[null, {"document_url": "http://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2010/02/closed-doors-open-windows-new.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aiDX6kExDIk/VCX_5xw-_nI/AAAAAAAAFbQ/9tatPdhENaw/s920/1-101_0435.JPG", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aiDX6kExDIk/VCX_5xw-_nI/AAAAAAAAFbQ/9tatPdhENaw/s920/1-101_0435.JPG", "alt_text": "What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?", "rendered_width": 800, "rendered_height": 359}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2010/02/closed-doors-open-windows-new.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Pu-jxEOYPU/VKcIeWIzjqI/AAAAAAAAF64/jbZjkcMD4d0/s1600/1-IMG_0527.JPG", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Pu-jxEOYPU/VKcIeWIzjqI/AAAAAAAAF64/jbZjkcMD4d0/s1600/1-IMG_0527.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 400, "rendered_height": 300}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2010/02/closed-doors-open-windows-new.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fOai6YLULKA/WGloM7ybl4I/AAAAAAAAI-w/aIgjn-O-vCgP83NN8rfRFqeVt1bavIQzwCK4B/s165/1-100_6577.JPG", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fOai6YLULKA/WGloM7ybl4I/AAAAAAAAI-w/aIgjn-O-vCgP83NN8rfRFqeVt1bavIQzwCK4B/s165/1-100_6577.JPG", "alt_text": "ONE WORD FOR 2017", "rendered_width": 165, "rendered_height": 124}, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2010/02/closed-doors-open-windows-new.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EwPfm5Kt3NU/Vs3SsFE-lCI/AAAAAAAAHgg/YWdOEm8GbqY/s1600-r/Pam%2Bage%2B6.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EwPfm5Kt3NU/Vs3SsFE-lCI/AAAAAAAAHgg/YWdOEm8GbqY/s1600-r/Pam%2Bage%2B6.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Pam Bage B", "alt_text": "Closed Doors...", "rendered_width": 165, "rendered_height": 219}, null, {"document_url": "http://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2010/02/closed-doors-open-windows-new.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0zUHgqf1Tfg/UshTqXcgb5I/AAAAAAAAEnM/fQnqD5EgBV0/s1600/1-100_8493.JPG", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0zUHgqf1Tfg/UshTqXcgb5I/AAAAAAAAEnM/fQnqD5EgBV0/s1600/1-100_8493.JPG", "alt_text": "Open Windows", "rendered_width": 165, "rendered_height": 124}, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2010/02/closed-doors-open-windows-new.html", "unformatted_src": "//2.bp.blogspot.com/-_IVRGikEqJs/VRwj5IkDxSI/AAAAAAAAGME/hxxbB2QTPPI/s80/focus.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_IVRGikEqJs/VRwj5IkDxSI/AAAAAAAAGME/hxxbB2QTPPI/s80/focus.jpg", "formatted_filename": "focus", "alt_text": "My photo", "rendered_width": 80, "rendered_height": 80}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2010/02/closed-doors-open-windows-new.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nZNB3pr5CAo/UyyI6ubq94I/AAAAAAAAE6g/L5Dvj9DknIo/s165/1-100_8784.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nZNB3pr5CAo/UyyI6ubq94I/AAAAAAAAE6g/L5Dvj9DknIo/s165/1-100_8784.JPG", "alt_text": "Our Family", "rendered_width": 165, "rendered_height": 123}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2010/02/closed-doors-open-windows-new.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m0hcOk2qX7g/UyDBC6Ab0JI/AAAAAAAAE2o/XP9kSFPvFwI/s165/Matt%252C%2BNicole%252C%2BNoah%2BFeb%2B2014.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m0hcOk2qX7g/UyDBC6Ab0JI/AAAAAAAAE2o/XP9kSFPvFwI/s165/Matt%252C%2BNicole%252C%2BNoah%2BFeb%2B2014.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Matt C BNicole C BNoah BFeb B", "alt_text": "Update May 25, 2014", "rendered_width": 165, "rendered_height": 124}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2010/02/closed-doors-open-windows-new.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k0O5FS2Tbzw/TYyyEm1BeOI/AAAAAAAAAC4/2ITwhn0Cs04/s250/DSRCT%2BAwareness%2BRibbon.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k0O5FS2Tbzw/TYyyEm1BeOI/AAAAAAAAAC4/2ITwhn0Cs04/s250/DSRCT%2BAwareness%2BRibbon.jpg", "formatted_filename": "DSRCT BAwareness BRibbon", "alt_text": "DSRCT Awareness Ribbon", "rendered_width": 169, "rendered_height": 250}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2010/02/closed-doors-open-windows-new.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xRMS0GLHc30/TdgBtwIh0sI/AAAAAAAAAEI/xrN1ndXKqB8/s760/Closed%2BDoor%252C%2BOpen%2BWindow%2BPlaque.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xRMS0GLHc30/TdgBtwIh0sI/AAAAAAAAAEI/xrN1ndXKqB8/s760/Closed%2BDoor%252C%2BOpen%2BWindow%2BPlaque.JPG", "formatted_filename": "Closed BDoor C BOpen BWindow BPlaque", "alt_text": "The Plaque that Inspired This Blog", "rendered_width": 165, "rendered_height": 110}, null]

Closed Doors-Open Windows-New Beginnings? UPDATED 1/2/2015 Okay Friends, Today, January 2, 2015, is the first Random Journal Day of the New Year.  That is when those of us who write journals (and/or blog-journals) pull out an old journal and randomly choose something to share with the rest of the world.  I have kind of run out of old journals on the shelf, and for the last four FIVE years I have been writing most of my thoughts in this blog.  So, instead of a dusty old journal entry from way back when, I am going to share something with you that I wrote here about four  (FIVE) years ago. (I can't count very well...still not used to 2015 instead of 2014!)  It is interesting to note that I am still the same person, having the same thoughts and feelings and frustrations that I had 5 years ago. Oh yes, some things have changed...some for the better, and some not so much.  But the message God shared with me back in 2010 is still pretty much the same for me...and it may be for you as well. Read on...and may God bless  you and yours with a marvelous, happy, peaceful, joyful New Year!

Original Post :  February 26, 2010:

So I've decided to begin this blog idea...and I honestly am not too sure what I am doing.  It seems as though every where  I look I am seeing others with the same idea...a new beginning...an open window. Perhaps because we are still in the early part of a new year and a new decade...or perhaps because there are so many of us out here struggling and searching for a way to begin anew...whether it be a new job (or ANY job), a new home, a new family, a new situation in life that blows our mind, recovering from devastating loss or illness...whatever our reasons...we are out here...and we need each other!

Like the Psalmist above, I have cried out of the depths, "Lord, hear my voice! Let Your voice be attentive to the voice of my supplications!"  In other words, "Lord, are you listening to me? Please listen to me when I am pouring out my heart to you!"  Then I think, "Well, maybe because of my sin or my stupidity I have gotten myself into this mess, so why should God want to help me?"  I love what verses 3 and 4 say in response to my doubts and fears:

God reassures me here that even though I may have made a mistake, or even if my circumstances are not of my own doing, God has forgiven me and is already "on the case".  The psalm is completed with an admonition to Israel...and to me, to "hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is abundant redemption!"

Last night I picked up a magazine and tried to read, but I really wasn't concentrating too much on the article because I was fretting over my future (or lack of) and what to do next. However, the very last words of the story jumped out at me and gave me a sense of the message that God was trying to get through to me:

"Looking for inspiration? Follow the path that's calling you. It's sure to be an adventure." (Samantha Brown, "Travels From the Heart", Guideposts, March 2010, page 58)

And so, here I am again...looking at this "Open Window" that God has placed before me, and like the Psalmist, I am waiting for the Lord..."and in His word I do hope....more than those who watch for the morning."

If you have been in similar circumstances, or maybe you still are...can we stand together and work through this time in a spirit of hope, encouragement, and inspiration?  Would you share your thoughts, ideas, and dreams with us so we can  learn from each other? This is your opportunity as well as mine, to begin anew, start a new adventure, and leap through that "open window".  Are you ready?  Then let's get going!!

Thank  you for joining me today for Random Journal Day.  Now go check out what others are writing here,
Posted by Pamela M. Steiner at 4:09 PM Labels: Forgiveness, God's Path, Psalm 130, Supplications

