Multitude Monday

Cherish Life’s Simple Pleasures  

The above is a sign I have hanging in my living room.  All too often I forget this.  Even when its' reminder is right in front of my face everyday, right there above the television I too often lose myself in. I let myself get so caught up in the 'dailies' of life...in the 'busies' that I allow to steal  my attention and let those simple pleasures slip away. And it's when too many slip away that life's mundane heaviness sets in like a weight on my back, and I find myself asking in achy regret...where did it all go? 

Cherishing those simple pleasures is a choice.  A deliberate, intentional choice. ( Remember -these are my theme(s) for this year?)  No more letting life just pass me by, letting moments with my kids escape me, missing out on opportunities to let God to work in my life  -and therefore missing opportunities to minister to, bless,and encourage others!  I feel like I'm a broken record here, but I'm going to keep saying it until I GET IT!  Habits take time to form, especially when you're having to replace the old/bad ones first.  Although, I want it to be more than a habit.  I want to draw so close to God that it becomes a part of me, that thanks for His bountiful blessings flow freely from my heart and soul and encompass all that I do and say.  That's a pretty tall order, but one that I look forward to seeking out.

So let's begin again, with some highlights of the last couple of week's Gratitude List:

83.  SOOOO thankful for GOD's GRACE!

87.  My hard-workin man!

88.  Love impending inclement weather...so exciting!  (Even when it 'flakes out' on us!)

89.  SNOW DAYS...a break in the routine!

90.  My boy wanting me to play Wii with him

91.  Short work/school weeks

92.  Thankful for church online when we have sick kiddos!

93.  Thankful for my cousin the nurse, who gave us all free flu shots a couple of months ago so we're not experiencing the worst of the sickies goin around!

95.  Noticing the clear blue sky just before dusk (when I was out driving) after it had been cloudy all day

96.  For Ann Voskamp, whom God led me to, to inspire me to take this 1000 Gift journey, her book that I'm about to dive into, her blog, her words that encourage, uplift, and take us closer to Him. 

HAVE A SUPER-FANTASTIC WEEK!

(Click on the picture link below if you'd like to find out more about One Thousand Gifts)

Theme for 2011

Being the new year and all, I've been thinking about my goals for this year.  The thing is, there are so many things I need to work on, that it's hard to make any kind of a list without it being overwhelmingly long.  They are things that each affect another, so it's difficult to even know where to start.  So, I've been trying to come up with a one or two-word "theme" that would tie it all together to focus on.  And this is what I came up with:  DELIBERATE & INTENTIONAL!

DELIBERATE:  carefully thought out in advance; planned; studied; intentional

INTENTIONAL: to be firmly or steadfastly fixed or directed;  having the attention sharply focused or fixed on something; determined or resolved; having the mind or will fixed on some goal; earnest

That pretty much sums it up.  I want - I need - to be more deliberate and intentional with my life.  Specifically, my time - and in turn my actions, and my faith.   As the definitions describe, I need to make a plan, and then firmly affix my mind and attention on it with earnest determination!   That's it!

Wait.....that's it? That's IT? So simple, yet so entangled in poor habits and lack of planning and purpose.  Yes, it will take time.  But I am resolved to make it happen!  I owe it to God and the plan & ministry He has for my life, and to my family, and myself!  


“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. 19 Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands."  Isaiah 43: 18-19, MSG


"Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus.14 I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.15 So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet!"  Philippians 3: 13-15, MSG
 

HERE'S TO A GREAT YEAR AHEAD!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Just wanted to say HAPPY NEW YEAR, since I haven't done that yet!  I've been away from the blog for awhile, but I'm working on some posts that I'll have up soon.  Maybe even today! How 'bout that?  And with them seems to be coming a theme of "grace", so stay tuned! See ya soon!  ;-)