Making New Friends....

This past week I have experienced so many changes. My friendship list has expanded on facebook, my friends and family list has expanded, I have been added to other's lists and I've gotten to know who my neighbors are. I've even made new friends which leads me to today's topic.
I am truly a blessed woman. Is there anyone else that can rejoice in those words with me? I hope you can. I am excited with the new life adventure that the Lord has me on. I am excited to be part of a family that accepts me with open arms and loves me as one of their own too. I am blessed by my immediate family. This time of season brings back so many memories of when I was growing up in Norfolk, Virginia. There was a Thanksgiving dinner where my mom prepared all the food and partially made it the night before. Mom would start baking pies weeks in advance and freeze them, then pull them out a couple days ahead to allow them to thaw and they would still taste great! I remember the table was decorated with a nice table cloth and plate settings. The food smelled delicious and I couldn't wait to dig into the scrumptious meats and vegetables. I remember hearing laughter and discussions among my family members in the background.
"Let's sit down and eat now before it gets cold," my mother would exclaim.
I'm not in Virginia this year, but I can still imagine my mother cooking a little with my brother and sister in laws help. I am transported back and hearing her say the same thing all over again. "Let's sit down and eat now before it gets cold."
I imagine there are many of my friends reading this and a memory crosses your mind. I hope this brings a smile to your face too.
This year I am in a new place and doing new things. I am in West Palm Beach where the breeze is cool and inviting, the sounds of the leaves brushing against each are making wonderful music.  I am with Rodney and his family. I feel at home with brothers and sisters; family all over again.
I almost forgot what it is like to be around so much love in one room among family. It almost brings a tear to my eye because I don't feel like an outcast or a bother.  I know I haven't been an outcast or bother to others in the past, but this is different and I can't seem to find the words to express my position.  Isn't that funny?  A writer loosing words of expression? (I giggle).
Well today is a new day, a day of more excitement and joy, a day to show love to those around us, and a day to experience new beginnings all over again.

2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

I hope that today you will make new friends, enjoy old ones, and experience a new beginning with your family.

May the blessings of God fall on you like rain, may your heart be filled with an everlasting joy, an unexplainable excitement for life and those around you. Your life is one filled with many gifts and I encourage you to open one today and enjoy it.
A friend is only a stranger until you say "hello, my name is ______________."

~ Your friend,
Marjorie

A Time to Dance

 I have been experiencing God in a whole new way.  Saturday October 8, 2011, I was among an elite of women who spoke at The Holy Word Revival Center in Palatka, FL. There were six speakers all of us boasted on the Holy Spirit and His different characters. We spoke on the Holy Spirit as the Helper, Reminder, Teacher, Convicter, the Spirit of Truth, and the Glorifier to Christ.
None of us spoke to each other throughout the week and we all touched on the same scriptures, or just about the same, John 14. That is the Holy Spirit at work wouldn't you say?
Usually when I prepare to speak at a conference, I pray over the subject and scripture. The next request I normally make to the Lord in prayer is for Him to give me the words to speak and follow with typing the words out and  ready to share with the other believers/ nonbelievers. This time however, the scripture was crystal clear. However, I could never take the thoughts I had and put them into words.  It was an uncomfortable place to be for me.
I knew the only thing I could do was to give it to the Lord. I even called a friend and ask for prayer. I couldn't believe the words were not coming to me. I was thinking maybe I had a heart and mind problem, but I felt normal (whatever that is). I thought maybe I didn't study enough so I researched every scripture on the Holy Spirit and kept coming back to John 14:26. Now, I was on a walk by faith and not by works.
When I arrived, I was at peace; that was definitely different. In the past I was always nervous and it showed up in some strange form. You know sweaty arms, quivering lips, or sweat rolling down the face.This day was different~totally different!
I don't remember every word said that day, but I remember the desire to cry at many different times. I remember what the other speakers said and partially what I said. My reaction told me that the Holy Spirit was present and I was wrapped in Him.  I was in awe of Him, falling in love all over again with God.
I had a great time dancing and praising the Lord God Almighty. We were raising the roof in prayer and praise, shouting with loud voices  like it is written in scriptures.  I walked away with a big question mark over my head. Why doesn't the churches today praise the Holy Spirit or allow the Holy Spirit to come in like it did in the upper room in the book of Acts. As believers and followers of Christ we are taught through the scriptures that the Holy Spirit is alive and well at work. So why won't we allow the movement of the Holy Spirit within to move us?  Why shouldn't we be allowed to dance in the isles, jump up and down, or shout louder if the Spirit moves us? Perhaps we stop ourselves from praising and worshiping God like David did with harp, song, and dance.
 Perhaps we are afraid of what others will say about us or the way they will look at us.  I've seen us standing in awe of God with our arms raised, bodies are bobbing up and down without really letting  loose. You know what I am talking about.
I don't want someone telling me how I need to go home and do some more praising. No, I want to be in the house of the Lord worshiping Him as He calls me to; don't you?
So this was food for thought. It is the relationship with God  that we should be more concerned with and not our fellow neighbor. I feel the Lord is calling  the elite and want to be amond them, I want to be in  the number when He comes calling. I'm ready to show God the Love I have for Him and others through song and dance. If you see me dancing in the street you may think I am out of my mind, but I am not dancing on the streets made of coal, but gold; in my mind's eye, I am home.

~Ecclesiastes 3:4
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,