Update to New Year’s Day post:
I did visit the friend — & others — the next day. And I’m on Day 6 of the Bible reading plan.
So, yes, I keep on keeping on.
Thank God for each step of faith & progress.
Pray to keep my focus on & faith in Him; to act in faith; to trust God with results; & to give God all glory, honor, thanks & praise.
Oh my! 2025 is starting for me like 2024 ended. I can’t even describe it. Back in the day, I thought a time would come when I’d have goals & plans & take disciplined actions to achieve them. When that day never seemed to arrive, I was frustrated & disappointed with myself. I never quit trying … & thinking I’d failed.
FINALLY — I’m more at peace with however I am today. I’m more confident that God loves & accepts me just as I am (although I’m less certain this is how He designed me to be). And I’m grateful Gene keeps loving & accepting & supporting me (likely despite how I am). I’m sure it’s not easy. God is so good to both of us.
As for New Year’s Day 2025, it’s a continuation of whatever it all is. So much good … & day by day, I need to accept & focus on that, even when it seems selfish. Pray & trust that God is leading & equipping me & is placing me where He wants me, even when it doesn’t make sense to me.
I didn’t get pictures of today’s great start, including blueberry sourdough French toast & bacon for breakfast. I did get a picture of us at the gym. I put my black-eyed peas in the stew Gene started in the morning & was ready for dinner. I tried to not run out to take a picture of the sunset before we ate, but how could I resist?!?!? Yet, I did resist an invitation to visit a friend. Maybe tomorrow? Oh yes, I also missed a Zoom gathering I looked forward to, after I got distracted by breaking news.
Perhaps most representative of my day & life was my high hope for starting a new daily reading plan to go through the whole Bible again this year. “The Bible Recap With Tara-Leigh Cobble” came highly recommended. After I listened to & read everything for getting started & Day 1, I’m ready to give up. But I won’t. Not this soon. (Maybe tomorrow? Ha!)
Instead, again, I’ll thank God for each step of faith & progress. I pray to keep my focus on & faith in Him; to act in faith; to trust God with results; & to give God all glory, honor, thanks & praise. #newyearsameasoldyear
Off to a great start! Sleeping late. Quality time with my babe. Start a new Bible study. French toast for breakfast. Watch last hour of Tournament of Roses parade.
To end the year, I came upon the Lone Star NYE airing from Dallas & watched 10 minutes of fireworks shooting from & around Reunion Tower. Kinda cool. I could hear fireworks across the street behind our yard & saw a few! In bed 12:45. PJ’s all night, although I pulled on a blouse for an hour while I was on a Zoom call with friends. Good enough for me!
I wanted to end 2024 with a social media post of photos highlighting favorite moments of my year. Of course, there were way too many. So I ended up posting photos that were more random. Ha!
The older I get, the less I remember, although pictures are great at tugging thoughts and feelings associated with past moments.
Meanwhile, I’m grateful to find more joy & life in each moment.
That said, it’s been a good year, and I look forward to 2025.
I’m hoping to finish the last six lessons of a Bible study before I go to bed. I’m not making resolutions. I just intend to keep on with what works best each day: pray, keep my focus on & faith in God; act in faith; trust God in all things, including timing & results; give God all glory, honor, thanks & praise.
“Yet this I call to mind & therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ” Lamentations 3:21-23
#FarewellTo2024
Christmas morning, I woke up thinking about God’s message of love for me. And He reminded me that same love is offered for all.
What I realized last night is true for me is true for all: God is telling us we’re OK. We’re good enough. We were OK as children & we’re OK whatever age & way we are now. God invites us to feel the joy of being ourselves, loved & delighted in & accepted by Him, just as we are.
Sometimes that may cause some of us in our interactions to feel hurt for a moment or to disagree or feel slighted or misunderstood. That’s OK. No one of us is perfect. God loves each one of us, just as we are. He sent His Son to save each one of us.
And it occurs to me that God even loves the ones who don’t accept His gifts, including the most precious gift of His Son. He continues to invite each one to turn to Him. He never gives up. He never stops loving His children.
He calls me to do the same: never stop loving His children.
Never give up on love.
I have SO MUCH RESPECT FOR SANTA!! How does he get all those gifts delivered?!?!?
It’s 10 p.m. December 24 & it’s finally beginning to look a little like Christmas at the Gilliland abode.
I thought all I would have was the small lighted tree we got at an estate sale last year. Then Facebook reminded me again of “the little animals” — and I knew this Holy Night was perfect timing to get out the small Nativity set that holds memories of my Daddy.
A gift of a Christmas ornament along with Pastor Stephen’s message during the Christmas Eve candlelight & communion worship service prompted me to display & enjoy a few more of my favorite decorations.
Nothing fancy. Eight-year-old Pat might have done it better. Or maybe not.
So maybe God is telling Pat (again!) at 65 it’s OK. It’s good enough. It was OK then & it’s OK now. God invites me to feel the joy of being me, loved & delighted in & accepted by Him, just as I am.
#joytotheworld #ChristourSaviorisborn #christmaseve
