Unlocked Thoughts

  I haven't written on this blog for 6 years, yikes! I'm not sure who still reads, but I hope to reconnect with you all. The pandemic was something, wasn't it? Let's recap. The losses I have faced. I lost my dear grandparents (one to COVID-19 and my grandmother to cardiac arrest). I also lost my uncle Brian to COVID-19. It was a difficult time for my entire family, but Jehovah got us through it. Because our lives are on the brink of imperfection, I have been diagnosed with Manic Depression and type 2 Diabetes. My husband lost his older brother, Charles, leaving his wife Karen a widow. So much has happened, but we are still serving Jehovah faithfully, knowing that soon death will be gone and that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous. (Rev 21:3,4;Acts 24:15) I packed on a lot of pounds during the pandemic, but lost nearly 100lbs and am still trying to lose more weight. I go swimming at the recreational center near my home with a dear sister from m...

Worry is the number silent killer among humanity today. Would you be surprised to know that closest relationship guilty of causing such worry is your family members? Worry-hogs, that watch the news all the time or people who look up bad things to talk about on a regular basis. This is not to say these things should be discussed but at what cost? How unfortunate are the many who think this way is beneficial for health, life and prosperity. Really, it's detrimental! Worry can raise your blood pressure, make you gain weight through higher cortisol levels. Some people have had strokes and heart attacks because of incessant worrying. In fact, unlike those who just do their best to get throughout the day, there are few worry-bodies who like to see how much worry they can handle before they meet their early grave. I am not one of them. I never let life worries get me down. However, this is not to say that I'm perfect because I'm not. There are days when life's anxieties drag ...

My attempt to get back in writing poetry thanks to some online pals. 😊 Slice, chop, dice. Slice, cut, mince. Tear-ree-ayki. Par-ma-sean. Every dish made with tender loving care, and its matching aroma in the air. It starts with a sizzle and ends with a sear. Cooking up a bolognese, I learn a lot in life now I do as I please. Trimming, basting, and glaze. Sauteing, frying and deglaze. Ground pepper dust tickles my nose. All spices know no ends. But when I pick up my chef knife, I tell ya, boy do I feel free again! Like me again! The harvest of produce and its splendor, Every fluttering note of merlot, riesling and moscato, The way the honey caramelizes and how the sauce coats the back of the spoon. In these moments, the patience displayed is high quality than most of my daily interactions. I feel the comfort and the stillness of my heart. There is no traction. It's a stark comparison from its wounds and its battered parts. The satisfaction is the row...

All praise and glory belongs to Jehovah God, who makes it rain over the righteous and the unrighteous. Our wonderful God and creator. Lately we have been dealing with where to move and Jehovah God has blessed us with somewhere to lay our heads. It truly showed me what I need to work on and patience. I told myself this year I would rely on Jehovah God more. I would fully trust Him to provide for us. I want to move forward as a spiritual person and not so much as a physical person.

Comparison is the thief of Joy. When you compare yourself to others, you're not being completely impartial. In fact, you're only thinking of the fruits of their labor. When you walk in other's people shoes, you accept the joys but also their burdens. We envy those who take vacations, have children, are married or single, have free time, a good job, a house and other things that we ourselves do not have. Comparison also brings forth jealously and motivate us to acquire what the other person has, this can also steer us away from Jehovah. Satan uses the 'showy display' to keep us distracted from serving God and putting him first daily. Let us follow His advice found at Galatians 6:4 which says: "But let each one examine his own actions, and then he will have cause for rejoicing in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person."

Discouragement. You know that same old trick that Satan uses to get you to stop serving God. The tactic that makes you doubt the same group of people you were certain care about you. It is the same methods to clip a Christian’s wings when they are long and strong. Destructive and unexpected.  For me, I felt like I wasn’t capable of doing anything success while doing the work of the Lord. It didn’t help to compare but it also was discouraging when all you see are the successes of others. I gave it some thought and really took the time to dwell on it. We are fishers of men. Keyword: Fishing. Well, I have only gone fishing once in my life. Back in 1999, I attended 5th-grade summer camp. We had learned a lot of survival tips, however, I remember going fishing the most. It was a challenging concept to understand for an 11-year-old, mind you. First, you set up your fishing line and hook. Next, you had to get the best bait, the best worm and hook it so that it stayed. Excitement swell...