WALKING through that DOOR ...

Before I start my RETREAT (Monday) and the study of "RELAXED" begins, I came upon this important video, among many that I added to a playlist, because I decided that I wanted to understand the author, Megan Fate Marshman better, as I am/was reading through the book for the study - the 2nd part on "And Lean Not On Your Own Understanding" in Proverbs 3:5-6 (chapters 3-5 in her book): "on your own understanding" (chapter 4) as I moved onto chapter 5, "where can we lean?" I knew I had to pause and become "deeply" acquainted with this new author to me and when I landed on the following video, I felt compelled to share "Grieve with Hope" then led to do this for sure (to save her words) and for you/others that might also need to hear her moving message, even though it's from 3 years ago, I hope that it touches your also and moves you by the Holy Spirit to listen to all of this video (every minute of the almost 45 minutes) because it is worth every moment and every word. I will need your prayers as I tackle this and continue on because the 3rd part is "In All Your Ways Submit to Him" chapters 6-11 beginning with "Grief" then "Trials", "Risks", "Friendships", "Money" and "Mistakes". 

You Tube video

If you know me, or have seen a glimpse of me online through this blog or you version or somewhere, you probably know that I have a real hard time with "grief" from my early years as a child until recently with 2 loved ones - a precious older sister (a week ago) and my spouse (last fall). I have gone through many losses and not just through death, although I have had so many of those from grandparents; to aunts and uncles (all of them now); cousins to my entire biological family; parents & 3 siblings; and in the last few years, many of my classmates (my age). I also have had the loss of all my earthly treasures stored in our home when a fire was a total loss. There have been health losses and aging losses (lol) mine and all those loved ones. People close to me who have suffered the loss of their mind/memory. I have also faced the traumatic loss of suicide of a dear one that I discovered. This quote by Vicki Harrison I have found to be one of my favorites and the truth for me. I saved this back in 2009-2010... when I lived on the Pacific Ocean, and God brought me peaceful healing through the rhythm of the waves. 

Yes, part of this earthly life is the losses, they're personal, and death is the ultimate, yet some of the others hit very close. Lament is necessary. I'm still not sure that I have ever learned to grieve even after reading many scriptures and wonderful books that helped me. Also I have gone through GriefShare - an excellent healing, support and recovery ministry. Session 4 of the "Relaxed" study will be the 4th week from April 20th, and I covet your prayers or thoughts - it lands the week of Mother's Day, which was the first time, a year after my mom passed away, that I recall falling apart. For most of my life, my oldest sister was like a "mom" to my youngest brother & I, because our mother suffered greatly through her chronic illnesses, so our care fell on her until she needed to move on and care for our aunt, dying of cancer, and then her 4 children also. I'm so thankful that I was able to let my sister know this in this last decade on Mother's Day thanking her, and that I was able to go to the hospital on April 8th before she passed into Jesus' arms on the 10th. She knew that she had been this "mom" to our youngest brother and our cousins, but she did not realize that she had that place in my heart and life. She just celebrated her 79th birthday the week before her homegoing celebration, yet her earthly celebration of her life here will not be until summertime.

I learned that the 5 stages of grief had become 7: shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing and acceptance (no particular order of sequence, or that you face all of them); but I like the ones Megan shares in this video from Pastor Rick Warren. Last fall after being a caregiver, I discovered another one: RELIEF. She also mentions this word in the video. I'm not sure this is a stage or part of shock, I also experienced a phase of just feeling numb. However, the following from Maya Angelou echoes and at times I've found myself in: DISBELIEF as well, but I also agree with the answer to the biblical question: "Death, where is thy sting?" (1 Cor.15: 55-57) I hope you can read "When I Think of Death" by Maya Angelou (in this image).

[image credit] possibly the one on it

I hope that after finishing "RELAXED", I will have quotes from Pastor Megan to share or create in images also. On my RETREAT, I've been given a peaceful place to breathe & hope the weather is good. I still am thankful for the C.A.L.M. of Max Lucado's book (& now others).

Please save this video and take/make the time to view this video on Grief! 

Thank you!

{some day perhaps I hope to share more on my sister, Carol}

God willing 

💙

RE - something

[my first attempt to design a scene with a quote but I don't REcall the program]

It was Microsoft Designer. No, I did not create the scene, I chose it, 

but it looks like what I imagine for "Hind's Feet in High Places" 

by Hannah Hurnard and where I'd go for a RE-treat

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Since the end of 2025 and all the beginning of 2026 so far, I have not yet landed on a 2026 ONE WORD (which is really late for me). Yet I do seem to be RE-volving around many words that begin with RE - and usually as a prefix "re-" means again, however when I looked it up, I found the meaning to be: once more (similar to "again"), anew and afresh; {so I almost thought afresh might be my word just to get away from the RE- words, but no ... it isn't} - in return, and mutually. 

Afresh was close to the one that I'm almost sure was going to be the GREAT RE-velation for my 2026 One Word, especially when Roy Lessin of Meeting in the Meadow began 2026 with a Devotional Journey through the Psalms called: 

"Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms"

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

{I almost put "Xs" in the place of those 3 RE- words because all 3, especially the final one were strong possibilities for my 2026}
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This post, however, is not about announcing my 2026 ONE WORD, nor is it too share the abundance of all that I am gathering on the various possibilities but I definitely am on a RE-set for 2026 of my life journey and where I am headed, starting with the next 7 weeks, beginning on Monday, April 20th, 2026 ... and today, I decided that I will make those 7 weeks (at least for now & sorry, but once again, I'll be stepping away from here, there and everywhere) as I RE-cover and take time for myself with the Lord Jesus, in what I'm calling and claiming as a RE-treat (retreat): 

"... focusing on finding peace, TRUST (2025), and rest in Jesus ..."

"... by letting go of self- reliance."Faith Gateway OBS
"RELAXED"
[RE-laxed]

So just go with me on this premise of RE-

and LAX or Laxed being the root,

which means

"loose, not tight, or lacking strictness, care, or attention"

and know that I will be placing myself again 

in a place or time of care and attention

with somewhat loose, not tight or

lacking (maybe some) strictness

while I do my best at doing

this study but

RE-maining RE-laxed

on my so-called

RE-treat

meaning

treating myself again

to special time

with

JESUS

(more than any other

RE-strictions)

like completing to check off the day's study guide

or reading or just about anything

and with a deep breath daily or often

I might RE-gain a better composure of being

RE-LAXED

with

or

like

JESUS

right here

"REtreat is *a withdrawal from a difficult, dangerous, or stressful situation, often involving a move to a safer or quieter place. As a noun, it describes a quiet, private location, or a structured period of withdrawal for meditation, study, or team building. As a verb, it means to move back, recede, or abandon a position" "... **a purposeful, temporary withdrawal from daily routines to a secluded, safe, or peaceful place to focus on rejuvenation, reflection, personal development, or specific training." *As a verb, it also can mean "to withdraw from enemy's forces as a result of their superior power or after a defeat."

Although the verb form is usually for a military army, think of this spiritually and emotionally insteadbecause most RETREATS are spiritual.

*I had to update this after I published it so that I could add that first part on REtreat, which is what I originally intended but could not find it at the time I was writing the blog post, so I used that **2nd one - just a little difference. I am not in a dangerous place but the rest does apply. It really is a time to REflect for me and rest my weary soul and mind while I pause to focus & also do 2 important Bible studies: RELAXED and one more that I didn't complete the last time. I am fortunate to be blessed with 7 acres of natural beauty, but there are also some REtreat places in this area that I might include if need be.God is so good to me & He knows best 

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That's a whole lot of
RE's for me!
{... but I'm sure there are many more that have surfaced (see below) & I RE-jected as One Words} lol

RE-JOICE!
{this means that you get a break from me as well}
🙏🙏🙏
I did not look ahead to any dates for when 
I will
RE-TURN
but I'll be thinking of you too while we
REST & RECUPERATE
until 
WE
RE-CONNECT
God bless & hold you close!
REMEMBER
me
as God prompts you & pray
Thank you!
💙
The REsult I hope for:
 to be "fully present..." as D. Willard described: (in the Note from Megan Fate Marshman)"... trusting in God, the Father andnot driven by fear, anxiety or a need tofulfill other's expectations"
Jesus' Relaxed Demeanor:
CALMand purposeful, setting boundariestaking time for solitude
Living without a constant need to control outcomes!
"Are You Living the Relaxed Life of Jesus?"by Megan Fate Marshman
Hoping also to
RE-gain
strength and 
RE-plenish
my worn out & weary self
I'm in a constant place
of
RE-
but the best one began with
HIS
RESURRECTION
{did you know that "surrection" is a rare, specialized term
meaning: a rising, emergence, or upright movement?}

NOTE: I was not going to publish this until SONday, but I decided to publish now in case, you'd like to join the Faith Gateway OBS and register (with or without the book or study guide, although of course it would be best - at least the study guide, because then you always have access to the video teachings) just participating in the Video Sessions with Pastor Megan Fate Marshman will benefit you deeply and greatly - she's so RELAXED (lol)😉 and you get other freebies (I think) even the first chapter. 
Let's just RE-ignite your Holy Spirit power and RE-kindle the flame inside of you with Proverbs 3:5-6! Your heart will thank you and you'll be blessed!