Really Rita

August 18, 2019 Hear my cry, O God, from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.  Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.  Psalm 61:1-3 It seems to me no matter how much and how often you decide… Read More

August 2, 2019 There were a couple of situations this week that just grieved my spirit and I could not put my finger on why I felt so disappointed.  Women who I know to be Christians were behaving in ways contrary to the women that I know them to be.  Then early this morning God spoke “testimony” in my spirit…. Read More

July 18, 2019 When I started this journey to joy a couple of weeks ago it was because I felt like all of my joy had been sucked from me.  A work situation really had me bummed out and I will admit it felt like a really dry spot.  I blamed the other person for being heartless and mean.  Honestly,… Read More

July 15, 2019 Our pastor preached from 1 Peter 1:6-7 yesterday with a sermon topic of “When Your Faith is Tried”.  In the NIV, the verse reads:  In all this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of… Read More

Boundaries. Fences. Borders.  Sometimes these are used to keep things in and sometimes to keep things out.  Over the past few days, we’ve been talking about our joy.  We explored how to get it and where it comes from.  But how do you keep it, once you have it?  You’ve been spending time with the Lord, and you’re following His… Read More

On the way to the gym this morning (yeah, I actually made it today after yesterday’s epic fail), another driver needed to merge into my lane.  Due to my speed and another car in the left lane, I was unable to immediately move over to make room for the driver on my right.  I was trapped in the middle.  A… Read More

July 5, 2019 You may have noticed that I’ve gotten a little slack the last couple of days with my Journey to Joy postings.  All is well.  One of the things I’ve learned as a recovering card-carrying-Type-A personality is that I have to loosen up and be flexible to just let life come however it wants to instead of trying… Read More

July 3, 2019 A few days ago I needed to rework the logo for my consulting business that I’m rebranding.  For some reason, I was inspired to create one with a butterfly image.  I thought it was odd since my business wasn’t about gardening or landscaping. However, I continued with it because I am learning to trust my inner voice… Read More

So this is how the other half lives?  I mean the folks that have been blessed to retire.  Today was the first day of the regular week of my stay-cation.  I started the day with a couple of devotionals and some quiet time…you know where, yes on the back porch.  What can I say?  It’s like my sanctuary.  God and… Read More

Last week I had a minor outpatient surgical procedure on my toe.  For the first two nights, I was awakened by throbbing pain in the middle of the night.  On the first night, I attributed it to the anesthesia wearing off.  The second night it happened was more perplexing since I had walked all day with relatively no pain.  I… Read More