And...... I'm back to work

 Yeah, had to get on the computer at 7AM and start approving timecards.  Considering what I spent this past 4 days, good thing payday is Thursday this week!  Actually, I didn't do too bad.... but I know I did purchase too much and really didn't need to get everything that I did.  But it's all good.  I wanted it, I bought it.  Now I'll give it away. LOL  Seriously, I didn't do too bad, but I did buy some things I should have told myself 'no' to.

Got home early afternoon - much earlier than we had planned for sure.  But, once in town, I knew hubby would be tracking for the afternoon so knew also that I needed to head on home.  No biggie, but you know how hubby can get when he hasn't seen anyone for awhile.  And of course, he wanted to talk, and update me on all he did, the things he did - and didn't do, the breakfast he took himself out to.  And he asked about my trip - and I'm just the opposite in sharing information; I share only what needs to be known. If you know what I mean.  Does that make me bad?  I did tell him all we did.... I think... but no, didn't tell him all I bought, although he did see everything I brought home.  I know he missed me.

We did stop at White Castles on the way back home and I bought a case; kept some out for hubby for his dinner, and then I bagged up the rest and froze them.  I have found that if I put two in the cartons in the microwave after they thaw out, and let them heat up 45-60 seconds - it is like they were just made.  Another things I probably shouldn't have purchased, but hey - haven't been back there in nearly a year. Just saying. And one has to have White Castles periodically, right?

Work has kept me busy this morning and even though I had deleted work emails while I was out - I still had over 200 emails this morning to go through. And yes, I still have things to do that are on them. But, I remembered I hadn't written in here yet, and I'm sure you want to know I'm home... ok, quit rolling your eyes.   Been thinking about retirement this morning and I may put it off another year..... at least.... I do like having my own money to spend and not be accountable for it.

Oh I have to tell you this - it's not a bad thing - it's just the generation thing.  We were at one store and I think all of us purchased something - or at least the granddaughter and I did.  I'm in the other room of this shop and I hear the conversation in the other room at the register.  The cashier is telling them it's either cash or check ONLY; they do not do debit cards or credit cards.  I'm only half-listening, but I heard that part and thought to myself, "wow, that's unusual".... and then I hear, "Mom?"  "Grandma?"   And I laughed.  I carried cash with me; they did not.  And I had enough to cover mine and theirs. And yes, I was zelle'd the money to replace what I'd put out for the purchases.  It was funny; I guess neither of them carried any cash on them, relying only on their debit cards.  I prefer cash for the most part.

I don't know if you remember in the years past where my right arm would break out in a rash every few months.  I went to the dermatologist and he did a biopsy but they never could figure out what it was. It would pop out on my arm - no itching, just red and sometimes bumps.  Just on my right forearm top.  Then after a day or two, it would go away.  The first time it happened I went to urgent care and they tried to tell me I'm allergic to cleaning products.  I told her that I didn't clean, so that couldn't be it. It has done this for 3-4 years now - every few months it would just appear and then go away.  I didn't do anything for it.  Well, I'm thinking I may be allergic to the sun!  I don't know what else it could be for I noted it had happened once before when I had been standing in the sun for awhile.

We had lunch at this one restaurant on Friday and we had sat outside for about an hour, I'd guess.  I love the warmth of the sun (and being higher elevation, it was cooler than I'm used to) so I sat where the sun could land on me and keep me warm.  I ate my sandwich and just sat back in the chair afterwards with my eyes closed, enjoying the warmth of the sun.  It was probably only about 30 minutes.  Maybe it wasn't it, though.... on Saturday I noticed both of my forearms were red, like exposed to the sun. I laughed and showed my granddaughter, reminding her I sat in the sun the day before so much have gotten a bit of sunburn.  Yesterday the left arm had pretty much faded out, but the right arm was still red.  Today  there is a small spot on my left arm, and the right arm has been reduced to about 8 inches x 4 inches area and still a bright red.  It will probably be gone by tomorrow.  Don't have to put anything on it - it fades out on its own - no itching.  I could call Dr. Mark, but why get a bill I don't need when it comes and goes on its own?  I have no idea what I am allergic to, nor why it stays only a couple days, and then fades back out.  Is it something I ate?  Rubbed up against?  I have no clue.  The sun is the only thing I can think of that was different than normal.... I don't sit out in the sun here - at least not for long!

I have a 1:30PM training today - Morgan has started moving me in the middle of the day some.... I just have to keep an eye on what's going on that I need to deal with. But it is a nice break in the middle of the day.  Tomorrow I go at 8:30AM.  I'm supposed to take my daughter to the airport early tomorrow morning - her plane leaves at 7:45AM.  Since she hasn't seen her younger brother yet, I'm thinking of asking if he would mind taking her to the airport so he could have some time with her..... but I need to run it by her first, I guess.  She will be here after my training - late afternoon, I'm guessing.  Staying the night with me.  I just don't like going to the airport... and hubby plans to go with me.... good reason alone to ask my youngest, don't you think?  LOL

Ok - need to get off here; have lots to get done yet today.  Hope your week is starting off well.  Now that I've caught you up on our trip - maybe I can get back in sync.

Blessings!

Just starting this off....

 Yes, it's still Sunday, but I wanted to say this before I forgot.  Church this morning was awesome.  The message was on Matthew 7:1-6.  Go ahead, look it up!  Ok, I'll give you the first part - it talks about 'Do not judge others' ... ouch!  Right?  After what I shared yesterday, this message hit things on the head. Pastor John had us cracking up about 'judging' Walmart customers... and I'll leave that there.  You know you have watched the videos too and have cracked up laughing!  But we all do judge others - and we shouldn't.  By the same measure we judge them, God will judge us.  That's a big ouch, right?

But there was one hilarious moment.... as we were greeted at the door of church by the greeter (who always chats with us and gives us a hug), as we were walking away he hollers at me and I turn around and he says "Every week I see you, you are looking younger!"  Don't laugh or roll your eyes!  He DID say that.  And yes, I laughed.  So did hubby.  (bad mistake on his part, right?)  He told hubby that 'he never changes'. LOL  

After stopping at the daughter's after church to feed the cats and water the plants, we stopped at Olive Garden for lunch and continued the conversation about the message on judging others.  Hubby said WE both needed to hear it - and yes, WE did, but I kind of resent him including me in his WE - you know what I mean.  We shouldn't include others in our faults; we all have them.  We all need to own our own.  Right?  

At least I got a nice nap in after we got home. Didn't have to, but knew that once I came in here, it would be hard to not fall asleep.  Yep, I'm in here and am going to work on net Sunday's message.  So I'm stopping here and will finish this in the morning.

Monday morning - We stayed up a little late last night watching Christmas movies. And I slept until 5:15AM this morning.  In fact, I didn't realize it was 'that late' until just a little bit ago - taking my time going through my morning rituals... and glanced at the clock. Yipes!  I was thinking it was 4:15AM we got up - but alas, it was not.  Which means I need to quit dilly-dallying this morning and get things done.  I am having to skip some of my reading this morning because of time constraints.  Got to get on the work computer in a few.  Hope it isn't a busy day.

I don't know if I am trying to catch a cold or am suddenly allergic to something in the house.  The past couple of days I have gotten into a sneezing frenzy (ok, 3-4 sneezes at a time a couple times a day) so I've started taking my olive leaf extract and black elderberry syrup.  Not sure if allergies are happening (of which I usually do NOT deal with), or if a cold is trying to get into me. Regardless, I'm building up my immune system to fight it.   Don't feel sick; just sneeze a few times a day.  Maybe it is just dust?

I think I am getting myself in 'trouble' with Christmas stuff.  I really need to quit buying and see what I do have already.  I think I am addicted to 'giving' and think everyone needs what ever I see that makes me think they would like it.  Sigh.  I need to start wrapping and labeling and writing down.  I could get myself in trouble real easy here.....

Romans 8:28 (NIV):  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

How often have you heard that verse quoted?  I know I have said it - and thought it, many times.  God does work through tough circumstances some times to bring good from it.  We don't understand the reasons or the whys of why things out of our control happen the way they do.  We fight it. We demand our rights. We scream out the 'why?'  And yet, in the silence that follows, we know that He is God and we are not.  

Sometimes life hands you lemons and what do they say we should do with them?  Make lemonade.  That's easy to say, isn't it, when it isn't affecting you.  When your heart isn't breaking. When you don't have any emotional tags to it.  You may be just observing and if it doesn't happen to you, then it doesn't affect you, right? How do you deal with some of those emotions?

What if life is going good, and all of a sudden, you get thrown a curve ball?  Your spouse gets sick. Your child gets in an accident.  You, yourself, struggle with a work/life balance.  You want to be everything to everyone, yet you find your 'give' button is about depleted.  How can we recharge? How can we help others when the pain is so great within us of our lack of supplying what is needed?

The depth of our struggles sometimes takes over.  Especially when it is a spouse or a child.  We know we are limited in what we can do. But the one thing we can do - are we doing it?  The one thing?  Pray.  Are we praying for those who are suffering?  Are we pounding on the door of heaven, asking for favor, that life would change and get better?  Are we seeking God in His Word and asking Him the 'why' questions?  And do we find answers as Paul did in 2 Corinthians 12:9 -

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Is God's grace sufficient for you?  

I'm struggling over some things - most over my choices. Fortunately, there is only One I know who can work in me what needs to be done, and help me to do it.  There is only One who knows me better than anyone else, and only He can understand my emotions and struggles in this life. I desire nothing more than to be completely surrendered and obedient to Jesus.  Do you?  Have you reached that point in your life where you can say "His grace is sufficient for me." ?  

I'm bouncing all over the place this morning, I think; partly because I don't feel I have it 'altogether' tis morning?  It's about time to jump on the work computer and I feel I need (and want) to just stay in my chair this morning with my Bible.  Alone in my cluttered room.  But, alas, I cannot.

So with that, I'm signing off and hope that you can come to the point of life where you can say "His grace is sufficient for me" and mean it.  Because all things do work out for His good.

Blessings!

Well, it was the wrong verse!

 I mentioned yesterday that I am going to memorize Ephesians 1:1-10 - but those are the wrong verses!  I saw my mistake yesterday (glad I didn't spend a lot of time on the first verse, but I did write it out.  What I am to memorize is Ephesians 2:1-10.  Yeah - a completely different chapter and it makes a lot more sense. Want to memorize it with me?  Here you go -

Ephesians 2:1 (NIV):  As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,....

Yep - that is verse one of chapter 2.  As I sit and think about that verse (since it makes much more sense now, I can see how far I have come.  I was dead in my transgressions and sins against God and His Word.  Although I may have thought I was living life, I was not.  I may have thought I was having 'fun' - but 'fun' is not 'fun', when it is apart from God. 

I believe I am living my best life now.  I still make wrong choices, but I am keeping my eyes on the One who directs my path back to Him.  There is security in that.

Vacation is over and I'm back to work today.  I have already turned on the work computer and have seen a message that tells me a meeting was cancelled for today and I need to move it and cancel the reserved room at Corporate and reschedule it.  Lucky me.  Got something to do on the get go besides going through over 200+ messages.  I have deleted a few hundred off my phone throughout the week.  They aren't for me anyway.  Because I support so many people, I also get their meeting requests. Not sure how to stop that and still have access to their calendar, and it is no big deal; I just delete the emails.  Then again, my male boss managed to stop all his meeting requests from coming to me - somehow Outlook was showing that I was accepting meetings, which I hadn't even looked at them.  He didn't want me 'accepting' his meetings so he took me off totally.  And I can still make meetings from his calendar.  I've made my mind up; today is going to be a busy day, but yet, a good day.  

Hubby and I discussed last night that we both need to get re-focused on our eating habits as both of us have gained weight this week.  Me about 2-3 pounds; he says over this last month that he has gained about 7 pounds.  So, yeah, we both are going to get re-focused. I need to prepare meals that are good for us (instead of the pizza we had last night).  My workouts start again tonight so that helps.  His starts tomorrow.

But - I did get on my rebounder yesterday, put a movie on the computer, and watched it as I walked 3 miles.  I sure can tell I have not 'walked' in a long long time any great distance.  I did get over 12K steps in yesterday!  I did not go see Ms. Diane, but I did talk to her late afternoon.  She said she did tell her daughter that I had brought her White Castles. LOL Her daughter's response?  "That was nice of her."  I don't know what kind of response she thought she would get.  Her daughter likes me (I think), but I still don't understand why they did not let me know that Ms. Diane had fallen and where she was. Surely Ms. Diane hasn't made her daughter jealous?

The wind was blowing fairly hard this morning - and then it did start to rain some about 5:30AM - but it didn't rain long before it stopped.  My plants are beyond hope at this point and ....

I have once again become my mother.  What do I mean by that?  I bought artificial/plastic/silk plants last week and put in three of my pots outside.  The sun has killed my rose bushes (the three that were there are surviving, but barely), my blueberry plant is nothing but sticks, the vincas seems to be fairing well.  But, I made the decision and bought a silk flower for the big pot by the garage and two green plants (artificial) for the pots on the columns I have them on.  They do look real, and I don't have to water them.  There is something to be said for artificial plants.  I can just change them out for the seasons, right?  I love the sun, but I don't like that it kills all my plants.  Actually, my jasmine plants seem to be doing well, but my poinsettia, which had gotten nearly a foot high, is dry and 'gone'.  The sun destroyed it.  It has really been brutal these past two years on the plants.

Today will be filled with catching up on things at work and then rushing over to the gym to get my workout (training) completed.  I won't get over to see Ms. Diane again today unless I get a chance to run over at a break for a few minutes.  Will see how my day goes.  I can probably get over to see her tomorrow.  It is pretty bad that she lives across the street and I barely go over once a month and here I'm trying to see her almost every day at the rehab. Crazy, huh?  And of course Ms. Vicky wants me to stop over and see her too.  When I wasn't working last week it was easy - but now, back to the real world.  I need to figure out my time life, right?

Nothing much to share at the moment so I'm going to close this off and try to get caught up on messages from work before I 'start the day' there.  Got a meeting to cancel and need to figure out what he is telling me.

Have a great and fun day!

Blessings!

I guess he has made a decision

 As hubby brought in my coffee this morning, he gave me the news.  He plans to resign from the HOA.  He's the President and has been for the past 3-4 years.  He has brought it up a few times in the last month and I once gave my opinion, which isn't worth much, but I told him to hang in there and wait until November when the elections are again.  He can get through the summer and fall and then be done.  I don't know what is troubling him right now about it as it could be just about anything.  You've read my complaints about the HOA and how I long for our own house at which we can do whatever we want.  Sigh. But he came in this morning, carrying my coffee, and announced that he was resigning from the HOA and that we would talk about his decision once he gets back from the gym (he has a 7AM training).  Ultimately, it is his decision. I've been against it from day one.  He says it is now keeping him awake at night.  Not sure why; there are some things he (and the board) can do and much they cannot.  I wonder if part of it is that the community manager (from the management company) is no longer 'allowed' to attend the board meetings as it is taking up too much of their time.  This last week there was such a meeting, and he stressed two days over it that he had to put together an agenda and had to go through things without her input.  It's his choice, and I just pray he makes the right decision.

It's back to work for me today.  I had an entire week off and enjoyed it.  I really didn't do much of anything on Thursday or Friday - or over the weekend for that matter - but I did finish the diamond art project I was working on last night.  I'll check it over sometime today and make sure I filled in every spot before applying the glue on top of it.  Then I'll put it away and start on something else.  I still have the bookmarks and coasters my granddaughter gave me for Christmas; I need to 'play' with those now. :-) Of course I also need to get back on my reading as I have fallen way behind with working on other things.  I think I finished 3 baby blankets this week to donate as well.

I have a dermatologist appointment this morning to see how the 'bug bites' are coming along. I've used the medication I was given but there are still a couple bumps and I still feel the pin pricks ever so often.  It's also like having a burning sensation once in awhile; you know when you get a steam burn, and yet it isn't a bad burn, but just enough for the skin to be painful?  Yeah, it feels like that.  He had said if they were still there he would take a biopsy upon my next visit.  Will see.  Most of the spots have disappeared, but there is one that refuses to go away.  Also, that area of skin appears to be gray under the skin.  I hope he does take a biopsy and finds out what is going on.  Since October 12th till now - it's long enough to deal with these bites.  Still don't know whether scorpion or bed bugs or what - but it has been a journey dealing with it.

Ephesians 2:4 (NKJV):  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). 

I am so thankful for God's grace, aren't you?  I have made many wrong choices over the years and God, in His mercy and grace, redeemed even me.  So thankful, so grateful.  And He has redeemed you as well, if you would just choose to turn your hearts and eyes to Him and seek Him.  He is the only way to our Heavenly Father, and I'm so glad He turned His eyes to look upon me and draw me to Him.  

In all things, give Him praise.

Blessings!

I don't like time constraints

 when I'm doing things I enjoy!  Here I am in here minding my own business, spending time with God, reading my Bible, writing in my journal, prayer, and I glance at the clock.  My time to myself is almost gone!  God is worth giving it up for - but it also means I don't have much time to write in here. Not that I have much to say but a bunch of ramblings - but obviously, if you are reading this, you find it amusing or interesting.  Curious as to what the topic would be about today?  Yeah, I am too.

Yesterday was a good day.  We went to the RV park for church and did not rush over to the Salvation Army church after.  We are flipping on it.  Major Mark is a great teacher, but he isn't a preacher and although the messages are good and informative, it just feels 'dead' there.  Let's just say it isn't a place that would draw teenagers or young adults unless they have not been to church before and don't know the difference.  The Word spoken is good, don't get me wrong. The people are very friendly.  But the Word isn't applied to daily life; it is just explained. Does that make sense?  We will go occasionally, but we have spoiled ourselves (thanks to COVID) and enjoy Free Chapel (Jentezen Franklin) on Sunday mornings. Right now he is on 7 and 9AM.  IN March it goes back to 6 and 8AM.  He preaches the Bible but does it in such a way you know you are learning something.  He doesn't mince around with words either.  If you do what the Bible says NOT to do, it is a sin - and he will call it out!  Right now they are on a love/marriage month of messages.  The first week was Jentezen Franklin.  Yesterday was Mark Rutland (we haven't watched it yet, and probably will tonight.  Next Sunday is Chris Hodges and they plan to have a vow renewal during the service.  I'm struggling with that one.  Not going to go in to the whys and what fors, but it's just me.  On the other hand, hubby is excited about it.  We're married, leave it alone.  And the last week of February, Jentezen will be back to sum it all up.  I'm having to do a lot of praying about the vow renewals.  I have a lot of hurt that I need to work through, and only God can help me. I know I will probably give in, just to keep peace in the family and I don't want to hurt anyone. And I'll leave that right there. Will see if I write anymore about it. Lord, help.

It's Monday and I'm back to work. Whoopee.  I've done some rough figuring, and I think I will never be able to retire.  Sigh.  I want to sell this house and move elsewhere. I'm liking it less and less. Hubby loves it cause he doesn't have to do anything.  Thank goodness he is saying at the end of this year he will not put his name in to be president of the HOA. He's always complaining - and I'm always complaining to him! I would never live in another HOA area.  I want out of here. The house is too small.  I have no wall space. I have no room.  UGH.  I have an 8AM meeting with my favorite boss and an 11AM chiropractor appointment.  I must remember to tell him I take Fosamax.  Why?  Because it is supposed to build up the bones - but the side effect is that a bone may break without anything touching it.  If the chiropractor pops my neck or back - would I become paralyzed if it breaks a bone?  Scary thought.  But I do need to be loosened up in the back and neck.  I still say the massage therapist tweaked my neck too much a few years ago and it has resulted in the ocular migraines.  No proof, but I will discuss with the chiropractor today.

Time is getting away from me again this morning.  I much prefer when I can stay in here as long as I want. Oh wait. I DO stay in here.  Sigh.  This is also my 'office'.   I just don't 'want' to stay in here all day.  

The easel and stool arrived this weekend and I went to Michael's yesterday and bought a canvas to put the oil painting on that we got for Christmas.  I also bought a table of sorts to put the paints on.  It is paint-by-number and may take forever to get it done, but once I get things put together we can get started on it.  I say 'we' because it was addressed to both of us.  I would not have chosen this photo, nor would I have made it so big (16x20).  I told hubby that he could help paint it, and I even handed over a snowman diamond art project that he could do.  He actually seemed excited I gave him a project.  Rolling my eyes here.  He hasn't shown any interest before.  He definitely needs to find a hobby - he has never had one.  Ever, that I'm aware of.  So now I have given him two things he can do.  Paint, or work on diamond art.  I wonder if once he gets started, if he will stick with it.  I did work on a Santa Claus a bit yesterday that I had started before Christmas.  I need to get it finished and framed so that I can hang up next Christmas. This one is for me for a Christmas wall-hanging.  I definitely won't take to Michaels to get framed.  Even at 70% off, cost was very high (Aaron Brothers).  My daughter took her diamond art project to Hobby Lobby and it was less than $30.  Yeah, Hobby Lobby framing will work for my budget. 

Deuteronomy 30:6 (NLT):  The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants so that you will love Him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!

Oh that the Lord will continue to work IN me, so that the heart and soul of my descendants will love the Lord their God as I do.  As my ancestors did before me.  I still have much to learn about following Jesus.  I am always seeking ways to love Him more, to praise Him more.  Unfortunately for me, I find other things to distract me - that I don't turn my thoughts to Him. I think that is why I enjoy doing crafts - my thoughts are my thoughts, and I can just 'dive in' and let my brain do its thing.  If I don't have distractions, that is.  What if we set a goal of thinking about God one minute of every hour?  Could we do that?  I'd probably have to set a timer to remember to do that.  In The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson, I think it is, a man tried to continuously think about God.  I can't remember his name - Frank something, I think.  But he succeeded to give God so much of his time in a day.  Brother Lawrence learned how to live in constant communion with God.  Oh to be able to just sit at Jesus' feet and be with Him all the time!  Yes, one can still live life and be in communion with God.  I long to be that type of person.  I still have a lot of emotions and things to let go of, I think.  Lord, help me let go.  I carry a lot of pain with me of which no one knows about.  No, not physical pain, but pain of things of the past that even though I've forgiven, it's hard to let go of.  I'm sure you have some of those as well.

So here and now, I ask the Lord my God to change my heart, and the hearts of my descendants, so that we all may live.

Blessings!

Back to work day

 It's Monday.  Most people groan about Monday, and I could say that I do as well.  No one likes to get up early to do things that require preparations and thinking and listening and doing.... yet, we all do like the income, don't we?! It pays the bills, anyway.  It's Monday and I'm back to a full week of work.  I realized during our 'Christmas and New Year Break' how mentally burned out I was.  I am going to need to track myself and take more days off I am thinking.  Got to build my PTO back up first; I used nearly 70 hours over the holidays.  I will know exactly what I have left after this pay period processes.  I think I still have 60-ish hours, but I'm not sure.  I'm not even sure how much I earn each month - although they have told us recently.  I jumped to a new level when I hit 7 years...but I don't remember.  No PTO is scheduled at the moment, and I need to save for April 24-27 as that is when we girls plan our next Jailbreak Getaway.  I'll only use 16 hours since two of those days are the weekend.  Something to look forward to and plan for.

Hubby is back to the gym at 7AM this morning. He's groaning at going so early, but he does like getting it out of the way in the mornings. When he comes back, he will finish up his quiet time.  I don't go until 4:30PM so I've got my workday ahead of me.  A full workday at that!  I did get the minutes done but need to upload to the Teams site and review extended meetings again. I'm sure I've missed some.  Lots of distractions at the end of the year and my mind just was not wanting to function for work.

Our friend came home from the hospital yesterday. She was admitted with chest pain - but the pain wasn't from her heart - she has shingles under her boobs!  I called her on the way home from church and she updated me.  She and I got to laughing somewhat - we are 'old-fashioned' and don't really want everything hanging out for all to see.... the doctors would come in to see her and leave the door/curtains open while they looked at her boobs and the rash under them. She finally told them that she was 'old' (she's younger than me, I think) and old-fashioned; she had modesty.  I get it. Anyone who walked by her room could see her boobs.  God made them for nursing babies (and our spouses) and not for the world to see. 

We started our 21 day fast yesterday.  I'm not going into detail as to what each of us is fasting; hubby is doing his thing and I'm doing mine.  It's a choice we make first of all to fast, then what it is we are willing to give up for 21 days.  It will be difficult at times, but we have committed and will follow through.  I'm starting off with just ten days on what I have decided to fast and then will possibly include or remove some things for the remaining 11 days.  Or I may leave it the same.  I want the fast to draw me closer to God, not make me dread doing the fast. Does that make sense?  I want to keep my eyes on Him, not on what I am - or not - eating.

Did you choose to give up something for 21 days?   If so - for what reason?  Sometimes our giving up something is good for us.  I will say chocolate is not on my diet for 21 days.  You may think that wouldn't be hard - but you haven't seen all the dark chocolate I got for Christmas!  Plus, I have M&Ms still in the candy dish.  I may have to bag those up and put away as we don't usually have many visitors that would get them eaten any time soon.  Yeah, lots of chocolate sitting around here.  I'm sitting here looking at 5 bags on top of my printer right now. I may need to hide those so that I won't be tempted.

Did you know that if you read 10 chapters of the New Testament a day, that in 21 days you can have read the entire New Testament?  Pastor Jentezen Franklin challenged us yesterday with that so hubby and I started last night (we watched his message on YouTube last night since we didn't have time to yesterday morning) to read the chapters.  Hopefully we will continue.  I was already reading in the New Testament for this year and was already in Acts - but I have started back to Matthew to read during the fast - and my daily morning reading I have started back to Genesis.  I love the Old Testament for what it teaches of God, but I love the New Testament as it talks about Jesus and how to live.  So Old Testament in the morning and I will work through the New Testament during the 21 day fast.  Can you do it?  It's only day 2 of the fast; you can read 20 chapters today and be on track for tomorrow.  You can do it!

Colossians 3:23 (NIV):  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

I've often referred to that verse in my many years of working (I've been working since I was 15 1/2!)  - but more so in the last 42 years I have been a Christian.  I've had some 'trying' bosses who were difficult to work with. I can remember walking up and down a corridor singing 'The Joy of the Lord is my Strength' as I walked.  That was a tough year, until I got moved out from under her.  Now I sing it because of the work!  LOL  I've always tried to do my job with excellence and do it well - but sometimes it is difficult, especially when I don't like doing it - as in minutes. Except I have changed the way I do minutes now and I don't get as detailed as I used to.  Just the basics and it goes through. There is a lot about my job I don't like, but it is because I work from home and not in the office where I can ask questions and have space to work. I definitely do need to clean off this desk - but even then, I won't have much room.  I have a stack of papers on the left which are a lot of receipts for taxes.

Yeah, it's going to be that time again real soon.  I ought to move the papers to the bed (and clutter it again) and sort out the papers as to where they go.  I also need to call my dermatologist office and see if they have figured out from the insurance how much I still owe.  Last time I figured it out, it was about $600-$800 dollars.  Since I get my EOB before they do, I get an idea of what the insurance says I have to pay; but I don't know what they will discount.  I do want to get it paid off quickly. 

Hubby goes to see his prostate doctor today. He's had 5 shots, and he had some tests done last week to check on the progress of it.  We're praying all is well.  I still feel this doctor saw the aneurysm in hubby's abdomen and thought it was cancer and that the cancer in the prostrate had metastasized - but with the aneurysm getting bigger and that doctor wants to do surgery - possibly this month - on it, well, these two doctors need to get together on their diagnosis. In fact, I may mention to hubby that he needs to have this doctor talk to the cardiovascular doctor to determine the sites of this 'cancer'. It may be the aneurysm that showed upon the one report.  Don't want to open an infection to cause it to spread it if is cancer versus an aneurysm.  The aneurysm has been there for two-three years but has grown from 1cm to 4cm, which is why they want to do surgery.  Yeah - I'm rambling, but the doctors need to compare sites of what they see on their scans.  Are all scans the same?  No - cause they are looking at different things.

And with that - I need to get off here and get ready for work.  It's going to be a productive day - at least a busy one.  Only one email came through since Friday - looks like no one wanted to work over the weekend, which is unusual.  And it also means everyone is back from 'vacation' during the holidays and today will be busy!  I've noticed, though, that some people are taking a week or two during this month - upper leadership anyway.   

Have a productive, amazing, day!

Blessings!

A totally lazy day....

 and now back to work!  I know I have five invoices to process and a couple meetings to get scheduled so I know I have work to get on as soon as I open up my work computer.  And you know what?  It is ok.  I took 4 days of which I did not get on the computer.  I forgot to put an out of office; which isn't a big deal, really.  The people whom I support were off as well.  Those outside the office get a response when I respond.  It felt good being off those days and I needed the break; sometimes just a two day weekend isn't enough for I try to cram everything in those two days.

But this time... talk about being lazy!  Totally.  And yes, this morning I am beating myself up over being so lazy, but I can't change what I did or didn't do.  Yesterday we went to church.  Hubby wanted to go out for lunch, but I said no, to go home.  So home we went.  I cooked hamburgers and heated up veggies.  Yogurt with blueberries and cinnamon for dessert.  We sat down in the front room and both of us took naps.  Then the TV came on.  Of course.  "Would you mind if I watch the ballgame?"  Oh, the game isn't on - so let's switch it to ION and watch NCIS.  He knows I love NCIS and if I get started watching it....  or we could watch a movie.... we watched NCIS.  ALL afternoon and ALL evening.  I bet we watched at least six hours of NCIS.  Some I have seen, some I haven't.  Dinner was leftovers from the night before; I heated them up and brought to him on a paper plate.  Yep.  Totally lazy day.  Had hubby turn the TV off at 9PM - right after that episode of NCIS, before the next one started, or we would have continued watching it!  After a decent night's sleep, we are back to Monday.

Today is 'payroll Monday' but since those I approve are all salaried, I just check their boss's calendar to see if they took time off and make sure it is on their timecard  - and then I approve.  Actually, I think I have already done that - cause I wanted to be sure everyone had July 4th and 5th off on their timecards or I would be waiting for them to get it inputted.  I thought about going online earlier and getting them approved, but I did not.  It might take me 5 minutes.

Hubby has his workout this morning and I have mine this evening.  Actually looking forward to it - although I know mine will be 'legs' and I will know it tomorrow.  If I can somehow get my gumption up and my self-confidence in order, I want to work out here at home as well.  I can do upper body and core here at home since I don't have upper body until Wednesday.  But, I don't want hubby watching; or even knowing what I'm doing.  I have gotten really 'private' about some things over the years.  I recognize why, but won't go in to it.

Our administrator at church surprised me yesterday and came and hugged me with 'You are a blessing!"  Puzzled, I asked her what she meant.  She looked at me to see if I was serious, and she just said, "well, you just are."  I didn't think about it until later - but could it be because I took food to the person last week for two days - and I've noticed that no one else has bothered to sign up?  It's sad no one else did sign up, but I may see about dropping something else off there later in the week.  Tonight I have gym and I don't think they want Popeye's chicken again so soon.  Tomorrow is 'girls night out' and Wednesday I have training and we need to get back to prayer meeting.  Thursday I might see about taking something.  If they lived closer it would be easier, but we are at 99th and they are at 21st.  And north of us.  

LOL  Our neighbors must be outside having their coffee for I just heard him sneeze.  Funny.  Since it is daylight early now, and only in the 80's, I would love to go sit outside in the mornings for fresh air - but hubby would follow me, and I'm still in my jammies, and I would have to eliminate the time I spend writing this early.  See, I'm thinking of you.  I am so sure you love reading about my nonsense and my boring life.

Ephesians 4:32 (NIV):  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Yeah - that was the topic of a devotional again this morning. Why is it that when we read such things certain people come to mind?  I was talking with a friend on Saturday morning and since I know she has seen comments on FB going back and forth (though not from me), and I shared what started it, and why I am still angry with this person - and that I keep having to forgive her every thing she comes to mind.  My friend reminded me we are to keep forgiving even when it is hard.  God will render justice and I (we) need to let go of the desire to get even.  (This person even had the guts to email my daughter that she forgave her so that she could clear it out of her mind.  And yet, she still posts comments.)  Lie is not fair and we endure things that we never though we should have to - or would have to.  But God is always with us and when we leave justice to Him, He will settle the score.  We, in turn, are to love the individual and respond to her evil with good.  We are do to good to those who hate us and bless those who curse us.  Forgiving is so hard sometimes, especially when you have been wronged.  It's more than not liking their behavior or attitude.  It's letting go of that 'thing; they do that makes them feel they are so much better than everyone else, unless they can play the victim.   No matter what the cause or the reason, we are to be kind an compassionate to each other, forgiving, just as we want Christ to forgive us.  And sometimes that is so hard.

And that is when we call out to Him and just tell Him, "I am still so hurt or so angry at this person that I find it hard to forgive.  Would you love and forgive them through me, until I can get to the point when I can let this anger go?  Give me wisdom and strength; help me to step above my feelings and love like I want You to love me.  Forgive like I want You to forgive me."

You will soon find that when we pray for help to forgive others, He will always supply it.  We may not forget; we may need to stay away from that person, but we are called to love and forgive as He loves and forgives us.

Blessings!

Back to 'normal', whatever that is...

 I'm back to work today.  I did jump on Friday afternoon and cleared messages - there were over 100 messages for me to check.... and last time I checked this weekend, I had 94, I think it was.  Oh well, will figure it out when I sign on this morning.  Definitely not going to stress out about it.  I think it is 'timecard Monday' as well, but since all are salaried, it should not be a problem.   I am often amused when hubby will make a comment, like he did last night, that he really enjoys me being around him (instead of back here in my room working or in the kitchen cooking, is what I'm thinking)... and yet, he still refuses to give me 'permission' to retire.  Not that I need it, but it makes me sad that I don't have his support, in spite of what he says.  I know that financially it would be tight, but I'm willing to make it work.  Oh well, when it is in God's timing, it will happen.  I do like to spend money as I want, so there is that, too.

Yesterday was a good day.  We got up, had our quiet time alone.  Then we joined to watch the Easter service from Free Chapel.  You really ought to watch it - it's a drama and so good.  It's what Easter is all about.  Pastor Jentezen came on in the middle of it and spoke, then it reverted back to the drama.  It was very good.  We quickly got ready and grabbed the eggs and headed over to my daughter's.  We enjoyed the brunch and then watched a silly dinosaur cartoon on Netflik because the great granddaughter loves dinosaurs - it was called 'Bad Dinosaurs' and I think it was because the 3 babies were always getting into trouble and there was a lot of farting going on.  LOL  We left about 2:30-ish and headed home.  I didn't want to watch TV so grabbed the book I was reading - and hubby didn't quabble, but grabbed his book (alternating with his phone) and we both read.  I finished my book last night.  I got a lot out of it.  Bed about our usual time, but I found I couldn't get right to sleep (I did take a quick nap when I got home).  I got up about 3:45AM this morning and tried to go back to sleep in here, but could not.  I'm always listening for hubby to shuffle down the hall.

I don't know if we will be having a class tonight or not.  We both text'd and called the two people who are in the class, and neither answered their phone nor responded to texts - and didn't show up last week either.  I will try to get ahold of both again today.  If they don't want to do it - that's fine - I'm over the desire to teach.  It's just not the same when it's at home versus at the church.  The atmosphere is different.  And I'm not used to hubby being in one of my classes - which really isn't a big deal.  It's just not the same atmosphere - does that make sense?  At church they always wanted to learn.... it's like here at home it is too casual and well, it's different.  If they choose to continue, we will.  But if they choose not to - well, I'm done as well.  And I'm ok with it.

Today is April Fool's Day... April 1st.  I remember when years ago and we were in the office, we secretaries (as we were called then - and proud of it) would write down the telephone number of the zoo and the name we would use was something like Ted E. Bear and that he had something to discuss.  When our boss fell for it, and called, the zoo of course answered and told them April Fool!  and our bosses would always get a big laugh out of it.  

Of course as kids we would always do the 'your shoe is untied' to someone, making them look down, and then we'd go April Fool!  and other similar silly things.  What are some of the things you did as a child - or still do - to 'April Fool' someone?  The thought of green food coloring in the egg whites come to mind as well, although I don't recall ever doing that.  I don't 'play the game' anymore... guess I have gotten too old in my thinking.  What about you?

Luke 24:45 (NET):  Then He opened their minds so that they could understand the scriptures.

A simple scripture, is it not?  And yet, it is something that I pray frequently, that God would open my mind so that I could understand what the scripture could mean.  We all should pray before we read the scripture so that we can understand it, after all, it is our Words of Life to follow.  I have these words written out that I frequently read (I don't always read it although I know I should) before I start my Bible reading:

Lord, I ask you to open my eyes and enhance my understanding so that I can grasp what you want me to learn today. I also ask You to enable me, by Your Spirit, to apply the truths I learn to my daily life, and be guided moment by moment by Your Word.  I thank You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Word brings life - and not only 'life', but ABUNDANT life.  I want to live life to the fullest, don't you?  To do that, I need to read the Word, study the Word, 'eat' the Word and 'digest' the Word, let the Word infiltrate every part of my being.  I want to live the abundant life that I can live in Christ.  My prayer is that you do as well.  Never stop reading His Word, it brings life.  Never stop seeking Him.  Jesus is the Life-Giver.

Easter is over.  The tomb is empty.  Jesus appears several times over the next 40 days to His disciples and others.  As you seek Him, I pray He reveals Himself to you.

Blessings!

The day after....

 What a great weekend it has been!  I have loved so much my children coming with their families - and am actually grateful that they come as families rather than all at once - although I enjoy that too.  It is just that I get to spend a little bit more time with them individually when they come by family.  And it is good.

Before I forget - a little addendum to yesterday's post re hubby's trek shopping and carrying the 8 pound weight all the way back to his car - which he said was about a block and a half.  We discussed and I looked at it last night - it isn't just 8 pounds.  It is 8KG which in pounds is 17.6 pounds!  That is what hubby carried back to his car and wished he had accepted the offer of someone else carrying it.  Funny thing, it looks like a small weight - but it sure packs the pounds!  

Oh - and we found out what hubby smashed in to when he fell in to the tree when I wasn't home.  The daughter in love opened a package of her oatmeal creme pies that she loves..... and the box was bent out of shape!  And now we know!  Softened his fall?  LOL

I think the weekend went well with everyone and I was able to send excess food home with all.  Even kept some for hubby; he was afraid I'd give it all away and he would have nothing to eat.  HAH!  There is still plenty of food left, trust me!  Plus we both got a few dinner cards from neighbors and family.  And it looks like we both get to do a lot of shopping as well!  Now would be the time to go - meaning, this week - but who wants to go out with all the other crazies that are out spending gift cards and returning and exchanging gifts?  I'm in no rush; not even sure what I want.  And I got a nice JoAnn Fabrics card too... surely it wouldn't be as busy.... naw, it probably would be - people buying up Christmas decorations, etc at 60-70% off.  If I want it bad enough, I'd pay full price.  But that's me.  And I have no place to put them anyway.  I'll wait a little bit when it won't be as crowded.

I was spoiled with gifts again this year and I love it.  Got a couple more journals.... I think that is a 'sign' that I need to start writing again.  I share a lot in here, but I also type things that are just rambles; I don't do that in my journals.  So yeah, maybe I need to write in my journals again.  Loved the sayings on two I got yesterday.  I need to reevaluate my time in here... I spend quite a bit of time writing this, which has actually taken up the time I spent writing in my journals.  So I need to sit back and think about how to use my time better.  Maybe I'll take to writing in my journals in the evening, and write out about my day.  You get the 'leftovers' of what I remember in the mornings. LOL

I'm back at work this morning but it should be a very light and easy day.  All four bosses are off today and all I will need to do is check to see if anything comes in.  I did jump online yesterday to make sure all the timecards were approved and reviewed my emails.  Maybe I'll take some time today to learn Sharepoint and how to use it.  I really do need to learn that - and soon.  But I can also work on clearing out this room (again; finally) and get all the wrapping paper put away and gifts put away.  If the son-in-law doesn't come get all the boxes I've stacked out in the garage today, I will need to break them down tonight so that Recycle - which comes tomorrow, thank goodness - can haul them all off.  Kept the big ones to put our recycle things in.  We don't have a specific 'tub' out here so I just use my big boxes.  Sometimes they dump them, sometimes they take the box too. I could buy a large container and just tell them 'please leave container'.  But this has been a good way to get rid of my Amazon boxes. :-)

Hubby has an appointment this morning to take his car down to discount tire - they also do other things - but he's having the tires rotated and he has a tail-light out he is getting fixed.  Funny, one of my boys and I were having this tail-light discussion not long ago.  Yeah, he still takes it in for someone else to fix for him.  Of course I would too at this stage of my life.

Tonight is normally 'girls night out', but I'm thinking I may skip again tonight.  Hubby's not going out (although that is a good reason for me to go out), but it depends on how much I get done today while working.  Maybe we can go to the gym for a bit instead.  Although if he goes during the day, I won't.  But if I take the tree down in the back room, I can 'free up' my treadmill and weight bench and can workout here.  Or maybe I'll do girls night out.  LOL  Will see how my day goes.  I've had a busy weekend - as has my daughter - so we both may agree to skip this week.  In fact, I was so tired (and bored) last night, we went to bed at 8PM!  Didn't even wait for my 8:30PM - (what's 30 minutes, right?) just told hubby I was going to bed and he did too.  Woke up at 2AM and told myself "Nope, not getting up to stay up" - and went back to sleep until 4AM - and then I didn't WANT to get up... but did shortly after.  I did sleep well and deep so must have been tired.  But it was a good tired.

Luke 2:28-32 (NKJV):  'he (Simeon) took Him up in his arms and said: "Lord, Now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a Light to bring salvation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel."'

Can you even imagine the joy Simeon felt when the Holy Spirit led him to Mary and Joseph when they brought Jesus to the temple?  Think about it - here is Simeon, in the temple praying, and he feels this nudging to go to another area.  There he sees a young couple with a child.... and he instantly knows that this child is of God!  And let's not forget Anna who saw them as well and her words!  I am sure that with two people - it was confirmation that Jesus is the Son of the Living God to the young couple.  Mary knew, of course, for she had known no man before His conception, but .... 

Sometimes, even though we know that we know, isn't a confirmation just a good thing to confirm that we know that we know?  (want to read that again?)  It reminds me of a couple I know  -  and have known since my childhood.  They were close friends of my mother's.  But, after about 20-30 years, the wife divorced the husband.  And she divorced him for only one reason (that I heard of).  He never told her he loved her.  When she asked him, he would just say 'you know I do; I work hard, I pay the bills, I provide these things for you."  But she wanted to HEAR him say the words, and he wouldn't.  So they got a divorce.  Now I'm sure that was not the only reason, but that is the reason I heard.  She wanted confirmation of his love for her, not the physical things that he provided.  Hmmm wonder why that came up in my mind.... haven't thought of that couple in years.  He died years ago, but she remarried (assuming to a man who told her he loved her), and last I heard she is still alive.  Her twin boys have passed away and now she is alone.  Hmmm I wonder if I could find her address.  Should send her a note.

Sending notes - I got stationary and cards for Christmas!  I don't write as much as I used to, but I do try to write notes occasionally.  In fact, I'm reminded I need to send my little brother's wife a note; I got one from her just before Christmas and I haven't had time to sit down and write.  Today may be a good day to send a few notes.  Maybe.  If I don't forget.  Perhaps I need to start a list of things I want to get done today.  Hmmmm

Looking forward to Friday evening.... I bought hubby and I dinner theater tickets at the Broadway Theatre to go see White Christmas.  I love that movie - but we haven't watched it since we moved....  I just thought it would be fun to go watch it performed.  Costly, but it was for me more than for him, really.  I want to see the movie, and anything that I want to do, he wants to be a part of it. 

And with that, I'm going to close this off.  It's about time to get the work computer up and running, and I can jump in the shower and get dressed before I need to actually sit down in front of it.  Hope that you have a great day and recover from the weekend of celebrations as well.

Blessings!

Back to work Monday....sigh....

 Although I don't know why I'm grumbling about 'going' back to work this morning, I only need to get up from this chair and go sit at the desk - maybe a total of 4-5 feet.  So what's my problem?  I don't really have an answer for you, if I really thought about an answer.  I did get on the computer yesterday and cleared out the emails and got invoices processed that I had received.  I had 444 emails - of which perhaps 10-12 were ones I had actually something to do with them.  Scheduled a couple meetings, processed about 9 invoices, answered a couple emails - and deleted just about everything else.  I do need to do another 'run through' of all the emails and make sure I didn't miss anything I need to complete.  

Today will be busy though as it is getting towards the end of the year and I need to extend numerous meetings for 4 leaders through the end of 2024.  I've already written down the 1:1s on the current calendar for two of them and will send to them today to confirm they want to continue those and for how often and how long.  Once I get that back, I'll start on next year.  I also need to go through all their recurring meetings and see which ones they want to continue in to 2024 and then get those extended.  I will be busy the next few days, if I can stay focused.  I have an 8AM meeting with my favorite boss this morning but we will just talk about my vacation and I'll hear about her week.  

Church = at our church - was definitely different yesterday.  It was a Sunday that worship led us straight to the throne of God and well, long story short.... we didn't have a preaching service at all.  Our pastor would call out about someone who had a sickness, or other things, and if this applied to anyone, for them to stand... and he would have people lay hands on them and pray over them.  He did several call outs like that and God was definitely moving in that service.  We may not have had preaching yesterday morning, but we had healings take place.  Hallelujah!  He said the Lord had given him a message.... but guess he will do it next week.  

I did manage to visit Ms. Diane for a short while on Saturday and made it over to see Ms. Vicky yesterday afternoon.  Hubby watched football games all afternoon.  I really wanted to shoot a text to our pastor... but didn't.  I behaved.  He is a Cowboy fan.  I'm a 49ers fan.  Need I say any more?  Tee hee.  I'll tease him on Wednesday at prayer meeting, if we go.

I awoke with a major headache this morning and have no clue why I am getting these lately.  Is there something going on with the weather?  It's bad enough that coffee hasn't quelched it, and I will be taking something when I get up from here.  It's in the sinus area up to the middle of the forehead.  I need to think clearly today... don't need this, for sure!

Deuteronomy 13:4 (NKJV):  "You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him."

Sounds simple enough, right?  Just do what is good and right and just and all is well.  But what happens with the seduction of the world sneaks in?  We're drawn to a movie we really shouldn't watch.  We're tempted to 'white lie' (which is still a lie) our way out of a situation, we decide to watch football instead of going to church.  There are so many 'little things' that can trip us up, coming as seductions from this wicked world.  And we all tend to fall in to them at one point or another.  But then do we make excuses as to why we are not following the Lord as we should?  Some do.  Some recognize what they have done wrong and confess it to the Lord and set their hearts back on Him.

It's so easy to let the world in.  We turned on a movie last night off of Netflik.  I don't remember the name of it... but there seemed to be a lot of cussing in it... and after a few minutes I looked over at hubby and asked if he was wanting to continue to watch this.... and even he said no.  We just turned the TV off.  That's happened before on what seemed to be an excellent movie but getting into it 15-20 minutes proved that it wasn't anything we really wanted to watch.  I just get very uncomfortable with all the cussing and the insinuations that are made, to the point I rarely want to watch a movie.

We did find the Jesus Revolution movie after that, but it was 2 hours long and I told hubby it would be past my bedtime - we do want to watch that one - and I encourage you to do the same.  It was in the movie theaters not long ago.  It talks about the 60's and 70's - which I graduated high school in 1967, but I assure you, I had no idea this was going on in the world as I was 'sheltered in place' by my parents. It would be interesting to see what perhaps some of your parents time was like, don't you think?  I have no idea what it is all about, but I am curious to watch it.  I just didn't want to go to the theater when it was there; but friends have told us we needed to watch it.

Walking after God and fearing Him is a good thing.  Keeping His commandments is good too.  We are not a perfect people and we fail - way too often at times.  But our God offers grace - no matter what we do - when we come to Him and seek Him, He will look upon us and offer grace and mercy - and we deserve neither.  But He loves you and loves me that much; that He would take our sins and throw them as far as the east is from the west, and remember them no more.  

Keep His commandments; there are only 10.... it's not like all the rules everyone else tries to put on us.  Only 10 commandments.  Go look them up - read them - resolve to follow them, and all will be well with you.

Blessings!

Vacation over.... back to work Monday....

 And here I am.  The 4AM alarm went off and I forced myself to get up, knowing that I needed my 'quiet time' this morning to prepare myself for what will need to be done today.  I have over 150 messages on my work computer... and I chose not to gt back online after I cleared over 300 messages on Wednesday.  I know I have a lot to get done today - beginning with approving timecards.  That shouldn't take too long... but I do have things I need to get done that I saw on Wednesday.

I was up again until about 10PM last night watching 'The Chosen' on TV.  I keep trying to get through season 3.... hubby keeps falling asleep every time we start on it... so then usually backtrack so he can catch up.  Last night I didn't; I think we were in episode 4 of season 3 and I refused to go back.  So then I got the questions. 'who is that?' 'what was happenig'?  Oh well - he stayed awake for one episode and I could hear him snoring again - and that was after we both took naps in the afternoon!  I wanted to watch the rest of the episodes, but by 10PM I knew I needed to get to bed as well, so turned the TV off and woke hubby up to go to bed.  I can watch the episodes on my phone as I have the Angel app on it, and during a lull (probalby not this week though), I may just sit and watch it at my desk with one eye on the work computer if I need to do something.  Hubby doesn't care to watch it as much as I want to.  In fact, I'd like to go back to Season 1 and start it over.  It's like reading my Bible, each time I pick up on something new that I glossed over before.

We sung this song at church yesterday morning and it has been going through my mind all night and again this moring........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkHgxKemCRk

The title?  Holy Forever by Chris Tomlin.   Take a listen, and you will find youself humming it all day. :-) And that's a good thing.

..... and the angels cry Holy.... all creation cries Holy.....You are lifted high, Holy.....Holy Forever....

Only He is Holy..... such a great song, and I encourage you to throw that link into your browser and hope it comes up... but if not, type in Holy Forever by Chris Tomlin.  Such a great song that can bring great peace to your soul.

Hubby goes back to the gym today (we did go to the rec center on Saturday for about 30 minutes) for his workout, and I go tomorrow.  Whoopie.  I'm discouraged, although I have biceps now.... I should be further along (I'm thinking) than I am in my workout journey... but then, how much can be done in 30 minutes twice a week, right?  So I'm trying to figure out what I can do at home to help it along.  I haven't lost ANY weight... even though the trainer tells me not to get on the scale cause I'm building muscle.  Sigh. Sometimes (for a woman) that is a lose-lose situation.  I want to see the body shrink and the scale go down... can't I have both?  Only if I quit eating like I do, I guess.  Sigh. Discipline.

I know I can lose it; I know I'm lazy.  I don't want to exercise when hubby is around becaues he watches or even if he is in the 'other room', he ... well, never mind. They are really just excuses for me not to work out and I need to ignore him and my excuses and just do it.    Do you have people in your life like that as well?  Is it just me and my desire to do it my way?

We had a great message at church yesterday on envy and jealousy.... and yes, I did nudge hubby.  His insecurity at times frustrates me.... and I'll pass on comments.... but it was a good message.

LOL  Saturday I visited Ms. Vicki and took her 4 white castles I had put in the freezer and a couple pieces of my birthday cake that I had also frozen. (I took some to Ms. Diane the other day and she was so excited - she hadn't had white castles since she moved out here many years ago from Minnesota).  Anyway, Ms. Vicki knows I'm up earl;y and just text'd me a thank you for the white castles and cake... said she liked them, and was planning to have the remaining two today for lunch.    I love sharing with others and enjoying them myself as well.  I do still have some in the freezer yet.... they probably won't last too much longer, but at least a couple weeks.  I can only eat a couple at a time... and have time in between.  Never want to lose my desire to have them.  Maybe I can do a 'road trip' over there one more time at least before Christmas... hmmm wouldn't that make a good family gift for Christmas?  Not! But it's a thought. 

As I am thinking how to close this today, Psalm 46:10 comes to mind... one of my favorite...

Psalm 46:10 (NKJV):  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalt among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Be still.   For some of us that is extremely hard.  Our mind is usually racing around all over the palce and we keep thinking about how much we need to get done.  This morning I'm watching the clock as I know I will need to get working in less than an hour.    But I also know that I desperately need to take the time to just be still and sit before God and just let Him speak to me.  In fact, I think I'm going to close this off and just get out of my chair, sit on my prayer rug, and just wait and listen for His voice.  He doesn't always speak, but sometimes, if I am still, I know He is talking to me.  I love those times of quiet and stillness.

Try it.  Just sit back and close your eyes.  Turn your thoughts to Him, and be still.  What do you think He wants to say to you today?

Blessings!

Sharing your story...

 Yesterday was a pretty good day.  I actually got ON the treadmill and walked two miles of the forty/forty challenge I have joined (forty miles in forty days).  I.am.really.out.of.shape.  Wow.  it's been awhile since I have walked - which is shameful.  I can use every excuse ... but lazy is the most prominent, I'm afraid.  It's still the first week of the the year... I can still make goals and change, right?  And I'm on the right 'foot' by getting on the treadmill yesterday, right?  Hubby was even 'motivated' to get on the treadmill for about ten minutes yesterday.  I understand being cautious.... but his 'I need to start out slow and take it easy' comments are starting to wear on me.  Ten minutes a month is not being cautious.  Ok - I'm being a smart aleck, I know. :-)

My one boss who has been on 'vacation' the past week and a half was on line yesterday and I saw several emails come through from him for me to do something.  He obviously had not been checking his emails until yesterday.  Which means I will have work to do today.  Oh joy.  

I'm ready to start the third book that my son gave me for Christmas.  Got my first book 'read' in 2023 and noted in Goodreads.  So far so good. Ok, this is only the 3rd of January.  Cut me some slack.  I probably ought to note in my calendar book at least once a month to note any books I read.  I often will read a book and just move on to the next without thinking about it.  Or go long spells without reading at all.  I'm trying to do better this year - and with putting I will read 3 books a month - which can be a challenge at times - I need to stay focused.   I have several unread books on my bookcases - books I WANT to read and just haven't... now would be a good time, ya think?

Thanking God this morning that all my children made it back home yesterday.  I'm sure it was a long day for them and I'm grateful they are back safely.

Proverbs 27:1 (NKJV):  "Don't brag about tomorrow, since you don't know what the day will bring."

Matthew 6:30 (NKJV):  "And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?"

Matthew 6:34 (NKJV):  "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."

Oftentimes we will put off things and say "we will do it tomorrow"... but what if 'tomorrow' doesn't come for us?  What if today is it?

Some people put off cleaning their house until tomorrow.

Some people put off exercising until tomorrow.

Some people will put off ______________ until tomorrow.  You can fill in that blank.

But what if?  What if God calls you to an accounting TODAY?  What if, you don't wake up tomorrow morning....  is your life in order?  Did you accomplish what you wanted to do before you 'left earth'?  

So many people make plans for tomorrow (myself included)... but tomorrow never comes for them. Those things are left undone.  Sure, when I die, I want my house to be spotless, I want all my friendships renewed, I want my children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know how deeply they are loved, and I want and I want and I want.....

But the question is... what am I doing about it NOW?  EVERY day is a new day to start a new beginning.  But what are we doing with the TODAY that has been given to us?    Even if we are sick or have medical issues and know that life is fragile... are we really prepared to be found without life in us?  

What will we have left those who we leave behind?  What memory will they have to last them their lifetime and to pass on to their families?  The older we get, the more those memories fade....or like me, many things I had blocked of my childhood that I don't want to remember, or choose not to share.  

Stories like my mother shared about walking to school in the snow.... the wagon was ahead of them and they walked behind it.... so that the wagon would clear the road somewhat and they could walk to school....  or just taking a biscuit for their lunch.  How I wish I could have gotten Mother to use the tape recorder I had sent her and recorded her stories!  But, like us now, I'm sure that many of them she had forgotten.

I don't know if my children ever heard Mother recite her poem.... Mother wrote it out for me one time and I found a written copy when my older sister passed and I was cleaning her room.  It's about her sister Kate ... can't remember the title now.  Perhaps I will look for the poem and share it.  Mother had memorized it word for word and could still recite it when she passed.  I always had her tell me when I saw her.  

What can you do TODAY .... and not put off until tomorrow?  Yes, we need to weigh the importance... but what legacy will you leave behind for those who come behind you?

Is it really that important for you to be 'right' all the time?  Wouldn't you rather be remembered as being kind and loving?  That you shared about Jesus? That you walked the talk?  That you lived what you said you believed?  That you loved others? That you gave? 

What is the legacy you leave today.... something to think about.  There is still 'time' to make a change.  I need to also ponder what do I want those who come behind me, remember about me.....   at least for one son, he will have this blog.... and many times it tells so much of me.  He will have to share my stories of my life in the past.

Or I just need to quit procrastinating and 'write that book' of my life.  It doesn't matter if no one reads it. If I want others to know ME, I need to share it.  

And so do you.  Today... is a good day to start.

Blessings!

Getting back to normal... whatever that is....

 It actually feels good to be home (at least for now) and getting back into our normal routines.  Yesterday we went to church - and wow!  Pastor Pat was on fire again - he preached about Revival.  I have prayed often for revival to come, starting with me.  Stir a fire up within me that it can never be quenched.  And I pray that over my children and their children and their children as well.  I pray they all turn to the Lord and let Him guide their thoughts, their lives, their homes.   It was a great message.

Afterwards we stopped for lunch before heading on home.  Caught the son-in-law here cleaning out the gutters for us.  They stopped on their way home from their church.  After they left, hubby turned on the TV and promptly took a nap.  I jumped on my work computer and was able to approve a bunch of timecards that were completed (it's 'Timecard Monday'!) and go through the 200+ emails that were left that I didn't delete while I was on vacation.  I was able to get several meetings scheduled as requested too.  I guess I worked about two hours.  No, I don't get compensated financially since I'm salaried.  In this case, it is fine.  I do take off when I need to and I don't have to put in the time but just take it off for dental or doctor visits.   I feel pretty good about starting work this morning since I won't have anything pressing to do.  Well, I do have about 16 'meet and greet' meetings to schedule for one department, but they are not critical since this person doesn't start until September 6.  I've got time to get them scheduled, but will probably get them done today so that they are done and over with. 

Tonight we are meeting a couple from one of the RV parks we speak at, for dinner.  Which reminds me, I need to start pulling together messages for this fall - November will be here quickly.  I think my first one is the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  I also am scheduled for Christmas this year, and New Years.  And it's ok.  Last year I turned it down, but this year I said ok.  And it will be.  We have our Christmas early, and church starts at 9AM and we can be back home by 10:30AM.  First group doesn't arrive until around 11-11:30AM and I can have lunch in the oven while we are gone if that is what they want.  It will work out.

My boss text'd me yesterday to clear her calendar this afternoon as she got a new grandbaby over the weekend and plans to help her daughter with the new baby.  I haven't heard anything about a new baby for us yet so guess the granddaughter is still waddling around.  Surely the baby will come this week!  It grieves my heart for my granddaughter's living situation, but there is nothing I can do.  If we were at our other house, I would have pushed for her to come stay with us until she got on her feet.  But, here we are and can not do anything ... except pray.  And we do that.  

Psalm 130:7  "Hope in the Lord"!  

So many times we hope in different things, but do we ever turn our hope to the Lord?  How many times do we 'hope' that we have a good day?  We 'hope' that our medical reports turn out good.  We 'hope' that our kids will do well in school.  We 'hope' we have enough money for....  so many things we 'hope' for, but what would happen if we chose to put our HOPE in the Lord?

I guarantee you that if you place your HOPE in Jesus, that you will feel better.  He is the One who guides and directs our path (when we ask Him).  Being a praying woman or man does not mean that you'll never have bad days.  It means you are willing to find beauty even in the ugliest days.   And some days can get pretty ugly, I think!  

I encourage you to sit back and think about the things that you 'hope' in.  Is your hope in the Lord, or in material things?  There is a big difference.  It can also make a difference in how you look at your day when your hope in things falls short.

Look for the beauty in the day ahead of you.  There is always good.  Sometimes you have to look for it.  Look for the joy, for the beauty of the day.  It can set the tone for you.  I pray you find your beauty as the day begins.  Find hope.

Blessings!

Turning the page

 Sometimes that is what we are called to do.  Turn the page and live all over.  Some people may think of it as a new chapter in life.  Or a new paragraph.  Something that has ended and let's move on to another topic, another subject.  And here we are.

Today is Monday and I am to be back at work.  I am grateful that I work from home so that I have time to write in here before having to get ready for work.  I did get on the computer to - I think it was - 536 messages.  Now, to be honest, probably 20 of those are ones that I have to do something with.  I get meeting notices for 5 people, so many of those were either notices to them of meetings, or acceptance of the meetings that were scheduled for them.  I worked over an hour on them Friday afternoon and got the majority out of the way.  I have perhaps 30 new messages since Friday, and again, many of those will not be mine personally.  For that I'm grateful, for I'd had to work all weekend if they were!  I do have things I need to get done this morning, and I will get them done.  It's 'Timecard Monday' so will be working on those first thing.  It will be a fairly quiet day as one boss has taken the day off and the other is on PTO this morning as she took a 'red eye' flight to New York last night.  She's sleeping this morning and getting settled in as they are staying 3 weeks.  They have the perfect place.  Her father-in-law had a house and he died a few years ago.  Many of the siblings of her husband still live around that area.  They keep an eye on the house, and when they want to 'get away' - they all "reserve" the house for as long as they want it and stay there.  Everything is there - it's like renting an airbnb only you don't have to pay for it.  Anyway, she will be there 3 weeks and visiting family, only taking two days PTO a week  to play.  The rest of the time she will be working remotely.  We'll probably chat this afternoon.  I have tried to eliminate any meetings after 2PM as they are 3 hours ahead, but some meetings she will just have to take them.

We enjoyed our granddaughter staying with us this weekend and we took her back to where she is staying after lunch yesterday.  I hate it that she is in this living situation, but I am unable to do anything about it.  I can only pray she is taken care of.  If we were in the other other house, I would have let her live with us; perhaps that is also one of the reasons God encouraged us to move.  We are limited in this 55 plus community.  A weekend occasionally is fine.  For a length of time for anyone under 55 is a no-no.  Keeps the community quiet, I guess.  Us old folks don't make much noise - and as hot as it is right now, no one goes outside anyway!

Shingles blew off our roof the other windstorm.  I think more blew off last night but haven't been out to look.  A roofing company is to come this morning to give an estimate to turn in to the insurance company.  I think I wrote before that hubby was calling the insurance company before the storm had even stopped!  We will get a second estimate too, as we have a $1000 deductible so if they can just repair the roof it should be only a few hundred dollars we'd have to pay.  Hubby gets too carried away and is more than willing to pay someone to get something done; only it usually ends up me paying for it out of my savings.  It is what it is.  I don't necessarily want cheap and shoddy; but I do want a guarantee that they will stay up there for years.  Our current roof is 7 years old.  They are usually guaranteed for 10 years, I think.

We heard a great message at church yesterday that really made me think.  It was in Exodus 32 where Moses was delayed coming down from the mountain with God, and the Israelites felt they needed a 'god' to lead them; forgetting that it was God who led them out of Egypt.  So they took their gold earrings and jewelry and gave to Aaron, Moses' brother, to fashion for them a golden calf, which he did.  (of course when he was confronted by Moses when God sent him back down the mountain to find the Israelites in revelry of all kinds, including the sexual revelry of Egypt) and Moses was so angry he broke the Ten Commandments that God had given him.  Aaron had the gall to tell Moses that the people brought him all their gold jewelry and he threw them into the fire and 'out came a golden calf'!  

What we learn from this chapter is that we all sometimes put idols before God.  We all think we have to have something that we put before time with God.  Some examples, our phones.  When we have to constantly have to have our phone in our hand, looking at it, it has become an idol.  If we can lay it aside and leave it alone for lengths of time, it can just be a distraction.   When we constantly stress eat - food can become our idol.  We use food to comfort us (guilty!) when we feel sad.  When we feel lonely. When we feel hurt. When we are angry.  Food has become our idol.  Food is there to nourish our body; it isn't there to make us 'feel good' about ourselves.  One thing that was identified surprised me.  Control.  When we feel we have to control every one, every situation, to make them do what we want them to do; when we have to be aware of every aspect of something, to make sure it is according to what we want - control becomes an idol.

Why are these things identifed as idols?  Because they take us away from our relationship with God.  God should be the One to whom we run when we are hurting.  God is the One to whom we turn to when we are confused and angry at situations.  God is the only One who can rescue us, the only One who can lead us out of our Egypt.

Yeah, I've learned that saying.  Sometimes when we are in certain situations, you can classify them as 'Egypt' where we are enslaved and miserable.  When you get out of debt, you are leaving Egypt behind.  When you restore a relationship, you have 'walked away from Egypt'.  When we lay the situation down of what is before us, we not only walk away from Egypt, but we 'lay our Isaac down'.  Remember the story of Abraham getting ready to sacrifice Isaac?   Are you willing to surrender the very thing that you hold on to - lay your Isaac down - to the only One who can make things right?

Moses, when he had come down the mountain, called for those who followed the Lord to come to him.  Only the sons of Levi came.  They were ordered to take the sword to the people.... and about 3000 men were killed that day.  Then Moses.  He interceded to God for the people.  God wanted to wipe them out totally.  Start a new lineage through Moses.  But Moses intereceded and begged God to instead wipe him out of the book God had written, instead of the people.  And God listened to Moses.  And changed His mind.

Exodus 32:31 NKJV:  "Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin - but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."  

If you have an idol you have placed before God, let it go.  It's ok to have things in your life, but it is when they become your focus that it becomes a sin.  God is to always be first and foremost in one's life.  It is to Him we are to run to.  It is to Him alone who receives all our praise and all our worship.  

Even in times of trials and pain, Jesus is always there, helping us through them.  Trust Him.  Talk to Him. Tell Him what is going on and how you feel.  He knows it already anyway, but talk to Him about it.  And wait on His timing to make things the way they should be.

Blessings.

Where did the weekend go?

 Shouldn't today just be Saturday?  And it's Tuesday already?  Where did my holiday weekend go?  It certainly did fly by!  I've shared much of what we did over the weekend.  Yesteday I didn't get done the things I had mentioend, and thought about.  Hubby and I sat out in the front courtyard for a short while while we had a cool breeze, then about 9AM I took a short walk - less than two miles - but I did walk.  It was nice being by myself and walking and talking and singing to God.  It's one of my favorite things to do.  

After preparing the deviled eggs and beans, we headed over to our new Bible study group.  We immediately felt welcomed by everyone and right at home.  All the food was delicious and we had a great time of listening and talking and finding out about others.  I hadn't planned on sharing much about myself, but when asked direct questions, one needs to answer.  It was all a good time and I learned things about each one.  There were 11 of us last night - 4 couples and 3 singles. After eating there was a discussion of what we would study.  We had been told Job, but I guess the couple who pushed on Job wont' be attending for awhile, so they said we didn't have to study Job.  I think it was decided we'd study Proverbs.  That should be interesting as that is one book I haven't studied in its entirety.

Today I am back to work - oh joy - and from jumping online for a brief time yesterday - see that I don't have much to do.  Gives me time to work on mandatory training everyone in the company has to have completed by July 11th.  My goal is to be totally done by June 30th.  I think I have about 6 trainings yet to do - ranging about 30 - 60 minutes each.  Trying to do at least one a day... but if I have the time and can get through it, may just keep going utnil I'm done.

Got started on week 5 of my Seeking Him book.  I took a few days off from it to get back in sync.  I really meant to do it yesterday and forgot about it as I was engrossed in reading my books.  This is the chapter that really spoke to me when I first went through the book (before the revised one).  It is on Grace.  I am often reminded how much grace God has already given me, and how much more grace that I need.  And He gives His grace freely, when we ask for it.

Romans 6:14 NKJV):  "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law, but under grace."

Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV):  "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God."

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV):  "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

There is so much of God's grace in the Bible.  Scripture after scripture will show you how grace is given - freely.  Sit back and think about all the grace that has been given you.  Perhaps in times of struggle you cried out to the Lord for clarificiation, for help - and He answered and gave you what you did not deserve - His grace.

None of us deserve His grace, me the least of them.  But when we seek Him first in our lives, He freely gives and supplies that grace that we need for that moment in time.  Hallelujah!   I am so grateful for the grace of God that helps me in all I do. His grace supplies my every need.  And His grace supplies yours as well.

Have you ever thanked God for His grace?  The times He kept you or a family member from serious harm?  The time when you needed to find something and couldn't and finally just asked 'God, please help me find it' - and your eyes were opened to where it was.  What about when you were overwhelmed and you didn't see a  way out - God's grace sustained you, whether you recognized it at the time or not.  And many times we don't - until we think about how things could have turned out differently - but didn't.  We didn't get what we deserved, but received the mercy and grace of a faithful God.

I could not live without God's grace in my life - nor would I want to.  There is nothing better than resting in my Savior and knowing I have received His grace for all things.

Sit back, close your eyes, and think about all that God has done for you and for your family.  That is grace.

Blessings!

A quiet day ... and it was ok.

 Hubby came in yesterday morning, interrupting me in my reading, and said that he was feeling we needed to stay home ... but it was up to me.  Since I wasn't feeling that well, I agreed we could stay home (again).  I confess, some Sundays it is hard to clean up to go to church when we are so used to relaxing and watching it on the computer or on TV.  We ended up watching Jentezen Franklin on YouTube early afternoon.  It was a great message - not by Jentezen Franklin, but by a Charlotte Gambil.  She had spoke at the Divine Conference the church had last weekend and she spoke on Sunday.  It was a powerful message and I'm glad we went ahead and watched it, although the first thought was not to.  Hubby fell asleep in the middle of it, but I thought it was a powerful message.  I would watch it again.

Today I am back to work... and I have resisted even checking emails while I have been off.  I don't even want to sign on today, but I must.  AND, I have a dreaded board meeting this afternoon in which I must take minutes.  That is the part of this job I really do not like.  And it really isn't a big deal... but I am always 'afraid' I will forget to capture something the others want included.  And the fact that taking minutes have changed so much over the years.  Now it is by 2-3 bullet points per agenda item.  How do I know I capture what they want?  Oh well, by the grace of God I will get through it.  Just part of the job.

I received several texts yesterday for Mother's Day from children and grandchildren.  I did receive a call from my daughter as well to come over for lunch and watch a movie, but I declined.  It's her day too, so why should I make her wait on me?  The last two years she did cook lunch for Mother's Day but I opted for us to stay home.  Hubby pushed to take me out for one of the meals... but I declined that too.  I am ok that we stayed home.  We sat outside after breakfast and enjoyed the cooler - and very windy - weather.  He watched the basketball game - with his headset - and I read some.  We even were able to go back outside and sit for an hour or so later in the day after the sun got off the courtyard.  Very windy still, but cool enough to set out.  It was a very quiet day.  Hubby and I ended the day with grilled ham and cheese sandwiches I cooked in my air fryer.  Read some more; watched a movie (while hubby slept), and then to bed we went.  An uneventful day and a restful one.  And I was wide awake when we went to bed... go figure... I have to work today.  

I haven't talked with my little sister for over a week now... she and her hubby both came down with pneumonia last week.  We did text yesterday and agreed to talk tonight.  I did ask her how the study was coming along and she just said she was behind, but promised to get caught up soon.  I'm leaving it alone, and continuing to work on it at my pace.  If she thought she didn't like lesson one 'making it personal, she will like lesson 2 'making it personal' even less.  Why? Because it idenitifes things that are 'proud' issues.  I am more guilty of pride and I ever thought I was.  I'm not BAD about pride... but I do have some pride issues.   This week's lesson is on 'Honesty.  Silence is not always golden.'   

I think most of us believe that we are always honest about everything... or perhaps most things.  If we don't comment or correct at all, does that mean we aren't being honest? Could be.   Sometimes being honest is difficult.  Hence the question that always has men squirming and others laughing ..."Does this dress make my butt look fat?"   Obviously I NEVER ask that question!  But if I did.... I think hubby is totally blind caruse I can commit (without asking the question) that I look fat in something, and he will always respond "You look great, you always look great, it doesn't matter what you wear."  Either he is afraid to tell me the truth (yes, there are some things he has admitted he was afraid to tell me the truth) or he is blind.

But we should always be honest, regardless of what question we are asked.  Sometimes we don't have to be brutal with our answers, and may have to sugar-coat what we say to some people, but we must always be honest.  To be honest is to also be true to ourselves.  Why have guilt hanging over your head because you didn't tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?  It is still a 'lie' if you don't tell the entire truth.  Just as it is stealing if you copy something that is copyrighted.  I really hadn't thought about that before until a pastor spoke on it many, many years ago.  'Back in my day', it was cassettes.  Or VCR videos.  People were always copying lessons out of books or favorite cassettes or videos to share with friends.  And each one was copywritten 'do not copy without the expressed written consent of....'.  I think many of us were guilty of that.  We didn't really think anything of it.  Or at least I didn't.  Until I heard that message.  And once you know, you can't get around it.   Sometimes it is easier to just buy a second copy of something if you want to share it; then there is no guilt.

Memory verse this week:  "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."  (Proverbs 28:13)

Perhaps we all need to sit back and think about the past few days.... (or even further)... are there things that we ignored or did not confess that we should have?   When you are asked a question, are you honest (we women frequently just answer "I'm fine") or do we share enough to tell the truth (I'm not fine, but am working on it.).   I usually answer people (whom I do not know and they are being polite), "I'm well, thank you.".  And that is the truth, as a rule.  I may not be 'fine', but I am 'well'. :-)

So, how are YOU doing today?  Me?  To be honest, truly honest, I'm doing well, but I have some things on my mind and heart that are troubling me.  Trusting God to break through the heaviness and show me the way wherein I should go.

Are you trusting God for something today?  You can, you know.  Just tell Him what the issue is, and take your hands off - 'Let go and Let God' is the saying.  That's what I plan to do.

Blessigns!