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Monday

Oh, the sinus awareness of Autumn!!

Where is your hope?  What is "hope" anyway?  Well, in short (not to be confused with what I've been wearing the past few days), according to Webster's dictionary it is "to cherish a desire with anticipation(or expectation)."

Autumn is here. It is hard to believe. The temperature highs here have been in the 80s so far this month. And I was looking forward to pulling my sweaters out sooner rather than later. My compression stockings are on standby. The warmth is not the only unusual occurence for me. I find myself a full-time student again, and am thrilled, maybe a tad overwhelmed. Overall, it is a fantastic opportunity. I guess the overwhelming portion stems from all of the other circumstances surrounding this so called life.
Grief. What an unpleasant creature. It sneaks up at the most inconvenient times and ways. One solace is that many of those who have gone on, that I had the pleasure of knowing, have a secure eternity because of their faith in what Jesus Christ did for us all, and God's grace. In a place where there is no more sickness, pain, fear, or strife.  These lives have caused me to take a closer look at my own.  There will always be something missing.  No matter what we do here on this planet, it will never completely satisfy our longings, desires, aspirations.  There is always something more to attain, right?  Can you imagine an existence in perfection?  I cannot.  Eternity.  Be sure of where you will spend it, because though it may not exist in a time continuum, it's a long LONG something.

On a lighter note, my laptop is falling apart. I didn't think it was possible, but 'tis true.  I have only had it for just over three years.  It has served me well. I just hope it hangs in there until I do whatever is needed to safely store my precious files elsewhere. Unless a computer miracle occurs, I think I will stick to the paper and pen method of writing. Has that Charlie Brown special come out yet?  It's a Computer Miracle, Charlie Brown!
Everyday lately, I have had "to do" lists in my head. As the sun sets, it seems as though I have not completed one single task. Do you ever have that kind of month? So here are some ideals I have to help with that sort of thing:

1. Stop planning on getting anything done.

2. Once my brain locks onto something that should get done, ignore it, and do something else.

3. Drink plenty of water.

4. When in doubt, crochet.

5. An ABSOLUTE must...read my Bible as soon as I wake up, before eating anything else.  Praise the Lord all day long.

6. Keep life as simple as possible. No need to make it more complicated than it has to be.  Living with chronic pain makes life a wild ride.  Social comradre is almost non-existant for me outside of church activities.  It becomes difficult to make plans, not knowing if my body can withstand all that I want to do.  It can be a tumultuous and depressing existence.  Futility indeed!  I have no clue how anyone who has rejected God's Son, Jesus Christ, can cope with chronic pain.  The Lord sustains me in powerful ways - Psalm 146 & 147.

7. LOVE.

7 simple things to keep my sanity. I will be adopting these tactics this month. The premise of this list is to keep in mind what is most important in life. I wonder if the word "list" is discussed anywhere in The Survivors Guide to Living, otherwise known as The Holy Bible? I know lists have more to do with law than GRACE.  That is not to say that when things do need to get done, making a list can help us stay organized and see our progress...or is it?  I think staying organized can be a part of living in Grace and staving off stress.  Also, I believe that being a list person all the time can be a bit tedious.  Take it easy every once in a while!!

Some thoughts on hope:  Romans 5:1 - 5 says, "1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.  5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (NIV)

We all have hope.  What we do with that hope is key.