Life to the Full

Are you living fully?

the question looms large on the billboard as i sit in traffic

hmmmmm . . .

am i living fully?

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at times life can seem pretty full

but it begs the question-

what am i filling my life with?

rushing from here to the next thing

 going through the motions of the day’s demands

without fully being in the moment

actually leaves me feeling pretty empty

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perhaps living fully is this –

emptying out the rushings and the have to’s

being still

in the moment

living in the right now

seeing God’s presence here

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instead of waiting for tomorrow’s better day

living fully is embracing life today –

even sorrows and shadows

can be keepers of gifts hidden

 living fully is savoring small moments that come and blink away

it’s seeing blessings too abundant to count

it’s being a blessing

and pouring love on friends and family

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 I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  

– John 10:10

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so i ask you

are you living fully?

and what are you filling your life with?

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 Blessings,

Tracy

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Open Doors

lately i’ve been praying for open doors

so many close to me really need one

an open door –

an answer to prayers

 a door out from the trappings of struggles & worries

a door opening to new possibilities

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whatever it is that moves you to seek an open door

 know that God works everything for our good

know that He has a plan that will be so much better than we can ever imagine

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.”

– Jeremiah 29:11

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so as we wait

we trust in one breath

yet in the next we wonder  –

If God would only . . .

Why doesn’t God . . .

How much longer, God .  . .

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we wrestle with impatience that wraps the heart

and understanding that seems out of grasp

as we stand at doors that refuse to open

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the heart yearns

and God knows;

the soul prays and pleads

and He hears;

we ask

and He answers,

He always answers

in His time

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as you wait for Him to work things out for you

He might be working things out in you

even in the waiting

you are where you are for a reason

ask for contentment in this moment

ask how He can use you right where you are

and when He opens a door –

be ready to take a big, brave step of faith and gratitude through it

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 blessings, 

Tracy

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Finding Joy

the cold October air greets me this morning

sends a chill right through me

i love this time of year

the brilliant colors

the woodsy smells of the outdoors

the pleasure of kicking leaves as i walk

joy is abundant

but if i turn my focus on to all that surrounds me which is dying

flowers fading

foliage decaying

that saps the joy right from this moment

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Paul says in Philippians 4:4:

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice! 

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some days it’s not easy to be joyful

days may stretch into months when

joy is hard to find

when its a struggle simply to smile

and tears are too close to the surface

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how do you find joy when you don’t feel joyful?

the answer is this:

find one small thing

to be grateful for

just one small thing

then find another

and another

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the act of gratitude is the key to being joyful

recognizing undeserved gifts from our loving God

and giving thanks for them

this is when we begin to feel joy

by turning eyes from myself

and the situation

instead focus eyes on the graces that fall from heaven

like leaves falling from trees

joy is rekindled

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embrace this moment with open eyes

to recognize gifts

open hands to receive them

give thanks

find joy

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-blessings, 

Tracy

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