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"Sometimes you just need a tradition that somehow changes your condition."
                                                                                                                                  Ann Voskamp

Good morning sweet one,
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          Our days are seemingly much shorter, darkness quickly looms and hovers in the crevices of our homes and hearts.  So much despair.  Can you feel it?  Heavy hearts from months of quarantine.  Loneliness seems darker alone.  Fear brings its own breed of darkness.  And so much dark anger looms just waiting to be awakened.
          November 29 begins Advent, the last darkest hour of the year.  And I am so looking forward to not just celebrating Christmas with a tree and presents and shopping.  I am ready to celebrate the Greatest Gift, Christ the Lord, the Light of the World.  May I suggest a new tradition for you and yours?  Each evening turn off the lamps and with a match, light a single white candle, representing the true Light of the World.  Sit in silence or whisper a simple thank you.  Rest, dear one.  We are people of the light.  There is hope for a better tomorrow.  Each and every evening spend time with the Light and let Him infuse you with warmth, peace, and joy.  A Thrill of Hope, the weary world rejoices.  The Gift of Christmas.  Receive Him anew.
                                      Come Lord Jesus,
                                                            Linda

​When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place    Matthew 6:6 NKJV
 
Good morning my sweet friend,
 
          Here is your challenge for this week, this busy crazy pre-thanksgiving week.  Take a slow walk through your home.  How do you feel?  Calm and relaxed.  Peaceful.  Are you living with things you love?  Do you have a comfy chair of your own propped with fluffy pillows?  Is light streaming through your windows?  Do plants seem to welcome you as you come in the door?  Do scented handles allow you to breathe in lavender calmness?  Are your favorite books stacked neatly beckoning you to sit and enjoy a much-needed respite from a world of chaos? 
         
          Or is there clutter everywhere?  Dirty dishes on the counter?  Clothes randomly strewn about?   What do you see?  Clutter in your home brings clutter in your spiritual life.   Friends, Jesus reminds us that each of us needs a sacred space to find relaxation and connect with the spiritual. A quiet place of prayer.  If you don’t have your own sacred space, don’t despair.  Start by selecting a comfy chair and a small table for books, reading glasses and a cup of tea.  Work outwards from there decluttering and creating visual beauty.  If Jesus knocks on the door of your heart, is there room in your inn for Him?
                                   
                                                        Linda
        

Joy in the Morning
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil.                                                                                                                       Romans 12:14-18 NIV
Good morning dear one,
          John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, summarized God’s directives to his people which he called, 3 simple rules.  Rule 1, Do good; not harm.    Post-election, there are still hard feelings among friends and family members.  Our new president has called for unity.  Seriously, how do you feel about unity?  Our neighborhood was very divided with signs for both sides lining the sidewalks.  Can we all get along? Jesus implored each of us to love our neighbor, even our enemies.   Open your heart. Reach out.  Be the reason someone believes in good people. 
 
Challenge:  Live this week doing no harm with your words or deeds.

Prayer:  Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you, oh God. 
​                                        Creating a world of love,  Linda  

Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.   Proverbs 15:4

Good morning sweet one,
          I am including this week several portions of scripture upon which to evaluate your political candidates.   It is also an opportunity to look at your own words.  Our country is sharply divided and only a return to our real faith and values can begin to heal our nation.    James  writes, “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself and your religion is worthless.”  To be quite honest, so much quarreling and name calling is making me sick, literally sick.  I love the writings of Ann Voskamp and she wrote this week, “Only speak words that make souls stronger.”   All of our words have power.  To heal or hurt.  To wound deeply.  Or,  you can choose to speak uplifting words to each person you meet.  Speak soothing words of love.  Speak words that make other souls sing. Found this annonymous quote,  “A sharp TONGUE and a dull MIND are usually found in the same HEAD.”  Friends, you and I are to have the mind of Christ.  Before you speak, ask yourself, “Would Jesus say this?”  Would Jesus be disappointed if he overheard your conversations?   Would you actually speak such mean-spirited words if Jesus were standing before you?  He’s listening right now—to your every word.   If the words you speak  appeared on your skin, would you still be beautiful?  
​                                    Love ya,  Linda