Change, Though

Here are two sentences that say essentially the same thing. However one says it with a little bit of a softer touch.

Sentence 1 - Change, though sometimes jarring, is necessary.

Sentence 2 - Change, though necessary, can sometimes be jarring.

Tell me which of these sentences you think is softer in tone and why.

Explain each of them using an example for each.

That's all for today.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Grateful Stepping On Carr-Jones

Never Forget

Never forget that He is in control. Sometimes we tend to forget that we are not in control of our own lives. We have to be reminded that we live, we move, and we have our being, by the grace of God. You know, there are some people that we meet who are destined to do great things for the Lord. Sometimes, these people who are destined to do great things for the Lord do not even know it themselves. Think about all of the great inventors, and statesmen in history; think about Moses, Joseph, David, Abraham, Noah, David, etc. in Biblical history.

I wonder if they felt different from other children when they were young. And I wonder if they were often ostracized because of being different. We know that Joseph was.

You might be thinking, "What is your point?" My point is that when you see someone who is different, be careful how you deal with them. They may have been hand-picked for whatever by the Lord.

On the Other Hand, If You

If you are one of those people who does things a bit differently from others, don't sweat it. Don't put yourself down or hold yourself back for others to like you. If you have been picked to do a job, then go about doing it gladly. Others will come around or they won't, but you, my friend, will know that you have fulfilled the dream that was driving you - that dream that just would not go away no matter how hard you tried to ignore it. There is a reason for the persistence of your dream. Think about it!

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Grateful Stepping On Carr-Jones

Special

Today, I want to talk to those of you who use words to make folk feel good, or at least feel better, no matter what circumstances they find themselves in, in life. There are many professions or hobbies that fall into the category mentioned above, writers, speakers, and singers, just to name a few. I wanted to take the time to tell you that you are special. You have been given a gift of using words to uplift your fellowman. (Isaiah 50:4)

If you do any of the above-mentioned things very much at all, you probably have a dream about where you are headed and have had it for quite some time. You probably also have people that try to dash your hopes in that dream. Don't let it bother you overmuch; it comes with the territory, success. Remember how Joseph was ridiculed and hated because of his dreams? (Genesis 37)

Whatever

In spite of what others do and say to you in a negative way regarding your dream, do not stop dreaming. You hold on to that dream because it is precious and because you are special. And remember this, a good book, song, or speech,  causes the body to build endorphins, a feel-good hormone.  Thus, when you do your writing, speaking, singing, etc. you are doing the thing that you were meant to do, making mankind forget their cares for a while. If God is behind your dream, there is nothing anyone can do to keep you from fulfilling that dream. Be blessed.

DWICWICBIC (Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care)

Alma L. Grateful Carr-Jones

Hurt? Disappointed? Don't Understand?

 

That’s alright. Take it to Jesus. Leave your hurt, disappointment, and your "why" with Him. This blog today was placed on my mind to help you today if you are wrestling with pain, disillusionment, or perplexity about your situation.

 

As you might know, I decide each day what I am going to write about, unless a topic needs several days to finish.  I remember something a good friend said to me several years ago. “Everything happens for a reason.” Those words became my lifeline and they will yours, too if you let them.

 

Today is the Lord’s day and, as such, is a day that we need to go to worship. What better way to let go of your hurt, disappointment, and perplexity than among people of faith in worship service? When they sing, you sing, too. When they pray, you pray, too. Have a reverent, prayerful attitude during the worship service.

 

Hurt

Do you think that you are the only person who has been so hurt badly that you just know in your heart that you will never be “whole again?” I can assure you that you are not. Words penned about Job, about David,  and so many other Biblical characters attest to this fact. And so does this pen of mine. But, what do we all have in common? Exactly! The faithfulness of God.  1 Corinthians, chapter 1 verse 9, Psalm 89:8, Isaiah 25:1, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Hosea 11:12, and Deuteronomy 7:9 all talk about the faithfulness of God. 

I stand here today to tell you that the hurt will heal and the pain will go away. And as far as never being whole again, you will be. However, you will not be the same again. (Sometimes we have to go through trials, tribulations, let downs, etc. to come forth as pure gold or as vines that have been pruned by the Lord. John 15:2, KJV) You will be better, and you will use those lessons to help others just as I am doing for you today. Blessed one, you will be okay if you keep your hand in God's hand.

Disappointed

Disappointments come because we have our minds set one thing and then something else happens. Remember those words that I painted in the color green back in paragraph one? Take them to heart and know that, "All things work together for good for those that love the Lord." (Romans 8:28) Hold on to your faith and trust Him to work things out. (You would do well to get a copy of my book, Chopping My  Row, from the library and read the section on storms. If your library does not have a copy of it, maybe they will order a copy for you or if you will send me the address of your library, I will be glad to gift them a copy.)

Don't Understand

Our minds are not the minds of God. His ways are higher than ours as are His thoughts. I used to wonder why certain things happened to me until I read the 38th chapter of the book of Job. I don't wonder anymore. I just trust in Him and I keep that green statement from above among the uppermost thoughts in my mind, and I keep stepping.

You see, I don't understand how and why a bridge holds me, but I trust it to do so. And never let it be said that I have more faith in a bridge than I do the God of Heaven. I have learned to trust Him in all things and to know that there is a reason for everything that happens in my life, be it good or be it bad. I enjoy the good and thank Him for it. I ask His help in making it through the bad while praising Him and thanking Him for the good that is in my life and for my ultimate deliverance by a faithful God. And then what do I do? Yep, you got it. I keep stepping.

Be blessed and have a soul-reviving time in worship today. God loves you, and so do I.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Grateful and Stepping On Carr-Jones

 

A Rainbow!

Give Thanks for the Metaphysical Rainbows!

Give thanks for the metaphysical rainbows!

Because it means that you traveled and 

Triumphed through the storm not alone

But that the Creator had angels with you

And limited what harm your enemies could do.

He brought you through by His powerful hand

To again see and feel the sun-washed land

So give Him thanks and praise, oh beloved human

As time ticks on and you still can.

 

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Grateful Stepping On Carr-Jones

 

Will and Grace

Will and Grace

Do the best you can as you chop your row,

But you cannot count on thanks from others you know,

Some will plant cockleburs, Johnson grass, and other

Weeds on your row, thus making it hard to hoe.

But one thing I have learned in my days

Of chopping, hoeing, and tilling in this garden below

Is that it is by His will and His grace that I thrive

In this garden, in spite of the sowing of weeds by the foe,

And I do not waiver in my resolve or my zeal

To that eternal, blessed, and placid place to go.

Don't Coddle It

Whatever we want to grow, we nurture it and coddle it. Mothers do that for their babies. Gardeners do that for their plants, etc. Yep, if you want something or someone to thrive, nurture and coddle it. This is a law of nature.

If

When you apply nurturing, coddling, and positivity in general to a person or plant, the end result will be more of the plant or a hearty growing and a showing of well-being. However, just the opposite is proven true as well. If a child lives with negativity and constant putdowns with no source of nurturing or positivity, that child in all practicality, will become nothing or a neer-so-well because it was not given what it needed to thrive.

Making An Application

Have you ever seen someone have justifiable anger about something or someone? Sure you have. If you think about it for a moment, you will realize that people handle that type of anger mostly in one or two ways: 1) they either batten it down and starve it or 2) they nurture it and feed it.

1. In number one above, the anger, though justifiable, will slowly wilt and die. Why, lack of nourishment.


2. In number two above, the anger will grow and fester to become something way out of proportion, more than likely, to the original cause for the anger.  Before long, a person can become a prisoner of that anger. (How do you think that feuds are passed from one generation to another? Remember the Hatfields and the McCoys?)

Not

However, holding on to anger, justifiable or not, is not the Christian way. 1 Peter 4:8 says that love covers a multitude of sins. If we apply this scripture to our lives, then there will be no seeds of anger festering and growing in our lives. Instead, we will have a garden full of the, "...Peaceful fruits of righteousness." (Hebrews 12:11, KJV) Oh, how sweet 'twill be at harvest time!

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Grateful Stepping On Carr-Jones

A New Day (Concl.)

Told you yesterday that we would finish the thought of, "A New Day, this morning and so we shall. Wanted to talk to those of you who feel like you have had enough of stormy times for a while.

So, I want to take you on a, “What if,” scenario trip. A scenario that will help you during those times that you feel that you have been in the storm too long. Ready? Let’s go.

Do you remember when you got your first place of your own? Nothing quite like that feeling, is there? You felt like the whole world was out there waiting for you to make your mark upon it. You felt invincible, didn’t you?

Yep, there was nothing that you could not achieve. Finally, you were an adult and out of trade school or college and ready to start living the life that you had planned since you were a kid. Ah-h, remember that carefree feeling, that feeling of invincibility?

Hmph, then life had a go at you. But you were optimistic and weathered most of your storms, which seemed minimal at first. There were ups and downs through the years, but you persisted. You kept going. No matter what happened, you kept your faith in the God that your mother had talked to you so much about. Yes, that same God, Who you talked to so much as a child and learned to lean on and trust, kept you going through the good times and through the rough times.

You learned to bend without breaking, and in general, to be flexible. You learned to trust in God to help you make it through. People began to marvel at your faith, and you, you kept moving doggedly forward, your only goal to make it to Jesus and heaven. Somehow, determination, grit, and persistence had become your allies.

You did well. You learned to take life one day at a time. You learned to climb the mountain that you were on, one small step at a time... And then, one day you awoke with the knowledge that you had reached the top of the mountain whose rough side you had been climbing for years. You awoke to know, just know, that things were going to be different. You didn’t know how you knew and you didn’t care. You just knew that your years in the storm and of climbing that mountain were over.

Scenario Over

Tell me, how do you feel? Do you feel exhilaration, relief? You feel like that because of a “what if” scenario that we walked through today. Then here is what I want you to do for each day of your life for the rest of your life. With each new day, hope that today might be the day that your storm ceases. And then, my friend, you step on because one day your stormy season will end and perpetual joy will reign. One day your happiness will be so great that you will scarce think it is real.

Just Think About It

How do you think that Job felt when his captivity was turned? Such joy, oh such joy! And you, too, my friend if you remain faithful.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Grateful Stepping On Carr-Jones

A New Day

I am posting very late today, but I am posting nevertheless. I have had this thought in my mind all day long and am just now getting around to it. Life happens, but if we are persistent enough, we usually get things done.

What we have to do is take things one day at a time. That is like taking one step at a time. How are mountains climbed, one step at a time, right? Then you and I must do the same thing with those pesky life situations that threaten our joy. More on this subject on tomorrow.

GOD Specializes

 

When you come to the river that seems

To be uncrossable and you pray, and you pray

And it seems there is no hope for you

You ever think that GOD is saying, “No

You stay on this side of the river

I have other work for you to do.”

Did you ever stop to think that HE is saying

“Don’t worry about the mountain and

The valley that you go through

Just remember that I am GOD

And that I have plans for you.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Grateful Carr-Jones

Still

Times change and seasons do, also, but some things remain the same. Had the desire to be a positive example of forbearance, patience, kindness, etc. and still, do today. Though we often are bruised by the tentacles of hatred, jealousy, envy, and mistreatment, we turn our face toward heaven, and onward we go.

Still

I write, sing, and do what I will

Others do the same

But I don't write, sing and do

For fortune nor for fame

Yes, you heard me, I don't do things

For you to remember my name.

I do what I do to encourage my fellowman

By sewing seeds of encouragement

Inspiration, and kindness wherever I can.

For one day, seed time will be over

And harvest time will be ushered in

I just want my legacy to read

She was the best that she could have been

Still.

********

 

When people, situations, and life, in general, frustrate you, just remember that you belong to the One in heaven Who laughs. And you step on.

You keep writing, singing, worshiping, and doing what you can.

 

Keep Doing

You keep doing what you always have

Done for Him, Who sits on heaven's throne

Because one day, as David said, your enemies will

Be made to leave you alone.

 

Still Doing What I Can, While I Can Because God Cared First,

Alma L. Stepping On and Grateful Carr-Jones

 

 

Said, "No."

Nobody likes to be told, "No." You don't, and neither do I. Remember when you were still a child and you wanted to do something very badly, and your parents said, "No."? Remember how you acted? Uhm-m hmm-m and remember how relieved you felt when something unfavorable came to light, and you were so thankful that your parents had not allowed you to go to a certain event or participate in such-and-such? If you think about it, I imagine that there were several times in your life that your parent's intuition had proven to be right when it came to something that you wanted to do. In the latter part of your teenage years, you probably had become resigned when you asked to go someplace or to do something, and they said, "No,"  to such an extent that you did not throw a fit as rapidly as you used to. (I know you probably did like most of us did back then and thought that you would be glad to go to college or get your own place because nobody could tell you what to do then.) But, all in all, you had learned to trust your parents as if they had some inner radar for sticky situations where you were concerned.

So

We have learned to trust our parents, but not God? Well, yes, those are some strident words, but I believe that they hold some merit, for some of us, anyway. Here is why I said what I did. When we pray for something, and it does not happen, we have been given one of three answers, which are, "Yes, no or wait a while."  How long is a while? It might be soon or not so soon. It means that we have to live, work, and carry on with our daily lives. If a thing is meant to happen, it will. If it is not God's will, then it will never happen, and we must learn to live with that. Look at things like this:

If it is meant to be, it will be

And if it is not meant to be

We just have to take it personally

And think, "God said no because

He knows what is best for me."

********

And remember, our parents, in their limited vision, told us, "No," and we still respect them today. How much more does God, who sees the total picture big and small, deserve our obeisance and subjection?

So, if you did not get an affirmative answer to your prayer, you cannot justify yourself by being angry because you, the thing created, cannot chastise the Creator, the Master Planner. (Job 38, and Philippians 1:6) If He did not answer your prayer in the affirmative, trust Him and keep stepping.

 

In Thee

Whew! This week has brought back memories of when we first had a new baby in the house and had to do everything around its schedule. Sleep when it sleeps, do chores while it is awake and occupied with its rattle, swinging in the swingset, etc. We have our daughter, who is special, back with us and finding time for writing has been an arduous task. (You might not think that having an adult daughter who is special, but can read, is verbal and is mobile is a problem. I stand before you to say, "Oh yes, it is!" Why? Well, when I write, I go into a zone and see and hear, basically, nothing. I had gotten used to doing that since we had had an empty nest for so long. Suffice it to say that you don't go into any type of zone with my special daughter in attendance! That is a no, no!  We will leave it at that. But, by the grace of God, I have still managed to get some writing done.

Empty Nest

It was fairly hard for us when we first allowed our daughter to go to a group home. If I had not been a faithful Christian, I would have worried night and day, non-stop. We had to get used to not having someone underfoot all of the time who needed our attention and monitoring. It was particularly hard for me in my role of protective momma bear.

As it was, I managed to back up and leave everything in God's hands, and things worked out nicely, until... Yes, things went nicely until a new person moved into the girl's home. Then trouble began in earnest.  My daughter became the target of this other lady, and we were having a time of it. The daughter that was so proud to be on her own was not so proud anymore.  She stayed in a state of turmoil quite a bit of the time. There was usually a major flare-up each week involving this other lady.

 

After the last flare-up, we decided to go and bring our daughter back home until something could be worked out as far as keeping the two of them apart.

The writing this week has welled up from

A stream that runs deep within my soul

To remind me that tilling and weeding my row

Is the way to reach my heavenly goal.

No matter how men may posture and rage

Is the part that I play on this world’s life stage.

Have had to remember to Whom I belonged

When I was being thrust under the

Microscope of this world's throng.

I've been done right and  been done wrong

But I maintained my trust in Thee and waited

For Your intervention in my life  as I extolled

Your praises by telling my story and singing my song

And say to You determinedly, "In Thee, oh Lord, I put my trust."

********

Singing

You already know that I sing a lot around my house, right? Well, one thing that I did not tell you about my singing is that when my daughter is having one of her super mad sessions, I can start singing and she will calm down after saying a few choice words more. So, you know that I have been singing quite a bit this week. Oh, another thing about my singing, I had to learn not to use certain words in the songs that I sing and have learned to sing some of the songs she wants to hear, too.  Its called trusting while being flexible and surviving.

 

Doing What I Have to Do, While I Can and Stepping On,

Alma L. Caring and Grateful Carr-Jones

 

 

 

And She Said, "Well..."

I heard my Momma use that word so many times during my growing up years. When she used it, it meant that something had happened that had taken the wind out of her sails and she was rallying her spirit. And she managed to be a pretty upbeat lady who has now gone on to her eternal reward.
But she left me marked for life. Here's how:

1. To see my face is to see hers, so to speak. People often commented on how much like twins we looked. I could never see the resemblance until one day I happened to glance in the mirror after just having a new hair highlight put in. Folks, I did a doubletake. There was my Momma looking back at me. That's when I first realized that I looked just like her! Wow!


2. When things happen that have taken the wind out of my sails, and I have gotten over being dumbfounded, you will often hear me say, "Well..." Yep, I say it just the same way that my Momma did, and it means pretty much the same thing with me as it did with her. It means that I did not see a particular,  nasty, shocking situation coming, but that I will make the best of it and keep stepping while I wait to see what turns up next. It means that, though I am daggered, I will keep my faith in the God of heaven because I can say to the world, "Look where He brought me from. The God that I serve does not do things by half-measure. He brought me to it, and I trust Him to bring me through it." And I, Alma L. Carr-Jones will step on.

So, if you see me waving my hand as I sing in worship, just know that I am saying, "Well...look where He brought me from. I have my faith and trust in Him, and I have the hope of glory. I know that one day there will be no more trouble, trials, and tribulations. All of that will be gone, and I will shout, 'Hallelujah, glory to God' in my new home." And further, know that I am stepping on.

But I can tell you this, my rose-tinted glasses

Have had to be replaced several times in my life

But I kept purchasing, by faith, another rose-tinted pair

Because I wanted to instill hope in the young folk

Who are just starting to climb life's stair.

So

When you get hit in the solar plexus of your soul, don't despair

Just keep filling the heavenly region with heartfelt prayer.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Gratefully Stepping On Carr-Jones