The Lies We Believe

Every day we’re faced with the choice of what we will believe about ourselves. There will be voices of lies and truth. What we choose to listen to can and will change the trajectory of our life. I ask, “What will you believe about yourself today?”

There is greatness inside everyone of us that God wants to manifest. Purpose and plans that lead to peace and an abundant life. However, if we’re listening to the wrong voice we will never get there.

I came across this picture while searching for quotes on Pinterest. If you take a few minutes and take it in you will see the powerful message it tells. In a time where we’ve excessive bullying at all levels I can’t help but ask, “What lies are you believing about yourself?” The reality of this picture caught my attention as I see so many with potential caving into the lies of others and the media who seek to steal their hopes and dreams while creating confusion over their identity and so much more.

I pray today you will not listen to the voice of lies and will listen for the voice of Truth. The voice of One who sees your beauty and potential. The voice of the One who looks at you with love and acceptance. The voice of the One who came to speak life and not death. May it be that you believe in all you were created to be and so much more.

“The Lord your God is in your midst. A victorious warrior He will exult over you with joy. He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17

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Table For One?

Ecclesiastes 4:9 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.”

After a 21 year marriage I thought I’d never get used to flying solo. But I did. In the beginning it was not so easy nor comfortable and then there came a day it felt OK. Over the years I’ve learned to embrace it and enjoy it for many different reasons. However, there are days it can be challenging, like when I would like someone to take out the garbage or fill my gas tank! 

Now, with all kidding aside the best part of my singleness has been having the time to learn more about myself and grow my faith in God. 

Before moving to So Cal a little over 2 years ago the family dynamics were such that I spent more time caring for others than myself. This was not all bad until I began to lose myself along with the dreams tucked away in the secret places of my heart. But then something amazing happened, in spite of the circumstances surrounding me God orchestrated things in my life I never could have on my own and I landed in Newport! Such a beautiful location and one I would’ve not chosen for myself for all of the obvious reasons….mainly feeling unworthy of such beautiful surroundings.

My move to So Cal is one of many blessings and ways God has shown love and care for me. Throughout my successes and failures God remains faithful and I can always count on him to work in my life in spite of my ability to get in his way! 

Yes, I get in his way. Lately I’ve been asking myself this question, “Lorna, What blessings have you blocked or put on hold due to your lack of faith and trust in the God you say you love?”  

If I’m honest with myself, I can think of plenty of times I’ve blown it and lost out on something good. These past couple of months I’ve felt out of synch in a few different areas of life and most importantly with God. Of course I recognized this by my lack of patience and more so when irritability became my new best friend. 

In many of our relationships we find there will be days we have less patience, become weary or irritable. This doesn’t mean we don’t care but it does mean we need to stop and check ourselves because whenever we invest time and energy into anything in life that doesn’t produce the end result we’d hoped for it can leave us out of synch. (Meaning , hurt, frustrated, disallusioned etc.)

So after some much needed R&R I ventured over to Sedona Arizona a place where hearts can heal and our spiritual side is awakened. It is here and alone with God I’ve been able to realign my heart and find rest.
It doesn’t matter how much of life or relationship that gets in the way of what’s important we can always count on, God! His love never changes. No matter how many times we get in his way He always has more blessing waiting for us! More healing! And more life to experience with him!   

The last 5 days could not have been planned more perfectly or in a more divine location for what my heart and soul needed at this time. 

Have you heard the saying, love will happen when you least expect it. Well I say, God always shows up when you least expect it! 

There is so much more to share but I need to go catch my flight home! But for now here is a small example of how God whispers gentle reminders of how he sees and knows our heart and wants to splash us with hope!

My Red Rock Balloon ride offered two balloons and I thought I would be in the one with those who picked me up at 5:30am for this big adventure! Interestingly enough when we got to the site I met a woman who was vacationing on her own as well. We hit it off and we assumed we were on the same balloon ride. However, they called me over and put me in a balloon with none of those who rode over in my van. I was bummed because this group was looking fun! But as we launched into the morning sun with a mild wind brushing against our face I quickly forgot I was alone.  There  amazing views from 1050 feet up in the air looking over a 12 man basket! As I was quietly thanking God for this trip I heard the young man in front of me ask, “Will you marry me?”

No, he wasn’t asking me! Lol! I mean he was in front of me and exactly an arms length away with his sweet soon to be fiancée.  They both serve in the Navy! I looked down and in his hand he held a little white box with a diamond ring that would steal the breath away from any woman. It was exquisite!  

Of course she was crying and then I began to cry as I watched them embrace. As I looked out over the Red Rock to give them their moment I was gently reminded of God’s beauty and majestic ways he reminds us of how he hears and he sees us. 

When we feel out of synch with life we can always count on God to pull us in close to remind us that all good things come to those who wait.  

Until next time!

Thursday Night’s NightCap

As I was contemplating what to blog I had to ask myself why is it that I’ve been feeling so emotional. I can name a few reasons but tonight I am putting the blame on the new dating site I recently joined. Yes, for 2-months I’ve been on a dating site that has humbled me with plenty of rejection! Think about it, as one prepares to join a dating site I can only assume like me they feel it is a good way to meet someone when life is busy and you don’t hang out in bars.

So, with a little push and a little shove from friends and family I took the plunge and signed up.

I find myself online with others who have opened up their hearts so that other lonely hearts can feed off of them. Beware of the bottom feeders!  Men and women both prey on those they feel may make them happy. They send a smile, an email or a wink with hopes of finding love or getting something in return. Now I’ve “heard” of success stories where people have met, have fallen in love and married. But I’ve met no one this has actually happened to. Have you?

What I’ve concluded after emails, winks, calls and some dates is that it takes courage, and thick skin to put your heart and picture out there for others to read and evaluate. We must be confident and ready for, well just about anything! We must know how to accept rejection, and how to kindly reject others because like it or not it’s going to happen to all of us.

So for some giggles as we sip, drink or gulp I am going to share a story or two;

I received an email from a guy who wanted to talk because he felt our profiles were a match. Ok, I check out his profile and we seem to have quite a bit in common (great pics of him healthy and active)  Our conversation is easy and humorous.  I’m thinking not bad, it’s comfortable and so far no odd quiet moments. As we’re wrapping up the call he proceeds to tell me there is one thing he needs to share with me. My first thought, “Ok, now what?” He then tells me he’d like to get together but just one problem he was in a motorcycle accident a month ago and can’t drive or walk. Seriously? Like I am going to a house of someone I don’t know to pick them up, throw their walker/wheelchair in the back of my car to take them for coffee? Or better yet, I am going to the house of someone who I don’t know hoping he is who he says is and he really is a good guy! Let it be known one of my favorite shows is America’s Most Wanted, and let’s not forget I was married to a police officer.

As I was contemplating my fate on this site I began to feel the need to remove my profile because I was over the top with these men my age who ONLY want to date someone that’s half their age. Or like the one guy I talked to that could not stop asking me if I thought he was nice looking!

Or what about the guy who after 5 dates wants to give me 5 days out of the country, anywhere I want to go. He lays down his black American Express and informs me this card has a lot of money on it!  But I said to him, wow I don’t even know your last name! And let’s not forget the guy I met online and discovered we are neighbors!  After a few dates he too wanted to take me away but when I graciously explained to him that it was too early for that he disappeared for 3 days.  And then on the third day he was seen whizzing by in his jeep with another chick and his surf board!

Truly one must find humor in using online dating because these types of sites can mess with your mind!  They can make you second guess who you are, if you’re pretty enough, thin enough, and make you question your self-worth.

My biggest discovery with online dating is that rejection doesn’t feel good. I don’t like it. It makes me put my walls back up in order to protect myself and I’ve worked hard to bring those walls down in order to be ready to invite love back in. I definitely don’t want some dating site to interfere with all of the good work God has done to prepare me for my season of dating!

However, I think for now I am going to keep the profile up because after all, I paid for it.  And because I am still a hopeless romantic I’d like to go back to the days of “You’ve Got Mail”, “Must Love Dogs”, and “Sleepless in Seattle” when love came with honor and respect. One thing I know for sure is I will not stop believing for my man!  I know he is out there and together God and I will find him!

Sleep well and Sweet dreams!