<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985</id><updated>2011-11-27T18:38:54.624-05:00</updated><category term='eyes'/><category term='feeling'/><category term='comfort'/><category term='waited'/><category term='waiting'/><category term='father'/><category term='path'/><category term='storms'/><category term='wake'/><category term='God'/><category term='grace'/><category term='stars'/><category term='son'/><category term='alone'/><category term='all'/><category term='life'/><category term='you'/><category term='smile'/><category term='discover'/><category term='baby'/><category term='forever'/><category term='mother'/><category term='love'/><category term='suffering'/><category term='discovery'/><title type='text'>Thoughts Of The Mind</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>17</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-6577999849966453426</id><published>2011-04-26T16:26:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2011-04-26T16:27:20.594-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Two sides</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;I wish I could sit&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;And talk to you&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To look in your eyes&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;And smile with each view&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Your brown eyes connect with mine&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Looking deep into my soul&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Making shivers down my spine&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;But this stuff isn't your goal&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;You make a thunderstorm in my mind&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Letting lightening strike me down&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Not showing care for humankind&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;All you want is for me to drown&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To drown in your hurtful words&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;So I'll walk away mad as hell&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;You make me suffer, just like bastards&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;But I stand strong and say farewell..&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-6577999849966453426?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/6577999849966453426/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2011/04/two-sides.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/6577999849966453426'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/6577999849966453426'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2011/04/two-sides.html' title='Two sides'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-4207768688418339226</id><published>2010-03-25T16:22:00.002-04:00</published><updated>2010-03-25T16:36:27.234-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Life</title><content type='html'>Life today is something that's gone lost. Something as precious as a baby can be ripped of its life in an instance. People today don't take life seriously. To some it's  like some big joke. The people that kill and abuse children or adults. The ones responsible for acts like this have no sense of humanity or the life they are wasting. Everyday innocent children die because of peoples inability to see life's treasure. I look at children of one year or two and wonder, how could any human being have the guts to hurt something so innocent and carefree. Children do nothing but bring joy and laughter to peoples' lives. Sure some kids are hard to raise and deal with, and yes it's hard to provide for them sometimes. but does that mean you have to end their life forever? Don't they get a chance at life too, just as you did??&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This morning I was reading the newspaper and I came to an article about the murder of a 10 year old boy. This brought utter disgust to me. I had questions and confusion. How? How does this happen? Something so innocent gone from this world without an warning or explanation. The sad thing was the mother of the child was the murderer. She murdered her own child, her own flesh and blood. How could a mother do something so violent to her son? The world just makes no sense. Child abuse and murdering children MUST STOP!!!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-4207768688418339226?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/4207768688418339226/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2010/03/life.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/4207768688418339226'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/4207768688418339226'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2010/03/life.html' title='Life'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-2289482063515423893</id><published>2010-03-23T00:19:00.003-04:00</published><updated>2010-03-23T00:34:52.420-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Catching Up</title><content type='html'>Wow...I really have a hard time keeping up with this. I never remember to sign in and write. Well let's see...what's been going on in my life. I'm about to start my &lt;b&gt;last year&lt;/b&gt; of college! wow scary. I will be an official &lt;b&gt;college graduate&lt;/b&gt; in the summer of 2011!!! Then I will be out to the real world. Soon after graduation I will be moving in with my boyfriend Matthew. This semester I have been constantly at work getting my classes done and making sure everything is set for graduation. I will be doing my senior summary in the fall 2010! Insane stuff. It feels just like yesterday I was still in high school, but now I'm an adult and about to graduate college. I miss some of the friendships I had back in high school. I have lost connection with several people that I use to be really good friends with...and that saddens me. &lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This is the second week back after spring break and it's a tough one. My professors decided they wanted to pile all things in one week! I have 3 tests in one day! Not cool! But on the up side Spring Break was&lt;b&gt; awesome&lt;/b&gt;!!!!!! Me and Matthew babysat my goddaughter, Breanna, for the whole weekend. She's only 1 1/2 years so it was a big deal. It was her first time sleeping away from her mommy and daddy and she did wonderfully. We took her to the park and she played with a bunch of other little kids and had a ball. After we took her back we enjoyed an evening together with my grandparents then headed back to Greenville. The next day we picked up and drove to Raleigh and went to the Natural Sciences museum and the History museum. It was awesome to spend the day out with Matthew just doing whatever we wanted. The rest of the week we just enjoyed being together (it was mostly raining the last few days of Spring Break week). But overall it was fun, so I can't complain!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-2289482063515423893?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/2289482063515423893/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2010/03/catching-up.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/2289482063515423893'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/2289482063515423893'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2010/03/catching-up.html' title='Catching Up'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-8262318649587317195</id><published>2009-11-17T17:16:00.002-05:00</published><updated>2009-11-17T17:27:41.031-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Today</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Today has been a weird day. I've had a lot on my mind. Last night nothing seemed right, nothing made sense, I was lost and confused. I stayed in that state of confusion until about midnight. After talking with Matthew, I didn't seem as lost. So today, I've been running everything that happened last night through my head over and over. Just trying to make sense of everything that went on. I know it turned out okay, and seemingly for the better, but I just can't wrap my head around how things started out, and went on for a few hours. &lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Something else I've been thinking about is how I've became "distant" from some friends I had in high school. I still wish I had the same strong friendships I had in high school. I use to be almost sisters with certain people until I moved off to college...I really miss being best friends and almost sisters with Brittany D., she was like the sister I never had. we moved on to separate parts of our lives but we forgot to take each other with us. Since we are both in college now and in different places, it's like we've forgotten. I have never forgotten those friends that I had that were really good. They always hold a place in my heart and I want to start these friendships up again.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Being at college hasn't been the worst though. I have met the love of my life. We've been dating almost 2 years now. I have also met some new friends and this year I have an awesome roommate. She's much better than the one last year. But even though I make new friends I can never replace the close ones I had before and still kind of have. (Brittany, Jennifer, Amber) &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-8262318649587317195?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/8262318649587317195/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/11/today.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/8262318649587317195'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/8262318649587317195'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/11/today.html' title='Today'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-2039223766339279418</id><published>2009-08-29T21:50:00.003-04:00</published><updated>2009-08-29T21:57:42.092-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='stars'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='father'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='baby'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='mother'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='son'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='path'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='alone'/><title type='text'>The Path</title><content type='html'>Upon the stars I look&lt;br /&gt;So hopeful for the things ahead&lt;br /&gt;Laying warm and comfy in my bed&lt;br /&gt;Thinking back to the path I took&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That path I took I now know was wrong&lt;br /&gt;Back then it was so much fun&lt;br /&gt;Now I'm laying here with my son&lt;br /&gt;Without the father or support...this is gonna be long&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;He's just so irresponsible and immature&lt;br /&gt;This baby here is not just mine&lt;br /&gt;Maybe I need to give him more time&lt;br /&gt;Maybe it's to much for him to endure&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm not trying to be mean&lt;br /&gt;I just can't do this on my own&lt;br /&gt;I'm tired of being alone&lt;br /&gt;For heavens sake I'm only sixteen&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-2039223766339279418?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/2039223766339279418/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/08/path.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/2039223766339279418'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/2039223766339279418'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/08/path.html' title='The Path'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-618715761845710824</id><published>2009-06-22T09:57:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2009-07-28T17:23:53.492-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='wake'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='storms'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='God'/><title type='text'>Waking God Up</title><content type='html'>Throughout our lives we go through many storms. Some are big, some are small; but a storm is a storm. These storms may come to teach us a lesson, to bring someone closer to God, etc. But when a storm approaches people sometimes panic, they don't know what to do, or where to turn. There's a simple solution: turn to God.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When storms come up in people's lives the first thing some people do is shy away from God. That's the last thing you want to do. When you come to a storm in your life (whether it's violent or calm) you need to wake God up. Let Him know that you are having some difficulty in your life. Don't be afraid to give God a little nudge and wake him up so he knows you need His help. God always wants to help and he will never turn His back to you when you ask for help.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This makes me reflect on the many storms that have passed through my life. I made it through some really rough ones and yeah I prayed to God sometimes for guidance through these storms, but I never really went in and woke Him up. Before this year I would never have had the courage to wake God up when I needed Him, but after all the growth I've had I think I would wake Him up. Sometimes you need to get God's attention and be like hey over here! God can be asleep a lot, so he just needs a little nudge to let him know you want his attention.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So how will you wake God up: a gentle, soft nudge or pull the pillow from under his head?&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-618715761845710824?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/618715761845710824/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/waking-god-up.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/618715761845710824'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/618715761845710824'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/waking-god-up.html' title='Waking God Up'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-539691746967026686</id><published>2009-06-13T22:10:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-06-13T22:11:38.764-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='discovery'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='discover'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='love'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='comfort'/><title type='text'>The Discovery</title><content type='html'>I look out for a hand to hold&lt;br /&gt;to comfort my weakened heart;&lt;br /&gt;to have a heart of gold&lt;br /&gt;and to show me how to make a fresh start.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I spent all my time&lt;br /&gt;searching for someone to hold;&lt;br /&gt;when all along its you I needed as my prime&lt;br /&gt;you're the only one that can make my mold&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I found nothing to compare to what you do&lt;br /&gt;my life and heart is at peace&lt;br /&gt;with all my trust stored in you&lt;br /&gt;now I know my happiness shall not cease&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The pains and struggles I endure&lt;br /&gt;make me fall to my knees and cry;&lt;br /&gt;but I know that by your touch it can all be cured&lt;br /&gt;so I talk to you and look to the sky.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-539691746967026686?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/539691746967026686/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/discovery.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/539691746967026686'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/539691746967026686'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/discovery.html' title='The Discovery'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-700850331545018141</id><published>2009-06-12T18:39:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-06-12T18:40:37.845-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='feeling'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='eyes'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='love'/><title type='text'>Oh Love is Wonderful</title><content type='html'>When I look you in the eyes,&lt;br /&gt;I travel to the depths of your soul&lt;br /&gt;and you say a million things without trace of a sound,&lt;br /&gt;I know that my own life is inevitable consumed&lt;br /&gt;within the rhythmic beatings of your very heart.&lt;br /&gt;I love you for a million reasons,&lt;br /&gt;no paper would do it justice.&lt;br /&gt;It is a thing not of the mind but of the heart.&lt;br /&gt;It is a feeling only felt.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-700850331545018141?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/700850331545018141/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/oh-love-is-wonderful.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/700850331545018141'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/700850331545018141'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/oh-love-is-wonderful.html' title='Oh Love is Wonderful'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-3628729601556940701</id><published>2009-06-12T18:30:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2009-06-12T18:31:39.423-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='waited'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='waiting'/><title type='text'>He Waited For Her</title><content type='html'>all evening he waited&lt;br /&gt;anxiously eyeing the clock&lt;br /&gt;retracing his steps&lt;br /&gt;over and over&lt;br /&gt;counting the minutes&lt;br /&gt;until her arrival&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;kneeling before a crackling fire&lt;br /&gt;adding another log&lt;br /&gt;he rose to check again&lt;br /&gt;his preparations for tonight&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;the thick sheepskin rug&lt;br /&gt;lay lovingly spread before the flames&lt;br /&gt;waiting for her&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;the book&lt;br /&gt;the one she longed after&lt;br /&gt;in that tiny shop downtown&lt;br /&gt;rested on the warm stone hearth&lt;br /&gt;waiting for her&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;the wine&lt;br /&gt;that special bottle&lt;br /&gt;from a few years ago&lt;br /&gt;late fall harvest&lt;br /&gt;sat open&lt;br /&gt;and sweet&lt;br /&gt;waiting for her&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;the glasses&lt;br /&gt;his best crystal&lt;br /&gt;sat sparkling in the firelight&lt;br /&gt;waiting for her&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;his hand&lt;br /&gt;stopped a moment&lt;br /&gt;over his heart&lt;br /&gt;and lovingly fingered&lt;br /&gt;the prize there&lt;br /&gt;hidden away in his pocket&lt;br /&gt;where it lay&lt;br /&gt;waiting for her&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;taking the ring&lt;br /&gt;from its secret place&lt;br /&gt;he gazed at it&lt;br /&gt;mesmerized by its shine&lt;br /&gt;by what it stood for&lt;br /&gt;soon he smiled and&lt;br /&gt;softly slipped it back&lt;br /&gt;to its repose&lt;br /&gt;where it lay&lt;br /&gt;waiting for her&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;seating himself back on the chair&lt;br /&gt;he resumed his vigil&lt;br /&gt;over the fire&lt;br /&gt;over the wine&lt;br /&gt;over the clock&lt;br /&gt;over himself&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;and he sat&lt;br /&gt;quiet and lost in thought&lt;br /&gt;waiting for her&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-3628729601556940701?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/3628729601556940701/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/he-waited-for-her.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/3628729601556940701'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/3628729601556940701'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/he-waited-for-her.html' title='He Waited For Her'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-2504725991488087240</id><published>2009-06-12T18:29:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2009-06-12T18:29:53.767-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='love'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='smile'/><title type='text'>Love</title><content type='html'>You sit there and stare at me&lt;br /&gt;With those beautiful brown eyes.&lt;br /&gt;I meet your  gaze,&lt;br /&gt;And instantly get lost.&lt;br /&gt;You make me forget everything around me.&lt;br /&gt;There's just something about you.&lt;br /&gt;I want to stay in your arms forever.&lt;br /&gt;You make me feel safe and happy.&lt;br /&gt;When I'm with you,&lt;br /&gt;I can't get a smile off my face.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-2504725991488087240?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/2504725991488087240/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/love.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/2504725991488087240'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/2504725991488087240'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/love.html' title='Love'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-4966670173371467622</id><published>2009-06-12T18:27:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-06-12T18:28:39.834-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='you'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='love'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='smile'/><title type='text'>What You Do To Me</title><content type='html'>Everytime I think of you I smile.&lt;br /&gt;It doesn't go away for a while.&lt;br /&gt;Everytime I see you I get butterflies;&lt;br /&gt;My heart melts completely.&lt;br /&gt;I can't resist your beautiful blue eyes,&lt;br /&gt;Your gorgeous face, your soft hair,&lt;br /&gt;And most of all you charming but funny personality.&lt;br /&gt;You seem to complete me.&lt;br /&gt;When I'm with you everything is okay.&lt;br /&gt;And everyone disappears.&lt;br /&gt;Man I really love you!&lt;br /&gt;I just want to scream it to the world.&lt;br /&gt;See what you do to me.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-4966670173371467622?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/4966670173371467622/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-you-do-to-me.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/4966670173371467622'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/4966670173371467622'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-you-do-to-me.html' title='What You Do To Me'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-3716223603700572862</id><published>2009-06-12T18:23:00.002-04:00</published><updated>2009-06-12T18:24:49.187-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='you'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='forever'/><title type='text'>You</title><content type='html'>I was ready to just give up.&lt;br /&gt;I'm tired of all these guys.&lt;br /&gt;They seem to all be the same.&lt;br /&gt;They usually just lie to get what they want.&lt;br /&gt;But then I met you.&lt;br /&gt;Your different from other guys.&lt;br /&gt;You don't pressure me and you actually care.&lt;br /&gt;Your not all about sex;&lt;br /&gt;You just want to be with me.&lt;br /&gt;The minute I met you there was this connection;&lt;br /&gt;And I just knew me and you were meant to be.&lt;br /&gt;Baby be with me forever.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-3716223603700572862?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/3716223603700572862/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/you.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/3716223603700572862'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/3716223603700572862'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/you.html' title='You'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-2542231547749143134</id><published>2009-06-12T18:23:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2009-06-12T18:23:46.648-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='love'/><title type='text'>My Love</title><content type='html'>My love you are my life&lt;br /&gt;You have truely shown me love&lt;br /&gt;Your words are so sweet&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Being with you I know I have no strife;&lt;br /&gt;You are like a precious dove&lt;br /&gt;That makes my world complete&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Baby there's something about you&lt;br /&gt;That just sets my soul on fire,&lt;br /&gt;And I completely lose my breath&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I never stop being amazed at what you do&lt;br /&gt;You are everything I desire;&lt;br /&gt;I wanna love you even beyond death.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Baby, I love you so much.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-2542231547749143134?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/2542231547749143134/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-love.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/2542231547749143134'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/2542231547749143134'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-love.html' title='My Love'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-5000725596965726603</id><published>2009-06-12T17:54:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-06-12T17:55:23.485-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='all'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='you'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='love'/><title type='text'>You Are All</title><content type='html'>When you look at me&lt;br /&gt;And give me that come-here-baby smile&lt;br /&gt;I know it's all gonna be alright;&lt;br /&gt;When you take my hand,&lt;br /&gt;pull me close and hold me tight&lt;br /&gt;It's like I'm in paradise.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The sweet love that you give me&lt;br /&gt;makes me believe we can make it through anything;&lt;br /&gt;when I'm feeling like I'll never last&lt;br /&gt;I just lean on you cause&lt;br /&gt;you're my better half,&lt;br /&gt;and you let me know everything is gonna be okay.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You don't know how much I count on you to help me,&lt;br /&gt;you're always there for me to lean on&lt;br /&gt;and hold me like nothing is ever wrong;&lt;br /&gt;when I've given everything I got&lt;br /&gt;and I just feel like giving in&lt;br /&gt;you sweep me up and make me strong.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You are the sole one I adore,&lt;br /&gt;the one I turn to,&lt;br /&gt;to pull me back up when I've fallen;&lt;br /&gt;I think of you as my guardian angel,&lt;br /&gt;one that God sent to me to watch over me&lt;br /&gt;and keep me on my track and to keep me strong&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-5000725596965726603?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/5000725596965726603/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/you-are-all.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/5000725596965726603'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/5000725596965726603'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/you-are-all.html' title='You Are All'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-703404874136464087</id><published>2009-06-12T17:22:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-06-12T17:23:52.623-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Goodbye</title><content type='html'>I lay here awake in my bed,&lt;br /&gt;thinking about what you just said.&lt;br /&gt;I toss and turn and just keep crying,&lt;br /&gt;and I still feel like you're lying.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You always say you love me,&lt;br /&gt;but I just don't see.&lt;br /&gt;I get up &amp;amp; walk into the dark to find my place,&lt;br /&gt;I'm like a lone child wanting to see your face.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I can't see you taking much more&lt;br /&gt;which makes my heart od so sore.&lt;br /&gt;All I do is try to make you happy,&lt;br /&gt;but looking back I've just made your life crappy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I guess you wanna say goodbye&lt;br /&gt;so now I'm going to die.&lt;br /&gt;Don't let me get in your way,&lt;br /&gt;Goodbye is the last thing I'll say...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Goodbye.....*gun shot in the distance*&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-703404874136464087?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/703404874136464087/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/goodbye.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/703404874136464087'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/703404874136464087'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/goodbye.html' title='Goodbye'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-7861054180141405859</id><published>2009-06-12T16:57:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-06-12T16:58:39.766-04:00</updated><title type='text'>True Love is Here</title><content type='html'>I'm gonna be here for you baby&lt;br /&gt;and I'll keep my word,&lt;br /&gt;I'll speak to you with a special language you've never heard;&lt;br /&gt;I want to be with you forever,&lt;br /&gt;I want to die in your arms,&lt;br /&gt;a sweet place where I'm never harmed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I hope to steal your attention like no one before&lt;br /&gt;and I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you,&lt;br /&gt;I'll hold onto you tight too;&lt;br /&gt;I wanna stand out in a crowd,&lt;br /&gt;a woman among women,&lt;br /&gt;I wanna make your world better than it's ever been.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm gonna make you this promise&lt;br /&gt;in this life after this,&lt;br /&gt;I'm gonna be there to greet you each morning with a warm, wet kiss;&lt;br /&gt;to make memories of us,&lt;br /&gt;we'll follow the rainbow,&lt;br /&gt;wherever the winds blow.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've never been a person to ever let my feelings show&lt;br /&gt;but I've never loved like this,&lt;br /&gt;never felt such a gentle kiss;&lt;br /&gt;we've got a special kind of love,&lt;br /&gt;we've laid our hearts and souls in each others hands,&lt;br /&gt;we are going places and we have big plans.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-7861054180141405859?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/7861054180141405859/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/true-love-is-here.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/7861054180141405859'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/7861054180141405859'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/true-love-is-here.html' title='True Love is Here'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547406825323833985.post-2167347086474679602</id><published>2009-06-12T16:51:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-06-12T16:52:23.388-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='suffering'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='grace'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='love'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='God'/><title type='text'>Suffering and Grace</title><content type='html'>Suffering and Grace&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,&lt;br /&gt;When you go through hard times in your life view them as God's grace.&lt;br /&gt;1 Peter 2:19-21 says "For whenever anyone bears the pain of unjust suffering because of consciousness of God, that is a grace. But what credit is there if you are patient when beaten for doing wrong? But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps."&lt;br /&gt;From these verses in 1 Peter you see that when you suffer through hard times it is really an act of grace from God. Not something God is putting you through to be mean. This you should be grateful for. People can't always realize the amount of grace they have in their lives. You may think you don't have any, but take a minute or two to think back to any pain, challenging times, or suffering you went through in your past. Surely you have some. Those are God's grace in your life. Everyone has God's grace, but not everyone can see it.&lt;br /&gt;I never use to view my sufferings as a grace from God, but now I see past that "wall" that has been in my life. All my life I saw my sufferings as something that held me back from the world and from having true spirituality. There was always this "wall" between me and God and I could never see beyond it. The pain and misery I went through all my life, along with how and where I grew up was the maker of this mighty wall in my life. After reading those verses in 1 Peter my life changed. It was the first time that I saw all the grace I had in my life all along. Now that I have recognized these hard times as God's grace, I am able to see past this wall. Therefore, I have a chance to have a closer more intimate relationship with the wonderful Savior that is beyond the wall. This helps me to move forward in my life and it will help you too. These types of "walls" are present in quite a few people's lives. Not everyone knows how to see beyond it and need a little help. So I'm here to help anyone see the wonderful things on the other side of this wall that is present in your life.&lt;br /&gt;In 1 Peter 2:20, Peter asks about being patient when you are beaten for doing wrong. The second half of that verse states that by being patient when you suffer for doing good things than this is a grace before God. You should live to do good things and even though people may criticize you, you must know that your actions are a grace before God. These suffering and hard times is the presence of God's grace. Isn't that wonderful? When you finally view your pain and suffering as God's grace and you sincerely believe in your heart that it is His grace, then so many wonderful things will open up in your life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After having help to realize my pain was the grace of God my life changed dramatically. I see things differently now. I see almost everything as a gift or grace from God. Sure I still struggle and I don't always see things this way at first, but I just take a minute or two and think about God and what He does for me then it's clear that it is truly a gift or grace from God. Your pain and suffering aka the wall make you a stronger person. Some people may think not but when you see your pain as God's grace don't you become a stronger Christian? Which makes you a stronger person? And aren't you stronger as a person because now it's not pain in your life its grace? 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 supports my statement of being stronger. Those verses say "but he said to me, 'my grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.' I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am content with my weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong." When you sin and are weak and suffering then you are actually strong. Be confident in your weaknesses and sufferings cause God has given them to you for a reason. Whether it be to teach you something or make you realize something in your life, it has a purpose. Once you learn of the grace in your life grow in it, live in it, experience it, and never let God's grace go. This grace helps give you eternal life. Go out and tell others of your realization of the wonderful Father's grace in hopes that they discover it themselves also.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now back to this "wall," if you never see beyond it then you will never fully experience God's grace, love, mercy, and many other wonderful things He brings to your life. When you come to the realization that there is a wall between you and God then at that moment you need to turn to God. Let Him know of your discovery and if you believe and really have your heart set on what's beyond the wall, then ask Him to guide you. He loves for His children to talk to Him so go ahead, make your relationship with Christ stronger. You have nothing to lose, only a million things to gain! Once you pass over that wall you will be grateful to God that He helped you get beyond it. Nothing is possible without God! Absolutely nothing! God is in total control!&lt;br /&gt;Just always remember Jesus suffered and died on the cross for you and He always saw His Father's grace and never doubted Him one bit. You shouldn't either. Accept you sufferings and pains as His grace. You will see the magic.&lt;br /&gt;Amen.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4547406825323833985-2167347086474679602?l=cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/feeds/2167347086474679602/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/suffering-and-grace.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/2167347086474679602'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4547406825323833985/posts/default/2167347086474679602'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://cindy-thoughtsofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/06/suffering-and-grace.html' title='Suffering and Grace'/><author><name>Cindy</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05654829515962146916</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sfQWP_eIZ6g/SjNRdXs_itI/AAAAAAAAAAM/4apEcQveRng/S220/2008_0611summer20080005.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
