My favorite rosebush in my garden

…Or has 2015 nearly vanished?  It’s going on eight months since I wrote my New Year’s post and I remember typing it up like it was last week.  It is August, and the major retailers in Guatemala City are setting up their Christmas decoration aisles; and I’m trying to remember what I’ve accomplished this year.

Looking at my list of “hopes” I posted on Jan. 1st, I am glad that they were realistic accomplishments!  I can honestly say that I am much more at peace with myself and my life than I was eight months ago, and I am conscious of those self-sins that I constantly work to conquer.  I have spent more time on family, but feel I have fallen a little bit short on building friendships.

I have worked diligently to keep my morning “God Time” sacred, and am actually on schedule with my ‘read the Bible in a year’ plan… whew!  I am still working on memorizing 24 verses of scripture–I have 16 of them written in my little book so far, and maybe have half of them really memorized.  As I look through them, I recognize a persistent theme running through the verses I’ve chosen and think that perhaps they have fueled my incentive and success in achieving those hopes I set as goals last January.  I just wanted to share a few of them with you:

Romans 15:13   Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  (NASB)

Philippians 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  (NIV)

Psalm 19:14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.  (NASB)

Psalm 120:1  In my trouble I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.  (NASB)

Blessings to all of you.