More Grace...

[IO Storm]

I've been going through some rough stuff lately...and turning it over was wearing a

bit thin..

Then I watched the news..

Kelsey Smith's parents, a sister, and a brother gave their statement to the press.

At the end the dad quoted Psalm 46...and said faith was sustaining them in their

sorrow..a precious example of Grace.

And I was humbled..I thought...what problems do I have?

Compared to to this?

Today, turning it over with greater faith than ever..

Love,



IO



1God is our refuge and strength,
a very present* help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
Selah

Psalm 46, 1-3

[Ann]

Beautiful thought, Storm.

Sometimes when I struggle to be grateful, I look at those who are much worse off than I am and can be grateful that my life is not so bad.

Hugs

[Rusty Zipper]

SS

And I was humbled..I thought...what problems do I have?

that says it all Soul Sis... very happy for your growth...

keep that faith, and when we think we cant... the real hard one... 'trust"

all my love & blessings... soul bro

[wingsfree]

(((((Sherry)))))

Today, turning it over with greater faith than ever..

I'm with you on that.

Hugs packed with my love......Denise



Go Gently With The Flow

If the sky above seems cloudy,
And you are left out in the rain,
If you are searching for a rainbow,
But the colors bring you pain,

If your world is not revolving,
And there is no end in sight,
If you are looking for the sunshine,
But all you see is night,

If all around are smiling,
But all you can do is frown,
If you are tired of all this living,
When life just brings you down,

Then look beyond your teardrops,
At the wonders of this land,
The beauty of a flower,
Like velvet in your hand.

Feel the air around you,
The smell of new mown hay,
Laughing children in the park,
The innocence there at play,

Imagine floating with a butterfly,
As she flutters between the trees,
Or the whispers of the ocean,
On warm hot summer's breeze,

Think of the taste of a candy mint,
As it melts upon your tongue,
Or the melody of morning birds,
As they greet each day with song,

Remember words of beauty,
Told in your mother's embrace,
Feel the gentleness of her touch,
As she softly kissed your face,

Seek the good within you,
Cast the clouds from your sky,
Don't look toward the pavement,
But hold your head up high,

Think not what life owes you,
But of all you have to give,
Forget about tomorrow,
Then you can start to live.

Bless this age your are living in,
With the gifts you can bestow,
Don't disregard the stream of life,
Go gently with the flow.

Life is a journey,
A great adventure to help you grow
Enjoy each moment that you are given,
Go gently with the flow.

-Author Unknown

[IO Storm]

Thank you friends for your replies...

Denise..I am dissolved to tears..

That poem says it all...

Gratitude..

Blessings...

Love,

IO

((Wingy)))

[Fluttering]

IO
You are special and you are an important intretgal part of SR. I look to many of your posts for inspiration.
I have also been struggling...yesterday was a deep well of grief issues piled atop many other things.
When I am struggling I come here and I am in a state of grace and gratitude.
My heart is deeply saddened by much of what is on the news and what is occuring in health care, in our government, and by the numbers and multitudes of the lives lost at the hands of others. I have often been humbled back onto my knees becasue I am alive.... I am able to be teachable, I am able to feel, truly feel - genuine deep compassion and empathy for others. And to be honest...I struggle with acceptance around these very same issues.

Thank You for this post...thank you for sahring..thank you all for being here and sharing the language of the heart.

[IO Storm]

Thanks Alla..

You are more inspiring than you realize..

Keep the faith!

Love,

Sherry

P.S. Each night I pray for Judy...

[citychick]

pOSTED BY allaflutter

IO

You are special and you are an important integral part of SR. I look to many of your posts for inspiration.

When I am struggling I come here and I am in a state of grace and gratitude.

that really says it all

[Fluttering]

Update on Judy
She is holding her own...She returned my call over the weekend.
We found that her cancer was caused by hormones.
[BEWARE LADIES] ..She is still dealing with an alcoholic husband and an alcoholic son...they have her so beaten down...yet she stays.

I offered to goover there if she would move away from them and move in with me...She is thinging about it.. but iknow not to expect much...She is not the same person she was and has gone past that point of sickness of it all to resignation. Afterall we came from a dysfunctional family...That illness is still there...and her scars, I believe, ran even deeper than mine. So it is no wonder her man picker was broken...and that she feels it is her cross to bear.
She is now going through the chemo as the radiation has ended... She is not quite as sick as she was on the radiation. As an outlet fromthe home situation she is thnking of going back to work part time. that might actually be a blessing for her...
AShe too knows there is a solution...and knows where to go when the clarity comes and the fog lifts.
Thank you all or your prayers and support

[citychick]

Quote by IO Storm

..a precious example of Grace.

Saw this outside a church in the city today.


"If you aren't amazed by Grace, you haven't seen it yet."


made me smile

[IO Storm]

Thanks CC..

Gee..I thought this 'thread was dead'..

Absolutely no pun intended.

I believe Grace is ever present..but sometimes we can't see...

Reminds me of what they say...."hindsight is 20/20".....

Faith is believing that Grace IS there..

And maybe Trust means it gets easier to believe that Grace

will hold us still in the eye of the storm...

[IO Storm]

Alla...

I have prayed every night for Judy..naming her and holdoing her before

the throne of God.

I ask now for prayers for my only brother Gary...he has Agent Orange

poisoning ..chemo is holding the cancer at bay...he collapsed at work yesterday.

Love,

:

IO

[Fluttering]

IO
Prays will continue to go out fro your brother.
Thank you for your support.

[Ann]

Prayers from me too, Storm,

[citychick]

God surrounds us like the physical atmosphere........so I know He's there with your brother dear Sherry.

[Fluttering]

Such a blessing we never have to walk alone...

[IO Storm]

Ohhh..thank you all so much!

"Where two or three are gathered..there I am in the midst of them"....

I believe power is going forth to Judy and Gary...in body and spirit.

Love,



IO

[IO Storm]

You know something..every night I pray for "God's umbrella" of protection and

grace for all of mine and my sis and brother's family...special one's for my heart,

son Chris in the Navy..traveling mercies for my sweet nephew Michael..a brand new

CHP....

Then..I pray for each and every soul that logs onto SR for the next 24 hours..

that God will touch lives and intervene in each individual life..that they will

know the miracle of recovery. If all of us who are doing well would pray..

I think we'd see an explosion of good around the boards...

What a thought!

Love,

:

IO

Then

[Rusty Zipper]

sis

If all of us who are doing well would pray..

I think we'd see an explosion of good around the boards...

bingo sis!

[Fluttering]

Push;
Pray
Until
Something
Happens

I am reading a book by Angela payne titled "You Can Lose your Balance and Still Falll Into Grace.
Angela is a nurse/writer. One of her stories is watching a very difficult birth while everyone in the room is telling the woman to PUSH...From that story came the anangram Push; Pray Until Something Happens.

I love that and use it often

[IO Storm]

Thanks Alla...

Remember the story Christ told of the man who was asleep..and a person

knocked on his door..the guy didn't want to get up and answer..but the

person kept knocking..and bothered the sleeper so much that he opened

his door...

Christ then told us to "keep knocking"..

[indigo]

Prayers and positive thought going out to you and all your beloved one's today and every day.

[IO Storm]

And blessings back to you dearest Indie..

[IO Storm]

Prayers for all family members of all my friends here...each and every one..

For spiritual and physical healing..and for

Protection

Peace

Prosperity

Happiness

Love y'all..

:

Me

[Rusty Zipper]

"Just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with Scripture—‘I believed and so I spoke’—also believe and so we speak...Yes, everything is for your sake so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God."