Honestly, I was somewhat disappointed....

 My daughter and I went to The Habit Burger Grill for 'dinner' last night before heading over to the conference.  I really thought that she would want to go to a restaurant.  So she had a chicken club and I had a juicy burger.  And fries. Gotta have the fries.  I shared, but I ate the most.  On to the conference we went, got registered, and went inside to 'shop' at a boutique.  Disappointed there was only one this time.  And it was crowded.  Have I ever mentioned I really don't like crowds?  And women shopping in those crowds?  I glanced through the t-shirts, but didn't buy any.  I walked around and saw a few things, but nothing I needed nor wanted.  Then I saw it.  I had to get it.

First off, I will confess I probably have way too many of these as it is.  But this is different than what I have. Honestly, it is.  And it was cheaper than at the stores, in most cases.  What did I get?  A metal drink container.  With a little handle.  Why did I get it?  Cause I liked the words on the side of the container and I can take it to the gym with me, or on walks.  Cause it has a handle.  Oh - the words?

Lift Heavy.  Pray Hard.   (black letters on a white background)

Yeah - the 'Lift Heavy'. Pray Hard' words caught my eye and with a handle, yeah, I bought it.  And I will use it.  For awhile anyway. :-)  

The conference was 'ok'.... meaning that worship went way too long (an hour and fifteen minutes!) and it was hard to connect cause there was a tall person in front of me and she kept blocking the words on the screen.  Yes, I generally close my eyes while singing, but I didn't know these songs so needed the words. We probably should have sat closer than we did.  Then we sat through three (I think) speakers.... and it was different this time... these were more of sharing about their missions... one being Project Rescue, which is rescuing women and girls from brothels in other countries.  Then something they hadn't done before; they took an offering to support that.  The other 'missions' was something about 'kick out fear'.  More songs.  Someone was off on the right doing a large painting of a lion's head - very talented, and we were able to catch glimpses of that happening.  By the time they got to the third (and I think last) speaker, it was 9:15PM... I was tired from working all day, it was past my bedtime... and I whispered to my daughter that if she wanted to leave, I was ready. So we did.  I'm sure the last one was probably the best speaker, but (we) I didn't feel encouraged or motivated by anything I had heard as we have in the past.  I also told my daughter that I will go to one more, and if it is like this one, I probably wouldn't attend others.  Rash statement?  Perhaps.  In the past three-four I have attended, I have felt encouraged and motivated to make changes in my life.  This one did nothing of that. And that's all I have to say about it.

I didn't get up this morning until about 5:45AM.  Hubby got up a few minutes later and brought my coffee.  He was surprised I came out at 7AM and started fixing a second cup of coffee and grabbing a snack cracker.  He asked if I was finished (no).  I told him I have nothing planned and I was going to stay in my room longer.  Got my coffee, got my snack, and came back in here and shut the door.  I won't stay real long, but I do enjoy my solitude.

I ordered a Bible for my friend who I am covering for as she has surgery.  We got to talking about the Jeremiah Study Bible and how much I enjoy mine.  She has been watching some of his sermons and really likes him.  (I need to listen to more preaching than I do - it certainly couldn't hurt me, right?)  Our 30 minute meeting went over an hour as we talked about Jesus and Bibles and all.  Anyway, I showed her my NKJV Jeremiah Study Bible (we were on video) and how much I love it.  Wish I had bought these for my kids instead of the Jentezen Bible, as it doesn't have study notes as these do.  She shared she really likes the NIV so since her birthday is next month and I'm always trying to think of something to send her, I decided to just order it.  Got the thumb index too - but had to get black.  And that's ok.  Black is classy. She was going to order one while she was off, she said, but I jumped on Christian Book Distributors and ordered it for her birthday.  I'm not sharing here to get any pats on the back.  If I hear someone wants / needs a Bible, I will certainly put one in their hands.  One of these days I may order myself the Jeremiah NIV but I don't really need it. They are on sale now, which prompted me to get for her.  I learned about Jesus through the NIV as it was easy to read.  But I love my NKJV because of the flow of the words.  Maybe I'll get one to read through next year.  I didn't buy myself a new Bible this year.  Not that I need a new one. LOL

Do you remember the story of Zacchaeus in the Bible?  He was a short tax collector and climbed up the sycamore tree so that he could see Jesus coming down the road.  (Remember the song?  Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he!  He climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see! And as the Savior passed that way, He looked up in the tree - and He said, "Zacchaeus, you come down! For I'm going to house today! For I'm going to your house today!)  (sorry, had to sing the song) Anyway, in the bible it says...

Luke 19:10 (NKJV):  for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

What does that mean?  Jesus has come to find and to save those who do not follow Him; those who have turned away from Him; those who do not know Him.  

I am so grateful that He came looking for me many years ago.  40+ years ago I would have never dreamed I would still be so in love with Jesus still!  He rescued me from hell - and it is a real place, in spite of what some of you may believe.  I honestly have a great fear of hell.  I think I have shared before that my sister and I often say we hope Jesus returns 'on a good day' for us.... days we are not frustrated or angry with our husbands.  I tell you what, and this is the truth.  If I had not accepted Jesus as Lord of my life and chose to follow Him, I would not be who I am today, nor would I be where I am today.  I was a mess back then.

And Jesus picked me up, brushed off the filth, and cleaned me by His blood.  Eternally, He set my feet on solid ground and I know that I am His.  He has me right where He wants me, in spite of all my grumbling about circumstances in my life.  In spite of my attitudes.  Jesus knows me better than I know myself.  He knows all about me.  He knows that He is the only reason I am still here.  And I love that about Him.  I don't have to explain things to Him as to why I did such and so - He knows what happened.  He knew it was going to happen before it did.  And He knows that He will always be with me as I cry out to Him and seek His face.

Honestly, there is nothing like it.  When was the last time you had a conversation with Jesus?  Even though He knows everything about me, about my circumstances, about things that trouble me, He still wants me to share it all with Him.  

And He wants you to share with Him as well.  Would you just take a moment and share with the One who seeks you, and is ready to save you from whatever you are sinking in?  Rejoice in the Lord always, Paul says. 

So we rejoice in the One who sets us free.

Blessings!

Got some color - a little!

It was a good afternoon yesterday when we went to the cookout.  Lots of food, and then the swim.  I actually put my swimsuit on and got in the water!  The water was lukewarm and the wind when I came out froze me, but it was fun.  And, I got a little color.  Didn't stay out long enough to get burned.

Church yesterday was very good.  We didn't get to meet our group leaders - oops!  They messed up and were not scheduled for this Sunday to work the sound booth and they were not there.  They had come in at 7AM (we were told), and then left when they found it wasn't their week.  Don't know which service they went to, and as we went to the first service at 9AM, we left as soon as it was over.  I had things to finish up for the cookout.  The message was really good.  The title was something like:  "Hell, is that where you want to go?"  It was a powerful message on Revelations 20 and a few other versus.  Have you ever read the book  23 Hours in Hell?  I think I have it, or something close to it.  If you dare to read it, it certainly will cause you to think about where your soul will end up.  Where those you know who do not love Jesus and accept Him as Lord will be going.  And it will break your heart that they will be there.  Just as it will if you know that is where you will be.  You won't be sent to hell because you aren't perfect; you will choose to go there because you don't accept Jesus as Lord of your life.  We all still make mistakes; we still do stupid and sinful things.  I know I do.  But my goal is to be like Jesus, and to that end, I confess my sins daily and ask God to help me overcome those things that tie me to this world.  I want to walk WITH Jesus, not away from Him.  What about you?  Is Hell where YOU want to go?

I read in 2 Corinthians 8 today and it was a really good chapter on 'Grace Giving'.  It talks about tithing and giving to others.  The scripture itself didn't speak directly to me, but once I read the notes at the bottom of the page, it made much more sense.  I have given the Legacy Jentezen Franklin Bible to each of my children a couple years ago because of the messages he puts inside the books of the Bible.  Messages he has spoke before.  I thought that if they didn't go to church, perhaps they could at least read a message.  But I am loving my David Jeremiah Study Bible.  The notes below the chapters (which is not in the Legacy Bible and I am disappointed) make the scriptures much more clear.  I'd be willing to buy my children one of these, but I don't want to keep giving them Bibles that they don't want.  As I read through my own Bibles over the years, I have given some away to others who didn't have a Bible.  But lately I have thought that as I read through them, perhaps I could give one to each of my grandchildren as a reminder of me.  That I have read each page of God's Word and underlined the scriptures that meant something, or I wanted to remember.  That they would take and perhaps even read the Bible that I had read through.  Perhaps at the end of my lifetime I will have enough of the Bibles read through for each of them.  I pray they will receive them as a special gift of remembrance, and not as a 'why am I getting this?' thought.

Nothing much going on today other than I need to make deviled eggs and baked beans for the cookout tonight.  Will get to meet our new group leaders and the rest of the group since we didn't see them this morning - that we know of.  Maybe I can put this stack of books next to my chair (halfway up the bookcase side now!) on a bookcase somewhere.  I need to rearrange some things.  If only hubby doesn't start questioning what I want to do.  That always discourages me and I quit.  I need to just ignore him and do it.  I also want to get a walk in today - would prefer outside, and it is only 73 degrees right now, but by the time I get out of here and able to go walk, it will be a bit higher.  My big brother has sorta challenged me to start walking again, and I really want to.  I can do it on my treadmill and probably will do the majority of my walking on it, but I really want to walk outside where I can see the beauty of the green grass, and trees, and breathe fresh air.  Not far, mind you, but at least around a few blocks.  Don't want hubby to walk with me, I'm nervous, now that he's fallen and lost his balance.  I think he will stick with the treadmill for the doctor has scared him pretty bad that if he falls and hurts his head, with taking eliquis and a baby aspirin (vascular doctor's instruction on the baby aspirin, the pulmonologist on the eliquis) he could get a brain bleed.  He even asked we sit in the middle of the row at church yesterday so that he would have the chair back in front of us to hold on to when we stand.

Deuteronomy 4:39 (NKJV):  "Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other."

Hosea 10:12 (NKJV):  "Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground.  For it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you"

Going back to yesterday's message.... what are you doing about it?  Are you praying for your children and your children's children that they won't end up in hell?  I am.  Set the example to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.  Receive the inheritance of the Lord in heaven.

Blessings!