Perhaps it will "take" this time

I've tried this blogging thing before but it seems to be an annual task at this point.  So, as my Blog is entitled - new beginnings.

In this new chapter of life, there is now time to participate in Bible Studies, mentoring relationships, taking dinner to friends who've hit a bump in the road, attend grandchildren's field days and theater productions and mostly, time shared with God.

In this week's Bible Study, God gave me some notable thoughts.  The scripture references were:

Psalm 119: 9-16:  How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.

Colossians 3:16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

The underlines are His commands or decrees and the italics are what should be our responses to them.  The overall thought for me was that we are to be completely immersed with God, saturated - our every thought, our every conversation, our every action.  God does not want to be a hobby to us.  Bible Study - check.  Devotions - check.  Prayer time - check.  I'm not supposed to fit him in between HEB and getting my nails done.  He's not a task in my daily planner.  (Or I should say one of my daily planners because I have several - like new - which should give great insight into my previous God time.  He fit in between all the things I would have on my planner if I actually used a planner.)

The second thought came as we were reading I Peter 3:15-16  But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...  In our "rightness" and little box we live in (no matter how many times we've traded our box for a new and improved enlightened version of us) we must not make others feel small in order to prove that we serve a big God.

We are to know God.  Know the Word.  Search the scriptures to prove that what we hear is what God said - not just the words of someone we hold in high esteem.  Have a relationship with Jesus Christ and acknowledge him as the Son of God.  Remember we are chosen in Christ and saved by His amazing grace.  And we are to share...with gentleness and respect...the hope that we have.


And that is my stepping off point for today.  We'll see where God leads tomorrow.  

What I've learned in the past few weeks...

I've learned that loss is just that....loss. It can't be replaced or filled by something else. It's there and will always be there. You just have to decide how you want to deal with it. You can go back to it as a horrible tragedy that only brings sadness or bitterness and pain and remains a big hole in your heart or go to a place that you visit with memories of precious moments spent together, words written in correspondence, recollections from family and friends and a place  filled with their presence. 


A place of warmth and comfort that they would give you if they were here. 


It's still sad but in that place you find hope and encouragement to keep their memory alive in how you live...the good parts of them that you pass on and keep alive.

A New Year...a New Normal...All aboard!

Life has brought many changes.  Crissy and the kids moved out, Shawna made her home in Italy, my Dad died, Crissy and her babies moved away and most recently the loss of my Mom, my last parent. Randy and I now will begin a life as a couple - just the two of us, finding us.  Being a people pleaser and especially a parent pleaser, this is a brand new journey.  In a sense, a time for being just me.  I guess the me I was meant to be.  The person God created.  Not sure where this is leading and it's kind of exciting and yet scary.  I'm too old, really, for new but who knows, maybe God's plan was for "such a time as this".  


To my daughters:  be your own person.  Live God's plans and not mine.  Make his dreams your dreams and his plans your plans.  Remember that a plan is a beginning and a process.  Stay the course.  It may not make sense at times but stay on track.  Just like a train, you can't jump off the track and expect a smooth journey and to reach your desired destination. He knows the turns, the hills and the valleys and what is just around each bend.  You can trust him.  He wants to prove that to you. 


Today was a crummy day but tomorrow doesn't have to be.  So, here goes.  God, I'm putting my hand in yours. (big breath) This train is leaving the station.

Redecorating

Redecorating is what I do.  Take things I already have and put them in a new room, hang on a different wall, group with a new object or two.  Today during worship I realized that is what I do spiritually as well.  There are these closets and lovely storage boxes and rooms where all the experiences of my life have been stored.  They've never been removed or given to God to deal with but neatly and in the lovliest of fashion, stored away.