I did start my packing yesterday. In fact, after I got off work at 4PM, I started putting my things in my bag. I went to the closet and pulled out my Jailbreak Getaway t-shirts. I bring them in here and start to take off hangers but then needed something in the other room so walked into the front room and it hit me. I looked at my watch. It was 4:20PM. I had to leave at 4:30PM for my training appointment!! I hurriedly changed and headed off to the gym for my core workout. Couldn't believe it had slipped my mind. So grateful I remembered before it was too late to get there.
Got home and fixed spaghetti for dinner and after eating, I started packing. My little bag is full of my clothes. Yes, I'm trying to 'cut down' on my suitcase size. I get made fun of because my suitcase is so big. But they take a half a dozen bags so it is the same, right? LOL This time I will have two-three smaller bags instead of one large one (plus one). :-) I just need to pack my makeup and essentials, my computer, and my Bible and journal. Perhaps a devotional. Still debating on that part; don't want to take more than I'll read. Actually, all I need is my Bible and prayer, right? R. T. Kendall, a great preach and author, was once asked in an interview what advice would he give to new preachers. Would it be which seminary to go to? Would it be how to preach? What advice would he give? It was really very simple. "Read your bible and pray. It doesn't matter what you learn in seminary. It's what the Bible says and praying." (paraphrased). I'm trying to decide carefully what I want to take with me.
As I skimmed my aol emails real quick this morning I saw a prayer request that had come through on Tuesday morning. If I recall, I was running 'late' in getting on the computer so skipped going through my emails. During the day I rarely look at them, choosing to just skim them in the mornings. But this one, which came through Tuesday morning, I needed to let hubby know. So I got up and went to tell him. He nearly broke down in tears. Chuck Akers, his dear friend, had a stroke Tuesday morning and all it said was he was unable to speak, and asked for prayer for him and his family. We've known Chuck for over 40 years. He and hubby have played golf together and studied together in Bible classes, met for breakfast or lunch (they met just a few weeks ago). I know hubby is scared and my leaving today for Jailbreak probably isn't a good time. He is going to feel alone. Really alone. He is so afraid of leaving me alone... and he is afraid of being alone without me.
I made a list last night of things I wanted to remember to take. LOL Looking at my list, I need my big suitcase and a dozen more! Not really. But it looks like a lot, but it really isn't. Not taking 'dress-up' clothes. Just one pair of jeans and my workout pants - I can wear them more than once. In fact, I usually do. :-) I do have a clean shirt for every day. Realized I need to order new Jailbreak Getaway t-shirts - these are getting old and faded.
I think I have figured out why I always look so fat and sloppy in photos. And that is one reason I am having such difficulty in painting this photo my brother sent to us. I look old, I look fat and slumped over. I wear baggy t-shirts. I've gotten size large t-shirts for years. I like them feeling loose on me. But in every photo taken of me with them on, I look huge. Am I being vain? Probably. I know I have a fat muffin belly. I'm working on it. I don't like tight fitting clothes, but I am going to try to find tops that fit better, and not hang so loose. Picture a size 5 (which I am not, but I was back in 1967!) and wearing a size 16. Yeah, frumpy. I don't like this picture and it kills me to paint it. So I haven't. It is just there. I want to find another photo and have it printed on canvas to paint. Will work on that soon. Not this morning.
We had a wonderful lunch with our new pastors yesterday. We met at a deli we enjoy and had great conversation. I was going to title today's blog 'I did it! I didn't monopolize the conversation!' LOL. I know I've mentioned hubby getting after me after we meet with people and I do a lot of talking. Well, I was very conscious of it and tried hard not to. Hubby told me our pastor's wife talks a lot as well so we both had our own conversations. It was a good lunch and we talked over an hour. I found it interesting that if I shared about a book (after they asked), he would direct the conversation back to what he or we were doing (i.e., our evening devotional and prayer). Or, since they were taking a six week sabbatical starting Monday, that we often take a few days and go to a hotel and 'retreat' to read and pray. They may have found out enough about us to want to run from us, who knows! LOL Not sure how old they are, I'm guessing in their mid-40's as both have grown children. I didn't ask and it doesn't matter. They are a fun and lively couple who enjoy life. They have a boat up near Page, I think they said. Love being on the water. That might be where I draw the line. Lakes and me really don't get along real well. I have to see the bottom of the water.
Psalm 37:4 (KJV): Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
That verse doesn't mean that if we pray and do good and ask God for things that He will give it to us, just because we asked. But if we are living for Jesus, and following His Word, and what we ask for is in line with what God wants to give us, He will answer our prayers. I truly believe God has answered many of my prayers just the way I asked Him. I also believe that He has NOT answered some of my prayers because I was asking amiss. What do I mean? I was asking for my benefit. I pray for someone to be healed because I don't want them to die. But perhaps God is allowing this person to die so that their life will be used to bring others to Him. Does that make sense? We all get old and die. I'm going to die at some point and that reality is more real at 75 than it was at 50. But for a young person ... it's harder to swallow if you don't understand the reason. Or can not even comprehend the why. It isn't for us to always know the answer. I often have questioned God on why He allowed my dad, who was a pastor, to die..... and then when mother remarried, it was to an abusive man. Why did God take my daddy away from us? I don't know the answer to that.
Why did my little brother's three children die in the fire back in 1986? That was hard to take as well. I don't have answers for that either, and on this side of heaven, I will never know. Losing his three children caused my brother to give up his own living. He quit taking care of himself; he had nothing to live for, he felt. I get that. I could not bear to lose any of my children or grand or great grand children. But I can't tell God what to do. He is Sovereign and Holy. I am not. He rules the world. I do not. He gives life, and He takes life. I do neither. Well, maybe babies. But you get my drift, right? God is above all things. Even if He takes all I have away. Even if He takes all I love away. Even if He takes my very life, I will always love Him and worship Him and glorify Him.
Why? Because He is the One in whom I can trust fully all that I know, have, and possess. He is Sovereign over all. I could lose everything, and I would still have everything I need in Him. Could you say that? Maybe you need to rethink where you have God in your life. Is He above all - or just part of your life?
Blessings!
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