Healthy soul

Finding Courage…

/ jill autrey dorman
Photo by Lachlan Ross

Finding Courage…I sat by my window. It was a trial this summer with many days in distress and concern. I would love to tell you I handled it so spiritually but at times that is not the case. I cried. I prayed. I talked to the whole tribe of medical people but of course the most important thing is that I went to the Lord and God’s Word.

My heart was longing to have courage but I really wasn’t sure what Courage looks like. So, to the Bible I went. Then I went to prayer. I told God I don’t really know what courage means and asked him to help me find some.

In the many weeks I was housebound I began to read about men and women in the Bible who took and had Courage and as I read I realized that none of these people had courage of their own. They had Courage WITH them. Courage is not only a verb but it is also one of the very definitions of God himself. Courage much like grace, mercy, and love are not earned they are GIVEN and who is the giver of all thing? God of course, through Jesus!

People who have Godly Courage have it because the Holy One saw fit to send His Son to be born, live, die, and rise again, and then send His very on Spirit to live in us and give Holy gifts!. Courage is God’s gift to us as His children.

Oh, don’t get the idea that Courage is especially beautiful. This gift might be torn and tattered. It might be beaten and bleeding. It might be weeping until dawn. Courage is the opposite of Fear. Fear is never a gift from God. He does not give fear. Fear tells you God is NOT with you. Fear says you are weak and frail and alone.

I sit by my window. I am gaining my strength as summer is drifting away with a thunder in the heavens.

I sit by my widow. God’s presence abides as faithful and as sweet as ever and I have found his gift of Courage.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).

The burden of the Flesh…the two wolves

/ jill autrey dorman

white wolves in green grass

Photo by patrice schoefolt Pexels.com

There is an old Cherokee proverb that says there are two wolves at war within us. One wolf desires to do what is right, to choose Love every time. The other wolf is hateful and selfish and ravages everything and everyone to get his own way and the wolf that wins is the wolf you Feed.

The man said to his son,

“One wolf is evil, which is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

“The other wolf is good, which is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

I find this interesting in that this is exactly what the Bible teaches us. As human beings we can either feed our lust, lying, selfish, dark Sin nature or we can feed our Spirit. We can think on things from above.

God is Spirit and Jesus said that to truly worship and relate to God you must be given the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the only way to have a Holy Spirit.

My Mother said to me once, “if you feed your flesh you flesh will grow, if you feed your Spirit your Spirit will grow.” At the time I didn’t know she got that straight out of Romans chapters 7 and 8 and Galatians 5.

So which wolf are you feeding? It is a daily choice.

Three words…

/ jill autrey dorman
Photo by Pixabay

…all civilizations, and ages both on earth and heaven hinges on them
…they profoundly transform those who hear, say, and believe them
…they annihilate shame, guilt, burden, loneliness,depression, and death
…they provide supernatural joy, freedom, and hope
…they expose and destroy all lies, suffering, and evil
…they hold all the mysteries of creation, time, and purpose
…they drag “lies” kicking and screaming into the light and banish darkness
…they wreak havoc on all evil authority and authenticity
…they redefine success and sincerity and sacrifice
…they are immediately understood and leave their mark when spoken
…they hold in their meaning all beginnings and endings
Three words…
“He is Risen”

Getting “likes”…

/ jill autrey dorman
abstract board game bundle business

Photo by Pixabay

I am passionate about the following:  my relationship with Jesus Christ, my marriage and family, friends, my nursing career, and last but not least my writing and other arts.

It is the world of the internet and social media that has prompted me to examine the reports from the creators of Facebook and other mediums  in regards to the human need to be heard and apparently ” liked. ” These young men and women stated they they knew when they designed facebook, twitter, etc.,  they would be tapping into the actual chemical function of the human brain. There is an effect on our brains when we get likes on any media, selfies, blogs like this, twitter, instagram, and on it goes. I do not believe wanting to be liked is something to be ashamed of. It is in fact the core element in our being that connects us to God and others. However true self worth comes from our identity in Christ if we are his followers. This longing to be accepted wains as one ages so now days I am not so bothered by likes or dislikes…

To be validated about something I am passionate about, a gift or talent that I long to share is not wrong but I can see many have been manipulated by these companies which can be easily observed by the crazy things people will do to get “like”. 

Here is how I know if what I am doing is going down an ego rabbit hole. The Bible teaches us that the things from above, in other words Godly goodness is easy to recognize.  Godly wisdom, Godly gifts and “likes” are first pure (no other motive), peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full or mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.  James 3:17

 

 

 

Did you like the snow

/ jill autrey dorman 






  • Photo by Jedypictures










Did you like the snow when you were here or





when the harvest moon filled the atmosphere?





What about the summer sea





when you walked in Galilee?










I can see you everywhere I go





in the moon light and the snow





I see you by the summer sea





walking on the water you rescued me.


























			

	


			
				


	

							
At Street Level
						

			 / jill autrey dorman								

			


		

		

  • Photo by Josh Hild 





…at street level, the life of faith is always a matter of Trust. I am always reminded of this when I look around in a world I barely recognize. I desire Truth in my soul just like I need air to breathe.





…what is the power of this longing that this world cannot satisfly? It is the longing God placed in us for “paradise complete” and the “not yet”.





…at street level, the life of faith is always a matter of Trust.










“For we live by faith, not by sight.”





2 Corinthians 5:7

			

	


			
				


	

							
The Terror of The Thirties
						

			 / jill autrey dorman								

			


		

		
woman wears black top close up photography
Photo by lilartsy 


The Terror of The thirties,  so say the Russians of old.


The Law of the first of December and  no one could escape the woes.


Hundreds of thousands upon thousands dead in the snow.


The Linengrad devil tried to steal their souls.


Randomly killed for a quota and no outcry could be heard.


Stalin killed his own family just to feed his evil rage.


Rivers of  blood shed we never seen to learn.


The terrors of the thirties let us turn the page.

			

	


			
				


	

							
I dreamed I was flying…
						

			 / jill autrey dorman						 / 1 Comment
								

			


		

		

    




    • Photo by Pixabay
    




    




    I dreamed I was flying, the sole purveyor of the spectacular beauty below
    




    with my Eagle eyes I could see exactly where to go
    




    I flew over the spines of breathtaking mountains and white capped oceans vast
    




    Flying up to the High Heavens all the galaxies in my path
    




    while the gold dust of the stars showered me like rain
    
			
    
	
    

			
				

    
	
    
							
    That place where we bleed
    						
    
			 / jill autrey dorman						 / 2 Comments
								
    
			
    

		
    
		



    Photo by Lum3n 
    




    




    




    




    It is an early morning rain
    




    blue crystals falling from the sky
    




    Oh all the words won’t come my way
    




    the search for them makes me high
    




    




    




    I saw you sleeping in the candle light
    




    coming round to that place where we bleed
    




    Oh all your thoughts won’t come my way 
    




    each idea planted like a row of seeds
    




    




    




    It is an early morning rain
    




    a symphony falling from the sky
    




    Oh all the dance steps are ours
    




    or at least to give a try.
    
			
    
	
    

			
				

    
	
    
							
    Human Nature
    						
    
			 / jill autrey dorman								
    
			
    

		
    
		

    




    Photo by Ethan Jones 
    




    Four days ago I turned sixty-five. I always think and ponder life at this time of a new year. My sixth-five years of attempting to be a student of my human nature and yours have been interesting to say the least.
    




    




    TRUTH:  Humans are scared of what we don’t know, especially if it changes life as we know it.
    




    Godly Wisdom:  Change and  failure MUST occur so that humans will grow. Most of us stop growing in our early twenties. Can you believe it?  Ephesians 4:15-16 – But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ.
    




    




    TRUTH: Parents desire things for their children that perhaps they missed or lost when they were children. Or worse, parents have the illusion of controlling their child’s happiness when it is simply a lie.
    




    Godly Wisdom: Children are a gift and parents have a responsibility to raise them without resentment. Children are ours for a season in which we are to do our best to pour Truth into them. This can only be done in faithfulness to God’s Word and Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:13 “and you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit… “
    




    TRUTH: Grown humans often still “desire” something we did not get in childhood.
    




    Godly Wisdom: Childhood is filled with wonder but just as well it is full of disappointment trauma, abuse and hurt. These must be recognized, named, worked on but according  to God’s Word the do NOT define us.  John 3:16. ” For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life. ” 
    




    TRUTH: Fear about what might happen is completely useless to us humans. 2 Timothy 1:7 ” for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and a sound mind. “
    




    Conclusion: I am a feeble student at best. I have more questions than answers the longer I sojurn. I have seen the evil and the good. I have embraced God’s Holy Spirit pursuing me, and pointing me to Jesus Christ always! I have rebelled, stumbled, disobeyed, fallen, and I have been hated and have hated. I have seen the Transformation from dark was to light. I stand on the I infallible foundation that God is absolutely Good and their is no evil in Him whatsoever. I know this because humans are well acquainted with evil and there is none Good but God.
    




    1 John 5:20  “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”
    




    




    Carrying on. ..