A clarification and an apology

Greetings,
A comment was made yesterday regarding two particular quotes from the message of the 17th to which I spent a good deal of time and energy last night through email, addressing the concerns, if you will, of the reader, for whom I have a great deal of respect.  At this time, I will focus on the quotes, rather than the specifics of the comment. 
The first quote in question refered to the inner spirit being always beautiful and lovable. I searched the entire chapter for more information so as to shed light on the subject in greater detail.  To my surprise I found no direct material to support the quote.
I can tell you what I believe and why I believe it....my own thoughts.... I believe God created our inner spirit (as well as everything else) and that he saw beauty in the spirit at the time of creation.  I believe he continues to see that same beauty in his creation.  At times, we may not see the true beauty of our inner spirit because of particular human thoughts obscuring the true beauty.  God sees all clearly all the time.  At times, we may not feel lovable.  Again, I believe this has to do with human thoughts.  Parents may not love something a child has done, but know the child is still lovable.  Just because the child acted in an unlovable way doesn't mean his or her inner spirit is not lovable.
Regarding the quote about "declaring something as if it were already true makes it so", again, I searched the entire chapter where the quote was written and found nothing to substantiate the quote.  Again, surprised at this and disappointed.  I had not read the book from cover to cover before sending yesterday's message.  To that end, I will not continue with more quotes from the book.
What I can say about the second quote in question comes from my Bible and is found in Matthew 11:22-26 and I'll quote from my NIV version, "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins."
The side notes printed in my Bible regarding this passage are as follows and entitled How much can faith do?and I quote, "Faith in God is all-powerful because God is omnipotent. The one who prays correctly will leave room for God's will to overrule any request (Matt. 6:10). In this case, Jesus may have had the Mount of Olives in mind. Christ's return will upset the mountain, splitting it in two when he descends from heaven. See Will the Mount of Olives be split literally in two? (Zech. 14:4).
For the sake of accuracy, I have printed in italics and bold print exactly how it is printed in my Bible. I hope and pray I haven't taken anything out of context.  I underlined the sentence I think is very important to remember which addresses our desire as compared to the will of God.

I take Nan's Calendar messages to heart and I want only to encourage others.  If I have offended anyone, please accept my sincere apology.  It is my deepest desire to lift others up and to glorify God.  If anyone should lose sight of who this is really about, that one being God, not myself, it will be the end of Nan's Calendar for that person, because in their eyes, I will have lost all credibility.  I don't hold a degree of any kind so it's easy to tell I'm not a Bible scholar or formally educated writer.  I am simply one who loves the Lord with all my heart and feel God called me to write Nan's Calendar three years ago to share his love, his mercy and grace with the world at large in the capacity I am able to do so.
Have a wonderful day.
Your sister in Christ,
Nan

What is going on

We want to know what is going on inside us, so we can know what to let go.  Instead of hiding our pain, we can release it totally.  Louise L. Hay from her book entitled The Power is Within You

I want to share with you some of the thoughts Louise points out in the book to which I refer today.  I think they are all very important and if you haven't read the book, this will give you a taste that may leave you wanting more.

BECOMING CONSCIOUS
When we expand our thinking and beliefs, our love flows freely.  When we contract, we shut ourselves off.

THE POWER WITHIN
The more you connect to the Power within you, the more you can be free in all areas of your life.

FOLLOWING MY INNER VOICE
The thoughts we choose to think are the tools we use to paint the canvas of our lives.

THE POWER OF YOUR SPOKEN WORD
Every day declare for yourself what you want in life.  Declare it as though you have it!

REPROGRAMMING OLD TAPES
Be willing to take the first step, no matter how small it is.  Concentrate on the fact that you are willing to learn.  Absolute miracles will happen.

UNDERSTANDING the BLOCKS THAT BIND YOU
Chronic patterns of self-hate, guilt, and self-criticism raise the body's stress levels and weaken the immune system.

LETTING YOUR FEELINGS OUT
A tragedy can turn out to be our greatest good if we approach it in ways from which we can grow.

MOVING BEYOND THE PAIN
We are far more than our bodies and personalities.  The inner spirit is always beautiful and lovable, no matter how our outer appearances may change.

I want to give you food for thought.  That is why I share these tidbits with you today.  Tomorrow I will bring more positive seeds to sow in your mind.  It is up to you to have the desire for them to germinate and grow into positive actions.  Take care and have a wonderful day and love your neighbor as yourself.  To do this, you must love yourself first.  Love, Nan

The order of the day

Lord, grant us wisdom and discernment to keep our lives in order according to your will. Amen

The dominant thought wins.  It is best to begin each day with quiet time of praise and worship.  How the early hours of our day are spent plays a major part on how the rest of the day unfolds.
We need to keep our thoughts in check and make sure to ask God to renew our hearts daily, to search our hearts and our thoughts to keep us from all impurity.  Sometimes, we fall short and when we realize our shortcomings, go before God and repent.  Then we are able to accept forgiveness and give thanks to God for not punishing us, for bestowing upon us his mercy and grace.
With each new day, we live more at peace when we recommit our lives to the Lord as we walk in God-confidence rather than self-confidence.
Confident trust in the Lord is vital regardless of the present trials that come our way.  Through our patient endurance we will receive all that God has promised us.
Remember, it's not about us.  It is about God and not simply about our own good.  As we daily lift up others in prayer, lifting them up spiritually, physically and emotionally, we are, in fact, praising God and trusting him with their lives.  As much as we love our immediate family members and extended family God loves them more.
Pray coninually and give thanks in all circumstances.
Enjoy this beautiful day God has given you and use it to honor and glorify his holy name.
Love, Nan

Soulful Retreat

A quote from Miriam Rockness (Keep These Things, Ponder Them in Your Heart) as printed in the book by Sheila Walsh entitled (Bring Back the Joy)
I am depleted.....The well has run dry!....
I know what has gone wrong.  I have continued to give out without renewing my inner resources.  Can one breathe out without breathing in?  I need to draw apart from everyone, everything, and nourish my soul.  I've told myself solitude is a luxury I can't afford.  But my poverty of spirit declares solitude as necessary for my soul as food is for the body.  Solitude.   A time to remove myself from distraction.  To order my day.  My week.  My life.  To get in touch with myself. With my Maker.

When I have been away from my computer of late, it has been for numerous reasons, of which I will spare you the details.  Suffice it to say, I live each day doing the best I can to obey God in my prayer I pray...."Lord, lead me, guide me, and direct me in all I say and do so that my words and my actions are pleasing unto you."  Sometimes, that means I am to say less when God directs me accordingly in order to hear more clearly.  Allen's grandfather used to say "if you keep your mouth shut and your ears open, you just might learn something."  I can relate his quote to my Nan's Calendar ministry.  Sometimes, I have to be still and quiet and that means being away from the computer, being away from distractions in order to draw closer to God.
God gives me strength, comfort, peace.  All of these are intangibles that are priceless.  Because I talk much of the day with patients on the phone and in the office, sometimes I am mentally drained by the time I get home in the evening.  I'm on the computer much of the day scheduling appointments and I appeciate being away from the computer in the evenings.  Sometimes I have to step away from the computer and draw inward to meet God on a deeper level. 
Have you had a soulful retreat lately to nourish your spirit?  I have.  I am refreshed and renewed.
Take care and whatever time of day or evening it is where you are now, have a good day; have a good evening; have strength, comfort and peace.
Love, Nan

Stir It Up

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice; let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them; let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.  For thou, Lord,wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
Psalm 5:11-12 King James Version

True joy comes from the Lord.  His joy is our strength.  It is very important to stir up the every day mix with plenty of peace and joy, goodness and kindness.  Through good times and bad, times of happiness and sorrow, plenty and want, as we remain faithful to God, He continually generates the desire within us to be refilled with His spirit.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Whether you go out into the world today or remain in your home, remember to stir it up!
Take care.  Merry Christmas!  Love, Nan

Great Discoveries

I discovered something truly great last night as I prepared to respond to an email I received from a dear friend yesterday.  The number of days between my message of Nov. 11th and the message I wrote yesterday was exactly 40 days!  That may not be a significant discovery to some.  There are those among you who do understand the significance of how God prepared people in biblical times, including Jesus, using this specific number of days.  I am amazed God has worked in my life in such a way as this.  I had no clue as I rose from my bed yesterday morning that my absence from you would come to an end.  Mind you, the total days between writings wasn't 35 days or 47 days.  It was 40 days exactly!  I have no doubt God led me to this room, knowing I would write to you after a 40 day absence from writing.  The hand of God is in every aspect of our lives.  Yes, absolutely, even when we aren't aware of it at the time.  I find great joy in this discovery and am thrilled to share it with you!

Mark Twain wrote "Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with."  I am honored to divide my joy with you.  As I divide my joy with you, it is multiplied many times over and I am able to continue being filled with joy.  It is only worthwhile when I share it with someone else.  What good is joy if I keep it to myself? 

If you can't put your hand on your joy right now, find it.  It's there.  Share it with someone today.  It returns to you greatly multiplied!  God is holding out to you in His hands the gift of joy.  Accept it.  Open it.  Share it. 

1 Thessalonians 3:9 How can we (I) thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we (I) have in the presence of our God because of you? (my friends)

Share the joy of this most special time of year, not only on Christmas Day, but each day of the year!   Keep the joy of Christmas in your heart all year long.
Merry Christmas! Love, Nan

In The Zone

As I read a Nan's Calendar message before posting it to the blog, it must be a reflection of the light of God within my heart.  When the message is lacking, the words are mine.  When the message glows with great beauty, warmth and encouragement for another, the words are from God.  It is then I know I am in the zone.
Nan Forehand

Dear friends, Since my last writing on November 11th, much has happened in my life.  I had not abandoned God, you or Nan's Calendar.  Rather, I found myself in an entirely different zone altogether, so much so that the words wouldn't come to compose a message for you.  I wondered at times if the end of Nan's Calendar had finally come after three years of writing.  The message of the 11th wasn't intended to become closure of this legacy of love, but at times as I came back to the blog and read "I Gave Something Back" again and again, there were moments I felt the impression of an ending I had not sensed at the time I wrote it.  I pondered this quite in depth.  Listening for God's direction and guidance brought me to a very quiet place in my own mind.  As I listened, it was necessary to quiet the keys on my keyboard.  There were days at a time I didn't even come to the computer and turn it on. Yes, in August of '07 when I began to write Nan's Calendar, there was a great need within to give something back.  As I gave, so also, I received.  More recently, there came times I wondered "how much more am I able to give?" Had the reservoir  run dry? 
Why am I writing today?  I am writing today, because God guided me here and He is directing my words to you.  This is God speaking to you through me.
There was no spiritual "writer's block" because I was still close to God.  As I reviewed my sitemeter on the blog, I realized someone in or near Palatine, Illinois and Mountain View, California have continued to visit the blog during the weeks of my absence.  I can't truly know how many people across the world read my messages of love, but I know these two people have kept coming back for some reason. Their faithfulness deeply touches my heart. These two people, when they didn't even realize it, even when words of encouragement weren't audible, have inspired me and encouraged me to come back.  Thank you.  You know who you are.  Perhaps, there were those who have been praying for me.  If so, thank you.  I, too, need to be lifted up by prayers and encouragement. 
I receive literally hundreds of emails from loving people whose intentions are good.  Many of these emails are in the form of "forwards".  I appreciate the thought and intention behind them.  These "forwards" are intended to bring smiles and encouragement, but the one thing that is lacking in this form of communication is the person's own words to me.  My inbox has become a place I am not excited about visiting.  I want to hear from you personally with even a brief note as to how you are.  I know you are alive because I received a "forward" from you, but I really want to hear from you, even if it's only a line or two.  I will do my very best to respond to your personal message as quickly as I am able.  Working full time in an outpatient psychiatric practice, limited availability on the computer at home (since I share it with my two guys), family and church activities, time alone with God, (not to mention keeping our home in order and the pantry stocked), not necessarily in that order, requires a lot of juggling to keep everything in balance.
I believe I understand how God feels sometimes.  We send Him messages others have created, but few of those from our own hearts.  There are very few emails I receive of late that are personal in nature and I cherish each one of those I receive and the ones who sent them.   It is a great challenge to balance everything and create the necessary time to be alone with God and to be in communion with Him.  But, we must take the time to nourish our own spirit and be still with God.
Know this is not intended as an admonishment of those who send me "forwards".  It is the truth spoken in love. I would rather you save this blog address  in your favorites and visit at your leisure than to receive it as a "forward" from someone else.  I want you to delight in reading what I have written rather than to breathe another "sigh" and say, "oh, there's another "forward" someone wants me to read." I take a great deal of time and effort to listen to the voice of God as I write these love notes and God deserves to have them received in the way He intends them, not merely deleted without being read, as another "forward among the many you don't have time to read."
I know there are those of you experiencing this Christmas without loved ones who have passed on. I understand.  Yes, I have Allen and our children with me, but I know the loss of a parent, sister, brother, grandparents, friends.  You won't always hurt as much as you do right now.  Trust me.  I want you to have the merriest Christmas you are able to have.  You are making memories with loved ones who are still here.  Make them good, happy memories for them to cherish later in life when you are the one missing from the Christmas celebrations.  You are all in my thoughts and prayers this Christmas season.  May the love and comfort of Jesus be with you. I love you.  Nan
Merry Christmas
my email address is nan0599@yahoo.com