I forgot to share... part 2

 Yeah, you know how I like to share my day with you, and being distracted this morning, forgot about my afternoon yesterday!  Oh My!

I hear the doorbell ring and hubby went to answer it - it was about 2:30-ish, I'd guess.  It was Ms. Vicky and I hear her ask hubby 'can you fix my phone?'  1) Wrong thing to ask hubby (right?) and even I am not real smart on phones - plus she has a Samsung.  But the make was not the problem.

Ms. Vicky say her friend Crystle had taken her to AT&T that morning about something on her phone.  Now AT&T is the carrier, not the the maker of her phone.  Anyway.... the problem was that with saying her phone had a virus on it, AT&T told her to call a number for them to fix it.  That AT&T person put a password (supposedly) on her phone and although she said she remembered it, when she got home and plugged it in - she could not longer get her phone to open so she could use it.  She was in near panic mode when she came over.  She asked if I could take her to Crystle's house and Crystle could help her.  Sure, I can do that. So I left 'work' and started driving her to where she 'thought' Crystle's house was... but she didn't remember and didn't know the address, and the street didn't look right.  

Sigh. So she wanted to go to AT&T.  In the meantime, I'm keeping my mouth shut cause I don't really know what is going on with her phone.  We get to AT&T and she tells him her story and shows him her phone.  The password the AT&T person gave her didn't work and she couldn't get in her phone.   This guy tried calling the other AT&T store she was at that morning but she couldn't remember which store.  Obviously she doesn't pay much attention around her.

She wanted AT&T to call her friend Crystle.  They explain to her they cannot do that; even though Crystle also had AT&T, they don't keep people's names and numbers in a file.  Ms. Vicky couldn't understand why.  I'm minding my own business.  LOL I let her do the talking, after all, I didn't know exactly what was going on, other than the password she claims she was given wasn't working.  We left AT&T after about 30 minutes.  

Oh - and hubby calls me while I'm there with 'Are you OK?'  Needless to say, I had sharp words for him... and when I got home I told him that he has to quit being paranoid about me being 'out'!  He did that to me the other day as well.  If I'm not back in a specific timeframe, he will call and ask 'Are you ok?' - and although I probably should be appreciative of that concern, if I wasn't OK, I couldn't answer my phone anyway and he was annoying me!  He didn't speak to me until he got back home from bible study.  And that's ok.  Stop calling me if I'm not home when he thinks I should be!   Ok, I know he loves me, but I think it is more he is terrified I won't be here to take care of him and he would be alone.  If you know what I mean, you know what I mean, right?

Anyway - back to Ms. Vicky.  We were sitting in the parking lot at AT&T and I had an idea. Was she friends with Crystle on Facebook. Yes.  So I went to her profile on facebook and found Crystle (and found she was also giving me the wrong last name), and called her through facebook on my phone.  I explained the problem, and she immediately gave me the password for Ms. Vicky's phone. It worked.  It was Ms. Vicky's 'own' password; that had not been changed.  The phone worked. I brought Ms. Vicky home and suggested she write down on paper telephone numbers of her friends and family - she did not know anyone's telephone number.

Which got me thinking.... I have the majority of passwords in my phone. If I lost it or could not bring it up, very few would I remember.... and as for telephone numbers, I probably only know three or four in my entire directory!  So decided that perhaps, in my spare time, I should also sit down and write out names and passwords of accounts, names and telephone numbers of others.  I used to do that with emails years ago.  But we rarely email people now; it's all text, right?  Anyway, perhaps it is something you need to think about as well, if you haven't already done it.

We are so used to just punching a name on our phone that we never look at the number.  What if we accidently deleted their name out of our address book?  And then needed to contact them?  

Oh well - just had to share that story yesterday.  Ms. Vicky was all over the place with her confusion and she doesn't see well either so that doesn't help.  Glad I could help her, and it took less than an hour. Just wish I had thought about the facebook contact before driving her to AT&T and around trying to find Crystle's house.  I told her to get the address too.

And with that.... I need to add 'write down telephone numbers' on my list of things I want to do. Not to mean that I will do them, but want to, right?

Have an amazing day!

Blessings!

ps - if you are reading this first - look at the next post down.

Feeling distracted this morning.... Part 1

 I wonder if my distraction this morning has anything to do with my laziness last night?  Hubby had his bible study and I decided - although I have much to do - not to do anything but watch a movie, crochet, and eat whatever I want.  Well, that's what I did.  For dinner - I totally 'blew it' in watching what I was eating - I had a bean burrito.  Then I had a Jocko chocolate milkshake.  Then I finished it off a little later with my favorite - vanilla ice cream, with saltine crackers broken on top (don't knock it if you have never tried it - it's the salt/sugar combo that makes it so delicious), and chocolate syrup on top of that. That was dinner.  And I watched an episode of Chosen, and then watched Perfect Match on Up Faith and Family. I was skimming my phone when hubby got back home around 8p.  We talked a bit, skimmed our phones, and before we knew it, it was 9:20p so off to bed we went.  Actually I gave up first, then hubby followed. 

And now this morning I am feeling somewhat distracted.  I slept well, thank goodness.  The night before I had not.  Didn't want to get up this morning, but yet, here I am.  I've done my reading, yet, not as much as I normally do cause I couldn't stay focused.  (headache?) My first cup of coffee is gone and I'm thinking of going for another - it's only 6:10a.  I did take my BP this morning as Dr. Mark wants me to track it for the next 3 months to ensure I do NOT have to have BP meds.  Today it wasn't bad... 137/74 I think it was.  Still can't believe I've worried more about the bottom number and he tells me he is more concerned about the top number first, then the second.  Maybe I ought to read up on what the two numbers identify and then I can understand it.  I obviously did not give up my salt last night - bean burrito and then saltine crackers.  Oh yeah, I forgot, I ate about a cup full of Cheese-its - love them.  I know, didn't spell it right; too lazy to go look at the box. But you get the idea of what it was. The little orange squares with lots of salt on them.

Today I have no appointments to run off to (grateful) so I can hopefully get some work done.  I see they have moved the location for the board minutes (which I have yet to do) so I need to figure out if I have access to that area; I think I do.  UGH  I hate changes when they aren't explained to me!!  I need to get my things in order.  Right now I have one interim boss and 3 others I support (Brett's position has no interim).  Which is why I don't have much work.  I'm wishing they would offer me a severance package for I think I would take it!  I need a few months NOT working to regain my 'self', if you know what I mean.  When I took early retirement from MCP, I got a year's pay for taking it.  I didn't work until I ran out of paychecks. And I called that my one year of retirement.  Seems like that was a true statement, doesn't it?  Actually, if I did retire now, the only thing different is that I wouldn't have to sit in front of the computer all day.  With working from home, if I need to do something, I usually can get up to do it.  But, I still have those board meetings.... sigh.  See how distracted I am?  I guess I'm frustrated because I am getting no information on replacements or what admin changes will be happening.  I don't like being in limbo.

At this stage in my life, all I can do - and should do - is trust God that whatever is ahead of me - He will walk with me through it.  Good and bad.  I need to be listening more so that I hear what He wants me to do, which way He wants me to turn.  

"It's utterly impossible for us to fulfill our divine assignment in our own ability, because God firmly declares that He will share His glory with no one else."     John Bevere.

Isaiah 48:11 (NKJV):  ................... And I will not give my glory to another.

If any of us were to accomplish any divine destiny in our own ability, then God would have to share His glory with us, which He will not do! God intentionally made us, made our calling beyond anything we can do in our own power, so that we have to depend on Him and His grace to complete it.  Any task we complete, is by the grace of God.  All the glory belongs to Him.  Our pride, our ego, is left behind.  Without God we can do nothing.  Think about that for awhile.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below.  Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Amen.

Yeah, that's the song that came to mind as I wrote that above paragraph.  In all things we are to praise the Lord.  Praise Him for the sunshine; Praise Him for the rain.  Praise Him for work, Praise Him for rest. In all things we are to Praise the Lord.

So I praise Him I have a job still.  I praise Him I need to clean up this house within the next few days. I can even praise Him for my laziness last night, for how do I know that He did not orchestrate my laziness so that I could give my mind 'rest'?  Just saying!  In all things, I do give Him praise.

And, with that, I think I will hush this morning.  I have a few minutes before time to turn on the work computer, and I'm just feeling like I need to sit quietly and chat (more) with my Father in heaven.  Some mornings that is the best thing I can do.  Shut my mouth, stop my fingers from moving over the keyboard.  Just sit and be still.

Psalm 46:10  Be still and know that I am God.

Have a 'beyond measure' day today!  Take time to thank and praise the One who gave this day to you.

Blessings!

Now that was interesting!

 I'll explain that statement in a bit, but for now, got to get my ramblings in. :-) You know you have waited an entire day to read those, right?  

I got through my HIIT workout yesterday and I was feeling it last night!  My entire body was letting me know I moved a muscle in that area - and that is a good thing!  Actually, it was kind of cool how God answered my prayers too!  It was raining when I left home so I prayed that the rain would stop (and it did)  and I could get a 'front' spot, meaning, right in front next to the gym.  So I go down the usual row and the car in front of me turned in the 3rd spot on my left from the door. And I laughed and told God "You gave that person MY spot!"!  But as I continued down that row, the first spot on the right was totally open!  God saved it for me!  "I'm His favorite". LOL

Came home and worked until time to head out to Dr. Mark's office.  And I got to go alone.  I didn't even turn the radio on.  I just drove and relished the quiet aloneness.  Is that so bad?  God also gave me a front row parking spot, but I did have to walk past a few cars to get to the sidewalk, and that's ok. It wasn't raining.  My doctor visit went well.  Weight same as it was last year (sigh).  Can't help it; I love food.  Dr. Mark says my intake of calories is the same as the outgo so nothing is coming off.  My A1c went from 5.6 to 5.7 so he 'suggested' I start watching my carbs and sugar intake... I do NOT want to be put on diabetic meds so it's up to me to prevent it, right?  And I'm not giving up my breads!  But here is what is interesting.  My sodium level was low.  Not by much, but down a number from the lowest range.  I would think no big deal, right?  But Dr. Mark did make it a big deal.  What did he tell me?  Quit drinking so much water!!  My urine was clear and it didn't have any 'specific gravity' to it.  My sodium is low.  Hence, I'm drinking too much water and need to cut back so that my sodium level will go back up.  It's not the salt part like we all would think.  I mean, I thought, ok, I'll just use more salt - but no, it's the sodium retained in the body (unless I misunderstood) from the salt in the foods I've eaten.  If it goes lower, it can cause dizziness, and other things, but I forget what he said.  So instead of my constantly drinking water, I need to allow myself to cut out a glass or two.  Not a lot, he said, don't dehydrate myself, but just cut it back a glass or two.  I can do that.  I think. I love my water.

And - my BP.... I took my monitor with me so that he could calibrate it with his.  I was surprised at the top number on his - and mine!  I've never had that top number that high - but account it to being int he doctor's office.  Ironically, he said my bottom number on my personal monitor is about 10 points too high.  His monitor showed my BP at 147/74.  My monitor showed 147/86.  So he said mine is calibrated pretty good, but to subtract ten points from the bottom number.  But here is what is interesting.  I always have thought the bottom number was what was concerning to the doctors.  Nope. He said it is the TOP number moreso!  At 147 they start prescribing low-dose BP pills.  He doesn't want to.  Now that I know what it really is, he told me that if I would lose 20 pounds gradually, that it would bring that down. Now that is a novel thought.  I've tried to lose weight, but I love food too much I guess.  I've always said my weight isn't coming down because I work out and gaining muscle.  And that's true, but I'm still eating the same, which means the body may be gaining muscle, but the muscle is just pushing the fat out. Do you hear what I'm saying?  Sigh.  So, my new goal is lose the 20 pounds and lower the BP numbers.  I can cut back on my salt (got to watch those potato chips, I guess!), drink less water (he said my body is holding on to the water too, so less water, the weight will also start to fall off).  Who knew? I always thought it was the bottom number, I always thought more water was good, so I guess my thinking isn't always right, huh!  I'm a bit smarter now..... I just need to remember that when presented with salty foods and carbs and oh my, December is coming when I do my baking for gifts - how am I NOT going to be eating them too??  

Dr. Mark asked when I wanted to come back for a follow-up as he wanted to have labs drawn again on the sodium levels and check my BP .... so I suggested after the holidays. He laughed and commented he guessed he would be my 'accountability partner' in that could I get through the holidays with all my baking and still 1) lose weight and 2) get my sodium level up and 3) get my BP down.  Time will tell!  I go back the end of January.  Oh - and I unexpectedly had a UTI I didn't know I had so got antibiotics for that.  I was very surprised to be charged by CVS $16 so I asked if they ran it through my insurance - and they said yes - but it's Amoxicillin!  WHEN did they charge that for that?  Never before!  Either that or I didn't notice.  That just proves I have to remain healthy for I won't be able to afford meds if my insurance doesn't pay more, right?!  but then too, I think he did say it was amoxicillin with a 'kick', meaning something was added to it.

So we went out for pizza last night after I got off work.  Yes, I know, salt.  But it was so good!  I love the thin-crust New York Combo at Streets of New York - and they loaded it more than they have before. Monday nights it is buy one get a second one for half price.  So we got two - and brought home to have today for lunch. :-)  so good!!

Today I have my orthodontist appointment early morning, and then a core workout at 11a.  Then I'm good until Thursday when I have my bone density and mammogram tests done. Then healthwise, I'm done for another year on that stuff. Two years on the bone density.  Oh yeah, Dr. Mark also suggested I walk a bit more every day - at least 25 minutes at a fast pace.  My brother's challenge of 5 miles at 3.5 three times a week by Christmas - surprisingly, Dr. Mark said that was pushing it too much.  My brother is 81 - does Dr. Mark think I can't keep up with him?  Watch this!!  LOL

My son posted a song on his blog that I listened to this morning.  Yes, it cleared out some tear ducts. I am pretty sure I know what he was thinking when he listened to it, and I found myself thinking about it as well... and about missing my siblings and my mama.  Since I was 7 when my dad passed, I don't remember much about him, but I am sure it would have made a difference in my life if he had lived.  I remember my brother telling me that Dad always thought he would be going back home and would be ok.  But that was years before kidney dialysis was in existence...  and he died of kidney failure due to diabetes.  I often wonder what would have changed in my life.

I'm feeling kind of mellow this morning, I think.  Fighting a dull headache too - from the weather - which is raining - outside, I imagine.  May take an excedrin to get rid of it, although I don't like to.  But, I have too much to do today to leave it hanging.  

So here I am.... thinking how to end the blog today as I have obviously made it 'all about me'.... perhaps I can leave you with this....

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV):  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV):  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

We can do all things - even correcting my health issues - through Him who gives me the wisdom and the strength to complete them.  Now to tell my 'don't want to' to 'want to'.  Right?  

Have an amazing day - be the sunshine in someone's life today.

Blessings!

It will be a busy day

 I actually have 'things' I have to do today.  I have a HIIT workout with Morgan late morning, and then I have an early afternoon doctor appointment to review my blood work.  Both are good for my health, right?  And in between all that, I have to work.  I work so that I can go to the gym and have training, and pay for my doctor visits, right?  Got to keep my perspective on why I work. HAH!  I've already done a review of my blood work and I was surprised to see that my sodium was low.  I use salt, but granted, perhaps not a lot of it; it hasn't changed over the years.  Plus, like today, when I have a HIIT workout, I throw a packet of LMNT salt into my water that I take with me cause HIIT makes me sweat!  So that surprises me it's low.  I'm curious what Dr. Mark will say about it.  Hubby uses a lot of salt (in my opinion), and Dr. Mark told him to be 'liberal' with it at his last visit.  He isn't going with me today as today's visit is 'all about me'. :-)  The one thing that is starting to creep up is my BP and I'm concerned he will suggest BP pills - which I do not want.  I've been working on steadying my breathing this morning to lower it, but it hasn't helped much ... it's still higher than I feel it should be.  I'm to take my BP machine to Dr. Mark's if I don't forget; he wants to calibrate it with his (he still uses the one where you pump the pressure) and I am pretty sure mine is pretty accurate.  Will see what he has to say.  But my bottom number has been running in the low 80's.  Sigh.  I told Dr. Mark last time when we talked about it to remember who I live with.  Right?

This weekend was pretty quiet I think.  Yesterday we went to church - great message!  If you get an opportunity, go to Reclaim Church and choose the 9/27/2026 sermon.  Find your purpose was the title, I think.  So, yes, it is very good and ironically, it goes right along with the study I'm doing with Called by John Bevere.  What is YOUR purpose?  I am hoping to find mine.  Unfortunately, I often feel that I have to step aside to let hubby be the lead (cause that has what has happened for years) and if he doesn't want to, then it is usually I don't feel he is 'allowing' me to - even if he doesn't say that.  And I think I'll leave those comments alone.  Anyway - listen to Pastor John's message if you want / can - it was really good.

The mission statement at our church is Follow Jesus, Find Freedom, Find Purpose, and Make an Impact. Pastor John has been focused on each part for the past three weeks.  Next week will be 'Make an Impact'.  Should be a good one!  In my thinking, he will share places where people can step up and become involved in different things within the church i.e., helping with the children's classes on Sunday mornings, leading a Life Group, and... well, I can't think of what else.  Anyway, you get the picture, right?  I so want to get involved, I just don't know where.  In time, as I take this bible study and go through it, perhaps I will find where I can be the most helpful.

I finally did go see Ms. Vicky mid-afternoon, and of course she was thrilled to see me.  I mentioned to her that our church was going to start a 4th service at 5p on Sunday evenings the end of October and yes, she would like to go.  I wouldn't mind sitting through some of these sermons a second time.  It would get her out of the house and going to church. Yes, it would take some of my time that I have for 'me'... but all we do on Sunday evenings is watch NCIS anyway.  And if my taking Ms. Vicky to church will cause her to give her heart to Jesus, it is well worth it, right?  I don't know if she has ever been to church on a regular basis. I bought her a large print Bible several months ago, but I don't know if she reads it or not.  When we talk about the Bible and I suggest she read something in it, it's like she doesn't remember my giving her one or she doesn't know where she put it.  When it's important to her, he will remember.  I also got her a page magnifier with a light that she says that she does use all the time as her eyes have something that blocks out the middle vision and she has to constantly turn her head to capture the entire picture. My good deed for the day, right? And yes, I did come home to NCIS on the TV and we watched the rest of the evening. I did finish a baby blanket.

I was awakened at 3:15a this morning and could not go back to sleep.  I think I fell asleep a couple times for a few minutes while reading my bible this morning.  I say I think because it would be very brief, yet, my eyes could not stay open.  I'm more alert now (I think), but that may be because I'm sitting here typing.  It's almost time to get up and check the work computer.  

Have you ever read the book of Jeremiah? He was called before he was even conceived to be a prophet! He was a prophet for 40 years and they were not easy years.  One king cut up and burned a scroll that Jeremiah had produced about what was going to happen if they did not turn back to God.  Jeremiah was beaten and imprisoned, thrown into a muddy cistern (pit) to where he suck in its mud.  Jeremiah repeatedly called for God's people to repent and was treated terribly.  And yet, 

Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV):  "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."

No matter where we are in life, whether things are going good, or if things are very rough... very difficult... crushing.... God says to 'Call to Me'.... what does that mean?  God wants us to seek Him in all things, at all times.  It doesn't matter if our lives are prefect at the moment, Call to Him.  If we are struggling to just get through the day with life.... Call to Him.  God wants us to reach out to Him no matter where we are, or what we are doing.  You know that I am calling on Him - a LOT!  

When I don't feel well. When I have HIIT facing me (Lord, HELP!!). When I have a doctor's appointment and I don't know how that meeting will go.  When I'm angry with hubby. When I've been hurt by others. When finances don't match the situation/bills. When I overspend. When I don't do what I feel I should do and feel guilty..... so many different things... and each time I know I can call out to God and ask for His help, His intervention, His wisdom to undone what I've done.  No, I don't always get what I ask for, but I know He hears me.  Sometimes He doesn't answer cause He knows I know the answer.... I just don't want to do it.  You know what I'm talking about, don't you!  Those times when we want God to just remove the situation because we don't like it.... and He leaves us alone to figure it out. Why? Because that is how we learn to (hopefully) not do it again. To help someone else. To provide the solution ourselves.  He just works through us instead of giving us the immediate help we demand/ask for.  

He is a good, good, good Father!

And... yep, it's that time again.  Have an amazing day and be kind to others.  Life is hard sometimes and we need to come alongside others to cheer them on.  Be the cheerleader today.

Blessings!

A second cup of coffee? Yes, please

 Yes, here I sit with a 2nd cup of coffee this morning, enjoying the quiet of the morning here in this room. I started reading in Isaiah this morning.  Can you even imagine having a vision in which you see the Lord, high and lifted up?  And you also see your sinfulness, and you immediately go "Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips!"  Yes, I did ponder that chapter this morning and I allowed myself to just 'be' this morning and reflect upon the goodness of God.  He is, and has been, so good to me! In my eyes I am a failure in so many things, but God tells me I am His, and that wipes away my failures because in Him I am cleansed of all that.  In fact, God and I have had several conversations this morning and I am at peace with myself. 

So what did I learn today in Called?  I learned that we all need to continuously seek wisdom; it is not only for those who have a 'higher calling', but each one of us.  

Proverbs 9:11-12 (NKJV):  Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.

Isn't that truth encouraging??  It's more than adding years to your life, but it is increasing your effectiveness each and every day.  It means that you will get more out of each day with wisdom, than one who does not have God's wisdom.  Does that make sense?

Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NKJV):  If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success."

That scripture brings to mind the story about the old lumberjack and the young one doing a challenge on who could cut down the most trees with an ax within a certain amount of time. If I recall correctly, the young man made such fun of the old lumberjack that he took him up on the challenge.  The young man took off, swinging his axe and cutting down the trees.  The old lumberjack took time to sharpen his blade, did some trees, and paused again to sharpen the blade, doing this many times throughout the challenge.  He won the challenge without having to put forth a lot of effort; the young man was exhausted from constantly using a dull blade.  The moral of that story could be we need to be sure our 'blade' is sharpened daily.

What do I mean by that?  By going to God's Word each day and reading, studying, and meditating upon His Word, we become wise.  Our 'blade' gets sharpened.  And the Lord knows that with all the distractions and conflicts thrown at us every single day, we need His wisdom to make the wise choices.  Amen?

The book I started reading the other day, Courage to be Healed, wasn't what I thought it would be.  I was disappointed in that respect.  I'm not sure I can put in to words what I expected.  But the book was more of a counseling type for people who had unforgiveness in their hearts from things that had happened to them in the past and how that carried on into their adult life.  A lot of it was conversations between the counselor and the individual - and how it ended up in marriages, in life, in relationships.  I did finish reading it by 'skim reading'.  Some of you know what I mean by that.  I did go to every page and read through it, but it was more like 'speed reading' to see if I could find something that I could relate to.  And some I could, don't get me wrong.  I've written before about my childhood, about the time I was single, and the things that not only happened to me, but I did.  I have forgiven those who hurt me. I'm past that; I don't need to live there.  So I didn't get what I wanted from the book, but I'm sure it is a good read for those who still have unforgiveness of something that happened to them and the counseling part can help them work through it.

So, I put it back on the bookshelf and grabbed a couple other books.  One is Prayer by Richard Foster. I have another one of his books - Celebration of Discipline that taught me so much about the disciplines of spiritual growth.  I imagine I have forgotten and neglected many of those disciplines over the years.... and I have it out to read again to refresh and renew my mind and my spirit.  The other book I brought out was The Prayer Saturated Church by Cheryl Sacks.  I've had this book for awhile, but have not read it.  What has prompted me to pick it up off the shelf?  I got an email from Bridgebuilders, where Cheryl Sacks is, and she is doing a webinar over a few weeks about it.  It's for prayer leaders at the church or anyone who wants to attend.  I debated, but I have not signed up. It is all virtual, but I still have hesitated.  Yes, I get the prayer requests from church, but, I can't explain it.... I'm not connecting and I can't figure out why.  Perhaps it is because I have only met the prayer coordinator a couple times and then she went to Colorado for the summer? I get the email links with the prayer requests every week, and pray over those, but I don't know these people and, well, it feels harder to pray for them when I do not know them.  Hubby wants us to volunteer to pray at the end of the services with people, but I'm hesitant to do so. Which is weird, because I love to pray and talk with God.  The more I think of it, I am going to 'convince' hubby that we should not do it, unless they just have no one to fill that spot.  Why? Because the band is still playing at the end of the service and the prayer people stand right in front of the band.  I feel I would have difficulty hearing the request - and I know that hubby would!  I'm open to praying with people; I have no problem with that.  But I want to hear what their request is, and have time to process what God would want me to pray.  

You know how it is, people do things that get them into predicaments and then they want God to bail them out - time and again - without changing what they are doing.  So how do you pray for something like that?  My thoughts are that one would pray that they would have wisdom to process what they have done and how to make that situation stop.  Does that make sense?  For example, they spend beyond their means and then they can't pay their bills.  So what do they do?  They run to people to pray that God will bless them and take away what they owe so that they won't have that stress.  Right?  What is wrong with that picture?  I've been there.  I know what it is like to be in debt to where one is living from pay check to pay check with no help in sight.  I've been there when I've been the only one working and I have no idea how to make ends meet.  Which reminds me....

One morning in my desperation of financial woes, I fell upon my knees, crying out to God to help me know what to do.  I literally was crying, wanting His intervention to enlighten me, show me what to do.  I had a couple different translations of the Bible laying on the futon on which I did my quiet time, and I just reached out and grabbed one, and started flipping through the pages, seeking what God could show me.  And this is what He showed me.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)  Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Instead of highlighting the entire scripture, I have highlighted the words that stood out to me that morning. I have never forgotten that moment.  I read that scripture, which had not been highlighted or underscored as I had not started reading that translation at that time.  But those very words - Don't worry.  Pray.  Tell God.  Thank Him. Experience God's peace.  Those words spoke to my heart and mind that morning, and I arose from my knees, knowing the peace of God that passeth all understanding.

And that can happen for you as well.  Are you troubled this morning?  Do you need peace about a situation or problem?  Fall on  your knees and cry out to God and pray, tell Him what you need. Thank God for His provisions, whatever they are.  And then rest in the peace that only God can give.  

And I leave you with that story, for the peace of God, knowing you are so loved, that He hears us when we cry out to Him, and that He cares for us, every single little thing that troubles us.... and we are His. May your Sunday be a blessed day.

Blessings!

Saturday rest

 I actually tossed, turned, and slept my way to 5:15a this morning!  Finally told myself to get my lazy self up and get in here and spend quality time with Jesus.  My favorite part of the day.  So it's Saturday.... as I had finished my cup of coffee I went into the kitchen to decide if I wanted another cup of coffee - or what.  Decided on tea and a cold glass of water.  Hubby stops his reading and asks me some questions, i.e., what are my plans for today, etc.  

My plans for today.  I always have plans, and yet, no plans cause I don't always follow through.  I do need to go to Staples and drop off an Amazon return.  Then I was thinking Hobby Lobby, but there really isn't anything I 'need'.  So probably won't.  I'll come back home and hopefully be motivated enough to back my car out of the garage and work on that area that has everything piled in front of it.  I have a box for Savers there and I need to finish filling it up and take it to Savers and get 'rid' of it.  I need to straighten up the shelves as I have gotten to where I just 'stuffed' where I found a space.  Need to pull my canning jars out and decide what I'm going to fill them with for Christmas gifts this year.  Also, with my new canning lid sealer thing, I can use them for storing things in the pantry, but am not sure what.  Would be nice to have a nice organized pantry again - it's looking pretty chaotic right now.  Hubby did offer his help for the garage in that if I need help, please ask him.  Yeah...no. I can do it faster myself, right?  That's the way most of us women (and sometimes men) feel.

What I am going to try to NOT do is sit down on the couch with a book or with my crochet.  Or sit at the table with my diamond art.  I have a Christmas Tree laid out to do next.  I can only do so much with the hours I have available and my weekends are either lazy and do nothing or I actually get something done. I want this weekend to be the one that I got something done.  Hubby will be watching the Notre Dame game and will be out of my way.  I may wait until AFTER the game to go to Staples so that I can use that time to get things done here.  

My big brother is always such an inspiration to me.  He has always been pro-health, taking care of himself, in spite of the fact he has been a diabetic for over 30-40 years.  He sent me a text this morning that he, after four months, has finally lost 20 pounds he wanted to get rid of.  And, he is walking on his treadmill - today for one mile.  He wants to get to five miles by the end of the year.  Three days a week.  Now I'm the one who wants to do it EVERY day, and of course I wear myself out trying to achieve that goal.  But three days a week, five miles on the treadmill, by Christmas?  Surely I can do that, right?  I'm about 4 years younger than he is (he's 81, I'm 77) so I should be able to do it.  Right?  I.can.do.it.  Get off my lazy butt and just.do.it.  Perhaps your goal would be 1 mile by Christmas.  That's great!  The point is, just do something that will make yourself more healthy.

I listened to the video on Messenger X by John Bevere on the study of Called.  It also has inspired me to pursue finding out what God has called me to do.  Would love to have someone go through the book with me so we could discuss it, but I don't know anyone who would choose to.  I've tried in the past to do study books with my little sister and she generally flakes out on me, although we did do the study of Elijah by Priscilla Scherer together.  It just took us longer because one of us usually didn't have the lesson completed.  I'm sure that one of us was me a time or two.  But we finally got through that book. But I am interested in finding out what God has called me to.  In today's video, John Bevere shared about a man who thought he was to become a minister.  He went to a bible school for two years after high school.  He was an intern pastor for the youth at a church when he was accused of something he didn't do. He was fired.  He then fell on his face before God and just cried out to Him as to what he was to do; he really thought God had called him to ministry.  Then he heard God speak to him - "I didn't call you to ministry; I called you to be a Navy Seal."  So he went to the recruiting office and wanted to sign up to be a Seal. The recruiter tried to discourage him as it is a very hard training. He signed up anyway. Then he knew he had to learn how to swim. Yeah, you read that right. He didn't know how to swim, and besides that, he had had numerous surgeries on his ears and could not handle water in them without terrific pain.  He taught himself how to swim.  Then he started diving down a few feet at a time, and was able to stand the pressure in his ears.  He had things come at him during the trainings; he tore ligaments in his leg when he stepped into a foxhole; he had a couple other things happen which I forget specifically.... but when this video training was made, this man was a Seal, had been a Seal for 19 years and was now an instructor. He knew that was the calling that God had for him.  

So what is my calling?  What is your calling?  Have you ever wondered what God created you for - what He has for you to do with your life?  It is never too late to do what God has called you to do. At 77, I have no idea even now what God has truly called me to do.  Is preaching and teaching, something that I'm passionate about, really my calling?  I guess by the time I finish this course, which will be slowly done, I will find out.  And if it isn't, I'm confident that I will know what I am to do.  Lord, lead me to what You want of me.

Once you get ahold of what God has called you to, He will enable you to succeed.  You will have difficulties once you start on that path for the devil does not want you to succeed.  He only wants you to fail and feel disappointed in yourself.  You were created by God for a purpose.  Our job is to find that purpose and cause it to grow in us.

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV):  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Doesn't that verse stir your heart and get you excited?  God created us in His image, that we can do all things through Him who gives us not only our calling, but our strength to do it!  Hallelujah!  Take some time to seek Him and ask 'what is it that You have called me to, Lord?'  And then we listen.  We may end up listening for a long time, for several days until we hear His voice telling us the way wherein we are to walk.  The point is, God first.... seek Him first, and all these things will be given to you.

I truly enjoyed my oldest son coming over to visit yesterday for a few hours.  I even hung out in the living room with him and hubby and just checked messages periodically.  Grateful I don't really have any 'bosses' right now and can do that.  I did have a couple meetings come through later - one at 3:50p - ugh. I did get it done, but those annoy me cause I get off and 4p and what if it was more challenging that it was?!  I was glad to shut the computer down.

Hubby wanted to take me to dinner last night and we went to JiMichaels.  I like their breakfasts more I think.  I got the fish and shrimp combo last night - and the shrimp was good, but the cod just didn't have any flavor.  I had two pieces and only ate one.  Maybe I wasn't that hungry and hubby insisted he take me to dinner?  Hubby got his liver and onions and loved it.  We also found out the prime rib is only Saturday and Sunday now.  Hubby was so disappointed for that was what he wanted.  Way too much meat for me.

I want to get some more reading in this morning while I have time in here so I'm going to stop typing and start reading again. Need to write in my journal as well so there is that.  Love to write about how God answers prayers.  Sometimes it is changes in myself; sometimes it is changes in others.  Changes in myself are the best for then I feel I'm letting God lead me. What about you?

Have an amazing day; do something that you 'need' to do, and then do something that you 'enjoy' doing. It will be a reward for doing what you need to do.

Blessings!

My day seems to be getting messed up....

 Hubby came in a few minutes ago and said that he wasn't going to his bible study this morning as he didn't feel well.  He said he got up, took a shower, and just didn't feel like driving; that he just felt nauseated and stomach upset.  Ok then.  I shot an email off to my son who had planned to come over this morning.... he is still more than welcome to come over... and he can still sit in here with me, if he wants. But wanted him to know that hubby would be home as well.  So that also kind of throws me off of things I get done while hubby is gone.  Oh well; at least I got my laundry done on Tuesday evening! 

I started reading a 'new' book last night.  It has already started off making me think and confessing.  Yep.  That too.  It is Mark Rutland's book Courage to be Healed: Finding hope to restore your soul.  Looks like I bought it from Thriftbooks at some time but haven't read it.  I'm finding it thought-provoking and bringing me to a time of reflection and confession.  Yeah, me too.  I haven't got past the first chapter yet but read the introduction and it really got me thinking.  What was that all about?  Holding offenses.  Ouch. Yeah, Ouch.  Holding offenses is the same as unforgiveness.   We can say we 'forgive' someone, but if we still hold an 'offense' against them, we haven't really forgiven them.  I've had to confess some offenses last night to God, and again this morning as I wrote in my journal, I again brought up offenses I needed to confess.  

So I have confessed my offense at someone to God.  Now what?  Most of them don't know I held and offense, and most of them 'don't care' that I did!  Some I never see any more and have no contact with. Some I have to deal with frequently, whether I want to or not.  So I have had to confess and ask forgiveness for holding an offense (even when they haven't asked for forgiveness and don't plan to) against someone who doesn't even care I have an offense against them.  So why do I have to confess it to God and ask forgiveness from Him?  Because I want nothing between me and my God.  I want nothing to keep me out of heaven when Jesus draws those who have died to him, and of those when He returns to draw others to the sky.  I want to be in that group!!  I don't want to be left here, crying my eyes out because I didn't make it into heaven because someone had offended me years ago and I hung on to it because they hurt my feelings or made me mad.  I have to forgive them, in order for God to forgive me for NOT forgiving them. Does that make sense?  If you are like me, if you want to follow Jesus... if He can forgive those who spoke against Him, if He can forgive those who nailed His body to the cross..... if He can forgive someone like me.... how can I not forgive others?  There is no measuring stick on who gets forgiven and who doesn't. It is all or.... nothing.  I may like being warm, but not hot.  I like being free, not held captive. How about you?

Are you holding on to any offenses?  I will hopefully get to read more in this book over the weekend. To my knowledge we don't have much planned.  The only thing I'm aware of tonight is hubby wants to take me out for a 'real dinner' - and we decided on JiMichaels.  Tomorrow I can't think of anything on the calendar... and Sunday is church of course.  

Did I tell you that our church, at the end of October, is going to 4 services?  Surprisingly this 4th service isn't on Saturday night - but on Sunday @ 5p.  Maybe that will be a time I can take Ms. Vicky.  I've offered to take her, but she has never said.  And I know she says she gets so lonely on Sunday evenings - what better way to be un-lonely than to go to church and be with God and worship Him?  Our church is still looking for a larger location up in this area - but currently nothing affordable is available.  I hope they don't go too far away - we're about 6-8 minutes away right now and I love its convenience.

I have a dental cleaning appointment at 8a this morning - ugh. I don't like those either.  I've already taken my retainers out so that I can drink my coffee so will leave them out until I get back.  I had them out last night to eat and daggone it - bit my lip twice!  These retainers fit so much better than the last ones did.  I don't mind the stretching, but I do mind when the plastic retainer digs into my gums!

Another good book that I nearly started to reread last night was PYTHON by Jentezen Franklin.  I'm sure I have written about it before when I read it the first and probably the second or third time.  What is it about?  You don't remember? LOL  It helps you identify people who literally suck the life out of you. Yeah, have some of those in my life as well.  As I was looking for a book to read off the bookshelf last night I thought of it and looked for it.  But then I found Mark Rutland's book and decided to read it.  Why did PYTHON come to mind?  I don't know... perhaps it is because at times I do feel life sucked out of me?  Hence the cause of offenses at times?   I don't know.  I just know I can not hold on to offenses any more... it's been called out and I know it.  Does that mean I can't get angry once in a while?  No, it doesn't - not even if it is the same slanderous acts people do.  Narcistic people just can't let things go and every time things die down, they have to bring up THEIR offenses once again and let everyone know how badly they were treated. Or think they were.  But I have to continue to forgive even when they put their slander in my face.  Even if it isn't about me. I can not allow offense to shadow me. Pray pray pray - right?  

I John 2:1 (ESV):  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Wow, does that scripture not fall in with my confession of offenses?  

Jesus Christ is our Advocate, our 'lawyer' when we are accused unjustly.  When we accept Him as Lord, He puts on us His righteousness, and our robes of righteousness are white.  We are covered by His blood, shed on the cross.  What is that saying - "sticks and stones may break my bones, but your words can never hurt me?"  That's not true, words DO hurt.  But it is what we do with those words.  Do we return words?  Do we fight? Do we slander others?  Those type of people just show who they are on the inside.  They hold offenses.  Do we?  Hate is an awful thing.  

I also read this morning that when we confess and remove our held offenses, we heap burning coals on their heads because it reflect to them who they have become and what they are.  So if you want to heap burning coals on someone's head, pray for them! LOL  Sorry - that's always something I have thought about - I am sincere in praying for others, but if they did something to me, I knew burning coals were heaped on their head.  And some are piled pretty high!  Or not.

So where did that saying come from?  Well, it IS in Proverbs 25:21-22 - and in reading my study bible, it says "probably refers to an ancient Egyptian custom whereby a person publicly demonstrated contrition for wrongdoing by carrying on his head a pan of burning coals to represent the burning pain of his same and guilt. The point of the illustration is that when we love our enemies, we become the burning pan of coals on their heads. Our love and good works toward our enemies are painful reminders to them of their evil deeds and (hopefully) shame them into waiting to correct their ways."

And with that, I'm off here and need to get things ready with work and dressed to head to the dentist. Oh joy.  I like cleanings about as much as I like him working on my teeth!  NOT!

Have an amazing day and remember to pray for others.  Lord knows we need it!

Blessings!