MY NEW PORCH

 I have had the privilege of having another new porch. As we have moved to a part of the country that is warm and generally no snow. I had been able to redecorate!

Many times in our lives we have made decisions to redecorate a room or two.  Have you ever thought of the need to redecorate our heart and soul? Many have, many have not!  I always like to redecorate and rearrange. For me this pattern of decisions has allowed me to experience things in a new way. Could use the same furniture or basics; but movement of things gives a different perspective. 

So then, How about taking some time to redecorate and renew our soul. Take time to move that negative thinking in our lives to a place of no return. That place is at the foot of the cross. A place of forgiveness where we find grace!

For I am about to do something new.
    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? Isaiah 43: 19a (NLT).

Now go start redecorating!!!

A New Calendar

 A new year means we flip the calendar and begin a new time.  Have you thought about your calendar for this new yer of 2022.  Some people check their calendar more than one time a day because the days activity could change often.  Some people use a calendar to remember birthdays and holidays. I remember my mom used a pocket calendar to write each January everyone's birthday, so she would send them a card. This task was very important to her every January. It could be considered a ritual. 

Are our rituals as important as writing important things to remember?

Some people use this new calendar to begin a new journal or maybe a new book list of reading ideas and accomplishments to be completed.

For me, it is a time of remembering what occurred the previous year and what I look forward to in the freshness of a new calendar. 

So let's get a new calendar, fill in the important dates to remember and believe that God will take care of the rest.

“So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time." Mark 6:34 ( The Living Bible)

 

Part 4 - ADVENT

                                                            A-D-V-E-N-T 

Today we remember the day that Jesus came to earth in the body of a new born baby. He came freely from his home in heaven, so that we could come to believe that He would grow to be the Savior of the world. 

That little hard, straw filled creche, became His cradle! 

The first photo is a picture of where they believe Jesus was born in Bethlehem. 

 

 Luke 2:7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. (NLT)

This photo is one that depicts what the bed of the new born king was laid to sleep!

A Star, A Star - the Shepherds saw the bright star in the east and followed it... The wise men saw the star and followed it.

We can look upon the heavens at night and see the stars and know that we can always be reminded of that great night over two thousand of years ago!

 

Matthew 2: 1-2  "Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking", ² "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,  and we have come to worship him." (NLT)

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Advent - Part 3

                                                             A-D-V-E-N-T

    Navigation takes practice and patience. A great tool to use is a compass! It provides for us the direction to get to our destination.  

As a Christian we use the Holy Scripture as our compass, it will lead us to our eternal destination, our place in eternity with God.

This Advent, let us sharpen our compass skills and walk toward our eternal place, a Life with Christ!

How many times have you made hot chocolate with marshmellows as a tradition when decorating the Christmas tree? 

     We sing Christmas carols and light the Advent wreath each year to remind us of the first night of Jesus's birth. The tradition of Advent helps us to re-think what should be important! A Savior born in a small town on a hillside in Bethlehem. The tradition of love, joy and eternity!

Advent - Part 2

V - Vision - When we think about Advent we might not think about vision, yet having vision is so important! Vision tells us of what is to come. The anticipation of the birth of Jesus the Son of God in that small town in Palestine...Bethlehem!  

 

 

 

 

 

Vision helps us to think about what life will be like once his birth is announced through the singing of the angels!

Let us never loose our vision for what God has for us!

 

 

 

 

E - Eternal - When we think about eternity, it is very hard to wrap our brains around forever. Have you ever tried to describe eternity to a child, they struggle just as adults do when trying to comprehend forever. Yet God teach us that He has forgiven our sins as far as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:12 "He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west." (NLT).

Out of Advent comes vision and things eternal!

ADVENT - Part 1

 Tomorrow we begin another Advent Season! A season of wait and anticipation. 

                                              A - Anticipation

        We begin another season of anticipation. A season of waiting, a season of looking to what may be right around the corner. For those who have found faith, this waiting time comes every year! This time when the seasons change, the leaves fall to the ground and the weather shows how each person needs change to bring forth a fresh new awakening!

                                                        D - Devotion

        This time of Advent we can begin to find time for devotion and reflection. A time to bring our spiritual being into focus and rightness with the Creator of all things! This time of devotion can look different for everyone. A walk along the shoreline, a trail path in the mountains, a sidewalk in a busy city. Let the God of Lights enlighten your heart, let Him be revelation to the thoughts in your mind, heart and soul and, a new revelation be received!                                                     

 

                                                         

                                                        V - Vision

                                                        E - Eternal

                                                        N - Navigate

                                                        T - Tradition

A New Porch

 Today, I return to "the porch"! 

It is new! 

In it's newness, you will see similarities from the previous porch and a fresh new environment outside. 

It is hard to comprehend that the years just seem to pass by without much of a notice; yet a porch is still always a place to sit and ponder, a place to reflect. 

                                        A place to call home!

A new porch, where I can sit and feel the warmth of the suns rays each morning coming through the windows, and the cool breezes in the evening.  

The porch which protects those who sit from the elements of rain, wind, and unwanted creatures!😀

Now that we have begun our time once again, let us think of these things! 

 

                                        It is 2021!

The new porch has become a place to ponder the world and the state in which it is in. The new porch is a place to lift my voice in contemplation and meditation to the Creator of all things.

Ah!, The new porch brings forth a sense of comfort and familiarity to a place of newness and change.

The new porch, a place of prayer!