Photo from Prayers for Special Help, Michael Brandon

FAITH – we all wish we had a little more of it. We pray for God to change situations but I wonder if we really believe He will do it. “Certain of what we do not see…” I’ve been praying for direction in a certain area of  my life and there are so many things that look impossible.

Oh yeah, God delights in the impossible. Why do I always forget that fact?

I heard a sermon a few weeks ago and one thought hit like an arrow straight into my heart. “You’re going to look around you and say, where did that road come from? It wasn’t there yesterday!” Right, I’ve been praying that He will make a way where there is no way.

He creates out of nothing. God will stretch out the new road for me and for you -out-of-emptiness- in His timing and His perfect plan. 

What are you facing today? Where is your faith? Remember,

God delights in doing the impossible!

I thought for sure I’d find these in my front yard this morning.

No penguins, but there were a lot of birds visiting my bird feeders, trying to find food in the midst of the frozen tundra. We’ve had several days of single digit weather and some below zero the last few weeks. It is a major effort to bundle up and force myself out into the chill air each morning.

Which brings me to this question: What winter activities do you enjoy? What do you do in the  midst of a snowstorm?

I’m looking for unusual suggestions for an article I’m working on. Do you visit local events, museums, moonlight snowshoe walks?

And what do you enjoy during the cold winter months that you would never do in the summertime? Do you super-clean your house? Toss out all the clutter? Re-organize photos? Open to your creative suggestions…

I think this one just crossed over my lawn.  : )

I keep coming across my scattered reminder notes to do this and do that but somehow I never get around to it. There are a few things I would like to accomplish and finally cross off my list. First item: create the list.

1. Locate passport application and actually fill it out and apply for passport.
2. Write letter to old address in Poland to find out if that person truly is my long lost cousin.
3. Map out specific updates for my website.
4. Research plans for 30 yr. anniversary trip now…since we never mapped out our 25th. (we have two years to work on it)
5. Organize and review our finances.

I believe if I concentrate on one item per month, I can finally cross these items off my list. And what a grand accomplishment that will be! 

What is on your “round tuit” list?

Please join me in addressing those little items that never seem to get finished. Share your list with us in a comment and we’ll encourage one another in this noble pursuit : )

                    What are you reading in 2014?

Do you have a few favorites you read last year?

Please share the titles and authors in a comment. And let us know why the book was your favorite. Because of the characters? Plot? Setting?

I just read a non-fiction book which is unusual for me but it is part of a course I’m taking. “Ordering Your Private World,” by Gordan MacDonald. I’ve enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. It challenged me in many areas and I feel I’ve learned from this book. You’re welcome to share fiction or non-fiction titles. Celebrating a brand new year of books!

Upstate Winter - c.a. lovely

It’s a black and white world today after our latest winter storm. Contemplating the new year of 2014 and all its amazing opportunities. Wondering if I should list goals or go with the one “word” for the year idea.

Hmm…right now I’m going to focus on one goal. Journaling. I want to get back to recording thoughts, ideas, inspiration, quotes, and day to day events of all God is doing in my life. Not in a “have to every day” style, but at least once a week to keep up on what’s happening in my world. This benefits my private time with the Lord and my relationships and my writing.

Journaling is free-flow. The pressure is off to make every word perfect. Today’s journal started like this: I’m sitting by the window looking out on my black and white world, filled with soft, fluffy snow. The sun is out and the storm is over though the temps are frigid. I listen to the purr of the electric fireplace, admire the golden holiday decorations and inhale the scent of freshly baked banana bread. It’s Winter in my country farmhouse in upstate NY. God is good. I am content.

Do you journal? Do you have one specific goal you’d like to reach for in 2014?

Note: Congratulations to Kelly Blackwell, winner of the Christmas dvd!

We talk all the time about keeping Christ as the center of our Christmas. Yet how many times are we guilty of being manipulated by the holiday hoax and caving in to the pressure? In this crazy world we live in where all our Christian views are being challenged, I challenge you today – do everything you can this year to share the true Christmas spirit – rejoicing in the birth of our Savior. 

Not sure where to start? Start small. If you send Christmas cards, be sure you choose ones that celebrate the birth of Christ. Forget the snowman, santa, pretty winter scenes and lovely victorian pictures. If the cards do not proclaim a scripture or saying glorifying God, don’t buy them! Choosing holiday stamps? Go for the Holy Family style rather than Gingerbread Houses. Yeah, they’re cute but we’re keeping Christ as the focus, remember? Same with wrapping paper and gift bags. No, I don’t believe our wrapping paper needs to always be covered with angels : ) I use a lot of solid silver and gold paper. What I won’t use are santas, reindeer, anything that proclaims the word holiday over the word Christmas. And please do have a nativity scene in your Christmas decor.

What are you doing this year to bring the focus back to Jesus?

Deer are graceful creatures. Easily startled. Able to leap with a single bound…over the guardrails and into my husband’s car. It is one of the negatives of living up a winding hill in the country. Over $4,000 later (thank God for insurance) the car is back on the road and life is returning to normal. I’m rejoicing daily that no harm came to my husband in the accident. Last week I passed an ambulance at the same spot he encountered the deer: except this driver had landed in the ditch to avoid it. I prayed for them as I inched by the accident scene.

Because we live five miles up a hill, it is very easy to zoom down it and heavy-foot the gas pedal to climb back up. However…I have reverted to slow mode. I give myself extra time and cut my speed down on our deer-inhabited road. In this hurry-scurry world, we don’t realize how much we are in constant motion. Slowing my driving up and down my hill helps me to pray, focus, sing psalms and hymns,  and view the scenery.

Wow, neighbors have been re-modeling – I want a porch like that on my next house!

Whoa, what a beautiful sunrise. God is an amazing artist.

What lovely landscaping…

Instead of begrudging my lack of speed, I’m learning to live more in the moment : )

What causes you to slow down? Have you taken time today to look around you and appreciate God’s blessings?

Do those words lure you in? Do you eagerly await the overloaded newspaper filled with thick glossy ad booklets of Black Friday Sales?

During the coming week of Thanksgiving, I encourage you to concentrate on all the things God has already blessed you with. Yes, I know, it’s time to Christmas shop. But it doesn’t have to be this week. I understand (sort of) how some people are addicted to Black Friday shopping and they can’t resist the promise of incredible sales. Just don’t start till Friday, please. The stores are getting worse all the time with Pre-Black-Friday sales actually starting on the holiday itself. Sorry, but I truly believe Thanksgiving should be just that, a time of Thanksgiving. Not a time of chasing sales and forcing the retail staff to be working instead of enjoying their own day off. If sales are low enough, maybe this new trend will fade away. Here’s hoping.

Your Thanksgiving Challenge: Don’t Shop! Prepare ahead for your Thanksgiving meal and get your grocery shopping done early so you can enjoy your day. Tip: Throw out the sale ads without even looking at them!

Happy, blessed Thanksgiving to all!

1. Windy Weather
2. Cashmere Sweaters
3. Leather Boots
   
4. Toasty Bonfires
5. Cozy Quilts
   
6. Thankful Thoughts
   
7. Friends & Family
   
8. Hot Apple Pie
   
9. Cinnamon Toast
   
10. Mulled Cider
11. and turkey!
    

“The greatest saint in the world is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives most alms, or is most eminent for temperance, chastity or justice. It is he who is most thankful to God, and who has a heart always ready to praise God. This is the perfection of all virtues. Joy in God and thankfulness to God is the highest perfection of a divine and holy life.” – William Law

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” – Ballou   

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you…Philippians 1:3                                            

In this season of Thanksgiving, please share one of your favorite quotes on being thankful.