(Dedicated to those who have gone through or are going through Divorce)

The Wedding Ceremony.  Exchanges of Words – Vows recited between Bride and Groom among listening ears of witnesses made up of family and friends.  Two lives becoming one under the Covenant of God in legal matrimony. Marriage – One day at a time…One week at a time…One year…after year…at a time.

Children are born as new lives continue to make the union of marriage more complete in the Making of a Family.

 

Trouble Comes –  conflict – career – child care concerns…You know, daily life… while time passes.  Give and take.  Take and give.  Love grows – Love takes a leave of absence.  Eyes wander and the marriage commitment of one to another becomes threatened.  Enter in addiction – alcohol, drugs, pornography, gambling… whatever it is – none of it is good.   It depletes a relationship between a man and a woman until it deletes it totally.  What God has joined together let no man put asunder.

Let it be known that man has an internal enemy.  The Divider of Souls, Hearts, Minds, and Relationships.  It is the mission of this enemy (Satan) to kill, steal, and destroy anything that is called Good.  Everything that God created, He called Good.  God created marriage – between one man and one woman.  Job assignment of the enemy to all of his demons is to destroy marriages.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;  I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” ~ John 10:10 (NIV)

The Wedding Day is one of the most prepared for special events in the lives of those who seek out to find a lifelong partner. Once found, they become engaged announcing to the public their pre-martial plans. No other lifelong commitment is as defining and holy as marriage. Dreams and plans of being with one partner “until death do us part” is the promise of two so in love that their pledge to each other on that “special day” cannot be shaken —— so they think and believe.

As earth-shattering and incomprehensible as it may seem, the “Ken and Barbie” couple find themselves 8 years later in the throws of divorce court, ending their storybook love journey of courting, careers, and children in an ugly place of alcoholism and an agonizing adulterous affair that tears apart a beautiful beginning of love and hope for a future to grow and age together while raising their beautiful children.

Child Custody Battle from the Pits of Hell.  Broken hearts that send rippling currents to every life in close proximity to the “Broken Family”.  Who broke the family?  What broke the family?  It was the Lies and Deception of the Enemy.  The whispers into the minds of two who pledged their lives unto each other “for better or worse” that spoke saying, “You don’t love her anymore”….. “There is something better for you out there”…lies, lies, lies… whisper, whisper, whisper……

…When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of  lies. ~John 8:44 (NIV)

Family Destroyed.  Mission Accomplished! … as the enemy picks through the spoil of shattered pieces of those broken hearts, collecting his Prize of Victory while he laughs into the dark of night, slithering away to find more lives to rattle and ruin.

Life goes on.  The fragments of those broken pieces are sharp and raw like frayed nerve endings.  Only the Healing Balm of Jesus can begin to ease the pain as He covers and holds those Hurting Hearts in His Hands to make them whole again.  It takes time.  The hearts mend but the memories are always there.

The aftermath can be messy and mess you up but you can make the Post-War of Divorce something positive so it doesn’t leave you sucking out of a straw from a Pit of Poison and Self-Pity.  This is a CHOICE you must make.

God knows.  Strength comes from standing up after having the rug ripped out from under you again and again as you go to Battle in Prayer over and over.  The battle is real and the battle is spiritual.  The attack is from the one you cannot see in the flesh but whom takes his form in the things of this world – his world – to get you to give up and fall.

LOVE is the ONLY thing that will get you through this.  It is first of all, the Love that God has for all of us.  His Unconditional Love means that He is there for you and will never leave you or your children no matter what you are going through.

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”.  So that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” ~ Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV)

Secondly, it is the Love for your children that will keep you fighting to the ends of the earth, knowing that everything that you do is for them while they go through this crazy time as their once stable and secure world crumbles beneath them.  Thirdly, it is the Love of your own self that will keep you sane as you navigate through roaring waters that will attempt to drown you and the fiery furnace that tries to burn you to the ground.  This is what the enemy does to try to destroy you.  Be kind, gentle, and tender to yourself as you listen to the inner voice of God – The Lover of Your Soul – who will save you.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ~ Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

Lastly, the most important Love that you must not ever throw away, despite hurt, betrayal, anger, and all of the normal human emotions that you will experience from divorce… Love Your Ex – that’s right!  Love them from a place of Compassion, Forgiveness, and Blessing.  Is it easy? No!  Is it possible? Yes! This does not happen overnight and may take years but this will bring healing to you, your children and hopefully to your former spouse.  This is POWERFUL!  This is what Jesus came to teach us about regarding “Love one another” in the Kingdom of God.  When we can still love them because they don’t know what they do, we are crushing the head of Satan beneath our feet.  Ask God to help you in all of this and He will!

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” ~ 1 Corinthians 13:7 (ESV)

Ex-pressions of Love through prayer and kindness can bring healing and salvation to those ex-spouses who are in need of a touch from God!

(A poem based on the Holy Scriptures of Luke 2:1-21)

The World needed a Savior, and so a babe was born; Sent to us from Heaven above, the First Christmas morn.

His birth proclaimed by angel hosts whose glory filled the skies;  To shepherds watching flock by night, their fear was undenied.

“Fear not!” an angel spoke to them as they quivered on the ground, “Arise and go to Bethlehem and there the child be found”.

They arose and took their journey, through the night they traveled far;  The map they followed from the East, a bright and shining star.

Guided to a crowded town, no rooms or inns to stay; A stable housing livestock, in a manger bed He lay.

His parents, Joseph and Mary, from the town of Galilee;  Came to register their married names to fulfill Augustus’ decree.

With child she rode into the Town of Bethlehem that day; No place to sleep for them that night but a stable filled with hay.

When in this lowly setting where animals did trod;  The virgin teen of pureness sweet,  birthed the Son of God.

Mary knew that she must carry out God’s Plan for all mankind; This little baby born to her, the shepherds came to find.

The Keepers of the Sheep bowed down when they arrived and found The King;  Returning to their fields that night, praising God for what they’d seen!

Prophet’s words fulfilled from days of Abraham; Immanuel born that night, “God with us” in the land.

He would be called Jesus, as the Angel did proclaim;  Before conception in the womb, Mary was told His name.

This Babe grew up, He walked the Earth, He lived among all men;   Christ crucified for  our sins, returned to Heaven again.

 

He sits with God, the Father, at the right hand of His throne;  Awaiting the day of His Return to bring His Children home!

 

 

 

I hope that each of you had a wonderful Christmas celebration with family and friends!  I especially wish you all a beautiful New Year filled with new beginnings, dreams fulfilled, and meaningful accomplishments made.  It is my prayer that all of you know and live out your purpose on this Earth to be the best YOU that you can possibly be, bringing blessings to others and glory to God!!

 

Definition of Soldier: 1) a soldier is someone who fights for their country and in what they believe, even if it means death – Urban Dictionary

2) a person who serves in an army; a person engaged in military service – Dictionary.com

Definition of Warrior: 1) a soldier, usually one who has both experience and skill in fighting, especially in the past – Cambridge English

Definition of Veteran: 1a) a former member of the armed forces;  b) an old soldier of long service;  2) a person of long experience usually in some occupation or skill – Merriam-Webster

REFLECTIONS ABOUT SERVICE

We do honor to the stars and stripes as the emblem of our country and the symbol of all that our patriotism means.

We identify the flag with almost everything we hold dear on earth.  It represents our peace and security, our civil and political liberty, our freedom of religious worship, our family, our friends, our home.  We see it in the great multitude of blessings, of rights and privileges that make up our country.

But when we look at our flag and behold it emblazoned with all our rights, we must remember that it is equally a symbol of our duties.  Every glory that we associate with it is the result of duty done.  A yearly contemplation of our flag strengthens and purifies the national conscience.  – Calvin Coolidge

VETERANS DAY

In the United States, Veterans Day is usually observed on November 11.  However, if it occurs on a Sunday then the following Monday is designated Veterans Day (Observed).  This year, 2018, Veterans Day falls on a Sunday, so Monday, the 12th of November is considered a federal holiday.  Today the writing of this Blog is dedicated to every Soldier, Warrior, and Veteran both living and deceased whom have served in all branches of the military, (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, & Coast Guard), through Battles of War & Peacetime on our USA soil and in foreign countries. FREEDOM has a price to pay and to those whom have paid the price, to what do we owe? It is nothing more or nothing less then RESPECT, HONOR, AND RECOGNITION to every human being that has said “Yes, I will go”. Whether or not we agree about the reasons that they voluntarily signed up, were drafted or deployed, each individual went forth for their own personal beliefs to fight for a cause worth fighting for. A Call of Duty based on Patriotic Principles of Unending Pride and Protection for the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATED, SACRIFICIAL SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer. ~ 2 Timothy 2:4 (NIV) 

*THE VETERANS IN MY LIFE*

Not Pictured:

ARMY

• David Leuthardt – Former Husband
• Justin Kender – Stepson
• Stephen Cline – Nephew

NAVY

• Jay L Williams, Sr. – Father-In-Law (Deceased)

MARINES

• John England – Cousin
• Angel Marraro –  Son-In-Law
• Michael Mrozinski – Cousin
• William “Billy” P Duckworth – Cousin

AIR FORCE

• Edward McCann – Uncle
• Cathy Thomas – Cousin
• Frank Thomas – Cousin’s Husband
• William A Duckworth – Uncle (Deceased)

I thank all of you for your courage, dedication, and service in our military.  How proud I am of all of you and so humbled of your calling to serve.

BATTLES, WARS AND CONFLICTS

There are all kinds of battles, wars and conflicts in this life.  Some of them are fought out in the literal battlefield where masses of soldiers from two opposing forces join together in enemy stance where engaged violent combat ensues causing devastating destruction, critical injury & maiming or brutal death of dedicated warriors fighting for a cause.  Trauma and death come to all who are attacked with unforgiving weaponry, taking no names with complete disregard of persons.  Assault is fierce and sacrifice of life is swift.

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:8 (ESV)

Conflicts take the form of an inner or outer struggle with oneself or others where the conflicting matter is either resolved or unresolved.  We all have internal conflicts.  Everyday we face situations or decisions that are often opposing, causing us to either learn and grow or to walk away and not face the matter at hand.  Sometimes the best thing to do IS to walk away before unnecessary conflict arises between others, that might lead to a personal battle if ensued.   These conflicts are a part of being human and create opportunities for problem solving, improving oneself in relationships to family, friends, workplace, and society.  On a larger scale, they can bring companies, corporations, & businesses of all sorts and sizes, and educational facilities of all levels to review and assess ways of operations in the hopes of bringing changes to their individual world of respective clients, customers, patients, students and employees.

Unfortunately, internal personal warfare can also cause negative outcomes.  Outcomes such as mental disorders, major health fallout, self-destruction of harming oneself or others, and most dreadfully, taking a life through suicide or homicide.  These are sobering facts of life and death when it comes to conflicts, battles and wars.  For a soldier who has fought in the throes of wartime or anyone who has experienced a terrifying event, the reality of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) has lingering and costly effects on most who suffer from this long-lasting condition far after the initial trauma occurred.

I lift up my eyes to the hills –where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. ~ Psalm 121:1-2  (NIV)

“For You have girded me with strength for battle;  You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.”   Psalm 18:39 ~ New Heart English Bible

TYPES OF BATTLEFIELDS

Battlefields come in all different shapes and forms aside from the warring ground where true physical confrontation occurs and fighting does not cease until there is victory by an opposing conqueror.   Conflicts that manifest in the arena of flesh and blood “war rooms” are most often a result of emotional, mental, or spiritual warfare that cannot be contained or controlled by the person(s) in which the battle is raging. As a Veteran Paramedic for over 20 years,  I have responded to countless “bloody war room” emergency calls of domestic upheavals stemming from jealously, anger, alcohol and/or drug induced violence that resulted in either serious or critical injury; or suicidal/homicidal threats that sometimes tragically turned into their proclaimed outcomes.  These were the Contenders of Conflict where nothing was gained and all was lost in the battle.  Such tragedy and such desperate measures taken to end a valuable life.

Silent Struggles are fought mostly within, in which the eye of an onlooker would be unsuspecting that most everyone they walk by or encounter on a day-to-day basis is challenged by some kind of a struggle.  Our mind is the #1 Battlefield!  We can take hold of thoughts of negativity & destruction and turn them around to be positive and creative!

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. ~ Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

SPIRITUAL BATTLES

In the midst of battles from a very young age, I learned and still know that there is One who fights my battles for me! It is the Lord God, Most High! When I lay my troubles at His Feet and put on His Armor, He equips me with the Strength, Endurance, Wisdom, and Power needed to win whatever the warfare is. This is for the Spiritual Battles of Life where the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy all that is good, positive, and worthy. Most battles are spiritual when there is a fight within to capture and hold captive what we know to be decent, pure, right, and upstanding according to God’s Ways. The Enemy of our Soul, Satan, loves to take us down and keep us there, but Praise be to God who has given us the Victory through Jesus Christ. The Final Battle was won at the Cross of Calvary when Death could not hold the Savior in the burial tomb. The Resurrected King now sits at the Right Hand of the Father, interceding for us until The Final Fight on this earth is over.

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”   ~ Ephesians 6:11-17 (NIV)

NAME YOUR BATTLE

So what is your battle?  What are you fighting within that is either causing you to grow and become stronger or that you are avoiding and not wanting to deal with?  I have had many battles in my life that I have been engaged in, sometimes from my own doing and sometimes from the poor decisions of others who had a direct impact on my life because of my relationship with them.  The first and foremost battle was being born into a “dysfunctional” family.  Back in the 1990’s when this term was unleashed into society and I was in my early 30’s, a high awareness and self assessment of my upbringing gave me keen acknowledgement that yes, I had definitely grown up in a crazy world of craziness!  From the moment I was brought home after being born in the hospital, The Battle was already raging.  A home of chaos built with the effects of alcohol & violence, created instability & uncertainty which was always brewing; and from that, my battleground, was to behold my training for many more life challenges to come.

Those of us who have lived for decades can be called, “Veterans of Life”.  There is no one that walks the face of this Earth without trials or tribulations. These are determining factors of how we have grown in character, stamina, and strength.  During these times, is when we can draw close to God who cares and loves us so much that He will go before us and fight for us. –The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” ~ Exodus 14:14 — There is Purpose to Every Battle in our lives.  In winning or losing, it all depends on how we decide to fight.  Without God, The Almighty Warrior, we choose to take all of the hard hits that knock us off of our feet.  It is difficult to get back up when you are alone.  Sometimes, many never get back up and life becomes a losing battle in all aspects without any hope in sight.  I decided that I would never go into my battlefields alone.  — I will go before you and make the crooked paths straight;  I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron; ~ Isaiah 45:2  —  In prayer is where I prepare for the fight.  Even though it may seem that I am all alone in whatever I am facing, I am never alone.  Many victories have been mine all due to me depending on the supernatural strength of God.  It doesn’t matter how big or how small, anything that is difficult to overcome is worthy of calling out for help.  There is One who hears your cries.  God wants to help us if only we would ask.  Like a Mother or Father who loves and wants to help their child, this is how our Heavenly Father wants to be there for us.  He has never let me down.  He has never failed me and has always heard my cries and pleas for His Help.  No matter the time, place, or circumstance….ALWAYS HE IS THERE….

For all of the Soldiers, Warriors, and Veterans of both Military & Life ….

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;  and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” ~ Isaiah 43:2 ~ 

 

AUTHOR’S NOTE:  Thank you all for your encouraging words to me as I have set out on this new Blogging Endeavor!  Funny how I wrote about “Battles”!  I have been in a Blogging Battle over the last 3 weeks in trying to get this out in time for Veterans Day.  As you can see, this being the last day of November, that did not happen!  I am learning how to Balance My Blog within the Battles of My Everyday Life!  In all due respect to our Veterans for Veterans Day, I believe that it is NEVER to late to say thank you and to recognize them.  In fact, we all need to do it, (myself included), more than once a year and every opportunity that we can.

I hope that all of you had a wonderful, blessed THANKSGIVING!!  I know that I have so much to be thankful for! I am looking forward to the Christmas Season as I continue to write and share with you what is on my heart! See you Soon!  ~ Sandy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I LOVE the Season of Fall!  As a Midwest Girl growing up and living through decades of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter, I have always welcomed and applauded how each season brings its own special signature of weathered beauty, variations of temperature, and spectacular landscapes to the Northwest Corner of Indiana.  But of the four, my favorite is Autumn!  I am thoroughly enjoying my “60th” Fall Season here on God’s beautiful earth as I watch leaves of scarlet, amber, and orange spiraling downward in out-of-control flight patterns initiated by whirlwinds of chilly gusts, landing everywhere!

Honking geese airborne in formations of the Letter V to fly south before winter hits, signals another reminder that Fall has arrived.   In the essence of smell, there is nothing like the odor of flaming hardwood logs, wafting smoke upward from home fireplaces through rooftop chimneys into the crisp, cold air of October.

 

As I sip on a mug of crock-pot warmed apple cider spiced with cinnamon sticks and watch misty rain gently shower my multicolored mums out on the patio, I silently thank my Creator for this spectacular time of the year.  Yahoo!!  I LOVE Fall!!  How about you?  Do you enjoy the richness of the changes of Nature?  Many people who I know in this region chime together with me to the harmonic melody of the “I Love Fall” chorus!

…then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. ~ Deuteronomy 11:14 (NIV)

FALLS OF A DIFFERENT KIND

Fall brings captivating beauty to those parts of the globe that Autumn visits on a seasonal basis, but there are other kinds of Falls in our “Seasons of Life” that we may have seen or experienced as well.  Just to name a few…..The Falls of Love (In and Out) of which the heart finds both rebirth and brokenness respectively;  The Falls of Injury that bring pain, suffering, numerous doctor visits, surgery & rehab, healing and scars;  The Falls of a Toddler who is transitioning from the crawling stages of babyhood while learning how to ambulate on short, wobbly legs until walking becomes running… how exciting!

The Falls of Niagara – considered now the New 8th Wonder of the World, that serves as an international border between the USA & Canada – if you haven’t had the opportunity to visit this majestic waterfall, I highly suggest that you add it to your Bucket List!

Countless courageous men & women of our military forces who have served this country fighting in the Battlefields of War over the many years for our liberties, gave up their lives taking The Fall for Freedom in which their dedication & sacrifice of the highest service can never be matched.  Please take a moment of recognition and remembrance for those who have died and those who have lost their loved ones.

But I say to all men, what we have achieved in liberty, we will surpass in greater liberty.  Steadfast in our faith in the Almighty, we will advance toward a world where man’s freedom is secure.  – Harry S. Truman –

The first fall, The Fall of Man wherein The Garden of Eden of pure perfection, the first man and woman, Adam & Eve, created by God in the beginning of time, disobeyed Him causing the entire human race to be cursed with hardship and death until Restoration & Redemption came through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” ~ Galatians 3:13 (NIV)

Jesus took the Fall for all of Mankind

CHANGES OF FALL AND LIFE

Within the Season of Fall there are noticeable changes in the landscape of Earth that begin to occur when Summer reaches its final days of the cyclic seasonal calendar.  Changes that cause us to begin to prepare for dropping temperatures that warrant hooded sweatshirts, layers of clothing to retain body heat, and covered footwear replacing open-toed sandals and flip-flops highlighting exposed painted toenails of cheery, bright colors for all to see!

 

 

 

 

 

Farmers scurry to the corn and soybean fields of their fruitful yearly yield, operating massive combines and farm machinery of all sorts, to harvest the crops before Fall Rains arrive and the First Frost covers the land.

“As long as the earth endures, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”~Genesis 8:22 (NIV)

So it is with the “falls” of our own Seasons of Life, that change is inevitable and must take place.  For out of change there is growth where wisdom is born through new experiences & circumstances relating to what has changed in our world.  We all change.  From the moment we are conceived in our mother’s womb, our bodies are constantly changing from birth until death.  There is no denial and there is no control over this phenomenon of life.  I will never forget the words of the surgeon who had finished performing open-heart surgery on my brother almost 30 years ago.  Taking the time out to talk with me and my family members to report how he was doing, the Doctor and I engaged in a short conversation.  I recall the unforgettable words prompted from this brilliant man in our brief exchange of casual dialog, “The only thing constant in life is change”.  For some strange reason, I had never heard this expression before and for some strange reason this spoken phrase has never left my memory.  After he walked away, I pondered what he had so meaningfully expressed to me and inwardly I agreed that what he said was so true.

 

“Change is the only constant in life” Heraclitus

 

 

Those who don’t like change or are resistant to it have difficulty finding peace and joy in the process.  Changes can sometimes be very difficult or fun and easy depending on the matter at hand. Sometimes it drops us to our knees when abrupt and unexpected, such as a sudden loss of a loved one.  This I am quite familiar with when losing a husband to a fatal heart attack at his young age of 46, eleven years ago.  Gradual changes that visit us in ways like starting a new job or preparing for a move to a new location allow for planning, preparation, and getting our minds wrapped around what is going to knowingly come about. All in all, we cannot escape the ebbs and flows of living that effect the shifting tides of change in our Life Seasons as we become everything that we were created to be by the One who NEVER CHANGES!

“I the Lord do not change”… Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

May Your Fall Be Beautiful & Blessed!!