Enkindling ...

 enkindle

(ĕn-kĭn′dl)

V.TR.

1. To set afire; light.
2. To incite; arouse.
3. To make luminous and glowing.

In 2022 a word was given to the church I attend, The Redemption Center. "Evident anointing" and by the end of the year, it was evident we had been anointed.  Salvations.  Baptisms.  Healings.  Miracles.  Changed lives.  It was an incredible year.

This year, the word given was enkindling, and already the year has been amazing with six baptisms within the first six days of the year.

My personal word of the year is "presence."  To feel God's presence in my life, and to be present in my relationship with Him, and in my life.

But I'm also taking on a twist of enkindling.  I want to set fire to my past and who I was before.  I've already burned my jar of regrets, anger, and fears from 2022, but I'm also planning on fully participating in a Celebrate Recovery group that meets at the church.  My "addiction" is to bad choices, and I'm in recovery from domestic violence and abuse, childhood emotional abandonment, and the potential for abusing substances to fill the empty spaces and replace the hurt in my life.  This will be my year of purging my past pain and replacing it with things that bring me joy.  Purging, not just my past pain, but also my home, cleaning, downsizing, organizing, deciding what is unnecessary clutter, what has a purpose, and what doesn't.

What's your word?

Words on Wednesday ... on Friday

"Hope springs eternal ...." wrote Alexander Pope, and it is true within my heart.  While the temperature drops again today to freezing lows for the next week, the promise of the coming Spring fills me with a joie de vivre. 

A new devotion to gardening arises in me.  Trees, shrubs, and flowers have been ordered.  Graph paper plots out dreams and ideas.

It occurs to me that Spring is Winter's way of asking for forgiveness for the cold days.  To rescue our minds from what can be the overwhelming darkness of days.  Hope springs eternal for Spring ...

... and a homemade brioche that fills the house with the smell of warmth, if it had a scent that is.  Hygge.  Comfort.  Home.

The scent of bread brings back a memory of a three-berry pie first enjoyed at a small restaurant in Three Rivers, California on a long-ago trip to the Sequoia National Park with its ages tall green pines.  I search for a recipe and make a note in my planner to make one for Pi day in March.  More warmth, comfort, and the scent of home in the last few days of Winter this year.

Scents can evoke so many memories and emotions.  It is why realtors often feel it is their duty to encourage sellers to bake fresh cookies before a house showing.  A scent of comfort, warmth, and home. 

"Home should be a haven of love. Honor, courtesy, and respect symbolize love .... " ~ Thomas S. Monson

Home.  Our safe places.  Our comfort when hope springs eternal ...

Participating this week after a too-long absence in Words for Wednesday found here.

Wednesday 4 Jan

 This is my friend, Rosemary, who is from Zimbabwe and has been here for the past year working as an intern chef at the resort near me.  She and another friend from Zimbabwe were baptized in the creek last night.

They go home later this month before another internship in Australia.  Another group of "J1" interns will arrive and the cycle will begin again.

Last Wednesday a box was delivered from Chewy.com with cat food and cat litter in it.  I foolishly did not think of the weight when I picked it up to bring it into the house, and so from Thursday until yesterday morning, my back was in agony.  The pain just intensified each day until I could barely move yesterday when I got up.

I am stubborn.  Pridefully so at times, and finally my pain was so great that I reached out to Pastor G at 9:12a to ask if he would send a prayer request to my church family for healing and relief.  It was shortly after my work shift started, and I was dreading the day.

When my lunch break came at 1:10p, I stood up and went about my routine.  Dog out.  Dog in.  View the few contents in the refrigerator, close the door, open it again, decide on peanuts and raisins [I'm not dieting or starving, mind you, it is just the days before payday and what I really wanted to eat had already been eaten].  I went to sit down again and realized ... I had no pain!  Glory to God!

I forget at times that my needs, pains, and whatever else I suffer with are not so unimportant that God does not want me to go to Him in prayer.  I often feel unworthy, as tho my pain, illnesses, and needs are insignificant in His eyes of all that is going on in the world today, and in the lives of so many others.  My stubborn pride has me suffering for days, when all He wanted was for me to reach up to Him.

Lord, help me to remember that in Your eyes, I was never insignificant and never will be.  You left the 99 to chase after me.  Let me always remember that just as You would take care of the smallest sparrow, You desire to also take care of me.

Monday 2 Jan 23

 Sunday was spent mostly at church ... 11a service with a baby dedication followed by four creek baptisms ... followed by lunch at a Mexican restaurant with my friend, Nancy ... followed by choir practice at 5p, then 2nd service at 6p.  A typical Sunday.

I worked today for some extra hours and used the quiet time between calls to finish one of my craft projects previously posted about ... the upcycled ceiling fan light fixture.  I had more of the small crystal beads I could have strung, but to be honest, I think my beading days are over.  At least stringing tiny crystal beads on a clear fishing line.  I have no depth perception, old eyes, and zero patience apparently.  I'm not happy with the solar "torches" where light bulbs used to go but might see how it looks in the dogwood tree before ordering something different.   

What I would like to get are globes that have the solar panel at the bottom, rather than the top like these.  But I'm having trouble finding small ones about three inches in diameter that I can order just four of them for a reasonable price.  If I do have to get a larger amount to get the size I need, I'm sure I will be able to use them in other garden projects, but just don't want to get into the habit of accumulating an excess of craft supplies for future projects [I think in some circles they call that hording].

The blades are earmarked for a future project of painting them with seasonal welcomes, but that is a project for another ... year.

I'm catching up on correspondence from the holidays.  I had planned on making my Christmas cards for 2022, but it looks like I have a jump start on 2023 instead.