Gratitude, by Paula Rose Michelson

I'd like to think that God has created within me a grateful heart. I say that because coming to faith at forty, I know the difference between being blessed by Messiah or those who follow him, and what the world says is a blessing that is worthy of one's gratitude. The attitude of gratitude of those living a life untethered by any belief can lead one to believe that they did it all themselves, no matter what the 'it' is! The life lived by faith in Messiah, who loved me and gave his life for me, reflects the knowledge that Jesus (Yeshua) really does love ME!

Because of this amazing love, I have been changed. Those who knew me before I believed knew I was a softhearted sweetie-pie. I know that because they told me so. Those who know me now, I have it on good authority (my husband) would tell you the same thing, so you're probably wondering what all the hoopla's about. Well...that's why I'm writing about GRATITUDE because if you are grateful in the small things you will be that way in all things for gratitude stems from the understanding that if left to our own, we could never solve, handle, do, learn, except...the list goes on and on. And for those who trusted in Messiah's atoning work, this immense blessing of gratitude, which stems from the knowledge that while I was still dead in my trespasses Christ died for me causes one to understand the depth and breath of God's love! That's right! The very God who breathed life into Adam, who called Father Abraham his friend, who said David was a man after his own heart, wants you to have the blessing he so lavishly poured out on them!

If you're scratching your head thinking you're not daft enough to give what you have to get what you don't understand, I'll share that God's blessings are multiplied to infinity + infinity because those who believe in and follow his teachings continue to do his work here on earth. They don't see what they do as 'work' and aren't trying to stack up brownie points in heaven. They do what they do because the old has passed away and a new nature...I'll call it a God like nature, shows them what is needed, and if able, they respond. I say 'if' able because they're not responding from their own abilities. They're able to respond because God has gifted them the sensitivity to know what is needed , which  I call spiritual discernment, and he has equipped them with unique abilities to help as he would. Using God's gifts given to us by the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) blesses the giver and receiver for in that moment they see Messiah as clearly as the men who were walking to Emmaus did!

I'm sharing all of this with you today so that you can enter into my joy!

For months...perhaps six or seven months--maybe more, I've had problems with Facebook! They began when my original website, and three blogs were hacked causing me to lose control of them. The issues continued to multiply, and I didn't know what to do! During this time I was added to many pages, and I found myself continually dealing with an onslaught of Facebook and twitter email's, which became more than I could handle. I kept praying. As the months passed I knew I couldn't continue to deal with this, for want of a better word 'Hot Mess!' A few weeks ago, I noticed that Facebook's NetworkedBlogs was no longer uploading my new posts. But it was only a few day ago when I saw 'the writing on the wall' which although mentioned in Daniel 5:1, was very different from God judging Nebuchadnezzar and telling him that this night his life would be forfeit. For me the 'writing was on the wall' when I discovered that Facebook's Java Script no longer functioned on my blog! When that shut down so did everything on this blog except for my latest post. Not know what to do, I wanted to pull the plug and leave. I was so upset that I didn't care that I was leaving great, believing, praying friends! I told myself and them that I was leaving, and would be back a week later to begin anew.

Isn't life oddly amazing! Here I was getting ready for The Naomi Chronicles, Book One, Beginning Anew to release in the fall, and I was throwing all my Facebook blessings away!

Enter a blessing!

Though some of you might have seen this posted on Facebook last night, I'm posting it here so others can rejoice, and those who do not know Messiah yet...especially those who need a sign will see one! Enjoy!


Hooray! I'm Staying on Facebook!

Once in a great while God sends me an angel in the form of a caring, knowledgeable person! Jude Dankworth of Net Media Consultants is my Facebook Angel! I haven't known her long, or well. We didn't connect much because both of us were doing our own thing. However, that changed when I posted notices on Facebook that I was leaving. As a Social Media Consultant, and author, she listened to all my woes, and taught me how to correct EVER issue!

Some of you might notice that there are less Facebook pages, that's because I deleted my groups. Others might realize that I'm no longer on their page. That was a little harder, but needing time to write and have a life, I chose to remain on pages where I developed ongoing friendships with people who espoused my beliefs.  

I have posted the link to Jude Dankworth's Facebook page here and encourage you to work with her whenever the need arises! https://www.facebook.com/NetMediaConsultants

My review of Lisa L. Keck's novel "Night Blooming Jasmine," by Paula Rose Michelson

One moment a beautiful young woman engaged to be married. The Next blind, helpless, refusing to live the life she has. How does a nineteen year old over come? How does the man who loves her convince her that they will wed when he is forbidden to see, speak, or send her a letter?

Written with great insight, love, and compassion,  Lisa L. Keck's novel "Night Blooming Jasmine" tugged at my heartstrings! Weaving a tender trail that does not disappoint, I found myself alternately worried for and happy that the main characters had enough faith in God to overcome. Within the pages the author shows a unique understanding of the juxtaposition of self and faith issues many of us might face. I believe this fiction is also a primmer, one I will gladly share with others!

At the end of the book, you will discover that the title of the novel is a teaching, simply asked, and eloquently articulated in one short sentence. The words took my breath away, and now I have those word in my heart!

http://www.amazon.com/Night-Blooming-Jasmine-ebook/dp/B00AGSTS7W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1375397919&sr=1-1&keywords=night+blooming+jasmine+by+lisa++l+keck

Whose You Are, by Nicole Clies Anderson

Today I’ve posted a poem written by my friend and talented wordsmith,  Nicole Clies Anderson, enjoy!

Before time began

Before the world was set in motion

He looked across eternity and saw me

Before the winds ever blew

He looked across eternity and saw me.

Before I was found

Before I was wonderfully made

You called me Your own.

You remembered me in the darkest of nights

You remembered me when I ran to the ends of the earth

You reached out to me

You remembered me before I know Your name

You remembered me at the cross

You reached out to me.

You have searched me

You have tried my heart

My name is engraved upon your hand

You have established my ways

You have never forsaken me

My name is engraved upon your hand

I may forget to follow from time to time

I may forget to praise during the storm

But I know to whom I belong

I may forget to thank you each day

I may forget to look for You in each part of my day

But I know to whom I belong,

Always remember Whose you are

For He will never forget you

Your name is engraved upon His hands.

My review of “Beautiful Scars,” by Patti Chiappa

For some having a perfectly edited book, like living a perfectly edited life is a must! FOR ME A LIFE WELL LIVED and reading a BOOK THAT MATTERS IS MORE VALUABLE THEN RUBIES. IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT THEN THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ FOR YOU!

Have you ever been told things that keep you trapped? THEN THIS BOOK is FOR YOU!

Felt less than? THEN THIS BOOK is FOR YOU!

Feared you'd never overcome? THEN THIS BOOK is FOR YOU!

Been depressed? THEN THIS BOOK is FOR YOU! 

Want to see how faith and God can turn things around? THEN THIS BOOK is FOR YOU!

Want to move out of pain? THIS BOOK is FOR YOU!

Want to see how Jesus uses what we give him for others gain? THEN THIS BOOK is FOR YOU!

IN OTHER WORDS THIS BOOK IS FOR EVERYONE! 

If anyone's life ever prepared them for God's work it was Patti Chiappa's! As a girl she was given so many negative labels and lived in a place where those labels meant a life of degradation, poverty, drugs: the list goes on and on. Yet Patti did none of those things! Though she battled terrible obstacles and even doubted her faith, Patti rose above her situation! I know how hard it is to overcome for being a Christian lay councilor who was clinically trained, interned in a dually diagnosed psychiatric unit, and having mentored women through recover by using Scripture and prayer, I know the blessing that Patti Chiappa and her book "Beautiful Scars" are because she pulls no punches! Within the pages one not only experiences her life but realizes that real recovery cannot occur until we surrender all and ask Jesus into our lives! When I began reading this gripping story, I wanted to write a review, yet having heard Patti's heart, I know the only words that can truly covey her story's message are found at the end of her books, which says,

"I am finishing this book just a few days before my 40th birthday. I look forward to my 15 year anniversary celebration in New Orleans in 2013. I look forward to getting my degree in teaching. I look forward to seeing my nieces grow up and someday returning to Florida to retire. I look forward to my best friend D moving in with our family this year. There is still war and ugliness' in the world. I am still a mother without a child. I still hold D.B., J.S. and D and the guys of Stryper close to my heart. I have accepted my relationship with my brother and sister in law as it is with its bumps and smiles, tears and joy. I still cherish my family. I have learned that anywhere your loved ones are is home. I have three homes in my heart New York, Georgia, and Florida.

I have lived and loved, laughed and cried. I look forward to the next 40 years. I have learned that every scar that I have suffered has been made beautiful by God's grace, love and mercy. I may not be rich or the most gifted or the most beautiful but I am who I am because God made me this way. I have learned that and that will always be good enough for me. For years I played it`safe' in the world. I was always quiet and respectful, never speaking the thoughts in my mind or expressing the feelings of my heart.

I stifled my soul's music over the noise and unharmonious sounds of hatred, bullying. And even hiding parts of myself from my own family fearing what they would think of me. I blew out the candle of my own beauty to let others outshine me.

I allowed my heart to be used as a door mat while it was looking for a permanent home. For years playing it `safe' became dangerous to my spirit and a hazard to my soul. Even when you feel alone, know that you are surrounded by divine love. Like God, love is not visible, but that does not mean it is not there. You are loved.

I existed only in shadows and colorless, lifeless shades of grey.

Then I took a chance, I reached out to love. Love reached back. I believed in love. And love believed in me.

Love gave me a divine, beautiful guarantee that my heart would always be welcomed warmly by God. `You are accepted, Powerfully adored, Endlessly cherished and surround by angels "love whispered. It doesn't matter how hard and in perfect my past was, I was never regret it. I am who I am, I believe what I believe, I give what I give and I love who I love. I will never apologize for that. For God so loved me He made me fearfully and wonderfully made, He made me beautiful, He made me! He created me to love, laugh, dream and give joy. I am his , and that will always be good enough for me! The most important thing I learned is as much as we thirst for approval we dread Condemnation. Any fool can criticize, condemn and bully, and must fools do, But it takes character, grace, class and a beautiful human soul to forgive! So let me end this book by saying ' I forgive! I forgive, I forgive!" Some people will always be unhappy and burn with jealousy. I know when this book is released some people will try to sabotage my happiness , I say to them God has got my back. Do not let your soul burn with jealousy or hate, learn to love as God loves you, learn to forgive as God has forgiven you, learn to trust as God trusts you with free will. For I am clothed in the beauty of angels and I let God's light shine from my soul. Learn to fly as I have! love will prevail. It is easy to love when loved, and hurt those who hurt. But if you can love the ones who hurt you, you will overcome all obstacles. Love is the greatest power you can possess. My tears in my hard days taught me how to appreciate all, accept the differences, and be more understandable to all odds. My heart became more tender, sympathetic, and wiser. My soul expanded until it carried my body. I am very thankful to my hardships for they always help me to evolve into the heart I always dream to be. A heart that is in love for eternity. I can't close this book without adding one of my Grandma's favorite recipes, she called it " Recipe for happiness" Here are the ingredients for you to share with others .Live with enthusiasm, smile for no reason, love without conditions, act with purpose, listen with your heart, and laugh often.

In life sometimes we must find the strength to solely rely on hope. We have to give situations our all and then be able to put the rest in fate and in God's hands. Sometimes no matter what we do, circumstances might not always work out in our favor or exactly how we may have wanted them to. The things that motivate us, as our dreams and goals we have or are aiming for may seem out out of reach no ...matter how hard we seem to try.

Have faith in the testament that all that is meant to be will come to past. Things may not transpire the exact way that you believed that they would or should, but never let this deter you from going after what is in your heart. Stay strong, and keep a positive set of thoughts, and act upon the positive, not the negative. Hold close to you the fact that what is truly meant to be will always find a way.

Stats about bullying everyone should know.

160,000 children miss school every day due to fear of being physically assaulted by a bully. One in seven students are bullied throughout grade school. 282,000 students are physically attacked each month by a bully older than them. Since 2002 at least 15 children in the state of Massachusetts have killed themselves due to cruelty from a bully. In 2005 270 children a crossed our nation killed themselves after reporting to an adult that they were being bullied! Of children who report bullying to an adult nearly one third said the adult did nothing in response. In 2009 three cases were reported that an adult participated in a form of bullying of a child themselves during school hours. In 2010 more than half of the children In our nation's public schools said they were afraid to go to school due to being bullied by either a classmate, parent or teacher. In 2011 it was reported that 75% of all school shootings involved the gunman being bullied as a child. In 2011 750,000 children reported they were bullied by classmates via social media including Facebook and My Space. In 2010 it was also reported that bullying involving a handicapped adult at the workplace was more than 43%. Words hurt. But silence hurts more! We can all do something to end bullying forever."

If anyone understand the meaning of Isaiah 53: 5, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Patti does for it is because of her pain that Jesus can use her for his glory!http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Scars-ebook/dp/B00BC3W5KW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1374960159&sr=8-2&keywords=beautiful+scars

Hooray! by Paula Rose Michelson

Hooray! Last night, I filed for the copyright for The Naomi Chronicles, Book One, Beginning Anew.  It takes thirty days give-or-take, so this book could release before the school year begins. If you’d like to review prior to release so you can post a review on Amazon, please let me know!

Less-a-tude, by Paula Rose Michelson

Sunday while reading my Monday blog to Ron I had no idea how quickly life could change for us, but today after a phone call telling me he was at the hospital, spending more than ten hours there, and knowing my husbands needs were being lifted up by many believers, all I can say is thank you! I'm so very grateful that Ron will have the procedure he needs tomorrow morning! To celebrate here's my Monday blog. 

For many people Monday was a day to be sidestepped long before The Mama’s and Papa’s wrote and sang:

Monday, Monday, can’t trust that day

Monday, Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way

And for some time now I’ve found Monday’s to be less than days. Yet today, I asked myself why and the answer surprised me for I like to think I know better than to expect one day to be better or worse than another. But knowing is different than choosing, believing, or acting upon because each of these words require a conscious decision, and having made none, I thought that Monday might somehow change. Which leads me to wonder if it were possible that with all my eptitude, which is a word I made up because I seemed to misplace my aptitude to do what I knew I should and dismissed the talent I had to achieve, in other words, I had surrendered my life to happenstance. Now you might wonder why I burdened myself with this introspective mumbo-jumbo, so I’ll share more in the hope that having shared, I will know…that at a certain point I felt as if I were living a life of less. That’s right…less interaction, less joy, less involvement…just less of everything. This ongoing Monday morass, this less-a-tude, for want of a better word had hold of me and I didn’t even remember inviting it in, or asking it to take up residence in my mind, but there it was sniveling the boo-hoo’s of lassitude and I was an avid audience of one, or two or three if you count the ego, id, and super ego. So needing no advice from the avid side of my mind since I knew it was not going to give me valid guidance or recommendations concerning my possibly prudent future actions, and had not shown nor typically given any regard for me, I chose to not acknowledge it as authoritative, but sought instead wisdom from the only authority worth heeding and read: in Joshua 24:15 "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourself this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are  now living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." 

Suddenly I felt incredibly blessed by my husband who always supports my every endeavor including my soon to be released Book One of The Naomi Chronicles. I thought of my great fortune to have my creative muse supported by Karen Arnpriester who’s amazing ability to understand what I asked for and change the banner on The Naomi Chronicles, Book One, Beginning Anew to reflect that Chaz and Naomi are now married, blessed me. I remembered the kindness of Heather Randall who’s amazing Review Crew is taking me on again (praise God!), once the first novel in the four book Chronicle Saga is released and felt doubly blessed. Then Traci Story’s gifted edit of the first book of the four book Chronicles came to mind and I smiled!

When I think of all that Monday hadn’t been for so very long, I realize that Messiah gave us the same ability he had. If we are content with a Monday, and any other day of the week being less than, it’s us that needs an attitude adjustment for God tells us in, Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind n earth will be bound in heaven, and you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." If you believe this Scripture to be true and are still have a case of the boo-hoo's reeve up your belief-o-meter and I'm sure you'll find your smile like it did! 

Honeymoon Bridge, by Paula Rose Michelson

Since Ron and I will be making reservations at ‘our place,’ which is The Best Western Chateau in Big Bear Lake that looks like a castile, for our 45^th anniversary on August 20^th it seems fitting that I post my true honeymoon story today. As you read this, I’m certain you will see that at 19, my new hubby and God already had ahold of my heart.

Honeymoon Bridge

Planning our honeymoon was like a dream come true. When we decided to make Carmel in Northern California our destination, Ron and I poured over all the pictures and information we had gathered about the area. Together we circled the places we planned to visit during the week. One adventure both of us put on our “must do list” was to drive down famed highway one. As much as I wanted to do that, I worried about making this drive without being frightened. You see, I had a terrible fear of heights and the pictures in the literature showed an expansion bridge that seemed several miles high. Since I did not want to make a big deal about my concern in front of my soon to be husband, I worked to bring my uneasiness under control. I told myself that the drive would be no problem. When the time came, I simply needed to keep my eyes away from the edge of the road, which if the pictures were accurate dropped off into nothingness. Attempting to make everything go as we planned; I convinced myself that I would be fine. All I needed to do was trust my husband and focus on the scenery. 

The wedding was beautiful. Friends and family wished us well as we waved goodbye and headed up the coast toward our new life together. We were having a wonderful time. Our honeymoon was turning out to be everything I had hoped. Eventually we arrived in Carmel. When the day scheduled for the scenic drive arrived, I never gave my fears a second thought. I am glad I didn’t because it was one of those rare days when even the air feels like silk and we couldn’t resist putting the top down on our convertible. The sun was out in all its glory, the birds were singing and we were in love. As we slowly meandered around the turns and switchbacks of route one, we realized that the drive was as lovely as the pictures had promised. The beauty of the drive seemed to obliterate all the fears I was pretending I wasn’t experiencing as I marveled at God’s creation.

Our car turned a bend in the road and the suspension bridge came into view looming like a steel monster. My husband and I were staggered by its size. Yet being courageous, he refused to be intimidated as we began our crossing. I took courage from his reassuring smile. A moment later, everything changed. The fog, which until now had been like a fleecy cloud playing tag with the surf far below us suddenly engulfed our car obscuring our vision. Neither of us was prepared for this, I lest of all! Ron pulled to the side, stopped; we got out of the car, and stared into the fog. It broke and we saw foggy tentacles wrapped around the furthest half of the bridge. No one had told us that there could be fog at noon in the middle of summer. We turned toward each other and were surprised when we each uttered in awed surprise, “It’s beautiful, like an oriental painting!” As we got into our car and began to cross, we shared that we felt as if we were driving into a piece of fine art. Suddenly we hit a wall of thick fog. It was like driving blind. We could not see anything - not even each other.

Ron stopped the car. I heard the door open, felt the car move again, and began to panic.

       “What are you doing?” I asked my husband of two days.

       “Looking for the white line.”

       “What will you do then?”

       “Continue to drive,” he said his voice strained. We were moving at a snail’s pace. My husband’s door was open, and it seemed to me that his head was bent as far down as possible, while his eyes searched for that elusive white line.

       “Couldn’t we stop and wait until the fog clears?”

       “No other cars will want to drive through. If we stop in the middle of the bridge we could create an accident.”

I mustered all of my courage and vowed not to scream. Panic would not help. As the car inched forward, I prayed. Following the white line, Ron drove down the center of the bridge until suddenly we drove out of the fog bank and back into the bright sunlight. That is when he confided to me how scared he had been for our safety. 

As the years have passed, I have gotten over my fear of high places. However, I have never forgotten the lesson I learned on what we now call Honeymoon Bridge. When faced with difficult obstacles today, I follow my husband’s example of opening the door and looking for the white line, which for me as a believer in Messiah means I trust my husband for he is the covering God has provided for me!