No Act of Kindness is Ever Wasted

How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it. ❤️

A few weeks ago I was at the beach for a few days by myself until the rest of my family could get off work to come join me over the weekend. 

One evening, I ate dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Hoskins, and was waiting in line for a table for one. There was a family of 9 in front of me. A Mimi and Papa, their two children, their son-in-law, and their 4 grandchildren. We began a conversation and talked for about 45 minutes while we waited. They were from Easley, SC and Clemson Tiger fans. Such a great family! 

I was blown away when they asked me to join them for dinner. They had 5 adults and 4 children and they were extending me an invitation to join them for dinner. Wow! What a kind gesture! Of course, I did not want to impose on their family time so I declined and thanked them for their generosity. 

Their name was called and they went and sat down at their table. No more than 2 minutes passed and one member of their party walked back outside to find me to tell me that they had an extra seat to please come and join them. I accepted their oh so generous offer. We had great food and great conversation! 

The Tucker and Epting families were such a blessing to me that evening. What an awesome Christian family. 

No act of kindness is ever wasted. ❤️

🎉Celebrating Forty Six Years 🎉

Today is my birthday. 

Birthdays have a way of prompting retrospection, don’t they? At least for me. I often find myself reflective around birthdays – take time to consider where I’ve been, where I’m going…just think.

Birthdays are just an arbitrary milestone. Just one of the ways we can measure our lives. But there are so many other ways too.

What if we measured our lives by our own personal milestones, rather than the number of years that have passed? We might be happier if we paid more attention to the things we’re doing, rather than the age we are when we do them.

Today I turn 46 years old. Unlike a lot of people out there, I am actually excited about getting older, even though I joke about it a lot. Every year that passes the freer I feel from all of the things that used to keep me up at night: Am I cool enough? Do people like me? Of course, I still worry about those things a little bit, but only a little. I don’t even worry so much about my skin sagging or the more frequent aches and pains. I’ve finally given up on looking 30 and accepted that I’m 46 and strive to be my best at this age. I’m learning we are all capable of far more than the limitations set upon us by others. 

The last year of my life has been different from previous ones.  I don’t know where it went!  It went by so fast because I was so busy.  I think that’s why today makes me think because I realize how fast things went by that I wonder what I missed. Seriously, sometimes we go through life at a crazy pace we miss a lot.  I know I did a lot, but I also wonder what opportunities I missed. Did I miss a chance to help someone around me?  Did I miss a chance to say I love you to a loved one? Did I miss something that could have changed my life or someone else’s around me? 

The need to be completely selfless in some aspects of my life caused me to be completely selfish in others. One of my goals for the coming year is to find a better way to balance the two. 

The greatest lesson I lived this year, was that I have a long way to go to becoming the wife, mother, and friend that I am capable of being. I will always hold on to a handful of struggles but I know my potential is great. 

So here’s to the blessings and knowledge that came with the passing of another year at life, and to all the possibilities that lie ahead. I lived this past year, through and through (the best parts and the worst) and I hope will all my heart for the opportunity to do it again. 

One of my favorite cards has the quote, “Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most, live the longest.” What a great reminder to celebrate whatever we can, whenever we can, and to take absolutely nothing for granted. Nothing except, maybe, that the longer we live, the more we will age. That everyday miracle seems worth celebrating. 🎉✨🎉✨

Blessings,

Dalinda 

Don't Be The Same. Be Better

So Jody and I are doing a marriage class at our church. And no, our marriage is not in trouble. We just want to make it better. No relationship is protected from breaking down without intentional effort to build it up. Jody and I have been married for 19 years and have had our ups and downs just as other married couples do. No marriage is perfect. We are all broken...every single one of us. I wanted to share a statement I read in our lesson for this week that I think is so very true of our perception of marriage in our world today. "We all want the ideal, end up getting an ordeal, and because our idea of love is distorted, start looking for a new deal. Maybe what we need, however, is not a new deal, but a new vision - a new understanding of what real love is." Emotions alone will not last. We need and were intended to experience and enjoy something more. Much more. God deserves first place in our marriages....and we deserve the experience of putting Him there. ❤️✞❤️

Blessings,
Dalinda

Stand Out

When I take Drew to school in the mornings, sometimes we see this older gentleman walking down the sidewalk with his cane. He doesn't stand out because of his cane. He stands out because he always has a huge smile on his face as he raises his hand high in the air and waves at people driving by. You can read his lips say, "Good morning!" This always brightens my day and I'm sure others as well. My point is, whether you're pushing a stroller, a grocery cart, or an aluminum walker--your life counts. It counts in a mighty way. Go make a difference in our hurting world. Have a blessed day! ✞ 

Celebrating Nineteen Years With My Best Friend

Yesterday, Jody and I celebrated nineteen years of marriage (love and hard work). 

Thanks to Jody, I'm a little more fun, a little more vibrant, a little more youthful, and a little less worrisome. 

He makes me smile when I'm feeling down and manages to make me laugh out loud even as I'm mad. He reminds me life doesn't have to be so serious and teaches me how to be more spontaneous and positive. 

He teaches me the importance of gratitude, forgiveness, and letting go. And despite all the ups and downs of marriage, I know he loves me inside and out, for who I am, not for who I appear to be. 

Blessings,

Dalinda

Christmas 2015

Praying that your life is enriched by the powerful reality of who Jesus is and the sweet gift of His saving grace....MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Blessings,

Dalinda

God Is Always In Control

Even though our world is in turmoil, God is always there to remind us who is in control. ✝

A beautiful reminder tonight: 

Blessings,

Dalinda

Live Life To Express Not To Impress

My oldest son and a few of his friends were inducted into the National Honor Society last night at their high school. Every chapter has different qualifications for membership based on the four pillars of National Honor Society: character, scholarship, leadership, and service . 

As the principal got up to congratulate the inductees, he made a strong point: Although it is great to achieve high GPA ratios, it is even better to achieve great character. People will remember you for your character not your grades.

True character is not in the saying, not in the boasting, but in the living. Character is walking in integrity, not while being watched, but when in our own space, when no one of apparent authority is present. True character is acknowledging and living like there is a God who is All-knowing and All-present. You want to be pleasing to God, not just every once and a while, but at all times and not just when it makes us look good.

The main point: represent God well, as best as we can. In the midst of our imperfection, we should always be trying to improve our character. And when a fly does show up in our perfume, the God- inspired aroma we give off, remove it with grace and humility and then move forward. We never know if our actions will help someone to meet Christ face-to-face when He returns. 

Blessings,

Dalinda

Below is a photo of my son and his friends. 

Why Does God Allow Trials To Blow Across Our Lives?

Same old is comfortable. Same old is familiar. Same old is easy. But....Same old doesn't challenge us. Same old doesn't change us. Same old doesn't prepare us for the greater things ahead. Same old doesn't grow us in our spiritual walk with the Lord. Same old, doesn't bless us.

I believe God allows trials in our lives to bless us. Pain means we are being loved by God enough that He is pruning us to bear fruit. We, as believers, need to recognize God's pruning as being helpful, not painful. Life is too short to miss out on God's wonderful opportunities and blessings. Life is too short to go through trials and come out empty!

Blessings,
Dalinda

God Can Reveal Himself Through Anyone

Please watch this video from my friend Andrea. Truly, God can show up in any form, at any time and through anyone.

Posted by Andrea Aiken on Saturday, September 19, 2015

Blessings,
Dalinda

Thankful For Discernment

Sometimes God places us in bad situations to show us what's most important. A lot of times, satan will use our closest friends to deceive us and pull us away from God. Because sometimes we're more concerned about what matters to us than what matters to Jesus. 

We are doing a six week study at church called, ONE. This series is about marriage from a biblical perspective and also what to look for in a perspective spouse if you are not married. We just completed our second week in this series and it's awesome! 

I am tremendously thankful for God's protection upon our family over a recent situation. 

We are to hold one another accountable when it comes to relationships that may damage our walk with Christ. 

A humble heart longs to do whatever brings honor to God, regardless of whether anyone is watching. 

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Ephesians 5: 6-8

Blessings,

Dalinda

Be Confident In His Design

What do you think of yourself? You may feel you are not what you are supposed to be. You spend years trying to be like other people because you feel that you are strange or unusual. 

News Alert: Feelings don't convey truth; only God's Word does that. The truth is we are all uniquely created by God for a special purpose. Be confident in His design. 

Blessings,

Dalinda

Don't Take Satan's Bait

We are to forgive and pray for our enemies and those who hurt and abuse us. (see Luke 6:35-36)

We meditate to much on what the offensive person has done to us, and we fail to realize what we are doing to ourselves when we take Satan's bait. 

Sometimes the best solution is to simply walk away. 

Just because some people are fueled by drama doesn't mean you have to attend the performance. 

Blessings,

Dalinda

New School Year, New Beginnings

As a new school year begins, it reminds me of the new challenges and new opportunities we have as parents to be Godly role models for our children. It is our God given responsibility to guide our children to make wise choices because sometimes our sweet children make some not-so-sweet choices. 

A new school year brings with it a season of change. Change can be one of the greatest sources of stress for us, but it is also where we have the most opportunity to grow and experience God in new ways. 

Blessings,

Dalinda

Kingdom Shakers

If you had cancer and you discovered the cure and you kept it and locked it in a vault and never told anyone about it, everyone else would still die from cancer. The same thing is true about the Gospel. You know the good news of Jesus Christ, but refuse to tell people and they die in there sin.

God has commanded us to share our faith with others (Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15). Don't smile and wave at people feeling good about yourself and how tolerant you are while people are heading for Hell. 

It is most evident that our country is going to hell in a hand basket because as Billy Graham quote states,

"Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone - except God." - Billy Graham

Have you tried to be a kingdom shaker for the Lord or have you been content being the peacekeeper and staying behind your safe walls?

Blessings,

Dalinda

Cloaked By Our Limitations: Part 2

Just a few days ago I found out through some testing that I am highly allergic to heavy metals and (EMF) electro magnetic fields. This is going to be a challenge for me since cell phones, computers, radio towers, etc. all have a high EMF. There are also many, many uses of heavy metals in our society today. Thankfully, there are some companies out there that make devices that can be put on cell phones, etc. to protect my body from receiving the EMF. 

You may remember that I got mercury poisoning from an amalgam filing a few years ago and lost some of my vision in my right eye. I see now that this is why it wreaked so much havoc on my body. And looking back over the past three years, I also see how God used this situation to not only bring me closer to Him, but to help others see that it was God, ALL GOD, behind my success. 

GOD IS SO AWESOME!....He delights in using our limitations because He wants others to look at us and know He is the one behind our success. The great news is: If we aren't perfect, then we're in perfect position for God to use us. How awesome is that!!! 

Blessings,

Dalinda

Did You Know Satan Is Afraid Of You?

Satan is afraid of you! He knows that if you are willing to obey God completely, you'll become dangerous to him! 

The enemy often uses others to intimadate us. He wants others to make fun of us or cut us down so we feel rejected, lose our confidence, and stop trying to do anything in life, better yet anything for God. 

Don't let anyone cause you to doubt yourself or abandon the things God has called you to do. Move forward with confidence in His love for you and with a healthy love for yourself. Remember, your sense of worth is not based on how other people treat you or what they think about you. It's rooted in the fact that God created you and Jesus died to redeem you! 

Blessings,

Dalinda

The Comparison Trap

In society today, we have been trained to dislike ourselves as long as we have imperfections. We compare ourselves to others. We say to ourselves: why can't I look like her, why can't I be as smart as her, why can't I have great hair like her? 

Don't fall into the comparison trap. It gives an unrealistic view of how life should really be. Competition and comparison is a cancer that eats you alive. - Whitney Capps

We all need to accept ourselves, knowing that although we are not where we need to be, we are making progress. Jesus died for us because we have weaknesses and imperfections, and we don't have to reject ourselves because of them. -Joyce Meyer

We have to love ourselves before we can love others. If we want to demonstrate love to the world around us, we must become examples to others instead of merely following the crowd. Remember your identity; remember whose you are. ✝ 

Blessings,

Dalinda

Cloaked By Our Limitations

When I think of the vastness of God’s abilities to have much greater things going on than we can imagine, I just want to praise Him! 

Lots of exciting things have happened to my family over the past several years. God used my health issues with Mercury poisoning to lead us to open our own Whole Body Vibration business. For a year and a half, my husband and I helped many people with our business. I would never, in a million years, have imagined being a business owner. What a blessing! ✞ 

And...when my parents passed away I never thought I could or would live in their home...too many memories. But here we are, renovating their house/our new home to make new memories of our own. What an exciting adventure! ✞ 

God’s got something going on in the background; and what we see is always cloaked by our limitations. 

God is so good! 

Blessings,

Dalinda

Be Content In Who You Are

Some girls define themselves through having a boyfriend by their side. Anyone is better than no one. They are sure that they have better standing in the eyes of their friends if they have a boyfriend.

You should be content with where you are in your life and happy with yourself before committing to anyone. Although it may sound selfish to be content with who you are before you add someone else to the mix, it’s actually the reverse. If you don't love yourself, how can you expect to love someone else?

All relationships should develop from a position of strength, not insecurity. For example, there was a young couple that met through a group of friends. They immediately started dating even before they really got to know each other. Their relationship didn't last long because one person was very insecure in who they were. This caused a lot of drama in the relationship.

Too many people nowadays expect to be happy in a relationship when they aren’t even happy with themselves. In the long run, a miserable person’s inner struggle will destroy a relationship, no matter how good he or she is at hiding it.

Young people, a boyfriend/girlfriend should enhance (add value) to your life, not define it. Be content in who you are - and if a boyfriend/girlfriend turns up, it should be because he/she shares and enhances life and makes it more enjoyable.

So get on with it, what are you waiting for? Get out there and experience life. Find out who and what you are. Live life by yourself; be happy by yourself. It’s your life; make it what you want. Don’t look for someone else to do it for you, because they can’t. Only you can know who you really are.

Remember, all relationships should develop from a position of strength, not insecurity. And the best way to strengthen relationships is by putting God first. When you put Him first, everything else will fall into place.✞

Blessings,
Dalinda