November 12
With an attitude of gratitude, I have learned through the college of hard knocks that the world does not revolve around my little sphere of influence. I’m glad I’ve learned that lesson. I should say, I am learning that.
As aging occurs, I find less strength of my own. Everything takes more time and energy than it used to. I need to write lists now to remember dates, things-to-do, prescriptions, directions. Coping mechanisms.
It’s God’s way, mixed with common sense, of teaching me to rely on His strength, and certainly His wisdom. It is teaching me to prioritize, to concentrate my efforts on things that may have eternal consequences, things that live on after I no longer do. Legacy things. I’m developing an attitude of gratitude for the memories of past awards and accomplishments, but also the very visible blessings of appreciation for what I am still called and able to do.
Today’s Scripture: “Fear God and keep His command-ments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Prayer: Lord, help me to prioritize, to intentionally seek to commit to Your plan for me, and to do it without any sense of self-preservation or self-reliance. Help me to understand that Your voice can be intuitive or direct and that I need to listen and act. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
November 12 Thanksliving Journal: Seeking God’s Plan
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November 12
Items, pictures, sketches, photos helping me to prioritize and schedule a legacy of memories, a place I’ll return when I need reminders of evidence of His love for me in every situation.
Scripture references showing evidence of prioritizing what’s really important:
“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.” (Psalm 95: 6-7)
“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,. . . as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24: 15)
“May the words of my mouth and the mediatation of my heart be leasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19: 14)
“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. . . For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to good-ness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. (II Peter 1:2-11)
A career teacher, with forty years of teaching language arts/English, Betty Jackson enjoys wordsmithing, writing, and reading as a vocation and avocation.Retirement is her "age of frosting," a chance to pursue postponed hobbies with gusto. She especially sends kudos to the Space Coast Writers Guild members for their encouragement and advice. Her five books, It's a God Thing!, Job Loss: What's Next? A Step by Step Action Plan, and Bless You Bouquets: A Memoir, And God Chose Joseph: A Christmas Story, and Rocking Chair Porch: Summers at Grandma's are available at Amazon.com. Ms. Jackson is available to speak to local groups and to offer her books at discount for fundraising purposes at her discretion. She and her husband soon celebrate their 47th anniversary, and have lived in New York, New Jersey, Iowa, and now the paradise of Palm Bay, Florida. Their two grown children and daughter-in-love, all orchestra musicians, and our beautiful granddaughters Kaley and Emily live nearby. Hobbies, and probably future topics on her blog: gardening, symphonic music (especially supporting the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra as a volunteer and proud parent of a violinist, a cellist, and an oboist), singing, book clubs, and co-teaching a weekly small-group Bible study for seniors. She volunteers and substitute teaches at Covenant Christian School, and serves as a board member of the Best Yet Set senior group at church. Foundationally, she daily enjoys God's divine appointments called Godincidences, which show God's providence and loving kindness.