Finding the light in the daily struggles of life!

Are you content?

2011-03-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

I am currently studying Linda Dillow's Calm My Anxious Heart - A Woman's Guide to Finding Contenment. I am about half way through and the book is speaking to me.

This week's lesson is about being content with what you have, not being greedy. It is an excellent chapter.

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I love this question that Linda Dillow poses when it comes to materials items we own, "Suppose this treasure were lost, destroyed, or stolen tomorrow. Would I miss it to the point that it would harm my trust in God, my contentment, or my relationships? If the answer is yes, then your treasure is on earth."

Would you inspire me?

2010-08-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

Wow! I guess it's been awhile since I posted last time, to say the least!

Would you inspire me? I'd like this blog to become your blog. I am asking that if you have an inspiring story, quote, saying, etc. please email it to me and I will post them! Please spread the word. Since I haven't been keeping this blog up, I'm sure some readers have fallen off the radar! I would really like this site to become a source of inspiration and light for those needing it! Please help me out! You can email me at lightinlife@hotmail.com

Take in each moment

2009-10-15T06:26:00.001-07:00

Taking the advice of a wise, wonderful woman. I'm not looking FORWARD constantly to the weekend or a vacation or something in the future, yet LOVING and SOAKING in each and every BLESSED moment of my day! I'm learning to revel in the moment!

An inspiration, even after going to be with God . . .

2009-10-11T18:15:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the last words Jeanne had her family send to her friends after her passing. I hope you find them as inspirational as I did. I will cherish these words and try my best to live by them.

I truly hope I helped everyone see the glory in every moment of your life. God has made this world so beautiful that we really have no reason to complain. Count your blessings everyday and please live in the moment. Don't worry about the future and the past has no power unless you allow it power. Love each other. ~ Jeanne Maloney

Jeanne is with God

2009-10-10T20:17:00.000-07:00

Jeanne passed away today. She is now with her Lord and Savior! Praise be to God! She was a woman of much faith and inspired me and many others to not take even the little things for granted! You will be extremely missed Jeanne!

May God wrap his loving arms around your family and friends during this time! May your love ones rejoice in knowing that He is holding you in his arms tonight!

Rest in peace . . .

Be Grateful

2009-09-01T06:24:00.000-07:00

God is good and as my energy drains He make me even more appreciative of what I was able to do. Please remember every day to be grateful for all you are able to do because you have energy to do it. God has made your life beautiful try not to complain about what you must do and just be glad you can still do it. ~Jeanne Maloney

This is beautiful!

2009-08-25T06:49:00.000-07:00

I received this as an email from my father today. I wanted to share it with you . . .

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room . She said: 'How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?'
The surgeon said, 'I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.'

Sally said, 'Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?'

The surgeon asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university.'

Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son.. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair ... 'Would you like a lock of his hair?' the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally..

The mother said, 'It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else 'I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom.' She went on, 'My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could..'

Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.

The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.

She start ed placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She lay down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep..

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Lying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said :

'Dear Mom,

I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say 'I Love You' . I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.
=0 A
Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures.. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him.. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'where was He when I needed him?' 'God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.

Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper . Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life . Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore the cancer is all gone.. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Ang el said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?

Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.

2009-08-24T12:04:00.000-07:00

Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today. ~James Dean

How is your life measured?

2009-08-04T13:57:00.000-07:00

Give thanks for every day. Praise God for the opportunity to love and be loved! Don't measure your time by the quanity, but by the quality and by those whose lives you have touched. Does your life measure up? I know Jeanne's does. Praise His name!

Set your fears aside

2009-07-31T12:22:00.000-07:00

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. ~John 16:33

Isn't this a great scripture? What a wonderful reminder that we need not fear anything, for God is with us in everything we do!

FIGHT without fear!

2009-07-28T08:53:00.000-07:00

When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. He shall say: "Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory." ~Deuteronomy 20:1-4

This scripture sums up Jeanne's battle with cancer to me. She fights without fear because she knows God is there fighting with her and for her.

2009-07-17T06:47:00.001-07:00

The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31

Praise God!

2009-07-13T14:42:00.000-07:00

Praise the Lord! Jeanne is on her vacation to Montana! I hope you are having a wonderful time Jeanne!

For with God nothing will be impossible. ~Luke 1:37

No worries

2009-07-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying things which are beyond the power of our will. ~ Epictetus

Struggling to understand . . .

2009-07-07T08:08:00.000-07:00

As I struggle to understand why someone would take their own life, I look toward God and the bible for answers. Will this person go to be with God? Is she at peace? How could one feel so desperate as to take their own life? I don't understand it, but God's word gives me comfort in his answers . . . For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~ John 3:16

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. ~Ecclesiastes 12:7

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Romans 8:38–39

Finding the light in death. . .

2009-07-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. ~ Psalm 23

A woman I know passed away last night. Though I can't imagine the torment she went through during her time here, I look to God and pray that he is holding her. She longed for peace, and now I hope she is receiving eternal peace. May those who loved her take comfort in knowing she has finally found the peace, love, and understanding she lived her life trying to find.

Happy Independence Day! (tomorrow!)

2009-07-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty ~ JFK

Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom. ~ Albert Einstein

Happy Independence Day! May we never forget the sacrifice of so many men, women, and families across this nation to insure our FREEDOM! God Bless America!

Love

2009-07-02T07:14:00.000-07:00

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. ~1 Corinthians 13:1-13

No matter what struggles you may face, remember LOVE bears all things. Look toward love - love of a spouse, love of a friend, love of family, but most of all love from God above. For "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”-Deut 32:4

Work

2009-06-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

At work, but with my kids, and any day I get to spend with my kids is a GREAT day!

Today

2009-06-28T17:02:00.001-07:00

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus ~1 Thessalonians 5:18

I give thanks to the Lord and praise His name for allowing me to spend another wonderful day with my family. I am truly blessed!

I give thanks to the Lord for allowing Jeanne to continue to feel little pain and have the quality of life she so desires!

I give thanks to the Lord for my crying baby and fit-throwing 2 year old, for they are healthy with STRONG lungs :)

Giving Thanks

2009-06-27T17:58:00.001-07:00

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and sing praises to Thy name, O Most High; to declare Thy loving-kindness in the morning, and Thy faithfulness by night. . .For Thou, O Lord, has made me glad by what Thou hast done, I will sing for joy at the work of Thy hands. How great are Thy works, O Lord! - Psalm 92:1, 4-5

Harvest is over, and although there was a slight accident, everyone is okay and I praise God for that!

This harvest was a bit better than we expected. I thank the Lord for providing for us and keeping everyone safe this year, but I'm sure glad it is over!

Quote of the day

2009-06-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

Each day is a new canvas to paint upon. Make sure your picture is full of life and happiness, and at the end of the day you don't look at it and wish you had painted something different.-- Author Unknown

My picture is overflowing . . .

. . . with happiness!

Quote of the Day

2009-06-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

"I am optimistic and confident in all that I do. I affirm only the best for myself and others. I am the creator of my life and my world. I meet daily challenges gracefully and with complete confidence. I fill my mind with positive, nurturing, and healing thoughts." by Alice Potter

Prayers

2009-06-25T11:55:00.000-07:00

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." - Mark 11:22-24

God answers our prayers. Maybe it is not the answer we were seeking, but He answers them just the same.

Inspiration

2009-06-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

This blog is inspired by a dear friend of my mother, Jeanne Maloney. As she battles cancer, she has remained so very optimistic and devoted to God. She is an inpiration to me and I hope you feel inspired by the posts on this blog, as this blog is dedicated to her.