Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.



Just as Thou wilt is just what I would will;
Give me but this, the heart to be content,
And, if my wish is thwarted, to lie still,
Waiting till puzzle and till pain are spent,
And the sweet thing made plain which the Lord meant.
SUSAN COOLIDGE.

A Week Off

                                                           Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.





O happy house I and happy servitude!
Where all alike one Master own;
Where daily duty, in Thy strength pursued,
Is never hard or toilsome known;
Where each one serves Thee, meek and lowly,
Whatever Thine appointment be,
Till common tasks seem great and holy,
When they are done as unto Thee.
C. J. P. SPITTA.

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone in a flash, hasn't it? It came in a hurried frenzy somewhere between running around shopping, your children's activities and work. That's what happens when a Holiday lands every year in the middle of the week. We really don't have time to truly enjoy it. 

Every year, I take off work during this time, usually spending some much needed catching up. Not so this time. One day for shopping. Another for cleaning the apartment. Third for Thanksgiving Dinner. Two more spent with mom. One for my Bible study. 

The next thing I knew, it was over. Somehow, I didn't regret any of it. I ended up relaxing with my family, my children and my friends. We laughed, we cried and we loved. Isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about? 

There is a change in the way I do things as I have gotten older. As much as I love busyness, I take more time to relax, especially with my loved ones. Don't get me wrong, I won't stop with having a full plate on my hands. I love it. I thrive on it, but I'm no longer is such a hurry. 

I hope your Thanksgiving was a good one, especially since we are approaching another huge Holiday. Christmas is right around the corner. At least, this one hangs around for a couple of weeks. Enjoy. Be merry and be filled with the spirit. 

Have a Blessed day everyone. 

P.S.
The Gratitude Challenge:
 I am grateful for a good book to read on a quiet night.

Reading Time

                                                                       Everyday is a brand new day,
                                                                        everyday is a journey.                        



O father, hear!
The way is dark, and I would fain discern
What steps to take, into which path to turn;
Oh! make it clear.
CHRISTIAN INTELLIGENCER.

Hello everyone! I haven't had time lately for much reading, but you all know my great love for books. Today, I'm only sharing three of them, but I definitely hope you will check these out. 

1.Worthy: She's Still There
By: Chrystal Evans Hurst
This was my first book by Chrystal Evans Hurst and in fact, I only knew of her sister Patricia Shriver. This is a book about our self worth and how we see ourselves. I loved to hear about her personal stories which made me feel like she was a friend. I thoroughly enjoyed her reflections and plan on reading more of her books. You can access brief video teachings on YouTube that go along with the chapters. 

2. Me, Myself, and Lies
By: Jennifer Rothchild
This book is another one on how we see ourselves and the things our thoughts say back to us. All of which are very negative and can be destructive to building our self esteem. I related to this book simply because I am guilty of doing this. I need to quit saying and thinking negatively about myself, even if it is done in a joking manner. She also has some video sessions on YouTube that pertain to some of the chapters. 

3. At The King's Feet
By: Dr. Joey Krol

Well, this book is a devotional written by my son the Pastor. I am recommending it for the simple fact that he is my son. Yes, I said it and yes, I'm doing it. Pastor Joey also shares personal stories for each of the devotionals, some that even I didn't know about. Just kidding. Seriously, his love for Christ has been evident ever since he was a small child and it shines perfectly through. 

Have a blessed day everyone. 

P.S.

The Gratitude Challenge:

Today I am grateful for online audios that I can access anytime I want. 

Today . . . .

                                                    Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.



Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me;
Still all my song shall be--
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

--Sarah F. Adams.

Today. . . . I woke up ready to jump start my day. It was the last day at work before my Christmas vacation. I was so excited that it was finally here, that I couldn't wait to get my eight hours over as fast as possible. 

Today. . . . I was to drop off to two of my delivery ladies boxes so they could make that donation before the Christmas Holiday. It didn't quite happen like that. I only had one box ready, the other still not filled. I wasn't able to wash all the baby blankets, because the dryer was overfilled with quarters. It would not fit another round of items. By the time the association came, it was too late and I had to go to work. 

Today. . . . It was was the last day of my Beth Moore Bible study and I showed up late. It's embarrassing to walk in and have all eyes upon you, interrupting the leader. I truly think this was the first time I've ever been late for any Bible study. That wasn't the end of it, I also forgotten my tea.  

Today. . . . I drove straight to Costco after the study to pick up a chocolate cake for our Christmas party at work. Of course, they didn't have that particular cake that everyone wanted. I searched desperately for anything chocolate thinking I barely had time to run home, grab some things and head out to work. Ended up choosing a tuxedo chocolate mousse cake, hoping it was chocolate enough for those chocolate addicts.

Today. . . . It wasn't turning out exactly the way I hoped it would, but thank goodness the Holy Spirit came to my rescue. You see, as I sat sort of defeated at my desk, I thought to myself, this is not what is important.

Today. . . . I was going to enjoy a special meal with my closest work friends. These eight people have touched my heart and made the struggle I endure at work pleasant. They made me laugh and they cried with me. Why would I ruin that emotion, that loving feeling with what the world brings to my life?

Today. . . . I'm breaking bread with my friends. Have a blessed day everyone. 

P.S. 
The Gratitude Challenge:
I am grateful for the constant mercy that God shows me everyday. 

Another Lesson

                                                            Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.


Lord, with what courage and delight
    I do each thing,
  When Thy least breath sustains my wing!
    I shine and move
    Like those above,
    And, with much gladness
    Quitting sadness,
  Make me fair days of every night.
H. VAUGHAN.

You know how you have good intentions in the beginning, but somehow things become routine and you begin to have doubts. Doubts whether this has been a good idea or not. I've signed up for this Beth Moore Bible study that will last about six or seven weeks. We meet once a week in the morning for an hour and a half. Perfect. I can get my bible study in before work. It's what I've always wanted, right?

Yeah, I did. Plus, the minute I get there, I'm happy. Isn't that how things always are with us people? It's the in-between that we have a problem with, we just don't want to do the work. We want to get there quickly without any pain or struggle. Just blink and we're there. 

I don't know why I'm having these feelings. Could be the devil. I knew that Beth Moore studies involved a lot of homework and studying at home. Of course, nothing good is easy. There is plenty of work to get there.

The group itself is like every other group I have been in. The first day, it's packed. It's something new and exciting. We all have these unreal expectations that we can do this, but then the work begins and you can see a rapid change. The second meeting only half the women show up. By the time the 3rd., 4th.,and 5th., only a handful stick around faithfully. 

I've seen it happen in other studies and even in my own Ministry. Whenever something new begins, everyone is excited and they cannot wait to dig their heels in. Unfortunately, life happens and many of them drop off as the weeks go by. 

So I'm a little struggling with keeping up and I almost (just once) actually thought about quitting. Yes! Quitting, but I didn't. Oh, I tried my very best to convince myself that I should. I mean, I don't fit in with any of them affluent ladies. What could we possibly have in common? I went and it was my best session as of yet. Well, I'll be!

Have a blessed day everyone. 

P.S.
The Gratitude Challenge:
I am grateful for my bed with the comfortable and very snug blanket. 

A Poem, A Poem

                                                     Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.

Well, the snow finally came. Not as much as I was hoping for, but then, I'm not off from work just yet. It fell overnight on the  8th and 9th of December. According to the old wives tale, we should have about 8 or 9 snowfalls this Winter. We will see, it did work last year. 

It is Sunday today and my plans have changed for the day. Sometimes, that happens to us where unexpectedly things are altered and we have to adjust. I'm finishing up some baby blankets for a delivery that will be going out this coming week. I need to pass it on to my delivery person, Crystal, by this Tuesday. I wanted to stuff the box with as many blankets as I can for the low income moms. 

Sundays usually mean two things for us: One, Church and the other, family time. No matter what else we may have going on that day, it usually is centered around these two things. Church has to happen and so does Supper. I cannot express enough how important it is for your children to actually sit down at a table together to eat. I was a single mom when my children were little and I worked 2nd shift. We did not eat together. I see how my adult children center their meals at the table. It is a priority to them, because they never had that. 

I'll leave you today with the following lovely poem as you all sit down with your families today. Have a blessed day everyone. 

As I stand by the cross,

 on the lone mountain's crest,

Looking over the ultimate sea,

In the gloom of the mountain a ship lies at rest,

And one sails away from the lea;

One spreads its white wings on the far-reaching track,

With pennant and sheet flowing free;

One hides in the shadow with sails laid aback--

The ship that is waiting for me.

But lo! in the distance the clouds break away,
The gate's glowing portals I see,
And I hear from the outgoing ship in the bay
The song of the sailors in glee
So I think of the luminous footprints that bore
The comfort o'er dark Galilee,
And wait for the signal to go to the shore
To the ship that is waiting for me.

--Bret Harte.

P.S.
The Gratitude Challenge:
Today I am very grateful for the small things like a watching a good movie, a good laugh or even a steaming cup of hot chocolate. 

A Loop At A Time

                                                       Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.


The little worries which we meet each day
  May lie as stumbling-blocks across our way,
  Or we may make them stepping-stones to be
    Of grace, O Lord, to Thee.
A. E. HAMILITON.


I have been working on this queen-sized afghan project for a few weeks now and I have to say, it's coming out pretty darn good. I'm almost holding my breath as to how easy it has been to crochet this item. Every year, I have this co-worker who requests either hats or afghans from me. I willingly oblige since she loves everything I make her and she makes a huge contribution (and I mean huge) in yarn. Usually, this donation provides enough yarn for the Winter months. It's an exchange that works well for both of us. 

As the weather has turned colder and rainy, I sat inside crocheting these past few days. I cannot tell you how much crocheting relaxes me. It's the simple action of loop through another loop intertwining that stills my anxious heart. Such a simple movement holding such a powerful antidote to what ails me.

I'm sure that all of us have that something that we love so much and we feel empty without it. We cannot go too long without sinking our hands into it. Why didn't I realize this healing passion sooner in life? Why did it take cancer to bring it out of me? The answer is easy. I wasn't open to it. My heart was closed. God was knocking and I didn't answer. 

How many times has that happened to all of us? I wish I could say that I've learned my lesson and I go when God says go, but I don't. Take my Group thing. I've been heeing and hawing ever since God has laid it upon my heart. How much longer, Lottie? How much? Soon, Lord, soon.

Have a Blessed day everyone.

P.S.
The Gratitude Challenge:
Thank you, Lord, for giving me such a wonderful and healing gift.