Yes, He cares!

On this "Thankful Thursday,"

I am thankful for my all-knowing God.

This weekend, we spent time with a converted Muslim from Iran.

He mentioned that Allah was not all-knowing.

Muslims have to pray in Arabic (even if it is not their native tongue).

Allah is not everywhere.

Muslims have to pray facing Mecca.

I am so glad that my God knows my mind and heart.

Last night, my offertory focused on a knowing and caring God.

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained

Too deeply for mirth or song,

As the burdens press, and the cares distress,

And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain:

Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,

His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when my way is dark

With a nameless dread and fear?

As the daylight fades into deep night shades,

Does He care enough to be near?

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed

To resist some temptation strong;

When for my deep grief there is no relief,

Though my tears flow all the night long?

Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”

To the dearest on earth to me,

And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—

Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

Word of the Year 2019: Interim

Interim

an intervening time;
interval

in or for the intervening period;
provisional or temporary

I mentioned yesterday the thought from a book I was listening to.

It really seemed to fit the coming year and some struggles that I am having.

I need to remember that God is still working on me.

I need to humbly accept His work in my life.

I need to give myself grace just as He does.

I need to remember that this life on earth is only temporal ... an interim.

Interim

I was introduced to a great app recently.
It is a book app - Libby.s
An app that allows me to borrow ebooks and audio-books - just like a library.

I am enjoying listening to audio books as I run errands
or as I work around the house.
It will be a great asset on long trips.

I was listening to a book last week and this quote struck me ...

Everything is interim.
Everything is a path or a preparation for the next thing,
and we never know what the next thing is.
Life is like that, of course, twisty and surprising.

We are always learning,

always being challenged.

When I remind myself that God is always working on me,

that I have "not arrived,"

that there are so many things that I need to allow God to change in me in order to be more usable,

it makes the waits, the challenges, the difficulties easier. 

It Must Be A Real Day

You all know that today is "Donut Day."

It is the commemoration of our first date ...

... a trip to Bella Napoli's with my brother, sister-in-law, and 3 kiddos.

Donuts or pastries all around.

Our day was a little busy today for the donut part,

but they wait in the freezer for Monday night.

We actually were out all day.

Sunday School,

Church,

Feed College Students,

Nursing Home Ministry,

Church,

Fellowship with a church family.

One of our sweet friends made cupcakes to help us celebrate

and they were delicious.

Guess what hubby found?

A balloon to commemorate the day.

So it must be a real day!

He actually brought it home on Valentine's Day,

but it sweetly celebrates our 17th donut date anniversary.

A Lot of Heart

The cards and packages all arrived ...

and early.

A quiet night in with hubby.

Valentine's Day!

A special day to specifically remember those we love.

I hope that you celebrate the love of those around you all of the time.

Hubby bought the balloon early in the week and stored it in the office at work.

I love its little reminder.

Shift of Focus

It's easy to complain, right?

I can't be the only one.

But it is also not that hard to stop it ...

it just takes a shift of focus.

A reminder in a different way.

There are people who would love to have the ability to do their own taxes.

There are people who would love to be able to do a workout in the morning.

There are people who would love to have so many options for meals that it is hard to decide what to have for dinner.

There are people who would love to have a home to tidy.

Just a little shift.

I get to do these things today,

because God has given me so much.

Feeling Satisfied at the End of the Day

Aahh!  The end of a Monday.

Monday is my cleaning day and at the end, I am tired.

Today was satisfying though.

I felt like I accomplished a lot more than I have in a while.

I am enjoying finally sitting down for the night.

The house and especially horizontal surfaces are cleaned and tidied.

Dishes done.

Laundry done.

Vanilla Cedar candle burning

as well a Campsite Coffee (Which smells like Dunkin Donuts).

I just took hubby's black bean brownies out of the oven

and have 7 minutes until the vegan gingerbread cookies are done.

The shifting, sliding piles of papers are gone.

It just feels good.

I listened to podcasts while I worked today

and each one ended with this quote ...

"You can't always change or control your circumstances,

but you can change and control your attitude."

A reminder of God's commands to be in control (or to let the Holy Spirit control) of my emotions.

 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,

 to the which also ye are called in one body; 

and be ye thankful.

Ephesians 3:15

It also reminded me of a facet of one of yesterday's sermons that struck me.

"Charity envieth not ..."

It's been a struggle recently.

While it may be easy to rejoice with the good news of others,

it is not always easy to control the emotion of envy as well.

Tomorrow?

Well - taxes, closing the financial books on January and its bills 

and working on some Valentine's Day goodies.