It’s been such a long time I am not even sure I will remember how to blog, so please bear with me. Some may be asking why stopped, I will give you a few examples.

1. I was unsure whether to even continue with this blog as I regretted some things I had posted after being wounded by many Christians here, some that may still be following this. If you are one, I would ask that you be kind enough to unfollow please. If not, I will research and see if there is a way I can drop you. Not because I don’t love you, but because I don’t want to open past wounds that are now scars. Have I forgiven, yes, have I forgotten, no.

2. I have prayed and am still praying about beginning a whole new blog with a new name. But I decided to trust and ask God to give me the courage to refresh myself with a blog here. Later I will make the decision whether to begin anew or simply move forward here.

3. I was not even sure I could remember how to blog, why? Because many of you know due to clinical depression and a horrid reaction to anesthesia that sometimes my memory is challenged, yet I will never ever give up.

4. I am not a writer, so maybe sometimes felt a bit intimidated by blogging, yet I know without a doubt I am being led to start again. Later I will share more about why I am.

Now let me ask you this question, is there anything that you haven’t done for a long time. Is it something you would like to start doing again. If so, let me know and I will pray for you and cheer you on too!

Letting Him Lead,
Anita

I know I am not a regular blogger, at least for now. But I also know I feel led to share a new phase in my life, one of creating from the depths of my heart.

Why this phase you ask, or maybe it is not just a phase, but rather a life long dream that just might last the rest of my lifetime. Only God knows. But what I know is this, to be honest it’s a lot of work, but at the same time truly helps me in so many ways.

1. To keep on keeping on and never give up, this has always been a dream of mine.

2. To pray and seek God with all my heart, as I create each and every item.

3. To make each item to the best of my ability, the God given kind.

Are you in a phase, or do you have a life long dream, if so, never ever give up. Dreams do come true you know!

If you are led too, I would love to have you check out my Facebook page, the link is right here.

https://www.facebook.com/anitamontgomeryheartfeltcreations

Til’ next time …
Anita

Yes, it’s been a very long time since I have blogged here. But today I feel a God nudge to do so, so here I am.

I think my last blog may have been titled “Change”. Since then many changes have taken place in my life, most of them in a very personal way.

I will simply touch on a few, doing so may encourage someone reading this. I am not even going to read my last blog, as I don’t want it to affect my thoughts I am ready to share here. I am clueless what I even said. So here goes …

Change can look different to each of us, to me most of my changes have been emotional ones involving the way I look at life and choose to do it too. Let me just list a few, less friends, only close trusted ones, other than for social, fun reasons. Less time spent with social media. I am still in the process of the way I am doing this. Enjoying my new life style of my essential oil journey, making new friends along the way as I do and doing some outreach there too. Reviewing my Heartfelt Creations Made With Love and Prayers journey, trusting God and giving thanks as I do. Asking God to show me just how and when to blog here, sharing my Heartfelt Thoughts As He Leads. Allowing God to heal some deep wounds of my past, the key for me has been forgiveness and total release. Seeking a new church home, which God graciously connected us too. Keeping my priorities in order, God, Family, Friends and all the rest follows.

Now testify a bit how this has worked for me, to encourage anyone reading this. God has ever so graciously put a dear friend in my life from when we lived here years ago. He has put friends in my life for fun girl times too. I have stepped back from Facebook, by forming a group of close friends I check on as led and sometimes scroll through the rest. I rarely do Twitter anymore. I do need to share I have a Pinterest Addiction as a crafter, lol! I am working on this too. I love reaching out to my essential oil friends and let them speak into my life. God’s creation of plants where oils can be extracted and used in other ways, has truly helped me with my anxiety, depression and in other areas too. I have discovered my favorite thing to do with creating is taking custom orders. I am blessed to pray as I create them and let God direct my hands as I do. The more I have put my wounds on his altar, the more healing that has taken place. Are there scars, yes, but those scars are my reminder of how I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength and how all things have worked together for good. Phil. 4:13 and Roman 8:28, his word never returns void. Our new church home is past perfect for my husband and I. The servant’s hearts there are so precious. The 80 nations that make up the church are too. Yes, God has been faithful in these past months, his grace is amazing.

A few last thoughts, I want to thank my sister – in- love Jean for sharing she missed reading my blogs. She was a nudge to get me going again. Also it was 2 years ago, last Sunday, that my dear precious dad made his journey to heaven to join my dear precious mom, that was a difficult time for me. Being able to blog helped me a lot. Thanks to each of you for understanding as I share many thoughts. Some which I probably should not have, but I was wounded and did so. God has forgiven me for that too.

As I close this blog today, it is with a heart full of joy, as we soon will be spending 3 awesome weeks in WI with our family. As God would have it, our son from Bali just happened to have a business trip there, our granddaughter accompanied him. They arrived yesterday and in a few days we will be with them all. Family, time with adult kids and 4 precious treasures we call grandchildren. God always knows just what we need and when we need it. So I close with a very happy heart. I pray for each of you and whatever it takes for you to have a happy heart too.

May God richly bless anyone reading this and encourage you to always do what works for you. I did, still am and have a great husband and trusted friends keeping me accountable along the way.

Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust! Maybe that will be my next blog, one that will give you even more insight into me! 😉

Til’ Next Time …
~Anita

Little did I know I would blog today as it’s a full one. But sometimes that’s exactly when I feel a blog spilling out of my heart. Today I sensed this word popping out at me over and over again, so here I go!

CHANGE … then I began getting a word for each letter, I will share each one.

C … Change.
H … Halt.
A … Anonymous.
N … Never go back.
G … Go for it.
E … Exit.

Wow, that’s all I can say. I believe this is totally for me. However, I felt I would share this as a blog. Thus, I can come back to it. Also only those that choose to follow my blog, read it. That’s makes it a bit more personal for me too. It’s kind of like my diary of years ago, when I was a young child, and journals since that time.

Blogging helps me keep myself accountable too, as I go back and read them here.

God has me right in the midst of huge “Changes”.  And that’s a good thing for me, as it is helping me keep my priorities right where they need to be.

So with that said, I am following exactly what each letter of the word CHANGE represents here. I have come to a HALT with many things in my life, probably the best example of all, one most of us can relate too is FACEBOOK. I have totally chosen to use this technology tool in a whole new way. ANONYMOUS, many of my changes no one will ever know about, as some are very private, yet things God is so convicting me to do, for that I am so grateful. NEVER go back, that’s a biggie for me, as so much has happened in the past in my life. I am talking about years. I am doing my best to never go back and revisit them, although this is often very hard for me. Just being real here. GO for it, yes, that’s just what I am doing, really going for it by following through! EXIT, this a huge for me, God is having me exit from many things in my life. Why you might ask, because with some of my past health conditions, depression, anxiety etc., HE has made it clear as I keep my priorities right and exit from other things, even more healing will come. I am so excited about this. I have waited a very long time. My doctor and I just had this conversation days ago. Between the Great Physician and my Medical One, I am blessed!

If you need a CHANGE in your life, maybe my word analogies will encourage you. I plan to write this on a note card, put it near me and carry it in my heart too. I am a visual learner, God and I will be on this, here I go!

Until next time …
~Anita~

Just moments ago, I had a friend ask me if I was still going to blog. My reply was that is something I am praying about and usually do so if I feel that Holy Spirit nudge. Just moments later I saw this. Now to see if I can add it here. Hmmm … most of you know I am not very techie. In fact, when I just opened this to blog, to write, Word Press has changed. One more new learning curve for me. But that’s a good thing as I continue to pursue my dreams.

 

Interestingly little does the friend know, not only do I love to create, but write too. Although I am not a gifted writer, but rather one that speaks truly from the depth of my heart. So here goes!

My dreams line up with my priorities, actually I just posted this on Facebook the other day. Again, you all know, those that follow me here, that I am very transparent, honest too.  I share that most humbly, I truly do. God first, family, friends, then the rest follows and not necessarily in this order, as it changes daily. Prayer, creating, encouraging others, and today I believe I am to add writing to my list.

Here is why, years ago my husband encouraged me to write a book. I have journal after journal I could draw from. I also have always had the desire to write books with my granddaughters, letting them illustrate with me too. While in Wisconsin with them recently, we actually wrote a funny book about Three Adventures! What fun we had!

As I am off to pursue my dreams, how about you!?! What are your dreams? Feel free to comment here if you would like. I would love to encourage you, and pray for you and your dream(s) too.

Have a “Dreaming Kind of Day”!  I am!

Til’ next time …
Anita Montgomery

P.S. Most of you know I am a Tinkerbell fan too, yes, I have my own personal container of “pixie dust”!

In my quiet time this morning, I found myself reflecting on the past, enjoying the present and looking forward to the future. As I did I felt the Lord showing me many new beginnings. Ones in which I am already working on and taking responsibility for.

This scripture came to my heart …”He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Rev. 21:5

“I sense a time of “newness” coming, a time of change, a time of refreshing, a time of enjoying more of our family. This brings much joy and excitement to me.

With that said, I am in process of trusting God in a whole new way, as I am still, listen and know that HE is God and that all things truly do work together for my good.

I love God’s goodness, often I think we take it for granted. I am learning to not do this, but rather reflect daily and see those sweet moments HE puts in my day, moments I used to let slip by, but now am learning to treasure more and more.

I just felt led to blog this today, if not for anyone else, as a reminder to me.
For that I am grateful!

May today be a day you, too, can sit back, reflect, pray and ponder all the “goodness” in your life. I’d love for you to join me!

Til’ Next Time …
~Anita Montgomery~

Today’s blog is helping me focus on an area of my life, I am presently working on. In the past not being able to do so, resulted in me over giving and consequently, I ended up in clinical depression. This is a word many don’t like to hear about, but it is very real. In this particular blog I am not here to focus on depression, but rather on one of the areas I am working on, in helping me move forward.

I felt I was to google the definition of boundaries, that’s simple enough, right. Well, not only did the word boundaries pop up, but personal boundaries. Wow, that has really gotten my attention.

Personal boundaries are guidelines, rules or limits that a person creates to identify for themselves what are reasonable, safe and permissible ways for other people to behave around him or her and how they will respond when someone steps outside those limits.[1] They are built out of a mix of beliefs, opinions, attitudes, past experiences and social learning.[2][3][unreliable source?]

According to some in the counseling profession, personal boundaries help to define an individual by outlining likes and dislikes, and setting the distances one allows others to approach.[4] They include physical, mental, psychological and spiritual boundaries, involving beliefs, emotions, intuitions and self-esteem.[5] Jacques Lacan considered them to be layered in a hierarchy, reflecting “all the successive envelopes of the biological and social status of the person”[6] from the most primitive to the most advanced.

Personal boundaries operate in two directions, affecting both the incoming and outgoing interactions between people.[7] These are sometimes referred to as the ‘protection’ and ‘containment’ functions.[8]

This describes exactly where I am in my life at the present. I will share why, as it might help someone else. That’s also a goal as I blog, plus my blog is a reminder to me personally of what God is asking me to do.

Some don’t understand, others do, but to be honest I have no choice at this time in my life. You may ask why, I am transparent and being honest here. I am an encourager, I over give and often that has been and still is to my disadvantage. It led me to 3 -4 long years of depression, that’s a whole other blog. I am fine to share I am still on meds today, as that’s what works for me. Each person must do what works for them along with their doctor’s advice, and a counselor if you are using one. I am past the counseling, but still trust my doctor to help me in this journey, along with my Great Physician God.

Finding I once again have become drained from over giving, I am working on setting boundaries, even as I write this blog. For me, my boundaries are built around my priorities. God, my husband and trusted friends have clearly directed me in this area, as I have sought wisdom and counsel. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Prov. 15:22

I have also asked those close to me to keep me accountable, I so appreciate that they do.

The past few years in my life have been most difficult ones, as I recover from a variety of experiences, yet I know each of us go through trials. I’d like to close with God’s word from James 1: 2-16, this always speak to my heart in times like these.

Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

I pray this has spoken to someone’s heart this very day, I know it has to mine, my own personal reminder.

Til’ next time …
~Anita Montgomery

 

Today is a day I am to blog.

I just felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit in my heart … “Anita, today is a day to close a chapter in your life.” I am praying for God to direct my steps as I do this. It will be a hard chapter to close, almost 30 years worth, yet it is something that needs done.

I am posting this, so maybe it will encourage someone else.

As I continue to heal from past hurts, seeing things on Facebook, opens old wounds. Wounds that do not need opened. I am a “forgiver” one that does so, sometimes right on the spot. But “forgetting” is a whole other thing. Thus, I need to close this chapter. It will mean I need to make some changes on Facebook. I cannot let my mercy gift overcome my need to do what is best for my heart and my soul.

We are away right now as I write this. I am asking God to help me take this step, before our arrival home. I know he will, as I stand on his word in Proverbs 3:5-6.

As I make this change, is there anything any of you reading this need to make too? If so, God will help you. I know often this is a hard thing to do, but for me it is the right thing.

Bless you!

Til’ Next Time,
~Anita Montgomery

Hmmmm … some of you may not know about what God has led me to do, so today I am sharing with each of you, that follow me.

Some months back I created a Facebook Page called “Heartfelt Creations Made With Love and Prayer”, if you are ever interested, you can check it out.

But that’s not the message I want to put forth in the blog, but rather this one, by asking a simple question. What talent do you have and are you using it for HIM?

My mini testimony … for over 30 years I collected “little goodies” here and there to create some day, that day never came. Some goodies I gave away, some I kept. I began using those goodies to make little gifts of love to send to our grandchildren. That journey began my desire to create for others too.

So back to my question, are you using your talent for HIM? This little page has opened the door, to ask God to show me what to custom create when asked too, or just create from my heart and share what I have made. Either way, I am super excited as I ask God to use my hands and pray as I do, for the creation and the person receiving it.

I was asked to make “flip flops” for a retreat coming up this weekend and to share at this retreat too, I am past honored and blessed to have this privilege.

Recently, I was also asked to teach a little craft class at Mary’s Pregnancy Resource Center here in our area. I will be doing this once a month. I am excited about how God will use what he has put in my heart and hands to do this.

I get the blessing as I create, it is heartfelt therapy for me.

So now you know, not only do I have a blog called “Heartfelt Thoughts” but also a Facebook page, called “Heartfelt Creations”. I had to add the love and prayers, as the shorter version was already being used. I love that I was led to add the rest, as that’s exactly what God has me doing!

What talent has God given you, are you using it for HIM and HIS kingdom here on earth!?!

I am past blessed to use mine and God gets the glory each time!

Til’ next time …
Anita Montgomery

As I sit here early this morning and listen to what God has to say to me, I believe he wants me to share it with you, so here I am.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10

In my quiet time today, I believe God is calling me to a time of “stillness”. I am not totally sure why, but I do have some thoughts I will share.

1. To have more time to listen to him.

2. To be more sensitive to all around me.

3. To let him take me to new places in my life, as I create.

For me to be still will require a lot, as I am very social, most of you reading this know that. But for a season, I believe he has a lot to say to me, a lot of things to show me visually and then take what I hear and see to help me create in yet new ways. I am very excited about this.

Often we take the sensory part of what God created in us for granted. For me personally, right now this is being taken to a new level, one in which I will use my ears, my eyes and my sense of touch. I truly believe this will take my Heartfelt Creations Made With Love and Prayer business/ministry to a whole new place too. I have no idea what God is doing, but what I do know is I trust him, as he allows me to create for his purposes.

If you have not yet checked out my Facebook page with items I have begun to create, feel free to do so, if you are led too. You can like it and receive notifications and encourage others too also. I am not a techie, so don’t expect it to look like this amazing business, but rather a small humble beginning, just where God has called me to be.

As I began this blog, I had no idea I would even bring up what I am doing in this season of my life, but this where God has led me this morning.

As you read this today, let me ask you this question, where does God have you right now in your life, does he want to take you to a new place? Hmmm…maybe a thought for you to ponder.

Back to the scripture I started with, I chose that translation as indeed, he is honored by every nation and throughout the world. And me, I am just a small speck on his globe, one desiring to be used in whatever way he chooses. That is my life long goal, one that won’t end until he calls me to eternity.

Dear Father … my desire is to honor you this very day as I am still and listen to what you have to say. Teach me to listen, to see and create in ways that I can’t even imagine, I am placing myself in your hands. Amen.

Til’ next time,
Anita Montgomery