My new watch sent me a message this morning and told me that since this is the first of September, a new month, I am being challenged to get up and move more. To make my body do things it wants to do, but doesn't (notice I didn't say doesn't want to do - I do like to exercise. I'm just lazy.). I've just got to 'get over myself and hubby watching me and asking me questions and offering his advice on what WE should do.... and make the determination to do this for me. Yeah, back to that, and that's all I'm going to say about it. If I find a friend to go with, I feel he will be offended because he has no one to go with and then he is the 'out' person. But when I do go with him to the gym, he watches me ... just in case some one talks to me (male). Sigh.
My new set-up in here is working well, except I still want to lay back in the recliner and close my eyes... which is the reason that I moved the chair against the wall - so that I will sit up and not fall back to sleep. Went to bed at my usual time last night, maybe even a little earlier. But I was awakened numerous times throughout the night with hubby tossing and turning. Oh well.
The weekend is almost here - and it's a 3 day weekend. Lots of people look forward to those, and I guess I am too. I get excited about ANY day that I can get off work. Daughter has invited us over for a cookout so we will probably head there sometime late morning on Monday. Sunday we have church, and since we ran into an 'old friend' last week - she called last night and wants us to have lunch together this week - so we will do that after church on Sunday. Hubby has plans for breakfast with another friend.... I'm not sure if I'm meeting someone or not.... we're getting our dates mixed up - either this Saturday or next Saturday. I think I'll tell her to leave it for the 10th and we'll have lunch. She started a new job this week and may just need to rest. But, will leave it up to her. Besides, if I don't meet her for lunch... I'll have some time by myself.... which isn't a bad thing....
Have you ever wondered what journey God has got you on? What is His plan for you, for your life? I've been thinking about that this morning. As I talked with God, my thoughts went to our current church situation and my confusion as to what is happening, what is going on. And it is probably just me and my imagination just running wild. You know my heart has been to attend a church where we can feel at home, where we can make new friends, where we can plug in and be a part of the church. A church that preaches the Bible and shows us and teaches us what it says. And we thought we had it in this church. Maybe I'm reading more in to it than what is there. We've invited the pastor and his wife out to dinner and we are waiting for their response as to when they will be available. We wanted to meet with them 1:1 and hear where they see this church going, what are their dreams, etc. We haven't been able to connect yet, and I'm hoping we can soon. In fact, I introduced myself to his wife a couple weeks ago, and last Sunday we both went up to the pastor, thinking they didn't know us and perhaps that was why we weren't connecting. No excuses now. They know who we are (maybe THAT is the reason?)
What I'm struggling with - and I have not discussed this with hubby cause he always takes my thoughts and makes them his own in things like this. We decided to make this 'sister/daughter' church our church. Love the messages, worship is good (usually too long, but still good). We joined a small group. Then the small group paused for a few weeks while the leaders took care of his dad who had surgery and needed help. Only that was in July. We still haven't gotten back together as a group. I'm still in contact with the leaders and text them occasionally to see how they all are doing; I'm friends with one of the attendees of the small group who lives around my youngest son's area, so not too far away, and we email or text occasionally. I don't know how to say this... but what is God doing here?
This is the second time we have attempted to get involved in a small group - and it falls apart. The first one at the church we thought we'd go to - didn't bother to respond. This one, we went to about 4-5 group meetings - and right now they are thinking of stepping back for a season while they deal with their dad's health issues and their own health issues. As they should. And I've given permission for them to do so. Oh - and there is one more thing.....
The 'mother' church wanted our church to join them in doing a different type of discipleship class - in the small groups...which I just shared that isn't going to be meeting for awhile. Because of mixed messages, I did go ahead and sign us up for the class, paid the fee, and we are to go to the 'mother' church on the 14th to hear about this new discipleship class. But I don't think anyone else in our group is going to do it. The one friend I mentioned above doesn't even go to our church; she attends another church altogether. Part of me wants to offer to have the small group in our home.... but this isn't the discipleship class I'd want to be leading... and you know hubby and I both will have difficulty in letting the other lead. We don't compliment each other in teaching together.... he has his way of doing it, and I have mine, and they don't agree. So we don't teach a class together. I think we will still go on the 14th to get our books (since I paid for them) and hear what the plan is for it, and then make a decision if the group doesn't meet. Are we to find another group? Is that what all this is about? But also.... as I was looking on the church website.... the class that was scheduled at our church for this class.... has been cancelled. Although it was mentioned one or two times a couple weeks ago during announcements, it has not been promoted to the church. It was originally shared in our small group - before it kind of stopped. So... is our church doing it or not? I'm not going to the mother church for classes.... it is further away, and I don't want to join another small group. UGH. What is God doing here?! But then, maybe it isn't for us... but the stepping back is for others in our group. Interesting thought. It isn't all about me/us!
Oh well. I need to quit letting my mind run all over the place and wait and see what comes of this. We have made some new friends in this church and we like it. And soon November will be here and we will be wrapped up in the RV park preaching. Which reminds me, I do need to get started on pulling those messages together. Reckon I should devote my mind to that type of thinking instead of wondering what in the world is going on.
Do you remember in I Samuel 9 when Saul was anointed king of Israel? Well, the actual anointing came in chapter 10, but something Samuel said to Saul at the end of chapter 9 has spoken to me.
I Samuel 9:27 (NKJV): As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us." And he went on. "But you stand here awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God."
But you stand here awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God. What does that statement mean to you? Samuel was getting ready to tell Saul that God had made him king of Israel. It wasn't God's choice to give Israel a king, but they wanted to be like all the other nations. So God gave them Saul. As we know, Saul ended up with the kingdom of Israel 'ripped' from him and given to David, a shepherd. But that was down the road. Was Saul receptive the the word of God given to him? How did it make him feel? Superior? Scared? Well, when they went through the formalities of calling all the tribes of Israel to come before Samuel and he chose the tribe of Benjamin, then went through the family lines until he chose Saul.... and Saul was hiding and couldn't be found. Talk about a 'great' leader! God told Samuel where Saul was hiding and he was brought out. Now Saul was very good looking and was from the shoulders up taller than anyone in Israel! But he was afraid. He had no confidence in what God was planning to do for him, and through him.
Do we get that way sometimes? We know that God wants to use us in certain areas and we run and hide so that no one pulls us into it. Right? Well, perhaps not always. But sometimes we know that God wants to use us in certain areas - whether we are Christ followers or not - we know when we are being pulled in a certain area and we know it isn't ourselves wanting it to happen.
Maybe we both need to 'stand here awhile, and listen to what the Lord has to say to us'. Grab your Bible and start reading... God will always reveal His plans to you. It may take awhile to understand them, but His plans are always good, and they are always right. Be patient. God isn't through with you yet.
Blessings!
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