 |
We Will Shine in 2009 A special thank you to all of you who continue to support Life Now and our ventures! (`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*``~` (`~`*`~`) You can read archive issues of "Expansion Encounters" at Expansion Encounters and now at Expansion Encounters 2009 (`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*``~` (`~`*`~`) A special "thank you" to those of you who have gone to Helen Dowd's site and voted. It helped put her site into first place! If you haven't been to her site yet, you may enjoy "A little of everything for the whole family: Bible study, devotional, inspiration, poetry, stories, Bible quizzes, odds and ends" at Occupy Til I Come. There is a voting box at the top of her home page. I met Helen via internet several years ago when we were both posting articles at a writer's site. She and her husband, Hart, live in Canada and have a beautiful ministry of sending lovely messages via email. I have visited with them via telephone and they are a delightful couple! Take a Step By Dusty Reed I awakened to the concept of sharing joy in each moment during college years when I was introduced to Psalm 16:11 - "Thou dost show me the path of life. In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand are pleasures forevermore." This verse continues to be my guiding light. It offers enthusiasm for life. It offers me the assurance of joy. It was bound to bubble over for me to share with others. It keeps me on my path of life. How did it gain such an important role? Through the Lord's inner nudges as reminders through the years, I began claiming it as an important guidepost. I continue to claim Scripture's promises, write declarations of inner knowing, speak affirmatively, and remember this promise. My inner Teacher, Christ the Lord, guides each step I take. I have known Jesus as my Teacher, as well as my Savior, for many years. His instruction continues. Teachings from Scripture are light beams along my path. I know that Jesus' teaching was personalized more than what Scripture includes. He laughed a great deal, I am sure. He also felt deep compassion for others. He told us how to experience joy every moment. He did not just experience emotions and truths; He gave them to us to share with others. In a discussion about hearing the inner Teacher, a friend shared that she was rescued by His voice within that told her to stop the car. She drove into a service station and, as she pulled in, the front wheel axle broke. I do not remember hearing any audible voice within through my lifetime but I do sense the nudges. I just know and if I take a step with assurance that the Lord will get me there, I follow what is in front of me. Recently, I made it into the service garage parking lot twenty-five miles from home, knowing the car needed work. It died when I turned into the parking lot. I was, in this case, offering gratitude during the last half of the trip because my voltage meter was in the red. Deep within, as in many cases, I knew everything was okay. This does not just happen when we are in an automobile. Since we seem to be in our cars a good deal of the time, we are frequently available at that time to sense those nudges. I had this same type of knowing many years ago when my husband was in Viet Nam. I just knew he would come home safely. I accepted this and offered gratitude. My husband used to call me Pollyanna but he is learning that my philosophy works. It is a natural part of my being, maybe from the practice of seeing God's goodness through the years. Our son sees this, too. He knows within that all is good and has expressed that and reminds me of such, many times. Our pastor's wife shared that a friend of hers includes Jesus in all of her discussions with others, acknowledging Him as being in their presence, listening and responding. Listening for what the Lord knows best is the essence of my philosophy. I will continue through the minutes, hours and years to come, to lift my family and friends in God's love. I believe we can plant seeds and then turn our loved ones over for the Lord's guidance. Our loved ones are receiving their unique guidance, too. We do not have a copyright to God. I do not have to be concerned about choosing what is right for my life. I can continue to step out on the pleasant path that is put before me. I have been doing this for as long as I can remember. I will continue to follow that path, one step at a time. Once we take the step of accepting the Lord's guidance, He will walk each step with us. God's Child by Dusty Reed Beginning a family at the age of thirty-eight, or any age, can be a glorious experience. For me, being a parent brings many treasured bits of wisdom. My husband and I were elated beyond words when we discovered I was going to have a baby. Eight years of waiting did not prepare us for this surprise. I prayed, "Lord, give us guidance to raise this child according to Your plan. Thank You for allowing us to experience this joy." This continues as my prayer every day. I need to keep God's will uppermost in my actions for continuous prompting. Through putting myself in the Lord's presence, I keep God between my child and me. My husband and I frequently discuss guidelines to make sure we are in agreement. We feel we are following the Lord's guidance. As we look back on situations, we see we could have possibly done some things differently. We have faults. A "perfect" job raising our son is not our triumph. With continuous prayer and expressing our love in all situations, we have the hope that our son will experience a joyful Christian life. Maybe these guidelines, gained through insights and observations, can offer useful suggestions, whether you are younger or older parents or parents-to-be. Here are some of our guidelines: 1. SPIRITUAL. He is God's child first and always; our child to care for through the Lord's guidance in all areas of his life. We pray for guidance daily. We pray with our child several times a day, in praises and requests. We make a strong effort to give him personal, direct guidance with Christian principles in all situations. By establishing a strong spiritual strength, he will be better able to handle most any situation handed to him throughout life. 2. MENTAL. We listen to our son's interests. We share with him our interests. We praise him highly for achievements. We take concern and monitor what he hears on television and in music. We try to teach him new and constructive mind-builders daily. We sometimes present a problem situation for him to solve. We read to him every day. We try to explain the why's and how's to him in conversation before he has need to ask. 3. PHYSICAL. We get on his level to play with him. We learn with him through creative activities. We go for walks together, play in the "jungle" together, make sand castles together, act out stories together. As we teach him, he often teaches us. We try to talk softly. We share many insights as we travel. We take him with us most everywhere. Recently, my husband and I went for a week-end by ourselves and realized it had been over a year since we had done this. We express our love in hugs and kisses both with our son and with each other. 4. EMOTIONAL. We say and do only what we allow our child to imitate. We give him a taste of freedom and responsibility in developing his interests and personality. He receives silent permission to express his emotions freely. There are restrictions if activities are harmful for him or for others. We explain why they are not acceptable. He is usually totally satisfied with any decision we make contrary to his, if we give an acceptable explanation. 5. FAMILY. We experience family togetherness daily. This includes being in the same room and it also includes much communication and conversation together. We take special care to have frequent get-togethers with our extended family: grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. This allows him to experience more love. His grandparents ask, "Can real love spoil a child?" I believe not. 6. SOCIAL. We pray and choose where he goes to play, with whom and we give specific, on the scene preferences dealing with his actions. Parental guidance in socializing, especially beginning while he is young, is important. "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it" - Proverbs 22:6. Our son is a true joy in our lives. Raising a child is a continuous education in the college of understanding and wisdom, which comes from the Lord. We are grateful for every moment. Accept the challenge! Incorporate these guidelines and feel the assurance of serving as a loving parent. As a family, may you experience the loving fragrance of abundant joy. Footnote: This was written about 18 years ago. Our son is now twenty six years old and I continue to offer gratitude that the Lord guides him. You may have young children or grandchildren that benefit from the Lord's guidance through your life as an example of God's Love. Submission By Dusty Reed My concerns are in God's control; He has charge of the order of my life. I sometimes try to take it back, Impatient in my time, not His. I try to define what tomorrow will bring, What I can do to receive a blessing. I can turn my concerns over to Him And let Him take perfect control. ~ ~ ~ The following was inspired by our son when he was four years of age. Thank You for Puppy Dogs By Dusty Reed Thank You, Lord, for the little things And for the big things, too. Thank You for the catsup, mustard And napkins on our table, And for friends. Thank You for puppy dogs, flowers, And for Your love. Thank You for books to read And letters to write. Thank You for my family, Thank You for life. (`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*``~` (`~`*`~`) Some sites I recommend: Achieve Goal Setting Success It is my joy to share with you that I continue to add new rose drawings and some photographs available at art.com! You can view them at Roses. I now have some of my rose drawings at an auction site, Art By Us And, I have a page with note cards (for sale) with some of my rose drawings. You can check it out by going Rose Note Cards. I have been posting some of my other drawings now at Dusty's Art and at Dusty's Gallery My sister-in-spirit, Sunny, has several of her drawings and has added new photos at art.com, too, at Sunny's Place And, for anyone who enjoys playing at ebay, lots of goodies (records, books & post cards - occasionally some nic nacs) are available at Dusty's eBay You are welcome to forward this newsletter to friends who might be interested! If they would like to subscribe (at no cost), they can write to me at With Expansion Encounters as Subject. Thanx muchly! Working toward consideration and to better humanity, we want to encourage free enterprise, free speech. We are Life Now, a spiritual happening on and off the Internet. Pathway ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Life Now ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Enjoy every moment!
|
