Hello!  Friends and family– I am back!  It has been way too long for me.  I have missed you all.  An accident in late November really put me out of commission for a short time.  But what better time to return then the first of a new year!  A time when changes are everywhere!  I hope today’s reading will bring you hope for the New Year.  Of course a new year always brings about change for us all.  And for many of us these changes drive out the tears hidden deep in our souls.  Sometimes the tears are of happiness or sometimes these tears are from sadness.  Also my fear will many times bring me tears.  Fear of the changes.  You know a lot of people would say don’t cry, but our shedding of tears can provide a comforting release.  So if change is tampering with your life and emotions, open up your soul, and let the water works flow!  God’s hands are large enough to catch them all!  And more than large enough to turn those into wonderful blessings!

Tears of Change

My tear tumbles down my cheek.

It is like pearls breaking and falling slowly to the ground.

The tear rest upon my chest as my sorrow wells.

I don’t want God to see me cry.

 

I want Him to know I have faith.

I do have faith that He has all in His hands.

But the emotions of my heart stream forth like a wound just opened.

I know You gave me these emotions.

But so many times they just get away from me.

 

They open up like a bloom exposing its scent to the world.

My soul pops open releasing it hurt.

It knows change is coming.

It is afraid and scared.

 

The one change doesn’t cause this sorrow.

It is the change after change after change.

It happens when the changes are so close together.

And they keep coming.

 

And my soul says no more!

I am not telling God no more.

I am saying I am tired.

Of course He knows.

 

I cry more and more.

I sometimes wail when no one is listening.

Not because God is not there,

But because He is listening.

 

He catches my tears and feeds them to the sun.

It is then that I see the light through the tears.

The rainbow created lets me know hope is here.

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

I pray that rainbows come from your tears this week.  Let the change that comes be a time of growth.  And remember a physical release can always bring about a mental cleansing!  Happy New Year and many blessings as our changes toward goodness carry us through 2017!

 

 

Journey

Do you ever find yourself frozen in time? It’s like you are standing by watching your life pass but not participating in what is happening.  It is easy to find oneself in this predicament, especially as fast as life moves these days.  Sadly we really don’t even know how little by little we have frozen our own view of time.  Demands of work, relationship work, and even what may seem your choice of activities can become overbearing.  So overbearing that we just stop our focus and become stagnant.  When you get that little chill in your bones, and you feel as though you are watching life instead of living life—-get by the fire!!  Surround yourself with family, friends, warm comfies, hot coffee or cocoa, glowing lights, fulfilling activities, and most importantly the Holy Spirit.  Shake the frost off and skate right back into life!

Shadow of the Frost

You lay yourself across the grass.

You are between the trees, shrubs, and bushes.

You provide a frosty glow that lights the land.

You come upon the grass and the plants little by little.

 

What is your purpose, frosty shadow?

Does your moisture seal them and feed them?

Even though I know you are chilly,

I am warmed by your presence.

 

I watch out my window as you are gently overtaken.

The rays of the sun soak you up one wave at a time.

You go as quickly as you come.

You disappear.

 

Then your shadow falls again another night.

Crystalizing all that is under your watch.

Chilling, but warming the Earth.

Shadow of the frost-

Do not let me freeze.

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

As the skies darken early and the temperatures drop, we have a tendency to seclude ourselves.  Seclusion leads to depression, and depression can even lead to physical illness.  Fight the frost!!  Thank you for making the choice to be with me this week.  May the remaining Fall bring you and your family blessings and warmth!

Love,

Rennae

 

Journey

Change and growth are both just so amazing!  It is transforming!  The piece today describes how beautiful and magnificent change can be.  How one can remain strong and stand out even though all things around them are changing whether for the good or the bad.  We so often want to fight these different times and various seasons, not realizing this revolution is your path and destiny.  Not realizing that we should celebrate each moment and time as a new awakening of life.  Think about your stability and also the changes you have experienced during the past year.  I hope your growth and changes are as beautiful as the ghost!  I pray you paint the sky to the heavens with your colors of change!

The Ghost

The background is blue.

A blue that is bright and light.

The white skin pops against the blue canvas.

The white, pasty arms show the signs of growing and living.

 

The cracky flakes display the effects of the wind and the water and the sun.

The sounds of the ghost are soft,

But constant as the winds swiftly move by.

In the dark the ghost makes it sound as a whisper in the air or the blow of a kiss.

 

Against the dark, grey sky, the figure fades into the grey wash.

Then within a season of change,

The once obscure figure pounces forward with multiple greens.

The ghost feels a burst of revival as it displays one shade of green after another.

 

Birds find a home within its arms,

And insects discover their haven within its body.

As the ghost grows, the greens turn to gold, brown, and orange against a crisp cloud in the sky.

The gold, bronze, and orange drop to unveil the naked beauty beneath.

 

Another moment has past,

And another year has gone.

And the Ghost continues to breath the wind,

And paint the sky with its life and soul.

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

I wrote this piece about nine years ago.  We still have this tree, and I have still been given the great honor of watching year after year.  Find the gift you have been honored with this and absorb the glory of it changing and growing.  Thank you for being with me this week.  Another distinguished honor I have been given is to share with you.  Blessed changes and growth this week!

Love,

Rennae

 

 

Journey

I wish that we never had to worry about evil and the results of evil, but unfortunately we all do.  Some humans cannot resist the side of their soul that feeds fear, dominance, and betrayal.  When this happens, we all feel the chill and distrust displayed by such individuals.  The hope and the future depends on the light of love that each of us has.  The light that can be stronger than the darkness of this pursuit.  The hope is that we reach out and overcome these acts of evil by moving forward in showing kindness and honesty.  I don’t believe we are to act like vampire hunters searching these individuals out, but I do believe it is our mission to stand strong and let the light of the everlasting love shine through us to cover up any darkness spiking its ugly head in this world!  So shine that little light of yours!  All of our lights together will make a bonfire worth attention!

The Dark Ones

You know them.

As soon as your soul sees or feels them,

You know them.

They are in disguise,

But their shadows loom behind them.

 

Real, everyday people do not matter to them.

Their shadows’ creep over these souls little by little.

Dark negative feelings hidden behind grins, not smiles.

Hidden behind false laughs, not joy.

The real people develop fear and distrust of these dark ones.

 

Why?  Because the real people know the dark ones strike at any time.

The souls of the real people fear these shadows.

The shadows of the dark ones seep out,

The shadows start touching the real souls,

And creep into their hearts.

 

The real ones hold in at first.

They keep their fear and anxiety inside

As the dark creeps slowly inward.

Their souls begin to hurt just a little.

Then the shadow covers more and more of the real ones’ souls.

 

Their souls ache each and every minute.

Their souls question themselves.

Their souls become depressed by the dark black space.

Despair causes pain.

The pain builds and builds.

 

Finally the dark ones’ shadows try to take the final part of the souls of the real ones.

The real ones’ souls almost burst.

Then deep, deep within the real ones’ souls,

One spark of light from the depths of their heart lightly glows.

The one spark starts to grow

And the spark gets larger and larger.

 

The shadows of the dark ones begin falling away second by second.

The real ones’ souls sigh as they are relieved.

They are taken from beneath the shadows.

The souls gain relief.

More importantly the light coats the dark.

 

The light completely drives the dark away.

The real ones’ souls experience joy and peace once again.

The dark ones’ shadows withdraw.

The shadows go back behind the grins and the laughs.

Waiting in the dark to strike again.

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

Thank you so much for reading with me this week.  Thank you for taking your time from your life to share with me.  I know today’s topic is not always a popular one, but I think we sometimes need to be uncomfortable and discuss issues that are important.  Keep your love light flowing!  And never stand in that shadow too long!

Love,

Rennae

 

Journey

 

Wisdom can appear visually as a sage contemplating life, an elderly person providing advice, or as an owl perched in a scholarly position.  People throughout history have searched for wisdom in many different faiths and in many different cultures.  In this case wisdom being the all-knowing answers.  Many of those people search all of their lives to only discover that true wisdom lies within their soul.  Deep inside where we discuss and search ourselves. Where we have conversations with God.

Wisdom can also be used as a deceptive tool.  Of course in this case it is not really wisdom.  There is a real big difference in wisdom and another person’s opinion.  Obviously, this is not true wisdom.  I really believe if you think you have reached a level of wisdom, then you have really never received it.  The wisest people I have ever known have displayed a continued life of learning and changing.  They never have real answers.  They help you search for your real answers.  Wisdom is the forever learning, changing, and searching that we continue to go through.  So, keep on learning, changing, and searching—-you will be the wiser for doing so!!!

Wisdom

My heart feels the warmth of your touch.

I breathe in the rays of the sun.

My soul is comforted by the grace I am given.

I am so blessed to have loved.

 

My hurt has driven my heart to grow larger than it could ever be.

Without the sight I have been given in my mind.

I would be so less wise.

My weaknesses show me the valuable life I take for granted.

 

And the souls I encounter deliver light into my shadows.

The ones I have been given support me and are proud of me.

I witness the colors that make this world so amazing.

This provides such hope for the world I have not yet entered.

 

Textures and surfaces let me know what feathers and rocks feel like.

The same feathers and rocks make me feel as though I am a part of the Earth.

I live because I have been given a destination.

I have all of these experiences that show me where I fit in.

 

These experiences also lead me to the places where I do not need to be.

To live is to stand strong with yourself.

To die is to know who you really are.

And to not fear that knowledge is the answer.

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

Thank you for allowing me to have a place where we can discuss issues that really do have not answers.  I have found this life is so much richer when we are willing to be open around topics that do not come to conclusions.  May this week increase your wisdom!  And knowledge!  And insight!  God bless during this ever changing season!

Love,

Rennae

 

 

Journey

 

I yearn so many days for a space to just be.  A room as described below where I can listen as much as I talk.  I feel so blessed that I do not have to formally go to a building or a location to find peace.  The more I understand how deep our love from the Creator is, the more I understand why it was so important that the Creator lived as humans did and do.  Taking on the day to day living that takes one through so many emotions, reactions, and interactions.  And especially to have that room in our soul that allows one just to be.  If only our mind would yearn as the soul to seek peace.  Our minds get way ahead of our soul and wants to respond and react.  It is the soul’s job to keep that mind on track seeking that room of peace.  A room where nothing is expected and nothing is demanded.  Get busy and search out your room this week.  A room where you can cry, laugh, and contemplate.  A room where you can listen, talk, and just be!

The Room

She was soothed by the aroma of the coffee, God’s nectar.

The three tiny candles gave warmth to the room

As if God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit sat with her.

Her mind silently,

Yet loudly ask for forgiveness, gave thanks, and ask for blessings.

 

Each day she went to this room to not only go inside herself,

But to also listen to God.

Her pauses allowed God to come forth

And take His presence where He wished.

Some days she heard clearly.

Some days she strained to hear.

And some days there was silence.

 

But everyday she felt comfortable, silent, and loved in that room

As she thumbed the pages of her favorite Book,

She left it up to God for directions on the message.

When the page fell to the words in sight,

She immediately knew that Jesus and the Holy Ghost were with her.

 

How many days had she found words that jumped off the pages and into her soul.

How many days had she been led to those many or few words that relived themselves throughout the day.

How many days was there quietness in the pages.

Whether there was quiet or noise, she would go there to search and find.

 

In this world, we have to find those sacred places.

We have to find peace.

We have to find goodness.

We have to find hope.

And of course where these are found,

We also find God.

 

The rooms within this world are few,

But the lives that are born within them are precious.

She was reminded that God guards the room for those that seek.

She felt grace as she blew out the candles.

The light had changed form not only within the candle,

But also within her.

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

Thank you for sharing your peaceful time with me this week.  I pray you receive blessings and hope from our reading.  May this blessed season of color, warmth, and changes be your room that brings you joy and just being!

Love,

Rennae

 

Journey