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.

Natural Pick-me-up

Winter days can get long (even though they are technically short).

This winter, we have seen an abundance of rain

and therefore cloudy days.

While I do enjoy an occasional coffee,

while the daily exercise helps,

I have been enjoying a different "pick-me-up" for the last 2 weeks.

2 Week ago, we made a trip to Costco using a Christmas gift card.

Hubby couldn't pass up the deep discount flowers.

Wow! Have I enjoyed them.

And then 1 week ago,

I had a little child-sitting job and was sent home with some more pretties!

Won't be around much longer,

but they sure have been a cheery part of each day while they last.

What's an instant pick-me-up for you?

Happy New Year!

Did anyone else feel like 2018 just flew by?

At this time last year, we were searching.

We were searching for a new church home.

We were searching for direction.

We were searching for ministry.

We were searching for the lessons in the trials.

God has brought us so far.

He led us to a new church home with folks to build us up,

with folks to encourage us,

with folks to teach us,

with new directions, challenges, and ministries.

In January 2018, we felt lost.

We felt weak.

We felt confused ...

...And God never failed.

2018 was one of growth in new and unexpected ways.

We learned to sit.

We learned to look beyond our typical ministries.

We learned to get out of our comfort zone.

Isn't God good?

Of course in the new year,

I have to look back at my goals.

They were lofty.

I didn't accomplish them all.

But I did stretch myself in some areas.

Personal Goals

Blog at least 3 times a week.  

Started strong, but this got particularly lost because of the church printing ministry, travels, and hubby's book.

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

Yes - Chalk this one up to a success.  It ended up being a stack of 4x6 cards, but it really helped me focus.  

Read through the Bible in the year.

Check.

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).

No - I did get Psalms 1-3 memorized and reviewed James.  

I must admit that this is a discipline that I know I can do, but I let it slip through the cracks.

Exercise 4 days per week.

I think this was met.

Meet step goals daily.

13000 a day.  I met this at least 5 days a week.

I had to learn to give myself grace - especially when ministering to others led to less steps.

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

I got farther than any other year, but did not keep up with 4 lessons per week.

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

Success.  Definitely read more this year!

Family Goals

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

This was completed just at the end of December.

Walk at least 4 miles together each week.

This was a success.  Exercise is a big part of our life.

We are enjoying regular workouts together during the week as well.

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

I think I made great strides in this area.

Ministry Goals

Write 1 card to a college student each week.

Pretty close ...

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

Yes, so many folks to thank ... 

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

Score!

Find a place of ministry.

I feel like I learned that ministry is sometimes just the friendly face and hand shake.

There are so many people who just need a friend.

I also helped in the college care package ministry and the church printing ministry.

Home Goals

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

This was a great blessing to the whole household.

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

Have maintained these areas so much better.

So there you have it.

Some successes ... some failures ... but lots of learning.

Another Update ...

Since the last update at the beginning of November ...

At the very beginning of November, we traveled to Oregon to see family.

We had a great visit with mom and one of hubby's brothers.

Being a more "open-minded" state,

we found a shop that made g-f donuts - and sampled all 4 of their flavors!

We even found a restaurant that was COMPLETELY g-f  

(as in, you could not even bring in "normal" food).

We enjoyed bbq meat and an awesome cornbread

and free cookies because it was our first visit.

Though we had a great time,

our hearts were also heavy,

because my family was also saying goodbye to our little nephew Timmy at the same time.

Many of you prayed for him specifically 2 years ago.

When we visited in November of 2016,

we thought that we met him and said goodbye in the same visit,

but God was gracious to give him another 2 years on earth 

to teach us so much more about love and compassion,

about judgment,

and about the ability to reach out to others.

It was of the Lord that we were also prompted to visit NY in June 

which allowed us to see him another time.

I finished teaching the 2-5 children's church in November.

It was good to be back in the classroom,

but I did determine that 2-3's are not really my age group.

I have a new respect for those teachers!

We spent a quiet Thanksgiving in NC.

We began with a walk/jog with 2 local friends.

And then had Turkey soup for lunch

and bagels, cream cheese, and smoked salmon (compliments of my brother-in-law in Alaska) for dinner.

December has been interesting in NC.

We have already had snow which is early for us.

It shut us down for 2-3 days.

But even in that, God gave us extra time to edit hubby's books

so that they could be completed by the New Year.

And now Christmas is upon us.

The tree is up

and plans are being made to celebrate with our church family here in NC.

Sunday afternoon we will be taking soup to share with a church family and then helping with the assisted living service.

Christmas Eve, we will spend with 2-3 other couples with a large dinner and games.

So excited to have a Happy Birthday party for Jesus on Christmas day with a couple and their 3 children.

Today, I need to make some trimmings for the potluck at work tomorrow.

Cranberry meatballs,

mini jalapeno cornbread muffins

and chocolate and mint crinkles.

Have a great day!