For the Love of Socks: The Simple Woman's Daybook

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For Today:  Sunday, January 11, 2015
 

Outside my window … Dark, but not as cold.  This past week has been mighty chilly.

I am thinking... about how to regain community, especially church community.  It's just difficult when there's no fellowship category I fit into.  This isn't a criticism, I just happen to be a one person category.  It just feels weird to insert myself into someone else's fellowship.  I'm well aware that social media has been a lifesaver for me, but I want to leave the screen and actually look people in the eye and have a conversation or two.

I am thankful...

I'm grateful for time I spent with my sister, Margie.  Saturday morning, we got together and went to the thrift store in Rainbow City.  Margie is the fashion Diva of the family, so she was great at helping me put outfits together.  We found some great stuff and had fun.

I am thankful for and proud of my Mile A Day socks from the Anniston Runners Club.  I attended their annual awards banquet last night (my first) and had a pretty good time.  I got to meet Jim Perham, the keeper of the mileage.  He and his wife are neat people.  I'm looking forward to getting to know more people in the club and do a buttload of races this year.

I'm thankful for a song.  I made it to early service today.  Good thing too, my friend Mindy sang a special solo.  She sang His Eye on the Sparrow.  Wait a minute, everybody knows that song.  Not me.  I've only heard that song a few times in my life, mostly being showboated so hard by someone that I never heard the words.  Last year, a group of gentlemen from our senior adult choir sang it wonderfully, but today was the first day that I "got it."

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

The song was written in 1905 by Civilla Martin and is based on Matthew 10:29-31:

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (New International Version)

I got all tore up sitting there.  (One of these days, I'm going to remember to bring tissues with me.)  God keeps reminding me of His love--His extravagant love.

I seem to be getting this message in a lot of places.  The January 9th reading in Charles Spurgeon's Morning by Morning was on the exact same theme:

"I will be their God." - Jeremiah 31:33

Christian! here is all thou canst require. To make thee happy thou wantest something that shall satisfy thee; and is not this enough? If thou canst pour this promise into thy cup, wilt thou not say, with David, "My cup runneth over; I have more than heart can wish"? When this is fulfilled, "I am thy God", art thou not possessor of all things? Desire is insatiable as death, but he who filleth all in all can fill it. The capacity of our wishes who can measure? But the immeasurable wealth of God can more than overflow it. I ask thee if thou art not complete when God is thine? Dost thou want anything but God? Is not his all-sufficiency enough to satisfy thee if all else should fail? But thou wantest more than quiet satisfaction; thou desirest rapturous delight. Come, soul, here is music fit for heaven in this thy portion, for God is the Maker of Heaven. Not all the music blown from sweet instruments, or drawn from living strings, can yield such melody as this sweet promise, "I will be their God." Here is a deep sea of bliss, a shoreless ocean of delight; come, bathe thy spirit in it; swim an age, and thou shalt find no shore; dive throughout eternity, and thou shalt find no bottom. "I will be their God." If this do not make thine eyes sparkle, and thy heart beat high with bliss, then assuredly thy soul is not in a healthy state. But thou wantest more than present delights— thou cravest something concerning which thou mayest exercise hope; and what more canst thou hope for than the fulfilment of this great promise, "I will be their God"? This is the masterpiece of all the promises; its enjoyment makes a heaven below, and will make a heaven above. Dwell in the light of thy Lord, and let thy soul be always ravished with his love. Get out the marrow and fatness which this portion yields thee. Live up to thy privileges, and rejoice with unspeakable joy.

In the kitchen...  I get to make blessings in the kitchen this week.

I am wearing... bedclothes.  (I wonder if Peggy would mind if I took this question out?  I'm not sure what purpose it serves.  Nobody cares what I'm wearing.)

I am creating... Still working on the quilt-ghan.

I am going...  This week will be more frequent, and hopefully more intense, indoor workouts; the weather is NOT cooperating. 
 

I am wondering... what's going on with my hair. (Yeah, deep, I know). Lately, no matter what I do to it, my locks seem to have the consistency of dried hay.  Time to go back to Diana's.

I am reading... I hope to finish Big Girls Don't Whine by Jan Silvious this week and start on another selection from Auntie's full shelf.
 

I am hoping... for more clarity and revelation.  I'm simply hoping that things go well this week.

I am looking forward to... Spring.  I'm looking forward to feeling well more days that I don't.  I'm looking forward to a soup fellowship my Sunday School class is having in two weeks.  I'm looking forward to 5k race season.  I'm looking forward to bike rides and planting flowers.
 
I am learning… the more I openly deal with struggles (and the closer I get to a solution), the more my faith will be challenged; not by those who don't yet believe, but by those who say they do.  I've yet again the past couple of weeks had to deal with people who've said that my struggles are making them and God look bad.  I've been through this before on a larger scale.  I'm certainly not going to be brought down by it again.  Good thing the Apostle Paul didn't have friends like that, or two-thirds of the New Testament would have never been written.  By the way, most of it was written from a jail cell. Even King David a "man after God's heart" (Acts 13:22)  told the truth about his struggles.  In fact, the Bible doesn't pull any punches about the imperfections of those whom God chose for His work.  Yes, God will be glorified in my freedom from my struggles, just please be patient as He works on me.  If not, may I suggest moving on and finding some more perfect looking friends.  Good luck and Godspeed.
 

Around the house... I think I'm going into "Monk" mode and doing some rearranging.  I already started with my bedroom closet.

 

I am pondering...  the question of balance in life.  Years ago, I head Joyce Meyer say that much of  life's difficulties, whether mental, physical, or spiritual, were rooted in a lack of balance.  I agree; it's just a matter of finding that balance.  Just what is "enough" and who determines that? 
 

A favorite quote for today... 

"Is there anyone in the world who's not nuts? ...What's wrong with people?" - Greg Burgess

"Some people will never strain their backs totin' their brains." - @WomenSouthern

"When was the last time you did something you haven't done before?" - Our CR Ministry leader.

One of my favorite things... Handwritten notes that mean something.

A few plans for the rest of the week:   Some as last week:  running errands, getting busy in the Workshop, studying, reading, getting in some good workouts.

A peek into my day...  

I forgot to mention that last week, I said goodbye to my "arch nemesis"--my 91 year old running hero, Mr. Smallwood.  He went home to Jesus and I miss him already.  He was so encouraging, not to mention hilarious.  The last race we ran together was the 2014 Kyle Comfort 5k.  It took me a mile to catch him.

At 2014 Woodstock 5k

At 2014 Kyle Comfort 5k