Apologies and New Year

First I want to apologize to my readers for dropping out. I do have a good explanation! I fell helping my hubby put insulation in our attic hitting my head. It caused a concussion and I could not be on the computer or watch tv for any length of time.

Now! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I don't make resolutions, do you?  I used to years ago. It was tradition after all!  Then I found that as the time passed, I either forgot them or felt bad for not keeping them.  I punished myself by my own thoughts.  I looked over my rules to discover that I was leaving the most important things out; living and having fun and joy in my life.

Jesus came that we might have life and live it more abundantly.  He came that we might be saved by His Grace not by laws.  Of course being in His grace doesn't mean we abandon rules - that would lead to chaos.  But it does mean that in Him we can have joy in all things.

I have adapted a word for this year: FOCUS.  Focus on His word. Focus on loving others as He has loved me.  As long as I focus on Him, all will be well.

May your life this year be filled with much favor and many blessings!

Rhonda

The Purpose of Life

We hear people talking and asking, we read books to understand what life is about.  Do we have a purpose on this earth? Do we die when that purpose is fulfilled? Some suggest we are meaningless creatures, a product of reproduction. (To that I totally disagree!) 

I believe that our purpose in life is to love and honor God by serving Him, keeping His commandments, and being a witness.  That by doing what we know as our purpose, we will also be an example to others.

But how do we serve Him? I cannot take Him a cup of coffee, as I would my spouse. I can however give a prayer of thanks that I am able to have the hot cup of coffee and that I have a spouse to joyfully give a cup. I can give the tired waitress an encouraging smile and greeting, as well as a monetary tip.  I can show patience when the checkout line doesn’t seem to move.  How many ways can you think of to show a kindness?

However, I also believe that there is a hidden purpose that we are not to know.  We are not to try to find it; because, if we found it we would become prideful.  It is only completed as a by-product of honoring and serving God. 

Butterflies in Flight

Following my mother’s stroke, we were visited by a Nun from the hospital.  Our conversation led to this statement by her.  She said she prays “for the people whose lives I touch, and for those who touch mine”.  For we may not know whose lives we touch, it might be the person at the next table, or behind us in line.  And, we may not know the person who has set an example that we see, but need to thank.

 
Today I thank you for reading my tidbits, for those of you who leave comments. May you go in peace and with God’s blessings.
Rhonda

Procrastination

Even though I enjoy painting I find that I put off doing it. Sometimes I let guilt that I should be doing something more productive or dutiful get in the way.  That is just an emotional feeling.  Most times I don’t have the something else to do. So instead of facing that feeling and trying to delve into it, or being more disciplined,  I find myself playing cards or mahjong on the computer.  And sometimes I find myself surfing the net looking for the special inspiration I think I need. Often, I have items stacked that I plan to paint “someday”.  Why not today.  Why not right now?  What is holding me back?

Maybe it is that I don’t feel I deserve the happiness I receive through painting.  Maybe I think that my paintings should be a source of income, and then I would have the “right” to spend time doing it. Maybe I am just not appreciating the talent God has given me.

There are a lot of “maybe’s” in life.  Are you letting the maybe’s get in your way of enjoying God’s gifts to you? Do you feel you don’t deserve happiness? Ask God in your heart today.  Let Him be your shining inspiration!

 Have a blessed day!

Learning the Wrong Lesson

Khalil Gibran wrote he who has not looked on sorrow will never see joy.

It takes a rainfall to see a rainbow.
I have had a lot of rain and a few storms in my life. And because my faith wasn’t as strong, I lost joy along the way. Some of it was due to lack of expectation. If I didn’t get my hopes up too high, I didn’t fall as hard when it rained. In other words, I let the fear of disappointment rob me of expecting joy.


To put in terms of art, I became rather monotone. No brights and no darks. Rather a muddy and dull composition if I had put that on canvas. Yet, I didn’t recognize that in my life. My happy days could have been much brighter.


Fear Not. I wonder how many times that appears in the Bible. God spoke it, Jesus spoke it and certainly the angels spoke it. Now when I awaken my thoughts are ‘it is going to be a great day!’ Certainly any day in the Lord is a great day. Fear Not: Whatever befalls I know God is going to see me through it. He saw me through the rain and storms even when I didn’t trust He was there. Although I was saved as a child, I didn’t learn to study the Bible. I didn’t know that God was truly a Father who cared about His children. I thought it was only about going to heaven when you died. Slowly I have studied more, read various authors, and learned much. I am going to continue to do so.

I hope everyone experienced a Happy Mothers' Day. I took time off to renew my spirit.

I am so happy to see my followers and I hope you do get as much reading my thoughts, as I do posting them. Thank you! Have a blessed day!