40 Day Wrap-up

Hope that you had a most wonderful Christmas – especially the 40 days from Nov. 15th to Dec. 25th!


I’m grateful to the Lord for giving a new vision for this time of year. As I shared on Nov. 15th, my prayer is that these days, rather than be filled with the Christmas spirit, would be filled with the Holy Spirit. I prayed for you all that you would be led into His presence in a greater way, that the distractions so common at this time would be relegated to the background, and that this time of year would be redeemed for the Lord – in your life personally and across the country, in small measure now, but perhaps building as time goes on.


I did feel less stress and more blessed than in years past. Did you?

Even though it was much more work for me, both in writing and in coordinating the other writers, it kept me in the right focus.


I am so thankful for the guest contributors to Eternity Café. Each woman who shared did so out of her heartfelt desire to bring you closer to God. I invite you to check out their blogs for some great inspiration. And I thank Edie for providing the wonderful 40 Day Focus button. You can check out her blog for great graphic design options.

Joanne Kraft at Blessed


Cheri Bunch at Seven Branches


Laurie Hock


Lynn Mosher at Heading Home


Susan Reinhardt at Christian Writer/Reader Connection 


Jean Matthew Hall at Encouraging Words for Writers


Sonya Thompson at Truth 4 the Journey


Kelly Combs at Chatty Kelly


Susanne Scheppmann  from Proverbs 31 Ministry


Edie Moore at Rich Gifts

Patti Niebojewski


Pastor Janice Rizzo

My prior post was about how since childhood I’ve felt that Dec. 26th is the most anti-climactic day of the year. Maybe it was because of the 40 Day Focus, or maybe I’m just growing up a little, but this year provided a whole new insight regarding that day.


It occurred to me that perhaps Dec. 26th seems so dull because there’s so much hustle and bustle prior to that day, and then the activity level just drops suddenly.


Hmmmmm… I wonder how I’ll feel when God takes me home to heaven after the clamor of this earthly existence. Somehow, I just don’t think it will be anti-climactic at all! Aside from the obvious joy of being in God’s presence, on a purely earthly level, I think I’ll feel relief and peace and release from the never-ending hamster-wheel pace of life.


From now on, I’m going to consider my birthday (Dec. 26th) a little taste of heaven!

Susan