Christmas peace & joy

 It was another full & fun Christmas Day. I didn’t put up the big tree this year because I thought we would be gone most of the week. Then we weren’t. So I got out a small tree & the “little animals” after the Christmas Eve communion & candlelight service last night. This morning, we made a pit stop in Gainesville at Mom’s (where I got a glimpse of Stormy!) on the way to see Mae & Michael in McKinney. Besides a great meal & presents, we enjoyed looking at photo albums passed down by Gene’s parents. Even though we didn’t go to church today, I was filled to overflowing with the spirit of God’s great love that Christmas is all about. It brings peace & quiet joy. I am beyond blessed & humbly pray that God will get me out of the way of me so I can share His light with others. #christmasjoy #christmaspeace #christmas2022

Finding my joy

How does it happen that I don’t feel joy at 10 pm on Christmas Eve? Lord, please help me & forgive me. You know me better than I know myself. You sent Your son to save & redeem me. How I need You! 

I want & think I need to express love & joy? But how? Maybe tonight it’s ok or right for me to stay silent with God. I am praying to know. 

Looking for photos w/Gene added to stress; I guess it stirred memories, including of lost years with Mae & Michael. Then I ate a bunch of almonds, which didn’t sit well on my already upset stomach. I haven’t played any chords; I didn’t record a song; & at this point I’m pretty sure I won’t. 

I’m grateful it’s OK to just let everything go & sad it’s necessary. I’m disappointed with myself & so very grateful that God’s grace, by my faith in His Son, is sufficient to cover my many sins & shortcomings. I pray for God to help me focus on Him in faith & love; to come & adore Him & to rejoice that my Lord & Savior came to save me! Love came down & dwelled with us on Earth to become the payment for our sins & to restore us to a right relationship with God. Alleluia! Joy to the world! Thank You, God! 

(Later I shared a beautiful song shared by a friend on Facebook; and then I recorded my rough guitar rendition of Silent Night, although I don’t think I’ll be sharing it any time soon.  I still don’t know if I feel joy. I do feel peace. Acknowledging that I feel peace may have opened the door to joy. Regardless & above all, I am grateful & I praise God!)

Christmas with the family

Always a good time. I just wish we had a little more of a spiritual, “reason-for-the-season” focus. 

Thoughts about the Longest Night

This will be a make-up post. The Longest Night was Wednesday, December 21. I’m logging this placeholder Dec. 23. I hope to fill in the details soon. 

Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! JOY!!!!

 I should have posted this Sunday. I’m grateful I was able to be part of the Festival of Christmas Music presenting “Joy Has Dawned.” I love being part of a mass choir accompanied by orchestra. The program also included several amazingly beautiful handbell pieces. The focus on the joy of what God did at Christmas was a blessing on a weekend of dreary weather. May music of faith be my sunshine. 

Next: Sing my soul …

A new set of steps

I attended my second virtual meeting of Clutterers Anonymous tonight. I admit I am powerless over my clutter. It is disrupting my life & my relationships. I’m powerless to overcome this on my own. I am thankful there is a group of people like me who are working 12 steps & using tools & other resources, working together to get better. I can’t do this alone. I want to believe I can do this with the help of God & this program. I pray for willingness & ability. I thank God that there is a program for Clutterers & that I have found it. 

Thankful anyway, always

One of the last things I wanted to do for my #monthofhanksgiving was to post on my blog before going to bed. Shortly after waking up on Dec. 1, I realized I had not posted. The part of me that likes to meet my self-imposed quotas & deadlines was miffed. I’m grateful to realize they were self-imposed quotas & deadlines; they don’t matter in the big scheme of things. So I can be grateful & joyful anyway. And so I will.