I think I need more books.

 Yes, you read that right.  I think I need more books to read.  There, I added the last two words.  I know I have several books on my kindle - and on the book shelves - that I haven't read yet... and still, I think I need more books.  Could this be a prelude to perhaps going to Savers or Goodwill today for 'something to do' and look at their book section?  But sometime this weekend, I think I need to rearrange some of the bookshelves in hubby's 'office'.  I need to pack up or get rid of more VCR tapes and DVDs ad CDs and cassettes, I think.  Either donate or put away.  I need more book space on the the book cases.  Yeah, I'm sitting here looking at a 3 ft (seriously!) high stack of books at my left that I have either read or decided not to read or used for a reference at one time or another.  I need to get these off the floor and straighten up my little area here.  Gee!  A project for today that perhaps I can actually accomplish - and enjoy doing it!  Then I can make room for MORE books, right?  I wonder if they make bookcases that are also nightstands.  Wouldn't that be cool?  Then I could incorporate more books.  Just thinking aloud. :-)  But it is something to do today, right?

I started reading I Corinthians in my Bible this morning.  I love the new Bible I bought that has a summary of the book in front of it.  It gives the background and what was going on at the time the book was written, and it was written by Paul.  The 'household of Chloe' had reported some things going on that were not Christ-like in the church.  One of the phrases in the summary of the book made me stop and think.  It was this:  

"In the world of the first century, if you talked about 'living like a Corinthian,' most everyone knew exactly what you meant. It was code language for indulging in a wild and unrestrained life."

What did that mean and what did it refer to?  Corinthians were a wild and unrestrained people.  Christians were taught that they are saved by grace and righteous in Christ.  But the problem was, the Corinthians - some of them - would continue with the lifestyle of being wild and unrestrained - after they believed and accepted Jesus Christ.... and declared they could do whatever they wanted to - because they were covered by grace.

And we ARE covered by grace, but that does not give us permission to continue to sin.  We are made righteous through Jesus Christ.  When we follow Him, we make the choice to give up the sins we did before.  He has forgiven us, when we confess them to Him and ask for forgiveness, but that does not give us permission to continue doing them.  

It's like one of our children disobeying us - then apologizing for disobeying us - and go right back to doing it again.  Why?  Because they confessed it and we forgave them for doing it.  That's not how it works - as we all know.

Jesus died for each one of us, whether we accept Him and His grace or not.  It is each one's choice to do whatever they want to do.  But when we do accept Jesus as Lord, and choose to live a life worthy of Him and His grace and love and righteousness, there is a peace that passeth all understanding that flows over you.  You can deal with anything, if you have Jesus.

Speaking of books... I got an odd 'gift' from my little sister yesterday via Amazon.  In one box was a book with the gift note it was for me.  It's titled something like 'Mothers and Daughters from the Bible Speak'... I haven't heard of it, and when I asked her about it, she said she gave to her daughter-in-law for Mother's day... and since she didn't have any daughters (only two boys) that she sent it to me because I have a daughter.  Never heard of this book; haven't looked at it yet... maybe I'll sit down with it soon and see what its about.  I'm sure it is good, but she hadn't read it either so why did she send to me?  And the other book she sent me... figure this one out.

The gift note included in the box with the other book states to the effect, I lost my address book and can't find it and need addresses again.  Puzzled, I looked at a nice address book.  I asked her about it - and come to find out what she was asking me to do... was for ME to put in all the addresses of our family members so that she would have them, and send the book back to her.  So I put in our siblings addresses, and my children's addresses.  Do you not think that is an odd request?  I didn't put in my grandchildren's information, nor the children of our siblings (except for her two)... it isn't my place to give them to her.  It just seems like an odd, out of the ordinary, request.  It reminds me of one boss who will send me a document and say 'please format and align the paragraphs'.  It is something simple that they can do.  Filling in an address book, to me that is a personal thing.  Oh well.  I'll get it forwarded on to her in the next week or so.

Although I'm expecting hubby to ask if he can take me out to breakfast, I think I'm going to cook bacon and eggs this morning... and maybe pancakes on the side.   He actually laughed at me yesterday.  I fixed myself - instead of a shake like I normally do - a waffle/egg sandwich.  Yep, heated up a couple small waffles in the toaster, cooked a couple eggs on the griddle, and made a sandwich out of it.  Filled me up for the day.  An egg sandwich is always good.  With miracle whip on the toasted bread..yeah, it has just the right flavor.

2 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV):  "But as it is written:  "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard," nor have entered in the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

Do you ever think of all the things God has prepared for you... and is waiting for you to receive?  Something to think about.  We have a good, good, Father.  One who loves you, and me, with an unbounding love.  Always forgiving, always loving... He is Lord of all.

Blessings!