Reader Forum: Focus in Prayer

Prayer is definitely a discipline to be learned and practiced.

You saw that one of my goals was to be more deliberate and focused each day.

I am so easily distracted (I think most people are)

I think that my method may be a prayer journal,

BUT ...

then I thought I would ask for help.

While what works for you may not work for me,

it may spark something that leads to a good answer ...

or since most of my readers are family and think like me,

it may be the perfect answer.

So here is the forum question:

How do you "attack" a lengthy prayer list?

How do you systematically pray for all of the needs on your heart and in your life?

Do you pray for certain things on certain days?

Do you pray through the same list daily?

There it is ...

HELP!

Another Token for Good

Yesterday was a down day - at least for me ...

about 3 pieces of discouraging news.

But at the same time,

God was giving hubby encouraging news

and solidifying that for right now,

we are in the right place.

God knows our needs - and even our desires - 

and is working them out in His timing,

often behind the scenes.

Sometimes He rolls back the curtain and shows us a little "peek."

Then today it was my turn.

I got to make some special deliveries,

and God used the visits to remind me of need all around,

to remind me that ministry is all around us,

that ministry cannot be put in a box.

He sent me encouraging people with encouraging words.

On this Thankful Thursday,

I am thankful for our good God with His tokens for good.

I am also thankful for protection from the cold -

for heaters, for walls and a roof, for warm clothes,

for a warm car, for warm food, for God's daily provision.

And Refocus Again ...

Well,

I thought that part of my "woman's work Wednesday" would include volunteer work at the hospital in 2018.

This morning, I was one step closer ...

turned in vaccination records,

took flu shot,

had TB test started ...

...and then this afternoon,

they didn't need me.

And so now, I refocus.

I pray and seek where God would use me and my extra time,

the place where I can minister to people.

It is time to apply the word of the year - refocus.

It is time to remember that the answer "no" is not the end,

it is just a redirection.

Yes, I am disappointed,

but I happen (by God's design) to be reading a book dealing with disappointments and difficult times,

and it is time to apply the principles,

God is at work.

*UPDATE*
It turns out that volunteer opportunities are quite competitive.
Next time I go with a resume and full list of references.😄

Recharge and Refocus

In my effort to hit the restart,

I think that it will be profitable to set goals ...

SMART goals ...

Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Timely

My goal will be to be accountable to you at the end of each month - 

Will I reach the marks?

Some of the goals will be relatively easy,

others (primarily the Bible memory) will be harder,

but if I shoot at nothing ... I'll be sure to hit it (nothing).

Personal Goals

Blog at least 3 times a week

Develop (and use) a Prayer Journal to be more focused in prayer by February.

Read through the Bible in the year.

Memorize 24 Psalms (1-24) - 2 per month.

Review/Rememorize - James, I - II Thessalonians, I-II Peter, II Timothy, Galatians, Jude (1 per month).

Memorize I,II,III John (remaining months after reviewing others).

Exercise 4 days per week.

Meet step goals daily.

Learn Hebrew Using Rosetta Stone program - 4 lessons a week - 2 years.
(I've failed this one in previous years)

Read 12 books (1 per month) emphasizing American History and Missionary biographies.

Family Goals

Help encourage, format, and edit hubby's commentary on the book of Isaiah.

Walk at least 4 miles together each week.

Be done with regular housekeeping by the time hubby comes home each day.

Ministry Goals

Write 1 card to a college student each week.

Write one note of thanks or appreciation each week (in the home, at church, in the community).

Entertain in our home at least once a month for a meal.

Find a place of ministry.

Home Goals

Continue developing a useful meal/recipe book - Reorganize it monthly.

Work to organize and declutter 5 home areas - 2 under bed areas, 2 closets, and 1 shed.

Are you challenging yourself this year?

Care to share?

Do you want to challenge me as well?

Welcome 2018!

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2018!

I just love fresh starts,

the blank slate,

the expected time to reassess.

Many people choose a word for the new year.

I have in the past.

Contentment in 2012

Dependence in 2013

Consistency in 2015

This year, my mind keeps returning to 2 words.

Recharge ... and ... Refocus

Recharge

The past year, maybe more, has been wearying.

For many reasons, I feel drained and empty.

Partly because this "people pleaser" has let people down this year - 

though necessary sometimes, it is still a drain (and also a burden that I should not carry).

Partly because I have taken on too much.

Partly because I have given and not sought out a source or sources to be refueled.

Partly because I took ministry that was without personal contact and interaction.

Partly because I have let many times with God become stale or perfunctory.

Partly because I have lost some focus.

Refocus

Over the past year, maybe more, I have not felt challenged to grow.

I have not seen (possibly my own fault) a challenge from others.

I have not experienced others living an example before me that left me feeling challenged 

to be better, to do better, to grow.

When I married, hubby was memorizing books of the Bible.

He challenged me and we learned numerous passages and books together.

I also give the example of my Fitbit.

When I got my fitbit 2 years ago, my goal was 10,000 steps a day.

Sometimes I was running around at 8:45 trying to get those last 2,000 steps before bed.

When hubby got a Fitbit in May, suddenly I had a challenge, someone to push me.

Now my goal is 13,000 and I really want to see 20,000 a day!

I needed the challenge!

In my desire to refocus,

I want to be challenged and have felt that challenge in recent days.

I am seeing friends and family excited about God and growth with God.

I am hearing people quote Scripture from memory.

I am hearing reference to facts and history and things that I should or could know if I put in the effort.

I am challenged to have ...

an eagerness to arise early and spend time with God,

a return to Bible memory,

a discipline to read beneficial books to stretch my mind,

a return to learning a language with hubby,

a focus in my ministry choices,

a concerted effort to ask for feedback so that my ministry is meeting the desired goal,

more personal contact in ministry.

What does 2018 hold?

I really don't know.

We are still in a place of searching,

a place of begging God for His direction,

a place of moving with the anticipation of an open door or even a closed door.

I may not know what the future holds,

but I want to grow in 2018.

I want to learn from others

and I want to be an example in return.

Button Up!

The holiday work schedule kind of threw off my week.

Yours too?

Chances are you are in the middle of some super winter cold weather.

We are uncustomarily below 32* today.

Today I am thankful for warm clothing,

for a warm car,

for the protection of a warm house.

God has given us SO much!

The cold weather brought the perfect opportunity to get the Thanksgiving turkey carcasses out of the freezer.

The Harvest Turkey Soup is on the stove

ready to warm up the chilled mechanic who will walk in in the next 15 minutes

(the shop is closed from the weather, but not heated),

the cranberry apple crisp is in the oven in preparation for breakfast the next two days,

and a new ebook is in the formatting stage (about 1/2 done).

I am thankful that we finished the new  print book on Tuesday.

We made our 2017 goal by a mere week :)

Button up and stay warm!

Merry Christmas!

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.

Merry Christmas to y'all!

It is the Incarnation Celebration.

We have so much to be thankful for

and it is all because of the birth and subsequent death of our Savior!

Our day has been quiet and reflective.

Candles lit most of the day.

Christmas music in the background.

We woke and did a workout (of course),

had vanilla orange french toast,

read the Bible account of the incarnation from Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2.

(I am always amazed at the impossible that becomes possible with God)

talked with family on the phone and skype,

enjoyed bagel and cream cheese and lox for lunch,

went for a walk,

edited the last bit of the new book,

had some supper,

and then are relaxing this evening.

We hope you have had a wonderful day

and remembered to praise God for the best gift of all - the Lord Jesus Christ!

It Just Makes Me Smile

A pleasant memory of meals with my niece and nephews 16 years ago,

a gluten free lattice top that doesn't look half bad,

knowing that hubby loves anything in pie form,

a huge thank you to Walmart for making a gluten free condensed tomato soup :)

Happy Dinner to Us ...

We may be dining al fresco tonight,

quite a pleasant day weatherwise.

And yes,

the wreath pizza looked like a wreath (I left the bow off) ...

and the crudite Christmas tree was cute (and hubby said it was good).

If you have no idea what I am talking about,

see yesterday's post :)

Seasonal Fun in the Kitchen

Hubby's Work is having a sort of potluck for Christmas tomorrow.

Finger food always seems to go the best.

So ...

I chose to go with festive.

But something that hubby could make a lunch of.

How about a pizza wreath?

Out of red peppers at the store, so I will have to make do with a green bow ...

or do something with a tomato?

Was going to do basil leaves after it came out of the oven,

but hubby opted for spinach.

That will be good too.

And for a veggie tray ...

Cucumber rounds,

cream cheese dill spread,

cherry tomatoes.

Sounds like fun to me!

A Pleasant Tradition

I get to enjoy my Christmas present today🎁

The Charlotte Symphony will be presenting Handel's Messiah tonight.

We enjoyed it 3 times in Seattle.

We enjoyed it twice at BJU.

This will be our second time to enjoy it in Charlotte.
I think I should make a bucket list to visit all of the major symponies for their performance of the Messiah!

Hubby and I will make a date of it.

The music will be lovely,

the mind will be focused on the true meaning of the Christmas season,

and I get to spend the day and evening with my hubby. - always a treat.