I'm so very pleased to announce the opening of
Teresa Grace Massage at the Ohio Herb Education Center in Gahanna
on April 2, 2011!
The Center is located at 110 Mill Street, Gahanna, Oh 43230.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Guarding Our Hearts....
I spent some quiet time this week trying to get myself back on track. It's amazing how much drama someone can bring into your life if you are not careful! I met someone a few weeks ago, and within a matter of just a few weeks, this person brought more drama into MY life than I have had in YEARS! The funniest part of this whole mess is that this person had professed all along to not like any drama in his life.
REALLY? Wow. Well, perhaps he didn't like people causing any drama in HIS life, but he sure brought a 'whole lotta mess' into mine!
This whole experience has really got me to thinking about the many ways that we need to "guard our hearts".
The NLT (New Living Translation) of the Bible says to "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." Proverbs 4:23 (NLT). The Amplified Bible says it this way: "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life".
However it came about, "letting my guard down" these past few weeks has certainly caused my "springs of life" to get all jacked up!
Father - forgive me for not being vigilant about guarding my heart. Thank You for Your protection, when I was foolish and not being very cautious with my heart.
Please help me to learn how to hear You more, how to trust You more, and how to wait on You. Please help me to not get sidetracked so easily, and to not lose sight of what is really important - my relationship with YOU. Help me to learn how to listen to You more carefully. I know that Your words bring life and healing, so let them penetrate deep into my heart.
Let the river of Your living water, begin flowing again back in my life.
(taken from the Bible Gateway online Bible).
REALLY? Wow. Well, perhaps he didn't like people causing any drama in HIS life, but he sure brought a 'whole lotta mess' into mine!
The NLT (New Living Translation) of the Bible says to "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." Proverbs 4:23 (NLT). The Amplified Bible says it this way: "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life".
However it came about, "letting my guard down" these past few weeks has certainly caused my "springs of life" to get all jacked up!
Father - forgive me for not being vigilant about guarding my heart. Thank You for Your protection, when I was foolish and not being very cautious with my heart.
Please help me to learn how to hear You more, how to trust You more, and how to wait on You. Please help me to not get sidetracked so easily, and to not lose sight of what is really important - my relationship with YOU. Help me to learn how to listen to You more carefully. I know that Your words bring life and healing, so let them penetrate deep into my heart.
Proverbs 4 (New Living Translation)
Proverbs 4
A Father’s Wise Advice
1 My children,[a] listen when your father corrects you.
Pay attention and learn good judgment,
2 for I am giving you good guidance.
Don’t turn away from my instructions.
3 For I, too, was once my father’s son,
tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.
Pay attention and learn good judgment,
2 for I am giving you good guidance.
Don’t turn away from my instructions.
3 For I, too, was once my father’s son,
tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.
4 My father taught me,
“Take my words to heart.
Follow my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
Love her, and she will guard you.
7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
Embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
she will present you with a beautiful crown.”
“Take my words to heart.
Follow my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
Love her, and she will guard you.
7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
Embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
she will present you with a beautiful crown.”
10 My child,[b] listen to me and do as I say,
and you will have a long, good life.
11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways
and lead you in straight paths.
12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;
when you run, you won’t stumble.
13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
Guard them, for they are the key to life.
and you will have a long, good life.
11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways
and lead you in straight paths.
12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;
when you run, you won’t stumble.
13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
Guard them, for they are the key to life.
14 Don’t do as the wicked do,
and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
Turn away and keep moving.
16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.
They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
17 They eat the food of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence!
and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
Turn away and keep moving.
16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.
They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
17 They eat the food of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence!
18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over.
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over.
20 My child, pay attention to what I say.
Listen carefully to my words.
21 Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
22 for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.
Listen carefully to my words.
21 Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
22 for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.
for it determines the course of your life.
24 Avoid all perverse talk;
stay away from corrupt speech.
stay away from corrupt speech.
25 Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
27 Don’t get sidetracked;
keep your feet from following evil.
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
27 Don’t get sidetracked;
keep your feet from following evil.
(taken from the Bible Gateway online Bible).
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Making Pancakes...
someone sent this to me in an email.... it is SO cute, and SO VERY TRUE!
Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him.
But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to "make pancakes" for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right, and then they'll be glad we tried...
Six year-old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor.
He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.
Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad.
He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn't know how the stove worked!. Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor.
He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.
Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad.
He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn't know how the stove worked!. Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor.
Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.
And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon 's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him.
Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process!
That's how God deals with us.. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can't stand our job, or our health goes sour. And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon 's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him.
Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process!
Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him.
But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to "make pancakes" for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right, and then they'll be glad we tried...
Friday, March 4, 2011
Lessons learned...
Wow, this has been quite a week for me. Lots of stress and "drama". Trying to get my life back into the "drama-free" zone.... hehe.
Someone sent me this today - thanks, I needed this. How appropriate....
If you plant HONESTY, you will reap trust,
If you plant GOODNESS, you will reap friends,
If you plant HUMILITY, you will reap greatness,
If you plant PERSEVERANCE, you will reap contenment,
If you plant CONSIDERATION, you will reap perspective,
If you plant HARD WORK, you will reap success,
If you plant FORGIVENESS, you will reap reconciliation.
So be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later. -author unknown
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
disappointment...
As many of you know, I have been planning (for 2 years now) to go on an Alaskan Cruise for my 50th birthday - which is in May of this year. Unfortunately, it looks like I am not going to be able to go after all. Due to some unforeseen issues, my dear friend that was supposed to go on this cruise with me - will not be able to attend. Worse, is that the deadline for final payment of the cruise is Friday 3/4, and it is too short notice to find someone else to go with me.
Perhaps I will re-schedule and try to go later on in the year. I have been thinking how nice it would be to take my mother to Alaska for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
They say that everything happens for a reason, and only God knows why as well as how truly disappointed I am right now. But I trust Him and know that not only does He see and know things that I do not, but He always loves me and protects me.
Perhaps I will re-schedule and try to go later on in the year. I have been thinking how nice it would be to take my mother to Alaska for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
They say that everything happens for a reason, and only God knows why as well as how truly disappointed I am right now. But I trust Him and know that not only does He see and know things that I do not, but He always loves me and protects me.
UPDATE: On 3/03/11 I did cancel my Alaska Cruise for this year. I was able to re-book for next year and will take my mother. I was able to get all of my money refunded, and plan to go to Las Vegas for my 50th birthday instead. Besides, if I go before May of 2012, I will STILL be 50 - right? It's either that or I might just have to "hold off" on my 50th birthday until the cruise next year! This is definately going to be a lesson in patience!
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