It was a busy day...

 Work kept me busy yesterday and I was able to get meetings extended to 2026 for one of my bosses. Still have the other 4 to go.  I had lots of meetings to schedule besides that yesterday, and I was also able to get the powerpoint slide deck in he board folder for the next board meetings.  Monday morning we have a prep for the one on next Thursday morning at 6AM.  

And wouldn't you know it, Morgan scheduled me for 7AM on Thursday for HIIT - but I had to tell her I couldn't make it.  Have to take minutes for the 6AM board meeting and it lasts until 7:30AM.  She had hubby scheduled for 8:30AM so asked if we could switch.  I asked hubby, and he reluctantly said he would swap with me.  So I do go at 8:30AM next Thursday.  Still have 5PM on Monday.  Monday morning I also have my mammogram scheduled so it will be a busy day as well.  That is the last of my yearly testing this year.  Next year will have to add the body density test to check out my bones.  I have acute pain in my left hip at times - and it wakes me up - and I mentioned it to Dr. Mark - and he offered up some solutions... but I veto'd them for the time being.  It's infrequent; and it started with the bug bites last October - but he doesn't see the connection - and neither do I, but that is when this hip pain started.

I hear hubby hustling about to get ready for his Bible study this morning.  I'm glad he can get out and go meet up with the men.  I dread when he will be forced to give up his car and I will have to drive him - or he won't be able to go.  I know it is in the near future, but we wait.  On top of everything else, to take his keys away right now would be unbearable.  His driving drives me crazy, but it is not as bad as some I've been in a car with.

So glad it is Friday and this week is nearly over.  Next week will be busy as hubby has one for sure, but maybe two doctor appointments that I will need to go with him to.  It does help me hear from the doctor what is really going on, and not just a partial report.  But in all honesty, if feels weird to go with him. And I take a notebook with me to write down things the doctor says so that we can reflect on them later.  After my doctor appointment I did sit in my car for a few minutes and wrote down what I could remember Dr. Mark saying about me!  I'm getting older too, and we hear only what we want to hear, and retain only what we want to retain.  Do you find that in your life too?

Morgan really worked my core the other night - and I was awake most of last night (it seems from how my body feels) because every time I moved, I would move a muscle in my belly and it would awaken me.  I got to start watching what I eat - and get this fat off the belly.  But I do love my baking. And eating it. In fact, I need to clean the freezer out this weekend so that I can find a place to put the items I bake.  Christmas will be here before I know it - and I start giving things out about the middle of the month. I like for people to have their goodies before the holidays so that they can enjoy them.  With three of my bosses, I will take theirs to them the 2nd Thursday in December as that is when we will be having the department Christmas party.   I will meet up with my boss on December 23rd so that she will have them for her family as they gather for the holidays.  So if I give everything away before then, I still have time to pull her things together.  

Just saw an advertisement pop up for Candlelight Concerts - interesting. I had to go and check it out - and it looks like it is tonight, and the next two nights, somewhere here in town.  Looks like it is outside. Before hubby and I married, I used to go to concerts in the area where I worked.  They would have small round tables with linen cloths and glasses with candles in them (which I was able to snag several - they said for us to take them), and we would listen to a symphony orchestra play songs.  I really enjoyed those.  I hadn't thought about them in decades - and here I am thinking of them because I saw the candlelight concerts.  Hubby and I went to a couple symphonies when we first moved out here. I loved to dress up and go.  But being in the 'ritzy part of town' that was a bit of a ways for us to drive, we quit going after a few.   We did go see White Christmas - which wasn't a concert, but a play, not far from us last year.  That gets pricey, but it was fun.

Hebrews 10:30-31 (NIV):  For we know him who said, "it is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge His people." It is a dreadful thing to fall in to the hands of the living God.

In context, the scripture is stating that it is God's place to avenge our adversaries.  In many instances, WE want to avenge the wrong done to us.  For years I wanted to get even with hubby's ex-wife, who forced us to pay $1000 a month to her for child support - and when we got behind because of hubby quitting/losing his jobs - she would drag us back to court and push for him to be thrown in to jail for being behind in child support.  She was not a nice person.  It took me years to forgive her for what she took from us. Even when hubby's dad died, she filed a claim against the estate and until all monies were paid to her (although we were making payments through the court), she had to get it all in a lump sum before we could close the estate.  It was a very tough time for us. I forgave her, as hubby did, but it was a tough process for us.  And God did avenge the wrong done to us.  I'll leave that here - but years after we were able to stop paying, God avenged the wrong she did to us.  I truly believe He did.

I do not want to hold unforgiveness against anyone.  How Erika Kirk could forgive the murderer of her husband is all God.  And there is a lot of good coming from it.  I saw a post by Tim Allen this morning as well.  He said because of what Erika Kirk said about forgiveness, Tim Allen was finally able - after 60 years - to forgive the drunk driver who slammed into his father's car and killed his dad when he was 11 years old.  He said that he had harbored unforgiveness toward this drunk drives all these years.  He has now forgiven him. And it freed him for the first time in 60 years.

What anger or bitterness or unforgiveness are we holding on to that we need to let go of?  

I'm sitting her going through my mind, thinking of the abuse I went through during the growing up years - and I am thankful that God has helped me forgive them.  Although they never asked me for forgiveness, I choose to forgive them, for I will not live in a prison of my own making because of my unforgiveness of them.  "They know not what they do." is a true statement. People who abuse people, or hurt them, or take things from them, or withhold from them, have no idea what pain is endured inside of each one wronged.  But God knows, and He will avenge the wrong.  It's hard to be patient, for we want it to be immediate, in our presence, if possible.  But God doesn't work that way.  It isn't just that they will be thrown into hell because of what they did (if they don't seek God and ask forgiveness first), but God will avenge the wrong done to you.  It is hard to forgive people who hurt you.

And some of us may find it difficult to understand and forgive God for something He allowed to happen, or for not working in our timeframe.  But we don't see the 'big picture' - and God does.  In the future, we see nothing; but God sees all. I never would have dreamed that being rejected, I would find myself in a state other than Indiana, away from family and friends.  But God. He knew that it took getting me out here before I would run back to Him. And run I did.

And it is something I have never regretted.  Running to Jesus is the best thing  you can do.  Ask Him for forgiveness; He will give it.  Keep your eyes on Him, and run to Him.  He has His arms opened wide, waiting for you.  Forgiveness sets you free.  Free to live, and for some, for the very first time.

Blessings!

I had a dream early this morning...

 and I certainly can't figure out if it has any meaning.  I read last night (and made hubby leave the TV off) and the book I'm reading is really good.  It's called God's Unstoppable Breakthrough by Matt Storer.  I looked on Amazon this morning and it's on a special sale of $3.95!  Yes, I ordered a book to pass on to someone else at that price.  My sister had sent me this book.  This book is about God working in different ways, specifically in the healing realm.  I love to hear how God heals people and how He works through people to touch others.  It increases my desire to be close to Him and seek Him more intently.  But I am off topic.

This dream.  I could say it was weird.  I certainly can't figure out what it could possibly mean.  Except one thing.  I will explain that comment later.  After I tell you the dream.  Which is very short, really.  It's only one scene.  Ok- here we go.

I'm driving a large car, and I'm in an intersection, waiting to turn left.  It's like I'm suspended in time - nothing is moving, no other traffic is in my vision.  I'm just sitting there, in the middle of the intersection - no noise, no traffic, nothing.  Then this little old lady, as if she was homeless and pushing a cart, appeared on the corner to the left of me where I was turning, and started to walk across the street.  I sat and just watched her.  Suddenly, my daughter's voice came into focus "turn, mom!  Cars are behind you and they can't move - you are blocking traffic!"  I waited until the lady with the cart was out of the way and I tried to turn, but couldn't.  My legs and feet were non-existent - I couldn't find the pedals to make the car move.  As I struggled to move, I wake up.  And I realized I was asleep on my back.  Now mind you, I think I rarely sleep on my back.  Perhaps that is the reason for this wild dream.  I've given thought as if there is anything to this dream (a kickback thought from the movie the other night where Sam Miller received dreams of what was going to happen?)... and I draw a blank.  Of course it could be I needed to 'turn' back on to my side.... but it was 5:30AM - I can't remember the last time I slept until 5:30AM! - so I got up to come in here, write down my dream, and do my quiet time.  Weird dream, huh?

Today I have Needles of Hope and am looking forward to going.  We haven't met since before Christmas - and that was the first Saturday of December.  I haven't worked on the blanket I took the last time to work on - so guess I'll take it again to do today as we visit.  I've probably made several blankets and afghans since then, but didn't work on that one.  And that's ok.  I need to remember to take my blankets to turn in.  Or I may just wait until next month and add to it.  I have learned to love crocheting (always reminds me of my mama) and although I only know a couple stitches, that's ok.  When I have more time, I'll take the time to learn new stitches, but I don't need to get fancy right now.  I can let other people do that.  We do have some pretty blankets donated for the Choices Pregnancy Center.   I'm looking forward to visiting with other women with like interests - and getting out of the house for a few hours.  I might do some strolling on the way home... don't need to buy anything.... nothing we need.... but just get out and move.  And be around people, but alone.  Make sense?  Just get out of the house and have no agenda.

Today's devotional speaks to my heart this morning.  Listen to it speak to your heart.... if you let it.

Psalms 139:10-11 TPT   "Wherever I go, your hand will guide me, your strength will empower me.  It's impossible to disappear from you or to ask the darkness to hide me, for your presence is everywhere, bringing light into my night."

Just as an author puts pen to paper and creates worlds with their words, so have I created the world in which you live.  Your character is being shaped, and your story is unfolding just as it should be.  As you walk through this life, I am creating a pathway for you with each twist and turn in the plot.

I see the bigger picture of your life because I am not limited in my perspective.  Trust that I won't let the tensions of heartache and hardship be the end of your story.   Here in the trouble is where the most beautiful transformations take place.  I am already working it out for your benefit.  Let me show you the beautiful tapestry that I am weaving from the different threads of your life.  I will waste nothing.  Even what seems unbearable, I will turn to beauty in my hands.  You don't believe me?  Watch me do it.

You cannot convince me to leave you alone or to give up on you.   Instead, lean back into my love and give yourself over to the overwhelming joy I have for you.  Feast on my love and find life in the courage of your faith.

Doesn't that just speak to you this morning?  God hasn't turned His back on you - no matter what you have done, no matter where you are.  He sees the bigger picture of your life, and He still loves you as He waits for you to turn to Him.  You are a beautiful tapestry that is being made; perhaps you are looking at the backside of the tapesty and all the threads are going every which way and nothing seems to have any design to it - and yet, that is what we see... and our Heavenly Father, who is working from the topside, sees nothing but a beautiful tapestry design.

God isn't done with you.  No matter where you are or what you do or what you have done, He isn't finished.  

Thank You, Jesus, that You haven't ripped out the threads of our lives because our focus has been on ourselves, but instead, You are weaving the threads of life together to make all things beautiful.

Blessings!