March 2018 – loveletters&cherryblossoms

Facing Victory

When one waits for a miracle to come to pass in what direction does that individual stand?

One stands facing towards victory no matter what opposition may come.

It can be too easy to dwell on the current circumstances where it can seem like nothing is changing. At some point it may even feel as if one has moved backwards rather than forward.

If this is where you are, stand facing victory.

This means you choose hope. On the days where it is hard to keep going, you expect victory to come whether there is anything significant to suggest otherwise. You get to choose to look at life through the lens of faith.

Stand facing victory.

Expect victory.

Do not look back (unless it is a joyful reflection). Do not dwell on that which does not increase your hope.

Victory is coming.

Victory is something the enemy can never touch unless you decide to hand it over to him (#can’ttouchthis).

Victory is here.

A Trevor Black Novel

I did not read Craig Parshall’s previous book, Occupied but one has no issue picking up the second book, The Empowered and getting swept into a thrilling story. For those that enjoy mysteries, thrillers, and the supernatural this is an excellent book. Parshall does a great job weaving fact with fiction. He draws you in with a proper balance of good and evil battling until the very end.

I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the father- daughter relationship that buds and grows after a rocky beginning. The book combines a little bit of everything yet it could challenge readers to realize that there are spiritual battles that occur every day. Even though I felt like the emphasis on the power of voodoo was too much at times, the spiritual battle aspect was not. It is a fiction book so it was a fun read as I thought of what the spiritual realm barging in on our physical one may look like. Could demonized individuals really be able to pick one up like a Jedi and fling that person in the air? Perhaps not but one thing I do know for sure is that the power of God is always greater than the forces of evil.

Deliverance, the power of God, and the love from God for others was interwoven in with the suspense to help balance the darkness that kept chasing the main characters. If you like adventure, solving mysteries and suspenseful battles between good and evil you must read these novels.

I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers and these opinions are my own.

Memories

Memories are complex. The other night I was thinking of my Mom. I remembered when she was pregnant with my brother and how sick she was. It was almost as if I experienced being a little girl again who wanted my Mom to feel better again. Being a child I thought that by sharing my favorite doll and laying the doll on her belly would make her better. My favorite doll always made me happy and helped my tears go away. Such a precious memory right? My Mom in her exhaustion did such a good job to encourage me even when I was full of energy and I did not make rest easy for her.

I am now the same age as my Mom when she had my brother. For some reason it is a very significant age for me. I wish I could visit Heaven and ask her all the questions going through my mind these days. I have a brother or sister in Heaven that I have never met and I know my Mom would understand every thought and feeling.

There are days I wish I had my sister to chat with. I miss us three girls all together. I had always dreamt that my Mom, sister and I would talk girl talk and about kids with cups full of hot coffee. Those days will never be.

I am blessed with others who understand but no one can replace my Mom.

Love you Mom!

No Grey

Black or white. Truth or lies. There is no grey area regarding our words.

Have you ever been nervous to be in someone’s presence who you knew had been told awful lies about you?

This alone can make one feel instantly unsafe.

It is horrible when slanderous words are used to steal your true identity or the identity of ones you love. Gossip and slander can steal the opportunity away for a genuine connection with others. Relationships, and entire family units can be torn apart just by one person sowing lies about individuals character and life. It is sad. It breaks hearts.

Until repentance occurs and time reveals that the lies have stopped, things will never be remotely similar to what they once were. With children the lies they may believe could take a lifetime to work through.

What we say is very powerful. Death and life is in the tongue. We either uplift or tear down. There is no grey area.

Choose your words wisely.

Choose love.

Choose truth.