A New Year, A New Challenge

This is really a post for tomorrow to start off the new year but I have to be honest, January 1 to a college football fan leans real strong to watching TV all day long. And since my team will be playing, I will be parked there with chips, snacks and good ole southern sweet tea. Go Dawgs!

But once the game is over, we have the rest of the year to contend with. This is only day 1 so what are we going to do for the 364 remaining days. Well I have an internal challenge for you. Its not a challenge you will share each day or week but one you will keep track of in your heart. It is more of an action by you and sort of a “how you gonna do it” to God – not that God needs a challenge but its fun to put your prayer life into action and then sit back and watch God do His work.

This started off on FB as a 30 day challenge but I know we can do better than that so I challenge you to do this once a month. With a different person each month.

Then a year from now, look back over your year and see what all God has done. Some you may not see much and some may be obvious. In the life of those of us who love Jesus, we need to be lifting each other up in prayer. Some you now need it and some will hide their hurts deep down, not show it but still need it. This is an internal challenge not for sharing out but for praising in as you see God do His work.

So on the first of each month pick a new person and pray for their happiness, just their happiness. God will move the things around to create that happiness. I currently have 75 followers on my blog. If all 75 do this, then in a years time, 900 people would have been prayed for. What a blessing not only for us but for the recipient.

And if this is just not your thing, then always remember to be kind. Even that is a small prayer as it is sharing of God’s love. Kindness is a gift from you to another being and it reflects God’s love for all of us.

kindness5

Another Year’s End, How Blessed

Comparison of the end of a beautiful day and the end of a interesting year,

image000000 (1) — Colors don’t show how the sky looks on fire

My house sits on top of a hill, so from my back yard I get to see the sun set as it closes out each day. Today’s sunset reminds me of how tomorrow we will close out another year. Today was a bright sunny day ending in an exquisite fiery flame red sunset against distant clouds. Our year is ending, seemingly on a high note but are their distant storm clouds ahead? Who knows? Does it do any good to worry about the possible storm clouds? No. Are you surrounded by storm clouds now? Possibly. Try to focus on the hand that is reaching down through those storm clouds to hold you steady.

hand of god

When things seem at their worse try to focus on the blessings you have, even though they change daily. It will help your perspective.

Today:

Do I have family and friends that know what I am going through to encourage me?
Do I have food in the house for me to eat?
Do I have a roof over my head keeping me out of the cold and rain?
Do I have running water to drink and wash with?
Do I have fresh air to breathe?
Do I have a savior who knows what all I need and loves me more than I know?

Jesus tells us not to borrow troubles from tomorrow but to focus only on today. Be thankful in the many small blessing you see as they will bring into focus the things you forget you have every day.

As we get ready for the new year, remember to focus on the beauty in life. Yes, it can be very hard but their is always beauty if you look for it. The beauty of a bird as it flies branch to branch, never working, always trusting and knowing it will be provided. Sometimes that provision comes from an unsuspecting squirrel as he too jumps branch to branch seeking and knocking down seeds to the ground for that to bird can get.

Provisions sometimes come for outlandish sources but if you look, you can see His hand at work providing your needs – maybe an angel in disguise.

I bid you all a most wonderful new year with more joy, less pain and brighter hopes. And as I always remind all of us – Be kind. Sometimes your pain or sadness can be lifted by being kind to another person or creature. Kindness is the Love Food of God.

kindness5

Happy New Year

One Week Left, #1 Liner Wednesday

Below is some fun I ran across that I thought I would share to help you get perspective for the coming year.

It’s almost 2019, and I still have so many unanswered questions!!!!

I still don’t know who let the dogs out…or where’s the beef is…or how to get to Sesame Street. Why Dora doesn’t just use Google Maps…Why do all flavors of fruit loops taste exactly the same, or how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop? So many important questions.

Then there is other confusing thoughts like …Why eggs are packaged in a flimsy carton, but batteries are secured in plastic that’s tough as nails…why “abbreviated” is such a long word; or why is there a D in ‘fridge’ but not in refrigerator… why lemon juice is made with artificial flavor yet dish-washing liquid is made with real lemons.

Why do you have to “put your two cents in” but it’s only a “penny for your thoughts” where does that extra penny go… why does The Alphabet Song and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star have the same tune.

Why did you just try to sing those two previous songs to verify what I just said… and just what exactly is Victoria’s secret? and where is Waldo? and of course can you hear me now?

And do you really think I am this witty?? Alas, but no…I actually got this from a FB friend, who stole it from his brother’s girlfriend’s, uncle’s cousin’s who lived next door to an old class mate’s mailman from a previous town.

As Linda G Hill reminds us of #1Liner Wed fun, come join in in the experience all year long.

As we chuckle over the never answered questions from last year, let us look forward to the possible answers of questions for the coming year.

And remember for the coming year to spread the kindness still surrounding us all from this wonderful season of sharing love.

kindness5

Hope, Joy and Love

The fear and wonder the shepherds must have felt to see the heavens open with bright light and creatures they had only heard stories of but have never really seen. They knew from the prophets that He would come as a child from the lowly town of Bethlehem.

I wish you all the joy, wonder and love this season can bring us. A reminder of what did come and a foreshadowing of what is still to come. May you feel His love, peace and comfort and carry it with you to share with others as you go.

Have a very Merry Christmas.

heart

Eyes, Windows to the Soul, A Photo a Week Challenge

Matthew 6:22 – The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be filled with light.

Nothing is quite as precious as the sparkle of a child’s eyes or the giggle of their laugh. These are my children and grandchildren. Yes all boys. But they are precious.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Nancy Merrill photo a week challenge is eyes. Come join in on the fun and enjoy each others photos.

Remember the joy of laughter of a child and carry that joy and smile with you as you go sharing that love with kindness freely. It make bring the same joy and smile to one who needs it.

smile kind

Ornaments, Photo A Day Challenge

A new site I have found, City Sonnets, has daily photo challenges for December. Now that I am getting more ambulatory I can play with pictures. Come join in on December’s Challenges.

The star of David which shines forth in truth

Lights the tops of steeples and even the church roof

Expressing His cares on the wings of a dove

To show us His light and His endearing love.

-Anita Neal-

And as always remember the value of kindness and how it may not change the whole world, but for one person, it may make their world whole.

kindness3

Anticipation, First Day Out

Well its been and interesting 6 weeks since my last surgery but today I was given permission to get out by myself and maybe go driving. How marvelous since I have been house bound other that my daughter taking me to Dr. visits.

IMG_20181218_123330 — Watch that first step!

Intellectually I knew this was short term and having gone through it before in August I knew the drill. But it is still nice to know you are healing enough to get out again and today is a pretty day. The sun is bright against a clear sky but there is still the residual snow linger from 2 weeks ago, but roads have been clear since the Monday after the 14″ Saturday.

IMG_20181218_123949 — Due some more possibly over the weekend and maybe white for Christmas.

So where to go on my first day of freedom. Hmmm. Looks like the birds are telling me I need to go back to the store, so I guess I will go to Lowes after lunch.

IMG_20181218_130504 — Yard entertainment

The kitties next door watch the birds as they feed. Mimi watches the birds, the squirrels and the cats in the window. I watch Mimi and the birds. So I guess its a community watch of sorts.

Enjoy the beauty around you. There is always something in nature and life worth watching, you may just have to look for it. And remember to show kindness in all things, whether it be a kind word, a gentle touch, or even a bright smile. That may be just the thing someone needs to lighten their day. May the end of this post make you smile and remember all of natures smiles with you.

It has been proven that a smile can turn a frown totally upside down. Smile often. To some it makes then smile back at you and to some it makes them wonder what you are smiling about, which makes them smile because then they think of thing that make them smile. It’s fully contagious.

To The Top for The Bottom

One of the most enjoyable things about blogging is the amazing photographers, professional and non-professional that share their photographs for all to enjoy. A lot of the photographs that are shared are due to various challenges as the one I will be sharing with you today, well technically it’s night (2:30)but I couldn’t sleep so I am writing.

Irene from Heaven’s Sunshine was following the challenge for stairs from Pic And A Word by Patrick Jennings. Her picture was so inspiring to me, I told her I was going to write about it, so I did. I hope you enjoy it and do stop by Irene’s blog for some wonderful pictures.

Steps to the Cross — Bailly Cemetery – Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

THE CLIMB

I see and maintain it still is not fair,

I have nothing to lay at the top of the stair.

It’s not my fault, I did nothing wrong,

Well, maybe I did, it’s just been so long.

How long has it been since I climbed to the top,

I remember it’s relief, Why did I stop?

How can a symbol of such astounding grief,

Be given to us to bring so much relief?

With love so amazing, to the cross did He die,

To flood us with gratitude that still makes us cry.

The burdens we carry don’t always seem fair,

Always we can lay them at the top of the stair.

The first step looks brittle, can it carry my weight?

This burden is heavy and may seal my dire fate.

As I touch each step and climb ever higher,

Is this what I should do, is this really my desire?

As I clear the last step, the cross is before me,

I question my worth, did He also die for me?

As my knees get bent, I am smothered by His grace,

And I lay all my burdens at the accepting cross base.

– Anita Tillman Neal –

Always remember there is a burden carrier and it isn’t you. Scripture tells us repeatedly that He is there to carry our burden for us, we just have to be willing to give them to Him.

And as always I remind everyone the much loaded value of kindness. Carry it with you where ever you go and share as much as possible.

Heaven’s Peace

heaven

Christmas is right around the corner. A lot of us are still zipping around and getting ready with gifts, food preparations and house readiness for family and visitors. Sometimes we forget this time of year is a time for quiet reflections on the past year, the coming year, what is happening in the world, in my country, in my town, in our individual lives. Nathanpatrickroach made a profound statement in his blog The reason for the Season and why Jesus had to come in the first place. Its worth the read if you have not seen it. Gives you a different perspective.

This morning we sang O Come, O Come Emanuel, which is one of my favorite songs this time of year. The Piano Guys version of this song will put chills down your spine, at lease it does for me. I could not figure out how to post it here.

The last verse really resonated with me this morning and I thought I would share it with you.

O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heartfelt mind.

Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease,

Fill all the world with heavens peace,

Rejoice, Rejoice!

Emanuel shall come to thee O Israel. Amen

For all of mankind to come together in one heartfelt mind with heavens peace. May we all come together this season in love, peace and kindness.

Advent Continues, Weekly Prompts

GC and Sue W have created a prompt that is so up my alley. The joys and traditions surrounding Christmas are my most favorite of the year. See their prompt below to join in on the fun and share your photos.

http://weeklyprompts.com/2018/12/14/advent-continues

For me and my daughter, we start preparing the week before Thanksgiving but this year we started the 1st week on November as I was due for surgery the second week and I was not going to miss out on my decorating. We are also major college football fans, so every year there is an off weekend where our team does not play. That is the designated day for Christmas decoration shopping day. Sometimes we find something and sometime we don’t but it has become a yearly tradition we look forward to with love and fond memories.

When I decided to move from the deep south to the midwest for a new job, my daughter wanted to come. He job was going nowhere and her last relationship had crashed and burned. So we moved together. We were fortunate to find the perfect house with a walk out basement and a kitchen on both floors. So she is downstairs where it stays cooler to her liking and I am upstairs. Close to each other but separated as well.

My daughter and I are both suffers of the same…”illness?!?” – YCHTMC – An acronym for “You Can’t Have Too Much Christmas”.

Upstairs I have are 3 full size trees and 3 table trees. Down stairs my daughter has 3 smaller full size trees and 1 table tree.

IMG_20181107_085732 — Dining Room Tree / Village

IMG_20181108_154144 — Bedroom Tree with Santa and Chris Moose

Below are the downstairs trees in her large living area.

I have 6 multiple pieced nativity sets in various styles, colors and sizes with many single unit nativity scenes.

My biggest set has individual lights for each house and my smallest is actually a fountain.

My daughter has 2 multiple pieced nativity sets and several single unit scenes.The reason I have more is I have been doing it longer. It is a sickness I inherited from my mother and I have several ornaments that were hers. It is a family affair. With my sons, their wives keep them in check.

I am also an angel collector and most of those stay out year round; they just get located in a different location allowing other and numerous table decorations. Plus there is the village that grew this year and now has a section located in a different spots which houses the country scenes and the Christmas tree village.

There are traditional decorations, whimsical decorations and some just silly decorations but laughter and the love of Christ is what Christmas is to me. Through November I have displayed some of my pictures so I will repost a few but you are interested you can review my other post from November.

I sincerely hope you all have a marvelous Christmas regardless of your religious affiliation. It is a season of love hope and caring and we must always be considerate and kind to each other, especially at this season. There are many hurting during this time of year and will need and extra hand of kindness shared with them so please share kindness when you can.

Enjoy my love and fun of the season.