Out With the Old, In With the New ~ Happy 2023

Hello dear friends, 2022 zipped right along until it is now in the past. Today we've been blessed with the first day of a new year. May we all find peace, be gracious to others, find contentment, live each day fully, and be thankful. 

My word for this new year is 'serenity', the state or quality of being serene. 

Serene ~ calm and peaceful.

 

The past three years have been filled with anxiety, fear, unknowns. For me it's been a time of reflection, of looking to Jesus for peace, comfort, provision and protection. There has been more negatives in mainstream media than positive stories to boost our morale. There is a great need to not listen to or watch stuff that fills us with fear, dread, anxiety. There is so much beauty, love, peace and joy in this world, we just need to stop and consider what they are.

 In the Bible we find what we should be thinking about. Philippians 4:8.

 "Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy
think about such things."

I have been blessed during these times of uncertainty, with large and small blessings, and I am thankful for them all.  Jesus has drawn me closer to him and has shown me that He cares for me. He is always with me. He cares about me in my ordinary life.

The day before my dear husband's birthday, I was sitting in a quiet spot that I'm working on. It's back under the pole barn's awning and quieter back there away from the busy road out front. There is a layer of gravel on the ground where bits and pieces are always shifting about.  A little rock caught my attention. I needed to clean it, started brushing away the dirt and lo and behold, I was blessed with another 'heart'. My husband was a bringer of 'heart shaped' things to me and I miss those little gifts, but Jesus has supplied me with quite a few in these past 10 years since He called my husband home. This is one of them.

I have a goal to make this property 'serene', a haven or sanctuary, from this crazy world that we live in. I've made a start, with friends, in clearing the property, but there's still more to do. All in good time.

I'm not getting any younger, my mind thinks I can keep doing things I've done in the past, but alas, my body says different. The heat and humidity of summers take a toll also. I can only work outside mornings.

Here is a section from a wonderful book given to me by a  blog follower just after God called Mark home in December 2012. The name of this book is 'Sanctuary ~ Gardening for the Soul'. Beautiful photos, and wonderful thoughts and ideas.

"Creating a peaceful sanctuary garden is just one step toward honoring a different vision of the world.  If you are able to rediscover peace and balance with yourself while safe in your sanctuary, you can learn to carry those feelings with you outside. You will have created a place that is sacred, like a temple or a church. Our gardens help us maintain the delicate balance between the external demands of our lives and our internal emotional needs. They are places that heal us emotionally and physically. A peaceful sanctuary is truly a little paradise on this earth."

God created the first garden. I've been blessed to be able to create garden spaces here on this 1/4 acre. When people visit they say what a hidden little place this is off a busy 5 lane road. The gardens are good exercise, mentally, physically and spiritually. There are colors, textures, scents, butterflies are always flitting about, birds sing their songs, hummingbirds visit, and felines visit from the neighborhood.

So, serenity is my desire for this year. I want to share this place with others so they can soak up some peace when they visit. I want to live a life pleasing to God, to share his love with others. 

Another goal is to "create an enchanted oasis called 'home', a tapestry of beauty. To be the homemaker that God wants me to be." (Don't know where I found that quote.) I'm decluttering, trying to quit procrastinating in doing this. I want to enjoy this life God has blessed me with. I want to be still and know that He is God. He has a plan.

I am thankful for a wonderful church family, for a lovely group of ladies that meet together each week for prayer and Bible study. I'm thankful for online friends who have encouraged and prayed for me.

Here is a lovely, peaceful song that has been speaking to me this past year. I sort of lost my get-up-and-go, have dealt with some depression too. We also have hurricane season every year, 6 months of watching and hoping none hits us. Actually this song is good for any circumstance that comes into our lives. Sickness, financial struggles, relationships, death of loved ones, emotional struggles. God is there for us. We can call on Him at any time, anywhere.

So, friends, have a wonderful 2023. Count your blessings, learn through any hardships that may come your way, be thankful, love, forgive and encourage others. 

We have a new year to enjoy, each day is a gift.

Love, hugs and prayers ~ FlowerLady