always there to comfort me
Because she was sent from Heaven
to always help me be
All that He created and
that He would have me be…
Has always been in His Hands
and I am really three!

(c) 2013 Karen Langford Brown 
http://www.MySpiritWind.com

“Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit
gives birth to spirit.” John 3:6 NIV

Psalms of Promise

91:1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,

91:2 will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”

91:3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;

91:4 he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

91:5 You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day,

91:6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.

91:14 Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.

91:15 When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.

91:16 With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.

Monroe Technology Center FFA Fundraiser

Monroe Technology Center FFA

We are supporting The Monroe Technology Center FFA T-Shirt campaign. Buy and wear your shirt to show your support:
https://www.booster.com/monroetech

The Monroe Technology Center FFA is proud to be the only FFA representing Loudoun’s students in agriculture curriculums such as Biotechnology, Environmental Plant Science and Veterinary Science.

The National FFA Organization was organized as the “Future Farmers of America” in 1928 in Kansas City, MO. In 1988, the official organization name was changed to The National FFA Organization to reflect the broadening field of agriculture, which today encompasses more than 300 careers in everything from agriscience to biotechnology to turf grass management. In 1950, Congress granted FFA a federal charter, making it an integral, intracurricular part of public agricultural instruction under the National Vocational Education Acts. Two of the FFA top three executives are employed by the U.S. Department of Education. FFA operates on local, state and national levels. Student members belong to chapters organized at the local school level. Agricultural education instructors serve as chapter advisors. Chapters are organized under state associations headed by an advisor and executive secretary, often employees of the state department of education. States conduct programs and host annual conventions. Contact The Monroe Technology Center FFA is proud to be the only FFA representing Loudoun’s students in agriculture curriculums such as Biotechnology, Environmental Plant Science and Veterinary Science.

Contact Deborah.Chaves@lcps.org for any questions you might have.

Thanks to Chris Mar and CustomInk for helping us raise funds for the Monroe Tech FFA.

Fall Makeover

Fall Makeover

Are your summer plants looking worn, tired, dull or just looking ‘out of season’? Then its’ time for a fall makeover. Why not pull out the summer annuals and replace them with hardy fall mums, pansies, ornamental cabbage or kale, asters or some new perennials that will add color, texture and life to your garden, porch or patio? If you want your mums to come back next year then choose ones with tight buds that are not yet blooming. They will root out and take hold in their new garden bed. Pansies will hold their heads high even on cold winter days. Ornamental cabbage and kale adds color and texture that should last until next spring in a pot or bed if you keep them watered. And fall blooming perennials such as asters, black-eyed Susans, anemones and plumbago make great additions to your landscape design. If deer are a problem, then consider planting ornamental grasses or some new and different boxwoods as there are so many interesting varieties in each category.
If you are in the Leesburg, Virginia area September 18-20, be sure to visit the Monroe Technology Center’s Fall Plant Sale where you will find all these plants mentioned above and many more. Happy fall planting!

Prayer for my day;

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 KJ)
When I was a young child in a Methodist Church, The Reverend Smith, the most wonderful reverend that ever walked the earth in my eyes, would give his benediction after each and every service. His arms outstretched in benediction as he lifted his hands to God and his congregation and prayed the above words the Psalmist prayed.
Each day these words of blessings and prayer embrace me like warmth from a wood-burning stove when a chill is in the Fall and Winter air.
When the meditation of my heart drifts like driftwood among waves of the ocean shores and my words are like raw meat without heat. I walk close to this warmth of Reverend Smith’s words of blessings and I silence my tongue. I am reminded of the words recorded by James in the Holy Bible;

 ”…the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.” (James 3:6 NLT)
We so often check our waist-lines, our calorie-intake, our walking-metrics, count the wrinkles on our face and neck while letting the tongue wage with idle words flying smoother than a kite in the wind of soon coming hurricane.
Count our Words for good or for evil, for life or death, and frame them in the benediction of Reverend Smith is just a bit uncomfortable for some of us. Yet, they carry more power weight in the Eternal than waist-line, calorie-intake or face in wrinkles. One might say; really! Well, I would like to agree with the really’s but I need someone to show me the scriptures to back it up. OK, glutton, yes, living godly, yes, body the temple of God, yes. I get the point to be and live holy in unison of mind, body and spirit. But, that little tongue still rages like a fire out of control way to often. And, not only an earthy fire that destroys all that is in its path but the eternal reward haunts the soul shared by Matthew;

“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”  (Matthew 12:36 NIV)
Today, I make it my passion and goal to move close to the warmth of God’s embrace and receive from Holy men and women that God has placed in our lives to afford us the blessing of a Benediction! Will you join me?