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Getting in the Groove
This weekend was one of those truly dreary, rainy, cold and generally miserable weekends in central Texas. However, do you think that put the blight on me? I think not! I spent the time in a flurry of creative, happy things – including cooking, baking, writing and learning. Have I told you I love learning? Some friends of mine referred me to Edward Welch, a counselor, professor and gifted teacher. I listened to his lecture, “Side by Side” on YouTube. I’m expecting the book to arrive today! It certainly gave me much to consider. So – I’m re-engaging with my books! Ta-da! I was able to have a “reunion” with…
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Soul Time
Today was a day for stepping it back, listening to sounds that aren’t man-made, opening my heart to hear what God has to say. It was splendid. Sammy and I drove to a park about an hour away. It was a brisk 35 degrees when we left, but the sun was dancing a solo in a crystal-clear blue sky. Sammy loves to travel,. She was eagerly looking out the back window as we cruised down the highway. Traffic was light. People in Texas think 35 degrees is wicked weather. We arrived at this magical park, and basically had the entire place to ourselves. I saw 4 people the entire time…
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Journey in the Moment
It’s been almost 2 weeks now since I’ve started the Joy Journey. Some things have been brought into stark relief during that time. Sure, there have been many moments of happiness, peace and yes, joy. I am grateful. Joy is there. It’s with me, thank God. There have also been moments of extreme sorrow. For instance, I found out that statistically there are more abortions reported than deaths due to heart disease (as of 2015 CDC stats). This sad and startling data point nearly knocked me off my feet. How can this be? How can a culture that prides itself on being so advanced be so lethal? Quite simply, it’s…
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2019 One Word – JOY
We made it! It’s a new page on the calendar! Another year has begun…Welcome to 2019. Are you ready? Every year I pick a word to focus on and watch it expand and grow in my life over the course of the year. This year the word is Joy. Joy is superior to happiness, you know. Here is a blurb from Theopedia.com: “Joy is a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. It is a settled state of contentment, confidence and hope. It is something or someone that provides a source of happiness.” For Christians, that Source of joy is God…He is that Something or Someone. There is…
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Wishing Well
Holly, skates and tinseled tree – Snowflakes and a sleigh, Whispers from the carols past, And time that’s flown away… The heart within me falters At remembrances so clear. Snapshots in my memory banks, Framed inside a tear. Today the ashes on the hearth, From fires’ scarves that waved, The embers in this soul of mine Lean on the One who saves. So even as I toss my dreams Into life’s wishing well – I know my heart is being held By my Emmanuel. – RG
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Perspectives
I was thinking about how Jesus walked with friends while He was on earth. Together, the somewhat disreputable band walked for countless miles, fished, saw miracles and learned a lot. They thought they knew Him. They probably thought the miracles they had seen were the pinnacle for this itinerant preacher. Toward the end of His time on earth, Jesus knew His destination. The Bible says, “After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, ‘Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.’ His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the…
