Breakthroughs & Miracles; Miracles & Breakthroughs prays (me!) ~tops
last year, the phrase that God placed on my heart was
'let that be enough'. and i employed the wisdom throughout the entire year. -sometimes it helped me lessen a heavy load; i.e., it's not perfect, but it's very good;
let very good be enough. -sometimes it helped me see in advance things i temporarily wanted; but absolutely did not need; i.e., i was on such a high after seeing the michael jackson one show in vegas.. when i went inside the gift/souvenir store after.. oh! i wanted so much..
let seeing the show be enough.. and so i left with only two pens -and really, that was more than enough.. the show itself!! best ever, ever, ever..
***
this new year, 2022, the words God has placed on my heart, "Miracles & Breakthroughs; Breakthroughs & Miracles" (repeat)
I have more personal experience with breakthroughs than i do miracles; but i do have plenty of experience with both..
oh! to be in receipt and experience either one.. but to experience BOTH! well, actually,
i think breakthroughs feel like miracles when you actually achieve/experience them
so, sexy and i, we continue to pray every. single. morning. -he does a longer, itemized, specific and very beautiful prayer that encompasses all of our loved ones; family, friends.. i do a more brief prayer vocally, but pray without ceasing, internally.
and we continue to watch our church tv shows 7 days a week, 365..
but included in our prayers for all of our loved ones, for our family, immediate & extended, for our friends, both tried & true and relatively new..
Breakthroughs! Miracles! for each and every one of you! Experiential! Glorifying our trustworthy, praiseworthy God.. Miracles! Breakthroughs! in Jesus Name
***
and let me close this post, by sharing my understanding of what a breakthrough, and what a miracle is:
BREAKTHROUGH -Ephesians 6:12
-For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
-addictions, insecurities, debts, anything self-destructive, or other-destructive, anything that tears down vs. builds up and edifies, anything dark, evil, negative that has a power over your heart, mind, spirit, soul, thoughts, attitudes, behaviors.. -life; anything that steals or threatens to steal your peace and/or joy; and each person knows what that is for themselves..
"A BREAKTHROUGH!" -that you experience FREEDOM from that negative control/power over you, and instead, experience GOD'S GLORIOUS FREEDOM
-John 8:36
-If therefore the Son shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed.
so, a breakthrough.. that is when you are FREE INDEED! /Bishop T.D. Jakes has an excellent sermon on being 'free indeed!'
***
MIRACLE -Acts 2:22
-Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among your through him, as you yourselves know.
i have already written on my definition/experience with miracles, so just link that here.
"CH!!" Kathy Cordova's word... 'miracle!' Jim Ott's word... 'renaissance' "CH!!"
my word! "verve!"
and in addition to God placing on my heart, 'breakthroughs & miracles; miracles & breakthroughs'
God also placed on my heart, THIS VERY MORNING. a new word; not for me individually [verve]
but placed on my heart a word for sexy and i; together; as a team.. "EVERLASTING!"
Mark 10:9 -Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
***
John 10:10
so many lives, over so many generations, as far back as you can research and as far ahead as you can imagine.. human lives proving out/living out this scripture: John 10:10
There is an enemy alive and well; dark forces.. strongholds.. evil... wickedness... a pit each other against; ugly and dividing force -stealing peace and joy
There is a God, and there is a Jesus.. and there is a Holy Spirit... light/free life forces... breakthroughs.. love... compassion/understanding... a fellowship; a beautiful and uniting force... -a source for our peace and joy; abundance
it is all taking place; all of the time; in the spiritual realm... you experience it; you feel it; you know it.. but you can't take pictures of it; see it.. explain it.. prove it in a secular court of flesh/blood law..
but it is true:
John 10:10 The thief (devil/enemy) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they (you; all who believe) may have life, and have it to the full.
1 John 5:4 -For whosoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith."
John 1: 5 -I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
2 Corinthians 5:20 -We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf; Be reconciled to God.
John 3:17 -For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
on behalf of all of us who have been rescued and restored to wholeness; saved! on behalf of all of us who are 'more than conquerors' (Romans 8:31) -all of us who made it through the pit, to the palace..
all of us 'who did not grow weary in doing good'
all of us who are living a victorious life -all of us who understand we are God's soldiers in spiritual warfare
and that the victory has already been won
Love conquers all
"Thank You Jesus!" hallelujah & amen.
JUSTIFICATION FOR A FLAT SCREEN TV: TED.COM
for the first time, i do wish i (or the local coffee shop) had a big flat screen tv, hooked up to the internet, so i could watch ted.com, with family/friends on a great big screen. i can't get enough.
/picturing 21st century juke boxes with ted.com presentations on the menu...
this website has my attention like no other -i'm loggin' in at every leisure moment for more.
my favorite presentation so far is jill bolte, but i love them all:
christopher decharms, anna deavere smith, eve ensler, daniel dennet, amy tan, bob thurman, robert wright, vilayanur ramachandran, malcolm gladwell
it's a dream come true.
***
may is full of miracles
big and small
this is what my pen wrote during a recent automatic listening/writing session. -and i've two miracles to report so far
my neighbor.. alive w/neck brace, but here to tell the story of a recent car accident on 680.. someone cutting him off, sending his car rolling over and over.. he is participating in a type of therapy i can't recall the name of.. but it helps not only address the physical injuries, but helps release the emotional trauma also -many prayers- for everyone involved in and touched by this accident
MIRACLE TWO
i met with kathy cordova at coffee beans n' bistro around 10:15 in the morning.. after a wonderful visit (thank you kathy!) -went home, continued on with the responsibilities of the day..
3:30pm - 4 o'clockish.. went to grab my JOURNAL.. handwritten JOURNAL.. 67 out of 70 pages FILLED HANDWRITTEN JOURNAL and it was nowhere to be found
checked every drawer, closet, table top, pile of papers, laundry basket..
in the car, on the car, under the car..
and then realized that maybe i left it at the coffee shop. i bolted to the coffee shop, turning my panic into a casual stroll once inside.. trying real hard to act cool, casual.. like -hey- if i find it, great, if i don't -no big deal-
but i ask you -fellow writers and journalers- which would you rather forget at a coffee shop
your newborn or your 67 out of 70 pages filled handwritten journal? -and the thing is,
you have to stop and think about it for a minute
i mean, you can always make another baby, -write.
so -GLORY BE TO GOD- and THANKS BE to the kind man with the lap top, and anyone else who sat at the table between 11a and 4p who did not take my journal
so i could find it, exactly where i left it, and return to a normal life.
****
TWO TRUE STORIES: my favorite story -shared with me on the bleachers during my daughters softball game by a fellow mom.
her father, 86 years old, i believe (or close). stroke survivor.. at home, and recently surviving a series of smaller strokes -tia's- too. receiving home care by a nurse so many hours each day
her mom, his one and only wife of many years .. also in her 80's.. also battling age-related illnesses
but still finding a way to get to the store and shop
-for a baby monitor-
so she could secretly spy-in and listen to the conversations between her husband and the nurse during his daily bath.
i love this woman!
*****
I TRIED: my heart was in the write place. really it was. both my kids and i ... with cup and cardboard trying to capture the spider without killing it, and transport it outdoors to safety
but the damn thing was SO BIG! so CREEPY CRAWLY.. kept moving SO FAST.. those 37 GIANT LEGS
"NO GAPS! NO HOLES.. HE'LL ESCAPE! HOLD THE PAPER FLAT!!" taryn and i were yelling at jack loud and obnoxious -terrified- with one slip of his hand that spider would fly out and kill us all
so -got the attention of young boy on his way to the local middle school
"hey.. you afraid of bugs? can you help us out?"
and then we backed up. backed away. real silent.. watching as he -real casual like- slid the paper under the glass jar, lifted the spider chest high, walked out to the curb
and from that distance -his chest- he separated the glass jar from the paper, turned it upside down, shook.. and we watched as the spider fell some
87 floors worth in spiderland to the cement street.
and so i'm not so sure that went exactly as planned. -if you save a spiders life, but it's say,
paralyzed in the process. not sure how karma records that one.
i wonder these things...
like -what if it was a poinous spider?- and we save its life, not knowing, and then it goes and bites an innocent being..?..
... so many questions
and then later -dawned on jack-
"hey," he said, "you guys were yelling all loud, making me nervous, yelling and screaming when i was holding the glass jar, but when he came around, you got all quiet.. made it easy for him
that's not fair."
"you're write," i said.. "sorry about that.. "
-and i could see how his 8 year old mind was at work.. upset i'd called in another young boy to accomplish the rescue mission he was quite capable of doing if we'd only shut up for a minute and give the kid some space
let the record show -our fault- not his.
love n' thanks n' apologies -phobic mommy-
I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES (me!) sandra, ttgp
"
i believe in miracles!" "i believe I WILL get to meet, hug, thank, get an autograph AND picture with Dr Maya Angelou when she is in Oakland for the dedication of the REMEMBER THEM monument." ~for this i pray and thank kathy cordova:
"thank you kathy cordova! -oh! i'm in love with this sculptor, this sculpture, everyone (every human story) it helps us remember. "
The
Remember Them educational monument will be the:
Largest cast bronze representational sculpture west of the Mississippi
First grouping in the United States of international humanitarian portraits
First representational monument in the United States that honors diversityLargest sculpture of Maya Angelou in the worldLargest sculpture of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the world
Largest sculpture of Mother Teresa in the world
Largest sculpture of Thich Nhat Hanh in the world
First depiction of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King in a sculpture together
First time that "March on Selma" figures, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, and Ralph Abernathy have been sculpted and placed in a public setting
***
lots more information available on the website:
http://www.remember-them.org/portfolio.cfm?imageID=185http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?video_id=YFwwM9WhL2w&rel=1&eurl=http%3A//www.remember-them.org/pressnews.cfm&iurl=http%3A//i.ytimg.com/vi/YFwwM9WhL2w/default.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskLP3ID5K5h0w6wygRq4BC2V
LET GO, LET MIRACLES HAPPEN, Kathy Cordova
confession 1a) i sent a congratulations note to this author when, this, her first book, was published in 2003. in 2003, however, i was putting in 28 hour days so did not have time to read her work. i read "about her" and "about her first published book" in newspapers, but not until a couple months ago did i sit down with it, open it, start reading. -slowly, completely, every word, sentence by sentence, page by page. it is nothing less than wonderful; so much more than i imagined. six chapters of brief autobiographical retellings of sufferings each person faced, the process they employed to transcend their pain, and then, most valuable i thought, the resulting wisdom.
confession 2a) kathy cordova was a student of mine when i taught creative non-fiction back in the day. and, so delighted really, to find on page 4, my class is mentioned! (kinda), like this:
...
A local community center class rekindled my passion for writing, long ago buried under the rubble of my success.
Within a year of taking that first class, I had been published..
(local community center class! yahoo! that was my class! that just makes my day! thanks kathy! ~every instructor's dream i think; to rekindle passions!)
AND,
grace navalta, who authors, when lightning strikes, story found on page 176... she was my student too! i had a very talented group of people in there!
pg 176, when lightning strikes, grace navalta: a good friend recently asked me, "ever worry that life is going along too perfectly? that lightning will strike and something horrendous will happen, that changes your life forever?"
"no," i answered honestly, "i don't worry, because it already has and we're okay. we're doing just fine." (unfolds beautiful story about her daughter arianna, born with prader-willi syndrome).
introduction/kathy cordova: .. the good news is miracles. instead of working so hard to find or create magic in our lives, we can relax, go with the flow, work together in harmony with a power greater than ourselves, and experience more love, joy, and purpose than we ever imagined. and the formula is simple: love and surrender.
http://www.spiritualsurrender.comkathy@spiritualsurrender.comCongratulations Again Kathy Cordova and Grace Navalta! ~sandra
naming miracles... (me!) sandra, tvgp
stealing the show at alden lane on a rainy day
there were several people looking out the window from the garden store.. obviously mesmerized by something.. and when I inquired.. turns out it was this show stopper. you can see from the picture at the top, the attraction; especially, on an otherwise gray, rainy, cold day
but what you cant see from that angle, is this:
-how this gorgeous flock of flowers reaches out from the fence
-as if it is stretching, reaching, with all its might
grasping
there was a brief flash in my imagination of a crowd of people
at a baseball game; fans in the stadium.. everyone reaching out in hopes of catching the fly ball..
and when I learned its proper
-not proper, but its current -scientific?- name
terrible.
not to offend, but the analogy for (me!) would be..
have you ever met a particularly attractive person; someone who just takes
your breath away, but then you learn their name..
and there is huge disconnect.
that's how it felt.
and often times at alden lane, i'll learn the formal name of a given spectacular plant, flower or tree and it is.. usually something that,
A. I cannot pronounce
B. I will never remember
C. I cannot spell properly without research..
D. don't like
E. doesn't match the appearance of..
i'm always light heartedly saying.. this is when you need some poets
these scientists..?!
but then there are a large number of plants, flowers, trees
miracles, all of them
that DO HAVE, what is referred to as a
COMMON NAME ("thank you!" to everyone who has contributed here)
and, what common name ='s is, -prettier, easier to say, remember and spell and a better match of sounds to appearance.
what is a great, perfect example? I will come back to this..
the point today, is that,
apparently, according to the passionate professionals/knowledgeable sources/certified/trained horticulturists at alden lane
this very spectacular living, breathing, reaching, grasping, golden
show-stopper, sunshine on a rainy day flower-tree above
does not yet have a common name!!
it only has this name:
leucadendron
/honest to God, who comes up with these names? we forgive you.
I mean, I do respect the identification process.. and you know how I adore scientists
but, come on
step back and look three times at these pictures -please!
leucadendron * proteaceae * fynbos * shrub
no, no, no..
this will never do.
so I was very excited then to learn, it does not yet have a common name,
because that means we can come up with our own!
sunshine on a rainy day. yes. maybe. closer.
-there is something so pronounced about the way it reaches/grasps..
how vibrant.. how showie~offie
then, I was thinking.. how can we remember the formal name...
maybe something that phonetically connects it..
so,
leuc.. sounds like, -luke!
then I came across this passage from the Bible:
and decided yes! -so for (me!),
the common name, I have projected on this sensational creature is:
The Golden Luke 2:40, /how is that as a batting average?
it does come in other colors! so, adjust accordingly..
In Jesus magnificently creative vibrant name, ~amen!
just push God button. On (me!) sandra, tvgp
everyone has buttons. and i am fond of the expression, ".. So n so sure knows how to push (his or her) button.
they are short cuts to sensitive areas. quick paths to getting someone all stirred or riled up. the younger a person is
spiritually speaking, not chronologically speaking
the more visible buttons they have; easy to see, access and push..
in fact, you don't even have to push the button; just very lightly and barely touch.
the older/wiser/more spiritually seasoned a person is..
the less buttons they have, and, of the ones you can find.. you must really exert extra effort to reveal any sensitive, impulsive reactions...
so, the easier a person can be provoked; the younger they are, spiritually speaking
and the harder; the older and wiser..
I self assess then at ...
" oh! You don't even know what you are talking about! come on! -that is like the stupidest thing I've ever seen! -some guy flipping a coin, chicken scratch on a paper and comparing it to miracles!
-come on people... you can't be that stupid..."
12.
***
my son set me up this time.. had me watch Morgan freeman and .. Title? The story of God. (?)
I have seen several episodes of through the wormhole.. but this was new to me. gotta love that Morgan freeman though, -tackles God, creation, religion, science, evolution from every angle..
/and I have to notice in which direction he ultimately leans..
anyway. No time to rewatch. Pause. Respond. As I wish I could. Just notes from memories of:
my own personal definition of a miracle is an event/occurrence which transcends/breaks -on earth, natural laws.
so, you cannot have a miracle, without natural laws first existing
but! aren't natural laws, here on earth, their manifestation, -a bit of a miracle themselves.. -because they manifested from what environment. -see.
Oh I love this kind of thing.
so, a miracle on earth is not necessarily what a miracle in a different atmosphere would be..
where the laws change; so does what constitutes a miracle.
***
the other standout for me was Buddhism. -noble spiritual practices. I am a fan & student of detaching from material things; or at least not over chasing or worshiping or over prioritizing them.. I am a fan and student of peace of mind, healing, love..
Compassion.
and as you know; every fruit of the spirit. -it is when they spoke of
Ending suffering. as I see it, -attachment to material things is one of many, -not the exclusive, way we self-inflict suffering..
evil, insecurities, loss of love (love is not material..) fear is not material... Psychological, biological, emotional, physical suffering..
but the upshot for me: while we aim to end what suffering we can, restricted by our mortal, human limitations:
cures for cancers; addictions; violence.. on and on..
where there is life; so is there suffering. and suffering can be used for the good, -all things can be used for the good
or not.
so worth repeating two things here: the bible passage, romans 8:28, God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
and.. I always revisit my own spiritual philosophy:
we come to earth with instructions. what we love to do, instructs us on what we are here to do. and what suffering we endure, instructs us on who we are here to help.
a very important thing to look at is, the common denominator of suffering for all of humanity.
I have mentioned before my distinction between religion and spiritual laws. religion as rules/regulations/cultural/political/guidelines created and adhered to by its members; very human in nature. club like..
and spiritual laws are spiritual laws because they apply to ALL of humanity, transcending religions.. despite religion..
The fruits of the spirit then are spiritual laws, while Christianity, Judaism, Muslim. -are religions.
So, love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control are spiritual laws
and so is suffering.
In Jesus trustworthy name.. amen!
***
P.s. if random events start to occur with ANY predictability whatsoever; they cease to be random. The word is over and misused with great frequency. -self included.
Miracles, Breakthroughs, Answered Prayers! #Mondo @writeousmom
now, the only thing i do more than write; "take pictures!" ~mamarazzi
and i have some 500+ from our recent travels, celebrations, family visits, sightseeing, hikes, meals.
so, will be a little bit before i can organize; edit; post
but WOW are we ever swimming in back-to-back blessings and gratitude. "Thank You! Jesus!" hallelujah & amen
***
in the meantime; 2 recent CH (cerebral hyperlinks). -repeating myself i know, but with a 'trigger' it just opens; you can't chose .. (you can train to respond differently); with a hyperlink, you can chose.. you can bypass, or, choose to click and open and explore your own memories
CH! LOVE this one... i remember writing...
#mondo @writeousmom
MBA
..Miracles, Breakthroughs, Answered prayers...
enormously grateful for,
local hikes, driveway happy hours, paint parties
~the most awesome friends and neighbors
"Thank You Jesus! Amen!"
i spy with my filoli eye.... (me!) sandra, tvgp #filoli
oh! the pictures I have to share from filoli! I will be in pain until I have to time to edit; share.. but! before I forget.. have to share/capture/post my favorite line of the day..from my friend Gerry's granddaughter.. who thoroughly enjoyed the treasure hunt booklet provided by filoli for children.. so of course, I asked Gerry if she had taken her granddaughter to alden lane to hunt for the fairy doors -and she had not.
granddaughter: "will you take me there to find the fairy doors..."
Gerry: "yes.. i'll take you someday.."
granddaughter: "but can we go while i'm still 6 years old"
***
oh! I fell in love with this sweet, beautiful child... newest recruit to the heart seen team:
now, I have more pictures/stories than I have time/patience.. my photos, that used to load instantaneously, now take forever, so i'll upload just a few each day, for the next several days.. and of course, if you are on the heart seen team, you need to also be a photographer, so I gave her my camera.. and she did a great job!
"do a funny pose"
contributions to the heart seen:
I spy with my filoli eye:
way cool to (me!): /+ the heart seen in this one
i spy snuffaluffagus:
miracles on a stem:
and these sweet peas are so fragrant...
a million opportunities to marvel... filoli.
and my new favorite succulent:
truth be told, mansions, big fancy, formal spaces, with luxurious/expensive furniture.. these areas do not speak to me in a way that nature does.. i'm a funky, casual, creative, eclectic.. ricks picks kind of person.. oh! I would love to take one of those ultra formal rooms and.. you know, -help
but I joked, -exactly because every room is so.. larger than some of the apartments, duplexes, townhomes, mobile homes, ive lived in;... the individual rooms, and each had something very entertaining.. a piano, or incredible library, or place for tea..
"if you were a kid, and your parent gave you a time out.. 'go to your room!' -you'd be like,
"okay!"
so,
I took only one picture:
but the marble fireplace; gorgeous... the tapestries.. the design that went into... the detail...
the paintings, inspiration...
the gifts/talents of everyone contributing.. initially, and maintaining...
there is something to behold around every corner, down every hallway, throughout every space,
but for (me!)
"the gardens!" and so close with a public "thank you!" to lurline b. roth
In Jesus...
In God so loved gardens too, name. amen.
***
this marks my 2nd out of the bubble adventure with Gerry... my cherished new friend from alden lane "thank you too!"
remember when we went to
Europe on bart..
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