To Err is Human.....But Who Likes Making Mistakes?

I spend many hours of my day at my computer; typing my daily posts, providing technical editing for other writers and giving encouragement to friends on social media. With all that typing, editing and publishing, I installed a writing app called "Grammarly". Grammarly's app makes sure my messages, documents, and social media posts are clear and mistake-free. The app highlights the incorrect spelling or punctuation and I just tap on it, and whoa la -- everything is corrected. Within seconds, I've made my corrections and I'm good to go. What a blessing it is, considering the old days when we used a manual or electric typewriter. If we made mistakes with our typing then, we used correcting paper or correcting ink. It was laborious, and often difficult to make corrections if a space was needed between words. Whew! We've come a long way, Baby!

And isn’t that true in our lives, as well? As much as we try to do better, it seems our nature is prone to emotional, physical and spiritual mistakes. Maybe it has to do with the company we're keeping, some unhealthy habits, some compromising of our ethics and integrity, or literally missing the mark. Little mistakes can really slow us down and even limit some of the blessings God wants to give us. I remember back in my early learning-to-type days when I made so many mistakes because I wasn't focusing or I was concentrating more on speed than being mistake-free. Now, at this stage of my life, I really want to be as mistake-free as possible, but like what I heard someone say "I do really well with living mistake-free, but then I get out of bed and meet up with people, and then I need the "correcting fluid" to clean up my mistakes.

I was being challenged by my own post by purposing to live a mistake-free life. I know that's just not possible. As long as we're in these earth suits, we'll be prone to missing the mark. But here's the good news: God is so quick to forgive us when we come to Him, and like the "correcting fluid" I used, "Wite-Out", God applies His "white-out" to our mistakes and not only covers them, but He makes us white as snow. "Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool." Isaiah 1:18 His forgiveness really is divine.

I've come to know that focusing my attention on getting it right in my heart, attitude and life makes for a beautiful page in this chapter and book of my life. My daily prayers are “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 and "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O God!" Psalm 19:4

Somewhere It's Snowing

Day 59 of Photo Inspirations -- Somewhere It's Snowing!
These snowy days have certainly made way for hilarious one-liners and photos on FB.  I joined the crowd and added a couple of my own.

But, it wasn't so hilarious for my friends who were helping their kids move yesterday. The moving van was scheduled and they had no recourse.  It seems pretty weak to say "I prayed for them"  as I stayed homebound in my cozies -- all toasty and warm.   And then there's those folks who live where it is not just a temporary, few-day snow experience, but it continues to pile up and stay for 5 to 6 months.  That's my precious family in Winnipeg, MB Canada where it gets to 40 below, in addition to the snow.  Whew -- should we really get annoyed at a few days here in balmy Oklahoma?  Get out your flip flops and shorts -- it could be here this week-- LOL!

I know there are those of who would like to throw snowballs at me for saying this, but honestly, I've loved the snow this year. There's just something so peaceful and calming about watching it fall so gently to the ground.   Fact is, I know July and August will be here before we know it so I'm embracing every minute.

And, it causes me to recall a beautiful song, "Somewhere It's Snowing" written by a dear friend, Stephanie Boosahda.  I've been humming it throughout this day. It was also a song sung by another dear friend, Sharon Daugherty, at my daughter's "Winter Wonderland" Wedding.

I just thought today, it's time turn those "funnies" into a different picture and give a new perspective.  This song talks about God's amazing grace as He forgives us and makes us white as snow.   Following are the lyrics -- but, please, as you read,  click on this link so you can hear Stephanie sing it with her beautiful, God-given voice. promise you -- it will bless you.   Perhaps, if needed, you can go to the SNOW-GIVER and ask Him for a good snow cover today to your heart and soul.

 http://stephanieboosahda.bandcamp.com/track/7-somewhere-its-snowing

I once read in a poem, when snow covers the earth,
That it hides the worlds scars, and gives nature new birth,
And they say when a man turns from sin to the Lord,
That forgiveness, like snow, covers him evermore!

And somewhere it’s snowing –  see the soft drifting down
As the snowflakes surrender to the hardening ground.
Like the good grace of Jesus that now covers our sin,
In the kingdom of Heaven, it’s snowing, again.

And its told that the angels lift their hearts and rejoice,
When one traveler turns homeward from his way, to the Lord.
If somewhere someone’s turning, he’s giving his all,
Then God’s grace, like the snow, is beginning to fall!

And somewhere it’s snowing – see the soft drifting down
As the snowflakes surrender to the hardening ground.
Like the good grace of Jesus, that now covers our sin,
In the kingdom of Heaven, it’s snowing, again.

"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;"  Isaiah 1:18
#SomewhereItsSnowing #AmazingGrace #StephanieBoohsahda

An Entire Year of Awesomeness Awaits Us

Day 1 of  Photo Inspirations -- An Entire Year of Awesomeness Awaits Us
A happy and blessed 2015 is my prayer for all of my FB friends today!   Being with my  two youngest grandsons made New Year's Eve so special.  We had lots of fun making videos (or should I say, Brennan made videos).

The day before, we "undressed" the Christmas tree, but yesterday we made lots of homemade ornaments for next year's tree, and dressed this tree up again.  We had a plan for New Year's Eve.

The boys popped little fire-crackers, we wore our Happy New Year hats and blew the horns,

we toasted each other with Sprite, we watched the giant ball of sparkles descend in Times Square, we had lots of goodies to eat, a cute movie to watch, got to Skype with the boys' Mommy & Daddy, and we prayed the New Year in together, and I stole some kisses from my boys.

Now, an entire year of awesomeness awaits us.  The squares on our 2015 calendars are blank, but very soon those squares will be filled with lots of activities, events, ceremonies, birthdays, anniversaries and lots of opportunities for lexperiencing a year of great conquests, victories, and adventures.

There's something quite exciting about a clean slate, starting fresh, opportunities for "do-overs".  We'll set new goals, resolutions, and hope for some major life-changes.

Each new day in our new year will be as fresh and white as new snow.  Each and every day starts with God's fresh mercy and new grace.  And those new days don't come in with the fanfare of this 1st day of the year.  Typically, our days dawn quietly and peacefully -- a sunrise introduces us to our new day, and reminds us that God has given us another day to make a difference in our world..  We'll hear birds chirping, which makes us very aware of God's care for them -- and how much more does He care for us?  

We don't know what tomorrow holds -- or this year holds -- but one thing we do know -- HE KNOWS and HE holds our tomorrows and, better yet, He holds our hands and is with us through them all.  Our future is so bright. Let's purpose to wake each day to the prospects of what each day will hold by Him Who knows everything about everything -- and with that kind of ADVISOR -- if we pay close attention -- He'll guide us into making 2015 to be our best, most blessed year EVER!
#HappyNewYear