31 Days in December #10: Review to renew

A petit point portrait of John Ruttger,
purchased in Cambridge 9 years ago

As I edit blog comments for spam, I land on old posts (October 2011) called 31 Days of Learning. They remind me:

• of God's faithfulness while I was starting to write my dissertation
• that even the hardest days are full of wonder
• of unexpected provisions that lighten our loads. A cabin with a lakeside view, thunderstorms and sunshine, a quiet place to study, and a screened porch with a huge table on which to spread papers and books? Thanks, Taylors!
• that even the most stressful days pass into memory
• that perseverance pays off. However, some goals require extreme efforts and leave you exhausted.
• that the finish line is sometimes the happiest line drawn in the sand

Someone stitched each little detail.
Perfectly. Persistently.
Thank you.

Read more:

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 ESV

*He awakens me morning by morning, he awakens my ear to listen as a disciple. Isaiah 50:4 (NASB)

*In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. Mark 1:35 ESV

*Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. James 1:19 ESV

Moravian Prayer: God, as we breathe in our first waking breaths of the day, let us know that it is your spirit that fills us and sustains us. Let us use each breath to praise and serve you in love. 

Spirit of light and love, we beg for the courage to change our ways. Give us strength for the hard work of it all. Break open our proud hearts to receive your grace. Amen.