We got our tree on Saturday! And decorated it on Sunday while Mikayla was over after Church.
My heart is so joyful today.
I could have lingered at my kitchen table all day today. I love this spot, the quiet peaceful morning time. The glow of a candle or two, God's word open before me.
This weekend I went to a prayer breakfast with a friend at her church. It filled my heart. The music the message, the once again realizing we are one. Unity has become a resounding theme at this season in my life. This morning I picked up Until Unity to read through again...the opening words piercing my heart yet again- How much have I praised Jesus today?
My notes scribbled in the from of my little purse Bible on saturday- because that was the only paper I had. Reminding me to see people through Jesus' eyes. Reminding me I have a purpose. I am hear for a reason.
I'm really enjoying the Gratitude Documented series. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy this for of journaling. It feels so therapeutic to mediate on a verse and think and pray as I create the pages.
1- Miss Cecily's Recipes for Exceptional Ladies by Vicky Zimmerman 10/1 (kindle)
Anyway- this one was just the ticket to pull me out of my reading slump. Kate begins volunteering at an old folks home (because the animal shelter had a waiting list and the Home was near by). She is a book loving foodie- nursing a broken heart, while still clinging to hope, in a dead end job that she hates but had held for 20 years. What can I say, her character spoke to my heart. She ends up striking up an unlikely friendship with a very grumpy and sometimes downright mean Mrs. Finn.
Life is as long as it’s short.” “What does that even mean?” “It means find what nourishes your soul, discover what you’re capable of—live life well.”
Sometimes with Nick, it feels like Kate’s living on crumbs.
There’s a time to be sad and a time to be thankful—but right now it’s time to eat.
2- From a Distance (#1 Timber Ridge) by Tamera Alexander 10/6 (eBook)
It wasn’t that he didn’t like people. He did. He just liked most of them better from a distance.There can’t be different versions. Truth is constant. A person’s perspective might be skewed, but that doesn’t change what the truth is.
"I gets up each day and I face what God gives me to handle, ma’am. Sometimes I fear it. Won’t say that I don’t. But knowin’ He’s already sifted through it and that Jesus knows what’s comin’ before it gets to me . . . well, I reckon that ought to be enough.” Such wisdom and trust from a man who had been so misused in his life. (Josiah)
What she hadn’t known then was that God loved her enough to intervene in her dream—to shatter it, to shatter her—only so He could put her back together and give her an even bigger, better dream. His dream for her life.
3- Gone South by Meg Moseley 10/8 (print)
Tish McComb decides on a whim to purchase a home that once belonged to her ancestors in Alabama. Moving into the south from Michigan she discovers little southern towns aren't always welcoming to Yankee strangers...and perhaps there was more to her ancestors stories than she know... couple that with taking in a disowned 20 year old black sheep named Mel just back in town herself. Mel had a bit of a spoiled brat/teenage vibe going but at the same time I couldn't help but find myself rooting for her.
4- Until Unity by Francis Chan 10/14 (print)
There is nothing you have to do today that is more important than worshipping Him.
Our lack of praise may actually be the biggest cause of our divisions. Once we stop worshipping, all hope for unity is lost. This is what unites us: we can’t stop talking about the treasure we have in Jesus. It’s hard to start an argument with someone who is on her knees shouting praises to Jesus, especially when you’re busy blessing the Lord as well. Many of our problems could be reconciled if we discussed our concerns on our knees before a Holy God. We can’t allow the Enemy or our enemies to interrupt our praise. Worship is our path to unity.
Being a Christian means that Christ has entered you, filled you with His love, and is pouring His life through you to the people around you.
5- Sarai by Jill Eileen Smith 10/14 (eBook)
6- Finding Hagar by Michael F. Kuhn 10/18 (eBook)
"Redeemed by grace, Hagar returns with her dignity restored, head held high, her identity now defined in relation to the God who sees her."
My God doesn’t love me or hate me or watch over me or know me at all, and I feel no love for or loyalty to my God. My God just is. (This statement makes me incredibly sad.)All that you touch, You Change. All that you Change, Changes you. The only lasting truth Is Change. God Is Change. (Seemingly Lauren's founding thought on God and Earthseed).Embrace diversity. Unite— Or be divided, robbed, ruled, killed By those who see you as prey. Embrace diversity Or be destroyed.
I am so enjoying the quiet peace and assurance that comes with this study.
"The Lord's Prayer and the Twenty-third Psalm together became the cocktail of life that healed my mind. Mixed and well-shaken, repeated back to back, over and over again, prayed aloud, prayed silently, desperately, joyfully sometimes with such ragged faith it could hardly be called faith, these two ancient devotional instruments became the medicine of my soul's restoration."
This morning the dog {Chance} woke me up 20 minutes before my alarm to go outside. And generally I hit snooze for 10, 15 sometimes 20 minutes after that. Annoyed and sleepy I trudged downstairs to let him outside. I then curled up on the couch in the darkness hoping to catch a few more zzz's. But the verse for yesterday's Gratitude Documented kept rolling around in my mind. So I ended up getting up and spending extra time in my little sanctuary.
After much debate I decided to do my Gratitude Documented right in my bullet journal...maybe adding some in my Bible too. We'll see. I missed out on getting the kit, it was already gone by the time I thought of it. Yesterday though I purchased the digital printable kit. It is 8 pages, has the prompts as well as some the flowers and leaves etc... pictured below. I'm really excited about the flowers. I printed some on clear sticker paper and some on matte photo paper. I'm very please with the outcome. I'm also using random scrapbook paper I have on hand from over the years, washi tape and probably the stamps from a previous year.
I have been struggling with the past and fear for the future so having this verse be part of the prompt from yesterday felt like a hug and reassurance from God.
This morning I began the Slowing Down study from Women Living Well.
