Random Act Of Kindness

I love random acts of kindness. It always does my heart good to give to others, especially if they do not know who I am. Yesterday, the shoe was on the other foot. After a full day, I was making my way to pick up my husband on the other side of town in rain and rush hour traffic. As I pulled into the toll booth on Powhite Parkway, the attendant informed me, "the man in front of you paid for your toll!" I thanked the attendant and continued on my journey.

WOW! What a blessing. Seventy cents is a lot of money in these economic times! This random act of kindness made me smile. My day was certainly brighter because of this gesture.

~Have you ever been the recipent of GODS love and kindness at another humans hand? If so, How did it make you feel?

~Have you performed random acts of kindness? If so, How did it make you feel?

Smiling with a heart full of HIS blessings,
Andrea

"Just Enough"

As I gazed upon the beautiful February "full moon" I saw abundant blessings. The darkness lit "just enough" for me to see! Often, I want to see farther into the future. However, GOD desires my focus! He gives me "just enough" light for the path HE has so delicately and carefully placed me on. As I continue to take the next steps on this journey, I will be more appreciative of the here and now and leave the future to HIM who loves me/us most!

Where are you on your journey?

Are you trying to gaze to far into the future losing sight on what HE has for you now?

By HIS mercy and in the grip of HIS grace,

Andrea

The Wind and The Waves

"But now, God's Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
   the One who got you started, Israel:
"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.
   I've called your name. You're mine.
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
   When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
   it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
   The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
   all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That's how much you mean to me!
   That's how much I love you!
I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,
   trade the creation just for you." Isaiah 43:1-4 The Message

No matter how turbulent the wind and the waves are in your life, HE is faithful to see you through. Stand on HIS promises and never let go!

By HIS mercy and in the grip of HIS grace,

Andrea

Happy Valentines Day

[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:7-8
Happy Valentines Day!

Andrea

Resting In HIS Arms

"But that's exactly how you will be addressed. God will speak to this people In baby talk, one syllable at a time— and he'll do it through foreign oppressors. He said before, "This is the time and place to rest, to give rest to the weary. This is the place to lay down your burden." But they won't listen." Isaiah 28:11 The Message

Listen to GOD! Lay your heavy burden at HIS feet and rest in HIS arms. Do "not" become entangled in the trappings of this world. Whatever you are facing, remember: The battle belongs to the LORD! Worry is not your friend.

Resting in the arms of my Savior,

Andrea

~Thank you for your continued prayers for each of my friends who are in the midst of medical crisis. Two friends with breast cancer and one with a stroke. GOD BLESS you for your faithfulness to pray!

Stylish Blogger Award

Nancy at Boomers and Scribblers nominated me for the Stylish Blogger Award! Nancy has been a faithful follower of Arise 2 Write for a long time. She is a blessing and has become a friend and devoted sister in the Lord. Please visit Nancy and you will be touched by her sincere and genuine faith, just as I have been.

A part of receiving this award is sharing seven things about myself, so here goes:

1)Like some of you, I am challenged by circumstances from my childhood. My Heavenly Father has been the constant in my life, giving me the desire to write from a very early age. He continues to use writing to heal and restore my heart. Whatever is going on in your life right now, I challenge you to "write your way through it!"

2)I am the daughter of two parents who did not plan or want me. They were very young and married as a result of my conception. I was primarily raised by my maternal grandparents. They are fully responsible for giving me a foundation of faith and love!

3)I am the oldest of three daughters. My middle sister, Courtney lives many miles away, but we are best of friends! My youngest sister, Dayna was tragically killed in 1989. She is never more than a thought away.

4)I am the mother of three sons and two daughters. We have a blended family, but in both mine and my husbands hearts each of our children is "ours!" God brought us together and has beautifully blessed both us and our children. The blending process was challenging and sometimes painful, but I  am thankful HE knew what was best for each of us.

5)Recently, I accepted GOD's call to write a memoir or memoirs about my childhood. I have passionately embraced this call, yet there are days I am passionately running in the opposite direction.

6)I am the mom to three therapy dogs. I trained them and have been blessed to be the human at the end of the leash as GOD uses them in the lives of many.

7)My dream would be to have my own mountain with a small cabin. My dream cabin would have indoor plumbing and heat and a/c. I am a bit spoiled. My mountain would have a fence around the base so my dogs could roam free. So now you know the real me!

I am passing this award to the following bloggers:

1)Rich Gifts: I would not have a beautiful blog without Edie at Rich Gifts. She is a beautiful woman with a beautiful heart who is very tech savvy. She is responsible for the blog design of Arise 2 Write.

2)Divinely Designed: I would not be a blogger if it were not for the persistence of Mary. She pushed, shoved, and drug me by the hair of the head into the blog world. She has been a faithful friend and prayer warrior, despite the physical injuries, ha ha! Mary is also a published author and professional speaker. She has an expensive bio, too long to list here!

3)To each of my followers: Each of you have a stylish and unique blog, all beautiful in their own way. Please accept this award and post it on your blogs. Each of you deserve it. 


By HIS mercy and in the grip of HIS grace,

Andrea

~Please continue to pray for my friends. Several friends are in the midst of medical crisis. Please pray for me as I try to be the best friend I can be for each of them.

"Nothing Gold Can Stay"

In October, I drove to South Carolina for a family funeral. While there, I visited my baby sister, Dayna's grave. I took this picture from her grave. What a view. I miss her terribly, but I am comforted by the beauty surrounding her grave. In the midst of deep pain, my heart is blessed by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Once again, I am reminded of how deeply GOD cares about the details of my life.

Dayna's tombstone is flat and has her favorite poem on it. Each time I read this poem, I think of my beautiful baby sister and how Robert Frost captured our hearts so very well.

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.

By: Robert Frost

By His mercy and in the grip of HIS grace,

Andrea

~Please pray for several of my friends who are in the midst of medical crisis. I will spending this week and part of next taking each of them for biopsies and surgeries! GOD BLESS each of you!