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Light, Love, Hope

Light in the Darkness Surrounded by Love with Hope for those in need.

Food For Thought

Silence

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I sit alone in silence. There is no one to listen, to hear, what my heart needs to speak. The silence surrounds me; wrapping me in a blanket of insecurity. These feelings running through my head and heart need to escape but there is only the silence of my room. I slump on the couch trying to fight the great weight that I feel upon me. I gasp as if the breath is being forced from me. I look around. I am alone in silence.

I reach out my hand and utter a little cry. When all seems lost I begin to talk to the silence; to let out my heart and soul. I let all the feelings that I have buried inside me come out though there are no ears to hear my troubles; just the silence.

But in this silence there is solace for I know that God is there for me. He is listening to me; even if no one else is there for me. He reaches out to my heart and lifts me up. He gives me hope for a new day, a new week, a new year, a new lifetime. Though I may live in silence, he is always there for me just as he is for you.

Joy

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Have you ever thought about what brings joy to your heart? For me it can be a number of things. The smile of a special little girl who is surprised with the gift of a horse figurine she wanted. The sound of a teenager’s squeal when she realizes she has tickets to see her favorite band.

For me it’s about giving. It’s about offering someone a chance to realize that they are thought of and special.

Lately I have been experiencing quite a period uncertainty and sadness. To help myself try to crawl out of this, I opened up the Jim Brickman Holiday channel on Pandora the other day. The first song that came on was one of my favorites that always fills my heart with joy; Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song.” It did the trick. I knew that this was God saying to me that things would be alright.

So when you are feeling down. Take a step back and think of something that brings you joy and do it. Let it warm your heart and bring a smile to your face. Even if it may be for just a short moment.

Finding Noah

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In the documentary Finding Noah, we learned about how many  explorers have been inspired to look for the mystery of finding Noah’s ark.  All throughout history we find evidence of facts in the bible, mysteries, eye witness accounts, and conspiracies.

The mountain believed to be preserving Noah’s ark is Mount Ararat, and it is especially challenging. The geography is a monumental life threatening trek, and the area is controlled by may apposing countries which pose a threat to anyone considering embarking this journey.    The story leads you to an exploration team that is determined to find Noah’s Ark by using their different backgrounds, latest technology, and knowledge.

It makes you wonder if something is even possible as to building such a gigantic vessel that housed so many animal species.  My personal view point is that it very much can be spiritually valid for Noah to receive the Holy Spirit and Obey Gods word by undertaking this task of constructing this vessel and gathering all the animals to prepare for a flood.

From an engineering standpoint, there is significant evidence of being able to design and build a floating barn that would be water tight and float.  The knowledge of shipbuilding was there, the construction methods and tools were available, and the manpower to undertake this task is very much conceivable.

This documentary movie gets you to challenge your possible disbelief into a search for Truth and evidence in history which supports Fact found in nature based on the written Word of GOD.

For more information on this movie, please click here for Finding Noah.

Finding Noah

A special thanks to Flyby Productions/Propeller for allowing me access to a pre-screening in exchange for my non biased review.

This post, review, and opinion is that of Dusty, Shirley’s husband, who has an engineering background.

Coming Clean

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With the data breach and hacking on the ashleymadison.com website, a lot of people have been forced to “come clean.”  While the focus has been on the Duggars and poor Anna (the cheating husband’s wife), there are many other faceless victims out there.  I say faceless because they aren’t as well known as the Duggars, and their pictures aren’t on the news, in entertainment magazines, or websites.  They are the faceless victims that discover the truth about a spouse that they loved and gave their whole selves to without hesitation at one point.  Now, they are trying to grasp the sanity that is quickly escaping them as they find out the truth about someone that was once their entire heart and soul, their life, and their future.  Feeling unsure of what the future may hold now, they sit in shock, wondering if feeling will ever return to their grief stricken bodies and knowing full well that when it does, it will bring the most excruciating pain ever imaginable with it.

Loss of appetite.  Loss of sleep.  Feeling sick to your stomach as if you could vomit at any given moment.  These are just the beginning when you realize the truth about someone that kept this part of themselves hidden for so long.  The tears, the unrecognizable sobs that escape your mouth that seem to come from your very toes … it hurts THAT much.

And why?

When it finally comes out, can they honestly say that it was worth it all?  The lies, the cheating, the betrayal, the withholding information, the deception.  Was it worth it?  Was it worth losing your family over?  Some times, people even lose their jobs, their livelihood.  In the end, was it worth it?  Those pictures, the magazines, the porn videos that only leave you wanting more, the sex addiction that progresses to seeking out “hook up” sites for casual sex or prostitutes … the extramarital affairs, one night stands, or even curiosity of what those dating sites might hold …  was it worth it in the end when you lose your family and your job?

How many would go and do it all over again if they knew the high cost of their actions?

It had to be difficult living a double life.  They had to be extremely miserable as they tried to act as normal as possible while feeling anything but … deep inside they probably felt dirty and like the piece of trash they were looking at on the computer screen or talking to via email, texts, or maybe even in person if it progressed to that point.

Why get on those sites in the first place?  They’re not there seeking a good wholesome individual to settle down and raise a family with.  Why won’t they realize that people on those sites are not people they would want to introduce their children to.  These are NOT the type of people to be proud to bring home to Mama either.   So why the draw to such individuals?  What is so attractive about lowering themselves to this point to consider being with these types of people?  For what?  A few moments of pleasure?  Whether they’re pleasing themselves or sleeping with someone while their devoted and loving spouse sits at home feeling neglected, lonely, and unloved … why such a high appeal for this type of life?

Now the information is readily available and accessible for ALL of their wrongdoings.  God already knew, and I believe God hung His head and wept each time they took part in ANY of the dishonorable things that they were doing.  He cried because this is not the life He wanted for His child – neither the one doing it nor the one that it was being done to.  I believe it grieved Jesus.  Imagine the heart wrenching cries from their spouse … and even more coming straight from Jesus Christ.

It’s time for it to stop.  All of it. If they would only come clean and never go back there again.

For those that have been doing it, you’re going to get burned.  If you don’t believe me, ask ANY person that was once wrapped up in this sin.  They didn’t get out of it unscathed.  Neither will you or your family.

In coming clean, they free themselves from the web of lies that they’ve spun, and they free themselves from the bondage that this had on them.  They break the chains that tied them to the stuff that they once did in secret, in darkness, and kept hidden for way too long.  Oh the distance they have put into place between those that love them and those they proclaim to love.

The anger they feel stems from the double life they were living, the lies they told, and covering their tracks.  They would be amazed, if they would only realize, how freeing it will be when they finally get tired of living this double life, come clean, and STAY clean while walking the straight and narrow now in their relationships and marriages.  This will no longer have a stronghold in their lives so the anger that has welled up inside of them will be replaced with peace.  God’s peace.  God’s love.  God’s forgiveness.

It’s time for the healing to begin.  Only with God’s help is this possible.

 

 

 

 

Words To Live By

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There are people in my life that take advantage of me.  They take advantage of my kindness and my forgiving heart.  These same people expect chance after chance after chance … while they are repeat offenders … and yet, I try to be forgiving just as Christ is forgiving of me when I fail and fall short.  The problem I have is as a Christian I’m supposed to turn the other cheek.  My question then is, how many times am I supposed to turn it for it to be slapped repeatedly?

I’m sure the question will and has been asked, “Why do you allow this individual to continue hurting you?”  or “Why do you believe in someone who has already shown you who they are?”

Those are not easy questions to answer.

You see, I’m not putting myself out there to get hurt.  I’m not doing this hoping that they will hurt me.  No, just the opposite.  I hold out hope each time that it will be different.  That there won’t be any more lies, deceit or betrayal.  It is only because of the love I have in my heart for the person that allows me to hold on and hold out hope.

I try to see the good in people, and even though they have mistreated me in the past or done things that were not right, I know deep down inside that they are not completely evil.  They don’t have a black heart, and they aren’t rotten to the core.  I know this because I have seen the side that I’ve longed to get back.  The kind, considerate, loving, compassionate individual … and I have also seen that person disappear and an angry person with no conscience emerges and does things that are shameful, degrading, and shows that they lack morals, values, and integrity.  While they may not stay in this frame of mind or state the entire time, they go back, almost like Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde.  It happens without warning.  Then all of a sudden, this person is back and you’re trying to figure out what triggered it. What set it off?  And how long will it last THIS time?

The thing is, this person is not honest with you as to why they changed back.  And, even if they were honest, they have told so many lies and have withheld information that was later discovered, that the vast majority doubts what is being said.

It is sad really.

My daddy always said, “You’re only as good as your word.”

This person’s word means nothing at this point.  From when they are caught in a lie and they say, “I don’t know” or “I can’t remember” when you ask them something point blank, both are dead giveaways of yet another lie.  More deceit.  More betrayal.  And, here is something gut wrenching.  You can’t even believe when they say, “I love you.”  Sure, these are nice words, yet their actions scream something to the contrary.

It happens almost every time, too.  They either talk down to you like you’re crazy, they make light of the situation and your feelings, OR they get defensive and anger emerges.  Are they angry that they got busted once again?  Are they angry that they were found out once more? Here is something they fail to realize:  Nothing that is done in darkness will stay hidden.  It will be revealed in God’s time.  He will shine the brightest light upon it.

If I have anything to offer at this point, it is to any one out there reading this that may not be who they should be … change!  You CAN make a complete change.  You don’t have to be that person any more.  Ask Jesus to help you, and I promise you that He will.  While it won’t be an over night, immediate change, He will help convict you and change your ways.  Then, when you feel tempted again to act the way you did before or do the things you once did, God will be right there speaking to you letting you know that it isn’t a good idea and it doesn’t have to be this way.  If you repent of your sins and confess them with your mouth, you have to TURN from them!  You cannot confess and repent while still doing these things!   That is not true repentance.  That is not wanting to change with your whole heart.

If you have done something that you know is not right, you have to fully disclose everything to the person you have hurt.  You cannot give a little information here, a little there, and later on down the road confess to more.  That only prolongs the hurt and the healing process.  If someone has found it in their hearts to forgive you after you’ve lied, cheated, deceived them and betrayed them, and they have slowly started to heal, you throw them completely right back where they were when they first discovered your wrongdoings.  You make it ten times harder for them as you’ve ripped that scab completely off of their wound, and it is oozing blood at this point.  They are unable to stop the bleeding.  It pours out of the wound, and the cut feels deeper now with each newly found betrayal or newly confessed indiscretion.

Be HONEST!

Be TRUE!

Be FAITHFUL!

Be a person of your word.

Here’s a tidbit for you.  Withholding information is also a form of deceit and betraying the one you claim to love.

Be an honorable person.

And … treat others the way you want to be treated.  If you would not want someone to do this to YOU, then WHY are you doing it to THEM?  Why is it okay if YOU do it … yet if they did something exactly like this to you, you would run from them so fast and never look back.  You wouldn’t have such a forgiving heart, and you wouldn’t accept them back for doing the exact same thing that you, yourself, have done.  Take for example a person that has committed adultery.  IF your spouse had done this to YOU, would you be as forgiving as you expect them to be?  That is a hard one, isn’t it?  But, if it’s okay for YOU to do it and later be forgiven of, why is it not okay for your spouse to do the same exact thing?  Why then would you NOT forgive your spouse for committing adultery if you, yourself, have done it to them!  Here’s another tidbit:  Cheating isn’t always just in the physical form. Even though you haven’t physically slept with someone, if you have thought about it in your mind the bible tells us that you have already committed adultery in your heart with this person.  Keep that in mind.  Also, if you have to delete text messages, emails, etc. so they can’t be seen, you are already there, and that is also considered cheating!

Recently, I became a mirror to the person that was mistreating me.  When they talked to me ugly in the past, I would try my best not to go back at them the same way.  Seeing as how that did not work, recently I gave them exactly what they gave me.  If they were mean to me, I was mean back.  If they ranted, I ranted back.  If they had a harsh tone, I had a harsh tone back.  And you know what?  They had the nerve to ask ME why I was doing this to THEM!  I quickly pointed out that I was mirroring them and that if they did not like it, they needed to stop doing this TO ME!  I was a reflection of THEM at that point.  Some times that is what it takes for the offender to stop dead in their tracks!

I pray for this individual.  I have turned this individual over to God because I am not in control of this individual nor what they do.  I am only in control of myself, what I will tolerate, and how I will choose to respond.  This person is in God’s hands now.

If you have someone in your life that is a repeat offender, you can’t handle this one on your own.  Ask God to help you, and I promise you … HE WILL!  Turn this person over to God and allow God to work in their hearts and lives.  Know that you have done all that you can do, and now it is up to God.  You can’t save people from themselves, their mistakes, or their poor choices.  Do not make yourself miserable any more trying.  They are responsible for their actions, and they must face the consequences whether they like it or not.

This is my advice and words to live by.

Join us for Tuesday At Ten with Karen each week to share your thoughts.

We Are What We Believe We Are

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We are what we believe we are.

C.S. Lewis

It really is true what C.S. Lewis says in the quote above.  We truly are what we believe we are.  That is why you must speak life into yourself.  If you wait on others to do this, you may be waiting a very long time in complete unhappiness.  While there are some that will validate, compliment and even praise you, the vast majority will snub their noses at you and pick you apart.  I’m not sure if this is due to jealousy or bitterness deep within their hearts.  What I do know is that it is up to YOU to be your biggest fan.  Yes, it is nice when you receive recognition, but don’t get down in the dumps or sink low in depression just because someone hasn’t lavished you with words of affirmation.  Know your own worth.  Don’t wait on others to tell you how valuable you are.

Words have power – those both spoken and unspoken. Your thoughts swirling around in your head have the potential to make you or break you.  If you look at the reflection in the mirror and don’t like what you see, then maybe it is time to change a thing or two.  I’m not talking about physical looks, though.  I’m more referring to you looking yourself in the eye each and every day and not liking who you have become on the inside.  Constantly bashing yourself will only bring you further down.  Take action, instead.  Do something about what you don’t like. That is the only way it will change.  Work at it!

Retraining your thoughts to be more positive instead of focusing on the negative is hard work.  It takes very little effort to find something to complain about, but sometimes we feel like we’ll work up a sweat trying to find a positive in the situation or even in us.

Think about the words that you speak to yourself.  Now ask yourself if you would say those same words, with the same tone and all, to someone else?  Would you say it to your spouses?  Your children?  Your parents?  How about your best friend?  If not, then why are you saying those hateful things to yourself?  Ease up a little, because chances are that you aren’t as bad as you make yourself out to be, but if you are … work on yourself so that you can face that person in the mirror and be a little bit better tomorrow morning.  Show signs of improvement until you can smile back at your reflection and know that you’re trying hard and it is paying off.  That is something to take pride in, working on yourself from the inside out.  Believe me, others will notice.  If you don’t like yourself, how is anyone else supposed to?  Embrace who you are, change what you can, and learn to LOVE yourself!

God created you, and Jesus died on the cross for you.  You are a child of the King.  Keep that in mind.

What Brings You Joy?

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Have you ever really thought about it?  What brings you joy?  I’m talking joy deep down within your heart and soul.  The smiling all day long type of joy.  The skipping down the sidewalk with a cheesy grin on your face joy.  The humming a tune as you go about your day whether you’re at work or at play, just humming along or whistling to that tune that is stuck in your head.  Your feel good, happy dance, basking in the memories joy.

There are several things that come to mind for me.  Receiving flowers picked fresh from my yard from my baby girl brings extreme joy down deep within my heart and soul.  Whether it’s roses that she picks from my rose bushes or even just yellow dandelion yard flowers that pop up in the grass that she gives to me.  Each and every flower is precious and thrills me completely.  Just last night as I was riding my horse, Sugar, my daughter came bouncing down the driveway straight toward me with our two goats hot on her heels.  As she reached my horse and I, she smiled widely and said, “Close your eyes, Mama,” as she took two fingers and swiped in the air in a downward motion.  I could feel a little grin forming on my lips as I did as she asked.  When I opened my eyes upon her prompting, I saw a pretty mini rose that she picked just for me.  I thanked her and told her how special that was to me, and then I tucked the rose in a loop on my saddle where it stayed secure the rest of the ride.  She bounced around the yard, skipping and smiling, as she played with such delight.  I smiled deep within my soul.

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Another thing that brings great joy is seeing my 18 year old daughter enjoying her new job at the bank.  She’s held jobs before, but they’ve been at different fast food restaurants in town where she was on her feet all the time.  She had to deal with harsh customers at times, clean up duty, and working long hours for little pay.  Now, though, she’s working a job where she exclaimed with excitement after her first day, “I get to sit down now, Mama … the whole day!”  It’s the little things that mean so much.  Never before has she appreciated being able to sit, until she worked three part time jobs where sitting was not an option unless on a quick break.  I have joy in my heart as I watch her go through my closet and pick out clothes to wear to work.  Clothes that she once wouldn’t be caught dead in, and now, she realizes the value of these clothes as they are appropriate for a business setting.  She has even received compliments on her attire from coworkers at the bank. She says she smiles and tells them that they are her mother’s clothes.  Then she adds, “Do you REALLY think I’d buy stuff like this?  Pul-lease …” and she laughs as she throws her head back.  Ah, but while she jokes, I know she really doesn’t find them unflattering or undesirable, as she is back every morning to “steal” more clothes from my closet to wear to work.

Early mornings are filled with joy as God wakes me with sunlight streaming through my window.  I am thankful for the gift of another day with my family.  As I hear my husband in the bathroom getting ready to greet the day, I smile inside as I’m ever so thankful that he’s here, a part of my life, and that I get the privilege of being his wife.  Just as I snuggle back into the sheets and pull the plush comforter over my shoulder, he comes out of the bathroom and slides his hand into mine.  I begin to stir and reach for his arm to pull him closer to me to give him a kiss and hug before he leaves for work.  And I smile, deep within my heart, as there is sweet joy to carry me the rest of the day until we see each other again after the work day is through.

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Then there’s my parents … watching them interact together after 49 years of marriage.  Yes, they have their moments as all couples do, but they get past them.  They work it out, and they move on to happier times.  They are still making memories together, and I am thankful that I have the honor of being their daughter and a witness to their love and life together.  I’m filled with joy when I see my daughters interacting with their grandparents, running into their arms when they see them whether it’s been a few weeks or a few days, the greeting is the same.

And last, but not least, among the things that come fresh to my mind that bring me joy … my animals.  Ah, first I have to  mention the goat baby, as I call her, that we brought home at just two weeks old and had to keep in a crate in the house due to the cold weather.  We bottle fed this little baby every four hours for weeks, changed the crate, took it outside to play, and loved on this little girl every chance we got.  Because of how we handled her, she has no idea that she is even a goat right now.  As she’s grown, we had to move her outside with our other goat, but you can tell a difference in the two.  While Angel was handled as a baby as well, she doesn’t have the bond with us as our goat baby, Tory, has.  Little Tory will come over to me and get in my lap, settle in, and let me hold her for long periods of time.  She is so content being in my arms, and that brings me great joy.

Goat Baby Goat Baby1

All of my animals bring me joy.  Every single one.

Precious, the little Toy Poodle that we had for 13 years, passed on July 9, 2015.  Our hearts were broken, yet we knew the end was near.  She hung in there as long as she possibly could, and we had quiet moments with her before her passing.  I’ll never forget the weekend before she passed as I sat out on the hammock, and little Precious came hobbling alongside me, her back permanently arched from the arthritis that set in.  I leaned down enough for her to climb into my lap, and she sat there with me for the longest time just letting me hold her next to me.  As the days went by and her health declined, I wondered if that was her way of saying that the end was near and to just enjoy the moments we do have together, hold on to them and remember these good times we shared as it gets harder in the days to come after I’m gone.  Oh I miss that little white cotton ball of a dog.  Tears fill my eyes now as I think of her and the history as she was there during both of my children’s childhood.  They had so much joy in their little hearts loving on this little puppy that looked like a teddy bear when we got her.  There is still joy in our hearts when we relive the moments with her as we think of my oldest carrying Precious around like a baby and dressing her in frilly clothes, to my youngest daughter pushing Precious around in a baby stroller and taking her “grocery shopping” in her little grocery cart.  Yes, these memories bring us joy, even on days when it’s hard and we are missing Precious so much.  I still find joy in my heart thinking of this little four pound dog that had so much love for our entire family.  Even my husband had a soft spot for this little dog.  We got her just before we got married, and he was affected by her passing as well.

Precious

My horses – oh do I even need to say that they bring me joy?  It is obvious by the many pictures I take on trail rides and the smile plastered across my face every time I speak of them to my family, friends, and coworkers.  Even when I feel as if I don’t have anything to say that day, if someone asks about my horses, I can talk for hours on end just about them!  Yes, I am that horse crazy and in love with them.  They bring me joy from the hours we spend on their backs trail riding, to the quiet moments in the yard watching them graze, to the counseling sessions where they take my heartache and pain and replace it with nickers, neighs, and lots of horse love along the way.

Yes, this is the joy I speak of …

What brings YOU joy?

 

National “I Love Horses” Day!

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Imagine our excitement when we realized that today is National “I Love Horses” Day!

While we have been horse owners for a year and a half now, we have been horse lovers since we were children. I remember longing for a little pony of my very own when I was just a little girl. My parents were not able to afford a horse, and so my dream did not become a reality until my early 40s. With such a passion for these gigantic, yet magnificent creatures, our hearts were thrilled as we worked hard around our house putting up fencing, getting troughs, salt blocks, and building a shelter preparing to bring these gentle giants home! After begging and pleading with my husband, as we surely had enough land to accommodate horses, he finally said, “Yes!” And … I took off with it! I set out to find THE perfect horse for us … and purchased three in one weekend. 🙂 Yes … I … Did!! I ran with it because I did not want my husband to have an opportunity to back out of this one. My dream was finally becoming a reality!

Our Horses

The three horses turned into five horses over the course of these 18 months, and we couldn’t be happier. My 10 year old daughter has horse fever as well, and she rides with us on the trails. We love that we share this passion for the horses together as a family.

Visit

My 18 year old daughter was interested in the horses for a short while. Then her interest turned to boys, music, and bands. It is our hope, though, that our youngest daughter will keep this passion alive within her heart for her horses and will be committed to this lifestyle. It really and truly is a way of life now. It isn’t a phase we’re going through. We are in this for the long haul. We understand that horses can live to be 30 years old, and we’re praying that we’ll be here to grow old with them. Then, when we are old and gray, we will still go out to the barn to love on our beloved horses.

Arizona

These horses are more than just a hobby that never stops eating, as we’ve heard them called before. They bring us so much joy and happiness. Honestly, if I’m having a bad day, all I have to do is walk to the barn, grab a lead rope and halter, open the gate, and bring my beloved horse out to join me for a grooming session. With every stroke of the brush over their mane, looking into there dark eyes, feeling the soft velvet muzzle, and whispering my cares into their big ears … my cares seem to fade away as the stress leaves my body. These horses are more like therapists and counselors. Without saying a single word, they are there, ever present, offering their love. Horses are so calming and soothing as well. I can go outside to work with the horses and come back inside tired but feeling like the weight of the world has been lifted off of my shoulders.

Shirley and Arizona

In all my life, I never thought I’d say that I do not mind the smell of horse manure. It does not gross me out to see it or smell it, and I’m not embarrassed when my horse has to stop right there in the middle of the trail to do it either. It comes along with horse ownership, and I proudly clean up after my horse and pause for “poopy breaks” out on the trails as my daughter and I like to call them when the horses stop without warning on the trail to relieve themselves.

Yes, I have it bad if I’m sitting here even talking about horse manure and how I don’t mind that either. hahahaha

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We are blessed to have these beautiful creatures as part of our family now.

Mother's Day Ride

For all you horse lovers out there, Happy National “I Love Horses” Day! For those that haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing being on the back of a horse, I encourage you to consider it in the near future. There is something so exciting and exhilarating about getting on the back of a horse. You are trusting these massive creatures literally with your life, and they respect and honor you in return. It truly is a partnership with your horse. Any time you get on the horse, you become a team. You are bonded as one, and you work together to accomplish things out on the trail, at a horse show, or even at a jumping event. You have to have a connection with your horse, and once you do, once you develop this bond … there is no breaking it and no turning back. You will never be sorry to have given your heart to a horse.

My Girl

Even on days when I don’t feel like working them, as we have given them a break in this 100 degree weather this past week, you still go out to the barn to bond with them. We spend time with the horses, from sitting out in the middle of the pasture with them as they are busy grazing on all the available grass they can find, or giving them a cool bath in the hot Summertime heat and heaviness of the Southern humidity. You will make any excuse to be with your horse, even if all you do is give extra hay or apple horse treats, which are their favorite, by the way! The more time you spend with the horses, the more you are cementing the bond you share.

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Prayer

Here’s to horse lovers every where! And … to future ones in the making right this minute. Reach for the stars, and live your dream!

Hitchcock Woods

Beach

Old Fashioned

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Back in February, Old Fashioned came out in theaters the same exact weekend that Fifty Shades of Grey entered on the scene.  When it seemed that people every where couldn’t get to the theaters fast enough to see Fifty Shades, my husband and I went in search of a good, wholesome movie to see instead.   We got just that in Old Fashioned!

To be honest, I read Fifty Shades when everyone started talking about the books long before there was ever any mention of a movie being made.  Curiosity killed the cat so to speak, and I wanted to see what people were in an uproar about.  Some were raving about how much they loved it and how it spiced up their love lives, while others were so set against it and all the books stood for.  Once my curiosity was satisfied with the books, I had no desire to see the movie when it came out.  I’m not a prude by any means, but I did not need to take it any further beyond the books.  While it may be exciting to role play and do other “scenes” in the bedroom at times, there is a lot to be said about what others on the Dominant/submissive scene refer to as “vanilla.”  That may sound boring to some.  For me, an old fashioned way of courting and falling in love should be the foundation of your relationship.  The romance and passion that comes along with it will be enough to knock your socks off to where one won’t need an erotic book or movie to help enhance things in the bedroom.

There really is no comparing the two movies because I will always lean toward love and romance first.  What was noticeably different is how the characters were drawn to each other.  In Fifty Shades, he sees her, wants her, and due to all of his wealth and money, he gets her.  However, in Old Fashioned, the woman is more modern and worldly it seems at first glance, while the man is more standoffish.  He will not even be in the same room with her alone.  He prefers, instead, to stand outside her door to speak with her, or if he has to go inside her apartment to make repairs, he has her stand outside the door while he’s inside the apartment.  He does not want there to be an opportunity for temptation or for things to look bad either.  Yes, it is an old fashioned approach, but it is something that we need to consider now in this day and age, too. Think about it.  How common is it for a male and a female coworker to be together looking over plans, proposals, bids, or discussing something else on the job? One may not see anything wrong with stepping inside the office and closing the door with a member of the opposite sex or even going out for a “working lunch” with a coworker of the opposite sex either, BUT, they should!   Quite frankly, males and females should not be in the same room or car alone.  Period.  If they are married, their spouses won’t like it one bit, but not only that, it introduces an opportunity for temptation to enter or inappropriate things to start happening.  Does it always?  NO.  But, why take the chance?   There is a lot to be said about not giving the wrong impression or the “appearance of evil” either.

One significant difference in the two movies is that Grey and his subject had an agreement, yet he still did things that seemed to violate her trust in him.  She quickly recovered and went back for more, but this has been seen by a lot of people as abuse.  Some argue that if they had an agreement and they were both consenting adults that this wasn’t abuse, just something that happened when they were living out one of their “scenes.”  The main character in Old Fashioned had a life changing moment where he realized that he did not want to continue on the path that he was on, and ended up turning his life around.  He began reading a bible that he was given and allowed it to speak to his heart.  As he did, he realized he wanted things to be different in his life and his relationships.  He went back to the old fashioned way of life, which, to me, is quite refreshing.

Earlier this morning my husband had to take our vehicle to the repair shop.  As he waited inside, he overheard a woman talking about how she was so “over” hearing about Fifty Shades.  My husband took that opportunity to share with her that when everyone was talking about this movie, we went to see Old Fashioned.  He told her a little of what it was about, and the lady said she thought she may have read the book a few years ago.  My husband expounded on it saying that now there is the book, the movie, AND a devotional type book as well.  He encouraged her to check it out, and she said she might actually do that.  We encourage our readers to do the same.  You won’t be sorry!  And actually, we have all three, and we plan to pass these along to our 18 year old daughter and her boyfriend.  They just started dating, and while he has been respectful and has shown, thus far, that he is a gentleman, we don’t think it will hurt to introduce this concept to ensure that they take this path instead of the worldly way.

If any of our readers are on the dating scene themselves or has teenagers/young adults that are dating as well, please enter our giveaway and share the Old Fashioned concept with them, too!   I’d love to see more couples reverting back to this way of courting and having a meaningful, Christ-centered relationship than what this world has resorted to today.

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.  Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Michael W. Smith – Sovereign

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Michael W. Smith has just released his new CD “Sovereign.” We have a video clip of the song Sky Spills Over.

Here’s a quote from MWS on the video:

“I’m really passionate about the song SKY SPILLS OVER. It was fun creating it in the studio and I’ve been overwhelmed at the response it gets when we perform it live every night. My son Ryan is a really talented filmmaker so I always enjoy working with him on a project. But what made this project even more special was that 3 of my own grandkids were in the video. This video was a lot of fun to make. I hope people enjoy it!”

Check out the full CD and other videos at iTunes:

MWS

Hillsong United: Empires

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Hillsong United is the worship band from the Hillsong Church which is dedicated “To reach and influence the world by building a large Christ-centered, Bible-based church, changing mindsets and empowering people to lead and impact in every sphere of life.” Hillsong United is the worship band portion of the Hillsong Church bringing the word of God into people’s hearts through music. Based out of Australia, the church has ministries around the world bringing their love of God to local churches.

“Empires” is the follow-up release to the successful 2013 album “Zion” which reached number one on the American Billboard Christian Song charts. Hillsong United’s mission is “to write songs the speak truth, create a unique sound, connect with churches, individuals and ultimately connect people everywhere with God.” “Empires” fulfills their mission. The songs are well crafted with layered harmonies that take your heart to the clouds. I listened to this album many times over the past several days while driving hundreds of miles in the car. The sounds brought me to the joy of sitting in worship service. I especially was drawn to “Touch the Sky” the first single released off the album. I must say that Hillsong United has achieved their mission with the release of “Empires.” I can see these songs easily being included in local churches worship services.

@HillsongUnited
#Empires
#FlyBy

You

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By mere chance your light came into my life at a time of darkness. A simple comment revealed that you had the heart of an angel. Numerous jousts of comedic and heartfelt remarks painted a masterpiece of a soul with a heart filled deeply with kindness, compassion and love. A love deeply centered within your world for family, friends and the world around you. A caring soul that will go beyond what most will to encourage and support others in their darkest times.

Yet, these traits were not your only gifts. You have an insight into things most people commonly overlook in their daily lives. Hidden talents abound within you that you tend to keep to yourself yet when you blossom out to the world you show those around what beautiful gifts you have for the written word and a singing voice that makes a melody dance across a light spring breeze.

For most, you are the embodiment of what is and should be a person’s most treasured friend. This is you.

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