It's good to travel; it's great to come home!

Hello, dear readers, I am back from my journeys, just in time to wrap up the month of July. 

Share something that made you smile

There was much to smile about in July. One of my favorite things I heard was Baylee saying, "I got to spend 5 whole days with MiMi!" I have to admit I grinned great big. I guess playing all those games of I Spy and I'm Going On A Trip and I'm Taking ____ (filling in the blank each time with the next letter of the alphabet) were worth it!

Share a win for the month

I took time to read two novels for fun in one week. I did actually take one week off totally from writing and 22 days from blogging. Except for the flood of 2011, that has never happened before. 

I tackled two different areas in my home, decluttered them and survived!

Share a great quote

"You don’t win by fighting lies but by reading the truth." - Louie Giglio (She Reads Truth Podcast, This Is The Church, Week 3) I highly recommend listening to this podcast.

 Share a favorite picture

My girls and I took tons of photos. I'm sure I'll be sharing them many times in the future. Here's a collage of just a few.

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Check out my newest post at Jerralea.com - You Were Created for Something Good.

I just want you to know how highly I value those of you who visit my little piece of the cyberspace to read my words. I believe my calling is to encourage others with words of hope and blessing. Thank you especially to those who respond with comments. You make it worthwhile!

 

November reflections

May I interrupt your day with this announcement? We have 28 days left in this decade.

That is all.

Go on with your regular schedule. I'm just going to camp out here and think a bit.

Frankly, I don't remember being as reflective when the year 2000 arrived. Perhaps because Y2K was a thing and that was all the chatter.

But the world went on, and twenty years later, we are about to enter into a new decade. 

For some reason, I just feel 2020 is going to be momentous.

You're probably wondering, "Jerralea, this seems like a December reflection more than a November one."

You're right. So, let's look back on November.

Something That Made Me Smile

As usual, this category is all about the grands. Behold the twins idea of how to roast a turkey:

Something That Made Me Think / Something that Spoke to Me

I don't want to get too wordy, but this category makes me want to go on and on. November is the month I've been obsessed with the idea of Sabbath.

I know, I know. 

Sabbath is an idea that has been around since the beginning of time. A couple years back, I read Shelly Miller's "Rhythm of Rest," and joined her email group, The Sabbath Society. Yet I'm just now seriously working to apply it to my life.

(What does that say about me, a life-long attender of church, just now getting serious about the subject. And, why does the church not teach more about it?)

Currently, I'm reading A. J. Swoboda's "Subversive Sabbath." Next, I want to tackle John Mark Comer's new book, "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry." I'm sure I will be sharing more and more about this as time goes on; but for now, a couple quotes to meditate on: 

“God relentlessly pursued us because all he ever wanted was to be with us.”

John Ortberg, seen here

and, 

Dallas Willard called “hurry, the greatest enemy to our spiritual life in our day and you must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

... heard here

Relentless and ruthless - not giving up nor letting anything stand in your way ....

A Win For The Month

I'd gotten behind both at work and here at home. I'm happy to say November saw me get caught back up ... just in time for the end-of-the-year hustle.

Share a favorite picture

How about you? What's been going on in your world? Leave a comment and share!

I'm linking up at Emily P. Freeman's post, What We Learned This Fall and
Recharge Wednesday
#TuneInThursday

The days of October

Today in the first week of November, I want to look back with a fond farewell to October.

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
― L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

One of my favorite writers, Emily P. Freeman, speaks of keeping a list entitled, "These are the days of ..." and listing all the simple joys that happen that month. Here is mine:

October was the days of  ... 

Wedding preparations in our family

Welcoming a new son

Chaos during renovations

FINALLY getting rid of blue-flowered walls that we had lived with all the days of my children's lives;  

Color swatches and paint samples; 

Sawdust and donut dust (powdered donuts go so well with hot beverages!);  

Playing school with the grands; 

Soups! 

Getting out the boots and sweaters;

Fall decor

Deep spiritual conversations: In October I was struck by a thought first mentioned on an Out of the Ordinary podcast, "In the Presence of Your Enemies," (Podcast #49). This is not her exact words, but what I heard Lisa-Jo say is that Psalm 23 tells us He prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies – and those enemies could well be the voices of the enemy shouting at us – it could be our own thoughts!

I mulled that over and shared with several friends. Then this amazing thought came up: Our enemy, our negative thoughts if you will, have to watch us being fed and blessed. They are not invited to the table - He prepares it for US, those He is shepherding.

I don't know about you, but realizing this truth not only lightened my October but is bringing joy to my November.

In closing, one of my Facebook friends, Teresa Eaves Gaikema, shared a quote (not sure from whom) that really spoke to me:

"There are three months left in this decade. In. This. Decade."

Sobering thought! It's your choice how you spend them.

Now ... we're down to two .... 

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I'm sharing this post at the following communities:

#TellHisStory
Let's Have Coffee
#TuneInThursday

(Wedding photos courtesy of A Shot of Faith Photography and other friends and family.)

August reflections...

When I look back at August, I see it was amazingly like July! (You might refer back to my July post to understand the following.)

I'm still enamored with Instagram and involved with growing with my people there.

I'm super excited about learning more about chesed. In fact, I did decide to look up all 247 instances of chesed in the King James Version. Given my time schedule, and my desire. To. Do. All. The. Things, I pledged to myself I would take one verse about chesed a day to study. I'd first write it out by hand. I then would look it up in context - very important! And then, I'd just ask God what He wanted me to get out of it.

Oh, yeah, I also gave myself the weekends off from thinking about it.

Doing the above plan would mean it would take me a year to study it. And that is when the idea of "The Year of Chesed," was born. (It is going to be my next book, Doesn't that sound so "writerly?" "Next book!" Of course, I have to finish the first one first... More about that next month.)

I'm 8 days into studying chesed. I've been uplifted, surprised and challenged. I'm hoping in the future to convey those same thoughts - and more - to my readers.

So, yes, August was the month of Instagram and chesed. How did your August go?

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I'm linking up this post with the following communities:
10 Things I Learned This Summer
Inspire Me Monday
#TellHisStory

July Reflection Journal

Yes, it’s August 5^th and I’m just now posting about July reflections but that’s how life has been for me lately. You too?

Something That Made Me Smile

In July, I tried something new. I joined an author’s challenge on Instagram. It’s been a lot of fun, and I’ve met some interesting people. (Authors are just naturally a different breed! I think I’ve found my people.) What is so exciting to me is the fact that I now have 3 times as many followers on Instagram as I do my blog. I’m smiling as I realize I am reaching more people with my words.

If you’d like to see what I’ve been up to over at Instagram, click here.

Something That Made Me Think

July is also the month we finished up our study of Daniel in our Adult Bible Study at church. What a powerful book! I’m going to be reflecting on Daniel for ages.  We then dove into the book of Nehemiah; and so far, have covered chapter one.

During our study of chapter 1, I encountered the principle of hesed. We don’t have an English word that adequately describes hesed; basically, in a nutshell, it means unfailing love based on a covenant relationship.

I was really struck by Nehemiah reminding the Lord of how He was a God of covenant. Digging deep and unpacking all hesed (or chesed) really means would take much more study than what I have done so far. Here are just a few nuggets from 4 different scriptures:

·        God demonstrates hesed in the form of unfailing love when we are being attacked. (Psalm 31:21-22 NLT)

·        Hesed assures believers of tender mercies and protection. Psalm 40:11 (NKJV)

·        Merciful kindness = unfailing love = hesed as Psalm 119:76 (NKJV) shows us

·        Hesed atones for sin! Don’t believe me? Look up Proverbs 16:6 (NLT)

Hey! I hear there are 247 instances of hesed in the KJV. I need to study more about this!

The thing is, when you realize just how important hesed is to the Lord, you realize how much He is interested in you! It gives you the ability to pray BOLD prayers.

A Win For The Month

One strategy I’ve been working on to feel a little less overwhelmed is to have some self-care goals set for every weekend. I might not be able to do them all, but they are little things to shoot for that make me feel better about my life in general. In July, I managed to do all 5 goals each weekend. (In August, the first weekend was my first time NOT being successful at achieving my goals. No matter, an overarching goal is this: don’t beat up myself! There is always next weekend!)

How about you? What's been going on in your world? Leave a comment and share!

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I'm linking up with the community at Inspire Me Monday, #TellHisStory, InstaEncouragements Link Up, Let's Have Coffee, and #TuneInThursday.

June Reflection Journal #14

June was quite the busy month here at the Journey. Two family birthdays, Father’s Day and a vacation added to the everyday crazy made the month whiz by like a runaway train.

Something That Made Me Smile

Of course, the excitement of the twins turning five was a highlight of the month. I can hardly believe our grand twinsies are so big. They asked for a cake covered in strawberries, so I was happy to oblige. It’s the little things!

This month, we visited my sister in Tennessee. It’s so peaceful there and such gorgeous views. I’m excited because I took a lot of photos; and now I’ve much to work with in PicMonkey, my favorite photo editing program.

Something That Made Me Think

Also, in June, I finished up a series of coaching sessions with life coach, Leah Adams.

You guys! It was so valuable to me. I highly recommend the process if you get a chance to do so, and, of course, I highly recommend Leah to serve as the life coach.

I enjoyed uninterrupted blocks of time to talk about me … something I hardly ever get to do! As an outsider looking in, she could point out things I’d never considered. I’ve a feeling I’ll still be thinking and pondering our discussions for months to come.

A Win For The Month

I was asked to share 10 minutes on prayer for a Ladies’ meeting, and that 10 minutes morphed into a series for the blog. I laid the groundwork of the series with my little talk, so I felt like it was a win-win for the amount of time invested. The series, titled “The 5 Questions of Prayer: Who, What, Why, Where and How,” has covered the first three questions, and we will finish up in July.

Share Something That Spoke To You

For this prompt in my reflection journal, I’m going to share some links of posts read in June that were like manna to my soul.

Self Discipline: A Matter of Grit and Grace - Michele Morin's post on the life of Elisabeth Elliot is so good! As a writer, it's comforting to know that she sometimes talked of “taking herself by the scruff of the neck” and sitting herself down to write, too.

10 Reasons God’s Always a Faithful Father by Karen Girl Friday

On Being Fully Known, Yet Never Rejected by Scott Sauls - "Instead of the old mission of reputation management and investing loads of energy into controlling what other people think about us, we can go about the new mission of our chief end—learning what it means to glorify and enjoy God." Amen and Amen!

When Cherishing the Moment Sounds Too Idealistic for Your Actual Life by Stacey Pardoe

And, I've discovered podcasts! Here are just few notable ones:

Things Above Podcast, June 5, 2019

Things Above Podcast, June 12, 2019

Next Right Thing Podcast, #80

You’re welcome!
Share a favorite picture

I love how a historic church established in 1790 is still functioning today and having VBS! This church is found in Jonesborough, TN.

How about you? What's been going on in your world? Leave a comment and share!

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I'm linking this post to #TellHisStory
and Let's Have Coffee