all new

Well…here we are! A new year. A new decade. A new theme for the Blog. I’ve tried a half-dozen or so different looks today as the NFL Division Playoff Games play out. Finally landed on something I can live with for a season. So, here I sit, staring at a new color scheme and a blank page, waiting to be inspired.

It’s been months since I’ve been inspired to post on the Cottage Blog. First excuse–we were so completely involved with our church and the various opportunities to teach the Word there was no time to write. Then, at the end of October we both came down with some sort of respiratory infection. That lasted all through November and well into December. We missed 40 days of church, Bible Studies, Small Group meetings, grocery shopping and everything else.

December was so very nontraditional around here. For the first time in over 40 years there was no Christmas tree, outside lights, gifts or dinner guests. There simply was no strength to accomplish the traditional. Guess what? We survived! In fact, it was one of the most satisfying Holiday Seasons we’ve ever enjoyed. The Spirit of Christmas is not in the tree, lights, gifts or guests. The Spirit of Christmas is found in the LOVE given and received.

That being said, here we are at mid-January, and everything has changed in the months since I last wrote to you. Many of the ministries we were involved in back in September and October are no longer active. A few other things we had expected to do, simply were not offered! God has, seemingly, slowed us down to a couple of groups and a Bible Study apiece. It has been a surprise, but truthfully a very pleasant change. So, as I said to begin…it’s all new.

¹² I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. ¹³ I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. ¹⁴ I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus

Philippians 3:12-14 The Passion Translation