thehereandafter

Dear God, I have a problem and I need your help. You know that my art is my love. An idea comes into my mind and away I go with it. When I am working on a project you know it brings me soooo much joy. I get into my creative world and time just flies. But while I am concentrating and working someone is breaking into my house and making a big old mess! There is someone piling up dirty clothes in the bathrooms and in the laundry room. I have found myself stopping for a snack break and the kitchen is a awful mess. I am pretty sure I take out meat to thaw for dinner (God, you know I am very organized), but late in the afternoon I find no meat out thawing...everything is back in the freezer. This is what I was thinking..maybe hidden cameras to catch the culprit? I have seen that done on TV...or maybe you have a suggestion...I won't put in the cameras until I hear from you...hurry with some help...we are running out of clean clothes! Love you forever and ever, Trina

How are your “waiting” skills?   I remember some years ago, when I was in California visiting my sister and her family, we all went to LA to see Bob Barker and the “Price Is Right”. I grew up on that game show and had watched Bob Barker for…let’s just say many (many) years.   I loved Bob Barker and had a lot of fun playing a long. So, when I went to visit my sister she made it possible for us to go to LA to get tickets to a taping of the show.   I didn’t know it at the time but it didn’t take us long to find out that you have to line up along the sidewalk on the street, spend the night, and go through an all day process the next day to get tickets and a good seat for the taping that afternoon.   But, it was worth it to me and I had faith that I was going to be in that audience and be able to see Bob Barker in person.   It took faith, time, and patience but we all got tickets and front row at that. During the decade my daughter was born natural childbirth was thought to be the best a

Today I have good news for you and maybe proof that I can write a shorter post with some substance…hahaha..   Let me ask you a question…. What do you own as far as material possessions? Do you own your own home and maybe a vacation condo?   Maybe your house is 4,000-5,000 square feet and there is you, your spouse, and two children. Maybe you own two or more cars that are less than five years old? And then there are the toys…boat, motor home, pool, motorcycle, jet skis? Are you blessed in the material possessions category? Now let’s go to category #2….do you consider yourself a person of status? Is your job one of considerable pay? Are you a manager or CEO? Do you rub elbows with the “important” people? Do you feel like you are in a position of some power? Do you get the privilege of traveling and having an expenses account…maybe even going 1 st class most of the time? Category #3 is education…Did you go to one of the best colleges? Do you have a bachelor’s degree, maybe a master’s de

Sunday’s Letter to God… Dear God, Since you know all that is going on you know I have to loose quite a lot of weight before the wedding. Could you just tell me why you make food taste so good? It is within your power to make it taste something like dirt or bugs but instead it tastes so yummy! Steak grilled to perfection, lemon Cajun encrusted chicken breasts, lemon thyme grilled salmon steaks…oh me…then there are double stuffed potatoes, herb seasoned rice with bacon (everything needs a little bacon), creamy noodles with herbs…yum! Even the vegetables you make sprout up from the ground are delicious…lemon butter carrots, chilled asparagus with cream sauce, a big green salad like the Olive Garden kind…and please don’t get me started on the deserts. Lord, you have provided much and so tasty and you have provided loving and talented hands that are willing to serve by cooking (you are a great cook Amanda). You have even provided a visual exhibit of your goodness…ME! So I guess you w

Over the past four years, since my daughter's terrible accident, I have relied on my family for a lot. How truly blessed I am!..God really does cover us in every way. Today I was thinking over the last couple days and another one of God's lessons hit me right smack in the face. I love it when God refreshes his teachings for me and makes an impression again in my life. It is usually the same lesson just for a different reason. Today it is for praise! My parents are ROCKS! Oh, they have many, many important gifts but today I was reminded how sturdy, strong, and steadfast they are. It doesn't matter what problem you are having they are that rock in the middle of the swirling, twirling, fast-moving rapids that you grab a hold to when the canoe tips over and climb to safety. Then there are my sisters...again all my sisters have many gifts. Today what comes to mind is how cheerful my oldest sister is. When we talk on the weekend she gives me a "happy boost".  When I

Part of June and July, my father was admitted into the VA’s blind unit here in our hometown. This was my father’s second trip to the rehab. His first trip to the rehab was around fifteen years ago when he first lost his sight. The losing of his sight was very hard for him. I could only imagine what it is and what is was like to be in the dark. But my dad is very strong and he is a real bulldog. He has fought very hard to carve out a life full of service, meaning, and direction. His eyes may not see light but He is a light that shines very bright! Thinking about my daddy and watching him fight not to stay in the “dark” made me think about spiritual darkness. In the dark there is a certain level of fear. You don’t have to be blind to know that…just be at my house in the country at night during a thunderstorm! If you take a minute and think, going hand in hand with fear is confusion. When you can’t see and are afraid it is hard to take or find direction. I remember the first time my da

I was watching a preacher on television yesterday and this is my take on his topic. I hope it encourages you and brings you a measure of peace! As a Christian my parents have taught me that our God is a Sovereign God.   So what does a “Sovereign   God” mean? First of all it means God is supreme, for by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians: 1:16) To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that God is God, that He is the Most High, doing according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, so that none can hold back His hand or say unto Him what have you done? (Dan. 4:35). To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in Heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsel or thwart His purpo