"Never part without loving words to think of during your absence. It may be that you will not meet again in this life." Jean Paul Richter  

What amazing words to live by.  We are never guaranteed tomorrow.  This year I have heard of more unexpected deaths of people who appeared to be healthy and were making plans that would take them well into their old age. 

 

Were there words that haunted a friend with whom they'd had a spat, a relative with whom they no longer spoke over some imagined wrong?  Is there someone that came to mind even as you read this?  We must remember to "not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."  Proverbs 27:1  And because we know this, let us part in kindness, encourage one another, speak to one another in truth and love.

 

"Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

 

As a little girl on a trip to Texas to see family at Christmas, I was thrilled to see my first fireflies.  At first just a few, and then, they seemed to fill the night in front of the car's headlights.  It was amazing the way the shining little little lights danced in the headlights and then it appeared as though we were being engulfed by a swarm!  A dear friend had a similar experience when he awoke to a surprise and ran to tell his parents about the pretty white carpet someone had placed in their yard.....You guessed it, both were "first snow" experiences. 

What God has created is amazing and even now when snow falls, I feel the child-like wonder rise up in me again.  I want to skip and run from window to window to see it and declare - It's snowing!

 

Give thanks to the LORD of lords, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.  To Him who alone does great wonders, for His lovingkindness is everlasting; to Him who made the heavens with skill, for His lovingkindness is everlasting; To Him who spread out the earth above the waters...who made the great lights...the sun to rule by day...and the moon and stars to rule by night, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.  Psalm 136:3-9

 

Enjoy this day... with thanksgiving and purpose!

 

Today is a day filled with wonder, trouble, joy, sadness, love and even hate.

The news screams of children (11-5) killing other children mob-style - meaning as a mob upon one person.  People are aghast!  They ask - how can this be?  There've been 3 such murders of other children in the same state over the last month.  "It must be the parenting, they say."  REALLY?!?!?  While I believe that is definitely contributory, how about looking at the mainstream media who, for nearly the last year, have glorified the same behavior of rioters mobbing individuals, setting businesses on fire, stealing from them and "partying" in the street about these action with no consequences, politicians calling for violence and murder against anyone supporting our former President or his supporters and they are applauded with no consequence.  The message to children -  if someone doesn't agree with you, you have the right to harm them....even kill them and there will be no consequences, because afterall, they dared to disagree with you."

Oh, how we need a heart change - revival in our land.  

Beloved, let us love one another .... (1 John 4:7a)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

What if we did this? We could see the beauty of the changing weather - even a "simple" cloud in the sky.  Rather than seeking and seeing others faults or where we are not in agreement, we could see the beauty of God's creation in that individual.

I hope you are enjoying a beautiful day as you seek to love one another!  God bless you!

Wow!!  Boy is today a "jumpstart" day! Woke up at 7:30 a.m. (somehow slept through the 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. reminder alarms).  I am usually entering my car and heading downtown at 7:30 a.m.  Well - I shot up like a bullet, showered, applied make-up, dressed and was out the door and getting into my car at 7:50 and still made it to work on time (which is 10 minutes before I'm due there)  

So, I started thinking.  While I certainly would not choose the rush and ramble morning I had thsi morning as an every day event, it would appear I'm leaving time on the table that I could put to good use.  To awaken with drive and get my quiet time, workout and a chore or two done each morning before heading to work would be amazing!!  So - tomorrow - it's off to a new routine!!  Just as Psalm 30:5b states that "joy comes in the morning."  I am headed for new joy each morning!  Blessings upon you and your day! 

Ever have a day like this??
  

So, here we are - the middle of December and I've yet to get the tree up or the lights on the house.  After cleaning out my late inlaws home and and my storage unit - I've got a house full of stuff!  So - first  I am grateful - grateful that I will be able to give people items that they may need and that I have so much.  Secondly, I am a bit overwhelmed with all that has to be done.  My solution: bite sized chunks of attack. 

I put off decorating because we knew we were going to be travelling and last year this beloved guy decided to do some rearranging.

This was my completed tree.  A trip to the laundry room while doing chores and our beloved cat had pulled down the tree and the photo on the right shows the remnant after I pulled the tree back in place.  He was 4 years old!!  He'd never touched the tree before, but now you understand my hesitancy in decorating before our trip to see family, whom I already miss again.

I hope you are enjoying a lovely, safe, healthy holiday.  I'm off to make our home a Christmas wonderland.  Have a great day!!  What are you up to?

 Thankful Day 18

Today I am so grateful for love, kindness and forgiveness. I think of some of my behavior in my youth. I stood for my convictions in such a way that to look back now would make me blush. I was bold and loud in my delivery and sadly, I was not cognizant of my words and how they may be received or even harm another. I try every day to grow in love toward everyone. Of course, I still have my difficult moments, but boy am grateful for those who love me and work through any misunderstandings with me.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

Today is Thankful Day 16 for me.  I think it's a good practice to get into,: being grateful for different things every day.  I'm grateful today for the flowers we see along our way and the wonderful aroma they provide in a world of so many other scents.

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