ain’t i lookin’ gooooood? lol

From: An†hony ( A loving HEART echoes into eternity…)
Date: Jul 24, 2008 9:53 PM

..

Clasping the tail of winged hope,
Though foolish, desperate and sad,
I stayed above the battlefield
With what little strength I had.

I could not risk another wound.
The few I bore were deep.
Hope flew me to higher ground
Where silence I would keep.

For a time, I remained there,
But soon I learned, alas’
Hope can save you from your fears,
but false hope doesn’t last.

I was doing well on the journey down.
My hope I turned to trust.
By the time I reached the ground again
My fears had turned to dust.

But I was not complete’not yet.
I remained a broken soul.
The many things that I had lost
Had burned a deep, dark hole.

For once you understand true love
You’ll never be the same.
Once you’ve had and lost true love
You’re empty, shaken, tame.

But even then, the future’s clear.
I chose the way of life.
I went to God and offered him
My pain, my grief, my strife.

Never have I been happier,
Or more free from earthly woe.
No, life still isn’t perfect;
I, of all people, would know.

Easy now it is to stay
On solid, steady ground.
I wave goodbye to that false hope
To which I’ll ne’er again be bound !

” Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed… It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on a God who loves to surprise us out of our socks.

” (Max Lucado)

” We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lose sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.

“

” God spoke through my heart and in the midst of my pain and fears; He whispered ” All you need to know my child is that I’m here.

“

” Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

” ( Romans 12:12 NIV)

” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

” ( Romans 15:13
NIV )

” Courage is like love, it must have hope for nourishment.

“

” A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

“

” Faith is the very first thing you should pack in a hope chest.

“

” You don’t know that God is all you need until God is all you got.

“

” Some see a hopeless end, while others see an endless hope.

“

“…But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired…” ( Isaiah 40: 31 )

” GOD’S WINGS “
(Something to think about…)

A little something to put things in perspective…

An article in National Geographic several years ago provided an interesting picture of God’s wings.

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno’s damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick.

When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother’s wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.

She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die those under the cover of her wings would live.

” He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” (Psalm 91:4)

” PRESSING ON “
(A Bible study…)

Read: Philippians 3: 10-21

So often things of the past can hold us back. Often the issues that haven’t been dealt with can be a stumbling block and a hindrance to what God can do in us now. If only we can see beyond the here and now. If only we could see what God can do in and through us, we would desire to press on through.

As Paul says here, he hasn’t already attained this, but he presses on – forgetting what lies behind and strains forward to what lies ahead. We need to have a more ‘eternal’ way of thinking. We know that this world is not our home. We can’t even take our human body with us when we die. Everything will be changed. Everything will be new. Our homeland is in heaven with Jesus. Our home here on earth is only a temporary residence. If we could truly grasp this – we would realize the unimportance of so much in our day-to-day life. This can be a hard concept – because none of us can really understand what heaven would be like. None of us have been there. We haven’t seen it; touched it; smelt it; experienced it in any way. We may get small glimpses now and then – but that is nothing in comparison to what it would be like. I believe if we could just see what has eternal value in what we do and say, it can be transforming. Knowing this can help us to ‘press on’ with God. To ‘press on’ to receive the breakthrough we so desire. To ‘press on’ to be more Christ-like. To ‘press on’ despite the odds stacked up against us. For nothing else the world has to offer is as important as pressing on in God.

” Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

” (Isaiah 43: 18-19)

” I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears ” (Psalms 34:4).

” Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

(—1 Peter 5:7 )

Help me Lord to press on through
No matter how hard it gets
Let me see what has ‘eternal value’
And press on to what lies ahead !

My life was like the ocean’s tides
Highs & lows were by my side
Temptations current swept me out
I was beyond His reach, drowned with doubt.

My spirit sank without a sound
No ripple of faith was left around
A whirlpool of sorrow engulfed my soul
The waves of despair made me cold.

Without hope of rescue, there came a light
So pure & loving beyond my sight
Christ had released the ocean’s grip
Sending my anchor of sins adrift.

His beacon of hope was always there
His unwavering love for me was everywhere
I was saved from this world’s angry sea
The Lord dove in and set my heart free…

” But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” (Psalm 71:14 NIV)

” For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever , and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” (Psalm 100:5 NLT)

” The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in his lovingkindness. The Lord is good to all, and his mercies are over all his works.” (Psalm 145:8-9 NASB)

” For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 KJV)

” Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NASB)

” BURDENS GIVE US WINGS “

An old legend relates that long ago God had a great many burdens which He wished to have carried from one place to another on earth, so He asked the animals to lend a hand. But all of them began to make excuses for not helping: the elephant was too dignified; the lion, too proud; and so on. Finally the birds came to God and said, “If you will tie the burdens into small bundles, we’ll be glad to carry them for you. We are small but we would like to help.

”

So God fastened upon the back of each one a small bundle, and they all set out walking across the plain to their destination. They sang as they went, and did not seem to feel the weight of their burdens at all. Every day the burdens seemed lighter and lighter, until the loads seems to be lifting the birds, instead of the birds carrying the burdens.

When they arrived at their destination, they discovered that when they removed their loads, there were wings in their place, wings which enabled them to fly to the sky and the tree tops.

They had learned how to carry their burdens, and their loads had become wings to carry them nearer to God. Burdens we carry for others may become wings of the spirit, to lift us into happiness such as we have never known.

” I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU “
(A Devotional…)

Today God is saying to you, ” While in process, stick to the plan ! ” Nothing takes God by surprise. He’s a master planner. Joseph discovered that when your family turns against you, your friends let you down and you finish up in trouble, God still has a plan. Looking back Joseph could say, ” You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good ” ( Ge 50:20 NIV).

When your situation seems too hard to handle and downright impossible to explain, remind yourself that God said, ” I know the plans I have for you”

Some of us are not sure God has made up His mind about us, so we keep trying to earn His favor. Give it up ! Receive the truth that God, for Christ’s sake, has decided to bless you. And when God decides, temporary situations or the actions of others don’t change His decision. There’s nothing the enemy devises against you that God hasn’t already made ” a way of escape” for.

Paul writes, ” God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it” ( 1 Co 10:13)

Observe:

(1) In times of testing you discover how faithful God is.

(2) He knows what you can handle.

(3) He will ” make a way ” so you can exist this season stronger, and ready for what He has next. So stick to the plan. The fact that you have a problem is a sign that you have a promise. It’s only a matter of time before God reveals the solution…

” Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

” ( Psalm 143:8 NIV)

” A MORSEL OF HOPE “
(A touching story…)

Jean Kerr said, “Hope is the feeling you have, that the feeling you have, isn’t permanent.” It is what we have when we know that we WILL eventually survive the night and bask in sunshine once again. It does not deny the present darkness, but it reminds us that dawn is coming.

Brigadier General Robinson Risner (“Robbie”) spent seven years as a POW at the “Hanoi Hilton,” as prisoners of war called their North Viet Nam compound. There he discovered the power of hope. He spent four and a half years of that time in isolation. He endured ten months of total darkness. Those months were the longest of his life. When they boarded up his little seven-by-seven foot cell, shutting out the light, he wondered if he was going to make it. He had already been under intense physical and mental duress after years of confinement. And now, not a glimmer of light shone into his cell — or into his soul.

Robbie spent hours a day exercising and praying. But at times he felt he could nothing but scream. Not wanting to give his captors the satisfaction of knowing they’d broken him, he stuffed clothing into his mouth to muffle the noise as he screamed at the top of his lungs.

One day Robbie got down on the floor and crawled under his bunk. He located a vent that let in outside air. As he pressed against the vent, he saw a faint glimmer of light reflected on the inside wall of the opening. Robbie put his eye next to the cement wall and discovered a minute crack in the construction. It allowed him to glimpse outside, but was so small that all he could see was one blade of grass. A single blade of grass and a faint ray of light. But when he stared at the sight, he felt a surge of joy, excitement and gratitude like he hadn’t known in years. “It represented life, growth, and freedom,” he later said, “and I knew God had not forgotten me.” It was that tiny glimmer of hope that sustained Robbie through an unbearable ordeal.

I am amazed at the strength of the human spirit. It seems to run forever on nothing but a morsel of hope. But it still must be fed.

I find myself busy keeping my body going – but I know it is just as important to feed my spirit. Even if all I have is a morsel of hope, for today that just may be enough.

“ When you face the fact that something can be so devastating and scary and unknown… it gives you a perspective of prioritizing your own world. It gives you a positive outlook.

”

Trials are common occurrences, and God’s children are not exempt. Psalms 34:19 tells us, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

”

There are many times when I cannot change my circumstances, but I have learned two things: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1), and I do have a choice about how I respond.

” YOU SAY “
(Some things to ponder about…)

You say: “It’s impossible.” God says: All things are possible.

(Luke 8:27)

You say: “I’m too tired.” God says: I will give you rest.

(Matthew 1:28-30)

You say: “Nobody really loves me.” God says: I love you.

(John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say: “I can’t go on.” God says: My grace is sufficient.

(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalms 91:15)

You say: “I can’t figure things out.” God says: I will direct your steps.

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: “I can’t do it.” God says: You can do all things.

(Philippians 4:13)

You say: “I’m not able.” God says: I am able.

(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: “I’m not worth it. God says: It will be worth it.

(Romans 8:28)

You say: “I can’t forgive myself.” God says: I FORGIVE YOU.

(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: “I can’t manage.” God says: I will supply all your needs.

(Philippians 4:19)

You say: “I’m afraid.” God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear.

(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: “I’m always worried and frustrated.” God says: Cast all your cares on ME.

(I Peter 5:7)

You say: “I don’t have enough faith.

” God says: I’ve given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)

You say: “I’m not smart enough.” God says: I give you wisdom.

(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: “I feel all alone.” God says: I will never leave you or forsake you.

(Hebrews 13:5)

” GOD MADE ALL THINGS “
(A poem…)

God made the heaven and the earth
He had to make everything first
Then he created night and day
To keep us from going astray.

He made the sun, the moon and the stars
I wonder did he make mars
He made the rivers, ocean, seas and lakes
God doesn’t make any mistakes.

He made every creature of every kind
He knew what was on his mind
He gathered everything together in one place
He did it all with such grace.

Then he decided to make us
From the ground he picked up dust
He created man and called him Adam
After Adam he made madam.

Adam called the woman Eve
Because from his ribs is where she was received
He saw that everything he made was good
He created things the way he should…

Be Blessed & take care !

Peace and LOVE always,

Anthony ( Romans 12:12)

From the time when I accepted Jesus Christ in my life, which was a few years ago, I surrendered my life totally to Him and Him alone. He is the captain of my ship for I know that He will lead me wherever I may go, through the many storms of life and I will never be in need or in fear if I am with Him. In Psalm 32:8 the Lord said “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” “For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. For as long as I live I will offer my strength, my life to Him.

God bless us always !

Life has times of hardship, struggles, trials, temptations, despair, loneliness and heartbreak. We all go through times like these from time to time. There is a saying that goes ‘Life is a bed of Roses’ implying it’s easy and sweet. There’s probably a lot of truth in that – considering the ‘thorns’, but it’s far from easy and sweet. A prick can be painful! God can use what we go through to rely on Him more and build our character to be Christ-like.

So yes, I guess life can be like a bed of roses – but we need to be mindful of the thorns.

There are tests in life I know
The thorns are there, but so is the rose !

We read in God’s word that we live by faith, not by sight. We read here that faith is “perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses”. We ‘believe’ though we do not yet see the tangible evidence. In some situations faith may come more easily. Other times it may not. Sometimes the circumstances overwhelm us – like it did when Peter walked on water. There have been times in my life where I have had a certainty within – a ‘knowing’, and this has brought a sense of peace. Then other times it seems beyond my scope of faith.

I believe our faith is stretched and as a result grows toward maturity. It’s hard at times, but we need to trust in our Lord to bring us through whatever situation.

Faith is the assurance and belief
In things we hope for, yet do not see !

“…But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired…” ( Isaiah 40: 31 )

” God’s love for us is not a love that always exempts us from trials, but rather, a love that always sees us through trials.

“

” You may go days without thinking of God, but there’s never a moment when He’s not thinking of you.

“

” May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

” ( Psalm 33:22 NIV)

..

The Raven, by Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`’Tis some visitor,’ I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.’

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; – vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow – sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me – filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,’

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,’ said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you’ – here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!’
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!’
Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,’ said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
‘Tis the wind and nothing more!’

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,’ I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!’
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.’

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning – little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.’

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered – not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.’
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.’

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,’ said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of “Never-nevermore.”‘

But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.’

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o’er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o’er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,’ I cried, `thy God hath lent thee – by these angels he has sent thee
Respite – respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!’
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.’

`Prophet!’ said I, `thing of evil! – prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted – tell me truly, I implore -
Is there – is there balm in Gilead? – tell me – tell me, I implore!’
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.’

`Prophet!’ said I, `thing of evil! – prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us – by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?’
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.’

`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!’ I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! – quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!’
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.’

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted – nevermore!

I love the fat acceptance movement in blogs all over the net. Passionate, thinking, feminist women taking arms against a sea of troubles. and hopefully, by opposing them, end them. I want to be one of those plush fat women who wear polka dot marilyn dresses. but i’m shaped more like a chicken, or a fat old man. i’m thinkin’ LIPOSUCTION! give me a waist. Liposuction always reminds me of the intro to the movie ‘clueless’.. her mother, wasn’t she a betty? died in a routine liposuction accident, go figure. what an embarrassing way to die, getting yer fat sucked out into a vat. do not go fattily into that good night, rage rage against the dying of the light. ok that’s enuff quotes.. maybe some poe, nevermore, to see the lovely.. what about fat rhymes with lenore?