Joy List Monday - Three Words

2014 Word: Create





2015 Two Words:

Simplify





Beauty

He has made everything beautiful in its time.
He has also set eternity in the human heart;
yet no one can fathom what God
has done from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11



While praying about 2015 God gave me two words

Simplify 

and 

Beauty

I believe He wants me to simplify my life 

and take more time 

to see the beauty that surrounds me

in all its marvelous forms.



Have you taken time to see the beauty around you today?

What have you discovered?



Joy List Monday was prompted by Anne of My Giant Strawberry. I love her idea of "taking a few moments to jot down bits of beauty that I've noticed or any little details in my day that are bringing me joy." 



22 comments

  1. Ok Nancy, first of all, My Giant Strawberry? What a delicious name for a blog! I must go visit immediately! Secondly, I love your words! My tagline is recognizing uncommon beauty in the everyday and I really do try to do that, even if it's just the ducks swimming in the icy harbor, a pretty cloud formation or a vase of bargain tulips sitting on my kitchen counter. I am still working on the simplify! My house has been cleared and pared back, it's everything else I need to work on now! ;) I can't wait to see where your journey takes you!

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  2. "Simplify so I can see the beauty"....wonderful wonderful words. A good plan for each of us who desire to learn to be quite before the Lord so we can see all the beauty He has created.. Your photos are gorgeous.....

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  3. Blessed by the words the Lord gave you for this year. They go so well together, hand in hand! There is great beauty in simple things, if only you will look! There is always beauty around us, but sometimes it is covered up in the busyness of our lives, but when we take time to simplify our lives, we can find that beauty everywhere. May the Lord bless you this year!!!

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    1. Yes, busyness robs us of so much. I'm learning to let some things wait in order to enjoy the beauty in the moment.

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  4. Hello Nancy,
    Simplify...yes, that is what my husband and I are working on. :-) Your story is inspiration. Looking forward to all that you will share this year.
    Thank you!
    Carla

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  5. Lovely! I feel the same way about my life this year, I need to simplify!!! Luckily living in such a fabulous place, I always notice the beauty around me. Aren't we just so blessed?

    xo

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  6. Oh Nancy, I so agree, and at 5:00AM here as I start my day, I have to say that your words are perfect for my morning experience.

    When I went into my dark kitchen, I looked out into our snow covered garden, only to see the most beautiful sight: the full moon up in the western sky casting a light to create the most gorgeous shadows of our garden tree. It looks like a watercolour painting in blues and white....

    "Creating space for living" - YES. Creating space in your heart, your mind in order to live, truly live in the moments of AWE of the concrete things around you. As believers, we often and probably ALWAYS think in the abstract....we have to if we practice FAITH. But God has given us this life to experience the concrete examples that give the abstract skin. Oh how I love to wake up to discover the spiritual in the physical..

    2015, may this be a year of rich simplicity! Happy day! Anita

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  7. Hi, Nancy, it makes me so happy to see your Joy List and I hope you'll write many more in the coming year. Simplify and Beauty seem perfect words for the year.

    This morning I looked out the window and saw the big, bright moon beautiful in the clear dark sky. It's frigid out there today, but the moon and the sparkling snow were lovely. It's so easy to miss something like that as we hustle and bustle about. I'm glad that today I didn't.

    Have a lovely week!

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  8. Love the idea of your JOY list!! and your two words are great ones! I think mine would have to be TRUST ...sometimes I just rush and worry ahead of God and I know that I have to lean on Him to take care of my burdens. He is more than capable!! Have a great week Nancy.

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    1. Thank you Dawna. Lots of wisdom in your words. xxx

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  9. Nancy, love this post. I too was given Simplify as a focus as I meditated on focus this year. Living on the east coast of Florida it is easy to find joy in my surroundings. I have not thought of writing them down. Love your pictures, they brought me a sense of peace and joy. Debbie

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  10. Today was a very busy day at work, with a meeting during what was supposed to be lunch break, a very unpleasant and difficult announcement to make to one of my class and then a drive to go to the second school I teach in. I was late. But suddenly, the sun appeared, I had no car behind me and I took the time to slow down the car to watch for a moment the sun rays touching the sea (it's a coastal road between the 2 schools)... It was beautiful, free and the world didn't stop when I arrived a few seconds late at school! I love your idea to try to find beauty in every day!

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  11. I love your words....so meaningful! My word is purge....something I desperately need to do in all aspects!

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  12. Those are wonderful words

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  13. Hi Nancy !!Espero que tenga un buen día besos

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  14. Nancy, both words are wonderful! I do take time each and every day to notice the beauty around me. Whether it be outdoors or in. It helps me realize how blessed I am! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  15. Perfect words as we head into a new season.

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  16. Such inspirational words, Nancy, that truly motivate one to melodious moods, and peaceful prettiness. I have been actively simplifying my life, my thoughts, and my daily routine for years now, and it feels fabulously freeing! Enjoy!

    xoxo
    Poppy

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  17. This was lovely, thank you for sharing! :)

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  18. Love this post Nancy...God gave me the same words....it is wierd because I wrote my post a week ago with the plans to publish it tomorrow....xoxoaimee

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Your comments bring me joy! Thanks for stopping by.