A WORD – repose: a state of rest or calmness.

Ready or not, the holidays are coming up fast. Before you dive head-long into the mad rush to the finish, take time for a break. (not like me who took the term literally and broke the wrist.)

No, a more restful place, a “repose.” If we don’t relax our pace now, the have-to’s will multiply too fast and we’ll fall (no more falling, please) into a frenzy of preparation.

Look over your schedule. There has to be something there you can cancel out.

Write in your planned time of “calm and repose.” A day, an afternoon, or even for an hour; give yourself permission to relax.

Let me know what you did to find your place of repose!  (catnap, anyone?)

THE WORD  – Over and over again we find this scripture to ring true.

I broke my wrist last week. God was present in my trouble. He led me safely to a Dr. and fixed up with a cast within two hours. Now I am leaning hard on my refuge and strength, my Jesus who is also my Healer.

That evening a truck veered off the road, crashed through our front hedges, flipped over our driveway narrowly missing our two cars and landed in our side yard.

Emergency vehicles were here for hours. They tried to airlift the driver to hospital but he died en route. Jesus, our present help in trouble. We could have been out getting the mail and directly in the truck’s path. Our cars could have been totaled. Someone else could have been hit since he was on the wrong side of the road.

God, our refuge and strength. We don’t realize how often God protects us as we try to walk right before Him.

Has He rescued you this week? Do you find Him to be your refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble?

Please pray for the man’s family in their loss of a loved one.

IN OTHER WORDS – Dickens had it right.

This past week had too many misfortunes so time to reflect on the blessings. I’m grateful it is my left  hand in a cast and not my right. Blessed to have unexpected time at home to catch up on my studies. Thankful for a kind husband  who is making a valiant attempt to braid my long hair.

Have you had a rough week?

What are your blessings?