Comfort

“…there is nothing you can want, there is nothing you can ask for,
there is nothing you can need in time or in eternity,
there is nothing living, nothing dying,
there is nothing in this world, nothing in the next world, there is nothing now, nothing at the resurrection-morning,nothing in heaven which is not contained in this text “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

~Charles Spurgeon

Quiet Mornings with God

My soul, my heart craves the presence of God.  Now that I have been transformed by His love and His Spirit--- my heart yearns for more. I retreat to my closet, my sanctuary. Here I am surrounded by clothes and shoes, but I am suddenly transported beyond the moment, to the throne.  It is here that I communicate with the Creator and redeemer of my soul.  Jesus shares the love letters of His word with me.  He tells me I am His own.  He binds me to Himself with righteousness, justice, love and mercy.  I am made new in my quiet mornings with God.

Renewal Time

every once in a while, you've got to renew...

to remember what's important

to evaluate priorities--go out and play

remember life changing things

 like an empty tomb... make resurrection rolls and tell the story

of NEW LIFE!

                                                                    

Joy of Laundry

Laundry... clean, fresh, put away...joy.

Thankful

I have started writing the reasons I am thankful. So far I have listed over 200 reasons I am thankful!  Each one is a precious gem to take, examine and thank God for.  My thankful list is also a treasure to store away for a rainy day.  Delightful memories of God's love in my life.

Joys of Homeschooling

Homeschooling...busy, always busy, productive busy.  Time for creative moments, focus, diligence, basking in books, and drinking knowledge.

Homeschooling... morning Bible devotion and prayer, thankfulness for the privilege, handsewn red polka dot skirts, handcrafted duct tape wallets, masterpiece drawings, pattern blocks, puzzles, calculators, algebraic equations, discussion, drama, excitement, energetic, experiments, cookie baking, cookie selling, piano notes, homemade bread, stacks of books, writing novels and working together as a family. Is there any better way to learn?

Gifts....treasures...miracles

Yesterday in the thick blackness of 10 p.m. a small gray shadow was singing strong.  I sat, the mesmerized audience in a front row seat to a private "mockingbird opera."  A full moon spotlight on mockingbird soloist.  The stage--an oak.  One more gift from the Giver of Life.  One more precious moment.  Miracle treasures. 

Today I was serenaded by my four year old daughter at the piano.  Front row seat to innocence and sheer joy.  Notes out of order, contentment a perfect circle of enchantment.  The stage--living room.  Another precious treasure moment from the Giver of Life, wonderful Jesus.

Dora Canal

God's gifts... unable to count them all!

1000 Gifts

I recently downloaded 1000 Gifts, a book by Ann Voscamp.  I am making my own list of 1000 ways God loves me.  I have accepted the dare and am finding new joy each day.

To be loved by Him
a warm, soul love,
an embrace of grace,
gratitude-- my worship
because I am loved,
by HIM!

j.lyn jones

Happy New Year's Choices

"If life didn't contain change, I don't suppose it wouldn't be very interesting.  Change is the thing that brings about decisions.  Decisions call for choices and without choices to make a person can't grow."  (Excerpt from the Journals of Corrie and Christopher book 2.) 

So this is why it is so important to make positive choices.  Positive choices lead to positive decisions that enrich our life with change that makes us grow.  If we consistently make choices that are good for us, then we reap the consequences of those choices.  Small choices add up to big consequences. If we choose to make decisions that are detrimental to us, we end up paying dearly for the choices we made down the road.  What sunk the Titanic was several small holes, not a giant gash like people thought for years.  And so are our lives.  We in up in failing circumstances due to several small holes of wrong choices, negative thought patterns and critical thinking.

What we must remember is that we have a choice.  We can choose our attitudes, choose our lifestyle, choose to make the best of whatever our circumstances may be.  We may not choose to have difficult times in our lives, but we can choose our reaction to those times.  We may not choose to have poor health, but we can choose to have an inner fight to live and a compassion for others who are contending with the same issues.  We may not choose our financial plight, but we can choose to be wiser and thankful because of the personal growth it has given to our lives.

When all odds are against us and we feel like we are down for the count, it is important to make the choice to get back up and keep going.  Life isn't over until the last breath is taken.  We have a choice as long as we have life.
My hopes for the new year are to make positive choices.  The small, everyday, choices, even the ones that seem insignificant at the time, are the ones I need to make.  It will be these that give me richer relationships, peace, joy, health, and happiness.  The half an hour in prayer, the 30 minutes of excercise, the hour spent playing a game or talking to my children, the 15 minutes of decluttering my mind or my cabinets, they are all small choices that can add up to great personal change and satisfaction. 

May 2011 be a year of positive change, right choices, and personal growth that will bless the lives of those around us.