The Smile.

It's quite funny that I'm journaling about this one smile I saw today, but quite worth it.
(If this guy saw that I journaled about this he would totally think Im a stalker or something lol. But im not! Trust me- I don't have time or the energy for it.)


The smile is memorable, adorable, and quite a crusher.
I would not mind having to see such a lovely smile every single day of my life! At all!! As a matter of fact... I wish I could. (To be honest)

Yes, it was a guy. A cute guy. But thats not the point. The point is that this (totally cute guy) shared his smile.

How many smiles do you share daily?

Smiles can totally make somebody's day. I know this for a fact! It has for me.
I smile and I receive smiles. Fare share right? I think so.

So the next time you see a smile- give one in return.
And the next time you DONT see one- ask for one with yours.

Yours trully,
Ms. Smiles

Transparent / Something new.

Hello. Although you may read this and say, "Huh? This has nothing to do with being transparent- it's about Love." It's time for transparency… on my behalf anyway. And as the title goes, "Transparent / Something new," that's exactly what my goal is (from now on) so, here goes it. (Hope I don’t loose you as I try to explain what's in my heart as best as I can.) ::smile::

"Love"
I don't know where you are; as far as your relationship with God is concerned. You may or may not have a relationship with Christ, Abbah Father, or the Holy Spirit (who are One in All). I don't know whether you believe in Him wholeheartedly or whether you do not believe in Him… the fact remains that He is real, He is alive, and He loves you with perfect and unending love; Love that goes far beyond what you think of yourself (or Him). It goes beyond where you are and what stage or level you're at in life (in relation to your Creator)… His love is far deeper than you would ever imagine. His love for you has NO end. And please don't try convincing yourself other than this truth.
It is a fact. He loves you!

I try to make sense of it and although it is almost impossible, I have a tiny glimpse of this love I'm trying to describe. (Again… tiny.) God's love is faaaar greater…and I've been finding this out.
So here it is…

Have you ever loved anyone? It's not necessary to think of a specific relationship or person. Just "love." Have you loved? Think with me for a moment…
Did we see 'fault' or 'imperfections?' Of course we did (or do)! But do we stop loving?? And I mean real love. Pure love.
No. We do not stop 'loving.' We love regardless of fault.
So, if you can agree with me on this then, why is it so hard to accept God's love? Christian or not. Ever wonder why?
Yes?
Good!
Here's what God showed me...

No matter how imperfect I may be (and yes, we all fall short of the glory of God), His love is perfect and unending. The same way we can love someone with or without imperfections, He loves us just as we are. (Can I get an Aaaaaamen to that?! He he)

Let's remember, God does not see us as we see ourselves. He sees beyond our current "status." He loves us whether we love Him or not. We simply must let ourselves be loved! My question today for you is, "Would you give Him a chance to love you?" He longs to have a relationship with you; a real, true, and tangible relationship.

So to end, and this is where the transparency part comes in, I'd like to share something personal with you. I was raised in the gospel (in church) and due to this, one may think they got this whole "church & God" thing "down packed." Maybe because we've stumbled upon God's presence from time to time or maybe even searched and "found it." Perhaps you may think your love for God has anything to do with gett'n things "down packed." But I realize that "loving God" doesn't necessarily mean that I know Him or have a relationship with Him. It doesn't necessarily mean that I'm letting Him love me!

As I take a deep breath, realizing that I don’t have things "down packed," I ask God for forgiveness for the many times I've taken His love for granted, and for simply ignoring it. And I challenge myself to allow Him to love me… and allow myself to fall deeper in love with Him.

Anyone up for a challenge?? ::smile::

Thanks for listening /reading.

P.S. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 (It's one of my favorite verses in the Bible.)

It's Treasure

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9



There it was… treasure, sitting right on my desk. It was in one of those “Scripture Verses for Every Day of the Year” flippy things. Ya know the desk calendars? Definitely no longer a silly ole’ calendar… it’s a treasure chest! This treasure I can acquire is beautiful, priceless, and available to me daily!
How amazing!!


This verse spoke volumes to my life. It’s talking about treasure “beyond all imagining.” I am immediately reminded of Isaiah 55: 8-9 where the Lord declared, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher then your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
We cannot possibly understand heavenly things… unless the Lord himself reveals it to us. And here, in this daily verse, the Lord declares that no eye has seen or heard. We hear so many wonderful testimonies and there are many wonderful stories in the bible that declare God’s greatness… and even still, no eye has seen or heard. God is just that GREAT and our minds so finite that we have not touched even the surface. Our minds cannot conceive what God has prepared for us… for those who love Him. Do you love Him?? Then this includes you!!

Now bear with me for a second or two and imagine the most beautiful scenery in the world. Maybe you’ve even encountered this place already. Visualize the most precious jewels you’ve held or seen on display. Listen to that song that just captured every fiber of your body and soul. Join me and replay the most memorable moment of your life where all you could do that specific moment was gasp and enjoy every second of it. All I can say is… God is Greater!

Now, envision the panorama of a great desert. All those mentioned earlier were simple grains of sand in the palm of your hand. They were but mere specks of God’s goodness and glory. They cannot compare to His fullness. They cannot compared to all that He has (already) prepared for those who love Him.

I am in awe of such a God.

My God. My Daddy!

Its how He operates....

Some people do not believe in God, period.
Some believe "a" god, or "some" god exists.
Others 'know' without a shadow of a doubt that God, "Thee" God, the only True God, MY God exists.
I won't go into "how" I believe Him, and 'in' Him... I simply do. I know that I know that I know that He is real; and He lives in me.
>> I'm one of the "others." << he he

In any case.... Which ever you may be, please read on.
I simply want to share this small and simple, yet awesomely powerful word God spoke softly into my spirit as I drove home tonight.

::Deep breath:: Smile

[ I was on my way back home from church and as I was making my way, turning here and there, knowing exactly where I was headed, in my mind, heart and spirit I heard these words.
"The same way you know your way 'home, ' My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." -John 10:27With these words, I simply understood that 1- God agape's us. He loves us with unconditional love. And 2- He is concerned about us and He wants us home. As His children/ His sheep, we know our way 'home'. It doesn't matter how long it takes us to get there, He waits for us daily so that we would spend time in His presence; with our Daddy... and He could spend time with His beloved. ]

K. That was all! :)


P.S.
John 10:16 also says, "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."

**My friend, He is also concerned about You.**

Love you all in the love of Christ. And He loves you too. Goooood niiiiight. :)

His Mercies

Lamentations 3:22-24

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.”

Talk about His mercies are new every morning!! Something huge just finished hitting my car and not a dent was made! Most importantly, I’m alive and well! (And so is everyone else who was at the scene!)

The Scene:
I was behind a truck on I-4 (the Expressway) going 70-75mph at rush hour around 5:15pm with cars to my left, front and rear, on a double-lane road. Suddenly, this ‘thing’ came flying toward my car!!! It hit the hood of my car and bounced off toward the car behind me! It looked like a lid or something to that nature. The truck rode right over it without noticing it, and this ‘thing’ bounced off of its tires and hit my car, bounced off of mine and so forth.
-End of scene-

I didn’t panic—thank God! But, seconds later, it hit me! That ‘thing’ could have hit and broken my front glass window, yet it hit the hood instead- and even more so, it bounced off of my car and it didn’t hit any other car!! It could have been a rock and, at that speed, it could have instantly broken my window! It could have been… but it wasn’t... and it didn’t… and I am more than grateful that God saved me from a terrible accident, and He saved those around me too!

I absolutely have to quote this verse!

Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.”

Simple as that! God is an awesome God!

Today He was pleased in giving me another day of life and I am totally in debt with Him; nothing new—I always have been. But, God knows I messed up on Him just yesterday. Where would I have been? I think of how He saved me today, and how He saved my soul even before I was born! (He knew me even then.) There is no way I can repay Him... but this I know… His blood was not shed in vain. His blood and sacrifice cannot be measure or priced. I will do my best to serve Him and to lead others to His wonderful saving grace.

Prayer:

Thanks Dad. You gave me another gift. I cherish You and I Love You so SO much. My heart breaks for those who still don’t know You—this Wonderful God. My Daddy. And my heart breaks even more for those who have rejected You. They don’t want this awesome love You offer? Then I’ll have it!

XOXOXO I am in awe of You. XOXOXO

I LOVE YOU!!

Yari

Luke 1:50

“His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.”