GCR Women

I want it and I want it now! That’s how I feel lots of times about lots of things. I want to lose weight, all of it - overnight. I want to lower my cholesterol so my doctor will be happy with me at my appointment - tomorrow. I want to get in shape by tomorrow. I want to stop my bad habit by tomorrow. I want my situation to improve right now. There’s nothing wrong with wanting things to get better. That’s where change begins. But most things that last don’t change overnight with little or no effort on my part. I want to loose weight, reduce my cholesterol, get in shape?  I need to eat wisely, exercise consistently for the rest of my life and not quit after a few days. I want to change my bad habits?  I need to replace them with positive behavior and not rationalize or excuse giving into temptation to go back to the same old bad habit at the first turn. I want to improve my situation? I need to take steps to move in a better direction and not give up at the f...

Yesterday one of our granddaughters turned 8.  Tomorrow another turns 6. What blessings they are along with our other granddaughter who’s 11 and our grandson who’s also 11. One of Maddie’s birthday gifts is a journal with a scripture on the cover and on each page. “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”  Psalms‬ ‭25:5‬ ‭NIV‬ And that is my prayer for all of those I love. Too many times, I decide which way to go on my own. Sometimes that works and sometimes... If we let God guide and teach, we won’t get lost. We won’t take a wrong turn. And best of all, we’ll make it home. Learning to follow, Patrice Psalms‬ ‭25:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. ‭‭

It occurs to me that I keep repeating the same patterns of behavior over and over.   I heard it said that if we keep doing things the way we’ve always done them, we’ll always get what we always got. So what makes me think that I can achieve the results I want without changing the way I behave? In my plans, in my mind, in my dreams, it all seems so simple. But when it’s real, when it’s time to act, I can come up with excuse after excuse, one rationalization after another about why the time’s not right, I need to wait to begin, it’s not my fault, I’m not ready, the change isn’t worth it, what’s one more day and on and on. What am I waiting on?  Who’s going to “fix” me if I don’t?  Certainly, God is the source of my strength and He will help me. But He won’t do it for me. He won’t give it to me. He expects me to do my part. So, as I said it, occurs to me I need to change my way of thinking and doing to change my outcome. Then, God’s transforming power will renew my min...

Rejoice! January 1, 2020. Christmas may be behind us but the Gift keeps giving. Every day, every year is a gift from God. Every moment, every breath is His Spirit renewing us. New!  What a beautiful word!  New!  It offers hope and healing, forgiveness and freedom, redemption and restoration. New! I pray we all feel the newness God gives us through His Son Jesus Christ. Breathe in. Breathe out. Feel the Holy Spirit fill you. Start this year in the joy of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Start this year new! Rejoicing! Patrice 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! ‭‭

Sometimes I make good decisions. Sometimes not so good. Sometimes really bad. When I really mess up, when I make those really bad decisions, I just want to quit.  It feels like there's no way back, no way to fix my mess.  The voices I hear are so loud, telling me I've ruined everything.  It's too hard.  It's too late.  Why not just accept that I’m not able? But God. I saw a quote on Facebook the other day that read:  "There's never been a day when God has panicked and thought...she's ruined everything." He can see my mess, but He doesn't panic.  He doesn't give up on me.  He’s not even surprised that I still can’t get it right.  He just keeps on loving me, calling me, encouraging me. to try again.  He says, "No, don't quit.  That's not my way.  Hear my voice.  Trust me.  I know you’re not able but I am." I don't know how to take that next step.  But God does.  He knows He’s already made a way. I...

We've had to move Mom to assisted living, so we've been packing up her house.  As we go through drawers and closets and boxes, we find all kinds of treasures.  We also find a lot of things that make us wonder why she saved this or that. Is her whole life the sum of her possessions?  No.  The things we save, the things we discard describe Mom but don't define her.  Mom collected almost everything.  I guess that's a nice way of saying she's a pack rat.  Seriously, she collected match books, seashells, copper cookware, hat boxes, crystal, carnival glass, tea cups and saucers, baskets, red dishes, pink dishes, blue dishes, Christmas dishes, everyday dishes, holiday hand towels, oil cans, watering cans, flower pots.  I could go on and on. Some of these things she used everyday.  Some she saved for special occasions.  Some she kept just in case or because she thought they were pretty. But Mom is so much more than all these things....

A friend once told me that God places people in our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime.  I've learned how true this statement is. Sometimes, someone crosses your path briefly.  She's in and out like door opening and closing again, but her influence moves me in a new direction. Then, I meet someone who comes into my life and we form a bond.  We think we'll spend time and life together from now on, but like fellow cruise ship passengers who reach port and go their separate ways, our paths diverge and we both move on. Oh, but the people God puts in my life for a lifetime!  They have the most profound effect on me and I on them.  We enjoy each other's company as we do the simple daily tasks.  We encourage, we criticize, we build up, we tear down.  Our lives show the imprint we've made on each other without even realizing it. Whose life are you influencing for a reason? Whose life do you bond with for a season? Whose life are you sharing...