What was Joseph thinking after the Lord told him that Mary was with child.
He knew it wasn't his.

This is where faith is not enough.  The next step is  praying for and doing God's will, not ours.  God knew who was growing in
Mary's body.  He knew exactly what was going to happen all the way up to you and me.  Now your choice is simply to "pray for" God's will and "do it."
Stop making a "Santa list" or a list of all the things you think you need.  God knows exactly what you need!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
God loves you and watches over you.  He knows everything and has a plan for you, a good one, not to harm you but to prosper you.

Fransoddsandends: Thanksgiving I could've worried and made mysel...

Fransoddsandends: Thanksgiving

I could've worried and made mysel...: Thanksgiving I could've worried and made myself sick but I prayed and trusted. Even when one person deceived me about when I would g...

Thanksgiving

   I could've worried and made myself sick but I prayed and trusted.  Even when one person deceived me about when I would get a check (got it 2 weeks later) and another check hasn't showed up on time, I received another surprise.  Now, I'm meeting my basic needs and I can put together a Thanksgiving basket for the poor.  It's easy.  Buy an aluminum pan for the turkey and put the following imperishable items in:

   A paid coupon to purchase a turkey, a large can of gravy, a can of cranberries, a box for making mashed potatoes, a loaf of bread or box of stuffing, a couple cans of milk or boxes of dried milk, a large can of pumpkin, a box for making the crust, and 2 cans of green vegetables.  I think I've remembered everything.

Now, wrap it securely in see-through colored cellophane with a pretty bow and card wishing it's recipient blessings from our loving Savior and a secret friend.  (or something like that).

   Our church distributes them in the poorest areas to as many as we are able to collect from our congregation and our congregation is generous in spite of their own struggles.   

   You could also work in a soup kitchen, visit a nursing home or take something to a person in need or out of work.  Recently, someone slipped a $20 in my pocket, another person is leaving her dog with me instead of a dog hotel...."It is better to give than receive and God sees our immediate needs when we remain close to him and love him with all our hearts and minds and strength.  I am so grateful to be receiving the part-time work that I need and still give to the poor, visit the sick, and contribute to my church.  It's not about what I don't have, it's the blessings  I have, the greatest blessing to come and the ability to share God's love.

So many blessings when you trust God. 

   Since I've completely turned my life over to God, amazing things have been happening.  My first priority in life is my God.  I give 10% of my retirement money first and then 10% of my other income weekly, as it comes in, and it goes to Hope.  I love God more every day and see how he has been performing miracles in my life.

   I was very encouraged by a retirement dinner party that teachers from my old school gave me last night.  I really had not had a chance to say good-bye or catch up in what they're doing since I was out sick the last 3 months of last year.  

Anyway, we had a great time and they invited me to their Christmas party so I can see those who sent their love but had classes, were sick etc. 

  The art journal picture was a kind of planning wheel to prioritize my life and put God first, allow for rest to heal, be more involved with my church and have some fun. 

Trust God!  He is always working in your life!

I did this "art journal" entry when Jerry and I played these two songs at church.  A few of the black keys are blue because we played "Amazing Grace" in a bluesey gospel style.  I love to worship God when it's so much fun.  Thanks, Jerry.  His wife was the first lead singer in my own band, long since retired.  He and I played together a couple times in my band but mostly at church.  It's so good to have them back in our church.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now I'm found 

Was blind but now I see.

Still growing in my faith and loving Jesus more every day.

I guess you can tell this is one of my favorite paintings because it's Georgie and I at the beach and I still haven't made it back since my PTSD.  If it's God's will, we'll make it.  One of the children at church said yesterday, that looking at video of the ocean and beach reminded her that God created all of that and us and we're all part of one big symphony.
Don't you just love that?

 An Apology To My Readers!

   Where am I?  Oh, yes, in my studio, blogging.  Of course, it would be nice to be in this picture again, but not now.

   I confess, I sometimes forget things.  Most adults do but sometimes my forgetfulness is a little over the top.  Pray for me.

    Oh, yes.  I was apologizing for forgetting that some of you might be responding to my blog in my Yahoo account.  Whoops, I hadn't checked that for awhile.  I promise I will since I now know that some of you are reading and responding to this blog.  Thank you for your sharing.   

   I am feeling useful, blessed by you, purposeful, or all of the above as I share some of my "growth odds and ends" (not advice-that title is bogus and I don't know how to change it.)  Anyway, thank you and forgive me.  I was actually looking for comments in the blog.  Now,  I'll read yahoo and grow some more.  Thank you for cheering me up, making me laugh, making me feel useful, stuff like that.  Love you all.  God Bless You.  

I'm so grateful for today, too.

   Today, I get to teach 3rd grade Sunday School.  We call it Power Hour because of the creative way it is set up for 1st-5th grades.  The children sing some great songs, pray  and then perform in a skit, watch a recipe demo (today's activity), go back to their tables to make the recipe....and get to move around and participate a lot.  I love my 3rd grade group.  They're so adorable...great kids.  Some of them are piano students and a couple of them are in a musical production that I'm playing for, in a dance studio.  

   At the rehearsal yesterday, one of them said, "I'm so glad you're my teacher on Sunday, Miss Fran."  Later they waved loudly from the group and said, "See you tomorrow, Miss Fran."  That kind of thing just gives you goosebumps.  Their mom is delightful too.  She's so generous, kind, and expressed such gratitude for having my humble participation in the show.  I'll have to make some changes in the score but it's worth it.  This is another great group of children.  I don't want to let them down.

   I expect the rest of the day to be great, too.  And, I've discovered if it doesn't always turn out quite the way I expected, God has a plan anyway and I trust him.  I've been working on "trust" and "staying in the moment" so that I don't project negative worries or worry, for that matter.  God has performed so many miracles because of that trust.  I love this prayer:

God, grant me the serenity 

to accept what I can not change;

the courage to change

what I can

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Your will, not mine be done.

Amen