friends – Abba's Prayer Warrior Princess

I Wish I Had or I’m Glad I Did

Posted on August 22, 2018August 21, 2018 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

I wish I had…. How many times have we all started a sentence with those four little words? I wish I had gone to see her. Perhaps, I wish I had said or even had not said that. The list of “I wish” is endless unfortunately.

A few days ago a friend died. It was unexpected for most everyone. I listened to mourners and read tributes from so many people. The majority of people started theirs with “I wish”. “I wish I had called him instead of texted that morning.” “I wish I had told him I loved him the last time I saw him.” “I wish I had taken more time to talk when he called.”

Cliche as it might sound, maybe it is time to give up the wishes and regrets. It is time to live life doing those things. There is a song that talks about “Live Like You are Dying”. What if we lived like our family and friends were instead? Would we treat them differently? Yes, I certainly would.

My words would be much more thoughtful and kind. I would definitely consider others’ feelings and needs. All of the things I wanted to say would get said. There are things I have learned thatI would share. It would be a priority to discuss Jesus and salvation. How will I know if I don’t ask?

Do they know that in times of sorrow, Jesus is my comfort. He is my strength. In Psalm 46:1, the Bible tells us “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” This is so true. I cannot make it a day without Him. He shelters and strengthens me. I draw my peace from Him.

John 14:27 gives us Jesus’ assurance that “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” This is the “peace that passes understanding” that we sang about in Sunday school. A pure peace is given to us by Jesus when things are in chaos.

Scripture says “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” That is my goal. To make certain my family and friends have one of those mansions. It has already been bought and paid for by Jesus. All I can do is give them the good news and pray they accept the keys.

No more wishing for me. It is time for action. Live each day purposefully. Say the “I love you” and “thank you”. Make the phone call. Take the time. Go to lunch. Share the love. Talk about Jesus. Say goodbye to “I wish I had” and hello to “I’m glad I did.”

What are your I wish sentences that turn into regrets instead of sweet memories? How about doing something now instead being disappointed later?

Reflections from a Word Nerd

Posted on July 25, 2018July 24, 2018 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Since I have been young, words have fascinated me. Numbers do nothing for me, but words are exciting and powerful. Okay, I will admit to being a word nerd. Reading, writing, even listening to meaningful lyrics move me and put me in my sweet spot. Even if you are a numbers person, words affect you. Some words or phrases bring certain people to mind.

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My dear mother has a quaint way of terming kisses. Our family doesn’t kiss each other we “give sugar.” My hubby does not decide or conclude, he “reckons.” When Dad is sincere about something, he states it “quite frankly.” Pappaw Reeves was never hindered but “stymied.” According to him, planets were never just in a straight line but in a “sygyzy.” My Granddaddy was a Lockmaster at Dam 43 near us and my hubby worked in Engineering in a ship building company. Many times both men replaced left and right with port and starboard, the nautical and aeronautical terms for left and right, respectively. 79193B57-AC0C-44EA-9510-0B1FBE551571

Just think how important they are and moving in weddings. In our wedding we had the song “Whither Thou Goest” sung. Just hearing that phrase or the word whither takes me back decades to a church altar where I plighted my troth to my husband. Isn’t that more romantic than saying at my wedding? Words can be magical when used correctly and thoughtfully. They have power to transform and transport.

For me, I love poetic, old fashioned words and Southern phrases. Women in my family swoon over thing and say “I swan or swanee” because no proper lady should ever say I swear. We don’t sweat but perspire. One does not simply hug my Auntie June but must “hug her neck.” Most importantly, never did I nor have I heard my grandparents, parents or aunts and uncles say what my Grandmother deemed “ugly words.” Never.

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Ugly words or swearing abound in society today. Using the Lord’s name in vain, cursing, and horrible four letter words are rampant. Even name-calling seems to be at an all time high. Tattoos are permanently imprinted on bodies with words that should not be written, spoken or seen. 14BC4EB3-1B26-459A-95DC-A93412EF1357 Clothing prominently sports things that are “ugly” and offensive. Even some “Christians” have attire proudly proclaiming “Yes, I am a Christian and I cuss a lot.” What?! So, I wonder how our Father feels about that? Or if these people consider the example they are setting? Ugly words take away from a person’s beauty. They can sting and hurt.

When I think of my Savior there are many words that come to mind. Beloved is the first and means dearly loved. Definitely Jesus loves us dearly. No doubt about that. Redemption is another one. It means being saved from sin or evil. Christ sought us out before we were born and bought us with his blood on the cross. He paid the entry fee to eternal life for us. That fee was his own life. Absolutely, freely given to us in love is our gift of salvation, which means deliverance from harm or destruction.

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Tell me about you? What words do you relate to people? Better yet, what words do you think people relate to you? What if our words appeared on our skin? Make them pretty words to inspire, bring about happy memories and smiles. Don’t leave behind ugly words as your impression or influence on this world. Let your children and grandchildren read “hug my neck” and “give me sugar” or remember you when they hear nice, virtuous, sweet words. Don’t let #*@$ or worse be your legacy.

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Read a Book Monday: “My Heart Belongs in Glenview Springs, Colorado…Millie’s Resolve”

Posted on May 7, 2018May 6, 2018 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Do you like to read? Obviously I do. There is something relaxing for me to get lost inside a book. I love traveling to places and making friends between the covers of a new novel. Don’t you. Well, today I have a really good one. “My Heart Belongs in Glenwood Springs, Colorado…Millie’s Resolve” is a 256 page Historical Christian Romance written by Author Rebecca Jepson. Published by Barbour it was the first book I have read 2B48CB54-1270-4592-9F12-99CB0D84D629

by that author, but it definitely will not be the last. This is a fresh delightful, emotionally packed historical Christian romantic fiction. I enjoyed it so much I did not want to do anything else except read that book!

Glenwood Springs, Colorado is a town with a healing spa. The story is set there in 1888 and is the tale of Millie Cooper. She is a caring young woman running from her past. Millie grew up in Nantucket as the daughter of a poor fisherman. One summer she fell in love with the son of a wealthy family on vacation. The results were heartbreaking for Millie and the book opens with her now in Glenwood Springs working beside dear Dr. Murphy. Everything is going wonderfully until the brother of the man she fell in love with came into town and turned Millie’s world upside down. He needs a nurse for his family and Millie seems to be the one. This man prevented her from marrying his brother and now wants her to care for his mother and brother’s pregnant wife. Oh my!

Author Jepson presents a fresh new story that I have not ever read. It deals with forgiveness, regret, mercy, love, grudges, social classes, faith, illness, and trust. The author tackles issues in 1888 that we can relate to now. Her writing style is lovely. The words just lowly effortlessly making the story easy to read and book hard to put down. Twist and turns are added to keep readers on our toes. 9B1B3DF4-9C70-4265-A04E-C5EEE3D32768

I was emotionally invested within a few pages. The descriptions were so good felt like a fly on the wall watching things happen.

The characters are so well rounded and defined that I felt like I knew them. Not only did I become friends with the main characters but secondary ones, too. I loved Dr. Murphy! Some characters I scolded, others I had empathy for, and the majority I wanted to stay my friends. I could travel to healing Glenview Springs and have coffee or tea with my new buddies. The novel gave me the feeling we were that close.

“Millie’s Resolve” is a touching historical, Christian romance. The lesson to trust God is prevalent throughout it. I loved on page 192 the lines “The Master of the crashing sea was with her. He was Lord…even of this storm.” This beautiful message of faith is woven in the story so well. Anyone will benefit from reading it and feel inspired. Nonbelievers shouldn’t find it off putting or preachy. This is just a great story.

I highly recommend this. It is one of those books I wanted to finish reading, couldn’t put down, but did not ever want to be over. What a dilemma! It is a complete story, no cliffhanger. I just loved it. Any reading group would love discussing this delightful tale. There are no discussion questions but just asking “what did you think” will start words flowing. This gets a big 5 out of 5 star rating from me. Loved it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. 41D8B9AB-D3BF-4C95-94F5-249C5BCB2C25

Are You Running Out of Time to Help?

Posted on February 19, 2018February 19, 2018 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Time slips away from all of us. Once it has gone we may never get it back. It is easy to plan on doing something tomorrow and never finding time. Maybe it isn’t finding time that’s the problem but forgetting. I’m guilty of that. Are you?

The other evening I was watching television with my husband when the phone rang. It was a cell phone number I did not recognize but I answered it. The conversation went like this:

“Hello”
Caller: “Oh, good you’re still there. Do you have rosaries?”
(I owned a Christian bookstore for ten years that closed in December 2012. That number was one digit off of my home number.)
“Are you looking for Heaven Help Us Christian Bookstore?”
Caller:”Well, yes. That’s what I dialed.” (Actually she didn’t)
“I used to own it but we closed it years ago.”
(Crickets. Nothing for several seconds.)
“Why, why that’s not possible. I shop there all of the time. I love that shore. When did y’all close?’
“December 2012.”
“No! That can’t be. I know I was there since then.”
“Yes, ma’am, that’s when we closed.”
“I kept meaning to invite my friend but now it’s too late. I told her about it, but time just got away, I guess.”

We agreed time flies and ended the call with me promising to contact her if I ever opened another store. (Very doubtful this side of heaven). She even reminisced about my store and lamented not following through with another invitation to her friend. My store was a safe haven filled with God glorifying material and beautiful Christian music. Never any “ugly” language as my Grandmother would say.

Just as this lady missed the chance to invite her friend to my store before it closed, I wonder how many family members and friends will miss out on Jesus and Heaven because I didn’t make the time to tell them more about Jesus and asking Him into their hearts? Once they are gone or I am, I am not able to do that anymore. Honestly, I don’t want a single friend or family member missing Heaven especially if I could be a part of helping them make that decision. Time is precious and should be used to help others not for just ourselves.

What about you? Tell us your story about running out of time and missing something important. How about now? Do you have someone you have been praying for to receive salvation? Are you running out of time with them?