Tag: Girlfriends in May

Grateful Friday

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image This week I’m just plain thankful! I’m thankful to be a woman living out this journey of faith. I’m thankful to my God for calling me to be His!

Psalm 139 KJV

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

19Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

20For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

21Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Share in the comments something YOU’RE thankful for!

Part of New Day’s “Girlfriends in May” series.

Faith of a Woman

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For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. (Mark 5:28 KJV)

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Painting by artist Alan Hicks.

It is the belief that God is there, with her always. It is what keeps a smile on her face when times are hard. It’s the joy in her spirit when the world says she should worry. It is seeing it happen when no one else can or will. It is the size of a mustard seed, because that’s all it takes.

It is the faith of a woman – strong, hard, daring. Perfectly centered on her perfect God. Believing, seeing, knowing. How is faith achieved? How does one have faith? Have you ever met one of those women of God and witnessed the faith she has?

I believe faith is a gift. It is given of the same God to which it is aimed. He bestows it in a willing vessel for His glory and for others to behold. If received and used by the vessel, it is a powerful force, capable of moving mountains, opening and closing doors, making ways out of no ways.

The woman in Mark 5:28 had faith. She had no other choice. She was at the end of her rope; Jesus was her only option. Had been all along. Her faith brings her to Him. Or, to hem.

If I could only touch Him, she said. That will do it. That’s all I need. Just one touch. Her faith moved through Jesus so powerfully that He felt virtue leave Him. Where did it go? He had to know. He turned and saw a poor face. That’s where it went – to her.

I want to be that kind of woman, with that kind of faith. The faith that causes Jesus to stop in His tracks and look for me, to look at me, through me. To see it all. I want His love to heal me, save me, cover me, fill me. What a blessed way to live.

Nothing’s more beautiful than a woman with faith in her God – arms stretched out to hem, her first love.

Part of New Day’s “Girlfriends in May” series. iPhone photo of art; “The Touch” by Alan Hicks, http://www.twinhicks.com/index.htm.

Ain’t Nothing Like a Mother

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Her children arise up, and call her blessed… (‭Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭28‬ KJV)

I am thankful to have had not just one but several mothers throughout my life! Women who kept me in line, advised me, and beat my tail when I needed it. I wouldn’t be who I am today without them. In their honor…

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My sisters and I have one grandmother still with us, our granny Sarah. She’s technically our step-grandmother, but we’ve never considered her as such, treated her as such, and won’t let anyone else treat her as such. She’s ours and always has been. She keeps God in her heart, a smile on her face, and joy in her spirit. Sometimes she’s so happy her words flow to 100 MPH! We love every bit of it and every bit of her.

Two grandmothers are in Heaven now. Our grandmother Frances was honored by my dad and his siblings as a mother who did what she could, who loved as she could. She had her life struggles, but I hope she felt our love to her through it all. I remember her as quiet and serious; I am a similar soul, and I’ve embraced that part of me. I’m thankful for our times with her.

Now Ms. Fleda was our queen, the one with the first and the last word! A sweet spirit, sold out for God, and mean as a whip sometimes. Always loving, always thought of others before she thought of herself. She had her life struggles, too, having experienced loss and the sudden absence of four family members from a single, terrible tragedy. Healing took time, but she got the rest of her family through. She left us peacefully, held our hands, cried with us, then went on to be with her Maker. We miss her so much, that gal…

Then there’s that one. The one who gave my sisters and me life. She’s our best friend. She’s our heart, our blood, and our teacher. She never meets a stranger. She has the best laugh on earth – don’t get her started! She is a Nana grandmother herself now, and keeps three little young ones in check. Love me some Brenda.

Anyone who is a mother deserves to be honored and respected not just on Mother’s Day, but every day. Love and thank you to all who are called blessed.

Part of New Day’s “Girlfriends in May” series.