Mother of 5 beautiful children, friend of books, avid reader, bubble baths are life! I enjoy long walks and hiking, I seek adventure. Writing makes me a better person, I love to share my thoughts.
To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us. -Tim Keller
To Be Known
The art of being oneself
a virtue lost amongst the plastic
In the here and now, men are rewarded for their counterfeit
To be known, the real you beyond a shell of falsehoods
What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?
On a beautiful Sunday in June I was born, it was thirty six years ago! My mother named me my first name after a little girl that she used to babysit when she was younger. My middle name came about because my dad wanted it to be Felicia but my mom hated that! I am grateful to her because I don’t love that name. They decided upon Alicia, as my middle name. However, the pronunciation can be two ways.
Honestly, I am unsure of the original way they pronounced it but I assume that it is pronounced as “Alisha” but I have also said it was “Alicia” as the actress Alicia Silverstone. The duality of it is quite funny, because I am a Gemini as the world would say by birthday! I used to love horoscopes but as I have grown in wisdom, it is not important to me now. I just find it funny and will not engage in the foolishness of trusting an article to tell me about my day! But many would say that my belief in Jesus is foolish! To each his own, we all must find our own path.
I was destined to be a follower of Jesus, and no matter how far I have ran, his goodness followed me. I truly believe that HE called me by name. My name fits me, and I like it. My parents gave me a pretty name, and the meaning of Alicia is: “noble natured or noble of kind”. The name is associated with noble birth and aristocracy. This name refers to a well off social standing, but that was not necessarily my life. I come from modest families that were blue collar people.
However, one cool thing that I notice about the name Alicia, is that it has the origins of Old German, and coincidentally my father’s ancestors are German. It also means “exalted”, I think it is a fitting name for a first born daughter. Names are important and I think we should carefully choose names that represent what we desire to speak regularly over our children. I named my last two children much more carefully than my first.
There is a particular authority that we have in naming someone or something, that goes back to the beginning. For example, when God told Adam to name everything. Names hold a certain air of authority, and sort of introduce a person before they are known. God also often changed the names of prominent figures in the Bible. The names associated with their beginnings being changed for their future is quite a transition. If we look at Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel; Jacob means “contender”, while Israel means “prevailed”.
Upon a closer look you see that Jacob went from a man fighting for birthright, identity and purpose to a victorious and prosperous man! God changes our life and sometimes our name, because all of us are marked with sin. We have become identified by our shameful sins, such as “addict, poor, thief, lazy, whore, broken, depressed, anxious, etc. Only we know the weight of those words and which ones apply to our own circumstances. When we meet with God, as Jacob did in his personal journey he is forever changed. He wrestled with an angel, he was determined to become something more than a liar and thief. He wanted to be blessed by God and he fought for it!
I have worn many labels in my lifetime, but the greatest names that I will ever answer to are Redeemed, Chosen, Child of God, Daughter of the King, and that will be all that matters in the end. I will never forget my humble beginnings but I am striving to overcome every obstacle and reach my potential, through the belief that I am more than just a name given. I have decided to live my life for something bigger than me. Thank you for reading, May your week be blessed and your joy be full! Happy Reading!
Hi, it’s me lol I feel like I should reintroduce myself as I have taken quite a hiatus from writing my blog! So many times I felt the urge to write and yet I stayed silent, and the days passed me by. The holidays are really taxing for me, and I have been trying to get back into a rhythm but life still keeps getting faster! So then I decided this morning as I awaken full of thoughts, to make time to enjoy the stillness of this beautiful morning. It is 4:25am here, my five children are sleeping peacefully my husband amongst the crew, snoring loudly lol! This is just the right time!
Oh how I have missed you all here on this platform, you guys are so inspiring and bubbling over with creativity. You all make a book loving, all things words adventurer, and a lonely housewife feel a lot less alone! Thank you for doing what you do so well! I pray that you all are well and gearing up for spring as I am! If you are still in the cold and dreary wherever you live, I hope you are staying warm and enjoying the present.
My most cherished friend, is a pen and paper! How I have missed letting the words flow, and come to life! I was destined for words, and God gave me a talent to express myself pretty well. I often get so frustrated with my husband who cannot share his thoughts or convey his feelings and I think what a shame! I am rarely without words, but I know silence is golden and it is necessary. For me, I seek to learn balance to know best when to speak and when to share. Some things truly are better left unsaid!
In this moment, I want to tell you about a wonderful experience I had over the weekend! If you are familiar with YouVersion Bible app, you may already know about this event called Gather25. I was doing my quick daily verse and I saw the reminder about this particular online event, I wasn’t sure what it was going to be about. All I knew was that it was mentioned a few months ago and I wanted to know more. Well as I said, I got on there and they said that it was kicking off that evening at 7:00pm. They said that it would be a global gathering all over the world of Christian believers. I knew I needed just that type of thing right now.
Immediately I texted my husband and told my children that we would be tuning in and see what this was all about. I am so grateful that we did because it was truly amazing! The United States kicked off the event it was to be a 25 hour, online revival of with all seven continents! All the saints to be gathering for worship, prayer, repentance, and commissioning for what God has for us next! I have never seen anything like this it was all these countries coming together sharing what God is doing in their churches and in their country.
My family and I were deeply moved to hear their stories of faith and revival spreading throughout the Earth! God’s children awakening and coming together in new ways to share his goodness with the lost, and dying world. I was determined to stay up long as possible Friday night so that I would not miss it! God knows my weary heart needed revival! What a faithful GOD! I was glued to the screen from 7pm to 5am! I sang, prayed and repented my little heart out and the only thing I regret is that I cannot stay up 24 hours anymore lol! I was sad to finally call it quits at 5am. However after a 3 hour nap I was right back tuned in and it was just incredible!
The songs in all the different languages, the beauty of all of God’s children worshipping him from their hearts. I cried tears of true joy, as I saw a glimpse of heaven. Every tribe, nation and tongue represented together, standing on one accord! When the church comes together WE bring the house down! The Spirit of God was so heavy that my knees were weak I couldn’t stop trembling in the power of HIS GLORY! I thought my God THIS is what the world needs! They need to put aside the differences and get on the same page and let God move on our hearts! It is still available for people to go and check out the services at Gather25.com, I encourage you to watch it.
Disclaimer: If you are too good to give God the praise it won’t be for you, but if you are a wretched sinner like me, looking to be refreshed in your spirit go and check it out! It has truly blessed my soul and renewed my vision! God is still in the saving business and the distractions of this world, do not change his vision! As his child, I am compelled to share my faith more and to align my life better for his will and his glory! God alone can make our world whole again! However as a sojourner in a foreign land, I am looking for a heavenly home with JESUS! Won’t you join us?
I pray that your week is filled with unexpected blessings and signs of God’s great love for you! Until next time friends, God bless!
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28: 19-20 (THE GREAT COMMISSION)
“Sometimes, the most festive season can feel the loneliest, as the weight of expectations hang heavy in the air.”
The Christmas lights are going up all around my city, the shopping, planning and gathering are happening. Tis’ the season? I know for many, this time of year can bring mixed feelings. There is always so much to do, that it can be overwhelming. Often our time is divided between families, work, friends, and it leaves little time for rest or alone time. We love being together but sometimes we all need a moment to breathe. Have you ever felt the holiday blues?
Another source of holiday sadness may be the feelings of grief, and how holidays are much different after we loose someone. I know for my family, there will be a huge hole in our hearts as my cousin Jasmine passed away a few months ago. She so loved Thanksgiving because she loved to eat and cook! I saw on social media her mom has already started baking her desserts for the big day. I can imagine the mixed emotion of trying to be strong and still be the patriarch of the family and wanting to break down with sadness. Holidays and the traditions we all carry are often changed greatly by the loss of someone. Grief is heavy, and it comes in waves. How can the Holidays we love so much bring pain?
Then for families that are scarred by divorce, separation, unresolved conflict, miscarriage, foster care, homelessness, drug abuse, etc. The traditions can feel pointless at times, and sort of empty. We so want to control every aspect of our lives and then there is something that shakes us to our core. We celebrate differently and try and make the best of hard situations. I know for me, my parents separated when I was around 9 years old, and even before the holidays were awkward for me. My mom had a falling out with my dad’s family and she wasn’t welcome to family holidays anymore, and my dad would continue his traditions with his family without her. I always felt sad leaving my mom home alone on holidays. So many holiday memories filled with regret. I wasn’t old enough to process these things until now. Why do we hold so tightly to traditions?
As I have aged, I realize that every year, I feel a bit of sadness. I used to think it was about money, or overstimulation. However, those are just a small percentage of the blues for me. I finally realized these emotions were there all along, holidays without my mom, and now she doesn’t even celebrate any holidays. She used to try so hard to make things perfect for my sister and I but I believe she just lost hope. Now that I have my own children, I realize that it’s so important to remember that they are watching everything. That tight knit families are necessary, we must remember all that we can accomplish through love and unity.
Some of us may need to forgive past hurts and wrongs so that there can be unity among the family. Forgiving someone that does not deserve it can be hard but living in isolation, resentment or rejection are not worth the energy. Trust me I am still working on this part of the healing the holiday blues! I am not here to judge, just share a few things that I have learned and experienced. Forgive them, release yourself. Love without regret.
Nowadays when I think about my mom, spending these holidays alone, I feel sorry for her but I also understand. I try and remove the blame and realize that pain changes people. The boundaries that some people build around themselves can be high, but we can be patient and accept their wishes. I know in many families there is a great pull between the in-laws and the immediate family, both wanting time with their loved ones. However, we often find ourselves splitting up the days, weeks, or even hours to share in the traditions with both sides.
I can be the first to admit how exhausting that can be! Many people are learning to set boundaries with pushy family members that don’t understand the struggle of sharing holidays. I too have had to do that as well, starting this year! I told my husband’s family that we cannot do three Christmas’s on Christmas Day anymore, it’s just too much. I would feel worn down and out of the Christmas spirit by the time I would make it home. The rushing, the barely being able to have a conversation, the keeping up with all the gifts and trying to figure out who they were even from was just chaos. It made me feel like I was just on autopilot, I never could even play with my children and their gifts because of all the busyness.
The beauty of the holidays are supposed to be a relaxing time of rest, reflection, and focused time with family. We must learn to bring back slow rhythms that just flow and are not forced. I believe that we all are searching for genuine interactions, and to truly be seen and heard. It’s really hard when life is moving faster than we can keep up, with too busy schedules. Breathe, friend you have purpose and you matter. Your mental health is important and be damned who does not honor that! Take the time to love yourself this year too. How can you slow down this season, and cherish all your memories?
Let’s not forget this season can be full of beauty, magic, and so many wonderful things. We can learn to use our life lessons to inspire and uplift. The blessing of this writing community, it gives us a place to share our thoughts, emotions, and interact with others. I am thankful that this community has given me a voice, a place to feel like I can offer something to the world.
If you are experiencing any holiday sadness, I hope that you can find the grace, love, hope, forgiveness, unity and love that you need to get through it. Whether you will be alone, with a huge family, a small intimate gathering, or with strangers or friends; I pray it will be full of joy. May you find joy in the little things, another year coming to a close and you made it this far! You matter, you are loved, and you deserve to smile. Remember it’s okay to set boundaries, choose not to celebrate, go big or lay low; do what’s best for you and yours! God loves you! Happy Holidays!
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
Today, I decided to go slower, to be quieter. Lately life has been way too busy and I have been feeling exhausted and numb. However, today I am committed to doing things slow and being at peace with myself. I give myself space to just be. My worth is more than the tasks that I accomplish. I hope you all have an amazing day! Happy reading, love and blessings to all! I wrote this little poem as I sat listening to what was on my heart and mind.
I spill these words on paper to absorb my pain Take it from me, I leave it between the pages I lay it down for someone else to heal from I don’t want to carry it anymore Set me free from the need to be loved I rather not have a heart The pain is deep, why do I care so much? When I give I don’t want to expect I desire a love that is pure I want romance, a gentle touch, a clean heart To love without fear or regret That would be grand, someone that I can trust The walls are tall around my heart I let them in and I get hurt, Why should I? I don’t want to be hurt I want peace I crave the quiet but invite the noise Let me be calm.
What’s something you believe everyone should know.
“Money is but one venue for generosity. Kindness is an even more valuable currency” -Alan Cohen
Today has been a hard day, I felt quite discouraged by the selfishness that I see from those around me. I think for me generosity has always came naturally to who I am. I have learned that although you give a lot, it will often be unappreciated. It can be really hard to understand those that get uncomfortable with giving away their time, talent, and money. The world can be healed if people would think about others first.
Let me make it know that although I am generous, does not mean that I do not have to check my EGO! I most certainly have to ask myself what are my motives for giving? We must learn to give without expectation, validation, or praise. THAT is where the real test shows up! I freely give but as I felt that deep frustration today, I am almost tempted to withhold from people, because of their lack of gratitude! I’m human I can admit that I am fallible.
Friends, imagine if Jesus decided not to give us his life as a ransom? Where would we be if he left us with our many failures and hit the road? “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NKJV). We are given what we do not deserve. I told my daughter this morning that “If you are waiting for people deserve it to be good to them, then you will always be waiting.” We don’t deserve the mercy of God, yet it’s anew every morning.
Life is complicated and it can feel as if we are doing all the giving, reaching and sowing in our relationships. However, we must remember that it is always better to give anyway. We have to learn balance though, take time for rest, reflection, and get away from it all. In the scriptures, you see Jesus after giving so much retreating to a quiet place with his Father. He knew he could not pour from an empty vessel. We are created for connection, we must share our lives with others.
Remember that in giving, you find your strength, you are learning to love without regret. Jesus never turned anyone away that came to him for help, how exhausting that must have been. When we are tempted to only live for ourselves, let us remember the importance of giving. Our world is begging for someone to see them, validate and care for them. We are to be a living sacrifice. The weight of that word is heavy. Sacrifice: It is an act of giving what is precious! Our time, talent, and money are all precious to us all.
The irony of it all, is that we can only give what we have been given! Our lives are not our own, and even if we choose not to recognize Jesus as our savior, or God the Father, as the creator of all. That does not diminish his presence or his existence in our lives. We are on borrowed time, let it count for something! Give yourselves away, lift up the hurting and the broken, come and follow the path that leads to life. Live with an open heart and mind.
Lastly, do not forget those that came alongside you in the hard battles and helped you to stand. The people that encouraged you on your journey are also on a journey, and dealing with struggles. Do not take from them and not reciprocate that love. Remember the times that someone sacrificed their resources for you to be successful or have what you have now. “Many waters cannot quench love, Neither can floods drown it: If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, It would be utterly contempt end.” (Song of Solomon 8:7 KJV). Be blessed my friends!
This is my work and the pictures are from Pixels Free Library and all quotes are referenced. ShilohRose77ⓒ
“The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16 KJV
This morning I woke up thinking about how lonely life can be in times of great discouragement and distress. We all have been in times of suffering and it seemed that we had to walk through that alone. I thought of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and his disappointment in his closest friends. He asked the disciples to go with him to watch and pray a yet they fell asleep! Jesus in his frustration asks them “What! Could you not watch with me one hour?” He told them repeatedly, that he was going to be taken soon, and he knew the urgency to pray. However they just didn’t seemed to understand the weight of pressure upon Jesus.
What situation have you walked through that you felt utterly alone, or like no one understood what you were going through? I remember the first time I studied Matthew 26, it was prior to a very difficult situation I was about to face. I look back now and see that God was preparing me for the grief and loss that I was going to soon experience. On April 14, 2022 I felt strongly about this story, I kept hearing references to it and I knew it meant something. About a month before this day, I had found out I was pregnant! I was very excited, I had already announced my pregnancy to family and friends. Then four days after studying this passage, I found out that I had suffered a silent miscarriage.
My excitement turned quickly into deep grief and shock because I hadn’t had any symptoms that anything was wrong! I can remember feeling waves of emotions over the next few months after the loss. I felt that many of my own family and friends were not even there to support me in that loss. I was hurting and they seemed to not notice my distress. This is where we find Jesus in this passage, he knows he’s going to be betrayed, killed, and have to bear the sin of the world and he is deeply distressed.
In light of the heaviness of this passage there is hope! Jesus knows that these things are necessary for what is to come: His resurrection, ascension to heaven, and the salvation of the world! What if we could see the joy on the other side of our pain, struggles, and loneliness? During the loss of who I call baby Shiloh, I clung to the scripture: Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted” ( Matthew 5:4). Now I can see that there was purpose in my pain. I am now able to encourage others that are walking through the same things that I have endured.
Jesus has the weight of grief all over him there in the garden, and yet he continues leaning on God. He prays three times, commentaries describe this as a battle in prayer. He was willing to sacrifice his life for the greater good, and yet it deeply hurt. He was still in human form. At this timing of his pending crucifixion there is celebration going on, for the upcoming Passover. Jesus and his disciples had their last meal together for the Feats of Unleavened Bread. This feast was a time of remembrance and celebration. Have you ever been in a storm of life, and it seems that everyone is going on about life? There are times we are hurting and yet we have to celebrate and be there for others in their time of celebration.
Friend, I am here to remind you a few things:
1. Sometimes you will have to SMILE anyway when you feel like dying. Rejoice with others, your time will come, and you will smile again.
2. Pray AGAIN! Sometimes we have to battle in prayer, with our emotions, stubbornness, and just grow closer to God. Learning to lean on him fully.
3. Love THEM anyway! Love those that are rude, insensitive, jealous of you. I know it’s so hard but it makes us better and honors God.
4. The prayer calmed Jesus for what he was about to go through, it reminded him to keep his eyes UP!
5. Getting AWAY with God is necessary, we need to have a place of prayer and quiet time with God.
6. Preparation is necessary for what is to come. God can help us to prepare because he knows our fate. Jesus tried to prepare his disciples for his death and the Lord was preparing Jesus as well.
Shiloh Rose Archive 