The Blessing of a Great Big Book

I am three weeks into my "slackerdom"! I visited the retirment home where I worked and told everyone I was enjoying being "retired"! My time has been spent on sewing projects, Bible memorization, visiting friends and running errands.

With regards to my trip, I have reserved a storage unit for all my things - the company offers a complimentary moving truck which is such a blessing for someone who does not even have a car. My father arrives on the 27th to help me move which is just over a week away - guess I can start counting down now, eh?

My memory project is going well. I'm into Ephesians chapter five now. What a great book this is! Paul talks a great deal about God's choosing of us for His kingdom, making peace with us through Jesus Christ, revealing His purposes to us, rooting us in His love. God does all the heavy lifting on our behalf!

Paul also talks about how God gives us spiritual gifts to build us up and help us to have a strong foundation and not be "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (4:14). And He gives us a new nature so that we can live in "true righteousness and holiness" (4:24).

Of all the gods I could follow, I'm glad to belong to the One who has given a great big instruction manual for life! To have the whys and wherefores of life spelled out is such a blessing.

Something God has been impressing on me lately is the importance of being faithful in little things. Of not living life always "looking away to the future" and the potential "big works" God might have for me but focussing on being obedient and content in Him now. I'm getting better at living like that and I must say it's a peaceful, happy way to live. That "rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" is such a simple command but it really works in keeping me positive and righteous. Granted my life is pretty stress free at the moment but the temptation to complain is always close by regardless of circumstances. I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunity to test this verse thoroughly in the coming months!

One Week Down, a Bunch More to Go!

Well, it's been one week since I left my job. It's been good so far. I'm enjoying having extra time in the morning for devotions. I read my daily Oswald Chambers verse and commentary and then a Psalm. After some thought and prayer I work on my memory project. I've finished chapters one and two - it's gone well because they are familiar from previous memorizations. But I just don't know if I'll get to the end of the book by the end of the month. We'll see.

Next week I will be out of town for a few days visitng with a couple friends at their homes. I have a list of people I want to connect with before I leave so I've been calling and emailing around making dates!

Something that I've also enjoyed doing this week is sending notes to people. Just little encouragements and a verse, let them know I'm praying for them. I think we can all use a boost every now and then and who doesn't like an actual piece of snail mail in this day and age!

Three words that have been on my mind lately are "encourage", "edify" and "exhort". The idea of supporting people, building them up in their faith and urging them on to greater things resonates with me and I'd like to do that. I'm sure these thoughts are God's leading for me in helping me to see how to use my spiritual gifts. It's nice to discover a niche for myself.

Oh, and I've started work on some sewing tasks. Today I went to Fabricland and of course found some nice material to play with! This is what I created today: