Sometimes (Perhaps – Usually? – more often than we wish) we have to
“Just Take That BabyStep” – Without the understanding we’ll gain after taking The Step.
P.S. Sometimes the Path to Understanding is an even longer Process.
But in order to take tomorrow’s BabyStep,
we may need to be where
Today’s Step will take us.
BabyStep after
BabyStep after
BabyStep from
Here to “There”
By Faith
In HIM!
On the Other Side of the biggest step you have ever taken, you will recognize the innumerable number of BabySteps you took to get you to the place that the biggest step was even in the realm of possibility.
In fact, it may very well be that the biggest step was in actuality just another BabyStep in a long line of BabySteps.
#ThrowBackThursday
I’m a bit dismayed as I look back and remember this post from 4 years ago! 😪 Some of the lessons I was being taught then have yet to be properly applied to my everyday practices.
That’s part of the reason my Favorite Recovery Word is PROCESS. I’m not what I was, I’m not what I will be, but “For Today, Just For Today, I can BE What HE Desires For Me.” O’Course, without the work done in that time, our lives would be so different today. That’s a good thing! 😆 A Very Good Thing! 🥰
Something I HAVE learned better since that point is we have to be (very) careful about comparing TODAY with YESTERDAY or TOMORROW. We run the risk of losing the JOY laid out for us on THIS Day.
https://itreallyisjustthatsimple.com/2015/10/22/stuff-in-the-way-2/
Can SOMEBody Please tell me why CHANGE seems to only happen in BabySteps?
BabyStep! after BabyStep! after BabyStep! From “There” to Here!
Why can’t I wake up one morning and Just Decide to be “HERE”?
AA tells me it’s because I keep looking for the “easier, softer” way.
Most Recovery Programs say: “Take These (12) Steps.” (P.S. – it all helps)
I’m sure it’s because I’d rather “Do it My Way! – by myself!”
JESUS says: “Jim, follow Me, I know the way!” –
Actually….
Something I continue to learn is that HE IS The Way. He takes my hand in His and says: “Jimmy, let’s take a walk through the garden this morning and let me tell you a few things about having me in your life. We can lie down in this green pasture, beside the still water and enjoy some quiet time together. You will find some healing and strength as we do it.”
“Now, listen to me very closely – This is important!”
“This afternoon we have a mountain to climb, but I’ll keep your hand in Mine and we’ll go there together! Trust Me.”
When we leave this quiet place, we’ll see some lions, tigers, and maybe even a bear or two. It may seem dark, you may not see me as clearly as you do now.
But Fear Not, I Will be with you!
I Promise!”
“I have something to teach you that can’t be learned here – in the garden.”
BabyStep after BabyStep – with my hand in His!! …From “HERE” to “THERE!”
Gualala, Ca “Sea Cliff on The Bluff” http://seacliffonthebluff.com
This is our favorite Get-Away Spot! We love sitting in the twin recliners gazing out the picture windows overlooking The Pacific Ocean and this view. At times, we’ve even been able to watch the whales. When we manage to spend a few days here, the cares of our (real) lives fade into the distance.
By the time the morning of our final day is drawing to a close and it’s time to depart, we’ve been able to rest our bodies, quiet our minds, renew our spirits and begin to dwell on “The Better Things” of life.
The good news is, more and more, we are learning – (being taught – by Him) to do this in the midst of our REAL day-by-day lives. How? You ask? Good Question!! As I sit here this morning and ponder, I’m realizing how “simple” it turned out to be.
GOD Loves me! The ONLY Things He desires of me is for me to Love Him – in return. “It Really IS Just that Simple!” #But-ItAin’tEasy! This PROCESS of getting from “there” to “here” and continuing on to “there” has been an at-times tortuous trek. Other times, it’s like a walk in the park.
I’m learning the difference is that I can walk with Him, because He LOVES me. Unconditionally! Just as I am! I spent a lifetime trying to be worthy of walking with Him. HE walks with me! He takes my hand. He holds me by my right hand. (Isaiah 41:13) I can rest secure in His Love! That makes it simple. Whether the path is smooth or rocky, bright or dim, straight ahead or hidden behind a bend in the road, when I choose to believe His Promise to “Never leave me, Never forsake me,” my life works in ways that amaze me. One of the most amazing changes has been the voice in my head. Phil 4:8 has become much more a reality because I’m able to see it as RESPONSES to His Presence rather than REQUIREMENTS.
Photo credits:
Gualala Sunset by – The Author
Mtn.hike photo by Eric Sanman on Pexels.com
ParkPhoto by Andrii Nikolainko on Pexels.com
Three years ago this week, Nelda’n I took Lex’n Logan to Yosemite.
On the way, we passed through the area burned by the RIM FIRE. Five years ago, that 400 sq mile forest fire dominated the headlines much as the CARR FIRE has this summer.
I remember standing at the edge of the road overlooking one of the valleys that had been destroyed. We were saddened and dismayed at the measure of destruction.
However, just around the next bend in the road, we were able to observe the recovery that was beginning to take place. New sprouts of green were beginning to appear. A (very) few birds and animals were venturing into the area.
You see fire is a part of nature. However recovery is very much a part of nature as well. There are some pine cones that only open after they’ve been through fire. God and nature takes care of His part, but some of the rebuilding man has to participate in.
Ten years ago this month, I remember standing on the edge of the “road” I’d been traveling, feeling very much as if I was gazing upon the hopeless devastation that had engulfed my life as a result of that dark, dismal time. I now refer to that time, that place as my “GIFT of Desperation”. If I had not been there, I doubt that I’d be here. You can read about it HERE!
This morning, as I’ve sat on our patio for a couple of hours in the morning quiet, I’m able to recognize the recovery that has been taking place. New Growth is occurring. I’ve (We’ve) been healed in places I did not know needed it. Areas of my life that had been closed have opened to new revelations. Relationships have been renewed, strengthened and restored. Hope for tomorrow has never been brighter. Fears of past, present or coming storms are greatly diminished. Rebuilding is underway.
“Old (dead) things have passed away, Behold, all things are becoming New.” II Corinthians 5:17
Through it all, we (me’n mine) have discovered, He Really IS still our God even in the midst of darkness! I’ve realized that God has His part in my recovery, and I have mine. I can’t do His part, (‘cause He’s God, I’m not) but He helps me with my part when I ask. The more I keep that in mind, the better it is! Last night, a young man asked me: “Hi Jim, How are you this evening?” I replied: “Better than I ever thought I’d be.”
You can read the RIM FIRE post from five years ago HERE
FlashBack Friday #1
TODAY… JUST for Today, I Surrender. To HIM. Just like I did before Yesterday became TODAY. I plan to do it again, when Tomorrow once again becomes TODAY. We’ll see! But I’m getting better at it – some days. Hopefully, it will soon become a habit. Life’s better when I do. D’ya wan’na join me? He’ll teach us how.
3 years ago, this was my post… It shares more about Surrendering
https://itreallyisjustthatsimple.com/2015/08/22/sharing/
#ThrowBackThursday (OneDayEarly)
Happy Valentine’s Day! I’m sitting at our kitchen table writing while watching my daughter and my WW* put together the 1000 piece Thomas KinKade jigsaw puzzle I gave her this morning.
It’s her favorite pastime. These days, she usually does jigsaw puzzles on her iPad, so this is a throwback day in more ways than one.
I was planning to post a T.B.T. tomorrow, but because of the 3 1/2 year old post I want to share, I thought Valentine’s Day would be appropriate.
I shared with a friend on FaceBook this morning – “My wife has been married to 3 or 4 different men, but – they were all me!” I’ve come to regret the way “those men” treated her in the past. Fortunately, they don’t hang around with us very much any more. We’re learning to not answer the door when they come-a-knockin’. More and more, I’m realizing my responsibility to protect her from “those guys!” It’s made our marriage and her life easier.
This link will take you on a 10 day road trip we took back in August of ‘13. The day we left Texas for home in California became one of the major turning points of this journey of Life and Love. Most of Life’s turning points are BabySteps rather than giant leaps, but read this one with an open heart. I pray it makes this Valent-Day just a wee bit sweeter for you and yours!
*WonderWife
https://itreallyisjustthatsimple.com/2014/04/03/hardncrunchy/
ThrowBackThursday #14
Recovery Step 3 – “We surrendered our Lives and our Wills to the care of God…”
Monday night I listened as a guy explained the difference between the two. He said we first surrender our Life to God – we do that once. But then, on a daily basis, we need to surrender our Will. Makes sense to me!!! So how come it gives me so much trouble?!?
Yeah, don’t laugh, I bet it does for U, too! If Not, give me a call, let’s talk!! I need to know what U know!
P.S… I must say, since I started this journey, I’ve learned that I (and other people) worry more about my times of failure than God does! So many times, I’ve seen Him turn my failures into important changes that brought great blessing into my life – and to others.
IT’s CALLED GRACE!
I posted this about a year ago:
Check it out…
Open and read the link above, before reading the rest of this post.
ThrowBackThursday
I wrote that post a year ago today. It helped me then, and has helped others since. This morning I used it as a comment on FaceBook to a friend whose sister just died. The one who passed was not only her sister, but had been the recipient of her kidney transplant. My friend’s grieving not only the loss of her sister, but also the loss of that very special physical and emotional connection between donor and recipient.
FYI – 26 years ago, my son was my recipient. He still is.
We’ve all heard, and sometimes used the phrase: “A part of me died that day.” For my friend, it was extremely literal. We all face grief in our own very personal ways. I’ve learned not to judge how another person grieves. I can’t determine how long it should take to grieve, nor can I measure the pain someone experience because of it. I’ve also learned the difference between grieving with and without regrets over things that “should’a” been taken care of while there still was a chance to do so.
That person whose name just came to your mind… The one you love but have aught against… The one with whom you need to talk and work it out… while you can…
Take (make) time today – send a card, an email, a letter, make a call! Send a text – or a flower! Reach out and touch! Perhaps, even by FaceBook. Take (make) a Baby Step!! That’s all you need to do today – take a Baby Step! You may find it’s enough! It will be, Today! When tomorrow becomes Today, take another (Baby) step.
By the Way, you can’t take tomorrow’s step from where you are today!
“Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18 NLT
It Really IS Just That Simple 