It was a good day yesterday with my daughter and granddaughter and my toes and fingers look awesome with the polish on them. We three discussed doing this once a month - getting at least our fingernails done. Yeah, we could do it ourselves.... and I have been, but my nails were in really (and I mean really) bad shape. All my fingernails are about down to the quick as I keep chipping them against things. Today they look nice for church. Next week may be a different story. Found my bag of polish recently, and had some good memories of painting my oldest granddaughter's fingernails in the pink and silver sparkle many years ago. Yeah...I even still have those... they are probably dried up, but I still have them.
We have church this morning and I'm looking forward to some good praising and worshipping the LORD. We heard something from a friend - that was announced when we weren't there - our church is going to one service for the summer (if not permanently). We have wondered about it... is it because it is less expensive to have one service and save on air conditioning in the summer? Is it getting too difficult for our pastors to fill the pulpit for two services every week? We don't know. We heard it will be going to one service at 10AM. I know they did one service Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas and New Years. We weren't at any of those services as we were speaking elsewhere.
We have mixed emotions about going to one service. There aren't a lot of people in the first service; service is on a timeline as it needs to be completed before time for the second service. We are out by 10:30am or so and able to be the first ones in line for lunch (as a rule). By going to a 10AM only service, there will be no time constraints (the Holy Spirit can do whatever He wants to do and won't be stopped), and ... well... we are having mixed emotions because the 2nd service, which started at 11AM before, was a bit longer than what our 9AM service was. It will all work out. We still love our pastors and the people we have met there. Would like to get more involved, but it is in God's timing, not ours.
Our hallway alarm went off this morning. Hubby and I 'met' underneath it to stop the shrieking alarm. We took it down; I am going to believe that the battery has worn out. We will stop and pick up new ones today or tomorrow. Can't put that off, for one never knows when something could happen and we need to be awakened. We have only two I think (will have to walk around and look at the ceilings to check) but however many it is, will need to pick up and replace. But, maybe it is a better idea to just replace this one - have them 'go out' at alternate times. Yeah, that might be a better idea. I could probably order on Amazon this afternoon and have here tomorrow.
My sister sent me a disturbing note last night.... she asked me to look up 'gaslighting' on google. She said this is what she has been living with for 30 years and she can't take it any more. She wants to come out here - and of course I extended the invitation. Perhaps if she could get away for a few days she will be able to sort things out in her mind on what she needs to do. Yes, I don't think she should be verbally or mentally abused like she has been; no one deserves that. But I can't tell her what to do and she needs to determine what is important to her. Our values are not always the same - and material things mean nothing to me... I certainly can't take them with me when I die. If my children want them, they can have them. First and foremost, it is important to live in peace.
As you know, I've had my moments, and I will take 50% of the responsibility of it being my problem. But I think we are at a place now that it is no where near as bad as it has been at times. (watch the devil stir up stuff now) We both know that God must be the Center of our lives, of our home. Yeah, we both fall and say the things - with attitude - that we shouldn't say. I'm sure that shocks you that I do that. But I'm human too, and no matter how perfect IN Christ I want to be, I fall.
For example, I will confess I made a snarky comment the other day... only because as I write this it came back to my mind. Hubby got a small package the other day. He thought it was mine and made his own snarky comment about 'another package' arriving (I've had several books come in lately from Thriftbooks). Only this package wasn't for me. It had his name on it. So I handed it back to him with my own snarky comment of "what did you spend my hard-earned money on now?" OOPS. It just came rolling out. There was no stopping it. See, I think that's why he always insists on getting the packages and mail - he orders things and doesn't want me to know about it. His response? "I put money in the bank too and I can buy things with it!" And he does have that right. I just had to get that snarky comment in - especially when he comments on when I get a package. My things are paid for by me, never him. I don't deserve his comments either.
Enough of my rambling, right? Day 15 of our fasting. It has gotten easier for hubby and I since we added chicken and fish. But I have noticed that we both have been snacking on things other than fruits and vegetables (for him, salsa and chips). I think we need to chat about that and make a point to cut out the snacking this week. We've gotten lax, and I want to get back to focused fasting. What he does is between him and God, but I am going to bring it to his attention today that we need to cut it out.
Today will be somewhat busy.... church this morning, then I told Ms. Amy I would drive over and visit her. I need to get her Lexus out of her garage and drive it over there. Then tonight I want to go to another church and hear someone speak at a conference. Not sure if hubby is going to go - but I really don't see him letting me go alone. I'm skipping the Bible study to go... which is another thought process I'm going through. More on that another time.
Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV); "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
Jesus commands his followers to pray using three imperatives: Ask, Seek, and knock. All three words are in the present tense, indicating a continuous action: Keep on asking, seeking, and knocking. All three commands are also accompanied by a response from God: His people receive; find, and have the door opened to them. God answers prayer.
Sometimes the answers come like we want. But many times they don't. Why is that? Because God sees the big picture and we do not. Even if our hearts are devoted to Him and we follow Him perfectly, we do not always get what we ask for. Why is that? Because God is a loving Father and He knows what is best for us.
As much as I have grumbled over time about my marriage and about hubby.... I believe that God was in it. Why? Because our struggles in marriage led me to Jesus. I truly believe that if we had not married and moved away, I would not be the person I am today. I would not know Jesus Christ as Lord of my life. It took our struggles for me to run to Jesus and seek Him, ask Him for forgiveness, and He opened the door to a whole new future. He can do that for you as well. I received Him, because I sought after Him, I have asked Him for things, and He always provides, and there are times I have pounded on the door of Heaven for things, and He responds. Our God is a good, good, Father.
I can remember being at a youth function (the one I was allowed to go to) at a hotel around the age of 14 and crying in my room - and I have no idea what brought that up - but I was crying because God had allowed my daddy to die when I was 7 years old. I didn't understand then; I do not understand now. Why would God take my daddy who would love and protect me, and allow my mother to marry a man who would abuse me? I remember crying and asking God in that hotel room. I don't know why God takes away people who are good and who love and protect us. My daddy was a preacher man... a worshipper of God... WHY? I have no answers. But I know that God loves me and cares for me. I have learned over the years that my dependence is on God alone.
Our God is a good, good Father. He is the only One who loves you beyond measure. Sit back and think about your life - your hardships; your pain, your loss.... and see God's hand in your life. Did he not give you someone to stand beside you? Walk through life with you? Even if you have no one to walk with you physically, God is walking with you spiritually, so you are never alone. Trust Him. One step at a time. One day at a time. Choose Him.
He truly is all you need.
Blessings!
