What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Saturday, January 1, 2022

New Year Reflections

Well, it's here!  The beginning of a brand new year!


What does this new year hold for each of us?  We really don't know...

The future is just as dim as this early morning fog on Still Waters Pond...we can just barely see the glimmers of light on the other side...


We may feel like this teapot on a birthday cake, wanting to break out and celebrate, but the uncertainty of life is swirling around us and we just aren't too sure which way to go...


Or like this snowman and the beautiful cardinal, enjoying the beauty of the moment while it lasts, but realizing that all too soon all this reverie will melt away and we will be left wondering what happened...and what do we do next?


As we reflect on the joys and beauties of the Christmas season we have just celebrated, 

we take one last look at what was...

And in the midst of it all we find glimmers of HOPE...
little reminders of the JOY and PEACE of the Christ Child of Christmas 

and we are reminded to BELIEVE in His promises for us for a future filled with Faith, Hope, and Love

.
"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.
Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.


And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
I Corinthians 13:12-13

Hear the words of the Prophet Isaiah, as he writes down what God the Lord still speaks to us across time:

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance."
Isaiah 55:1-2


As most of you may already know, my new "One Word" for 2022 is "Delight".  Throughout the year I will be reflecting on the word "Delight" from many perspectives...especially as I read through God's Word and discover the many places where God expresses His delight in His creation and His children...and also in the many ways we "delight" ourselves in Him.  But I also expect that I will personally be expressing "delight" in life itself...as the year unfolds before us and we experience first hand delight and joy in God's creation, family and friends and whatever blessings come our way. And just because I know that life is never all "wine and roses", I can probably expect there will be times when life won't seem so "delightful", and those will be the times when my "delight" may turn to trusting God even when things don't make much sense.  But for now, let us rejoice in the beauty and glory of God and declare His wonders among all peoples:

Since it is still foggy as pea soup outside, I thought you'd enjoy seeing this beauty that is blooming in my kitchen!  I just took this Amaryllis bulb out of the box a few days ago, and look at it now!


Psalm 96:1-4

"Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
3 Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
4 For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods."

And please notice that it has not just one blossom, but there are others on the way, ready to bloom any day now!


Yes, the New Year is full of promise and hope and delight...even if we can't see it all right now...we can believe it by faith and we can sing to the Lord a new song...

"Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice
13 before the Lord.
For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with righteousness,
And the peoples with His truth."
Psalm 96:11-13

Amen
and 
Happy New Year!









 

20 comments:

  1. Good morning, Pam, from one foggy location to another. Yes, it's thick as pea soup here, too!

    Your photos and application of thoughts with them are especially good today. Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful day. Love you, girl!

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  2. What a DELIGHTFUL word. grin. I hope you have a beautiful day friend.

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  3. Well it is foggy here as all get out with rain. Is there a weather system that extends up the entire Eastern seaboard? That amaryllis is gorgeous! So deep in color with more on the way. Lovely! Trying not to borrow too much trouble from tomorrow. The days have enough gloom in them.

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  4. Delight is a perfect word for you this year! You bring a lot of light...and delight into the blogging world! Happy New year sweet lady!

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  5. Happy New Year to you and yours Pam.
    Blessings. xx

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  6. Maybe not 'pea soup', but the last few mornings we've experienced fog, too. I love it! Your snow-globe analogies make my heart happy, as does the Amaryllis. I'm almost tempted to get one for myself, but don't want to condemn it (to death). I hope y'all are experiencing a most deLIGHT-full day!

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  7. Christmas lights look so pretty at night. Happy New Year

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  8. Pam: I love the amaryllis pictures. I gave a Paperwhite plant kit to a lady at church. I debated about which kit (Amaryllis or Paperwhite) to get for her. I must remember to look or some next year for a few other friends. Do you have the teapot cake and the snowman lantern? They look very special. Peace and blessings.

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    1. Thank you, Cecelia. Yes, the teapot/cake snow globe was a gift from my sister in law Peggy this Christmas, and the snowman one was also from her last year. They are very special. I guess I neglected to mention where they came from. I may have to do a follow up on this post to personalize it a little more. The Paperwhite and Amaryllis kits make wonderful gifts. They are such fun to watch as they grow and bloom. This one surprised me by blooming so quickly, but it was already starting to grow in the box, so it didn't take long once the bulb was placed in the soil and watered. And the good thing is, here in Florida you can plant these and they will bloom again each year. Or you can leave them in pots and protect them in the winter and put them out in the spring. I love a gift that "keeps on giving". Peace and blessings to you as well. Happy New Year!

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  9. Happy New Year Pamela! I enjoyed your post!

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  10. The amaryllis is beautiful. It sure is a pretty sight anyway, but on a dim, foggy day it shines. I think I feel like the teapot. Life is certainly uncertain. Happy New Year :)

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  11. Your amaryllis so so stunning, Pam! I know your are taking great delight in it each and every day.
    Thanks, too, for all the photos that stir up precious memories of this Christmas come and gone. I'm feeling a bit under the weather, so pictures truly cheered my day.
    Blessings and Happy New Year!

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    1. I am so sorry to hear that you are feeling under the weather. Praying you will soon be feeling much better. (((hugs))). Happy New Year to you as well. Trusting you all are safe with the weather patterns that seem to be in the area.

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  12. Beautiful, beautiful post! Thank-you for sharing your wisdom. I feel so uncertain because of covid, but I love how you showed your flower and the buds. It would be easy for us to miss those beautiful moments. Thank-you so much for sharing. ♥ Have a nice weekend and Happy New Year 2022! ♥

    https://lorisbusylife.blogspot.com/

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  13. A worthy word, Pam, and one that will delight you and all of us, too, as you take us with you in your blog, through this new year!! There is a bit of excitement when we embark upon a new year with so many unknowns ahead. As you said, it is not always good but we can certainly delight in knowing God is in control. Happy new year! xo

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  14. Thanks for sharing your heart once again. I have never picked one word for a year, but it does sound interesting . God is so good.Recently it has been on my mind that God is up to something new, so if I were to pick one word it might be "New". Love your Amaryllis . Mine are about done blooming.

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  15. Beautiful post and photos. All the lights look spectacular and I love your red flower. Happy New Year!

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  16. What a wonderful post and I love the nighttime pictures. Happy New Year to you and your family--blessings and love- Diana

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  17. Happy New Year! Such beautiful photos you shared. I love the Amaryllis.

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  18. I love the word DELIGHT! Your tree looks so beautiful with all the lights shining through the window! I dread taking down my tree as that is my favorite....the lights. I pray that your New Year is wonderful for you and your precious family. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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