Thoughts of Grace

Hello January
January – the month that is in the middle of my favorite seasons, fall and winter.
Some count down until summer
I look at how long willl this last.

A time for cloudy overcast skies
with a bright sunny morning thrown in to affirm promises
A time to wear tights and layers o fshirts and sweaters
with the cold wind in my face
A time to cozy in
when it isn’t outside.

It is also a time for
looking back and considering.
for relishing today
and for peering ahead

January thoughts
What am I going to ocntinue?
What Will I give up?
What will I start or add to my life?

Things in my life I will hold to tightly

I will hold fast my confidence in God
I will keep looking to Jesus –
I will remember my key words – accept, commit and surrender

Things in my life I will give up

I will eliminate Diet soda – I know the unhealthy attributes
(It’s been FIVE days and counting!)
I will decrease time on social media.
I will quit being tardy,
planning on leaving at the last minute
then something comes up ALWAYS
and it is past the last minute

Things in my life  to add or to start new
Oh where to begin
I see so much I need to improve

I will add – do the first things first
I will add – finishing the many things started
then left to hibernate Impluse starting leads to not finishing.
So I must carefully consider the beginnings
I will acknowledge the box – open the lid and glare out.
IT’S  a start!

Leaving behind and gathering together
will make a change in the whole of my life.
I am very afraid of what that unknown looks like,
feels like,
what holes leaving things will leave,
how to fill those holes and
I doubt my ability to sustain the changes
How many times I’ve tried . . .

So I do the little steps
like no diet soda –  on the way to healthier nutrition
while asking God for help.
One day in January as I was arguing with myself
coke or tea,
coke or tea,
coke or tea,
‘A large tea, please’ came out of my mouth
THAT was not what I meant to say, and
THAT voice did not quite sound like mine,
but I was encouraged.
I hadn’t started the change alone.

Accept the Changes
Goodby Hinderances
Cleave to the Good

Hebrews 12:1-2
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Romans 12:9
. . . cleave to that which is good.

First time joining with Carole