Happy New Year

My New Year's quote for the past few years, has been 
"We will open the book. It's pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. 
The book is called Opportunity and it's first chapter is New Year's Day."


This year I think it will be a little different. Each morning, as I look upon the blank page I 
think I will wait and see what God writes on the page first, what He lays before me each day, 
what He presents to me as "Opportunity". 


This year has been one of trusting. Learning to trust and then being given opportunities to rely on that trust. 


Proverbs 3:5~6 have become so ingrained in my spirit, thoughts and heart that the words will forever be a part of me! 


Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Do not rely on your own insight
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He will make your paths straight.


Some days, just by thinking on the words, saying them over and over, brought the trust I needed for the moment, for the day. 


I love this time of year. After the emotions that Christmas brings about, I savor  the quietness of the days that follow. And then we see the end drawing near. We can close out the old year, and wake up to a new year. Our God is faithful and is beside us regardless of the time of day, or the day or year, but for us, it's helpful to think of new beginnings. 


My new devotional book, "Jesus Calling", says,


"As this year draws to a close, receive My Peace. This is still your deepest need, and I, your Prince of Peace, long to pour Myself into your neediness. My abundance and your emptiness are a perfect match." 


December 31


Now, I can't wait to read what  it says in the morning~


The first day of our new year~




 I love new beginnings.


 I love that our God is a God of . . .


 forgiveness


 new beginnings


 grace


 and second chances. 






HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Thanksgiving Wishes

This was our Thanksgiving week project. We worked it twice actually so most of us could have a chance to work on it. It's still sitting on my coffee table. I had forgotten how much fun puzzles could be!

I Will Be Here For You

Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Isaiah 43:1-3

Single Mom Devotional

Here we go again! (I like to repost this from time to time as a reminder of where I've been and where I am going).

If you are a single mom, regardless of the path that brought you here, this is for you..so you can know that you do not have to walk alone.

For all of the women who share the role of single mom, including me, we belong to a very large group of women who share the same heart, the same struggles and the same needs.

In learning how to be single, sometimes we attempt to attach ourselves to another human being, hoping they will be able to meet our deepest needs and heal our hurts. We miss the feeling that we are part of a whole. In our “neediness” we think another human being might hold the answer. So we reach out to relationships that only pull us farther away from where we need to be and bring more hurt into our lives.

The most important truth I can share with you is this. . .

There is someone who I have fallen in love with. I am committed to Him and love Him with all my heart. I am not alone anymore. He meets every need I could ever have. He never leaves my side. He is faithful. He is strong enough to protect and provide for my children and myself. Spending time with Him every day has become my greatest joy. I have learned that I can trust Him in any situation. Regardless of how impossible the world may see my plight, He can bring blessing from it. He has shown me that the greatest blessings in my life have come from my greatest difficulties. 

He is my God and my Savior Jesus Christ. He loves me. He loves you. There is nothing we have done or will do that can change that love. We have made mistakes, we have made wrong choices. Those we loved have made mistakes and wrong choices. These do not limit God and His power to restore. His grace and mercy are greater than our weakness. For it is in our greatest struggles that we see Christ. Only His pain on the cross is enough to save us from our greatest pain.

When we get to the place in our lives when there is no one else, no place else to go, nothing left to believe, Jesus is there waiting. His arms are stretched out to us in love and forgiveness. We can find Jesus in His Word, in the books we read, in the music we listen to, and always in our heart. I found that after years of wondering if I could ever be welcomed back into God's arms, I was the one who had looked away. All I had to do was look to Him. My eyes met His and He was right there with me. No human being could ever be as close. 

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Romans 8:1 

Life is an Adventure!!

This morning I have but a few moments to write my thoughts. Listening to God's whispers, remembering fading dreams, thankful for life's second chances, listening, listening, inspiration from all directions~

Listen. . . . . . . . . . .  Can you hear it?

Stepping out on faith. . . . hope. . . .

         With the kind You show Yourself kind,

         With the blameless You show Yourself blameless; 

         With the pure You show Yourself pure,

         And with the perverted You show Yourself astute. 

              And You save an afflicted people;

         But Your eyes are on the haughty whom You abase. 

    For You are my lamp, O LORD;

         And the LORD illumines my darkness. 

    For by You I can run upon a troop;

         By my God I can leap over a wall. 

   As for God, His way is blameless;

         The word of the LORD is tested;

         He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. 

    For who is God, besides the LORD?

         And who is a rock, besides our God? 

    God is my strong fortress;

         And He sets the blameless in His way. 

    He makes my feet like hinds' feet,

         And sets me on my high places. 

    He trains my hands for battle,

         So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 

    You have also given me the shield of Your salvation,

         And Your help makes me great. 

    You enlarge my steps under me,

         And my feet have not slipped.

2 Samuel 22:26-37

You Are My Hiding Place

Last night, while reading in Psalm 91, this song kept playing in my mind. So this morning I had to find it to listen to.  


I love God's second chances. We have another snow day today~ my second chance to actually get something done around my house while watching the snow outside! I have a house full of boxes in need of being put away, sorted through, or thrown away. So, this is my day. 


I pray that this song fills your heart with peace, and blesses you, regardless of what your day holds, or the things you may be afraid of. 


Blessings

Prayer for Today

My prayer for today ~


 Dear Lord,


 Give me the eyes to see your purposes all around me.


 Help me to see in the simplest of things, the blessings that I can be to others and the blessings they are to me.


 Let me be faithful in my heart's attitude and my mind's thoughts, in the words I say and the things I do.


 Guide me on my life's path and give me eyes to see your path before me. 


Let me be a faithful guide to others on their life's path.


 Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart


Psalm 37:4

Happy New Year to Everyone!

‎"We will open the book. It's pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and it's first chapter is New Year's Day."


Edith Lovejoy Pierce


I think I've begun a "new" New Year's tradition! Yesterday, on New Year's Eve, I took everything out of my closet, 12 years of dusty treasures, in boxes and bags. What once filled my closet, now fills my room! I have to admit, the only reason I did such a thing is because I will be having some plumbing work done under my house and the only way they can get there is through the floor of my closet!! Now that's a good house plan and design for you!


 Anyway, I usually just put it all back without sorting anything first, but. . . . this year . . . I have resolved to sort through each and every box and paper and bag before putting them back in my closet! It's really sort of fun to find memories long forgotten. Of course some things are better thrown away and forgotten, but that's fun too. 


My daughter and I saw the new Narnia movie yesterday as well, and I left the theatre in tears! It was sooo good!! I would really love to see it again. Aslan has such a powerful presence. I love how they portrayed the symbolism and truths. 


Kids are still sleeping, I might sneak out the door for a walk around the block and back to do some more ORGANIZING!!! 


Have a wonderful day all~and have a blessed New Year~