Advent moments

What a wonderful surprise to be greeted with a wonderful Wing trio in the lobby of my building at lunch today. I was hungry but I ignored it, had my crochet with me a plopped right down and crocheted snowflakes for tree ornaments. What a lovely peaceful way to spend my lunch hour in an unusually busy workday.

Thankful for many things but have time time to list them now as I am meeting my hubby in 2 min, thankful for him too!

Another week closer...

Another weekend gone and back to work I go. But I did get to squeeze in some me time this weekend which is the first time in my short memory it seems! Time to enjoy Christmas and do some fun handiwork. The clouds are back after a week of brilliant sun and views! Almost unheard of, and I am so glad to see the clouds again. Most don't see it but I see and love their unique beauty just as much as the sun.




136. Clouds and rain again! 137. Great deal on a whole chicken and roast and yummy meals for my family ready to go for the week. 138. My husband working hard and still finding time to help me139. Family140. Fun day out with the parents141. Creativity142. Red hair

Important

Now I know how important this practice has become to me! I missed yesterday and my day did not go well and I feel quite certain they are related. I had so much to do yesterday I just did not have time to be thankful along the way. Very sad and bad of me and I paid for it! And now as much as I got done I did not get it all done and thats all I focused on, not all the great things I did get done which I would have had I been looking for things to be Thankful for.
Today I read my daily devotion and what would you know it was this...


Do Not Yield to Discouragement
"They looked...and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud" (Exod. 16:20).
Get into the habit of looking for the silver lining of the cloud and when you have found it, continue to look at it, rather than at the leaden gray in the middle.
Do not yield to discouragement no matter how sorely pressed or beset you may be. A discouraged soul is helpless. He can neither resist the wiles of the enemy himself, while in this state, nor can he prevail in prayer for others. From Streams in the Dessert, for the rest go here
And this great poem

"Keep looking up--
The waves that roar around thy feet,
Jehovah-Jireh will defeat
When looking up.
"Keep looking up--
Though darkness seems to wrap thy soul;
The Light of Light shall fill thy soul
When looking up.
"Keep looking up--
When worn, distracted with the fight;
Your Captain gives you conquering might
When you look up."


What a great reminder of the importance of this, and what great timing He always has, we should not forget.

130. For all the things accomplished regardless of how many are still yet to be done
131. For fellowship tonight while we celebrate the awaiting of Christ's birth
132. For a kind husband always willing to help, even if he does get distracted, let me never forget to be grateful for the willingness, so much more than many get
133. A beautiful Sunrise on the drive to work

134. Mountains to the West and East of me both! How amazing this place is!
135. For Goodwill, mason jars for soup in a jar gifts for .20 cents each!
136.

120. Beautiful cold clear winter days
121. Getting Christmas cards
122. Sitting by the tree stuffing cards with hubby
123. a broken laptop
124. Christmas shopping and great deals
125. Lunch with Mum
126. Date night!
127. Gift certificate to nice restaurant for date night!
128. Christmas lights shining out all over a dark city. 

129. A hot shower on sore muscles 

106. wonderful full weekends
107. A freezer stocked with good food for the week

108. Christmas trees 
109. Clear skies and crisp air
110. Cold refreshing mornings
111. Encouraging others
112. Sunday Worship
113. Family, wonderful parents
114. Husband who cares, even about the littlest things
115. Advent, His coming ever nearer
116. New recipes, $.75 a serving!
117. Having a job to go to still 
118. Wonderful banana Muffins! Thanks Rachel @ Beans& Rice
119. Full fast day

Shrouded in Fog?

I was fortunate enough to have light traffic this morning and got to work early so I sat in the conference room to do my morning prayers as I watched the sun come up behind the mountains and it was majestic! I do enjoy the view from the 10th floor here. ( Poor sample of what I see as my camera' s broken) 

So I had a great few moments to start my day, imagine the above with purple outlining them as the sun rises. Then within 30 min the fog rolled in and I can't even see the building next to us, less than a block away! We are shrouded in white. How quickly things can change,and they always do change that fast when my focus is not on my Lord, if I forget to consult and think and thank Him so quickly my view can become so limited and I am confused and can't see. I often wonder why though at this moment it should always feel clear, I need to adjust my focus and look to him not into the fog and He will clear things right up. 


In my morning prayers I read this and loved it, how true it is!

You fearful Saints, fresh courage take,

The clouds you so much dread

Are big with mercy, and shall break

In blessings on your head.

100. My husband volunteering to make the steaks that have been in the freezer for months, so we can have a nice dinner together. 

101. A swift drive with a beautiful view of the sun rising purple over the rugged peaks. I do love the NW.

102. A great weekend to look forward to, hunting a tree, seeing parents both sides, Christmas decorating

103. Getting a start on the decorating and making my mantle beautiful, I realized while I was enjoying myself that we have never had a mantle since we have been married. What a joy, and what a great central thing it makes in a home.

104. Sweet Christians at work blessing me
105. Wonderful bloggers giving me cooking ideas for my weekend cook-a-thon
106. 

He can do more

"Look from the place where thou art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it" (Gen. 13:14-15).

No instinct can be put in you by the Holy Ghost but He purposes to fulfill. Let your faith then rise and soar away and claim all the land you can discover.  --S. A. Keen

All you can apprehend in the vision of faith is your own. Look as far as you can, for it is all yours. All that you long to be as a Christian, all that you long to do for God, are within the possibilities of faith. Then come, still closer, and with your Bible before you, and your soul open to all the influences of the Spirit, let your whole being receive the baptism of His presence; and as He opens your understanding to see all His fulness, believe He has it all for you. Accept for yourself all the promises of His word, all the desires He awakens within you, all the possibilities of what you may be as a follower of Jesus. All the land you see is given to you. Quoted 

He can do more than we can ever hope or imagine.  I have found this true so many times, we have big dreams or ideas about things and even with it seemly goes in a bad direction with time I can always see why He had a better, bigger plan that I could have imagined for myself.  It is hard to remember this when you are in the middle of it though, why do we seem to have such sort memories.

Thats why I enjoyed the quoted above from todays Streams in the dessert  reminding me that he gives us the desirers and dreams we have for a reason and He loves to delight His children and give us the desires of our heart even if in a way we don't want or expect, I truly believe the end result is fulfilling our desires. But there are so many more ways of filling those desires than the limited ideas we have. And thank God.

This also bring me to my weekly Bible study and our discussion of being a wife and the important role we have in the home. And giving weight to how important that role is, and not to put it down like we tend to do. I have a strong desire to be home and make it "homey" but I often put myself down for this desire as there are seemly so many more important things for me to do. But I am reminded though the study and through this great blog how very important it is to make time for the home. And to strive to make your home a place of peace for others to come and enjoy. And to not spend all your energy on other outside things and put it last. 

Come with me as I discover how this works when you are out of the home for a necessary job 12 hours a day. I know God has me where I am for a reason so I know it must be possible, but I would love to see more tangible instructions some times. 

90. Family fun and smiling babies

91. Fun Family Christmas portraits 

92. Crisp cold air in the morning

93. Hot steaming coffee to go with it

94. Daily prayers with a view of sun rise over the mountains 

95. A night all at home tonight

96. Christmas decorating

97. My beautiful mantle

98. Cozy by the fire

99. Candle light

81. Fruit in winter
82. Purple mountains majesty, literally!

83. Dinner being made ( heated up) by my dear husband as we speak
84. An almost night at home for the first time in 10 days!
85. Kind people who give me dinner out certificates to share with my honey!
86. Getting to work on time even when I slept in a little to much! Light traffic thank God!
87. Getting family pictures and making Mum's day!
88. A job today
89. Beautiful manmade things (my wedding ring, painting etc)

Belated Thanks

70. My husband for offering to help in any way, bless him!
71. A wonderful group of woman to talk about being a Godly wife with!
72. A great conversation with a new friend about getting married and all that it means
73. A small group tonight to talk over a great sermon
74. New relationships as they get closer
75. New babies
76. Wonderful family, particularly the Godly living with the not so much, bless them in all they do to live out Gods love each day in their own home to their families
77. Laughter with family, crazy chaos, great fun all for no money
78. A great day out on the snowshoes, enjoying Gods creation

79. Seeing the mountains today on a clear day with the full moon coming out over the top of them, amazing site, God has such a creative nature!
80. God is faithful and uses me to bless others lives, what a difference it makes, made my week to clearly see how I blessed another

What a difference

What a difference a loaf of bread makes. Bread Recipe What therapy it is to have things accomplished. I was home and relaxed with my hubby long enough to rally round and then was able to get some bread baked, boil down and strip that old roast chicken into wonderful broth for soups to come, chop up and free the veggies that are starting to go. Just having laundry put away is such a pleasure, why is that? I still have a million things to do tonight but at least I know those are out of the way. The Holiday season is on us so that won't stop, but I am thrilled to have a simple Holiday this year, most of our family has agreed not to do gifts, so I have only 5 things to buy most of which are done. What wonderful time I will have to do other Christmas pleasures!


60. Clean laundry
61. Warm bread
62. Wonderful aroma's coming from the kitchen
63. Curling up on the couch with my husband
64. Sleeping on the bus on the way to work
65. Having my husband see me off this morning
66. Quiet calming fog out the window
67. Reconciliation only God can bring
68. Lives changed, Praise God
69. He never leaves us no matter what


"Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye Heavenly host
Praise father son and Holy Ghost!
Amen!"


Many blessings to you and yours!

Hard Days

I knew the day would come when I started this that it would be much harder than expected. I did not think it would come so soon! Its hard to think of reasons to be grateful today! I accomplished nothing over the weekend and have to come tom work anyway knowing my house is waiting to greet me when I get home with all its messes. I ... you know all day I have been playing out all the reasons in my head why I don't feel like being Thankful today and now that I am here writing it feels so unnecessary to put words to them and show-how give the reasons more power over me than they have already. Sick tired in pain, why do I need to talk about it, as I meant to write about these things as soon as I am here writing, thanks are coming to mind so why fight it, and praise be to God and the Spirit for keeping my mind where it should be.
51. Husbands
52. Friends to chat with through the day and keep it light
53. Crafts to keep our hands busy
54. Hot stew on a cold day
55. Dreams of snow for the weekend!
56. Mountains just shining in the barely light
57. Roast chicken and mashed potatoes waiting for me!
58. New Shoes
59. Almost the end of the month and staying on budget!
60. A car that works to drive me home!

Thanfulness

"... Give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

~1Thessalonians 5:18

More encouragement to keep it up. I need it all! Days get busy and fly by, and hardly have time to pause, to turn our eyes on Him and acknowledge, isn't that all He wants, a brief acknowledgment? Don't we all have time for that and yet another day past without hardly a thought. 

"Holy Sprit help me to remember, bring things to my eyes that will make me pause and take those moments to look to the Father" 

40. My husband visiting with a hug mid day

41. Him taking the car in to be fixed during my work day buying me a few more hours this weekend! Huge blessing!

42. Pleasant cheerful people on the phone

43. A weekend ahead

44. A wonderful church

45. Christmas cards almost done, one thing down!

46. Being thankful when I don't feel like it, and feeling better for it.

47. A night out with my hubby

48. Sleeping in tomorrow!!!!!

49. Holidays to come

More Thankfulness

No good, I am struggling already, mostly because it has been a busy day and I have not had time to think on them all day. Which means no time for memorization either, oh no! Well maybe after my work day has ended. We will see.
30. For the amazing creation of new life
31. A compliment from my boss!
32. The mountains coming back out from the clouds just in time for twilight, its beautiful!
33. Chopin and a comfortable couch at lunch with Gods word
34. Blogs that bless me daily, those faithful woman of God
35. Bible study with other faithful friends tonight
36. An evening with my hubby, fun at Costco over :"dinner"
37. Finding great deals on Christmas presents we can afford to bless the children in our lives with
38. Rain, wonderful rain on a good dry coat, nothing better, I know its strange and I can't explain but its true
39. Dinner made over the weekend waiting at home for me

That was easy, I underestimated myself 5 min, thats all it took and 10 things easy! I am encouraged, now if I can just have surprise quite time to memorize!
I was greatly encouraged to keep this up by this post today! Another good reason to keep it up!

As I look out the window to the distance, all I can see if white the fog is thick. Yet yesterday I had a view for miles of those beautiful snow toped peaks. But they are still there, I know they are there if I can see them or not. Why does God test out faith like this, sometimes I feel He sets a fog up in front of Him and I can’t see the hand in front of me, yet He was there before and I know He is there still regardless of my vision.  Oh how we wait for the sun to return.

Though I was reading in  RainCity Pastor  and in the article he linked to about another dark age coming, as with the fall of Rome many things were forgotten including technologies of all kinds but other things also. If we are in the fog long, how long will it take to forget what the view for miles and the mountains looked like? I fear we soon forget, and being in Seattle were the winters are often dark I think we are often surprised by the Spring having almost forgotten that it was like.

“Lord, thank you for your Word and help us to always look to it as a reminder of Your promises to us and what we are looking toward. Help us to never forget. If we are going into the winter of days may we always remember the light on the mountains and the beautiful view we once enjoyed and will enjoy again.”

Back to Memorization

So many things today, I am inspired once again by A holy experience on scripture memorization. I was in a Bible Quiz team all through Middle and High school where we memorized a book of the New Testament each year. I have experienced so fully the wonderful benefit of having the word hidden in your heart. And though I have not been actively memorizing in my adult life (shame on me) I have had so many of these wonderful nuggets of Gods truth come to mind in just such a time as they are needed. I rarely remember the reference but there is no mistaking Gods truth.

And so to that end I am going to try to start again! Psalm 19 has always been my favorite and as I have memorized New Testament in the past I am excited to have a Psalm.

Psalm 19

 ¹The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork.

 ²Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.

 ³There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

A good start for today anyway.

But not to forsake my daily thanksgiving that’s are brimming from me as I train my mind to look for them they seem to creep up everywhere, isn’t that the great nature of our Lord, if we would but train our eyes to look or seek we always find. Praise God!

21. Fog rolling over a body of water before your very eyes

22. For freshly snow dusted mountains in the distance, like a beautiful promise of things to come when you reach them

23. Lunch with Mother

24. Family even when they make you crazy, they are always there for you

25. Date Night even when its dinner at “the club” (Costco that is)

26. A husband that wants and makes time for date night, even when its a trip to Costco

27. Finding other believers in the work place, and then to discover they are doing the same Beth Moore study as church as you are across town!

28. Watching the clouds settle back down over the mountains, knowing they will be back tomorrow, even if I can’t see them

29. A quiet night at home

30. Nice cold glass of iced water at the end of a long day

Blessings Because of Trials

I feel blessed today. After good conversation with friends last night I realize more and more how blessed I have been through my spiritual Journey. I have had very clear up and downs, but as I can look back through the down times I am so clearly able to see Gods hand at work. What an amazing gift. I watch others struggle with knowing if God has the best for them and if He is faithful and wants only good for them, and I amazing never have these questions in my heart. I am so very grateful he has led me to know His love for me and to clearly have seen it. Because without being able to look back at what he has done and how He has always been faithful, and loving and worked it out for my good, and always provided, I would not know so confidently that He will do it again.
I love my oldest Bible, when I open it, it falls open easily to pages that have been long open and worn, old friends whom I have visited much. It also falls open to reveal all the old tokens tucked into the pages over the years, a flower, pictures of friends who were once meaningful in my life story and now long forgotten, prayers on scraps of paper once pressed into my hands by Godly woman, bookmarks with verses long ago memorized, and child's drawings given with love many years past. Its a great reminder of my story, how it has been made and where it has come from. may I never forget. 
“He works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called together for His purpose.“
“Bless the Lord o my soul, with ALL that is within me Bless His Holy Name!” Ps 103

Blessed

I have been so inspired by so many woman’s blogs, and encouraged to remember to be grateful, and as I consider my blogging to have an excuse to turn my eyes on Him, and readjust my focus throughout the day.

I feel so amazingly blessed, and yet life is hard and I have very little in my day to day that is not challenging or difficult, and yet I feel blessed. I also feel full of joy and peace though very little in my day to day is particularly pleasant or fun. Isn’t God amazingly good! Only He can give us these inexplicable emotions that have no logical connection to our condition. I love this about our God. And so I will start listing the many things He has blessed me with, lest I ever forget.

1.      1.         My husband wrapping me in his arms when I get home at night
2.       The fall, wonderful leaves changing
3.       A job, even if just for now and His perfect provision just when we need it
4.       For new life when you first hear a pregnancy has begun
5.       The view out my work window, to snow capped peaks many days and the beautiful place I am blessed to live.
6.       For wonderful rain and fresh air while you walk with hot coffee in hand
7.       For my car breaking this month when I have the money to fix it and not the last few months when I wouldn’t have been able to.
8.       Whispered conversations with my husband in the dark late of night in the pillows
9.       For woman of God who encourage me daily through their questions and conversation about this walk we share
10.   A beautiful hot cup of tea on a cold afternoon
11.   The silence of a walk in the snow, may there be many more
12.   The wonderful Advent season to come
13.   Family who bless many days and sometimes not but for always being there to turn to
14.   Wonderful Godly parents who have always pointed my way to Christ in everything they did
15.   Little opportunities to serve people with God’s love
16.   Small quiet still moments with God in my day
17.   A home to live in, even if it’s not mine
18.   My homes beautiful surroundings that I enjoy each and every day
19.   Warm bread from the oven
20.   Food made with another’s loving hands

If I do 10 a day it will take 100 days to reach 1000 which was the challenge, I have a good start today but we will see as the time goes on how hard it is to come up with 10 each day.