Things are running through my mind this morning of things I need to get done - many things I've mentioned on here many times in the past few weeks. Many. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. I need to figure out 1) do I want to go to the grocery at 7AM this morning to beat all the other crazies out there - or 2) put in an order (and forget some things) to pick up later in the day. I'm really opting for the #2 and I did start an order to be picked up - but my list is in the other room, so I stopped. I want to focus on what I want for the dinners/lunches; and then I tell myself, no one is coming over until AFTER Christmas, so actually, I can go get it on Friday morning and get for the three days. So get today; or get Friday. It doesn't really matter. Except I am pretty sure I will need to get out of this house at some point today. Oh wait - we do have church at 2PM for the Christmas Eve service. That is the one we plan to go to. I was able to visit Ms. Diane yesterday so hopefully can visit Ms. Vicky today after church. I really do need to.
I had a nice breakfast with Sue yesterday and we exchanged gifts. She gave me a couple very nice glass dishes that a friend of hers made. Beautiful designs on them. And Chocolate, of course. She also paid for the Christmas Ideas House, so that all is my Christmas gift. And I love it. I've already put candy in one dish and have it out on the table.
I did my errands yesterday, visited Ms. Diane, visited my daughter, and got a lot done. Today I'm trying to decide what is important enough for me to do today. I think I will put in for pickup my grocery list - and what I forget, I can get on Friday. Sounds like a plan to me! I am working on Friday (at this point) so pick up is the way to go.
I suppose I need to figure out what hubby and I are having on Christmas day for lunch. It seems odd planning something special for two people. So really, it won't be 'special', but I will cook something - but what? I have salmon in the freezer, perhaps I will cook that. Sounds like a plan, right?
I'm missing hearing from my son.... he hasn't written in his blog in over a week; hasn't responded to my text a week ago, and I know enough to not bug him. But if he reads this today, he will know that I'm thinking of him, praying for him, and I love him. Sometimes that's all I can do.
Matthew 13:44-46 (ESV): The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy goes and sells all he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Jim Elliot said, "He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
If Christ is our treasure, no one can steal him, no one can damage him, no one can take our satisfaction away.
If Christ is our treasure, we have a completely different perspective to earthly things; we can enjoy them, and we can use them, but they never own us. If God gives us earthly riches, we are thankful. If not, we are content. These things simply are not important to us.
I learned growing up what it was to WANT things, and to NEED things, and what the difference was. I did not have much. In elementary school, I had only two dresses, and I'd wear one every day for 3-4 days, then switch to the other. Back in my day, you didn't get ridiculed for wearing the same clothes, as many others had the same problems. But I remember those days, and until I went to work at 15 1/2 years old, I only had what I 'needed'. When I started working, Mother took my check each week to help with bills, but would sometimes buy me a suit to wear to school and church. I never owned a pair of jeans until I left home and was married. Imagine that. I wore what we called 'pedal pushers' - which are nowadays called capris. But I had all I needed. I had clothes to wear, and we had food to eat.
So here I am now, and I come across those verses today and I sit here and think about them. What is it that I need today? What is it that I want today? Honestly, I feel I have all I need, and all I want. Anything else is icing on the cake. Yes, there are things I 'want' to do... but circumstances being what they are, I don't want to do them now. I want to enjoy the things I want to do, if you know what I mean. Maybe it is just my imagination about not enjoying - or enjoying - but it is my imagination. And the fear that my joy will be pushed out of me, prevents me from stepping out and doing things. And that's all on me.
But what is it that is my joy? If Jesus is my total joy, I need to look at things differently. And in some things, I feel I do. I don't want things. I think of my little sister and her addiction to shopping. She never ceases to amaze me that she will spends hours going through Amazon, although she has no money to spend, and will order numerous things, and after she gets them, she ships back to Amazon. I'm really surprised that Amazon hasn't 'black-balled' her from ordering - she has done this for years. One latest thing is she bought a Christmas tree cake mold. She returned it with other things the other day. Yesterday as we talked, she was laughing... she had thought she would make a Christmas tree cake and ice it and put colorful sprinkles on it for Christmas.... only to realize the cake mold was one that she had returned. Now she has the 'things' needed for a cake, and no mold to use like she wanted. Yes, I return things as well, but certainly not the volume she returns! LOL One year she had so many, she was embarrassed, and she and her husband went to two-three locations to drop them off so that people didn't look at them funny.
It's Christmas Eve. Tomorrow is Christmas Day. And then - MY fun begins with my family the day after. And that's ok.
Which reminds me, I need to work on the message I'm supposed to do Sunday at the RV park! I've got a rough draft completed, but still have about two - three hours to work on it. Should get it started today on a final draft, I'm thinking. I'll get it done, Lord willing. It's all about Him anyway. I'm using Isaiah 9:6 as the scripture and talk about the Peace of God. :-) Lord knows that we all need His Peace.
And with that, I'm going to jump off here and go find my grocery list. Get that order put in and select my time to pick up.
Pause and think about the Peace that only God can give you. What is it that keeps your heart in turmoil? Give it to Jesus, and allow the Prince of Peace to provide what you need. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only One who can bring you what you need.
Blessings!
