Monday Musings: What's Next?

If I'm honest, I feel as if this blog lost its sense of direction and identity somewhere along the way.  It started at a place of transition and change in my life and along the way, it's had a difficult time keeping up and has just been meandering for a while now.

As this year winds down and the new one begins soon, I have a goal to bring the blog up to speed with my life.  I guess you could say that it's time for a blog makeover.  Not so much a "new year, new you", but more like "new year, more you". 

As a result, I will be focusing more on life as a middle-aged woman.  The things that matter to women in our (my) age group.  Health and wellness (keep an eye out for more menopause-related posts!), faith, family (with grown children and grandkids), resources for midlife, etc. 

I'll also be dropping a few polls on my Instagram in the coming weeks to find out what YOU would like to read more of on the blog.  So, stay tuned for that. 

I've got my guys home this week, so I'm relaxing and not setting any big goals for myself.  Those can wait for next week when we're starting 2022.

Sunday Inspiration: Fear and Faith

Sunday Inspiration: Christmas Gifts

Sunday Inspiration: Walking in Faith

When You Don't Have Much To Start With

Maybe you're not starting with much.  Just the tiniest amount. Barely there.  A thimble-full.  A glimmer.  A bit.  A morsel. Just a crumb.  A fleck.  A trace.  A shred.  A shadow or whisper.  A mustard seed of faith.

But a little faith is all it takes.

Then, as you start to spend time in God's presence- it grows.

As you get deeper into His Word - it grows.

As you begin to know Him - it grows. 

As you surrender more and more of yourself to Him - it grows.

You begin to see signs of Him at work in your life.  And it grows.

You begin to accumulate the fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  And you see these grow also, making your faith even stronger.

You accumulate a treasure of God's riches.

And you will end with so much more than you could have ever imagined.

Been There, Done That

Friends, Jesus isn't just sitting up in Heaven on His throne looking down at us (literally or figuratively).

He knows.  He gets it.  He's been there.  Or here, as the case may be...

photo credit - publicdomainpictures.net

He was one of us.  He has worn the restraints of being human.  He fully understands and sympathizes with every weakness we battle.  Every temptation we face.  Every time we fall.

He understands.

And He WANTS TO HELP.  He wants to pour mercy and grace over us because He loves us.  All we have to do is open our hearts and ask for His strength.  His wisdom.  His love.  His mercy.

You can find me connecting at these Blog Hops and Link Ups

A Spirit of Gratitude - March 2

This Week I am Thankful for

The grand baby asking me to play

The male offspring playing with his nephew

SunButter toast

Tiramisu latte (oh MY!)

Snow falling as the sun rises

Yarn on sale

Adorable hats

Greek yogurt with blueberries for dessert

Story time at the library

Having my items included in beautiful Etsy treasuries

Homemade chicken noodle soup

Turning off the alarm and going back to sleep

The quiet after a snow

Clean laundry

Date night

Potential (probable?) BIG future work prospects for the Man of the House

The grand baby showing an interest in using the potty (for about 5 minutes)

Old music videos (like, from when MTV really was MUSIC television)

The Man of the House reminding me to drink my water

The female offspring taking care of dinner

March coming in pretty much like a lamb

A pot of chili simmering on the stove

A new month

You can find me connecting at these Blog Hops and Link Ups

A Little Goes a Long Way

He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." ~ Matthew 13:33

A small bit of yeast.  Mixed into a large amount of flour.  Worked all through the dough.  And changing it.

It's amazing how something which seems so very small can change things so very much.

A little bitterness, a little sadness, a little resentment, a little anger can fill a heart, a mind - a life - with darkness.


The opposite is also true.

One little smile can change a day.

A little gratitude, a little giving of thanks, a little praise for all the Lord provides can change an outlook.

A little faith.  A little hope.  A little love.  Can all change a situation - even an entire life - for the better. 

30 Days of Gratitude & Thanksgiving: Day 10

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~ William A. Ward

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

61.  A cup of "Constant Comment" tea

62.  "I love you" texts from the Man of the House

63.  Crisp apples

64.  Catching up with a friend over a long phone call

65.  Rain against the windows

Like Little Children

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 18:3 (NIV)

This verse has had me thinking about little children...

How they depend on their parents for everything.  And they simply trust that what ever they need - clothing, food, comfort, etc - will be given to them by the adults they trust.

They look up to us for guidance and knowledge.  To be examples to them of what to do and how to act. 

When they are happy they come to share their joy with us.  And when they are sad or hurt they turn to us for comfort and expect we will hold them and make it all better.

That is how we need to be with God, isn't it?  Depending on Him, and having full faith in Him.  Looking to Him for guidance and wisdom.  Leaning on Him in times of trouble or sadness.

Seems so simple, doesn't it?