After hubby left for his Bible study yesterday, I did manage to take a break from work and clean off the top of the refrigerator and freezer and got it straightened up. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was, which is a good thing. I also, throughout the day, was able to get things done in here. The bed cleaned off and the Christmas bedspread folded and put away, the regular bedspread put on, empty boxes taken to the garage, things picked up. I still have things to do, but it looks better than it did. It doesn't feel as cluttered. Imagine that! Not to say it still isn't cluttered some, just not as bad.
I'm beginning to think I have a touch of adult ADHD. As I sit here and think about what to write about, I am reminded of all the things I have started and haven't yet completed. I'm doing pretty good book-wise. I do have a few books I'm working through, but once I get started on one when I have a chance to read, I do try to finish it. In fact, going through my list in Goodreads the other day, I found several I had finished that I showed as starting before. I marked them off as finished - but not necessarily this year - and unfortunately it did add to my total for this year. When I saw it had raised it to 6 and it should be only 2 or 3 actually read this year, I stopped marking them. My problem is I have so many books I DO want to read but my time fills up with other things and I don't have the time to read. Luckily I am a fairly fast reader, and if it is really interesting, I'm focused. If it isn't that interesting, it is easier to put it aside for 'another time'.... which may or may not come.
I had a box of books arrive from Christian Book Distributors yesterday and of course hubby had to stand there and watch me open it.... questioning what I purchased. When he commented on the number of books that I bought... probably about 8-10 that I wanted to read that sounded good.... I could see he was totally up the $$ signs. THEN I told him that each book was less than $5.... some only $1.49 that would have been just less than $20 had I purchased it otherwise. CBD was having a big sale - I think I spent about $20 for all the books. Not going to turn down sales like that. Some of them I may not get to for awhile, but what I read of them, they sounded like something I'd like to read.
Maybe if I ever get to retire I can set a REAL goal and see how many books I can read each WEEK. I remember growing up and having Grace Livingston Hills books - not the paperback little ones, but the hardback books. I think my mother had nearly all at that time. I could read one a day. Of course they are cute romance stories of that era and I loved each and every one. I read a lot of Phyllis Whitney too... she had another name as well, I know my son knows it, but I'm drawing a blank now. I've always loved to read and it has always been my escape from 'real life'. More so in my youth than now. Now I read to learn and to relax. Back then it was to escape. Ah- I think that name was Victoria Holt!
Now my knitting and crochet... well, I do have several different ones going on. It is what it is. And little by little I complete them and tell myself I am not going to start another one until I finish all I have. Well, that hasn't happened. I find another two or three that I started that I hadn't finished. I think I have 3 in this room alone! And I enjoy every bit of it.
I Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV): "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
Have you ever found yourself tempted to do something that you knew you shouldn't do, and yet, the desire was there to do it anyway? How did you handle it?
I know there are many times (more than I really care to admit!) that I am tempted to say things that I shouldn't.... and do (why should I let them have the last word?). Or I'm tempted to do, when I know I shouldn't (we can all fill in this one, can't we?!). How may times have you gone ahead and done those things - and then felt guilty for doing it?
Hello? Is it just me? Sometimes when people get snarky with me, I want to respond back just as snarky. But that isn't what I'm supposed to do. It isn't just in the words, it is in the tone of voice. Trust me, hubby is on me all the time that I say something to him that he doesn't like! And the funny part is - he is wrong! I'm not being sarcastic or snarky! It's just he is over-sensitive when HE is wrong and wants me to be wrong. Do you have those people in your life? I think we all do. And they aren't just family members. And they are just friends.
Colossians 3:12-14 (NKJV): Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection."
We are to keep our eyes on Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of our life. We are to live holy and blameless. It isn't easy, is it? People irritate us, annoy us. We want what we want. Someone offends us - or someone close to us - and we want to 'fight' for them (or us) and we push them aside. I know I have to deal with one. I'm not sure what to do and I'm praying about that one.
I belong to Jesus, therefore I am to love everyone. Regardless of what they have done. Hate the sin, love the sinner, right? Sometimes it is really hard, especially when they are not repentant or remorseful of what they did. You have those people in your life too, I'm sure. It wasn't done to me, so it should be easy, right? It isn't. Don't mess with my children, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren. You don't want this mama bear coming out. (see what I mean?)
But by the grace of God, He directs my path and He will take control of all situations. He's already got it, in fact. I can't change anything.... but He can. That's why it is easier to put it in His hands, and step back and take my hands off.
So glad I can do that. And you can too. At some point in your life you were dedicated to the Lord. You can't get away from that. It may not have been a 'baby dedication' type service, but a mother's and father's heart is always giving their babies to the Lord for His leading, His protection. And the prayers continue as they grow up. We still pray for His leading, His guidance, His direction in their lives. A parent never stops loving their child - no matter what - and in loving them, we ask God to watch over them.
My children may not (think they do) walk with the Lord... but He knows them because I bring each one before Him, just as I do my grandchildren and great grandchildren. Some day, my prayers for them will be answered. I have faith.
Pray for your children, your grandchildren, the generations that are yet to come. God isn't just God of now... He is our God of the past, and of the future. Begin now to pray for that perfect spouse for your child. Pray for success in all they do. Pray for their protection. Pray they find Jesus and live for Him. That is the best prayer, the best 'gift' you can give your child. Pray for them.
Take a moment. Now. Offer up a quick 'Watch over ............... today, Lord. Guide them in all their decisions. Help them as they make choices, that they are the right ones. Keep them under Your wings. Thank you, Jesus.".
Blessings!
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