Walking Hand in Hand With My Father By Christina McKiddy

Today I have a very special gift for you. Christina McKiddy has written a beautiful post that I know will just bless you and encourage you. If you are in a difficult situation and ready to give up, Christina encourages you to look to God for your help and your comfort.

Walking Hand in Hand With My Father

By Christina McKiddy, Guest Blogger

            I sat among the fallen leaves. Vivid colors of oranges, reds, yellows and browns swallowed me in their vast presence. The small brook beside my house was gurgling as it trickled over stones of old. A slight breeze tickled my face and played with my hair as I closed my eyes and let the previous day’s events wash over me. I had tried to keep the terrible day hidden in the back of my mind, but as I was bathing in the smoky fall day these events pushed their way to the front of my mind, demanding attention.

            I looked up at the bright blue sky, searching for any sight of God. I breathed in and slowly let it out. With each exhale, the nightmare from the previous day released its grip on me. I felt a gentle quietness stirring within me—these moments spent with my Daddy God were exactly what I needed,

            I crawled into His lap and rested in His strong, gentle presence. “God, why do these things happen to me? I am so worn down emotionally. I don’t know how I will go on. Please, just make it go away.”

            Then I heard His still voice say, “My child, do you trust me?”

           

            “Of course I do, Lord, but why do I have to suffer so?”

            “I am preparing you. I am molding you into what you were born to be. The suffering will not continue, but you must be ready for the path ahead that I have paved for you.”

            Wow. My eyes popped open. I knew exactly what He was talking about. Isn’t it amazing how God is so patient with us? I know what steps he has been asking of me—I have felt his gentle nudge for a while. I know that my life will get better, but it is up to me to make these changes. “Thank you Father, I love you.”

            I stood up and smiled as I wiped the tears from my eyes. I knew what I had to do and, even though I am not quite ready, I know that God will be patient with me. He will hold my hand and guide me. He is my light in the darkness, and one day, when I have the courage, I will honor Him with my obedience. Until then, I walk hand in hand with my Father.

Exodus 33:14 ~ “And He said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'”

 

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 BIO: Christina McKiddy is a wife and mother of three residing in western North Carolina. God called her into nursing seven years ago. She is a night shift worker for the medical/pediatric floor at Wilkes Regional Medical Center. Christina is in the process of creating a Christian blog for nurses. Her blog will strengthen them in their calling through real life stories where nurses embrace each opportunity as a ministering moment for their patients.

© Tee’s Photography, 2013

© Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges, 2013 

 

FUN FRIDAY POETRY….DECISIONS

                                                                 DECISIONS

                                             Dandelions and dragonflies delicately dance
                                             Dewdrops descend at dawn
                                             Diamonds decorate the skies daybreak
                                             Daring to dream in the dark
                                             Drinking deeply desperate daffodils
                                             Dodging deaths dark door
                                             Drowning defiantly in deafness
                                             Dusty, dank, defeated daydreamer –
                                             Daytime diffuses the danger
                                             Doodlings and drawings dribbled despairingly
                                             Descending down deeper, deeper
                                             Daughters drastic decisions
                                             Decorate and delight dissolving – then –
                                             Disabling the dreary demeanor
                                             Daylight decked in diamonds
                                             Dressed in damask decadence
                                             Dusks designs denote the end of day.

~Marcell Warner Bridges
©24 October 2013

THANK YOU TO MY FRIEND TEE-TEE BARNES FOR THE PICTURES!!!! 
© 2013 Tee’s Photography

© Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges, 2013

THE WAY I WANT TO BE

THE WAY I WANT TO BE

I don’t want to be like you
broken down, blue
sitting there all alone
always wondering what went wrong

I don’t want to be in that place
where there is never any grace
or peace upon this heart of mine

I don’t want to feel ashamed
of what I’ve been or done
I don’t want to be that way
where there’s always sorrow, always rain.

I want to be someone new
someone kind, loving
always encouraging always humming
words uplifting, words of praise

That’s the only way
I want to be.

~Marcell Warner Bridges
©29 January 2013

 

Who do you want to be like? Who do you emulate and think that if only you could be that person your life would be so much better? Or maybe if you could do what they do then  you would have the perfect life?

Patterning our lives after people we know, we love, or maybe even have set up on a pedestal causes dissatisfaction in our lives. It causes us to always be jealous of what other people have and how they look or how their lives have turned out so much better than we think ours have. When we try to live our lives like others instead of how God wants us to live, we turn everything into what we want instead of what God wants. And we can become depressed and even bitter.

God wants us to live our lives for Him. To be a Christian is to be like Christ (Ephesians 5:1-2) and to be like Christ we need to renew our minds and our hearts through the reading of His Word (Romans 12:2), prayer and asking Him to mold us and shape us into the person He is desires us to be (Jeremiah 18:1-6; Isaiah 64:8). 

Please watch this video as this drama team will give you goosebumps showing us through sign language and visual image The Potter’s Hand. I think it will bless you and illustrate God’s molding and shaping us in a way maybe you’ve never thought of it. 

 http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/5y3PscmWkLY&source=uds

© Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges, 2013

LET THE HOLY SPIRIT LEAD

 

I sat at my computer and typed away then I erased it. Typed again, once again, erased it. Type, delete, type, delete. The words just wouldn’t come out right.

The poem below had been running through my mind all day. I wrote it quite a few years ago and as has been my habit for a long time, I have tried to find a Scripture verse to go with each poem I write. Finally I pulled out my binder, flipped through poem after poem until I found it. I read it then looked up the verse at the end. John 16:13.  “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”  I had been praying for the Lord to help me write what He wanted me to and I knew then, and know now, in my heart His Spirit was speaking to me all along what to post today.

BUT, if that wasn’t enough confirmation, I heard a voice inside me say, “Open up Jesus Calling* and read today’s (October 16th) devotion.” Well, okay. Let’s see what it says, just for giggles.

“Look to Me continually for help, comfort, and companionship. Because I am always by your side, the briefest glance can connect you with Me. When you look to Me for help, it flows freely from My Presence. This recognition of your need for Me, in small matters as well as large ones, keeps you spiritually alive. When you need comfort, I love to enfold you in My arms. I enable you not only to feel comforted but also to be a channel through whom I comfort others.  Thus you are doubly blessed, because a living channel absorbs some of whatever flows through it.  My constant Companionship is the piece de resistance: the summit of salvation blessings.  No matter what losses you experience in your life, no one can take away this glorious gift.”  (Jesus Calling, October 16, pg. 303).

Um, did I say, “Just for giggles?” I’m not giggling. I am smiling though. What a beautiful reminder to us how the Holy Spirit works in our lives. How He helps us to grow, be nurtured and how He guides us and helps us in our time of trouble

.

 Let the Holy Spirit lead

in action, speech and thought
in each decision He must lead the way
through every path that must be trod.

Let the Holy Spirit lead
in deed, duty and discussion
in each hour of each day may He
be fully seen by others.

Let the Holy Spirit lead
for through Him we can be
a light, a lamp, a beacon to all
who may otherwise never see Him.

Let the Holy Spirit lead
in want, in will, in worship
for with His loving, faithful guidance
we’ll bring others to His salvation.

Let the Holy Spirit lead
give Him complete control of all
in Him we find such a wonderful peace
that surpasses our understanding.

Let the Holy Spirit lead
let Him have His way with thee
though rugged, steep the path may be
there is no better way to go.

Let the Holy Spirit lead
let Him have complete control with thee
for when we find in Him we hide
this is where all blessings flow.

He’ll mold us, He’ll make us
and with grace He’ll sustain us
guiding, leading, faithfully convicting
in everything He’ll bring us to
the place we have been seeking.

~Marcell Warner Bridges
©3, September 1996

Bill Gaither introduces the song…what a beautiful old worship hymn:

http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/4Az03kqM8Ds&source=uds

*Jesus Calling, Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young, Thomas Nelson, 2004

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF MY FRIEND KAREN MURPHY © Karen L. Murphy Photography, 2013

© Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges 2013

THE EVIL WITHIN ME

“…whatever things are lovely…” (Philippians 4:8)

                                                    © 2013 Tee’s Photography

THE EVIL WITHIN ME    

Recently a schoolmate said to me, “Marcie, you’re too nice to be evil!”  I responded back to her that I most certainly do have an evil side, I just don’t let anyone see it.

I AM a nice person. BUT, there is an evil side to me. And there’s only 3 people who have seen it. God, Satan, and me. I keep it to myself.

At this point I know what you are thinking. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT MARCIE?

I’m talking about how I talk to myself. The mean, awful, ugly, despicable things I say to myself.

“I’m fat.”
“I’m ugly.”
“Nobody really likes me.”
“I’m not really that good at…..singing, writing, speaking…”
“I can’t do such and such because I’m so fat.”
“Nobody cares about me.”
“I’m not a good friend.”

You get the picture. And these are not even the worst of it. I just can’t seem to write the worst of them. I’ve let you see more than I should maybe.

You see, here’s the thing. We all have evil inside of us. Maybe not the evil that a murderer has or some horrendous criminal like Hitler, but we all have that side of us that is not nice.  It keeps us from being the person we should and ought to be in Christ. It keeps us from being happy and living a life truly fulfilled.

That’s why we are admonished to think on the good things.

Philippians 4:8-9: “ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are LOVELY, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Did you catch that? Whatever things are lovely, beautiful, good, true, pure.

It is hard to always think nice things about myself. Especially when I stare at myself in the mirror and I don’t see the person I want to be or think I should be.

So what do I do about evil Marcie? When I begin thinking evil thoughts to myself I know I have to pray and ask God to give me positive things to think. Things that are uplifting and pleasant. Then I thank God for those positive things about me.

“I am beautiful.”
“I am kind.”
“I am smart.”
“I am important.”
“I AM LOVED!”

Isn’t it about time you stop putting yourself down and start thinking about who you are in Christ? This song will help you see… YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE ONE TRUE KING…and that my friend, makes us BEAUTIFUL!

http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/ZuJWQzjfU3o&source=uds

© Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges, 2013

BEAUTY FROM ASHES BY NAN JONES

Please welcome my friend Nan Jones as my guest blogger today. I love this poem she has written. I pray it blesses your heart as it does mine.

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”  Isaiah 61:3

BEAUTY FROM ASHES

by Nan Jones, guest blogger

Fire flamed. Ashes fell

            Beneath the sapphire sky.

Its brilliance halted by charcoal trails

            That begged the question why.

Why the destruction? Why the pain?

            Why must the spirit concede?

When fire flames and ashes fall,

            And cause the heart to bleed?

Charred and broken, dusted in ash,

            A mind in despair doth mourne.

But the spirit looks to the sapphire sky

            From whence its hope is born.

And though the charcoal trails still rise

            To blacken the sapphire sky,

A shaft of light from heaven’s throne

            Descends as grace draws nigh.

 

God’s Light on devastation does fall,

            His Presence the chaos does cease.

His glory descends, His voice commands

            Beauty from ashes.

            And peace.

© 2013 Nan Jones

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF MY FRIEND TEE-TEE BARNES!  THANK YOU TEE-TEE! 

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Nan Jones is an author/speaker who uses the words of her heart to assist fellow Christians in discovering the Presence of God in their darkest hour. Her devotional blog, Morning Glory, has become a place of community for Christians to find encouragement in God’s Word and comfort in His Presence. Nan’s devotions have produced a far-reaching impact across the nation and globe due to her online presence. She has been published in three anthologies: Ultimate Christian Living, Diamonds in the Light: Exceptional Women Showcasing Their Gifts, and God’s Word for God’s People: 2013 Daily Devotional. She has also been published in the online inspirational sites Christian Devotions, and Inspire a Fire, and has been featured as a guest blogger on several sites. She is thrilled to announce her debut book, “The Perils of a Pastor’s Wife” which will be released in late fall/early winter by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. When Nan is not writing, she enjoys leading prayer retreats, bible studies or sharing God’s love as keynote speaker for special events. She is becoming known by her brand: “Even so, I walk in the Presence of the Lord.” You many visit Nan at her website: www.NanJones.com or her blog, Morning Glory: http://morningglorylights.blogspot.com/. For personal communication you may email Nan at nan@jubilantlight.com.

 

© Marcie Bridges, Heart Thoughts, 2013

BEAUTIFUL SEASONS OF LIFE

This month of October I have chosen to focus on the theme of “beauty”. Just a couple of weeks ago Fall finally made its debut and I think most people agree that Fall and Spring are two of the most popular seasons of the year because of the beauty they bring into our lives. So even amid the days getting shorter and turning dark earlier, Halloween with its dark connotations, I think we can find beauty from it. God’s Word tells us:

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven…He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11 

A Time For Everything
Seasons changing
earth yearning
whispering
time moving
fast…slowing
a time
of knowing
nothing staying
even in the dead
there is life.
Beauty glowing
wings soaring
in the morning
in the dew
Darkness growing
enveloping
masking
snow covering
the beauty…truth
you know is beneath.

~Marcell Warner Bridges
©1 October 2013

I pray you will find the beauty of life every day in some small way this month as we continue this thought of beauty, not only through nature, but through who we are in Christ, and who we are to others. By the way, the pictures I’ve posted here, as you can see, are all on the same wall. But if you look carefully they are taken at slightly different angles. Why? Because this is ONE picture but as you walk by it, it changes scenery from Spring/Summer, to Fall then Winter. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it and my daughter Kaitlyn gave it to me as a present for Christmas. Isn’t it great?! Personally, I think it is just beautiful!

http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/TAOFmYXtXk4&source=uds

© Marcie Bridges, Heart Thoughts, 2013