Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Roots: Death
Roots: Death: Tonight, I decided to write a poem about Death. I'm sure it will never be a great literary work, but I hope that it can bring someone peace....
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The Polhamus Family: Family
The Polhamus Family: Family: They say, “Birds of a feather flock together.” Is that family? It’s family in kind perhaps, but not in spirit. It’s family out of ne...
Dear Strangers from all over the globe
I just wanted to remind you how special and beautiful you are in God's eyes.
I wanted to remind you that you have a very unique purpose.
I write this blog because I have seen many things that leave no question in my mind that God is real.
I have experienced Him...I pray that you will seek Him...get rid of the things that hold you down..
Experience life..
I've gone thru a lot. Infidelity. Dealing with death...I talk about those things on my blog...I hope that you will take the time to read thru the amazing things that God has shown me...
but if not...then simply just remember how special you are.
You are beautiful, stranger :)
My prayer today is for you.
I wanted to remind you that you have a very unique purpose.
I write this blog because I have seen many things that leave no question in my mind that God is real.
I have experienced Him...I pray that you will seek Him...get rid of the things that hold you down..
Experience life..
I've gone thru a lot. Infidelity. Dealing with death...I talk about those things on my blog...I hope that you will take the time to read thru the amazing things that God has shown me...
but if not...then simply just remember how special you are.
You are beautiful, stranger :)
My prayer today is for you.
Roots: Coping with infidelity
Roots: Coping with infidelity: this past week has been one of the most humbling and humiliating weeks that I have experienced in a very long time. I feel as if I have bee...
Monday, December 5, 2011
Roots: To the fatherless
Roots: To the fatherless: Today was a “less than typical” day. I was driving to work and I saw a young man and woman sitting on the side on the interstate. I was st...
My big and beautiful bucket list
Lately I have been thinking about death. I recently read a book called "If God is Good" by Randy Alcorn. The book provides insight and biblical answers to the question of suffering.
One thing that was said is that we all have the same disease - Mortality.
One day, we all will die.
For a few days this week, I felt horrendous. I am so much better now, but for a few days I truly felt beaten down by life. I needed to be reminded that I have a purpose. I needed to remember that there are places that I haven't yet ventured, like Spain. I needed to dream.
Above all else, I want God's will for my life. I have learned that the very breath of Christianity, the core is the spirit of sacrifice. I am learning to take comfort in life's small pleasures. I am learning the deep meaning of hugs. I am learning the beauty of prayer. I have learned to appreciate the sound of laughter, because true laughter....genuine and pure laughter isn't something that you hear much these days.
I want my life to have meaning. I've learned that God gives our lives meaning. I have come to know Him. I am learning His depth, His beauty...and the beauty of our individual purposes.
Yes, reader, you have a purpose. It probably doesn't involve watching television programs or checking facebook every hour. But we are all human. I am guilty.
If we lived out our true God given purpose, the world would look different.
Love would flow naturally. We would embrace life. We would appreciate beauty in the mundane. We would cease to complain. We would teach one another. Learn from one another. Embrace and love one another in the purest and deepest form imaginable. If we truly followed the divine will of the Father, this life would look very much like Heaven.
Let's make big and beautiful bucket lists. Let's live. Let's surrender our lives to God and watch great things unfold. Let's find beauty in one another and find peace at the foot of the Cross.
One thing that was said is that we all have the same disease - Mortality.
One day, we all will die.
For a few days this week, I felt horrendous. I am so much better now, but for a few days I truly felt beaten down by life. I needed to be reminded that I have a purpose. I needed to remember that there are places that I haven't yet ventured, like Spain. I needed to dream.
Above all else, I want God's will for my life. I have learned that the very breath of Christianity, the core is the spirit of sacrifice. I am learning to take comfort in life's small pleasures. I am learning the deep meaning of hugs. I am learning the beauty of prayer. I have learned to appreciate the sound of laughter, because true laughter....genuine and pure laughter isn't something that you hear much these days.
I want my life to have meaning. I've learned that God gives our lives meaning. I have come to know Him. I am learning His depth, His beauty...and the beauty of our individual purposes.
Yes, reader, you have a purpose. It probably doesn't involve watching television programs or checking facebook every hour. But we are all human. I am guilty.
If we lived out our true God given purpose, the world would look different.
Love would flow naturally. We would embrace life. We would appreciate beauty in the mundane. We would cease to complain. We would teach one another. Learn from one another. Embrace and love one another in the purest and deepest form imaginable. If we truly followed the divine will of the Father, this life would look very much like Heaven.
Let's make big and beautiful bucket lists. Let's live. Let's surrender our lives to God and watch great things unfold. Let's find beauty in one another and find peace at the foot of the Cross.
MY BIG AND BEAUTIFUL BUCKET LIST
1. Learn a new language - Spanish? Italian? still deciding....
2. I think it would be beautiful to learn to crochet and then knit hats to donate to infants and children...My sis in law knits hats :)
3. Learn to play the guitar - and then go sing and play at hospitals and nursing homes
4. Make snow angels with the boys
5. Ride a scooter through the Italian countryside
6. I'm praying that God would show me the Northern Lights one day
7. Write a book about the wonders of God, the things that He has shown me, the greatness of His love, and the myriad experiences I've had that leave no question in my mind that He is real. And then give the book away for FREE to one thousand people.
8. Make another cd, this time with the songs that He has given me...songs of hope
9. Make everyone around me feel like a first class citizen in a world that treats you like coach.
10. visit an orphanage, volunteer
11. hot air ballooning
12. reach out to the homeless and get involved in prison ministry
13. drink coffee at a Parisian cafe...with a view of the Eifel Tower
14. enjoy the ocean with my children
15. take a mission trip to a very poverty stricken area. It would make me that much more greatful for the comforts of home. I would like to write about the experience to share with others so that we all remember to truly count our blessings daily
16. Have a foot washing...There is a story in the Bible where a prostitute washes the feet of Jesus. It was a very intimate act that expressed her love and respect for Him. One day, I asked Jesus, "Lord, can I wash your feet? He told me that by washing the feet of others, I wash His feet. We wash the feet of others with kindess and with deliberate acts of love. Some churches, however, have had actual foot washings. It sounds silly almost, but I have heard that it is a very powerful experience. One day, I washed the feet of my ten year old boy. He began to cry and tell me how much he loved me and that he didn't want me to go to work the next day. We all need those deliberate acts of love. We all need touch. We need to have our feet washed now and then. I want to have a foot washing. I want to wash someone's feet.
17. Take my family, mom, dad, sis, bro, kids, on a very nice vacation
18. watch as many meteor showers as I possibly can...with hot chocolate, of course.
19. speak about my experiences in public forums
20. get involved, life, love, laugh...this day could be the last...
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Strong people
tonight I got my strength back. I began thinking of how sometimes we simply need to stand up for ourselves. We need to recognize that we aren't doormats. We can respect ourselves and clothe ourselves with grace and dignity.
Strength doesn't come in the form of brawls or nasty revenge plots. It comes in the form of speaking up, having a voice...having something to say and making words count.
As I reflect on need for strength...I want to highlight a list of strong people...people who have braved the odds and created a name for themselves...not through thier wealth, but simply by standing for something and exemplifying strength in the midst of adversity. They showed persistence, faith, and bravery despite thier circumstances. Their names are remembered. Their legacies are powerful.
1. Rosa Parks ....Rosa, through her strength and determination, provided a voice to her entire race. If she hadn't stood up for herself, history may have been written differently. Rosa, you deserved that seat!
3. Anne Frank...Her diary, written during the time of the slaughter of millions of Jews in Nazi Germany, touched millions of lives. Her heroism shined through her writing. Even though her world fell apart, Anne's light shined in the darkness.4. Mildred Cable - Mildred Cable was a Christian missionary who, around the turn of the century, spread the gospel throughout China. She braved bandits, harsh winters, and other extreme conditions to spread her faith. She is known for venturing to unknown places, like the Gobi Desert, to deliver a message of hope to the lost.
5. Mother Teresa - Mother Teresa was a small woman with a giant heart. She exemplified the great love of Christ by caring for the suffering. She visited families in the slums of India. She nursed wounds. She took care of children. She started various missions and dedicated her entire life to serving Christ. She is an icon of the Catholic religion, but she provided a model of love for every denomination. In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
6. George Muller - George Mueller is a man whose life shows the power of prayer. He is responsible for housing hundreds of orphans in England. He never petitioned for money, but prayed for God to supply the needs of his orphanages. There were days when food was scare, but just as it would run out...God would send someone to deliver bread or necessities. His service and faith provided a chance to destitute children who would have otherwise never had a chance.
7. Helen Keller- Helen was born without blind and deaf. She persisted in the desire for learning and despite her disabilies graduated from college. She won numerous awards and became an advocate for the disabled.
8. Stephanie Cherry - Several months ago, I stumbled across a blog. The writing of Stephanie Cherry has helped me in numerous ways. Her faith and obedience has been an inspiration to me in more ways than one. She and her husband left thier comfortable home in the suburbs to move to a neighborhood ravaged by addiction. They have opened up thier home to the lost and the hurting and to those in ministry who simply need a place to rest. Despite enduring much hardship, she keeps moving forward with a beautiful and inspiring outlook on life. Her blog address is http://www.stephaniecherry.com/
9. Connie LeBleu BristerMy mom- My mom is an amazing woman who works tirelessly to take care of her family. She personifies hard work and dedication. Like my grandmother, she is an inspiration and I am thankful to have her in my life.
10. Melonie Nunez Brister - My sister-in-law has endured much tragedy. Her dad was killed in a horrible accident and her mother was recently brutally murdered. Despite Mel's immense pain, her light still shines as a beacon of hope to those around her. Her mother's killer is still on the loose. Her story was recently featured on America's Most Wanted. If you can, go to the website and search the name Joe Constance. He is still at large and a family is still suffering.
11. any woman, weak or strong, or any man who has the courage to speak, with dignity and grace, what she believes regardless of what others think...To me, that is strength...
(there are so many others that examples of strength that I encounter every day. My sister. Several of my friends, family, in laws....the beauty of strength is that God provides it to us when we need it most. He is a refuge for the weary. "come all who are burdened and I will give you rest."
Sometimes resting is strength in itself.
instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.
- Judy Garland
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
- Helen Keller
When you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.
- Lee Ann Womack
Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...
It's about learning how to dance in the rain.
- Vivian Greene
One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.
- Helen Keller
With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.
- Marianne Williamson
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.
- Marianne Williamson
Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world.
- Helen Keller
As we light a path for others, we naturally light our own way.
- Mary Anne Radmacher
Never allow a person to tell you No who doesn't have the power to say Yes.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
Strength doesn't come in the form of brawls or nasty revenge plots. It comes in the form of speaking up, having a voice...having something to say and making words count.
As I reflect on need for strength...I want to highlight a list of strong people...people who have braved the odds and created a name for themselves...not through thier wealth, but simply by standing for something and exemplifying strength in the midst of adversity. They showed persistence, faith, and bravery despite thier circumstances. Their names are remembered. Their legacies are powerful.
 |
| rosa parks |
Rosa Parks (1913-2005) By refusing to give up her seat on a city bus to a white man in 1955 Montgomery, Alabama, this hardworking seamstress set off a thirteen month bus boycott and a long chain of civil rights protests. The result was the national attention of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and a Supreme Court ruling outlawing segregation on buses.
2. Bethany Hamilton....Bethany's story inspired the movie, Soul Surfer....Her arm was bitten off by a shark. She got back in the water to the disbelief of many and inspired thousands of people, including people with disabilies. She is a surfing legend. Her faith in Christ never wavered. Her story showed that anything is possible with determination and a positive attitude.
 |
| bethany hamilton |
 |
| anne frank |
3. Anne Frank...Her diary, written during the time of the slaughter of millions of Jews in Nazi Germany, touched millions of lives. Her heroism shined through her writing. Even though her world fell apart, Anne's light shined in the darkness.
 |
| mother teresa |
5. Mother Teresa - Mother Teresa was a small woman with a giant heart. She exemplified the great love of Christ by caring for the suffering. She visited families in the slums of India. She nursed wounds. She took care of children. She started various missions and dedicated her entire life to serving Christ. She is an icon of the Catholic religion, but she provided a model of love for every denomination. In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
 |
| george muller |
6. George Muller - George Mueller is a man whose life shows the power of prayer. He is responsible for housing hundreds of orphans in England. He never petitioned for money, but prayed for God to supply the needs of his orphanages. There were days when food was scare, but just as it would run out...God would send someone to deliver bread or necessities. His service and faith provided a chance to destitute children who would have otherwise never had a chance.
 |
| helen keller |
7. Helen Keller- Helen was born without blind and deaf. She persisted in the desire for learning and despite her disabilies graduated from college. She won numerous awards and became an advocate for the disabled.
8. Stephanie Cherry - Several months ago, I stumbled across a blog. The writing of Stephanie Cherry has helped me in numerous ways. Her faith and obedience has been an inspiration to me in more ways than one. She and her husband left thier comfortable home in the suburbs to move to a neighborhood ravaged by addiction. They have opened up thier home to the lost and the hurting and to those in ministry who simply need a place to rest. Despite enduring much hardship, she keeps moving forward with a beautiful and inspiring outlook on life. Her blog address is http://www.stephaniecherry.com/
9. Connie LeBleu BristerMy mom- My mom is an amazing woman who works tirelessly to take care of her family. She personifies hard work and dedication. Like my grandmother, she is an inspiration and I am thankful to have her in my life.
10. Melonie Nunez Brister - My sister-in-law has endured much tragedy. Her dad was killed in a horrible accident and her mother was recently brutally murdered. Despite Mel's immense pain, her light still shines as a beacon of hope to those around her. Her mother's killer is still on the loose. Her story was recently featured on America's Most Wanted. If you can, go to the website and search the name Joe Constance. He is still at large and a family is still suffering.
11. any woman, weak or strong, or any man who has the courage to speak, with dignity and grace, what she believes regardless of what others think...To me, that is strength...
(there are so many others that examples of strength that I encounter every day. My sister. Several of my friends, family, in laws....the beauty of strength is that God provides it to us when we need it most. He is a refuge for the weary. "come all who are burdened and I will give you rest."
Sometimes resting is strength in itself.
Strong Women Quotes
Always be a first-rate version of yourself,instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.
- Judy Garland
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
- Helen Keller
When you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.
- Lee Ann Womack
Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...
It's about learning how to dance in the rain.
- Vivian Greene
One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.
- Helen Keller
With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.
- Marianne Williamson
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.
- Marianne Williamson
Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world.
- Helen Keller
As we light a path for others, we naturally light our own way.
- Mary Anne Radmacher
Never allow a person to tell you No who doesn't have the power to say Yes.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't.
- Erica Jong
- Erica Jong
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