“My Shoes”
Have you ever wished you were in someone else’s shoes?
“I know what I’m doing.
I have it all planned out—
plans to take care of you, not abandon you,
plans to give you the future you hope for.”
Jeremiah 29:11 The Message
ABCs of Jesus’ Love
Visit this page anytime and let me know if you’d like to add to the words describing Jesus’ love along with a verse supporting it. Remember, there is also a print-out of the original list.
This month I have added another “C” Word:
❤︎ Cleansing Love ❤︎
“I will cleanse them from all the sin
they have committed against Me
and will forgive all their sins
of rebellion against Me.“
Jeremiah 33:8
Books
I am not always able to keep up with the abundance of books that promote hope, healing, and freedom, so I haven’t always read every one I post here and on the Books Page. Though many are on my long wish list. 🙂 Many will be from recommendations of online friends. If you ever know of a book that is not listed and that supports this website’s mission, please let me know. 🙂
Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes
“From the bestselling author of Crossing Oceans comes a heart-rending yet uplifting story of friendship and redemption. On the cusp of womanhood, Penny is swept off her feet by a handsome farmhand with a confident swagger. Though Trent Taylor seems like Prince Charming and offers an escape from her one-stop-sign-town, Penny’s happily ever after lasts no longer than their breakneck courtship. Before the ink even dries on their marriage certificate, he hits her for the first time. It isn’t the last, yet the bruises that can’t be seen are the most painful of all.
When Trent is injured in a welding accident and his paycheck stops, he has no choice but to finally allow Penny to take a job cleaning houses. Here she meets two women from very different worlds who will teach her to live and laugh again, and lend her their backbones just long enough for her to grow her own.“
I highly recommend this book! Christian fiction doesn’t often bring awareness to the reality of domestic violence, but this author brought forth a story so gripping and real that it was almost like a victim telling her story. She doesn’t sugar-coat the painful world of domestic violence and the psychological hold many abusers have on their victims.
Hope Harbor
💞 Links That Inspire Hope and Healing 💞
Worry, anxiety, and stress can be so hard to avoid sometimes. Especially when you’re a professional worrywart and over-analyzer like me… Situations in our world, country, and families can cause so much anxiety, can’t they? I’m still a work-in-progress of casting all my cares on Jesus and trusting Him with everything. But truly, Jesus is the Answer to peace and freedom.
💞 Tips to Manage Anxiety and Stress – A chart of sensible tips from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America
💞 How to Stop Worrying – 13 Practical Steps by Whitney Hopler – “So many of us, even those strong in faith wonder how they can stop worrying. Living in a fallen world gives you lots to worry about, but living in a relationship with Jesus can free you from ever having to worry about anything. No matter what happens in your life, you don’t have to worry about it if you choose to rely on Jesus to help you manage it and find peace in the process.”
💞 Worry and Anxiety Bible Verses – “Find comfort and peace through Scripture that promises you hope and a future. Learn how to be free from worry and anxiety by meditating on the Word and casting your cares upon Jesus!”
Nature Retreat
“In every walk with nature
one receives far more than he seeks.”
~ John Muir
I have some more of my brother’s awesome Arizona photos to share. Desert flowers, a rattlesnake, bees, and… Hold your nose! Stink bug beetles getting ready to shoot out stink bombs.
🐾 NANPA: North American Nature Photography Association Blog – The nature photos at these blog posts are spectacular. The stories with them promote nature photography as a medium of communication, nature appreciation, and environmental protection.
🐾 Art in Nature Photography – “Floris van Breugel is passionate about exploring nature and sharing his unique perspective through photography with the aim of inspiring viewers to learn more about the natural world.” His photos truly do give inspiring views of nature.
🐾 Abbott Nature Photography – Galleries of a variety of amazing nature photos (wildlife, macro photos of insects, and more) by John and Kendra Abbott.
Quotes
All quotes this month are in the gratitude category.
❤︎ “The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see.“ ~ Mary Davis
❤︎ “God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say ‘thank you?’“ ~ William Arthur Ward
❤︎ “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” ~ Robert Brault
Freed to Fly 
Trudy, your brother’s photographs are amazing!!! Thanks, too, for the inspirational tips, websites and quotes. It took a lot of research on your part to share with us – I so appreciate your labor of love!
Blessings!
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Thank you for your kind remark of this being a labor of love, Martha. I enjoy researching and I certainly do it out of love! 🙂 Yes, my brother’s photos are amazing! I’m blessed that he shares them with me and lets me share them with others. Blessings to you, too! May we open our eyes and hearts to the beauty God sends us!
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Good morning, friend!
Your photos remind me that spring is coming, slowly oh so slowly, but surely. Thanks for this sweet reminder on another cool and cloudy day.
Blessings to you!
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My brother’s Arizona photos keep me hoping, too, Linda. It’s coming slowly here, too. It’s a cloudy and chilly day here as well. Only in the 40s. But yes, it still is surely coming! 🙂 It’s so great to look outside my office window at the birds and the seemingly dead plants springing back to life! Blessings to you, too! May the new life of spring enliven our hearts to remember God is faithful!
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Dear Trudy,
Thank you once again for such a beautiful collection of uplifting thoughts and photos! The video at the beginning was so touching–truly we cannot see what is going on in another’s life, can we? Oh that I would see through eyes of mercy more often! The photos are incredible! I think your brother must really be very brave, to take those close-ups of the snakes and the bugs! (I think I will stick to flowers! ha.) May your week be full of thankfulness and beauty my friend! Love and Hugs to you! xoxo
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When I read your words – “Oh that I would see through eyes of mercy more often!” – my heart cried Amen! The video touched me, too. No, we certainly cannot see what is going on in the lives of others. Yes, my brother’s photos truly are incredible, much more than he realizes. He has a zoom lens, so he kept his distance from the rattler. 🙂 And he has always loved insects. I enjoy them, too. All the intricate details in their makeup and the amazing defense mechanisms God gives to His creatures fascinate me. May your week be full of thankfulness and beauty as well, Bettie! Love and hugs back to you! May we keep bringing all our burdens and cares to Jesus, trusting He knows what is best for us!
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Trudy, those pictures are crazy! Crazy good! I will never get that close to a rattlesnake! We don’t really have snakes where I live except for the odd garner snake which are pretty harmless I hear. And glad for that. Thanks for sharing the links of photography. It is a passion of mine which I want to have more time to explore! Hugs and blessings to you.
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My brother said he kept his distance from the rattlesnake, Lynn. 🙂 It’s great to have a zoom lens. We don’t have rattlers here either, and I think this was the first one my brother met in Arizona. When we were kids, my brother would wind garter snakes around his arm or neck. I guess he taught me not to be afraid of them. 🙂 Nature photography is a passion of mine, too. I need to look into making mine better. I guess it depends on the camera, too. If I remember right, you recently got a new camera? I love your photos. Hugs and blessings to you, too! May our eyes and hearts open to and soak in the beauty God displays in His creation, reminding us of Himself!
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Another great collection, Trudy! That video is powerful and a great reminder that when we may feel jealous of other people we really don’t know what struggles they are going through. As a fellow “professional worrywart and over-analyzer” the articles you shared are helpful too, and, as always, your brother’s photos are amazing!
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Thank you, Lesley. I felt the same way about that video. I can so easily envy another, but it reminded me again that we don’t know what others are going through. So you’re a professional worrywart and analyzer, too, huh? It can be hard to get out of that mode, can’t it? I’m glad you found the articles helpful. May we learn ever more deeply how to let go of our worries and cast all our cares upon Him who cares so much for us!
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That’s a really neat picture of the bees on the stick, Trudy! Thanks for sharing your brother’s photos and all the other inspiring links and reviews! Blessings on your week, my friend!
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Yes, my brother really captured a nice shot of those bees, June. I’m glad you were inspired here. Blessings on your week, too! May we place all our plans in the hands of our Almighty God and trust Him with how things go in our lives!
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Trudy, what a packed post you share! First off, the video . . . wow. It moved me. It’s so important to choose gratitude and think about our perspectives on our situations. And the pictures? Stunning. Really. Except for the ones of the stinging insects (wasps? Yellow jackets?). 😉 Those have always left me feeling a bit unsettled. 🙂 Even those pictures were good, I just didn’t dwell on them. 🙂
Lovely post, my friend! Sending you a hug!
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Thank you, Jeanne. That video moved me, too. Yes, it’s so important to choose gratitude, no matter what situation we’re in or how hard it is. I’m glad you enjoyed most of the photos. YOu must have had a bad experience with bees? Sending you a hug back! May God give us the strength and grace to choose gratitude in every situation!
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Yes, actually. I was stung when I was five. And both of my sisters have had anaphylactic reactions to bee stings as adults. Let’s just say I try to stay away from them. 🙂
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I’m so sorry, Jeanne. It’s no wonder the picture of bees made you feel unsettled. Take care!
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yes you never know what someone else has to deal with
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Hi Jandjcreative! It’s so great to hear from you again. I noticed you no longer have a website. Yes, we all have a story inside, don’t we? Looking on the outside, we cannot always see what that person is dealing with. Whatever you are dealing with, may God give you strength, hope, and healing!
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Hi Trudy! That video!!! It was just amazing, I loved it. Would you mind if I shared it on my FB page sometime? Did you find it on youtube? I’d be happy to tag you on the post if you’ve ‘liked’ my FB page in the past.
I just love your monthly reviews, keep them going!
Blessings,
Ceil
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I’m glad you love these monthly reviews, Ceil. That video really touched my heart, too. Yes, I found it on youtube and knew I had to share it – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SolGBZ2f6L0 . It definitely needs to be shared more. I am not on FB, but I don’t take credit for the video anyway. 🙂 I am just glad I found it. May we be content and trust God knows best in whatever circumstance we’re in!
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Thank you for the link Trudy. I’ll be so happy to share it!
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I’m so glad you’re sharing it, Ceil. I pray it impacts others as it did us!
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Dear Trudy,
I loved your list. I kept saying, “Oh, I like that quote, and then another one and another one.” Thank you also for sharing your brother’s photos. I love nature photography as it reminds me of God’s grandeur and impeccable sense of design. Much love and hugs to you. Pray you’re able to rest without guilt, my friend ❤
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Thank you for your prayer, love, and support, Dolly. Much love and hugs to you, too! There are so many great quotes, aren’t there? Including from your own book! I love your thoughts about nature reminding you of “God’s grandeur and impeccable sense of design.” Such good words for it. May we open our hearts to the glory and magnificence of our Perfect Creator!
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Thank you for sharing your favorite things. I love Christian fiction and this book sounds amazing. You chose Jeremiah 29:11 and this is one of the first verses that impacted me when I started reading the Bible. Your brother takes wonderful pictures though I must admit I don’t care for snakes! Have a blessed week!
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I love Christian fiction, too, Mary. This definitely is a worthwhile book to read. Jeremiah 29:11 is such a comforting verse, isn’t it? It has often encouraged me in this journey of life. That’s neat that it was one of the first verses that impacted you. You have a blessed week, too! May we cling to the promise that God’s plans for us are to give us a hope and a future!
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Oh, that video! It got to me! Thanks for putting it here, Trudy. We all need to be reminded to be grateful for the circumstances we are in, and stop comparing ourselves to others. This quote is so true: “The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see.” Thanks for sharing all this!
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It really got to me, too, Lisa. Far too easily the thought comes to my mind, “I wish I could be like her.” But we don’t always know what the other one struggles with, do we? I have found that quote to be true, too. Sometimes it takes work and practice to have a grateful attitude, but when we are, we do more easily see the beauty that still surrounds us and lies within us. I pray God gives you strength through all the losses you have experienced lately. And I hope Joe pulls through. May the beauty of our God fill our hearts to overflowing, so that it will spill out to all around us!
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Wow! That video took my breath away, my friend. I was not expecting that ending. It really makes you think. We just never know what is happening in another person’s life. I’ll have to check out that book you recommend too. I’m usually not a fiction reader but that one looks so good! Much love to you, Trudy!
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Yes, it’s truly is one to make us think, Candace. I would never have thought the boy on the bench had the cross he did the way he smiled and seemed to soak in the beauty around him. I sure am like the boy who wanted to be in someone else’s shoes. Too often I compare myself with others. That book is really good. Much love to you, too! May we more and more learn to accept whatever cross we carry and bring all our cares to Jesus!
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Hi Trudy-
This is great! Thanks so much. – The pictures are great! how did he get so close to the rattle snake?! Yikes! sending love and hugs
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Thank you, Susie. My brother has the advantage of a zoom lens, so he could keep his distance. 🙂 I hope things are settling down for you. Sending love and hugs back! May we cling to the truth that God is with us through whatever we go through!
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Hi Trudy, what a wonderful collection of resources you have shared here, and oh that moving, thought-provoking video! It really made me consider how often we judge others on appearances alone, exercising our eyes instead of using spiritual discernment, with split-second decisions that are usually based on inadequate, flawed and faulty data. Then off we go on the comparison trap merry-go-round, seeing glittery stars in their lives while we view only the gritty sand in ours. Salutary, indeed! I absolutely love the great gratitude quotes and the awesome photographs from your talented brother. The novel intrigues me, too. Another one to add to my ever growing wish list! Thank you for the effort you put into these lovely monthly links. Have a blessed weekend, dear friend. xo ❤
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Thank you, Joy. I’m so glad your heart was moved and your thoughts provoked. You have such a beautiful way with words. That’s so true that we see glittery stars in others’ lives while we view only the gritty sand in ours. I have an ever-growing wish list of books, too! There are just far too many good ones to read them all! You have a blessed weekend, too! xo back to you! May we learn more and more to see the beauty or the “glittery stars” God has placed in our lives and in our hearts instead of looking at the gritty sand!
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I like the Message version of Jeremiah 29:11, Trudy. I don’t think I’ve ever read that before. Those photos your brother takes are amazing … I don’t know if I ever asked you this, but is he a professional photographer? Love the quotes too … (of course)! Hugs, friend!
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Thank you, Lois. I really like the Message version for that verse, too. No, my brother is not a professional photographer, though I believe his photos are of professional quality. 🙂 He takes photos for the love of nature and to share with others, not to make money off of them. Now that he has retired, he has more time to put into it and has taken some photography classes. When we were growing up, he was the one who nurtured my love for nature. Now we both love taking photos of it and enjoy sharing with each other. Hugs to you, too! I’m so glad things went well for your husband. And that you and the girls got through it as well. May we be ever more thankful for the blessings God gives us day by day!
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