Here's to Mondays!

(click on picture to enlarge)
I used to dread Mondays--especially Monday mornings! I was always all outta steam after the craziness of the weekend "adventures", and the break in the routine of my weekdays. But now, Mondays have become a day I look forward to!
I can hardly wait for them to come back around each week!
I've designated Mondays as my day to refresh and renew...anything and everything that needs it (including me)!

I love it! It's actually fun to go around the house, from room to room--watering plants, putting stuff back in it's place, refilling containers of...(whatever), plus spending time outside refilling my bird feeders and squirrel feeder!

A big plus to this plan is that, since I now do all the refilling stuff as a regular weekly task, I don't have the frustration of opening a container of something, when I'm in a big hurry, only to find it empty or nearly empty when I really don't have the time to refill it!

Another benefit of this new routine on Mondays is that I no longer squander the first half of the day wondering what to do first with the start of a new week. I used to find it hard to jump into anything useful on Monday morning, because I was a bit out of sorts from the weekend, and just unable to decide where to start!

Call me strange, but I really find it enjoyable and satisfying to refresh and renew my world, even in the simplest of ways! Of course, it all starts with me (my "Quiet Time")--in my special spot, with my focus on Jesus--letting Him refresh and renew my soul.

Monday moodiness was my usual mindset, but now Mondays actually serve a good purpose in my life--something other than the day to rest up after the weekend! So, no more moody or mundane Mondays!

Oh, why the picture of an eagle? It's my symbolic reminder of how God renews my strength when I'm weary -- for those Mondays when I still feel too blah to get up and get going!

An Upside Down Point of View

(click on picture to enlarge)
Ever feel like your whole world just turned upside down?

I suppose that's probably how my daughter and son-in-law feel right now. While caring for their new little puppy, Andy slipped on the ice (in the middle of the night) and broke his leg (along with torn ligaments). So, today he is having surgery to repair the damage, and add some extra hardware to the inside of his leg in order to keep all the parts fastened together long enough to heal, with the hope of being able to walk again in 6 to 8 weeks! What an awful way to begin the new year! Please pray for him, and for their family at this difficult time--thanks!

Sometimes I think we live in an upside down world! Or, does the world simply have an upside down point of view (like this squirrel outside my dining room window)?

1. Why do bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people?
2. Why do we sometimes suffer when we're trying to do something good?
3. Why is the wrong so often made to appear right, and whatever is right and good made to appear foolish?
4. Why are good intentions so often misunderstood and criticized?
5. Why is this world system opposed to the way God planned our world?
6. Why are passionate God-lovers considered to be religious fanatics, while the "luke-warmers" are more easily accepted by other Christians?
7. Why are liars believed, and those who tell the truth are distrusted?
8. Why is the simplest act of kindness often the hardest to do?
9. Why does a dishonest person usually get further ahead than an honest person?
10. Why does this squirrel insist on hanging upside down to eat?

Simply because that's the way it is in a squirrely world!

Choosing Joy

I like the word "JOY"!
I like the thought of "JOY"!
I like the whole concept of "JOY"!
That's why I chose "Jeannie's Joyful Journey" as the name of my blog.

"JOY" defined (in Webster's Dictionary):

1. (a) "The emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune, or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: DELIGHT.
(b) "The expression or exhibition of such emotion: GAIETY
2. A state of happiness or felicity: BLISS
3. A source or cause of delight.
4. To experience great pleasure or delight: REJOICE."

Don'tcha just love even the mere thought of "joy" or "joyfulness"? I do!!! It just does something to me--something that's almost impossible to describe! Perhaps its akin to what I experience while riding on very fast, very scary roller coasters, (or even just being surrounded by all the beautiful colored lights at night time in an amusement park)! However, contrary to what I read in Webster's Dictionary, I don't think it has anything to do with my circumstances (including riding on roller coasters), nor is it always indicated by outward appearances. Real joy is very difficult to accurately define. It's almost inexpressible, but I know it's there, because it bursts forth and demands my attention!

When I looked up "joy" in my Bible, I was amazed to find such an abundance of it! Here's just a small sampling of what I found:

"Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs." (Psalm 100:1,2)

(NIV Study notes: "Unlike much of contemporary society, the Bible does not confuse joy with happiness. Happiness is an emotional state typically dependent on external circumstances; the Biblical concept of joy involves a deeper realilty. Joy includes a condition of genuine well-being, marked by confidence, hope and trust that extends far beyond our own finiite perceptions. Happiness is more of a process, often developed most profoundly during periods of chaos and suffering. The deep, sustaining joy of the Lord comes from an assurance that He is with us and will deliver us--from present difficulties as well as from this scarred and stained world. Such joy is able to express its hope, even in the middle of legitimate sadness.")

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever (not "if") you face trials of many kinds..." (James 1:2)

(NIV Study notes: "This doesn't mean we derive pleasure from pain. Instead, this describes a unique kind of joy--the deep sense of well-being that comes from knowing that God is in control of everything in our lives. It's an assurance that He is constantly at work, using both pain and pleasure to develop within us character traits of endurance and patience.")

"...the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)
(I love this verse--I cling to it!!!)

"Oh, the joys of those who...delight in doing everything the LORD wants..." (Psalm 1:1-2)

"What joy for all who find protection in Him!" (Psalm 2:12-b)

"You have filled my heart with greater joy..." (Psalm 4:7)

"Let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy..." (Psalm 5:11)

"You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence..." (Psalm 16:11)

"The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart..." (Psalm 19:8)

"Surely You have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of Your presence." (Psalm 21:6)

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."
(Psalm 28:7)

"You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy..." (Psalm 30:11)

"Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight..." (Psalm 43:4)

"Shout with joy to God, all the earth!" (Psalm 66:1)

"May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful." (Psalm 68.3)

"You make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. " (Psalm 92:4)

"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." (Psalm 94:19)

"Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation." (Psalm 95:1)

"Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart."
(Psalm 97:11)

"The prospect of the righteous is joy..." (Proverbs 10:28)

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior." (Habakkuk 3:17,18)

"Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
(Philippians 4:4)

"Be joyful always." (I Thessalonians 5:16)

"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an expressible and glorious joy..." (I Peter 1:8)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As I read through all the verses on joy, joyfulness, rejoicing, etc., I couldn't help but notice that the Bible does acknowledge that sometimes our joy turns into great sadness and mourning. But, I take heart in this: It seems to come with a choice--we can choose to rejoice even in the midst of sadness and hardship!

My choice: If I get to choose (and it appears that I do)--I CHOOSE JOY!
If being joyful requires something of me, then, that's what I'll choose! And, when I'm unable (of my own strength and in my own resources) to be full of joy, I will ask God to fill me with His joy--abundant, totally amazing, and free for the asking!!!

(Plus, I'll keep on riding on roller coasters!)

Things heard from my Heavenly Father... through my cat

Every now and then...actually, quite frequently, now that I stop and think about it...I have conversations with my favorite little furry friend. Her name is Pretzel
(a story in itself).

Usually it goes something like this:

1. "Well, good morning, little friend, can't you let me sleep just a little longer? Are you sure you need breakfast right this minute?"

2. "Oh, Pretzel....can't you just leave me alone for a little while....I'm busy! I've got a life of my own, ya know! Go bother someone else for awhile!"

3. "Are ya keepin' an eye on my birdies for me?" I'll bet you wish you were outside "playing" with them, dontcha?"

4. "Outside, Pretzel...c'mon, Baby, you can do it! Be brave, little one!"

But, then, there are other times that I say something to her, and then instantly recognize the voice of the Father (Father God, that is), speaking to me, reminding me of the same thing I just said to my cat...such as:

1. "Well you little rascal . . . you know you're not supposed to do that! But, even when you're bad, I still love you."

2. "Even though you don't choose to cuddle up with me very often, I sure do love you and enjoy taking care of you."

3. "You don't understand much of what I say to you, do you? That's okay, little one...I understand that your ears just weren't made to comprehend my words."

4. "Sometimes you don't make very good choices! Maybe that's because your brain is only the size of a pea! (Such a tiny head can only hold a tiny brain.)"

Now, here's the funny thing:
I actually wrote most of this post a few weeks ago, and had not planned to post this one until next week (had already chosen the date)! Tonight, as I sat down at the computer to publish another post, and looked through the stuff already written (just waiting to be posted), I got quite a chuckle out of item number 4 above! It's about "choices", which I just talked about in yesterday's post! It wasn't planned this way! I said those words to Pretzel one morning quite awhile ago (during my morning "quiet time"), and instantly heard them come back to me from my Heavenly Father!

Guess that's why God gave me this special little furry friend!

Choices

As I begin this new year, I'm realizing anew that life is all about choices! If there is only one "New Year's resolution" I choose to make, it would be this -- that I would choose correctly, according to God's choices for my life, because that's the path of a joyful journey!

The choices God prescribes for me:

• "Choose life..." (Deuteronomy 30:19)
• "Choose to love the LORD your God and to obey Him and commit yourself to Him..." (Deut.30:20)
• "Choose [God's] instruction..." (Proverbs 8:10)
• "Choose understanding..." (Proverbs 16:16)
• "Choose to do God's will..." (John 7:17)
• "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve..." (Joshua 24:15)

Those are the choices I WILL make because of
the choices that God has already made for me:

• "...the LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession."
  (Deuteronomy 7:6)
• "...the people HE chose for His inheritance..." (Psalm 33:12)
• "...you did not choose ME, but I chose you, and appointed you to go..." (John 15:16)
• "...I have chosen you out of the world..." (John 15:19)
• "...HE chose us in Him before the creation..." (Ephesians 1:4)
• "...God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved..." (Colossians 3:12)
• "...from the beginning God chose you..." (II Timothy 2:13)
• "...you are a chosen people,...a people belonging to God..."
  (I Peter 2:9)

The wisdom in the choices:

• "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! Choose to love the LORD your God and to obey Him and commit yourself to Him, for He is your life." (Deuteronomy 30:19,20)
• "And so, my children, listen to ME, for happy are all who follow my ways. Listen to my counsel and be wise. Don't ignore it. Happy are those who listen to ME, watching for ME daily at my gates, waiting for ME outside my home! For whoever finds ME finds life and wins approval from the LORD." (Proverbs 8:32-35)
• "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Since God has already chosen me to belong to Him, and has already made choices for my life according to what He knows is best for me, that makes my choices easy! I'll just choose His choices!

P.S. "We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps." (Proverbs 16:9)
"Those who trust the LORD will be happy." (Proverbs 16:20)

Hmmmm...let me think about this for a sec...
Simply by trusting God and choosing His ways and His plan for my life, I will be happy! What could be better than that?

Not a mundane Monday!

It began in the usual way (for life on the West Coast)...starting the morning off with the Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena, California. (It usually happens on January 1st, unless January 1st is on Sunday.) Of course, when we lived in Southern California, actually being there was always the best way to watch it, but now, watching it on TV has to suffice. Since we overslept this morning, we decided to watch from the warmth and comfort of our bed, along with coffee and toast. What a shock to find it pouring rain on their parade (hasn't happened since 1955), but it didn't stop their fun -- the show must go on!

Finally, we decided it was time to get up and get busy with our usual routine of what happens at our house when the parade is over -- time to put away all the Christmas trimmings for another year. However, since today was the last day of our holidays, we just couldn't let it go to "waste"...like, you know, spend the whole day working!

By lunch time, what had started out as a rainy day (our usual winter weather), began to look almost salvagable...perhaps worth more than just hanging around the house doing Christmas tear-down. So, we quickly took off to go exploring (thankful for our 4-wheel drive Explorer), back to our "ol' stompin' grounds" of southwestern Washington.
Here's a few of the sights we enjoyed (click on pics to enlarge) :
No, these photos weren't taken from some far-off vacation spot -- it's all within an hour's drive of where we lived in Washington, before moving just across the state border into Oregon. Today's drive was a beautiful way to spend our afternoon, and, even though it went back to raining on our "parade", it certainly was not a mundane Monday!

A New Sunrise = A New Beginning

A new beginning in my walk with You,
Out with the old and in with the new!
The past behind me—it’s now gone from view,
So out with the old—in with the new!

A new beginning is all that You see,
What happened before, erased from me!
I'll start life anew—from sin I'm set free,
With all my failures erased from me!

A new beginning—today's a new day;
A fresh start with You, Lord—have your way!
No matter what comes, remind me to pray,
and start fresh with You—Lord, have your way!

A new beginning—it's now time to grow;
Change and renewal—may it be so!
Your work in my heart—my life to show
Change and renewal—Lord, make it so!

A new beginning—a gift from your hand,
New blessings today—-you've already planned!
All footprints before, now washed from the sand,
Lord, bless me today with all that You've planned!

A new beginning You've given to me.
A new beginning—from my past I'm free!
A new beginning is all that I see--
A new beginning—in my walk with Thee!

I wrote this poem a few years ago for my sister (per her request, for ministry purposes). Several months ago I remembered it and copied it into my blog, planning to post it on January 1st as an appropriate way to ring in the new year. When I quit blogging a few months ago (and didn't know if I would ever return to it), I thought perhaps this post would never actually be published.

Now, with my decision to resume blogging, it doubles as a reminder of "new beginnings". I love new beginnings! How totally refreshing and energizing they are for me! A new year...a new season of life...a new start!

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

For me...a new season has begun!
Today is the first day of a brand new year -- a brand new beginning!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Out with the old . . . In with the new!

Tomorrow we will be saying, "Happy New Year!" Of course, for us hearty souls who like to stay up late on New Year's Eve to be among the first to ring in the new year, it will happen tonight. It's my favorite night of the whole year! For me, it's not just about celebrating the arrival of a new year -- it's also a celebration of finishing something, and of putting to rest all the difficulties and sadness of the past year. For me, it's truly a time of rejoicing and making way for a new beginning!

"Forget the former things (mistakes and failures); do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing; now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness, and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:19, NIV)

From my daily calendar:
"The new year will not be a repetition of the one just past, but a year of new beginnings, new resolves, new plans. It will be filled with:

new experiences,

new challenges,

new opportunities,

new lessons to be learned.

We may be transferred to new surroundings;
new joys may overflow our hearts;
new sorrows and heartaches may enter our lives.

As we are about to enter a new year, we can look forward to it with great expectancy. We are to turn our eyes away from the past year and look forward with eager anticipation to a new year, fresh from God's hand to us. Regardless of what the year may hold, God promises, 'See, I am doing a new thing.' "

"...forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead..."
(Philippians 3:13b, NIV)

Cheers!

'Tis the season . . .

(click on pictures to enlarge)
(Bummer...forgot to light the candles in the windows before this photo was snapped!)


(Oops...all the beautiful little twinkle lights got washed out in the picture!)


One more try...
Belated "Merry Christmas" greetings!
It truly was a very beautiful, very merry Christmas in our little world!

Blog pic

To everything there is a season...

A Season of Rest
It's something I've been thinking about over the last month or so, and it's time to make the decision. My interest in the blog world has been waning. Perhaps my season of blogging has run its course. I've enjoyed it, but perhaps it's time for a season of rest--from blogging. There's so much more I want to enjoy in life, and blogging seems to keep me from it. For me it's all-consuming, and it seems that the only way I can get free of my "addiction" to it, is to make a complete break from it. Perhaps I'll return someday, but for now the sun has set in my blog world.

Reunited!

Together again at long last--sisters three and our dad. What a grand visit we had! What a wonderful week back in our home state of Michigan! What fun to visit with relatives on both sides of our family! But, today I'm glad to be back home! Going away is fun, and getting together with precious family is great, but nothing can compare to coming home!

My Day!

Today is "my day"! The sky is bright blue and nearly cloudless! The sun is shining and the temperature is very pleasant! It truly is a beautiful day!

I can choose for myself today--if I want to. So, for starters, I indulged in a little extra sleep this morning--sleeping in till 8:30. I had a very full weekend, with lots of fun stuff going on, and several very late nights.

A couple of highlights:

Friday night our house was full of friends for a dinner party -- 10 of us (5 couples). The ladies chose to "bless me" (as they put it). They came in and took over my kitchen, shooing me off to give house tours to those who hadn't been here before. The men all sat outside on the deck, discussing all the important matters that men discuss (like world peace and cars), while the women chit-chatted happily in the kitchen, surrounding the stove and snack bar, discussing all the fun stuff that women discuss (like food and family and friendship). We ate on the deck, enjoying some of Larry's recent salmon catch and other incredible culinary delights. As the sun set and the beautiful colors in the sky deepened, we drank in the awesome beauty of twilight and then finished it off with a yummy chocolatey dessert by candlelight. Laughter and conversation continued out there till about 10:00 or so. What a totally wonderful evening!

Yesterday (Monday) we went sailing with our friends, Bennie and Debbie. That is always such a fun treat! Each time we do it I love it more! There is nothing like being out on the water, in beautiful surroundings, soaking up the sunshine, letting the wind blow through your hair, nibbling and sipping, chatting and laughing, all while working all the riggings of a sailboat -- and doing it all in the pleasant company of good friends! Oh, did I mention the excitement of staying out of the way of the big (ocean-going) ships that cruise by occasionally, and then bouncing on the big waves they leave behind? Woo hoo - what a ride!

What a great weekend we had!

My next choice this morning was to spend some time with God, reading His love letter to me and letting Him tell me what He wants me to know and how He wants me to live my life. That is of utmost importance to me! You see, I like to make my choices for my life according to His choices for my life. I have found that it works best that way.

After that, my next choice was to spend some time with one of my favorite hobbies--the computer (Spider Solitaire and the blog world). I have visited many of you in your blogs this morning--always looking for new pictures and something new to read.

But, now that my pleasant morning is drawing to a close, I guess I need to turn my attention to the other stuff of my day--getting ready to go to Michigan for a week's visit with my sisters and my dad, and many others in my family. Included in the visit is an extended family reunion on Sunday (my dad's side of the family), and a visit with my aunt and uncle (my mom's sister), and some time to enjoy the beach at Lake Michigan (just my sisters and me!). WOO HOO! Can't wait!