Hope in God…

Since my theme word for 2011 is HOPE I couldn’t resist taking this picture when baby granddaughter and I were playing together the other day.

This scripture from the Psalms seemed to be a perfect fit.

Still following,

Elizabeth

Presto-change-0….from Christmas to beachy…

For Christmas I made this little hanger out of driftwood for my Target bird ornaments.

After Christmas, some sand dollars, some starfish, some twine and a glue gun…

I’m lovin’ it!

For Christmas, this was the perfect little holiday touch in our bedroom.

After Christmas, all I had to do was trade the N for a V and rearrange the O-E-L

and now I have the perfect décor for our room heading into Valentine’s Day or even longer.

Happy Friday Everyone!

Elizabeth

Flowers…

This $4 bunch of white carnations has gotten an awful lot of attention by me on my blog this week!

Every day they’ve brought a smile to my face and even the Hubs said, “I like having fresh flowers in the house.”  

To me this translates into permission granted to buy them more often!

In the summer I have daisies and hydrangeas and other “free” flowers to bring inside,

but having fresh flowers in the house in the winter is most definitely a simple pleasure!

 

 

Still following,

Elizabeth

Falling in love again…

 

I know it’s supposed to be a relationship

a Divine Romance

culminating in a great wedding feast.

So sometimes the words

“spiritual discipline”

seem the antithesis

to romance.

On January 1, 2010

I bought a new One Year Bible

and decided to try again.

I’ve read the Bible through many times

but never made it within the one year goal…

I’d get behind, and never catch up.

This year I did it

Finishing on December 31st, 2010.

Sometimes it wasn’t very romantic…

more like performing my wifely duty…

checking it off my to-do list.

I kept my journal close at hand

recording the verses that broke through to mind and heart

and became personal.

But all too often,

it seemed rushed,

not relaxing,

not romance,

rather disappointing.

December came and all around were celebrations for the birth of the babe

focusing in Matthew and Luke

but I was reading the book that begins with the words

“This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ”.

Instead of getting caught up in who is the beast

and what does this or that mean

I looked for Him

the One Whom my soul loves.

I wanted,

I needed,

my own personal Revelation of Jesus Christ.

And I saw Him…

full of fiery passion,

the Alpha the Omega,

the Beginning and the End,

the One Who Was, Who Is, Who Is To Come,

The One spoken of

that the kingdoms of this world

will become the kingdoms of

our God

and of His Christ

and He shall reign forever and ever,

The Mighty Warrior Who will in that great day

make wrong things right

and deal with the enemy

once and for all.

At year’s end

a year of “spiritual discipline”

that some days seemed dry, dusty, duty

I fell in love with Him

all over again.

 

Still following,

Elizabeth

just some $4 flowers and a walk…

God created beauty to minister to the spirit of man.

I read this somewhere long ago and I wholeheartedly believe it.

 

I wake up with my spirit feeling a little frayed at the edges.

I have good intentions.  I know how to fight it.

Journal, read my Bible, pray.

I journal a bit and barely start reading scriptures that I have printed out on the topic of HOPE…my theme word for 2011, when the phone rings, and then more calls, emails, interruptions, concerns, prayer needs, appointments to calendar in.  I feel as though the enemy has a hold of those loose, frayed, threads and is pulling with all his might.

I go to Mama’s to check on her and meet with the hospice nurse.

On the way home I run into Safeway for a gallon of fat free milk

and come out with a $4 bunch of carnations too.

When I get home I plunk them in some shapely pitchers and jars,

here and there around the house.

I put on my runners, my coat and my knit cap and gloves

and catch the last hour of frosty, clear, cold daylight before sunset.

  I discover that the IPOD is not charged, so I softly sing my praise acappella as I walk.

I walk two loops around the neighborhood,

my fingers tingling with the cold in spite of the gloves.

The sun flirts with me through the trees before saying goodnight.

The beauty He created knits me back together.

 

Still following,

Elizabeth

 

I can see clearly now…

I didn’t name 2010.

  I didn’t have a theme verse.

  I didn’t have a special word.

Nothing.

Then 1/1/11 dawned,

not Portland gray, cloudy, rainy,

but beautiful, blue, clear, frosty.

I could see clearly.

I looked back and I saw,

2010 was

the year of

letting go

and

letting God.

It was hard and beautiful all wrapped into twelve months, 52 weeks, 365 days.

My heart is raw and tender and yielded and pliable.

Ready for the seeds

of

HOPE

God has planted

to take root

and

bear much fruit.

I can see clearly.

God had and has good plans for us .

my continuing gratitude list #829-#842

-Mama’s caregivers and hospice workers, (so many of them wonderful, praying believers)

-grandson showing me his newest lost tooth via Skype

-oldest granddaughter showing me her new two front teeth

(why do those first new teeth always look as big as Chiclets?)

-favor and blessing, even in the little things

-a new lampshade on sale for $1.49

-new Adidas running shoes on sale for $21.99

-an unsolicited bank account upgrade that gives interest on our balance

-new offices and meeting room space for Truelife Church

-the Hubs having fun watching his favorite football team win

-finishing my one year Bible reading program on the last day of 2010

-HOPE

-Jeremiah 29:11

-a special Sunday… sending out our son-in-law and daughter and a team from our church…celebrating our new church plant…my Hubs great message

-our son-in-law’s kind and encouraging words

 

Gratefully yours,

Elizabeth

Hope…

 

Happy New Year!

My theme for 2011 is

 

“Year of Preparation”

 

and my word for 2011 is

 

HOPE .

 

God promises us in Jeremiah 29:11 a future filled with hope.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer. 29:11 NLT

(I’m memorizing this one!  Want to join Beth Moore in memorizing scripture this year?

 Click here.)

 

You can read more about my theme for this year here.

 

I am so thankful for all of you wonderful blog friends.

I’m looking forward to what God has in store for us this year!

 

Elizabeth