Sunday
Dear Elsie
Today is the first day of 2023.
Last night I set my alarm for 11:50pm. We watched from our balcony as midnight came and across the bay dozens of flares lit up the night sky. Also on the Cape Flats, there were fireworks. It took a few minutes and then all went quiet and calm and we went back to bed.
I started today by beginning my journey through the Bible again. I read through the Bible in a year when I was in my teens. I didn’t do that again until 2007, when I went to the Fish Hoek school of the Bible and part of the course was reading the entire Bible in one year. I decided to continue the habit, so each year I read the Bible from cover to cover. The plan takes about 15 minutes each day and enriches my life all year long. It’s so worth it. In 2012, Julian gave me The One Year Bible & this is the one I’ve used almost every year since. I think I broke from this version for one year, but generally it’s my Bible, divided into 365 days. I just read each day’s portions. It’s very simple.
Before we went on holiday, I carefully wrote in a notebook the portions required for each of the 40 days we were away, so I didn’t have to take my Bible along because it’s quite heavy. I then read the Bible on my cell phone or listened to it when at the gym. As a result, I finished it earlier this year. There was more time to read/listen on the ship.
After my reading, we went to the beach. The wind has continued to blow, so instead of doing a long swim, we walked to the end of the beach and back and had a short one. The sea was warm but the waves were like a washing machine. There was a lot of frothy white surf.
We enjoyed a quiet day, resting and thinking about the goals we have for this year. We don’t have big plans, but we do hope to finish the landscaping at our house.
I march into this year with my soul clinging to the Lord …
Psalm 63:8
My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Gran, xx 🙂