Hope Filled Living

Choosing Hope and Cultivating an Inspired Life with Author, Mary Clewley

Thrive in 2014/Day 1

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Happy New Year!
I am praying that 2014 is a year of peace and
plenty for you and yours.
Have you chosen a word for 2014?
my word is…
THRIVE…
in my health
in my relationships
with God
my finances
 my writing
 my giving
 listening
 my being.

 

I purchase a new planner each year. I found a beautiful desk diary at Barnes and Noble (half off) that has plenty of space for scheduling and taking notes. Here are some of the things I have highlighted in the front of my journal (planner) for 2014:First of all, I have listed all of my doctors names and telephone numbers so I can find them at a glance.

These are some additional items I am working on…and perhaps you should too!

  1. Schedule yearly mammogram.
  2. Schedule yearly eye exam.
  3. Schedule yearly gyno check-up.
  4. Schedule 2 teeth cleanings.
  5. Schedule 1 dermatology appointment (skin check-up).
  6. Schedule 4 pedicures for 2014. (Self-Care/Stress Reduction)
  7. Pencil in time for 30 minutes/day of exercise.

Here is a link to a great way to start your year off right with
Shape Magazine:

Wishing you all the best in 2014!
Health and Happiness.
xoxo.

101 Prayers and Affirmations Book Study

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The countdown to the online book study of my new workbook,
101 Prayers and Affirmations for Spiritual Wellness is on…..

January 1st—tune into our Facebook community page: 101 Prayers and Affirmations Online Book Study to get updates and encouragement from others who are embarking on the journey.

You still have time to order a copy and receive it for the start of the New Year! I am shipping out my copies from the publisher with FREE shipping! $14.95

If you would like a copy, just message me or comment below and I will get back to you for your mailing address! Within a matter of a week, we have had over 1000 people join our community page. Prayer requests are coming into my message box each day. I could sure use a few encouragers to stop by…and I know that bloggers are very good at that!

The workbook is available on Amazon and will also be available in February at Barnes and Noble.

I will post a story about how God works on our hearts–in a day or so…but to make a long story short–I was feeling very overwhelmed by the response I have received with over 1000 likes and messages pouring in for prayer requests, etc. and I sat over breakfast this morning and told my husband that I was thinking of disconnecting from social networking completely in 2014…and I came home and a message came in from overseas from a man in the military who had found my book and online community and it was really significant to him. I sat there and cried. God always does that, doesn’t He??? (pierces our hearts)…We cannot ignore the cries of His people…no matter where we are when we hear them or how those cries may leave us feeling overwhelmed. There is great need around us, everywhere.

The Great I Am

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It was a silent night. Snowflakes whizzing, floating, drifting slowly through the air. Falling, falling, falling—gently covering the earth with a white blanket. The messed up world made white as snow.
Knees bent in front of the old wooden cross, I see through the stained glass- a scene like I’m praying on the inside of a snowglobe. Twinkling lights make the cross glow and I look up in wonder. My safe place. Alone. Just God and me. Whatever craziness is happening outside, I am safe here. This sanctuary knows many secrets, many hurts, many tears and many joys. Births, deaths and baptisms, new beginnings and endings, joy and heartache.
A tear hits bended knee, making a splash, awakening me to my own longing, sadness, glory, healing, confession…all those things that come to an open and repentant heart… a worshipping heart. I am small. God is big. He is the light of the world.
What would I do if He manifested himself in physical form, right here, right now? I am already on my knees. Outstretched arms like that of a child, I would probably cry out Abba, Father. Perhaps I would bow my head in shame..shame that I am nothing and he is the Great I Am. As evening grows dark and stillness falls around me, I make the sign of the cross-touching forehead to belly, side to side—covering myself with the body of Christ, it carving itself into my wanton soul.
Our King of Kings prostrated himself on the cross as an act of worship. As an act of sacrifice so he could bear our hurts, tears, joys, births, deaths, baptisms, beginnings and endings–this little Child, born in a manger. There was a man one Sunday while the preacher was preaching. In drunken worship he wandered to the cross and laid himself prostrate, belly down, arms stretched wide for all to see. Preacher kept preaching while the congregation looked at one another in silent and humble wonder. A messed up world became holy for a moment, white as snow in the sanctuary of a country church. Hearts softened as onlookers watched this man worshipping –his actions boldly warning, “this is why we are here…not to focus on the preacher…but to worship the King of Kings, The Great I Am”…If our hearts were free from judgement and insecurity–how many of us would have joined him?
It is Christmas Eve and I must make my way home to my family. I open the back door of the church and a beautiful blanket of snow covers me, falling, falling, falling gently. I too, am made white as snow. Tears of joy run down my face. Thank you, Abba, Father. The light of the world, the God who sacrificed himself so people like us could lay prostrate freely on a Sunday morning. We were made for worship.
You are the Great I Am. The answer to wanton souls.  The star in the night sky that glimmers from a distance…always there, always lighting our way in the darkness. The beginning and the end. The Christ child, born in a manger.

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