Queenies Little Kingdom

On Christmas day after all the presents were opened and the delicious turkey & dressing was eaten…my family jumped in the car and headed to the movies.  Our excitement for Les Miserables opening day did not disappoint!  The movie is amazing!  Now, if you haven't heard — IT IS A MUSICAL!  Just about every word, is sung…sang err sungded!  Whatever…

AND I LOVED IT!!!

What did I love about it?  Hmm, everything!

The Story

Written by Victor Hugo and published in 1862, the story revolves around doing the right thing even if it costs you.  Jean Valjean is a prisoner.  His crime?  Stealing a loaf of bread for his sister's starving child.  He spends 19 years serving a sentence of punishment & pain for his crime.  Upon his release, he runs into rejection after rejection (further punishment for ever being arrested in the first place) until he runs into Bishop Myriel.  The Bishop offers Valjean a place to sleep and a hot meal to eat in the "house of Jesus Christ".  An offer that closely resembles the night of our Lord's birth.

Valjean ultimately steals the silverware from the church and is brought back to the Bishop for shame & prosecution.  The Bishop hands him the silver candlesticks and says, "You forgot these".  This act of grace forever touches and changes the heart of Jean Valjean.  From here on the story takes an adventurous journey through Valjean helping others and finding deep love in raising an orphaned girl, Cosette.  His battle between who he was and who is now continue as the law (Javert- the prison guard) chases him all over Paris.

The Message

While Valjean has served his sentence, his sins continue to haunt him.  As it does for many of us, everyday.  The mistakes we make along life's journey threaten to invade our peace and rob us of our joy (satan at work).  Each of us face dilemma's that if not given to God and thrown as far as the east is to the west, cripple us and keep us locked in a prison of our own demise.  The ever popular judging on outward appearances or past sins remind us that only God can see our hearts and that it is HE who provides true redemption.

I can't tell you everything (no spoilers, right) because you really need to see it for yourself.  The theological parallels will surprise you and the story will touch your heart.  Run, don't walk to see Les Miserables now!  It is the best movie I've watched this year!

Here is another interesting post about Les Miserables.

I guess we do a lot of this —>

This is my mom's little punk.  She's so tiny but big on kissin'!

It's just who we are….dog lovers!

Ok, so maybe they're a little spoiled.  They're just so danged lovable!

With Christmas break ending, both of these girlies are in for a big slap of reality.  Back to long days home alone with no laps to sit in or people to follow room-to-room.

I wonder if they'll miss me as much as I'll miss them.

Goodbye Christmas break, you were awesome!!  Hello to routine, wearing make-up & real clothes and DOWNTON ABBEY Season 3!!  My heart is full up, y'all.

I'm up early while the rest of my family sleep soundly in their beds.  I wanted to get busy praying for a friend.  Stephanie was the first person I can remember loving as my best friend.  God sent her to me when we were in Middle School.  I didn't even know a friend could be so special until I met her.  She was so much fun and she inspired me to be just like her.  I used to imitate her every move because she was so pretty and together, we were a pair!

It was with Stephanie that I first put on make-up.  She had tons of it and the attraction to the shimmery white eye-shadow felt like a magnet for me.  Why?  Why didn't anyone tell me how ridiculous I looked?  No matter, I felt beautiful….like somehow, God was making me look like my pretty friend.  Stephanie and I used to ride bikes back and forth to one another's house.  She lived with her grandparents and in my eyes, she was royalty!  Everybody knows if you're special enough to live with grandparents then you are a queen!  Grandparents spoil you and I thought Stephanie was spoiled!  It was fun going places with her….grandparents just make you feel extra loved!

As we grew older and way more mature…we put away our shimmery eye-shadow and traded up to boyfriends & Jordache jeans.  We'd spend Sunday's after church skiing at the lake and eating at Pizza Hut.  The weekends became pretty busy for us all when we marched in the high school band.  Stephanie was a majorette and I was in Flags.  We giggled on the bus rides to competition and froze our buns off marching in the Edison Light Parade (who knew it could be that cold in S. Florida?).  Life was easy…then.

Today, my precious friend is in a battle.  As I type, surgeons are working meticulously to remove tumors that have found home inside her beautiful head.  I don't know many details and that's not important right now.  What matters is that we pray for Stephanie and that we remember her loving family…her hubby Chris and their two precious daughters Chelsea & Shelbie.  This family needs a miracle and I know just who to call on for that.  While my heart is heavy…I'm trusting my Sweet Savior to heal my friend and bring her back to newness!

I love you dear Stephanie!  May God blanket you with His healing hands right this moment and in the coming weeks ahead.

Gracious God

Your love knows no boundaries and Your power is endless. I praise you God for you are Holy & worthy!   Thank you for such a special friend like Stephanie.  I'm blessed because YOU shared her with me so many years ago.  I lift her up to you, trusting you with all that is threatening to steal her away.  She needs a miracle and I know you will be glorified in each detail of this situation.  Blanket the Lee family with your love & mercy, Lord.  Give them peace when fear tries to attack.  Bless them all and hold them tight.  Faithful One.

Amen

The One sitting on the throne said, "I am making everything new."  Revelation 21:5