• Priscilla Nason Shartle

hearthealthyboomer

~ Living healthy after age seventy.

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Tag Archives: God

My Secret Place of the Most High

06 Monday Aug 2018

Posted by prisnasonshartle in Uncategorized

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God, God in me, Psalm 91, stress-free

“He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (KJV).

My father grew up a faithful Episcopalian saying his prayers on his knees every night even as a grown man.  His mother took credit for instilling such faith in her youngest son.  He passed that faith on to me.

It began when he invited me as a young girl to join him at the early church service at our home church, Trinity Episcopal in Baton Rouge.  It began at 7:30 a.m. and was over in 30 or 40 minutes. We entered in silence, me wearing my lace head cover and he a coat and tie.  He always held the doors for me and walked down the aisle with me. He bowed his head and I curtsied toward the brass cross sitting on the alter in the chancel. He entered the pew pulling down the kneeler, the wooden padded bench for our knees to rest on in prayer.  We silently prayed and sat down on the pew.

There was no music, no singing, and no sermon.  But there was a beautiful magical service of hearing God’s Word from both the Old Testament and then from the Gospels of the New Testament. The best part of the service was celebrating the Lord’s Supper. I never left one of those Sunday morning worship services without feeling closer to God than I was the day before.

Sometime during that time of my life, I forgot to look for God and began to realized God was already with me inside my heart. I would seek out quiet places to talk to God such as a fig tree in a garden on my way home from school, or swinging on the front porch of my house, standing by my open bedroom window listening to the rain fall between the branches of the cedar tree just outside.

As I grew older, I took my relationship with God another step by asking advice when I needed help.  That may sound childish or silly, but it always worked. At first appearance one might say I had a lot of coincidences in my life, but were they? The word coincidence is related mathematically to the idea of angles that coincide.  When two angles meet this way, they do so perfectly. When I got my answers was it a coincidence or God working through me perfectly?

For example, I might have a problem with a simple decision to go out with boy or not (when and if he asked). Turning it over to God did two things.  First it freed me up from stressing over whether to say yes or no and second when I woke up the next day and had my answer, I was thrilled. Today, they call this letting go and letting God.

The secret place of the most high is not a place but a state of mind.  For we can talk to God anywhere whether it’s in church, on the side of the road, on a noisy playground at school, or closed off in your room listening to the rain filled with the sweet scent of cedar.

As an adult this line in Psalm 91 came to mean something else to me. My future husband was being shipped off to who knew where during the Viet Nam era and I was beside myself with concern for his safety.  Then one day, his dear sweet grandmother, we called MyMy, Rachel Richardson Metcalf, wrote me a beautiful letter.  She told me that I was not alone in my love for her grandson that I should read Psalm 91 every night before going to bed and my fears would be eased.  It did not take me long to memorize the sixteen verses.

To live eternally in the household of God, I am living out my calling to be like God – with power, wisdom, love, and intelligence. I give thanks to my Father for giving me the opportunity to dwell in the household of the God with him, to respect me enough teach me early on that God and I are one.

And to this day, I live in faith that I, “Abide under the shadow of the Almighty” who also lives in me, as me, for all eternity.

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Clean Eating

15 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by prisnasonshartle in Clean Eating

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calories, God, healthy eating, my garden, organic foods, vegetables, weight loss

My Garden Bounty

My son is 42 years old and recently was given a clean bill of health from his family doctor. His once high blood pressure has returned to normal and his life-long history of allergies have disappeared and he has the body of a 20 year old man. Two years ago he started a regime of eating clean. According to Fox News Health, “The primary principle of eating clean is to replace processed foods with fresh and natural foods. This means foods that haven’t had anything added to them, and haven’t had anything valuable taken away. “

“In addition to reading ingredient lists, so you can ditch products made with artificial additives, including flavors, sweeteners, colors, and preservatives, clean eating is about steering clear of foods made from genetically modified organisms, and those treated with hormones and antibiotics, and going organic when possible, to reduce foods grown with man-made pesticides and fertilizers,” writes Cynthia Sass, a registered dietitian with master’s degrees in both nutrition science and public health.

She goes on to explain that clean eating is not a trend but a movement focusing on how food we eat affects our body as well as our planet. My son says he doesn’t “live to eat.” Instead he “eats to live.” He doesn’t eat clean to change or influence others but he is an inspiration. At the same time he began this way of life, he gave up alcohol and meat. He eats fish and sea food and eggs, but no dairy.

I do not eat clean totally, however I do read labels and try as much as possible to eat fresh organic foods especially ones I’ve grown myself. I do eat meat and drink a glass of red wine every day and I understand that high fiber foods that are good for me are also high in calorie. Combine that with the wine, odds are losing weight might not be in the picture.

However, like my son, I have the power to choose how I want to look, feel and weigh. When I turn to the Spiritual connection I have within I realize what a young girl suffering an eating disorder realized, “A turning point for me, I can remember,”  says Emily, “it was as if God was speaking to me directly, saying, ‘It’s not how you see yourself but how I see you that will heal you.’ And I started seeing more of what God sees. God doesn’t see imperfection, God sees good and only good.” And like my son, she went on to not only heal her eating disorder but also the need to wear glasses.

It occurred to me that if I combine my healthy eating habits with my connection to God and begin as Emily suggests: to see me as God sees me, I can then truly become the person I want to be.

Just Stand

26 Friday Jun 2015

Posted by prisnasonshartle in Standing in Faith

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abdominal adhesions, blessed, divine energy, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, God, good health, hysterectomy, joy, life, lower abdomen, pain, robotic surgery, scar tissue, sixty-three years old

When he was asked what was the secret of an energized life Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said, “Christ is the answer.” Reminding us that in John, we read, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” When I focus on Christ as the divinity in humankind and God as divine energy expressing in each of us, I live and move and have my being. And the next time I feel sluggish or tired, I’ll pick myself up remembering what it means to have a life filled with energy, exuberance, and joy.

Two years ago I had a hysterectomy. I was 63 years old. It was elective surgery due to a fibroid tumor on my uterus. My doctor said my life would be improved “100%,” her words. It was not. In fact the past two years have not been nearly as good as I expected for it took me months to get over the anesthesia; I gained more weight than expected; and I developed pain in my lower abdomen. Because I had a colonoscopy a few weeks before and because my doctor did extensive tests before the surgery, I was assured that I was in good health before going under. So when the pain started a few days after the surgery and continued, I called the doctor and made an appointment. After a sonogram and physical exam I was told it was phantom pain. But I never had pain before the surgery. So I was perplexed. Now two years later the pain is still present and intensified at times.

I am not one to let pain interfere with my life as those that know me can attest. I spent the last few days meditating and visualizing the pain, thanking it for being present so that I could come to resolution for its presence. I knew that it was a direct result of the surgery and never considered other reasons, but felt I needed an answer to what it was. Because I do a lot of research online, I was not afraid to look up my symptoms (although doctors tell us not to make diagnosis online). I went to WebMed and the Mayo Clinic, both reputable online medical sites. I finally narrowed it down and discovered one side effect of both robotic and cut/stitch types of hysterectomies are scar tissue or abdominal adhesions which cause pain in the lower abdomen. And now I have my answer.

In the end, all I need to do is just “stand,” as I am called to do in Ephesians. “Stand fast, I say.” I have done everything possible and am content leaving the results to God. I can now focus on the divine energy of the Christ expressing in me. I have life and I am blessed.

Good for the Soul

22 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by prisnasonshartle in Good for the Soul

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God, Joni Bishop, joy, resonator guitar, Spirituals

Singer/Songwriter Joni Bishop sings, “I want to live so God can use me anytime, anywhere….”  This song as Joni said is hard to forget.  For me it reminds me to be accountable for my actions.  She uses a resonator guitar which reverberJoni Bishop CDates out into the world with such joy. Invented in the 1900’s, this guitar could be heard over the sounds of the outdoor spirituals.  Today, Joni’s sings her song with the same joy as only Spirituals can sound. When we talked, she told me this is one of her favorite CD’s that she published.  I can see why. Originally spirituals were sung in the call and response style.  And like her song, God calls me and I respond with the same joy; this is hard to forget. ~ Pris

Saying Good-bye

07 Tuesday Aug 2012

Posted by prisnasonshartle in Saying Good-bye

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cloud of witnesses, cousins, dying, family, God, loving for family, matriarch of family

You know that it is every person’s dream to be liked and appreciated for who she is and not necessarily for what she is or for how she makes her living.  On August 6th a great lady passed away, my great-aunt.  For some, she is in heaven with God and all the family and friends that died before her.  For others she is still with us in spirit, along with a cloud of witnesses that make us who we are.  It doesn’t matter what your particular religion teaches you to believe about death, what does matter is that we celebrate her life each day.

What does it mean to be the oldest in a family; what responsibilities does that mean for a person?  For this woman it did not mean that she knew she would out-live her husband and sister-in-law, the last two children of her father-in-law, the patriarch of our family.  But she did and it was a good long life, ninety-two years.

On her ninetieth birthday, the family gathered at her new home, an assisted living.  It was the last time I saw her, but not the last time we talked, I’m glad to say.  She was most proud of her great-grandbabies and loved to ask me how my life as a grandmother was going.  She always remembered their names and parents and loved hearing about what they were doing.  She had this gift of being present in the life of the people that surrounded her.

Although her husband was my grandfather’s little brother, they were closer in age to my parents.  When they would visit my grandparents, my mother made everything stop and we joined in the family fun with our cousins.  It occurred to me that families can’t (or won’t) do that anymore.  We can’t take off work, get our children out of school, or change plans already set in place just because someone comes to town to visit much less when a relative dies.  I’ve been in that position, I know, and there is nothing we can do.  Times are different.

But isn’t that sad?  In her life all of us left in the family were born and how many birthdays, weddings, and yes, funerals did she attend?  How many baby gifts did she send our children and grandchildren? How many phone calls did she make; and letters did she write?  Countless.  But we hold no grudge for that is what families are about.  And she certainly would not be unhappy with anyone who could not attend her funeral.  She would be the first to understand.

It is with much pride that she mentioned to her daughter the day before she died that my mother who passed away twenty-two years ago was standing in her room.  What a gift to see someone who she loved and who loved her just as much.  Hearing that my mother was with her in the room prompted me to leave a day early so I too could see my Aunt.  I was awakened very early in the morning.  At first I thought it was my daughter calling me from her bedroom, but immediately I recognized my mother’s voice saying, “Pris” waking me to get up and get on the road.  It was a few hours later that I got the call from my cousin saying her mother had died peacefully.

I will forever be grateful for the life of my Great-Aunt Frances McCrary.  I will make the trip to her home town to celebrate her life along with many in the McCrary family.  I thank God for her and the love she gave us all.  She will be truly missed, but she will live on in my heart for all time.  I hear her calling me now, “Prissy, …….”

Merry Christmas

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by prisnasonshartle in The Winter Solstice

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diets, faith, God, Merry Christmas, New Year's Resolutions, rebirth, rich foods, Winter Solstice

Resolutions…..good or bad?  Good because they keep us accountable.  Bad because we usually don’t follow through with them and then feel like we failed.  Most people wait until the New Year to start a new diet.  I like to start during the holidays and more specifically during the Winter Solstice.

You might think that an odd time of year but truly it is not.  What better time to rethink your life, especially the things you want to change? It is that time of year when darkness gives way to light.  It is a perfect time, for me, to turn away from old habits and pick up new ones.

Ancient cultures worshipped sun gods and the god of sowing the harvest, Saturn. The Winter Solstice marks a time of rebirth, a common thread in many customs this time of year including the celebration of the birth of the Christ child, a birth that ensures life will continue.  I am reminded that I have the power of the light of faith to guide my way; to be present in my life.

With this power I can do all things.  I can avoid serving myself a huge portion of food at every meal; taking a second helping when offered; and passing up on the delicious desserts spread before my eyes.  How do I do this?  One day at a time; one meal at at time.  I also make a lot of cookies, cakes, sweets, and rich foods —- and then I give them away as gifts.  I don’t taste them when I’m cooking them, and I don’t eat any when they are finished baking.

This takes willpower and strength, but I rest in the light of God’s presence within me and respect my 61 year-old body with the love it deserves.  I don’t need all that holiday food to be uplifted.  All I need is to turn from the darkness and walk in the light of God’s love.

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