"For This Day"

for morning light, sunrise hues
for earth and sky, the greens and blues
for every mercy made brand new
we thank you for this day

for sights and sounds, and warming fires
for keeping us from wrong desires
for giving all that years require
Lord, we thank you for this day

for Bread
for Blood to wash our sins
for all that we hold dear
for all Your Holy disciplines
for Love that drives out fear

for joys and trials, work and rest
for calling us to be our best
for graces when we fail the test
we thank you for this day

for Bread
for Blood to wash our sins
for all that we hold dear
for all Your Holy disciplines
for Love that drives out fear

for Thine the Kingdom, Thine the fame
Thine the glory and the aim
for these we ask, Lord, in your name
we thank you for this day  

(Suzanne Gaither Jennings/Michael Sykes)
                                                                                                                    

                                                  
(i didn't take this pic, but i like it...)
(this song has been a blessing to me today)                                            

~ Daybook : October 15 ~

I am thankful...for a safe and good trip to Washington DC last week....so glad things went so smoothly in so many ways. Also thankful for God's protection over my parents in some moments of crisis while i was away...

Outside my window...it is so very hot and sunny...after enjoying cool temps. last week in DC, i am very anxious for things to stay cooler around here...

In the kitchen...it's quiche and salad tonight....always so glad i have planned ahead and had things ready for putting together meals once i'm back from a trip...the extra thinking works!

I am wearing...still in my glasses & pj's! i slept in a little and have been putting away, picking up, getting laundry gathered, and generally getting things back in order:)

I am thinking...about how immature and short-sighted we humans can be if we do not walk in the Spirit. i want to have open eyes to see the Kingdom....to spend my energy on the things that matter (heard a great sermon on this yesterday that corresponded with some issues that had already been on my mind)

I am creating... more order....in several places (or trying to, anyways!!)

I am listening... to Michael Kelly Blanchard these days....an old tape A View Out the Window. his writing is so masterful and some of his lyrics can still completely undo me...

I am wondering... if i would really enjoy living in a city such as DC for a few years....if i could indulge my political/activist leanings in some sort of productive way....if the romance of such a lifestyle would be as expected or would quickly wane (this possibility is not even on the agenda...just in my little head:)

I am reading : i took along Love Does (Bob Goff) on my trip....loving his perspective! and last night (at bedtime), i started reading Rilla of Ingleside (L.M. Montgomery)...this is the last of the Anne series...and i will be sad for this rereading cycle to end...it has been a sweet gift to my heart this year....and i've drawn it out as long as i could...

I am hoping...  for some big things...that are beyond my own abilities....truthfully, it's beyond me to remain even hopeful in my own strength! and i am so very aware of my dependence on the Lord.                           

I am looking forward to... some things hopefully working out for my Dad's job needs soon....so that i can have more clarity when starting to search for a job myself....

I am pondering... setting clear, ethical guidelines....and sticking to them....no matter the fallout.

I am learning... how to answer and respond carefully (didn't i say something like this last time?!....yep, i'm still learning!....actually, kinda thankful for how God is helping me in this area...)

Around the house... i am grateful for the blessings i have in this simple home : not fancy, not new, but so wealthy to live in a comfortable, peaceful place that ( i hope) reflects values that are pleasing to God...

A favorite quote for today : "When Jesus speaks about the world, He is very realistic. He speaks about wars and revolutions, earthquakes, plagues and famines, persecution and imprisonment, betrayal, hatred and assassinations. There is no suggestion at all that these signs of the world's darkness will ever be absent. But still, God's joy can be ours in the midst of it all. It is the joy of belonging to the household of God whose love is stronger than death and who empowers us to be in the world while already belonging to the kingdom of joy." (Henri J. M. Nouwen)

~ this was in my email inbox today....so, so good...and goes so beautifully with yesterday's sermon from our visiting speaker....thankful for these nuggets of truth that shape how we see the world and how we live in it ~

One of my favorite things... is a clear conscience.

A few plans for the rest of the week... appointments to keep, meetings to go to, company to get prepared for, calls to make, agendas to coordinate....*sigh*...i guess i will maaaaaaake it!

A peek into my day...one of my fav pictures of my time in DC : the Capitol at night...after we'd attended a concert at the Library of Congress....magical! i realize how privileged i am...

~ Daybook : October 1st ~

i am kind of liking this Daybook idea...i'm sure i will not manage to do this every single Monday!....but this structure and way of thinking is helpful to me. it rescues me from my tendency of writing with too many details and explanations! Here is the site where this idea originated, with links to other "daybookers"...

Outside my window...it is dark...and we have had a taste of Fall today...loving it!

I am thinking...about healthcare and about that foolish 47 % comment...how it is unrepresentative of the complexity of real life situations and social dynamics. (real light thoughts, huh ;) took my cousin to an appointment at one of the LSU system clinics...got me to thinkin all kinds of thoughts (positive and negative ) (i'll stop now!:)

I am thankful...for comfortable, trustworthy friends.

In the kitchen...we had pizza tonight! (busy day) yesterday we had Indian Curry Chicken w/jasmine rice, broccoli w/dill, and a fabulous dessert of pumpkin custard & gingersnaps (picture at the end:) it was so good, if i do say so myself!

I am wearing...pj's!

I am creating...a higher standard of what living in kindness means for me...
(i need to do this...*sigh*)

I am going...to watch "Call the Midwife" in a little while...i dvr'd it last night... 
excited and hope i like it!   

I am wondering...if i can get everything done that needs to get done so that i can be away for a few days next week...

I am reading...still, Leaving Church (Barbara Brown Taylor). and tonight i found her most recent book, An Altar in the World, for $5...on a roll here:) i'm pretty sure i would likely wind up in some different places on this Christianity spectrum than Ms. Taylor, but i am truly appreciating her honest look at life and faith...helpful to me. i finished Rainbow Valley last night...i cried when Rev. Meredith and Rosemary reconciled...so, so, so sweet....

I am hoping...that the holidays go well (always anxiety-producing for me)  
(i'm already thinking ahead and stressing a bit...)
                                   
I am looking forward to...more grace for every day...

I am pondering...the perils of defensiveness!! 

I am learning...to not speak too quickly out of defensiveness...

Around the house...i have been sorting through my closets and getting rid of clothes! finally letting go of some things that are (at least) 10 yrs. old!! scary! and convicting as it relates to the needs of the world and my spending habits...(or maybe it's just my "can't get rid of" habits!)

A favorite quote for today..."I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection." (Leonardo da Vinci) (i saw this on fb last week & have remembered it...)

One of my favorite things...is pumpkin coffee! really, it's the only flavored kind that i like...
so perfect for this time of year...

A few plans for the rest of the week...finish my lists from last week ;)....maintain a calm heart in an uncalm world (without distracting myself with periphery things in order to achieve desired "calmness")...continue doing sit-ups and exercising on my home elliptical machine since that whole gym thing didn't work out so well :( i've been pretty consistent so far...

A peek into my day...

...the promised pic of the pumpkin custard and gingersnaps...it was as yummy as it looks...we finished up the custards tonight...