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Saturday, January 3, 2015

Changes and New Beginnings


Heading out early this morning to feed the birds I found myself lost in thought
as I stopped to notice the broken and bruised.

So many lay on the ground...






Badly bruised, barely hanging on, many heading for a fall...









My thoughts quickly moved to this past year, another 365 days gone.
Thinking about my life, family, friends, and you.

Some life events never to be forgotten.

Triumph,
blessing,
fun,
love,
laughter,
sickness,
loss,
careless and hurtful acts.





Truth is I am in control of so little in this life,
but my day to day decisions, I choose those.
I can choose wisely.

I can choose love,
to give more than I take.
I can choose compassion,
kind words,
to encourage.
I can choose to consider who I am as a person,
all my faults and failures and strive to become a better person,
rather than pointing my finger at others.

Often the hardest to endure is the hardship or trial one has to bear that is no fault of their own.
It can cost much, be emotionally draining, hurt to the core, cause one to believe there is no hope, all because someone else made a bad decision that impacted them.







Truth is there are those that love us, give, encourage, and enrich our lives.
There are those that burden, take, hurt, and misrepresent us.

Whatever the circumstance,
life is always changing and full of new beginnings.

The way I choose to act or re-act to any given circumstance,
therein lies the very thing that has the potential to make me a much better person.
In times like these it is best to pray without ceasing.





Love is a decision.
Kindness is a decision.
Giving is a decision.
The decision to put another first, to love when it hurts, to forgive the unforgivable,
this is the very essence of life and determines who we are as individuals.
This doesn't give license to others to do what they will to us,
it shapes who we are while God does His work in us and in them.

Moment by moment,
day by day,
year to year,
will we
build up or tear down?
Encourage or discourage?
Purpose to do good, put others first, or choose a me first approach?
It is our decision.















Though broken and bruised,
each is beautiful,
choose love and kindness, letting go of all else.

"If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."
Romans 12:18








There is much to think about with the beginning of a new year,
there will be many changes and new beginnings.
Wishing you a year full of peace and joy!

Thanks for letting me share my heart with you.











Join us each week for AMAZE ME MONDAY...

15 comments:

  1. Well said, Cindy. That verse from Romans is such an inspiration -- "as far as it depends on you"... Our daily choices really do influence so much of what happens in life, don't they? May the year ahead be one in which we both make good ones! Happy New Year and God's richest blessings in 2015.

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  2. Beautiful post, Cindy. I wish you would share this at Pink Saturday.

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  3. Cindy,
    Thank you for this inspiring post, dear friend.
    In the past year, I've had a very trying relationship with the woman married to my Dad.
    At 92 1/2 years of age, he desperately needed medical attention which she denied for him.
    Through prayer, by my faith and within His grace, I prayed until I was able to forgive her of her wrongful doings.
    Dad now receives full time care in his(their) own home. I praise God for Dad's physicians intervention.
    I'd like to say, that she is a changed woman. She is not.
    But through God's perfect love, I am able to overlook many of her acts of unkindness to my Dad and their helpers.
    God has assured me that He is in control and I have put my faith and my trust in Him.
    Blessing to you for being his messenger.
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  4. What a beautiful, heartfelt post. I feel like I have just read a wonderful devotional. Blessings my friend!

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  5. Very inspirational post, Cindy.

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  6. You sweet, sweet girl! This was just beautiful. I cried reading it and found myself saying, "AMEN".

    "Love is a decision." Yes! Yes, it is! So many people think love is an emotion, but no, it is a decision that no emotion can touch. It is an act of the will. Stepping out of our comfort zone, it implies risk. And it also draws you closer to the One who gave His all.

    I have different scriptures that affect me and that become a "guidepost" for the year or a particular season in life. Lately, I have been struck by the following, and I am paraphrasing. What is the greatest commandment? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. On these two, all the law and the prophets hang." So love, as in Corinthians 13, is how we love God by loving man.

    At time, I find it easy to bask in His presence and very difficult to love the unlovable around me. Rudeness. Thoughtlessness. Etc. I have a tendency to allow those things to become the person and not just some aspect of his or her personality. So my word for this year is going to be TRY. I was telling someone on another blog that TRY reminds me of what your parents said to you when you got the training wheels off your bike or were attempting to eat some new food about which you weren't quite sure. TRY implies courage and softens the blow of failure, making it a brave learning experience instead. It also propels you to continue to TRY when you succeed. I can hear them applauding just as I hear God applauding and encouraging me, even in failure. You tried! That's what counts. So try again! :-)

    Sorry to run on like that, but I hope and pray that whatever circumstances are hurtful to you will be overcome by the joy of the Lord and the full knowledge that you are so very, very loved by Him. And all of us.

    Happy New Year, my friend! May your year be blessed beyond all you ever hoped or dreamed!

    xo

    Sheila :-)

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  7. It seems that this post has touched many of us. It has certainly spoken to me. Thank you.

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  8. Cindy, very thoughtful and beautiful post. Happy New Year..Judy

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  9. It's hard to believe that your roses have any life left in them. And sometimes that's the way many we interact with each day feel about themselves. Everyone has a tough road. I never knew how blessed I was until someone made a decision that turn our family upside down. God has been with us... but he hasn't chosen to restore us yet. Waiting is hard. Thank you for your thoughtful words and lovely photos and verses today, Cindy. May you and your family know God's JOY in new and fresh ways in the New Year! [hugs]

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  10. Oh gosh, Cindy! What beautiful thoughts for us to ponder and gorgeous photography too . Thanks for sharing that with us.

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  11. Such a beautiful and inspiration post to being the New Year...May yours be filled with many blessings!

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