Morning Coffee - In this very place

This thing is from me.  I Kings 12:24

“This thing is from me.  I am the God of circumstances.  You came not to this place by accident; it is the very place God meant for you.” 

Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman

Streams in the Desert

The very place.  This exact place; right here; right now; meant for me.  Am I making the most of it?  Am I doing in this place what I ought to be doing? Time for a second cup of coffee and some serious soul searching as I begin this day.

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The Power of Perfect Gussets!

Who knew that working heels and gussets could be so satisfying!  These are not perfect gussets but they are workable and were very fun to create!   Practice, practice, practice will eventually make perfect!

"Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either."  Elizabeth Zimmermann

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Morning Coffee - Living with Limits

I just finished reading Amish Grace (by D. Kraybill, S Nolt and D. Weaver-Zercher).  This is the account of the tragic killings of the ten Amish school children at Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania on October 2, 2006.  This book attempts to explain the Amish people and their community of faith that would lead them to offer immediate and complete forgiveness to the killer and to embrace his family.  It is a powerful testimony.

The book ends with this passage:

“The Amish have learned to live with limits.  Indeed, they would argue that setting and respecting limits on almost everything is one of the foundations of wisdom.  Limits, for the Amish, are a necessary requirement for human happiness.  Without limits, the Amish believe, individuals become arrogant, conceited, and self-destructive.  To be sure, restraints diminish individual freedom, personal choices, and various forms of self-expression.  At the same time, some would say, they grant greater dignity and security to the individual than the endless choices afforded by modern life.  To the Amish way of thinking, a respect for limits builds community, brings a sense of belonging, and shapes identity – three important keys to human satisfaction and happiness.”

I wonder if living with limits is what we are really striving for when we try to “Simplify” our lives.  Maybe, it’s as simple as putting some limits on ourselves and our desires and in the process finding out that there is more satisfaction and happiness to life when we do.

Time for a second cup of coffee and some pondering of personal boundaries for this day.

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A Room Of One's Own Day

Today is A Room of One’s Own Day.  Celebrate the birthday of Virginia Woolf ( January 25, 1882 – March 28, 1941), the English author who wrote A Room of One’s Own  by creating and enjoying a special place of your own.

Arrange whatever pieces come your way.
Virginia Woolf

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Morning Coffee and Reaching Goals!

"Tell everyone what you want to do and someone will want to help you do it." ~ W. Clement Stone

I learned this lesson first hand recently when I commented to Matty on her Blog, Lazy Bee Farm,   that I wanted to learn to knit socks.  Next thing I knew, a “Getting Started Knitting Socks” book arrived on my doorstep and now just this past weekend, a skein of yarn and a sock pattern arrived.  Matty wanted to help me with my project.  And isn’t that a great definition of a friend – someone who helps you reach your goals!

    
Time for a refill and some work on my goals!

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Morning Coffee – Play the "rests"!

Not without design does God write the music of our lives. Be it ours to learn the tune, and not be dismayed at the "rests." They are not to be slurred over, not to be omitted, not to destroy the melody, not to change the keynote. If we look up, God Himself will beat the time for us. With the eye on Him, we shall strike the next note full and clear.

January 22
Streams in the Desert
By Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman

As one who played the clarinet in the school band, I understand how the musician must stay focused during the rests in a piece of music. It is not a time to turn away from the director and day dream. Instead it’s a time to double your focus so as not to miss the cue for your next note.

Time to refill my cup and sharpen my focus on my Director.  My music depends on it!

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Morning Coffee

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."

e.e. cummings

Time to refill my cup with coffee and courage and prepare to be me today!

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Morning Coffee - Knits, Prayers and Purls

January 19
Streams in the Desert
By Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman

Rubenstein, the great musician, once said, "If I omit practice one day, I notice it; if two days, my friends notice it; if three days, the public notice it." It is the old doctrine, "Practice makes perfect." We must continue believing, continue praying, continue doing His will. Suppose along any line of art, one should cease practicing, we know what the result would be. If we would only use the same quality of common sense in our religion that we use in our everyday life, we should go on to perfection.”

I thought this morning’s devotion was very apropos in light of my sock knitting project. It makes me wonder:  Do I put as much energy into my prayer life as I do into my knitting life? Do I seek the same level of perfection in my worship as I seek in my knits and purls?   This will be some good food for thought while enjoying a second cup of coffee.

"Men ought always to pray and not to faint."

Luke 18:1

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