Tag Archives: New Year Plans

New Year 2016

4 Jan

My Take

DiVoran LItes

New Year 2016

 

Brother Lawrence in the classic The Practice of the Presence of God is quoted as having said, “There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God.”

When we first moved to Florida, in 1965, our pastor, Peter Lord, talked about what morning devotionals did for him. His dear wife, Johnnie, taught her young married women’s Sunday School class to spend time with the Lord every day. She wanted us to know God and keep him in our lives and families.

One day, in a service, Pastor Lord suggested we write letters to God, I liked that because it helped get my troubles off my mind and into the hands of God. I went on to read many Christian books, and to buy big, blank journaling books. Several years ago I started sketching each day so I’d have an easy landmark to separate the days in case I wanted to find something later.

Now, well beyond the age of retirement, I take have an hour or so each morning to journal and be creative. I can’t begin to tell you how it settles me and keeps me going, no matter what is happening in our lives.

At the end of 2015 I started setting up devotional plans for 2016. I ordered a Bible verse, daily calendar so I can tear out the pages and put them in the journal for my landmark. Each day has two scriptures on it from which I may draw inspiration.

For 2016 I ordered a new set of pan paints, which I’ve always wanted. I have come to know that artful expressions of all kinds can be ways to focus on God and to praise him.

Our church gets, “The Upper Room,” and I’m also considering a subscription to, “Jesus in the Morning,” from Guideposts. Sometimes seeing scriptures and ideas juxtaposed can impart thrilling revelations.

I’ve also come across something new to me. It’s called Protestant Prayer Beads. The thought of using prayer beads made me a bit nervous, but I have to say I have liked the idea since I went to church catechism a few times with my dear friend from childhood. Something you can touch helps get you off the worry train and into green grasses. Apparently Christians used them to focus their prayers even before the rosary came along. I have ordered, A Bead and a Prayer: A Beginner’s Guide to Protestant Prayer Beads, by Kristen Vincent, (academy.upperroom.org.)

One of my favorite scriptures is: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” It seemed to be Johnnie Lord’s favorite, too. She said all solutions lie in the Holy Spirit Who is accessible to us.

Slowly, I’m seguing into new and exciting adventures with God. I love His promise never to leave me. (Hebrews 13:5) I know that my prayer request for peace in 1965 continually bears fruit.

Brother Lawrence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Lawrence

Safe in the Arms of Jesus 

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My Dreams for 2015

12 Jan

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Author, Poet and Artist

 

It’s all right to have dreams; plans, hopes, God gives them to us. We’d be lost without them.

I always like to have something to look forward to, don’t you? Sometimes in life we may have big events to go for and sometimes we let our expectations settle into the daily round. Something about the year coming to an end and a new one beginning made me jot down the things I’m looking forward to this year.

I’m not looking for changes in my life. I’m deeply satisfied with what’s going on now. This minute I see Bill in the backyard spotlighted by sunshine as he moves the garden hose.

Bill in yard

 

 

The foliage he’s tending to grows to at least twelve feet tall and he has planted a long hedge of them. They’ll yield large, bright-yellow, daisy-like flowers next spring.

One of our cats just braced herself on the chair to ask me to feed her. I’ve just been around Facebook and caught up on people I care about. Our food is good, and our health is remarkable for our ages.

This year will hold a lot of good books for me to read. I’m looking forward to two I ordered from Communion with God. One is about teaching children to hear from God, and one is a journal where a man hears from God. This is an organization for which I have always held the highest regard and from which I have continued to learn and experience satisfaction in hearing from God for myself. I plan to read health books, too, and I believe we will stay healthy for a long time to come.

Of course, I most look forward to times with the people in my life. I’m not taking classes or joining any new organizations, but I do like my church and the activities there, especially the two Sunday Schools we’re involved in, adult and children’s. I love special times with family members, and I meet new people frequently and have little chats with them.

If unexpected things happen, if they are unsavory and unlovely, I know God will see us through, but God is likely to bring happy challenges into our lives no matter what. Whatever happens, He will see us through. How dull life must be without Him.

Let the New Year begin.

 

 

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