Going for gold

Today I attended the first day of a travel writing event; I had been excited about it all week and though I couldn't do everything that was on offer, I really enjoyed it very much. And came back home quite inspired and hoping from Monday the 2nd of March, things are going to snowball because I am using my time better than I have been. I have been doing my best but I need to stop writing according to feeling.

I am going for gold as a friend put it and putting into practice some of the things I have been reading and learning about. On Friday I began tennis lessons at long last and it was so exciting and humbling at the same time. It was one of the things on my PASSION list for this year; a short list after whittling down my interests to passions and I am very grateful for that.

Tomorrow is the continuation of the event and for me the highlight of the 2 days in the appearance of Alexander McCall Smith. Something else on my list that is being fulfilled. Forget the sceptics; the law of attraction really does work and on that note, I believe that my efforts to go for gold are really going to come to pass with the daily steps of progress.

Thank You, Father for today and thank You for Your mercy that abounds daily. 

A friend's 40th.

It has been a very busy day today; went out this evening to celebrate a friend's 40th birthday. It was a lovely evening out though I confess that I have eaten a bit too much and have to stay awake to let the food go down.

Where do the years go to? I still feel very young inside but can't deny that I am going to be 40 this year myself. And I am hoping that by September the 16th, things would have changed in certain spheres for me.

40 is a grown-up number and I want to have done something that would make me feel truly grown-up. I want to have the spirit of a child, eager to learn and happy with little, but also mature in a very attractive way.

May each day bring progress and more with it.

God bless my friend for her birthday and bless me too as I strive for gold.

Thank You, Father for Your grace, Amen.

Be encouraged, Nana

It is going to be one of those weeks where every day is filled with one activity or the other so I am going to have to plan properly so I can maximize the time I have. It is not easy to learn disciplines as an adult but there is no shortcut to get to the Promised Land as it were. One has to go through the graft.

The "night before" routine is something I haven't been able to implement on a regular basis yet the few times I have done that, it is amazing how easier the "morning after" is. Recently I was reading a suggestion about not writing a to-do list before going to bed but I am not too sure whether I agree with that yet. Maybe that advice is not for me at all or the season for that is yet to arrive.

Well, today I was feeling a little low for good reasons, feeling tired in body and also frustrated in emotion but I spoke to a friend who has really encouraged me and made me regain focus to think of the future and not to give up.

I am making progress and I must not lose sight of that fact; it might seem like it is not happening quick enough but it is happening and I keep my eyes on the ball. I am listening to some speeches by Black American civil rights leaders and I am encouraged by the fact that I bear the name of a Ghanaian woman who fought against the British. Though she lost that battle she holds a revered position in our history and if she could do it, I can do it too. Especially since I am a child of the living God. I am the righteousness of God and I am an overcomer and more than a conqueror.

Lord, may my week be fruitful and productive in all ways. Thank You, Father in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Thank You, Lord for daily living

It has been a fairly quiet week so far but restful in a lot of ways. I am reading a book about staying alive and it is helping me continue to find peace in daily living. It is a book by Norman Vincent Peale and as with a lot of his books has lots of practical advice on how to apply the Bible to daily living. Very restful reading and thought-provoking too.

The daily progress is really working for me and I have started writing down on paper what I would want my life to look like and it is fun to dwell on those thoughts.

I hope to continue in that vein and to keep giving thanks for all the good people in my life too.

Thank You, Father for your goodness and Your mercies that abound all the time in my life and thank You for your patience with me.

Tuesday's thoughts

Today is the second day of the half-term week; I haven't done a lot of the things I had planned to do but I have been walking and hope to continue this for the rest of the week. It has been good on the  days I have done it because I have had the time to think and also to pray. 

My own advice to myself to take a day at a time is working and I am grateful for that. Little steps lead to big, giant ones.

And I am also grateful that the days are getting longer; spring will soon be here by God's grace and everyone will be in a much cheerier mood.

Thank You, Father for today.

Thank You all the same

It has been a good day for me; nothing writing-related but a good one because I helped someone and it felt really good.

This evening has been challenging though and I should go up to bed soon; it will do me a lot of good. I wanted to watch one of my favourite programs, The Book Show and the little ones will just not allow me to.

Better to go and take a hot bath and jump into bed. I believe that will revive my tired body and nerves.

In all things I give thanks in Christ Jesus for that is God's will for me.

The Women's library

I visited the Women's library in Aldgate yesterday to see the exhibition on magazines. It was a smaller exhibition than I thought but I enjoyed it very much and it was interesting to read the timeline on how it all began. 

Each time I see chronicles of past events like that, I am humbled and feel impressed upon to do my bit in whatever way I can. Someone had an idea and built upon it with probably very little monetary gain and those of us who have come up from behind build upon their shoulders and their hard work to make millions out of what began as a kernel. 

I might not pioneer anything in my lifetime, though I hope to, but I can commit to doing my bit with the gifts I have been endowed with and the satisfaction and reward will be greater than any prize or award because I would have done what I was born to do.

Thank You, Lord for the trip yesterday.

A day of 2 halves

It has been a day of 2 halves today; great joy on the one half and great anger on the other. Great joy at the celebration of a new life in the gift of the baby girl for a friend and great anger at the rudeness from some of my kids. 

I don't know what it is but the two older ones have been playing up and today I have allowed them to make me very angry, the oldest one being the main culprit. The reason why I am so angry is because they have a young sister who is just two and they are teaching her how to shout and be aggressive and rude and that annoys me a lot. 

There is no point staying angry because that won't solve the problem or do anything for my health and I know I have to keep my focus on the Lord to sort them out. He is more than able to sort them out since He created them and knows for what purpose He made them for.

Into your Hands, I commit them, Father. I do not have the wisdom to help them learn.

Thank You for the grace that abounds to live with children like these and I thank You for what You are going to do in them.

Thank You, Father for Your grace, Amen.

 

Relief- getting back on the writing trail

Yesterday I managed to send my weekly newsletter for the first time this year. It was hard work because I had not written it for a few weeks; and not enjoyable doing the editing of it but I felt good after sending it out. Daily progress. 

It is much easier to learn certain habits when you are much younger because one is not so set in old ways but whatever it takes this old girl to hone her skills, she is prepared for the hard graft.

And I am adding some music to get into the groove. For me there is nothing quite like gospel to lift me up above the mundane. A day at a time, a word at a time and I am making progress.

Thank You, Father for today.

An early night

I am feeling very drained today so I will be going up to bed soon. Like I just discovered in one of my old journals, there is no point fighting tiredness; it just makes one feel even more tired and frustrated.

God's mercy abounds and tomorrow is another day to persevere with the things that need doing. Doing my best to get a career going and updating my skills. Many more things to learn and I will take a day at a time for them.

In all things I give thanks indeed, Amen.

Redefining my life ( and retooling it according to Scripture)

Who is defining my life? Who is telling me what I need? And who supplies my needs? These are questions I need to answer for myself for if I know that God is my Source and the One who provides my needs, my days of worrying about things is over. And indeed it is. Because no one person can provide all the things I need. Only God knows my deepest needs and my desires and He alone can give much more than expected.

A friend blessed me with a Study Bible about a week ago and I am enjoying it so much especially after getting myself ready for the year in January. Words are coming alive to me and phrases like " abundant welfare" and "abundant prosperity" leap out of what I am currently reading. 

And it sure is helping to read a book by Jack Canfield called How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be ( The 25 Principles of Success) at this time. What is it I want? I just have to ask and believe that it will be done; and in my case, according to God's will for my life.

I am a joyful, grateful girlie for this time.

Thank You once again, Father.

Snow on snow

It is snowing outside and the boys are off school. I am glad about it; what it means is that I will be able to fit in some writing today and some reading in between the cooking and the cleaning and I don't have to worry about fetching from school.

We re supposed to have French this afternoon but if the snow keeps up at this pace, we shall stay in tucked and warm. 

Thank You, Father in all things for this is Your will for me in Christ Jesus.

Thank You for these bonus hours and also for the people in my life.