WHY

Why do we want what we cannot have

Why do we reach for what we can’t possibly get

Why do our hearts take us where our head knows we shouldn’t go

Why do we run towards trouble

Why do we have to be prodded to do right

Why is “IT” never enough

Why does the darkness bring pain

Why does yesterday seem to be forever ago

Why does tomorrow never come

Why does opportunity only knock once

Why does a grain of a mustard seed seem so HUGE

Why does today slip away unnoticed

Why does the sun not warm through the bitter cold

Why does “IT” matter to them

Why do we care what “they” think

Why do we feel like 100% is not as good as 120%

Why do we see the good in others before we see the great in ourselves

Why does it matter anyway

Why……

Sharing this IS spreading joy

How I see YOU

Do You see What I See

I love speaking to ladies groups, kids and just encouraging others.  I’m hoping to do more of it in this next year.

I recently had the privilege of speaking to some wonderful ladies that have been or are in a local Battered Women’s shelter.  I spent the week thinking about some of what they may have endured, what they probably tried to do for them, their children and to bring peace to their home and focused on how those events made me see them.

Here is how I see these ladies.

YOU ARE:

BEAUTIFUL – Your beauty comes from deep within.  Nothing or no one can ever destroy it.  When you gaze into the mirror, look past the surface, go deeper….deeper still.  That beauty that is deep within you is ready to bubble up and gush out!  Let it bubble up and out freely.  Our physical beauty is limited, but the beauty that is deep within our soul outshines and out lasts the physical and has a positive effect on all of those around us! YOU are beautiful!

COURAGEOUS – Yes, YOU!  You lived in fear, you live with fear and have many fearful moments ahead of you, but look back with me a moment.  Look at how far you’ve come.  The courage you’ve shown to get out of the abusive situation and into something better is nothing short of amazing.  You’ll continue to move past the fears, move past the doubts and other horrors you face daily that will try and hold you back.  Your heart may tremble, your hands shake but you won’t let that stop you.  You can do this as YOU are courageous!

STRONG – You are strong! You’ve endured abuse that others can’t possibly imagine, and that takes strength.  You’ve tried to fix things, make things better and be the right kind of gal but that was never the issue.  You then stepped out, with children in tow and are working towards a better future. The strength it takes to be a single mom, to ease their fears, to show them what is right and good is unbelievable.  You are strong, you fight through difficulties, you fight to survive and you’ll push past the barriers that try and hold you down.  You will make it! YOU are strong!

WISE – Yes, I said wise!  Don’t sell yourself short.  We all make mistakes, we all make decisions that we wish we could take back and moments we wish we could order up a “do-over”!  Look at you! You are moving forward, learning and making things better. You are doing the right things right now! Don’t look back at the mistakes, unless you are choosing to grow and learn from them!  Hear me….YOU are wise.

CARING – You have amazing hearts!  You care so much.  That’s why you tried to work things out, why you sacrifice for your children, that’s why you are the wonderful person that you are.  Your heart is huge for others and you want to make a difference and believe me you DO!  YOU are caring!

PERSISTENT – You put one foot in front of the other each and every day.  I’m sure there are days where you feel like throwing up your hands and saying “what is the use”, but you move forward anyway.  You grow tired from the struggle, but you get out of bed and face the day.  You wonder about tomorrow, next month and next year, but you keep looking, hoping and knowing that the future is there, waiting on you to grab it up with both arms, embracing all the wonderful things that are waiting you.  You keep trying, learning and going! You push yourselves as well as push your children! YOU are persistent.

IMPORTANT – YES – YOU!!!  You make a difference every day!  You bring smiles, warm hearts with big hugs. You encourage, motivate and teach.  You give hope to little eyes that wonder about a million things a day and love to hearts that need it.  You are important to today and the next generation.  The great things that you are doing today, will have a huge impact on tomorrow and the future.  YOU are important.

CAPABLE – YOU can do this!  It is so easy to look and see the negative, see where we feel like we have failed and think we just can’t do it.  We don’t have to teach our children to see the negative, but we do have to teach them to see the positive, do what is right and look for opportunities to make a difference.  Use those negative things that creep into your mind, trying to make you feel horrible to remind yourself that you’ve learned from that. You’ve come a long way from that point and you are not going back, simply because you don’t have to.  Use the past to remind yourself that you are capable of moving forward, doing whatever it is you set your mind on doing.  YOU are capable.

ADAPTIVE – This is so important and you excel at it!  Think with me for a moment.  You knew when you had to keep the kids quiet, when you could let loose and enjoy the laughter in your hearts. You knew when “he” was home that certain things had to be done a certain way and you adapted.  When he wasn’t around, you lived, loved, laughed and adapted to that as well.  This is a priceless ability for when the storms of life are raining down on you.  This ability will serve you for years to come as you face the mountains in your way and your initial thought is for the mountain to “swallow me up, I can’t face you.”  You will adapt time and time again! YOU are adaptive.

SENSITIVE – Your hearts are tender and it grows stronger every day.  You’ve seen situations that many have not had to see, much less endure.  This has made you even more sensitive than most.  You can see the sadness in the eyes of a child quicker than most and know how to turn that frown upside down. You can see the loneliness oozing from the hearts of others and know that a simple hug and smile will help to ease that pain.  Because of this sensitivity, you have an opportunity to make dark days brighter; you have the chance to be the light at the end of the tunnel.  You can shine brighter than you ever thought possible.  YOU are sensitive.

SPECTACULAR – YOU are beyond awesome!  You have a huge heart, a loving spirit and the willingness to fight through whatever comes your way. You don’t ask for much, yet are willing to give all for your child.  You will take lesser portions, step in front of physical harm and remind your child that tenderness will get you further than being demanding and hateful.  You amaze me at the courage, strength and abilities you have to make it through each day. YOU are spectacular.

These attributes are evident in all of us if we look deep enough.  We tend to stop just short of the surface because that is what society is teaching us to do.  We need to look past the surface.  We need to look at the things that matter, which is far more than physical features.

It is my desire that as you step into a new year that you’ll be more aware of these wonderful qualities about you.  I hope that you’ll focus on the positive and grow from the negative. As you look at yourself, I hope that you’ll see all of these wonderful things in a wonderful new light this year – and always.

{{HUGS}} yall

Sharing this IS spreading joy

Assumptions

It started with the book The Shape of Mercy and the main character assuming that someone was hired help by the way he was dressed when he was actually a friend of the family.  The book is about the Salem Witch Trials and all of the horrible assumptions there.

Next I hear it.  You’ve heard it and maybe even said it before.  “Well, you know how those people are.”  Oh, really?  Do I?  I literally shake my head and say, no…no I do not.

Assumptions are nasty things.  With the exception of when your son calls and says something like “Do you know I have the most beautiful Mom in the entire world?” By all means, assume he wants something and reply with “No, tell me how beautiful she really is.” And then smile and sit back and take in the wonderful words that are being said about you at that very moment.

If it’s not this situation, then assuming can be very harmful, dangerous and just plain wrong.  I honestly try and not assume things about people based on where they live, how they dress, what size they are or what kind of vehicle they drive.  When I meet someone, I immediately start looking at how their heart sees things.  I want to see things through their eyes, but again, I do not assume to know or understand how or why they see things the way they do. I try to live by this and make it a rule. I don’t assume things about people based on surroundings.

Many people assume that just because someone says they are a Christian that they truly are.  Unfortunately many people speak the language, but don’t walk the talk and this is very misleading. Others think that if a non-believer asks questions that they simply want to debate. Again, this is not always a correct assumption.  Many people that ask questions are simply seeking the truth and shame on us for not giving it without assuming they want an argument.

I could go on and on here.  So many assumptions are made about people based on their size, place of employment and such.  Why do we do this?  Why do we assume things without taking the time to see things through the eyes of others or even try to understand where people are coming from?

We’ve all had our moments where things were better, where we looked better, felt better, dressed better. We’ve all had moments where we were proud to be who we are and held our head high.  The opposite is true, we’ve all had our moments where the worst part of our being has shown through and we’d love to take it back and undo the damage we’ve done, but we can’t.  We would love to go back in time and change many moments in our life that were less than pleasant.  All of these moments are shared by each and every one of us and yet we still make horrible assumptions.

Have you caught yourself assuming the worst about people or even the best about people?  Do you assume that what you see at first glance is all that there is?  Do you assume that there is no need to look further for facts because you know all the facts you need to know?

Am I assuming that everyone assumes way too much?  If I am assuming, is my assumption wrong? Assuming you will answer me in the comment section, will you have the courage to speak the truth about assumptions?

{{HUGS}} yall

Sharing this IS spreading joy

Red Ink by Kathy Macias

What is the book about?

Red Ink by Kathi Macias (New Hope Publishers)

A young Chinese woman, Zhen-Li—raised to observe the party line, including its one-child-per-family doctrine—falls in love with and marries a Christian, and adopts his faith. Though the couple downplays their Christianity in an effort to survive, Zhen-Li’s family is appalled, and she and her husband are ostracized. When she becomes pregnant for the second time and refuses to have an abortion, the persecution begins in earnest. Zhen-Li’s parents, under pressure from the government, pay to have Zhen-Li kidnapped and the baby aborted.

It is then Zhen-Li decides she must live up to her name—”Truth”—and take a firm stand for her faith, regardless of the consequences, and so she begins to regularly teach children about Zhu Yesu (“Lord Jesus”) and to distribute Christian literature every chance she gets.

Based loosely on the life of Christian magazine editor Li Ying, currently serving a ten-year prison sentence in China, the story of Yang Zhen-Li tells the desperate tale of her incarceration and separation from her family, as she continues to minister to other prisoners, and even to her guards.

About the Author

Kathi is a multi-award winning writer who has authored nearly 30 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences, and recently won the prestigious 2008 member of the year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) at the annual Golden Scrolls award banquet. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al, where the two of them spend their free time riding their Harley.

Questions/Answers from Kathi Macias


Red Ink is the third book in your four-book Extreme Devotion series. Each book is set in a different country, with the theme of first devotion and commitment to Christ above all else running through all four. How is Red Ink different, and who/what inspired you to write this book?

Red Ink is the only one of the four books that actually deals with someone being arrested and suffering specifically for her faith in Christ. The story is loosely based on my own personal heroine, Li Ying, who is currently serving a ten-year sentence in China for printing/distributing Christian materials, particularly to children. I pray for Li Ying daily, and I remind myself how very blessed I am to have the freedom to do what she did—without paying the price she now pays.

Can you give us a brief synopsis of this story?

A young Chinese woman, Zhen-Li—raised to observe the party line, including its one-child-per-family doctrine—falls in love with and marries a Christian, and adopts his faith. Though the couple downplays their Christianity in an effort to survive, Zhen-Li’s family is appalled, and she and her husband are ostracized. When she becomes pregnant for the second time and refuses to have an abortion, the persecution begins in earnest. Zhen-Li’s parents, under pressure from the government, pay to have Zhen-Li kidnapped and the baby aborted.

It is then Zhen-Li decides she must live up to her name—”Truth”—and take a firm stand for her faith, regardless of the consequences, and so she begins to regularly teach children about Zhu Yesu (“Lord Jesus”) and to distribute Christian literature every chance she gets. Based loosely on the life of Christian magazine editor Li Ying, currently serving a ten-year prison sentence in China, the story of Yang Zhen-Li tells the desperate tale of her incarceration and separation from her family, as she continues to minister to other prisoners, and even to her guards, leading to a surprising conclusion that will both stun and challenge readers.

How did you get into writing? Has it always been your passion, or is it something you came to later in life?

I’ve always wanted to write, for as long as I can remember. I was an avid reader even before I started kindergarten. I wrote a short story in third grade that the teacher liked so much she showed it to the principal, and they decided to turn it into a play for the entire PTA. I was hooked! One day when I was about 13, I was walking home from school with my then boyfriend (now husband), Al, and I told him I’d be a writer some day. He often reminds me how blessed I am to have been able to do what I dreamed of all my life.

I understand you’re running a special contest that has to do with this book. Can you tell us about it?

Actually, I’m running the same contest twice—two chances to win a free Kindle! To be eligible, follow these three steps:

  • You have to read Red Ink and post reviews on Amazon, CBD, etc., and/or your personal blog;
  • You must also be a follower of my Easy Writer blog (address below); and,
  • Let me know via my website contact email: mailto:ezyrtr@ca.rr.com that you have met the requirements and want to be entered.

The first winner will be announced in early November; the second in mid-December, just in time for a last-minute Christmas gift.

In addition to writing, you are a popular speaker at women’s event, writers’ conferences, and various venues around the country. How can people find out more about you, your writing and speaking, sign up for your weekly devotional newsletter (in English or Spanish), and/or just view your many book videos, etc.?

They can find me at my website (http://www.kathimacias.com) or blog (http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com). There is a “contact” button on my website if they’d like to send me a message. I always respond to all my emails!

*** I will be giving away a copy of this book for any comments left below!***

Thank you and good luck!

{{HUGS}} yall

Sharing this IS spreading joy

In A Valley

I love catching shapes in clouds & the mountains are always beautiful

I’m in a valley.  It’s true.  Have been for about a month now  AND  I love it!  I do!  I’m working in beautiful Salem Virginia.  Mountains are everywhere I look.  The ride to and from each week has been gorgeous with the color of the leaves changing to burnt orange and bright reds.  Megan even asked me when I started working there, what it was like.  My reply was, “I’m in a valley,” to which she responded ohhhhhh, niiiiice! I had to smile because I knew that I’ve been wondering about life’s valleys.

Being in this majestic valley has got me thinking lately about “life’s valleys.”

We all go through the valley in life, there is no escaping it.  It’s a matter of when.  My question to myself has been why don’t I “look up” at the wonderful surroundings when I’m in life’s valley, just as I’m doing while working here in the valley of Virginia? I know that I’m surrounded by a million little things that make life glorious and I also know the valleys are going to happen. So what is the disconnect?

Could it be that I’m so focused on the issues that I forget to look up and enjoy what is around me?  Or maybe the discouragement during that time has put a huge cloud over me and I can’t see the beauty that is all about me? Could it be that discontentment wastes my energy and I have no strength to focus on making it through the valley?  Why have I never thought of looking up before?

We all have so many blessings in our life that should carry us from one valley to the next but when we are in those valleys – we tend to forget them, so our stay there seems much longer than necessary.

The valleys of life are hard. I’ve been in many of them and do not enjoy them during that time.  I’m always thankful for friends I can come to for help, but like many – I sometimes choose not to ask, for fear of being a “burden”.

I faced another closed door a few weeks back.  My heart ached with great pain, discouragement and no music was there. Until I poured out my heart in the following words that day, I sat in silence. No singing, no happiness and fighting back the tears from yet one more closed door.

The Closed Door

Sometimes the hurt is too much to bare
Even though you say I can, I feel I can’t share

The Load is heavy, the road is long
The heart is weary and has lost its song

I know there’s hope that never ends
But for now it seems my life won’t mend

I just want to be held, I’m tired and weak
I’ll simply rest in silence, as I can’t even speak

You are strong, I’m not.  I can’t even try
I can’t stop the tears from falling from my eyes

This is me, this is all – there is nothing more
Such is my life – as I stand, facing the closed door.

Will I remember this in my next valley? Yes. Will it make a difference? I honestly don’t know.  Will I struggle along alone? I hope not. I hope that I will have the courage to ask for help that day, but it takes courage for that, and I’m far from courageous.

What do you think?  Why do we not look up when we are in life’s valley?  Why do we struggle alone – without asking for help?  We have great friendships and tons of resources, yet we choose to limp along through the valley – alone.

Tell me, what is the disconnect?

{{HUGS}} yall


Sharing this IS spreading joy

Session 12 – Bible in 90 Days

Can you believe how close to the end of the Bible we are?  It has been a fun time of learning, reading and just grounding our faith.  I hope these studies has helped you see things in a different way, that you’ve had several “ah – ha” moments and that your desire to continue to dig deeper into God’s word will grow.

This week’s reading schedule:

  • Day 78 Acts 6:8 – Acts 16:37
  • Day 79 Acts 16:38 – Acts 28:16
  • Day 80 Acts 28:17 – Romans 14:23
  • Day 81 Romans 15:1  – 1 Corinthians 14:40
  • Day 82 1 Corinthians 15:1 – Galatians 3:25
  • Day 83 Galatians 3:26 – Colossians 4:18
  • Day 84 1 Thessalonians 1:1 – Philemon vs 25

Faith is a funny thing.  For many of us, it can seem like it changes a lot.  One minute our faith seems unsakable and we feel 100 % certain about God, Christ or the Holy Spirit.  But, if we are completely honest withourselves, many of us will admit that every once in a while there’s this lingering question mark in the back of our minds. 

As  we read the Gospels, faith is a core issue that gets a lot of attention.  In the Gospel accounts we meet various people who could be plotted in a wide range on the Faith-O-Meter.  (The Meter being – Perfect Faith; Big Faith; Middle Faith; Little Faith; No Faith)

1.  Based on Matthew 14:25-31 & Matthew 26:69-75, where do you think Peter should be plotted on the Faith Meter?

2.  Can you think of some individuals in the Gospels who deomnstrated greater faith than Peter? Who were they? Where should they be plotted on the Faith meter?

3. Has Peter’s faith changed by the time he addresses a crowd of Jews in Acts 2:22-24?  If so, Why? Where would you place Peter on the Faith Meter now?

4.  In general, what happens to the faith of the disciples after Jesus’ resurrection?

5.  What does Matthew 9;29-30 suggest about the benefits of Faith? Does one’s degree of faith seem to be important?

6.  Discuss Matthew 17:19-20. What does it tell you about faith.

7.  What does Matthew 13:58 tell us about the consequesnce of a lack of faith during Jesus’ ministry? What does this suggest about the relationship between faith and God’s use of his power to, say, move mountains.

8.  Where would you place YOUR faith on this faith meter?

9.  How would you apply Jesus’s statements in Matthew 21:21-22 to the “mountains” in your life? Based on your reading to date, is there a qualification to the promise in verse 22? If so, what is it? how do you or could you apply this in your everyday living?

10.  For a moment, try to imagine setting aside all of your doubts and limitations.  What would you do if you had perfect faith?

Books you’ll encounter this week:

Romans – The first of Paul’s Epistles, this is a letter from the apostle Paul to the early church in Rome. In it, he covers several foundational themes such as faith, life in the Spirit and God’s acceptance.

1 Corinthians – Paul appeals to the church in Corinth to avoid division by following Christ rather than competing disciples. He then describes what it means to be followers of Christ and encourages people to give themselves always to the work of the Lord.

2 Corinthians – In a second letter to the church at Corinth, probably written within a year of 1 Corinthians, Paul is replying to an evidently chilly reception by the Corinthians to his previous letter.

Galatians – In this letter to the church in Galatia, Paul establishes his authority before warning the Galatian to accept no other gospel than the gospel of Christ.

Ephesians – Writing to the church in Ephesus, Paul focuses on unity in Christ and living as children of God.

Philippians - Paul core message to the church in Philippi is to imitate Christ’s humility.

Colossians - Paul writes to the church in Colosse regarding rules for holy living.

1 Thessalonians – Following a positive report from Timothy about the church of the Thessalonians, Paul writes to encourage them to continue strong in their faith.

2 Thessalonians – Writing soon after the first letter, Paul reiterates that the Thessalonians should stand firm and not be alarmed by false prophecies.

1 Timothy – Paul writes to his protege Timothy to instruct him in his leadership while in Ephesus.

2 Timothy – Paul encourages Timothy to preach the Word, since all Scripture is God-Breathed and prepares Christians to be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Titus – Writing to another young disciple, Paul gives him qualifications for ordaining church elders and instructions on what must be taught to a variety of groups.

Philemon – In this brief letter to his friend Philemon, Paul asks him to free his slave Onesimus and charge anything Onesimus owes Philemon to Paul.

Click here to Listen to the Bible as you read it.

This Weeks Study Guide. Week 12: Paul There is good stuff here, don’t pass this by!

Here is the audio lesson . (You’ll need to log in!)

Please listen the lessons. I have the dvd’s but can’t post them here…copyright rules. We can discuss what you heard here as well. Listen while you cook, clean or are just taking time to enjoy this journey. I hope you’ll take advantage of this free resource. Listen towards the end of the 7 day time frame, as THIS would be what we would be watching/discussing if we were to be meeting weekly.

If you are seeing this for the first time, we started on June 1st, but you can start right now, just go to Session 1 and begin. Here is the main information page as well.

Sharing this IS spreading joy

Session 9 – Bible in 90 Days

At this point, my Bible reading wil be the Bible in 120 days.  But, seriously, how bad can reading through the Bible in 120 days be? I generally read through it over the course of the entire year, but am finding this to be more helpful in getting me to read more.  Even reading through the Bible 2 or 3 times a year has got to be very beneficial.

This weeks reading schedule:

  • Day 57 Jeremiah 33:23 – Jeremiah 47:7
  • Day 58 Jeremiah 48:1 – Lamentations 1:22
  • Day 59 Lamentations 2:1 – Ezekiel 12:20
  • Day 60 Ezekiel 12:21 – Ezekiel 23:39
  • Day 61 Ezekiel 23:39 – Ezekiel 35:15
  • Day 62 Ezekiel 36:1 – Ezekiel 47:12
  • Day 63 Ezekiel 47:13 – Daniel 8:27

Biblical prophecy is not just about predicting future events.  Much of it serves a distinctly different purpose.  It provides an inspired perspective on current events.  Keep this in mind and as you think about the following 2 questions.

1.  Use a word or brief phrase to capture Jeremiah’s description of godly people in the following verses:

  • 7:23
  • 9:24
  • 22:16
  • 24:7
  • 29:11

Do you agree with this list? What would you add or subtract from it?

2.  What attributes of God are found in the following passages from Jeremiah?

  • 27:4-6
  • 31:1-4
  • 31: 34b
  • 32:40

Add in 2 other attributes of God not described in the passages above. 

Isaiah  58 describes “fsting”.  Many Christians have never fasted.  Have you ever fasted? If so, what was it like? What kind of fast did you do? If not, would you consider fasting?  Is the sacrifice worth the effort?

Books you’ll encounter this week:

Lamentations: Poetic laments concerning the destruction of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel: Initial prophecies warn of fall of Jerusalem. After the fall, he offers oracles of hope.

Daniel: Daniel and his 3 friends are exemplary representatives of God while in exile in Babylon. While there Daniel pens a number of long-range prophecies.

Are you behind in your reading? If so, keep moving.  The main thing is to finish.  It doesn’t matter how long it takes you, just keep reading, enjoying, learning and soaking up God’s wonderful word.

Click here to Listen to the Bible as you read it.

This Weeks Study Guide. Week 9: Daniel There is good stuff here, don’t pass this by!

Here is the audio lesson . (You’ll need to log in!)

Please listen the lessons. I have the dvd’s but can’t post them here…copyright rules. We can discuss what you heard here as well. Listen while you cook, clean or are just taking time to enjoy this journey. I hope you’ll take advantage of this free resource. Listen towards the end of the 7 day time frame, as THIS would be what we would be watching/discussing if we were to be meeting weekly.

If you are seeing this for the first time, we started on June 1st, but you can start right now, just go to Session 1 and begin. Here is the main information page as well.

Sharing this IS spreading joy