Honest Feelings

On good days, or bad days invariably someone will ask us "How are you feeling?" Becoming aware of how we actually feel is to be honest with God. When we say "I feel great"...are we covering up the truth?  "You, therefore, have NO excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself...So when you a mere man, pass judgement on them...do you think you will escape God's judgment?...With your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself ...God will give to each person according to what he has done" Romans 2  --- Are you holding anger inside? Here are some emotions that we would be wise to identify and then confess. ANGER: Fury rises inside with each remembrance of an offense. No forgiveness or mercy offered towards those who hurt you. You feel angrier each time you repeat the tale of the offense. Nothing forgiven, nothing forgotten. Are you drunk with anger?  SHAME: The desire to hide, or lie because you FEEL defective, inferior or superior by comparison to others.  You FEEL unable to change and you cover-up your insecurity or pride.  GOOD GUILT: The desire to repair a wrong doing, or confess an apology because you FEEL responsible and remorseful for causing injury to another.  ENVY: The motivation to destroy, attack or diminish an ability or resource or possession of another because you FEEL that you could never accomplish what another has. Envy makes us restless as we strive to minimize what someone else said or did.  JEALOUSY: The desire to compete because you FEEL less valuable than...

"So then, let us NOT be like others, who are asleep, but let us be ALERT and self-controlled....Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you....Do NOT put out the Spirit's fire; do NOT treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything.  Hold on to the good....May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28 For those who sleep, sleep at night...they are ignorant, they are in the dark and they grieve over unimportant things..but since we belong to the day, and as we are called sons and daughters of the Light... let us act like it, let us not grieve the Spirit by holding onto anger, unforgiveness, shame, envy, or jealousy. So how do you FEEL, really? Name it, claim it, pray about it, and get past it by immersing yourself in God's living and active Word.  Work out your salvation and actively erase all unholy thoughts that are born in darkness.   The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night and we should be READY and delightfully surprised, because our hearts are pure. We are to warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak and be patient with everyone. If we are obedient to confess our struggles with the dark, we will find the JOY of contentment and the peace of God.

Trust Who?

There was a time when we TRUSTED the police, that every cop acted with absolute integrity with regard to enforcing the law.  In the 70's most Americans TRUSTED that the vote they cast would be credited accurately within the electoral system. As a people we generally TRUSTED that congressional decisions were in favor of the people.  As neighbors, because we felt SAFE, we TRUSTED one another and slept with doors unlocked, unafraid of theft or murder. Within our congregations, we TRUSTED our pastors, priests, deacons to NOT be double minded, but to intercede on our behalf with effective prayers taken personally to the throne of GRACE. We never doubted, but we TRUSTED that sound, undiluted, unadulterated doctrine was being delivered at our church pulpit. The supernaturally converted Pharisee Paul urged that Timothy command certain men NOT to teach false doctrines, NOR devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. "They promote controversies rather than God's work -- which is by faith.  The goal of this command is

love, which comes from a PURE heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." 1 Timothy 1:3-5.  So to whom shall we confide?  Who do we trust during these uncertain economic times?  What resource of TRUTH do we TRUST when each news broadcast is controlled by varying political agendas? "Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which MOST of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent." Matthew 11:20 --Jesus condemned the proud attitude of His generation.  They were cynical, skeptical and stubborn. They justified their interpretations of scripture, and they resisted change. Jesus mentioned two kinds of people in His prayer: those arrogantly "wise" in their own knowledge --- and the humble "little children" who were open to receive the TRUTH of God's Word. Matthew 11:25 --- Therefore let us be quick to listen to what the Spirit is saying as we read God's Word and be willing to confess all worry about financial matters, our burden of a long suffering illness, and our doubt that God cares for us and our concerns.  Let us be readied by the Holy spirit to forgive and release our bitter resentments for being mistreated or

disrespected. "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I WILL give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and LEARN from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you WILL find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28 --- PICTURE this: you hold one arm outstretched holding a heavy brick for an hour, a day, a week, for years. You resist admitting your burden until you fall down, crushed by carrying what seems to be the weight of all the world. IMAGINE the relief when you TRUST in Jesus to take your burden.  He is able to lift your laments, and give you a peace that lasts.....Jesus does NOT lie, you can TRUST Him to keep His Word, His promises. He is able to give you rest even though your circumstances do not rapidly change.  Seek Jesus in all things, in each situation and find blessed contentment. Accept that His Word never fails, He is faithful and trustworthy.  "Commit your way to the Lord; TRUST in Him and He WILL do this: He WILL make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday Sun." Psalm 37:5-6

It's A Beautiful Day

FAMILY GATHERING SPOTS

Lake Alpine August 2012 - Introducing Michael to all my favorite places, we went to Big Trees, through Bear Valley where my friend Nancita has a ski cabin, and onto Lake Alpine Resort. We made tentative plans to invite his family and my family up to this Lake in hopes to begin a NEW HOYLE/ALLEY REUNION annually in July, a possible FUN tradition. Scenic Highway 4 in the midst of the Stanislaus National Forest. With 180 surface acres of glistening mountain water, Lake Alpine attracts anglers, boaters, campers, kayakers, hikers, swimmers and sight seers. At an elevation of 7,350 feet, summer temperatures are cooler than the valley. Campgrounds on both sides of the lake have room for plenty of tents and RVs. The Lake Alpine Resort offers accommodations, a store, a restaurant, and boat rentals. With none of the crowds found at more well-known

lakes, Alpine Lake is a place where family can gather away from huge crowds. During the winter the gate on Highway 4 a mile west of the lake is closed for the season. Access to the lake is limited to conveyances such as snowmobiles, cross country skis, or snowshoes. Water released from the dam after the ice forms on the lake makes it extremely dangerous to venture onto the ice.

Sea of Cortez Thanksgiving 2013

Casa Benito 2013

Spring 2013 Carefree

La Selva beach, Santa Cruz 2013Fathers day 2013 Tower Park

What Matters Most in Life?

Routine Praise

The routine of a retired soul is vastly improved from a tired soul. Laughable it is to think of my retired reality.  Rise and shine around 7:30 am, which used to be the time of my arrival at the City gate.  Not wanting to forget my multiple blessings,  my heart is chocked full of LIFE at its best! Married to Michael Hoyle a man of God who gives me unlimited grace.

Daily I do what is necessary to maintain my HAPPY: At 7:30 AM I saunter into the kitchen which is filled with streams of light pouring through the overhead skylight. Time alone with my daily devotional of Jesus Calling, I respond by etching down my graditude to the One I am devoted to. A blast of Extra Sharp tonic gives my face the opportunity to scrench, followed by a challenge for my brain cells to suggest to my body, it is time for a stroll to the malecon.  Ahhh, how I love to hear the symphony of birds and all the delightful dog walkers parading their pups.  Unlike my workdays of 2013, which began with another day of mayhem~ today I am greeted by a wildly entertaining eclectic group of expat citizens co-mingling with the locals. At work in the States,  by nine in the morning I had the JOY of attentively listening to a minimum of 30 recorded complaints as well as enjoy a bakers dozen of face to face encounters with people from every nation ranting in colorful tones and tongues.

Directing the lost, I greeted the disturbed at the window of neighborhood services, opened at best 200 pieces of snail mail, and responded to a dozen emails before lunch. Nursing incoming calls with compassionate transfers, I then traversed the steamy sidewalks to deliver legal liens to the County office. 15 or more ASK STOCKTON requests arrive by lunch, all requiring grace and mercy to subdue the angry, whilst de-escalating impending arguments. Into my sixth month of retirement, and I am yet adjusting to my freedom from complaints and angry citizens.   Blogging is what I do to jot down my journey with photo’s that accentuate my awesome reality.  I enjoy the TRUTH that I live wonderfully equipped to see beyond the limits of the visible.   My new Casa is framed with great memories with family and friends, however, I miss my husband and cannot wait for him to join me.  The divine space to which God assigned me, is to be alone temporarily and streamline my gratitude in these words.  He is amused to watch how I respond to His amazing ways of answering my unspoken prayers.

God gives us all ample opportunity to work out our faith in Him.  A recent visit by a new neighbor got me to name the blessing of having a GREAT helpmate. Previously I posted transparently in 2013.....Dear God, how can I possibly be of any use as I am? My ever faithful and surprising husband Michael, the man who loves me beyond reason, reminds me that he wants the best for me, he wants to hear my laughter, he wants to read what God has to say through me. Today I delight to jot down a whimsical exchange between myself and my Lord.  A double portion, a double blessing, even better than a double dipped chocolate cone. A double good answer to our silent but obviously known individual soul prayers!  Mike sought a wife he could support and adore,  and I sought God's will.  We both emerged and twitter "I will praise God’s name in a blog and glorify him with thanksgiving". Psalm 69:30 

Wisdom Clamors

What to do, which way to go, what do I say???? Wisdom clamors, rattles, and convicts us of the right way.... "WISDOM CALLS ALOUD in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares, at the head of noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech." This woman is brave to raise her voice in public squares.  Courageously she cries out above the noise on busy streets. Valiantly she makes a wise speech to all who enter her circle.  She warns the simple minded to NOT ignore God's advice,

but to wisely yield  and respond with genuine regret for any form of slander, lies, gossip, malice, deceit,  or mockery. For those who reject wisdom, for those who hate knowledge, for those who spurn correction....He will laugh at one's choice to be ignorant, a fool, as your disasters, your calamities will certainly be of your own dumb choices.  But IF one turns an ear to Wisdoms call and accepts its commands, IF one calls out for God's insight, and crys ALOUD for understanding, and IF one seeks wisdom as though it were hidden treasure, only then one will understand the healthy and wise fear of the Lord.

"For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones." Proverbs 2:6-9 ---- Does one wisely seek to please himself, his family, or God?  The purpose of God in sharing His wisdom, is to bless us, not harm us. Our Father lavished His love on us and in us.  He chose us to NOT impede His plan, but to equip us and use us to fulfill His plan by loving the unloved, by taking care of the orphans and to ENJOY the relationships He places in our path.  Chapter 31 of the book of Proverbs is a summary application of chapters 1-30.  It is a portrait of what a female or male would look like IF they applied all wisdom in their relationships at home or in the marketplace. "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

Proverbs 31:29-31 "Give her the REWARD she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at t h e City gate."  Many people have risen to power, authority, position, and fame without ever acknowledging their Creator for their genius.  The King of Kings, Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords, the Ruler with all authority over heaven, earth and all creation is given all glory, honor and praise when noble things are accomplished by His power, plan, wisdom and ways. For the one who does noble, courageous, valiant things for the audience of One, yet for the benefit of many, this one person surpasses all other idolized members of today's society. "She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy." Proverbs 31:20  "She is clothed with strength and dignity;she can laugh at the days to come." Proverbs 31:25  Despite the politics, the economics, the wars of the day...a wise woman or man has confident knowledge of their eternity and therefore they can laugh while the world moans about it's state of affairs. Attain wisdom, discipline, understanding, insight and acquire the GOOD life. Do what is right, just and fair. Speak words of encouragement. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Proverbs 1:7. Wear wisdom as a garland of GRACE around your mind.