TO ALL MY FAMILY,
FRIENDS,
BLOG SUBSCRIBERS,
& BLOG VISITORS:
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May your holidays be filled with
the blessing of family and friends,
and may your days of celebration
be filled with joy.
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Much Love To You All,
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays
Linda
Pen & Paper My Way
I’ve loved paper and pen for as long as I can remember, and when I went to college, college only fueled my love for it a lot more. Some say I was addicted, and many have wondered what my fascination was with pen and paper; if I could write on it, I was fascinated. No matter where I was, no matter what I did, paper and pen were immediately within my reach.
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There’s nothing like opening a brand new ream of paper, fresh scent, crisp feel to it where secrets, thoughts, things in life that make no sense can be worked out, described in detail until everything inside is out of your system… A safe place, a friend, and a great therapist which can be immediately ripped to shreds, burnt up, or put away depending on the thoughts and/or the confession. I know it may sound crazy to some people, and that’s fine. However, each of us has some way of dealing with stuff. My way happens to be with pen and paper.
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With Much Love,
L.A. Knowles
May The Peace of God Fill Your Heart This Season
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR!
Black Friday shoppers mobbed the stores, filling carriages, and others making preparations as Christmas is fast approaching. Some are trimming trees already as others are just bringing out their decorations from storage to get them ready for the family tree trimming day. Some have their trees already trimmed and decorated. Houses are being decked with boughs of holly. Long held traditions are being put into action. People making sure they got all the gifts for each child as well as for family and friends on their list as they rack up credit card debt or maxing those credit cards out. Children are looking forward to Christmas vacation from school and opening all their presents. And then there is the flash forward, smiling as they think of Christmas day being with family and friends and gathering around the Christmas tree and possibly eating all day.
Let’s look at the other side of this: Little Matty wants the latest toy and Mommy has to get to the store early to pick up the latest toy while trying not to get trampled by the other parents who are also trying to get their sons and daughters the latest toy. People get stressed out as they watch the dollar amount accumulate on their credit cards. Some dude is stuck in line as he mutters something about the commercialization of Christmas while he has been waiting in line for ten plus minutes. Then there is the concern if Uncle Lou or Aunt Clara will jump over the dinner table to try to clobber Uncle Clyde or Aunt Rose. Who’s going to sit next to Aunt Hilda at the Christmas meal because she won’t let anyone get a word in edgewise? The stress runs high, blood pressure boiling, and tempers ready to hit the fan when a tray of cookies get burned or someone knocks the gravy onto the floor… I could go on and on.
SO HERE IS WHAT I HOPE FOR
EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON
(1) I hope you will be filled with the peace
that comes from God alone.
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.'” -Matthew 11:28-30
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6-7
(2) I hope you remember the real season for this season:
Jesus Christ, Son of God, Our Lord and Savior
sent by God to this Earth.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16
“Then Jesus told her, ‘I am the Messiah!'” -John 4:26
(3) I hope you remember how blessed you are as there are
those who have little to nothing or
are without family and friends.
“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” -James 1:17
MAY ALL MY FAMILY & FRIENDS,
ACQAINTANCES & BLOG READERS,
NEIGHBORS & THOSE I HAVE YET TO MEET
BE BLESSED ABUNDANTLY
THROUGH THIS SEASON AND ALWAYS!
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Much Love To All,
L.A. Knowles
“For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.” -Ephesians 2:14
Giving Thanks Is Not Just For Thanksgiving Day
PSALM 138
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
I thank you, Lord, with all my heart;
I sing praise to you before the gods.
I face your holy Temple,
bow down, and praise your name
because of your constant love and faithfulness,
because you have shown that your name
and your commands are supreme.
You answered me when I called to you;
with your strength you strengthened me.
All the kings in the world will praise you, Lord,
because they have heard your promises.
They will sing about what you have done
and about your great glory.
Even though you are so high above,
you care for the lowly,
and the proud cannot hide from you.
When I am surrounded by troubles,
you keep me safe.
You oppose my angry enemies
and save me by your power.
You will do everything you have promised;
Lord, your love is eternal.
Complete the work that you have begun.
Developing an attitude of gratitude is a daily practice.
Choose joy by being thankful every day.
Much Love To You All,
L.A. Knowles
O Technology, Why oh why do you vex me so?!
<Well I came pretty close to this…
Technology and I are having one rocky relationship right now. It’s actually a love-hate relationship especially when I’m trying to figure out what on earth is going on just on the other side of the screen… And then I think to myself, “How is it possible technology is making me feel completely inferior when it is a stupid inanimate object that right now seems to be the bane of my existence for the moment?”
While technology is wonderful and has its advantages, there are moments I would like to knock it upside the back of its head like this woman is doing in the picture. Yeah, Ma’am, I couldn’t have expressed myself any better… especially since I don’t want to destroy my computer because buying another one would require I give up cash, and at the moment, I really don’t want to.
Attiq Yomin
Let me fall before Your throne at Your feet,
My Attiq Yomin,
Where I can worship You,
And worship You alone,
And bands of angels all about,
Singing praises to Your name.
Ancient of Days,
You’re without End;
You are Everlasting to Everlasting,
Never changing;
You always remain the same.
Magnify
MAGNIFY
Written By Linda A. Knowles
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O Magnify the Lord with me-
Praise to Him, the King of kings!
And I shall lift my voice to sing of His everlasting goodness,
The goodness of The Mighty Sovereign King!
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Almighty God!
You reign supreme,
For You are the God Most High,
And none compares to You, My God,
The Holy, Righteous One.
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You are the Horn of My Salvation,
Exalted far above all the earth,
And You are strong and glorious,
Mighty to save,
Giver of Life,
Everlasting Father,
And You are One!
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Be Still & Know
“Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”
-Psalm 46:10
God’s victory is certain.
At the final victory, we’ll stand in awe, speechless before the All Powerful God. It is only right to honor Him and greatly revere Him while we have breath, to give Him honor and to glorify Him, beholding His splendor and majesty.
As we walk with God, it is important to take time out daily to be still in His presence, recognizing and knowing He is God, worthy of all praise and honor.
Acknowledge God
“Acknowledge that the Lord is good! He made us, and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.”
-Psalm 100:3
As children of God, we’re to acknowledge God in all we do. When we praise Him and speak of His goodness and His glory, we’re focusing on and acknowledging the One Who Created us and the One Who has ordered our steps. When we obey God, we acknowledge He is Lord over all, seeking only His approval, not man’s approval. When we worship and bow before Him, we’re acknowledging Him as King. No one compares to Him, and there is no other God but Him. When we daily submit and present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God, we’re acknowledging His sovereignty in our lives.
Let’s remember to keep our focus on Him, recognizing He is God and in control. He is the Rock, and He is bigger than any problem or circumstance. Never forget His goodness, and always count the blessings He has given you.
Be blessed, and have a great day, Everyone!
Learn To Embrace Changes
Change is not an easy thing for us, but change is necessary if there is to be growth. We can either let circumstances and problems shape us through the time they are happening or let them defeat us, but it is through the process of change, our metamorphosis, our character is strengthened; that time of change is a time for learning what our strengths and weaknesses are. Rather than fight whatever problem or circumstances you find yourself in, embrace it. Ask yourself what can you learn even through the most difficult times of life. The end result of change is all of us being made more beautiful.
Nothing Gold Can Stay By Robert Frost
*POEM BY ROBERT FROST*
NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf,
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day
Nothing gold can stay.
Damsel in Distress
DAMSEL IN DISTRESS
Written By Linda A. Knowles
Peeled herself up off the floor,
Her world – Fallen apart,
Feeling hopeless.
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She is the damsel in distress.
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Everything she knew,
She now no longer knew;
And what she didn’t know,
She now knew.
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As she crumpled once again to the floor…
No place to call her own,
Except for her place in Heaven,
Longing for her eternal home,
And seeing things around her she needs to live for.
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She called out,
Though nothing came from her mouth,
And she shouted out,
Though no one could hear.
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The tears that streaked her face seemed never-ending,
And the tire tracks of nervousness,
Imprinted on her heart, mind, body, soul.
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She rode out her nights,
Imprisoned in her mind,
Woke up terrified by screaming,
To find it was her own.
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She not knowing where to go,
Not knowing what to do,
She could only look upward,
And in her cries of desperation,
Not heard by anyone,
Were heard by the Father above,
Who rapped His arms around her in love.
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The road has been long,
And weary she has been,
Still traveling this road,
That will soon come to an end.
Stained Glass Confessions 