Relaxing morning somewhat..

 Hubby has gone off to the men's breakfast at church this morning and I am alone for a couple hours.  I know, it is way past time I usually write in here, but for one, I slept until nearly 5:30AM today! And for another, I am just relaxing in my quiet morning.  I checked with my youngest yesterday and we changed from breakfast today to lunch on Monday, so I have no rushing to do this morning.

I took a break yesterday and got my car washed, for it really needed it.  It looks much better without all the dirt spotted on it.  Haven't replaced the windshield yet from the rock hitting it a few weeks ago, but it hasn't spread so am not doing anything.  I'm always wondering if I get it replaced, how soon before another rock hits it and does even more damage.... like I can stop it.  It's been a bit over a month and the crack hasn't grown - yet.  Time will tell.

A close friend's sister passed this last week and we plan to go to the funeral today.  I struggle with going to funerals and avoid them if I can, but I told hubby we really should attend this one.  I have my morning to do whatever, and then the funeral early afternoon, I think 2PM.  

We met up with our trainer last night - he wasn't feeling well, he said, so only drank a soda while we filled up on hamburgers and french fries from The Habit Burger Grill.  It was good to have him to ourselves where we could just laugh and talk for an hour.  We came home and then watched two movies.  Hubby assured me as he started the second one..."I'll stay awake"... LOL... but of course he didn't.  But to him, he says it was 'boring', whereas I enjoyed it as much as the first movie.

Romans 3:21-26 (TPT):  But now, independently of the law, the righteousness of God is tangible and brought to light through Jesus, the Anointed One. This is the righteousness that the scriptures prophesied would come. It is God's righteousness made visible through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And now all who believe in Him receive that gift. For there is really no difference between us, for we all have sinned and are in need of the glory of God. Yet through His powerful declaration of acquittal, God freely gives away His righteousness. His gift of love and favor now cascades over us, all because Jesus, the Anointed One, has liberated us from the guilt, punishment, and power of sin! Jesus' God-given destiny was to be the sacrifice to take away sins, and now He is our mercy seat because of His death on the cross. We come to Him for mercy, for God has made a provision for us to be forgiven by faith in the sacred blood of Jesus. This is the perfect demonstration of God's justice, because until now, He had been so patient - holding back His justice out of His tolerance for us. So He covered over the sins of those who lived prior to Jesus' sacrifice.

Pause for a moment.  Think about the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Jesus' blood covers all our sins, and we are made righteous in God's sight.  We can't just come to God and say "sorry".... but we must come with a repentant heart.  I will use myself and the current past situation as an example.  I am covered by Christ's blood, shed for me, and with His righteousness.  How do I know that?  Because I said some things and reacted to some things in a way I probably should not have.  But I went to God with a repentant heart and asked for His forgiveness, and He forgave me.  If I had just said "Sorry, God, I was angry" without being truly sorry I did it, I would not have felt His forgiveness.  He says in His Word....

Ephesians 4:26 (NKJV): "Be angry, and do not sin.: do not let the sun go down on your wrath."

When we get angry and say things that shouldn't be said, we need to repent and ask forgiveness for saying what you did.  Does that make sense?  So, yeah, regardless of whether it was 'justified' or not, regardless of whether it was meant or not.... when we get angry and say things that shouldn't be said, we need to ask for forgiveness.  I had to sit before God and talk to Him about the situation and ask Him to forgive my words.  I didn't say anything to the person I was furious with, but I did mouth some words that I shouldn't have.  The imagined words the person came up with did not come from me; so I am innocent of her dragging my name through the mud - and God's name because I serve Him - and she will be dealt with by God for that.  End of that saga.

Bottom line - watch your mouth when you are angry and do not allow words to come out that you may regret saying a week (or sooner) later.  I have no regrets.  And what I did say, mainly to God, have been forgiven.  Grateful.

My coffee cup is empty and since hubby is still gone, I reckon I need to make myself a second cup of coffee, if I so choose.  Not sure yet if I want a second cup, but do need to get off here and finish up my reading.  It's nice having a morning that I can just quietly sit before God and read and talk with Him and just be quiet, and allow His Peace that passes all understanding, flow over me.  He is a good, good, Father.

Blessings!

Well, that didn't happen...

 What?  I really meant to exercise yesterday.  I had told hubby that when I got off work I was going to start going to the rec center without him and do some exercises.  I didn't go. I was tired.  Not sure what I was going to do since I was staying home last night and hubby was still going to his study with his friends, I sat down on the couch and after he left.... I dozed for about 1/2 hour.  I don't normally do that, and even though I had a restful weekend, a day of work wore me out mentally.  When I woke up I decided to pick up the mail.  In the mail was a couple things I had obviously ordered.  One will be part of Christmas.... but the other was a book by Mario Murillo.  

Mario Murillo.  He is a man on fire for God, for sure!  I've watched bits and pieces of some of his services on Flashpoint with Gene Bailey.  Lance Wallnau has also had him on his show.  Mario also wrote Vessels of Fire and Glory that is an amazing book and I'm thinking of rereading it.  But this little pamphlet I started on last night - I couldn't put it down and ended up reading the entire book last night before going to bed.  Yep.  Now he isn't a write of 'feel good' stories.  He spoke up and called sin what it is - sin!  He called out the Bidens, the Clintons, the Obamas and even called out Democrats and others that are against the Word of God.  He called out those who are teaching our grandchildren and our great grandchildren about transgenders, about marriage, about sexual activities and other sinful things IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!!  It grieves my heart that my grandchildren may have been under that teaching and that my great-grandchildren may be in line to hear it as they start school.  We as parents and grandparents must seek out what they are teaching our families and protest those things that are sins against the Lord.  There are people who want to rewrite our history as we have seen with the statues being torn down.  What they don't realize, they are not destroying only the nation's history of things that happened that we can learn from, but they are destroying who they are and what their lives were developed from!  

Ok, I'm done.  I forget the name of the book.  Laid on the table for hubby to read.  He will really get riled up, I'm sure, as he is much more political than I am.  If you want to read it - check in - it may be available.  It's a quick read, but it is very imformative.  Much I had heard...but to hear it from someone who is a man of God and calling out pastors who have wetted down the Word of God to make his church comfortable instead of stepping on their toes... this book is dynamic.  Seriously, for your own information on what is going on, you need to read this book.  I know we have pastors like Joel Olsteen who has been quoted as not believing in hell and refuses to talk about it.  I know we have pastors who do not believe the Bible.  And I've heard of others that are/were highly respected who have turned their backs on the Bible as being 'old' and they have blended themselves into the world and are no longer serving the faithful God who has always guided them.    May I never be like one of them.

I believe the Bible is the breathed Word of God and it is to be obeyed.  Growing up I took the Bible for granted, never saw my mother read it.  I know she allowed things to happen that as a mother she should have stopped and prevented.  I didn't see the Christian life lived at home.... so when I left home, I had no idea of what it even was.  No examples, nothing to look up to or follow.  No wonder my life was such a mess.  No wonder I went the way of the world.  

But once I found Jesus, I knew that I wanted to follow Him completely.  I knew that His Word spoken in the gospels was for me.  I knew the only way to live life was to follow Him.  I surrendered my heart to Jesus and I have never looked back.  In Him alone, I live.  There is nothing I need, for He is my satisfaction.  Do I go through tough times?  Absolutely.  But one thing I have that many people don't is a relationship with Jesus and He sustains me through every trial.  He teaches me daily how to pray and how to live for Him.  He is the Foundation on which I stand, my Nail in a Sure Place.  (can't think of that scripture right now where that is found, but if I don't forget, will share another day).

I nearly forgot it was Wednesday (already!) this week.  I got up a bit before 4AM and came in here to sit down in my chair, thinking I might doze for a bit before hubby got up... and the thought hit my mind that I needed to take my Wednesday Fosamax.  Pickles!  So I knew where the pill was.  I usually set it out the night before and put on my phone case so that I don't forget - but I didn't even think of it last night.  I believe that God reminded me I needed to take it since I should stay on schedule.  And, once I take it I can't lay down, I must remain in an upright position for a minimum of 30 minutes, it caused me to turn the light on and begin my daily reading.  I love my mornings alone.  Hubby didn't get up until just before 5AM today so I had some time before getting my coffee.  I love spending my mornings with Jesus.  They are the start of my day.

In fact, when we get away in August, we will more than likely sleep a little later, but will have more of the day to spend reading and being quiet.  My preference would be to just curl up with my Bible or a book that will teach me more about Jesus, and forget about anything else.  But hubby can only do that so long and he has to eat (which means I have to fix a meal) or he will want to go someplace.  I really wish we still had access to the hermitages we used to go to.  I love just being with Jesus and spending all my time focused on Him.  He refreshes and restores my soul.  

Psalm 23:1-6 (NKJV):  "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

There is no one like Jesus.  He is our Shepherd; we are His sheep.  He loves us and cares for us, and those of us who know Him, know His voice, and go to Him when He calls us.

Did you know that?  That many times sheep owned by many different people can be put in the same pen, and when a shepherd who loves his sheep calls them, his sheep will come to him and go with him.  A hireling will call out to the sheep and the sheep will ignore them because they don't recognize his loving voice.  It's a job to him.  But a shepherd, he speaks to his sheep and they know his voice.

Just like Jesus, our Shepherd.  He talks with us and we know His voice.  He speaks in so many ways; through the Bible, His Word.  He speaks sometimes audibly to us (I love those times when I hear His voice!) and sometimes He speaks through other people.  Through a book that we might be reading.  Through a song we may hear.  Through simple things, He will show us how much He loves us.  

A plant in a garden, when it is watered, will grow and mature and bear fruit.  A man or woman who waters their mind with the Word of God, will grow and mature and bear much fruit.  Oh that we all would seek to know Jesus and His Word of truth and bear His fruit to this hurting world!   My prayer is that you will choose to be watered by the Word and bear fruit in Jesus' name.

Blessings!