NOVEMBER 2022

YOU CAN SEE THE COMPLETE FRONT OF MY NEW BOOK, A YEAR OF HOPE, AT THE END OF MY BLOG. 

The book was just released on Amazon.  I hope you will enjoy this 365 daily devotional book.  In  2017, I wrote the daily devotional book 365 Daily Gifts of Joy, and since that time several have asked when I was going to write another yearly devotional book. They said they had read theirs year after year, and needed another. So here it is!

Taken from the back cover of the book:

"This daily devotional book will fill the reader's year with words of reinforcement and hope. The scriptures, writings, and prayers have been selected to bring bright hope to each new day and give us the ability to overcome whatever we face, with God's help."

I pray this book will be blessed by God and bring my readers strength and encouragement every new day. We do not have to be afraid or discouraged, sad, lonely, depressed, or low in spirit. God is with us always. 

The main verse which motivated me in writing this book was Jesus speaking in John 16:33:

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world."

You may order the book from Amazon,  from me (through e-mail), or at local shops listed later in this blog.

(MAKES A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT)

For you who live locally, I will be at The Brooks Collection, Saturday, November 5th signing books from 2:00 pm-4:00pm.

I love to hear from you. You may e-mail me at 

sandykwright@yahoo.com 

As we begin the month of November our minds naturally turn to the season of Thanksgiving. Hopefully we are thankful every day of the year for the blessings in our lives, but in this month we are especially motivated to think on being grateful. 

Let us be thankful, grateful, giving, and caring people. Let's make a special effort this year to get outside of our own comfort zone and do for others. There are people around us who are hurting, lonely, afraid, and needing a helping hand. Let us open our eyes and hearts to the needs of others. If we are willing to pray and ask the Lord to open our eyes to see the needs around us, He will show us what we should do.  I truly believe this.

"No one has ever become poor by giving."

-Anne Frank

"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another."

-Charles Dickens

"A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal."

-Steve Maraboli

"There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others."

-Mandy Hale

"Don't forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices."

-Hebrews 13:16

"This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you."

-John 15:12

I was rushing this morning, writing a list of all the things I "had to do". I thought about the month of October being gone and a new month ahead. Autumn is one of my favorite times of year, and I have allowed my rushing, going, doing, and planning to steal October from me in many ways.  I want to relish each day of my life - I think we all do; however, life gets busy and the days go by quickly. I am semi-retired, and if I feel this way, I know you who still work at home or outside the home, have a family to care for, and a million things on your "to do" list feel it even more.

How can we slow down, relax, and find peace in our everyday lives?  Maybe, just being aware and noticing our day is the first step. Are there things we can cut from our busy schedule? Think of who and what is truly important to us. Make some time for these. We say, "I don't know of one thing I can cut out right now."  But if we take the time to think this through, you like me, can find  some things we do that really aren't as important as the main people and things which need our attention. Time goes by whether we notice it or not - let us notice who and what is important in our lives and make time for these. 

"For a few minutes I tried to empty my mind entirely, to concentrate solely on breathing; sometimes it's useful to rediscover simpler pleasures of life."

-Romain Gary

"Make room for the real important stuff."

-Tigger

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."

-Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)