New Year Resolutions

It’s resolution time and like many others I too have gone over a list (and checked it twice). I’ve given it some thought and have come up with the following New Year Resolutions. Hopefully these will fare better than previous resolutions.

1. To lose weight. (I know I say this every year) This year I am including the obligatory eating better and exercising more. I figure if I give it more detail I can accomplish it better.

2. To not be so emotional. This past year I have had a tendency to let things build up until I explode either with anger or with tears. So, I plan on using restraint and prayer and the old stand by of blowing up when no one is around.

3. To improve myself not only physically but mentally as well. I plan on reading more, learning more, and broadening my horizons.

4. To explore more. Not just my local surroundings but other places as well. Either through the internet, books or even visiting other places. There is more to life than my backyard.

5. To be more outgoing, social. I have a tendency to be very shy around new people. My plan is to go against my initial instincts of hiding and to be more open.

6. To complete a crochet/knit project a month. Yes that is one a month. This will help my procrastination.

7. To not let things stand in my way. I also have a tendency to let things go without a fight or with out an argument until it builds up. This will help the anger, I think. If I confront the situation or whatever when it occurs and to not let it stop me in what I want to do. I guess to be braver.

8. To be better with correspondence. I think about calling people or sending notes and because I don’t do it right away I tend to forget. So I plan to be better at that.

9. I plan not to be so worried about the future. By making better choices in the present I can achieve this. Not to be controlled or anxious about things that I can not control. I can not change the past and I can not control the future – I choose to trust. Philippians 4:19 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

10. To take more photographs. To stop and take that picture no matter where I am or what I am doing. Go with the first instinct. To try and get a picture published.

What are your resolutions for the new year?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of us, my dears.

And God Bless Us Everyone!

SOTT 27

Gary Varvel, Indiana -- The Indianapolis Star-News

Whispers

Well the whispers have begun again in our office. The managers are meeting and the tension in the office can be cut with a knife. They are meeting to cut more positions and to lay off more people. Within the last few days my manager has been meeting with our directors and things have been overheard. In all fairness I wish they would just close their doors but they don’t. It kind of makes you think that they don’t care who knows that they are meeting. There is just no empathy for the employees. Anyway, things have been overheard. Things like salary cuts and eliminating positions. Since our boss is the one that seems to be having the most meetings with the directors we are all very worried. Because of the fibro I can feel each and every muscle. Each muscle seems to shout out each concern.

So I was in my office and one of the recently laid off people came to see me. (She is working out the rest of the month). I am comforted at her look at the whole lay off situation. Her faith is very strong. She looks at it as a door closing and that God will open another. I sadly am having trouble looking at it that way. I am trying but emotionally I think I am very raw right now. I’m not so sure that if I were to be laid off I would be able to be as brave or even have that kind of faith.

Do I believe that God loves me? Absolutely. Do I believe that God wants what is best for me? Absolutely. Do I trust Him? Absolutely. I am letting the devil have victory by me stressing about this and beginning to panic? Unfortunately the answer is yes. Those whispers are stronger than the ones coming out of the managers office.

I have been reminded twice today to be strong and have faith. That All things are for His Glory. Now if only I could get that engraved into my little head. I am again reminded of my dream regarding putting on the Armor of God.

I am being tested and I do not think I am doing that well. I am averaging a D right now and what I really want is an A. All I can do is go back to the book and study.

The Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Recent Projects

Here are some recent projects that I have actually finished.

PixieDusted

If you have ever wondered what I look like after being pixiedusted. Ta Da! (No Comments!!!)

Hints

Ok, I can be stubborn and disagreeable (at times). I admit it. But wham did you have to slap me upside the head?

I had a stressful day yesterday, I am once again in fear of being laid off. I am not happy with my bosses who seem to be loving the fear and apprehension that they are creating with all of there budget questions. Not to mention lots of other things. If my hair is not turning gray then it is falling out. :-)

Anyway, I was VERY upset last night. I went to bed and had a dream of me in armor kneeling before someone on some steps (that's all I remember). I woke up right after that with a definite thought of "Put on the armor of God".

Now, in the past I have had other moments when I KNOW God spoke to me. Whether through a song or an event or something else. This definitely had that feel. So, when I got up, I went to my bible and looked in the concordance for armor. It gave me Ephesians 6:10-18 and Romans 13:12. I went to Romans 13 first and started to read from the beginning because I like context and lo and behold - there was the first slap.

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

Ok, I got that hint. So I went on to Ephesians. And there was the other slap.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

I can almost hear the "Hint Hint Hint" echoing in my head. :-)

Thoughts

Do you have that certain someone that you tell everything to? Is there someone that you know that knows everything about you? Every deep secret, every thought?

I have people that know me very well. They can look at me and know I am upset, they can tell in my voice what might be going on. But, no they don't know me inside out. No one person knows all of me down to the bottom of my heart and certainly no one person knows all of my secrets. To go further I would say that no-one truly knows everyone inside and out. It might seem like that but I would say that no, not really. The reason I think that is because no-one can truly know all your heart and mind. Every thought, every feeling, every secret, every little bit of you, every minute of every day. And if you are honest with yourself you will agree with me.

Last night I was laying in bed, trying to go to sleep and I started to pray and talk with God and I realized that He knows me. Every part of me. Every thought. When I get annoyed by someone on the bus but don't say anything or act differently, He knows. When I get angry at something stupid and never mention it to anyone, He knows. He knows me when I am sad and what is bothering me before I even tell anyone and He knows even before I might realize what it is. Through the pretenses, throughout the day, He knows. There is not one part of me that I can hide.

And even though He knows, I can still go to Him and tell Him. No repercussions, no judgement, no attitude, nothing fake. He knows and still He listens. I can tell Him I am sad, worried, mad or whatever. That type of closeness and comfort can only come from being with Him. That relief of knowing that I can be myself, vent, cry and let it all out with out hurting someones feelings or burdening someone else. I don't have to explain, I can just let it out, everything. He knows.

And STILL HE loves me.

Psalm 44:21 (New International Version)
would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?

Luke 12:6-7 (New International Version)
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Consider

Your car is broke. Your job is in jeopardy. A loved one is ill. Your friend is mad at you. A co-worker does not like you and is spreading rumors and ill will. You can’t pay some of your bills. You may not be able to buy that present for your child for Christmas. Your in pain, your depressed. You are experiencing the deepest pit you have ever been in.

Consider this. Jesus died on the cross for you. He endured pain and agony. He was beaten. He was berated, dismissed and cursed. All for you. He was born so that he would die for us, for our sins. Because he loves us. We are his children.

Even in the rough times, the hard times, the unbearable times. Put this in your heart and remember.

Isaiah 40:28

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

Isaiah 40:29

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Hebrews 2:18

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

1 Peter 2:20-24

But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

And most important - John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."