Go and leave your life of sin.

Shame is a hold sin uses on us.

Dear God,

I know that my only hope of moving ahead is to leave my sin behind. Release me from the shame.

Amen

Only three things last; faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is love.

We are made out of faith, hope, and love.

Dear God,

I believe that you have made me to be a channel of Your love.

Amen

— you will be told what you must do.

I am being used. I am actively being chosen. I am led.

Dear God,

You hold the future. You have promised to lead me. Help me to be open to whatever You would have me do.

Amen

Oh! The Places I’ve Been!

Hello! And welcome back to My Cozy Corner. I am delighted to be back with you, after a lovely trip to the east coast of the US. This was a bittersweet trip, because Mr. M and I had been planning to take it together. I decided that I would take the trip by myself but would fly rather than driving. I’m so glad I made that decision.

Think of all the places you have been in your life. Do you have a favorite? Think about your favorite place to “hide out” when you were growing up. Do you still have a place where you like to get away? I have been many places in the world, but I still have a bucket list. This trip was on that list. The sights, sounds, and smells were magnificent! If you follow me on Facebook, you have seen many of the pictures I took. None of them do justice to the spectacular views.

This was the first time I have been in Canada, in my memory. I loved the people. They were all so kind. They also found it quite humorous that I was freezing in what they were still seeing as shirt sleeve weather. Niagara Falls (Bucket List item) was spectacular day and night. The changing fall colors (another Bucket List item) were spectacular too. I wish I could come up with a better word to describe it.

Even if you are not able to take a big trip and go lots of places, I hope you will take the time to savor what is right around you and that you will seek adventure wherever you can find it. Think back on those cozy memories of places you’ve been and people you met.

I also got the chance to reconnect with my niece which was delightful, but I will save that story for another time.

I wouldn’t be me, if I did not share a food story from my travels. Canada is famous for Tim Horton’s. They are in New Jersey now, so I got plenty of opportunity to experience coffee and a breakfast sandwich. We also had ice cream at the famous Carvel ice cream parlor as well as Rita’s. I enjoyed seafood on the Jersey shore. We ate at home a lot too. My son and daughter in law are excellent cooks. Now, I will be dieting for several weeks!

In between all the fun adventures, I got the opportunity for lots of rest and relaxation. It was my chance to recharge after a tough year. I hope you will share some of your adventures with me.

Thank you for the gift of your time,

Until next time,

Helen

Commit your way to the Lord.

Sometimes life leads us places we would rather not go.

Dear God,

I commit all my ways to you, even when I am in a situation that I don’t like.

Amen

—So it is not right for you to judge your neighbor.

A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Keyes

Dear God,

I want to be a kind and loving person. Sometimes the world feels hostile. Help me to be who you want me to be.

Amen

a

Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up.

God accepts us as we are, not as we think we should be.

Dear God,

Thank you for loving me. Help me to see myself as You see me.

Amen

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life; my lips praise You

The bond of love can reshape my existence.

Dear God,

Thank you for loving me. Help me to pass that love on to those I come in contact with today.

Amen

We brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it.

All that I am, and all that I have, is by God’s grace alone.

Dear God,

Remind me every day that I am Yours!

Amen

Rejoice always. Pray continuously.

Come to terms with your own story while staying connected to God’s reality.

Dear God,

You know everything about me; my past, present, and future. My connection with You is the only thing that allows me to own my story.

Amen