Sunday, February 27, 2011

G'la: My year of Restoration, Renewal. Refreshment.

There are only a few hours left in my 50th year. When I wake up tomorrow, I will be 51. So of course, at the moment, I am savoring the last little bits of my jubilee year.
I remember how intrigued I was when I first heard the story from the Old Testament about how every 50th year was very special in God's order of things. I have always like the idea of how in the Lord's economy, claims on people and land were not without an end.
It stood to reason then, that in my 50th year, I would seek to be freed of some things. I cast some old habits aside. I let go of some traditions that were more stressful than meaningful. I tried to edit from my life some things that were stressful period.
This year, I am looking to replace those things with others that are useful, helpful, peaceful. I am looking at who and what in my life would provide the most restoration: from grueling schedules and a harsh world. Renewal: of those things which mean something and need to be kept. Refreshment: frequent fostering of myself, my health, my relationships...
the third word (refreshment) I picked up at a Bible study on the book of Isaiah I am currently participating in. The word keeps coming up in the text of our lessons and from the words of Scripture.
In the nursery, we used to have those little shortbread cookies with the hole in the middle. I remember putting them on my fingers (as did many others) and eating around the edges of the cookie until it was gone. That was what refreshment constituted back in the day.
I still like shortbread, but these days, I am leaning toward the spiritual kind of nourishment to the soul. I would trade koolaid or fruit juice anytime, for a drink of the Living Water.
I say this to explain why I am looking forward to 51. I didn't expect to, necessarily. But fifty was so good to me, how could I not...

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

heart month

it's officially february. since the month is short i am going to try and fill as much love into it as possible. i have dubbed it, in my mind, heart month. just as i count my blessings in november, so i ponder the things i love most in february.
here is my list: begun today and carried through the end of the month.
1. I love God. I am so thankful to call Him my Father. I am the child of the Most High God through the sacrifice of His son, my Savior, Jesus. My love for Him grows daily. All else is seen through a lens of that love...