The Blessing of Scent - goes on and on....good or bad

So yesterday I talked about how very susceptible I am to smells. That includes bad smells. Once again, it is very unfortunate that I live in a housefull of boys and dogs. There are times I think they are having contests to see who smells the worst...

but that subject aside....

Things that smell bad can totally ruin my moment. Food - for example. There are some things I cannot eat - for the smell alone. But smell is linked to taste. So it is really not that surprising.

The same goes for my essence in the world. I can totally leave a bad scent - and put a bad taste in other folks mouths. I am constantly embarrassed by my behavior. Especially when it comes to my competitiveness. Matters not if it is for myself, my husband or my children. In my head - I compete. I want them and me - to be the best. I struggle with it more than anything. I am at constant war with my nature. Which is as it should be. It would be worse if I allowed it to go unchecked.

2 Corinthians 2:
¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. ¹⁵ For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, ¹⁶ to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

It is so important that we consider others before ourselves. That does not mean we change who we or or compromise our beliefs. It means - especially for me - that I consider other's feelings and how I can best help them in their journey in this life. I should guard my knee jerk reactions and when they go unchecked ask forgiveness if injury was given.

I love the idea that we leave places better for our being there. I pray that I strive to do this every day. But also to be real. Transparent. I do not want to be less than God meant for me to be, but to grow into who God made me. This is the hard part.

sanc·ti·fy

/ˈsæŋktəˌfaɪ/ Show Spelled [sangk-tuh-fahy] Show IPA

verb (used with object), sanc·ti·fied, sanc·ti·fy·ing.

1.

to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate.

2.

to purify or free from sin: Sanctify your hearts.

3.

to impart religious sanction to; render legitimate or binding: to sanctify a vow.

4.

to entitle to reverence or respect.

5.

to make productive of or conducive to spiritual blessing.

 

This word is an odd one in that it has been done and is being done for those who believe that Christ died for them and gave his life so that they might live eternally. It is complete and yet it is an ongoing process as well.

I suppose I should be thankful that this process - though painful at times, will ultimately be what leaves others with a proper view of Jesus - the aroma of Christ.

I know that I cannot control other's perception all the time. I know that I cannot put Jesus in a pretty box and try to make him more enticing. I cannot produce an aroma of Christ that is pleasing to all....but I can continue to do my best to love those around me. To serve others the best I can and to strive to be full of the Gospel so that it will not be me they are seeing - but see God for what he is. A giver and restorer of true life. If they will.

If the best I can do for those who know me is be helpful and encouraging, if they cannot possibly believe I am a servant of God or even that there is a God - then the very least I can be is loving....so that I am pleasant...not offensive. Wouldn't it be awesome instead of thinking Christians are haters of sin that the majority of people's first impression of us was that they loved being around us because we were so pleasant? So encouraging? So loving? wow. novel.

I cannot give up my time of prayer - or in the Word. It is what sustains and gives me the ability to do these things. Otherwise - it is hopeless and all I do is in vain.

So I suppose - sense - I mean since smell is so important to me - I should continue to do my best to produce a lovely scent.

And yes - I do take a bath - almost every day.

 

 

 

The Blessing of Scent

I was watching some vague movie - I don't know the name of it. The premise was quite crazy but one of the college girls was depressed and went to a local town to stay in a cheap hotel there. She left to eat at a diner after a nice shower. The waitress there asked her where she was from and she told her the local college. The waitress immediately said, "I hope you are not here to commit suicide". Apparently many of the college kids feeling much pressure and thinking there was no way out came to that town and threw themselves off the bridge - depressing in and of itself. But the odd thing was, the young woman replied," well, I might have done so except I found something that changed my mind." Of course the waitress asked what it was and the girl produced a bar of soap. "Smell", she encouraged. The waitress took a sniff and seemed impressed and nodded her head, as did the cook and the bus boy.

I wanted to smell that soap so bad.

But I totally got what she was saying. I am very susceptible to scent. So it is unfortunate that I live in a houseful of boys and dogs - but there are things I can do to remedy that. (wink)

There is nothing like the smell of Earl Grey tea to me. I smell it and am immediately comforted. I am not sure why my olfactory receptors hone in on this particular scent and claim it as an aid in calming my nerves - but they do. You can go for a fascinating explanation HERE.

I love the technicalities of why our sense of scents is so important - but it matters not. I can simply exist on knowing there are a few things that seem to make life much more pleasant and that is smell. There is nothing like the smell of the Gulf...all sand, salt air and even the fishiness. I love the smell of horses - hay, grass leather and yes - even manure (Not when I've stepped in it - but mingled with the other). I have a new candle that seems to brighten my mood - cilantro-lime. It is THEE happiest mood enhancer ever. I could go on - clean clothes, herbs - all of these things make me appreciate the simplest things. I take it so for granted.

So today - I am thankful, so very thankful for this thing I take for granted so very often.

I am going to go light my candle. (smile)

Misery To Obtain Obedience....

It's a parental tactic. When the boys are finding their happiness in pestering each other, or telling me they are bored - there are things I can do to make them unhappy and want to stop the behavior that is not helping anyone. I can make them walk around serving that brother they pestered and made scream all morning. Or I can get them busy doing things they hate doing - like cleaning sinks and toilets. Putting them in a state of misery causes them to rethink their actions. It's a good thing. And what is really great is, when they know you are good as your word, they will remember that they would much rather find something more useful with their time than complaining or pestering. And it works great - when I do it.

How do I know this?

My heavenly Father does it to me. And it works like a charm....eventually.

Think of the people of Israel. They delayed God's true vision for them by 40 years while he allowed them to suffer in the wilderness. (see Deut. 1). He got mad at them. Fed up with their whining and lack of trust. Seems so familiar.

Thankfully my time in the wilderness has been a wee bit shorter than that. But I see what he is trying to do.

Well over a year ago, I had a vision for my writing, for my artwork and crafts, for my singing, for helping others. I stepped out and gave it a shot...it was half hearted and I got the wheels rolling. But I got lazy. It was easier to look to others to provide employment for me. I did not have to be proactive. I could just do what they told me.

So - I floundered when I took on a job that seemed to be an answer to prayer. I didn't even really apply for it. I called the manager and she put me to work within a couple of days. It turned out to be one of those things I wish I had never done. While I was in that job, I was made miserable. I longed for the days when I was teaching the children, taking care of my own children and serving my husband. My goals were hard to see, my mission to serve totally left at the wayside. All I could put my hand to was what I had to do to keep the job and the bare minimum of taking care of my family. There was no joy in that. I was drained. I was anxious. I was in misery. Depression and listlessness became my constant companions.

This is NOT what God wanted for me. And yet - I am quite sure he allowed me to go there so I could learn.

And he has given me a prophet in my pastor. He will speak truth to me from the pulpit and my heart will quicken when it feels he is talking directly to me. We do not step out to do great things for GOD. We doubt his ability to see our efforts are multiplied to point to him and give him glory. I think it is all up to me. I am so obtuse.

So today - free from the burden of that job - I step out once again. I am committing myself to prayer and seeking. Asking God to give me direction and to make the path clear to me. My goals are: To serve my master, to provide for my family while seeing to their needs. To find my peace and joy in the gifts and talents God has given me. To glorify him in all I say and do.

I will not belittle myself. I will not scoff at things that seem too high to obtain. I will be diligent and not grow weary, but keep God's word as my encouragement and nourishment to grow more like my heavenly Father - so that I can do and complete the work he has set before me. I can be whatever the body of Christ needs for me to be to complete the work in JOY that he would have me do.

Ephesians 4


So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work

Mid Life Dip

Reprint from 2008 - thought it was interesting to re-read!

I was watching the Today Show one day this week. They had three people - I think it was two psychologists and a rabbi. Apparently there was a poll taken of 1 million people, not including income, color. Just a simple question, "Are you happy?" Well the good news is the really young and the really old are really happy. The bad news is...the ones in the middle - not so much.

Here's the link to the article: MiddleAgeIsTrulyDepressing,StudyFinds

The discussion was all about why that was. How come people in their late 30's through 40's are so unhappy? The average age the dip started was 44 1/2 and folks didn't emerge from it until after their 50's. What they discussed made good sense. The pressures of providing for the future are suddenly a very real thing. Babies are no longer babies - they are growing children - a lot faster than you thought they were going to. Parents are getting older and are having to be provided for as well in some cases. Of course there are many factors that can either add to or take away from the unhappiness. Marriages not being what you thought is one, debt being another, sickness...rebellious teens, not to mention all the changes that come. Can't see like we use to, can't fit into the clothes we use to...heck - we don't even know what's "in" anymore. We are too busy taking care of our kids and holding things together!

Apparently middle age is the beginning of enlightenment. We were too young to understand how hard it was when we were children (ignorance really is bliss) and we are not yet old enough to understand that it is not the end of the world and that there is a point we get use to all the changes and become comfortable with who we are. We then become happy again. And enjoy life again. We finally reach the Age of Enlightenment.

Do you know what is really interesting about the study? They also took into account where people lived. Can you believe that the happiest people were not the ones who lived in the sunny South or the Bahamas where the weather is fine? The people who were happiest were the ones who lived in places like Iceland, and Finland. The reason? Because they have to depend on each other more. They are a group of people who look to each other in the dark, cold of their climate to meet each others needs. They are a community. They support each other and care for each other in that community. The people are closer and felt more content because the relationships in their villages are close. They have people - so to speak. Someone they know they can count on.

That is an amazing find. We need each other. We are to support each other. We are to find our contentment in relationships not status and possessions. The problem with middle age is we are just learning that. We are on the cusp of understanding but are so busy trying to make ends meet that we can't quite grasp it. Then the kids go to college and we kind of get a handle on the finances and suddenly we realize. We understand. We start to really live, to really find happiness.

But you know - we don't have to wait. As a matter of fact I believe it is possible to find that happiness well before our "Golden Years". Especially for those who are in Christ. He has called us to love one another. He has given us this advice and if we live it, we will find our contentment. We will find that the Age of Enlightenment is now and not in the future. We can live a full life well before our fifties. This is joy and it should be present in the believers life even in the midst of trials and difficulties. Does that mean that each day will be easy breezy? I do not think that is what the study was about at all. Happiness does not mean no worries. Happiness is a state of mind. I believe that it is contentment and being comfortable in your own skin. I believe it comes from knowing that your tomorrow's are under control. And for a believer, that is a given. That is joy.

There are still worries. There are still...hormones...ugh. There are still little ones and teenage years and parents that need caring for. BUT, if we can remember that it is all just so temporary. And then we move to the next stage. Learning to be happy where we are today is HUGE. As a matter of fact...I was speaking to an older lady the other day, she said that her kids were harder now than they had ever been. The reason is because she could not make it better for them anymore. They were adults with kids of their own. Her struggle came from not being able to be hands on anymore and help and fix things like she had been able to when they were younger. They had to make their own way. I can imagine that is hard for a Mama. I remember when I was at home with the twins, nursing them and changing diapers unendingly, a friend told me that it just got harder when they got to school and to enjoy that time I had with them as babies. I was shocked and then I was shocked yet again to hear my sweet older friend say it got harder still even when they were no longer children.

You know what that says to me though? There is never an end to our struggle to make things right in our world. But that does not mean we cannot find our footing here and be happy. I absolutely believe that we can. And...what if, we miss a blessing, miss the joy of the present because we keep waiting to get through whatever stage we are in before we think we can finally find that joy. No, God has given us everything we need to be content here and now. We have His Word, His Holy Spirit and each other. By prayer, study and fellowship we can have joy even in the hard times. How blessed are we?

Just Do It

I think Nike has something there. I am convinced more and more that the more I make myself do something even though I don't feel like doing it - it is good for me....and it makes me happier. So my new motto each day has been to wake up and say Just Do It. I don't feel like it...do it anyway. It has been a relief and I have been enjoying my days more. Wow. Who knew? This is especially appropo considering the funk I have been in. Sometimes wallering just makes things worse...I gotta get my fanny up and DO!

Philippians 2:12-14 (New International Version)

12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
14Do everything without complaining or arguing,

This applies to everything. My time with God in the mornings, my loving my husband well, my disciplining the kids, my housework. There has never been a time that I did something I was suppose to that I said, "Well that was useless and a waste of my time". Well...maybe I said that but I still was happy I did it. It was right and good and it agreed with The Spirit that dwells within me. It is like finding the right place to put a piece to the puzzle.

Obedience is like that. Very freeing. Now...I wonder if I can convince my children of this?

Diligence - Signs of the Times

I read this passage yesterday and was amazed.

1Timothy 4 (New International Version)

1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. 6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. 11Command and teach these things. 12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers

A while back (2-3 years ago) Oprah started her own Bible Study of sorts...I think it is more like a pep rally for self. Bits and pieces were taken from the Bible and added to. But it is a convoluted sort of feel good compilation of stuff. I think Oprah has a heart that means to serve others well...but - in this "Bible Study" I think she may be off the mark. Anyway...there are many things that have come about lately that show that we are doing exactly what 1 Timothy 4 says.

We are allowing small seeds of untruth to bed themselves into our thoughts and it simply changes the meaning of Scripture. Remember our rule to live by is the Word of God. It is our plumb line, our compass - it is how we stay on course. Without measuring what we hear to the Word we will more than likely be deceived. Because quite honestly what Oprah says is not bad stuff. She is a kind, and giving person. Yet, it is not scripture and it very self driven.

So in light of all of these things that we are constantly hearing and have a tendency to take root in our thoughts - we are to tell each other and keep each other in the Word. To be DILIGENT in rightly dividing the Word of God. To measure everything we hear and everything we say to the Truth that is revealed there.

Be in the Word daily...be diligent.

It is very important in these later times.

Here I go again...

I am in the midst of a fear fest right now. Seriously. I have this wrong feeling. It is nagging and it bothers me that I have done so well for so many months and all of a sudden I go to sleep with it and wake up with it and have it follow me wherever I go.

The future worries me. My children and my choices for them and the choices I allow them to make worry me. I am not doing it right right now. That worries me. I am thinking too much right now and that really worries me. My husband's choices worry me and the choices I allow him to make are worrying me (that really is tongue in cheek).

Speculation

The culprit.

Seriously, speculating is a worrisome thing.

spec·u·la·tion

/ˌspɛkyəˈleɪʃən/ Show Spelled [spek-yuh-ley-shuh  n]   

noun

1.

the contemplation or consideration of some subject: to engage in speculation on humanity's ultimate destiny.

2.

a single instance or process of consideration.

3.

a conclusion or opinion reached by such contemplation: These speculations are impossible to verify.

4.

conjectural consideration of a matter; conjecture or surmise: a report based on speculation rather than facts.

5.

engagement in business transactions involving considerable risk but offering the chance of large gains, especially trading in commodities, stocks, etc., in the hope of profit from changes in the market price.

 

Numero Tres is the one that is the culprit here.

 

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

 

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. ⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ....

 

I truly do not feel stable right now. Some of this may be hormonal. Seriously. And some of it may be that we are still in such a questionable place as far as our future. Of course it is secure. We are just not really sure what it is right now. I have gotten better at not looking too far ahead. But lately - I suck at it.

 

My weapon must be the word of God. I must cast down imagination and once again take hold of the moment by moment faith that allows me to soar verses bottoming me out. I must take my thoughts into captivity and funnel them through the Word.

 

Philippians 4:7-9

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

So  practically speaking - we have been cared for through some pretty scary times. Nothing has changed. We have everything we need and then some. So thinking on my blessings - thanking God for how he has cared for us. Finding things to do for others and serving them well is my best remedy. Do I want to be away from the precipice that always seems just inches away? Yes I do. But apparently that is not where I flourish spiritually.

My independence is so wounded right now. It aches to be free. I am just like a child that stamps her foot and says, "I want to do it all by myself". God is surely clucking his tongue and saying, "patience - trust me".


Hebrews 13:5-6
English Standard Version (ESV)

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we can confidently say,

"The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?"
 

.And so - I once again must trust that God will supply my needs and lay this worry to bed once more. The future is his and I know he loves me. I can exult in the fact that I have gone quite some time without having that heinous thing tracking me like a hound dog - this is progress!  God is indeed making me a new creature and I suppose I just have to keep understanding that my nature is flawed and waiting to be perfected. How I pray that the small advances I make glorify God and I look forward to the day when he decides it is time to finish the work he began. It makes me smile.

Portrait of a Lady

Yes, yes - this is a Henry James novel. A novel I am reading presently. I am absolutely captivated by it! As I read it, I find myself comparing and contrasting myself with Isabel Archer Osmond - mainly after she is married. I do not get to know her well until I am halfway through the book. Finally, sister lets her mind be known. She is all generosity and gentility. She is an enigma that draws people in. All the while she is struggling with her past decisions.

I am much too contemplative at times. I see this in Isabel. I have belabored my decision making from the past and have the ghosts of advice given and ignored haunt me at times. Would my life be different? Would it be better? Would it be more fulfilled?

Fact is - doesn't matter. I think Isabel Archer Osmond comes to this conclusion as well. No matter how she has been wounded, no matter what advice she walked away from, no matter how bad her choices may have been - she turns her back on speculation and contents herself with dealing with the present. With living well within the realm of what she has chosen.

She may have well chosen differently and found herself in the same position later. No life is perfect. We content ourselves with the fact that we did the best we could with what we had at the time. I like that she has the gumption to see things for what they really are. She never blamed her misunderstandings on those she misunderstood. They just were. And she contented herself to make the best of it.

I see myself in her when she burns with embarrassment over what she initially thought and what really was. I rally with her when she defends her incorrect conclusions with sound logic. And I am pleased when she settles down to enjoy what freedom she has to live in the choices she made. I see this in so many relationships I have had...in work, ministry and love - whether it be friendship or past beau's. I made mistakes. I lived through them. I am who and what I brought with me through the experiences. I can live well knowing that I am better for them - no matter how painful the experience or how foolish I felt for my naivete.

I am not finished reading the entire book yet. I may have to come back later and ammend my conclusions...but so far, I think this is a lovely book. Some critics claim it is a tragedy. I do not see it that way at all. Life, afterall, is not a fairytale where all live happily ever after. We live spherically and advance the best we can. Life really is what we make it - in all the disappointments and tragedies it can still be a wonderful life. I pray I always strive to make it so.

Scarlett O'Hara-itis

I have it. There is not a day that goes by that I don't say at some time during the day..."I can't think about that right now, I will take care of it tomorrow".

And sometimes - it is a necessity.

But I am chronic. I say it about diets, projects, health issues...so many things.

But I think - with this first day of January - instead of a list of crap I know I won't follow through with, I will do my best to end the procrastination.

There are so many reasons for procrastination. I have three little boys that are busy. A job, housework, social stuff - so many things. I also deal with those lovely fluctuating mood swings that seem to get more drastic the older I get. That is an every day battle. And sometimes I am just stinkin' tired. There are also the times I am doing for others. That has always been my gift and my life just doesn't seem to work well unless I find a way to incorporate that. Although that can be a battle of my will over my laziness as well. That's a whole other story.

So today I am planning on practicing doing what I think is too hard for the moment. I just pray I recognize it each time and act on it. I pray for the awareness to put wings to my ideas, to say "yes" instead of "not today" to eating better, exercising more, whatever it is that seems too much at the time.

Happy New Year!

One moment at a time...

This Christmas is hard. For so many reasons...

I just found out my dad has been diagnosed with cancer again. My world was devastated for a moment. For a moment I imagined the worst and fell apart. But then I remembered...things have been hard for a while. Not just in my life - in this world. And though I live in this world, I do not operate as the world would have me to. I am a child of God. My heart is protected and filled in an unending deluge of love that causes me to overflow to others. Not just love - but hope. And though hope seems to be thin at this time, the reality is that it is not.

The Connecticut shootings and all of those babies being killed is rending hearts everywhere. Whenever I think of those parents and put myself in their place I fall apart...for a moment.

The life I live is on a moment by moment basis. If I have learned anything the last several years, it is that we have grace aplenty for the moment. What draws us to the next moment is the living hope we have in Christ...

I Peter 1:
³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you...

This world is a broken cup. It does not function as it was initially intended. Quite honestly - the United States is still one of the most blessed places to live - in spite of all of the ick. There are these types of horrors going on in other places, everyday, to others babies and yet we are so surprised when it happens to ours. We take so much for granted.

But this is not surprising - or shouldn't be. We live in a world that is groaning...in pain as it waits.

Romans 8:

¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

All of this to say...my endurance is spurred by hope and that hope lies in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And it all started with a young girl who gave birth to a child who is the Messiah - what fellow believers are celebrating this season and where this hope springs from.

And though I don't know what to pray for sometimes, I am so overwhelmed and despondent, I can know that God knows my heart. I must take the next step - for the next moment is full of hope and God will complete the work he has started...both in us and this broken world. So until he returns, I must seek the face of God, help where needed, love others well, and rest when I am tired then get up and start over again .

Because...

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6