Pet Pardons

My blog today is dedicated to Ashley Owen Hill, founder of Pet Pardons. She put into words what I have been trying to say all along... sometimes we are left with no words...speechless for the things we care about most. Thank you, Ashley for writing this beautiful blog.

http://luckydogrescueblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/test.html

Holy Spirit

This week I have been missing my grandma like crazy and ironically my "homework" for the Starting Point class at church is "Holy Spirit".

We were asked to explore what "the Holy Spirit" is...how do we connect with this mysterious apparition? What does it sound like? Feel like? How do we know it's there... sitting next to us in the passenger seat on the way to work, or maybe next to us in Yoga class?

We are told to honor the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. And we know who the Father and Son are...but who or what exactly is "the Holy Ghost"?

I was in Ann Arbor yesterday for the Art Festival and I parked at Briarwood Mall to take the shuttle. I ran inside to Macy's to use the bathroom and there was a cute older couple in front of me. The woman reminded me SO MUCH of my grandma. How she interacted with her husband, her mannerisms, the way she smiled at me when she opened the bathroom door. I just FELT the presence of my grandma and it made me smile.

I feel like God gives us little glimpses of the people we lose to death... maybe a reminder of the joy they left behind or reassurance that their spirit lives on in the afterlife? Since we had a close, personal relationship with that person before they died, I think God also uses their spirit to get closer to us. God seeks a close, personal relationship with us every way possible. He loves us that much!

At my grandma's celebration of life last September we played the song "I can only imagine" and every time I hear it now I can "feel" her...wrapping her arms around me with a musical hug.

(excerpt from Starting Point) Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the "counselor" that lives inside us. Even though Jesus is not visible, we can experience intimacy with God when we listen and follow the prompting of that still, small voice in our hearts. Our intimacy with God is not based on keeping a list of rules. As a member of God's family you have God with you...in you...as a still, small voice and powerful force. Thus living your life with God is simply a matter of following him whenever prompted. And while it's not the same as interacting with a visible person, we can learn to listen to God's spirit speaking into our lives.

"We are not human beings on a spiritual journey, we are spiritual beings on a human journey".

-Stephen Covey

Your heart...

The lord searches every heart & understands every desire & every thought.
1Chron28:9

Knowing & believing this will change your life.

One month later...

Time sure does fly! Sorry I lost track of daily blogging... life just got busy.
Today's post is a song that I heard on Pandora. It is inspiring and "light and breezy":) enjoy!


When there's nothing to believe in, I belive in you
Forget the past and let my hand in yours be the proof
Though the strong could be my company, you're the one I choose
So remember, I believe in you

I know it feels like every eye is watching you
Waiting for you to fall, expecting you to lose
But I see victory, so all you have to do
Is remember, I believe in you

I believe, even when I see you crying
I believe, let me dream for you
When nothing comes from trying
Remember, I believe in you

There will come a day when love will lift you out of here
There will come a day when love will bring the truth
There will come a day when love will free you from your fear
And you'll remember, I believe in you

I believe, even when I see you crying
I believe, let me dream for you
When nothing comes from trying
Remember, I believe in you

Bethany Dillon, I believe in you