Standing in the Storm

When the skies are dark and the winds are sharp
The rains are crashing down
When you don't know where to go
Or what to do
And your umbrella has turned inside out
You feel helpless and hopeless and have no way home
Standing in the storm you feel completely alone
It's hard to believe Someone is watching out for you
But He has heard your request
And He's standing with you out in the tempest
Protecting you, shielding you, His love is all aglow
Now the winds will blow
And the rains will pour
But they can't hurt you anymore!

Mark 4:39-40

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!"

Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"  

P.S. If you're living in the Florida area like I am, you're probably feeling the strength of Tropical Storm Debby right now (which, as you've probably guessed, was my inspiration for today's post). Well this is for you: Father please keep all of those touched by the Tropical Storm safe and thank you for calming our storms.

Hope y'all stay safe and dry and warm.

©Love you guys! ©

Testing the Atmosphere

Original pastel artwork by: Megan Finsel

A positive outlook is like the breeze that fills a kite;

Even in the roughest weather, it can lift you high into the sky.

And you can find the dawn inside the night,

Above the clouds and into the stars you'll fly.

No matter what's going on in your life,

With a high-altitude thinking it can be crystal clear.

You'd be surprised how far you'll rise above your strife,

If you find just one reason to be positive, my dear,

 You can test the atmosphere!

You Need to Know...

You are wanted

You are loved

Unconditionally

From Heaven above

Even if you're incomplete

And torn apart 

Someone needs you

With all His heart
©

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.

~ Ephesians 1:18 ~

Dear Daddy...

Thank you,

For holding my hand when I tried to walk but kept falling.

Thank you,

For teaching me, for guiding me, for helping me find my calling;

Thank you,

For comforting me when I cried, and for always being there by my side.

I just wanted to take this chance to say: 

©I love you Daddy©

Happy Father's Day!

Peace-Out Troubles!

A Megan Finsel Original

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

A Bird, a Cage and the Key

So many times the lies of the world suppress and degrade us; they chastise and make labels. They say we're not good enough, or pretty enough, or talented enough; unable. Then we start to think: maybe they're right, maybe it's true... and, suddenly, your fears become a cage surrounding you.

    Your dreams stay hidden beneath your skin and you lock your talents deep within. You settle for less, thinking you could never be the best, and wonder: why should I even try? I can't fly.

No.

You are not a bird in a cage; your wings are not clipped! The Truth is your key, so spread your wings and go meet your destiny.

But, looking at those bars, I fear the words they say.

However, those lies are not the real you they portray!

But they said...
Well, why care?

How will they see your potential if you never share?

You love to dance? Then dance! You love to sing? Child, please, let yourself take wing!

Don't let anything hold you down,

Don't let your feet stay here trapped on the ground.
Don't let their lies become your gravity,
Be the true you and then the whole world will see,
You are all you need to be!
 
 

J

And Today I Give You 10 Reasons...

So it’s been one of those weeks,

You know,

The type that leaves you feeling just absolutely drained?

Now we're on the brink of the weekend and today it’s dreary, rainy and overcast.

Blek!

    I don’t know about you,

                                but I’m tired of feeling beaten and worn out.

                                                                

 No more exhaustion,

                                                                                                      no more stress,

     and no more dreary moods! 

It’s time to look for that silver lining, cause I miss smiling.

    So today I’m posting a list of ten things – in no particular order – that'll make us smile (after all, a smile is the best cure for a bad mood). Let’s put on some favorite music (TobyMac, Britt Nicole and Taylor Swift anybody?) and get our happy on!

Here we go:

1 When your crush meets your eyes
from across the room

and you share that special smile
reserved for only the two of you

2 going to the beach with your friends

racing down to the water

and letting the cool froth
rush up over the tops of your feet

  

3 eating an ice cream cone
(pick your favorite flavor —I love mango)

that's melting over the edges
and getting your face and hands all sticky

 

4 driving with the top down

the wind in your hair

and your bare feet up on the hot dashboard

 

 

5 swinging in a hammock

on a cool breezy day

with a good book in your lap

and the sun shining down between the leaves

6 a family cook-out on the patio

basking in the summer twilight

With Nana’s baked beans, and sweet corn on the grill

  

7 laughing so hard with your friends

that it brings tears to your eyes

and makes your sides ache in that weird way

 

 

8 sitting on a blanket with your family

on the 4^th of July

watching as the night sky explodes with color  

 

 

 

9 dancing around my room

to my favorite song

while still in my pjs

and singing into a hairbrush

10 knowing that no matter what I’ve done Jesus forgives me and will take me back, despite my sins and my wrongdoings. He always understands me and accepts me just the way I am. He loves me.
That’s enough to make me

J

Ahh, I feel better. How about you?
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