Reminded again of God's love for us.

 Romans 8:31 (NKJV)  "What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Have you ever thought about how much God really does love you?  Granted, sometimes we go through things in life (some by our own responses, some by others) that make us wonder if that could possible be true.  I have never doubted God's love for me, even when I wasn't following Him.  Even when I decide to do things my own way, I know that I know that I know - that God loves me.  And not only THAT, I know that God is always FOR me, just as He is for you.

How do I know this?  It's just one of those things that you become confident in as you learn into Him to know Him.  It's one of those things you learn about Him as you read His Word that tells you all about His love for you.  You DID know that the Bible is really God's love letter to this hurting world, didn't you?  He is truly a good, good Father.  You can completely trust Him, no matter what you are going through.

Right now my biggest thing is this complication, or whatever it is, from breathing those fumes last  weekend from the cleaning products.  I am still having reactions, and it's been a week today that we left.  Or perhaps it caused other things to come to light.  I'm wondering if I have developed esophagus issues, sinus issues, or even gallbladder issues ... don't know how all that can be related, but my continued coughing, blowing my nose has made my esophagus irritated, as well as my sinus area.  But the worst part is that I still will have episodes of throwing up unexpectedly (last night, sitting there watching a movie - took a sip of tonic water and voila - all over me) or being awakened in the middle of the night with raw bile in my mouth and throat to where it burns.  Probably too much information to share on here.  I'm wondering if it is my gallbladder acting up again after 12 years of first rearing it's head.  I have prayed that God will get me through this next week as I leave for Jailbreak on Tuesday.  In fact, on Monday, I plan to call my doctor's office and get an appointment set up for the followihg week.  I can always cancel if everything goes well this week, but I feel like I need to share with him what has happened since that weekend.  This stuff isn't normal.

I hear hubby still coughing as well, so am going to suggest he try to get in to his doctor and share with him a weekend of breathing these fumes (we did frequently open the balcony door and air it out, even went outside to breathe... ) and Saturday neither of us smelled any fumes - but we could have been used to it by then.  I was too sick - and sleeping all day Saturday to even notice.  It's just really weird how this is still affecting us.

I sat at the table and finished working on my week one Bible study yesterday.  I felt really good after getting into it and completing the tasks.  There were 18 questions I needed to work on for day 5 and they were questions I wanted to be honest with myself about.  I didn't want to just respond 'yes' or 'no' with the thought of 'yeah, I know that is what I should be' or 'I used to be that way'.  I wanted to look at the question from 'today'.  Where am I 'today' with that question.  Some of them were hard to write the responses to.    How would you respond to this question?

* Am I more concerned with what God thinks about my life than what ohers think? (Matthew 10:28: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell.")

or even one of these....

* The prophet Hosea was sent to the nation of Israel.  They had turned away from God and replaced Him with other things.  What are some ways that Christians today replace God with other things?

* Is there someone you know or have heard about who has unselfishly loved another person, even though that person was not worthy of it?  How does this real-life example help you understand God's love for His wayward children?

Perhaps something to kindle your thoughts this morning and turn them towards our God who loves you so much.

Today is planned to be a quiet day.  With unexpectedly having my 'issue' last night, I asked hubby that I stay home (as he will) from church.  I definitely don't want to start coughing and something like that happen and I have no control over it.  Give it another week and let's see how my body is.  He agreed.  Depending on what hubby wants to watch, I just might watch one of the DVDs my daughter bought for me at an estate sale yesterday and dropped off.  The box of DVD's contain 50 old musicals from as far back as 1936 (black and white, I'm sure!) with Fred Astair, Frank Sinatra, and many others.  It would be fun to watch them.  Haven't watched any old movies in years.... watching the old musicals will be very entertaining to me.  Several months ago I bought a travel DVD player - which I've never used - so now I have an opportunity to watch.  I can plug in my headset, and hubby can watch his shows on TV with his headset (best purchase I have ever made) and we can still be in the same room.  Win-Win - right?

And yeah, I did end up cooking breakfast yesterday - but we didn't go out later.  We both forgot about lunch, having a snack midday, but I picked up fried chicken at Frys (which was disappointing as the skin was too salty) and added mashed potatoes and corn to it for dinner.  Guess what is for lunch today.  I may just fix us a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast this morning.  Filling and good.

So what are your plans for today?  Take some time to think about the goodness of God in your life, even if you don't acknowledge Him.  Everyone healthy?  Thank God.  Working?  God is good.  No need for anything?  God is faithful.  You woke up this morning?  Ahhhh.... see how good God is?  No matter what you do today; no matter what goes on today; no matter where you are in life..... just pause, and turn your thoughts to the One who will always be on your side.  And say "Thanks, Lord".   Grateful.

Blessings!

All is good.... I think....

 Well, my doctor appointment went well, I think, and I even got my flu shot.  I hate shots.  But, again, it is mandatory to have a flu shot every year to continue working.  At least it's done for another year.  The visit itself went fairly well.  I knew in advance I would have to give up some of my stubbornness and pride in not taking additional medication.  And I'm right... got a pill to take weekly, and a very low dose of a cholesterol med.  I do have to go back in 30 days for more labs for him to check the cholesterol, and then I have an appointment (already!) in December for him to review the blood tests with me and adjust medication.  Before the evening was over I received a text from Pharmacy that my meds were ready for pick up.  I will need to drive over today and pick them up.  Even with having to take these meds, I like my doctor in that he agrees with me that overall I am healthy.  Some things you just inherit, such as the tendency to high high cholesterol.  My blood pressure was a little higher than last time but he said it wasn't enough to worry about.  It goes back down when I'm not stressed anyway.   So now I can quit talking about my health; those that need to know how I'm doing, know.  Oh - and I am to walk 30 minutes a day for exercise.  Yeah, right.  I feel better when I do.  Think I will see about re-arranging the back room to bring my treadmill inside.  It's still too hot in the garage - it's not 'outside', but at least I can walk.

Volunteered to take my niece for the weekend to give my daughter and granddaughter a break.  Sure wish the younger son would get his home straightened out.  It isn't fair - nor healthy - to my granddaughter to be shuffled off to others so he can have peace with his wife.  Since the granddaughter will be working this weekend as well, she won't be here much, but we will need to transport her back and forth - and that's ok.  Even hubby was willing to help with her.  She is always good when she is with us.  I had to laugh, though.  When I asked her if she would like to come stay with us for the weekend, she says, "Yeah, I like watching movies with you."  Obviously we don't do much else, although the last time she stayed we played a game and made cookies.  And of course I won't watch movies with a lot of language nor with a lot of fighting in them.  Which is why I love 'Up Faith & Family' movies.  Especially their 'romance' ones.  They are just clean, fun, and entertaining movies.  But I think we have about watched all of them now that are listed.  Hubby commented last night that I have ruined him.  He watched a romance movie while I was gone.  

If you choose to think about it, a romance movie is a lot like our God.  He loves us so much that He would do anything for us - even letting us have our own way and doing things we shouldn't be doing.  He gives us freedom of choice - and will rarely interfere in our choices.  I'm sure He does try to steer us in the right direction always, but sometimes we get pretty stubborn and want to do it our way.  Think about your own life - isn't most everything you do your own choice?

In romance movies people will do special things for each other because they love each other.  That's what God does for us.  He brings special people in our lives.  He brings about special things that will benefit us.  He blesses us in so many ways.  But what do we do with those blessings?  Do we become scrooges and hang on to them and not share?  Or do we give to others as God has freely given to us?  Do we treat others with the same kindness that we like to receive?  God is so good to us.... and He gives us so many things... He helps us in the rough places of our lives.  What do we do for Him?  Do we even remember to thank Him for removing us from bad situations?  Do we thank Him when He brings us good things?  Do we ever pause to just thank Him for loving us, for loving our family so much that He watches over us; that His angels will stand with us and guard us?

Can you think of a situation you have been in that it should not have ended up the way it did?  That everything bad that could happen, didn't?  I know in my own personal life I have been rescued many, many times from situations that by my own choices could have been costly financially or by losing friends.  Sometimes pride will take over and I have to fight 'my rights' against what 'is right in God's eyes'.  Sometimes He puts things in our way to get us to 'step away'.  How the circumstances will turn out, depends on how we respond to those things that create havoc or pain in our lives.

One week from today and we will be finishing up our packing to head back to the midwest.  I'm tired already.  I believe it will be a good trip, and I'm glad we are going, even for an extended time.  I don't know when - or if - we will get back there again.  This may be the last time we see some of our relatives.  Or it may be the last time they see one of us.  I truly hope we all get along and things go well and we can make good memories.  I miss my siblings, but I'm really just as glad we live apart.  Why do I say that?  Because I think if we lived closer, we wouldn't see each other any more than we do now.  At least now we have an excuse.  It would be nice if my little sister and I lived closer, but then, I'm still working and she isn't so we still would have difficulty seeing each other.

Thinking about that ... my one boss who is still back east on vacation... and I text'd some yesterday as she was working for the day.  She made the comment that she was ready to retire; she was enjoying having no schedule (she just took that last 10 days totally off work) and relaxing and doing things, visiting friends back east.  But, she also admitted that even though they could afford for her retire, she did like the income she makes and it allows her to do extended vacations like this.  I get it.  Only if I retired, my home would probably become my prison in a sense.  So with her comment yesterday, I went online and looked within my company to see what jobs were in my current area.  I found one that I think will be less stressful and only about 15 minutes away.  It is very tempting to apply for it, since my stress level for where I am now is exceeding way beyond all I could imagine with the latest new boss.  But I've only had her for a week so I need to give her a chance and understand how she likes things done.  Currently it frustrates me a lot.  My favorite boss and I will meet up when she returns - and I return - from vacation.  I just may have this discussion with her.  If she retires, I will definitely consider finding a job out here.  Working from home and taken the joy of working away.  If I find something here, and have to work in an office, I will be getting out and making new friends, and living life again, in a sense.  Yes, I enjoy the fact I don't have to drive 20-50+ miles away for work.  But I feel I have withdrawn so much from socialization, and I miss that.

So what are you feeling - and doing - about this tough year?  Still working from home?  How is that working for you?  Are you ok with it still?  Do you need to get out and socialize with people more?  Perhaps you are able to.  I hope so.  I miss that, although we do see people at church.  But I miss being able to sit down and have a real conversation.

Where do you think your life is heading?  Is it in the right direction?  Why don't you ask God if what you are doing - is where He wants you?  It's something I'm checking in with Him on.

Have a great day!