The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,300 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 38 trips to carry that many people.
Click here to see the complete report.
I just want to say thank you to everyone who encouraged me and helped me make my first year of blogging, a success!! I hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed new year!!
Hooray!! It is a new year; a time of new beginnings and making new resolutions. Through various trials and unforeseen difficulties, I often have to stop and remember that God is beside me all the way every day and he is continually blessing me. I just don’t always fully realize this but I know he is. He never gives up on his people and I in turn I am resolved to never give up on him. I don’t always understand his ways and his wisdom is much greater than mine. I need to just keep trusting and believing in him through Jesus, his one and only son. I also need to continually stay and abide in his true word and let him show me the way to go in what to do, and what to say. That doesn’t mean that I can be perfect, on my own I will never accomplish that and I know that my inner being is full of many faults as I do not always perceive nor understand what God is gently teaching me. But it is God’s good guidance and love through the Lord Jesus, that helps me journey in the right direction and that is towards heaven, God’s everlasting kingdom.
Psalms 119:9-11 (Holy Bible New International Version):
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; don’t let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
My cousin, Kathy B had spent a special Christmas with her family and she just treasures very special and pleasant moments she has with those she loves the most. She is very thought and reflective of such special times and has offered to share her special thoughts on this. I hope the special message that she shares here will be a wonderful and gentle encouragement to those who read this. Now, here is Kathy B in her own words:
Christmas Past, Present & Yet to Be
Christmas past and Christmas present,
I can’t help but think of those who came and left before me,
Grandpa, Dad and Mom, all those I love that went to Heaven,
the list is much too long,
That is what makes all that I carry in heart
– all the memories – just a tiny bit bittersweet you see,
they come flooding back to my mind
much like a cherished melody of youth’s sweet song.
But, as I begin my 50th decade, God and life has brought bit more wisdom to me,
I should not dwell too much on their absence,
for I won’t notice the blessings yet to be,
I sometimes long for years gone by, the day in the little church where I became we,
the sweet joy I felt in my heart with my little one in my arms, young and carefree.
However, I too enjoy the present,
it brings its own precious gifts of memories yet to be.
Although this is a week late, i still wanted to post a new Christmas poem. Due to computer trouble, I have not been posting here and am currently using an old computer until I get the other one fixed or replaced. A valuable lesson to learn is to be diligent about backing up your data!! I didn’t have everything backed up so have lost some very valuable work. Or at least it was to me. So I am trying to recover what I can. Anyway, I hope everyone who reads this had a very blessed and wonderful Christmas with friends and families. And I hope you’re all enjoying a wonderful New Year too.
Celebration of Jesus’ birth
Heavenly angels sang on earth
Redeemer lived and walked among us
Immanuel, Immanuel is our Lord Jesus
Shepherds came with their flocks of sheep
Traveling wise men journeyed far to see
Manger is where Jesus quietly laid
Atop a mattress of straw and hay
Savior Jesus was humbly born early on Christmas morn
PRAYER: Spending Time with God
Personal conversation and
Reflection with God, my Heavenly Father
Admission of sin and plea for forgiveness and mercy
Yesterday’s generous blessings remembered
Everyday needs requested and met through God’s perfect grace
Remembering always God’s greatness and never ending love through Jesus
Matthew 6:6 (Holy Bible New International Version):
“But when you prayer, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Soft, minute crystals everywhere
Night time sparkles filter the air
Often drifting on a frigid breeze
White splendor with a diamond gleam
Falling silently all around
Landing gently on the ground
All gathered to create a vivid wintry scene
Kindly making this world peacefully serene
Ever quiet and lasting until
Sunshine bursts forth in a warming spell
Stable and unwavering
Trust in God and in his One True Son
Enduring in hopefulness,
Adoration, thanksgiving, and
Devotion in prayer and hearing God’s word
Forging ahead in faithfulness while
Accepting the wise and
Sovereign plans of God by
Truly believing in him and his son Jesus.
(Tune: Little Drummer Boy):
“Come,” God told me, “come see my Son
Come to Jesus the King, come see my Son”
“But I am unworthy,” I cried to him,
“Not wanted and unloved so
Why should I come?
Why should I come?
Why should I come?”
“Because I know you child and so does my Son;
And you are loved by him.”
“Oh, King Jesus, God told me to come
But I am not worthy to stand before your throne
I’m utterly sinful and so unwanted,
Wretched, unlovable so
Why should I come?
Why should I come?
Why should I come?”
“Because I have forgiven you, oh don’t you see?
I will make you be holy through me.”
Then God nodded as he was pleased
To see me come fully believing in Thee.
Jesus came then to live in my heart.
Jesus promised to stay and
Never ever depart
Never ever depart
Never ever depart.
For God so love this world, oh can you see?
He sent Jesus to save you and me.
John 3:16-17 (Holy Bible New International Version):
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him.”
Today, I am re-posting a segment from my cousin, Kathy. As Christmas approaches there are often extra efforts to show love, encouragement, and kindness to others. However, as noted by my cousin here, showing kindness to to others should be a part of our everyday lives. Kathy B, has been a frequent guest writer on my blog and she often has a unique insight to share with others. She seems to have a mission in life to encourage lift up others and therefore, she is the perfect guest writer here. She continues to make regular visits to a nursing home for the purpose of encouraging others. She can always tell when someone is extra sad. She tells me, “I like to make others smile.” And one day while going to church, she was focused on God’s grace and his forgiveness which led her to a certain passage in scripture. Here is Kathy in own words:
Being Compassionate Everyday
Thank you for your grace and restoration that you give us everyday,
Even though we clearly fall short and don’t deserve it.
We are so wrapped up in ourselves that we fail to think or care for others,
because our past hurts cut us to the core of our being,
Help us to be like You, loving and compassionate.
1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
3 How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.[b]
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God[c];
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.
11 One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
12 and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done.”
Heavenward and unfaltering gaze
Of optimism and unceasing praise
Persevering in God’s work of love
Empowered by His Spirit which has descended like a dove
Filled with gladness all the day long
Uttering thankfulness in word and song
Listening to the Lord with open mind and heart
Never forgetting his word; not letting his wisdom depart
Ever mindful of Jesus’ death and resurrection and our eternal future
Saved forever from our humanly faulty and sinful nature
Savior Jesus will come soon and lead us to his everlasting home.
Setting a Life to Words
Finding God's Grace in a Lemon-filled World
Developmental Editor | Line Editor
Warning: A feminist writes here. Content may contain angry, vulgar, and sometimes funny language.
I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Gal. 2:20
thoughts from my mind to yours
A little bit of this and that
THE WOMAN WITH WHEELS
Thoughts from the Heartland
the joy of creativity
The details of my Journey.
Inspiration through my thoughts, experiences and travels
All information not in hand belongs on a bookshelf
~ Communicator, WordSmith, Artist, Guide, Mentor, Muse ~
I write because I read. I read because I write.
Christian poetry and prose, quotes, and thoughts - if they glorify God they were worth writing; if they mean something to one other person, they were worth sharing. Comments always welcome!
Reading fiction with a focus on craft
W.R.I.T.E. Words
Setting a Life to Words
Finding God's Grace in a Lemon-filled World
Developmental Editor | Line Editor
Warning: A feminist writes here. Content may contain angry, vulgar, and sometimes funny language.
I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Gal. 2:20
thoughts from my mind to yours
A little bit of this and that
THE WOMAN WITH WHEELS
Thoughts from the Heartland
the joy of creativity
The details of my Journey.
Inspiration through my thoughts, experiences and travels
All information not in hand belongs on a bookshelf
~ Communicator, WordSmith, Artist, Guide, Mentor, Muse ~
I write because I read. I read because I write.
Christian poetry and prose, quotes, and thoughts - if they glorify God they were worth writing; if they mean something to one other person, they were worth sharing. Comments always welcome!
Reading fiction with a focus on craft
W.R.I.T.E. Words
Becky G? Oh, That's Me! 