Snakes and Ladders
*Listen to my blogpost*
Voice Recorder >>
Voice Recorder >>
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My heart's not for two
My heart's not for two
What makes me look at you?
I tried the other way...
but my decisions I keep at bay...
"Lord make me pure...
...but not yet."
Have you ever found yourself going back to zero when you're just two steps away from the finish line? It happens in Snakes and Ladders... Just when I thought the game will be over soon, I cascade back and have to run the path again...
and life... One day, the Lord leads me to taste heavenly joys and delights. I feel high! I see everything through rose-colored glasses. And then the next day, I slip back into my old self and I shrivel like a wilted flower in God's garden. I lose the spiritual fruits I have gathered. My soul is disturbed.
I have tried running away ~ I thought, 'could it be what I read? see? hear? taste and smell? touch?' ~ But the more I flee, the more it doubles its force to destroy the peace I have already built inside of me...
I have not fled so far,
but cooled it down...
I have ceased running
and started walking...
The Lord caught up with me and
I resolved to change...
I felt His mercy upon me...
(2 Cor. 12,9 NASB)
everything else faded away...
and
here I go again...
at the beginning
right from where I started.
"Go on, O lord, and act: stir us up and call us back; inflame us and draw us to Thee;
stir us up and grow sweet to us;
let us now love Thee;
let us run to Thee..."
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Updates:
I was reading Catholic Exchange today and realized that it's St. Monica's feast. The Church celebrates her son, St. Augustine, tomorrow, 28 August.
Synced with the Spirit today...
Updates:
I was reading Catholic Exchange today and realized that it's St. Monica's feast. The Church celebrates her son, St. Augustine, tomorrow, 28 August.
Synced with the Spirit today...
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29 August 2012: While reflecting on Rimly's comment, I was reminded of the Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila ~ for further reading, here's the reference: INTERIOR CASTLE
29 August 2012: While reflecting on Rimly's comment, I was reminded of the Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila ~ for further reading, here's the reference: INTERIOR CASTLE
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28 September 2012
28 September 2012
I ask You: "How many times will You pick me up,
When I keep on letting You down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory,
How far will forgiveness abound?"
And you answer: "My child, I love you.
And as long as you're seeking My face,
You'll walk in the power of My daily sufficient grace."
~ Grace Lyrics by Laura Story ~
And you answer: "My child, I love you.
And as long as you're seeking My face,
You'll walk in the power of My daily sufficient grace."
~ Grace Lyrics by Laura Story ~
It's okay to start all over again...just like do re mi...
ReplyDeleteFaithfulness of God is renewed every morning.
You are right Fher. It is God Who is faithful. I should never be afraid nor frustrated to start all over again.
DeleteThanks ARTner.
My grace is sufficient for you
ReplyDeletethat speaks it all..
So true Deeps... His grace is sufficient in everything...
Deleteyes, dear Mom,life is really a 'snakes and ladders game'.God keeps us testing this way. what else?
ReplyDelete-Portia
Inorder to purify us perhaps dear daughter... to filter our desires... to humble us...
DeleteSnakes and ladders - such an apt metaphor for our ups and downs in spiritual life. Thank God His grace is truly sufficient - if we allow it to be so, of course!
ReplyDeletePS: Loved listening to your post - your voice is everything I imagined gentle, soft and so endearing, Melissa. ♥
Thank you so much BS :* You really have a way to inspire and encourage people. I think more than the eyestrain, I'm learning to
Delete'listen' ~ that'll be in my next post...
I learned a lot from our metaphor lessons :)
His grace is sufficient for you--I needed to be reminded of that today. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHe magnifies His love through this words more than our weaknesses :)Thank you Galen.
Delete*His words
DeleteYes, Melissa, His grace is enough. Amazingly, that was the topic of the sermon and the service this past Sunday. It is so good to remember God's infinite love for us and the grace He gives so freely.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I so enjoyed listening to your voice reading your own words. Delightful! If I can figure out how to do that, maybe I'll put a recording on my next post. :)
Blessings, my dear!
Totally synced Martha :) ~ the way the Spirit led me to read St. Augustine and today is his feast :) I truly love it when this happens.
DeleteThank you :* I would really love to listen to your voice too :)
I was very pleased to seek out this net-site.I wanted to thanks on your time for this wonderful learn!! I definitely enjoying every little little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
ReplyDeleteThank you.I hope you could get bright ideas from my blog.
Deletemy emotions are always "playing snakes and ladders," melissa. sometimes i found it hard to understand and it's difficult most especially when it's the negative emotions that come to the surface. but yes, so well-said, we should run nowhere else but to the Lord. <3
ReplyDeleteyour voice is like a lullaby... i should read (listen) to your post/s before going to bed. <3 :-)
Hush Irene hush ~ I pray you sleep well tonight :* Wishing you lots of peace :)
DeleteBeautiful metaphor Melissa! I have been in that same situation many times. We cannot run or hide, we have to start over...if you want to finish the game :)
ReplyDeleteI love what you just wrote Nelieta...I have to be reminded over and over again of the GOAL ~ to finish this race I have already begun...
DeleteThank you :*
Dear Melissa,
ReplyDeleteLife can be tough at times and it's easy to lose hope and faith and give up. There was a time in life when even I had lost my way, but I have never lost my faith. It is what has kept me going and still keeps me going when my shoulders have been heavy with life's tribulations. Nice post and I like your voice too. You'll be hearing mine soon! (smile). Thanks for sharing.
300th Post - A Guest In Your Heart
You made me remember a song, 'It's the Climb' ~ it truly is. I believe that you have won a lot of battles along the way Andy.
DeleteIt would be wonderful to listen to your love poems :) Thank you... will be looking forward to it :)
Dear Melissa, what a beautiful sweet voice you have! And these words, so pure and lovely. You are the apple of his eye, and even when it seems you have to go back to square one, you are STILL blessed, like Mary, among women.
ReplyDeleteThis will become my prayer too.
Go on, O Lord, and act: stir us up and call us back; inflame us and call us back to Thee; stir us up and grow sweet to us; let us now love Thee; let us run to Thee.
I love it ~ let us run, run, run to Thee!
DeleteThank you so much Debra~you bring out everything that is pure in simple words :)Your aura is so bright.
Running never helps, I have tried running but I am tired of doing it. I do slip back from where I started but I never give up trying to climb back, soul sis. Love your sketch. You are so talented!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right...It's like entering the Seven Mansions of the Interior Castle (St. Teresa of Avila) ~ we move in and out of the rooms until we finally meet the Lord at the center...
DeleteGod is indeed faithful ~ full of hope...
Thanks so much soul sis :*
My dear Melissa,what you feel,is something I keep experiencing every now and then.I know that you are a very strong person,and you will over come all your inner turmoil. Have faith,and I know everything will be alright.
ReplyDeleteI loved your voice hearing what you have written,and the sketch is simply beautiful.
Faith ~ that's beautiful and true.
DeleteThanks so much soul sis. I was thinking of you yesterday. I'm glad to see you :*
what a divne post i must say:)
ReplyDeleteShukran Zarnab :) Will be visiting you soon ~ just have a lot in my mind and hands lately ;) Hope you're well :)
Deletelife is a long journey and as long as we walk it we would feel we are starting all over.Day and night and the next day is symbolic of this continuity. I guess nothing to be afraid of that. what we have to be afraid of is developing "fear of change"! for nothing is constant but change!and a fear of change is fear of life.
ReplyDeleteTrue Jerly ~ am conquering more of my arrogance than fear...
DeleteThe Lord is my guide.
Thank you :*
I'm going to enjoy reading you – I can tell. And what I said in reply to your comment at my place – Protestants go one way with their faith – Catholics go another – but if we all point our lives toward our Lord – that's the important thing. No? I love all your quotes – and Agustine's mom – she wrote some nice stuff too. I wonder if they are the only Mother/Son Saint pair?
ReplyDeleteAnd being "this close" to the finish line – and turning back – I think I may have done it more than I know – I know at least I haven't done it with God. Neither have you – obviously. :) God bless and keep you and each and every one of yours Melissa.
Thank you Craig ~ I have read your comment in my mail but have missed that it went to spam in my blog page ~ my apologies.
DeleteYou are right about redirecting our lives towards God. Thank you for edifying my soul each day with your quotes. I have actually subscribed to your other blog. Thank you for your reflections.
I have to research about the Mother and Son pair :)
Lots of love Craig.
Snakes and ladders...ooohh!!! I love that game. I do have the biggest laugh when someone hits that number 87, the snake brings you back to 24. ahahahahah....
ReplyDeleteI'm really not good when it comes to advices but one thing I know is that "you should face your fears because when the going gets tough, the tough gets going, while a winner never quits and a quitter never wins so held your head up and move on for tomorrow is another day."
Been away for some time but I'm back :)
I'm very glad you're back. I've been missing your posts lately. Hope everything's well and that you've taken your bath :P
DeleteI listen Key :) Thanks for your reflections. I haven't played this game for a while ~ my nieces wouldn't like to land on 87, that's for sure LOL!
It happens with me too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet voice you have! Life is a mountain. There are peaks and valleys and some days we are filled with zest and strength to continue the climb and other days we need rest. Thank goodness God is there always to soothe us and grant us this rest. What we call failings or fallings are just moments when we should reevaluate and rest. What a beautiful post dear Melissa! :-)
ReplyDelete