Category Archives: Speak The Truth In Love

Is 65 The New 45??? Gee, I Hope So!!

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Happy Birthday To Me!!

I recently celebrated a BIG Birthday!

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                                            (Me with Sandy and Elle!)

And I now get to show my golden Medicare “ticket” everywhere..

But, now that I’m “mature,”  I forget to do it!!

Hubby’s already on it, so I know it’s fine…

I’ll get used to it!

We already had good insurance…

Thanks to the NJ Public Schools…

My plan after college was to get married,

Teach for two years,

Have 4 kids…

Done!

But, since my son took 14 years to arrive! 

I just kept on teaching…

And, as my sister-in-law advised,

“Stay in teaching long enough to get all the benefits you deserve!!”

So, I stayed!

After 26 years, I retired…

One kid, a pension, and my health insurance…

God is good!

Because of so many years…

Of being blessed with God’s wisdom…

My years of experience…

And my mistakes…

(Thank you for “redos,” Lord!)

I’m such a wealth of information! 

Ha!

So, what do you want to know about???

Growing up in a constantly fast-talking Italian family…

With lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins???

So much fun going to church together…

Everyone talking at the same time…

Very loudly!!

With lots and lots of food!!!

Growing up Pentecostal???

Lots of “You can’t do that!”

But, lots of faith, love, and strong trust in God, too!!

I learned to teach my son about all the things we can do in Christ!

And the joy we experience!

Growing up with an older brother???

“Stitches” in my side as he walked too fast on our way to school…

Joe always said my younger brother, John, and I had “piercing voices!”

Growing up with a younger brother???

Who, as I mentioned in another post…

https://godssceneryandpromises.wordpress.com/2013/09/07/oh-by-the-way-…have-any-gauze/

Slashed my lip with a snow shovel…

While  we were shoveling snow in NJ…

When I was in 6th grade!

But, we never wanted to be apart!

Praying for a sister???

My Mom was 38…

I had to have a sister…

Having two brothers was just too much…

I was eleven when Tina was born!

She went everywhere with me!

So special to me to this day!!

Amen!

God answers prayers!

Wanting to be a teacher since the first grade???

My cousin, Phyllis, who was three years older…

Lived next door…

And was always the teacher…

 I was the best student there ever was!

Dating????

Long term dating…

Too early, too intense…

I would not recommend it today!!

College and  Master’s  Education???

Let me just say…

The tassel is definitely worth the hassle…

Do your homework…

Get an education!!!

Then, ask God to give you a job you’re passionate about!

First Marriage???

Moved to Texas to live with my older brother and his wife…

Married two and a half years…

Divorced…

Came home to NJ!

Divorce???

Low, low point…

Feels like someone took a photo of the two of you…

Tore  it in two…

And ripped your heart out…

You’re deeply changed…

I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone!

Second Marriage

To my high school sweetheart…

Thirty-seven years…

Through the best of the best…

And the worst of the worst…

 The key is to go through it…

TOGETHER…

That’s what marriage is all about…

Even when “LOVE” is strong…

  But, “LIKE” is not!!

Amen!

Oh,Yes…

I am difficult to live with…

More than just sometimes!!

Good quote on Facebook:
“In every marriage more than a week old,
there are grounds for divorce…
the trick is to find, and continue to find,
the grounds for marriage!!” 
Thank you, Jesus!
Amen!!
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Ten years of Infertility???

Why me?

All my cousins and friends had kids…

But, God turned my attitude to…

“Why not me?”

And I received a miracle gift from God!

It was totally worth the huge cost and effort…

Of in-vitro…

To have our son!!!

Thank God for insurance!

Coming back to God???

Spent twenty years doing “my own thing!”

But could not fathom…

Raising my son without faith…

He loved Jesus…

Going to church…

Lively worship music…

And Veggie Tales…

And he led me back to Jesus!

Raising a great kid???

What a ministry…

To pour Jesus into your child!!!

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Life???

Yes, they’ll be trials…

But, always accept the Lord’s…

Joy!

Death???

So sad to lose loved ones…

But, we can celebrate their life…

Because of our Hope of Heaven…

And say, “See you soon!”

Parents???

We do our best…

So remember…

Your parents did their best, too!!

Forgive…

Don’t hold onto grudges…

Love!

4-11-14 to 4-13-14 Game, Outreach, RL 630

Friends and family???

While you can’t pick your family…

You can love, encourage, and minister to the family that God gave you!

Friends…

Chose wisely and love deeply!

Siberian Huskies???

Only God could make such a beautiful face…

My Crazy, Precious Little Girl…

Is lots of work…

And brings, oh, so much joy!!

See her Birthday post!

https://godssceneryandpromises.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/guess-whos-turning-seven/

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Seeing through God’s eyes???

Is beautiful…

And difficult…

Be prepared to listen…

Be prepared to obey!

Religion???

Faith is better than no faith…

Our relationship with Jesus  is everything!

Being retired???

Not HAVING to work is soooo good…

Retirement with a pension is the best!

Ministering to others???

Accountability…

Teaching others keeps you on your toes!

Keep on going for God!!

Eternal Life???

1 Timothy 4:8

“For physical training is of some value,

but godliness has value for all things,

holding promise for both the present life

and the life to come.”

Amen!

 

Teachers…Parents Are Sending You The Best That They Have!!!

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Give Them The Best You Have!!

A Back-To-School Lesson!

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Romans 12:7

“If your gift is serving others,

serve them well.

If you are a teacher,

teach well.”

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Titus 2:7-8

“In everything

set them an example by doing what is good.

In your teaching show integrity, seriousness

and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned,

so that those who oppose you

may be ashamed

because they have nothing bad to say about us.”

For additional verses about teachers, go to:

http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/bible-verses-about-teachers.html

Where according to:

Prayers for Special Help,

“These Bible verses about teachers enlighten us

first on the exceptional responsibility that one has while teaching.

Due to the impact a teacher has on a student,

one quote warns us that teachers will be judged

with a greater strictness than others.

Jesus is often called a teacher

and he himself confirmed that he was one;

the apostles were also teachers.

The teaching passages above

also insist that the ability to teach is a gift

in which the teacher serves others

and leads by example

with the objective to make the students

as wise as the teacher.

It is the teacher’s task to study,

handle the truth correctly,

and teach accurate information

while treating the pupil with respect.

These quotes identify integrity,

dignity,

faithfulness,

and lack of hypocrisy

as traits that the teacher should possess.

Overall, the teacher is warned about too much study

that does not focus on the fear of God

and living a godly life.”

Humbling stuff, huh???

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James 1:5

“If any of you lacks wisdom,

you should ask God,

who gives generously to all without finding fault,

and it will be given to you.”

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Proverbs 22:6

“Train up a child in the way he should go:

and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

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Luke 12:12

“…for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time

what you should say.”

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2 Timothy 3:14-17

“But as for you,

continue in what you have learned

and have become convinced of,

because you know those from whom you learned it,

and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures,

which are able to make you wise for salvation

through faith in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is God-breathed

and is useful for

teaching,

rebuking,

correcting

and training in righteousness,

so that the servant of God

may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

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Deuteronomy 11:18-21

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds;

tie them as symbols on your hands

and bind them on your foreheads.

Teach them to your children,

talking about them when you sit at home

and when you walk along the road,

when you lie down

and when you get up.

Write them on the door frames of your houses

and on your gates,

so that your days

and the days of your children

may be many in the land the Lord

swore to give your ancestors,

as many as the days

that the heavens are above the earth.”

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Lord,

Teachers are going Back-To-School now!

We need Your help!!

Please help us to show Your love!

Even when our days are chaotic!

Especially, when our days are chaotic!!!

Amen!!

Speak The Truth In Love!

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I reblogged this from Holley Gerth’s blog…please check out her entire blog!!

When You Really Want to Be Heard

photo by vl8189

photo by vl8189

Next time you’re afraid you won’t be heard, try this secret weapon: gentleness.

A gentle tongue can break a bone. {Prov. 25:15}

Lower your voice.

Speak a bit softer.

Look into someone’s eyes a little longer.

Yes, speak truth…just do it in love.

It’s fear that makes us respond with harshness–fear that we won’t be heard, that we’ll lose control, that we’ll be overlooked.

And so we fight with the sword of our tongues and wound those who love us.

Gentleness is powerful, friend. And it takes great courage to use it. But you’re brave enough to try it. I know it.

Our world needs more people who dare to be gentle. People like you.

They’re actually the strongest of all.

XOXO

Holley