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Monday, January 23, 2012

Close Connection


"Keep company with Me,
and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
(Matthew 11:30)

Encouragement this morning, at the start of a week filled with many things, many tasks - 
"Connect with Me often today - all through the day. Make Me your focus - not your many tasks, not the people, not the circumstances of today. Just focus on walking with Me and keeping company with Me. And I will take care of everything else." (from my journal)

Thankful for reminders in recent weeks/months, when the busyness of life threatens us, and robs us of peace - to carve moments throughout the day for connection. Like a cup of cozy carmel coffee, or cappuccino - picking up the Words that give Life - connecting with God. Gaining perspective, gaining Peace.

"Intersperse these peaceful interludes abundantly throughout your day ... As you live in close contact with Me, the Light of My Presence filters through you to bless others. Your weakness and woundedness are the openings through which the Light of the knowledge of My Glory shines forth." (Jesus Calling)

Thanking Him for Peace and for the Light of His Presence ~ and continuing to count His gifts. Sharing these from this past week:

Words that give Life and Light ~
"The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need." (Psalm 23:1)
"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone." (James 1: 5-6a)
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)
"My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." (II Cor. 12:9)

Every day joys ~
Packing away of Christmas decoration boxes - finally.
Starting to use iCal - why didn't I use it earlier?
Finding flights that work for us for the SV Director's Conference in Florida next month.
More progress in digital scrapbooking lessons.
Good progress on our next newsletter.
A new book arriving in the mail - Healthy Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.
Our staff meeting on Wednesday.
The start-up of Beth Moore's James Study, joining friends from our church Thursday morning.
Time for shopping and errands later in the afternoon.
Two more pages done - digital scrapbooking.
Photos - a way to capture memories.
Learning a bit more about making photo collages in PSE.
Joining a Connection Group at our church - with just a 20 minute drive for my husband and me.

Blessings of family ~
Long phone call from a daughter in Texas.
A four year-old granddaughter who loves to color.
The beautifully colored (and cut out) princess she colored.



A visit with my 90 year-old father, taking him some goodies, and some things he asked us to pick up for him.
Three grandkids here overnight Friday-Saturday.
A "pizza picnic" in our family room - they loved it.
Such happy grandkids - an evening and morning of laughter and fun together. 

Happy grandkids at breakfast-time on Saturday morning ...

Hearing beautiful words from four year-old granddaughter - "I love you, grama". And these words, "I'll miss you, grama", when I told three year-old grandson that I needed to go into the bathroom for a bit and get ready for the day!

Thanking God for these blessings, and many more. And thanking Him for His grace and mercy, always loving us, even in our weaknesses.

"We now have this light shining in our hearts,
but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars
containing this great treasure.
This makes it clear that our great power
is from God, not from ourselves."
(II Cor. 4:7)

(The Joy Dare for 2012 - #43-68)

Counting gifts along with others at A Holy Experience; counting 1000 gifts in 2012.


5 comments:

  1. Grand picnic pics! Grand-mothering...only when you start to live it is it revealed to be all the people have said it would be. Additionally, I enjoyed the categories you have given to your list of journal entries and blessings. In re-reading my 800 plus list I find just such an assortment of themes for further contemplation.

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  2. Grandchildren are such a gift, such a blessing.
    I love the picture on your blog. It feels peaceful when the page opens. It makes me want to come back.

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  3. I'm sure I was divinely led over to your blog today....We have so much in common that I felt right at home.....

    Your post was such an encouragement to me and I will definitely be back....I am your newest follower....

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  4. What a beautiful life! I love the verses; I love your gratitude list; I love the pictures. Can't wait til I have grandchildren too and get new crayon drawings for my refrigerator.

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  5. Hi Cherry,
    Thanks for coming over for a visit and leaving your sweet comments....

    I didn't realize until after I posted my comment that you are with Student Venture....We have some dear friends in Texas that have been with Student Venture for years. They started off with Campus Crusade many years ago and moved over to Student Venture..They were in Plano, Texas for most of their ministry time and have since moved to Fresno, Texas. They are Randy and Jennifer Creech...

    I joined your Student Venture site because i really want to support what you are doing....It is a wonderful ministry that has touched so many young lives for the Lord.

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