Is it 'only' Tuesday?

 I know that this year is totally flying by - afterall, here it is a third of the way into July already... but it just feels like this year is going quickly - and I'm losing time!  Does it feel that way to you?  That you get up in the morning, you know of things you NEED to get done, things you WANT to get done (which most usually get put on the back burner), and next thing you know, it is the next day.  I think we can safely blame social media and TV on that, don't you?   That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.  Enough said.

For some reason, after 4 days off work and being totally lazy - I found myself exhausted yesterday.  I dreaded going to the gym for my training session - especially knowing it was 'leg day'.  I'm beginning to wonder if I am getting anemic.... will find out Friday - I'm supposed to go donate blood and I need to kick up my intake of vegetables and iron-laden food or my iron level will be too low.  I was very tired (perhaps it was just mentally? Me telling myself how tired I was?) but went to the gym anyway - and it was a good session. And, yes, we did legs.  My core isn't real strong yet so I am still wobbly, but my trainer told hubby as we were leaving that my legs are really strong.  HAH!  After lunges, leg extensions, squats - well, they didn't FEEL strong, they felt real wobbly!  But that is the reason I go to the gym.  To wobble my way into being strong.  

Tonight is 'girls night out' and I am 'assuming' my daughter and I will be meeting up.  I'll check with her later, sometimes they are busy and we don't meet - either way is fine with me.  Hubby will be back to meeting his friend tonight so I'd be home alone.  And, if I am, I waste it by finding a movie and crocheting instead of doing something much more productive like I always talk about... only at this moment I can't think of anything productive I want to do.

I read an interesting blog of a friend yesterday.  She doesn't write often but when she does, it is powerful.  In fact, I read the last three; somehow I had missed them.  In the last one it really got my attention. Why? Because I know I 'follow' some pastors that I feel really preach the Word.  As some of you may have read or heard in the news of pastors stepping down from the pulpit with sex abuse charges against them - some that go back as far as in the 80's.  Think about it; things were pretty 'free spirited' still then, thanks to the hippie 'love everyone' scene.  Not putting them down; we are called to love everyone.  Just not sexually. Anyway, we all heard about Ravi Z a few years ago.  I don't have any of his books (I don't think) and I did not 'follow' him or listen to him, but my sister did.  Years before that it was Jimmy S.  Then there was Ted H.  Now there is Robert M. and numerous others.  I was reading in an email this morning of a pastor in Kentucky, another pastor in Florida - and anyway - the blog also commented on waiting to hear what Tony E and TD J's sin was that they stepped back from leadership in their very large churches.  

I bring all this up because I had to sit back and think about who I 'follow' in leadership of the church. I talked with hubby about it last night as well.  We both agree we hold Pastor Dave in the highest respect, but we never 'followed' him.  Pastor Don we love, but when he started a new church, we did not follow.  Pastor Steve is my mentor and friend, and although I use his messages for the base of my sermons, we don't listen to him other than when I need to find something to speak on, and we love and respect him because of his honesty and transparency.  We also felt close to his wife.  Then we have gone through other pastors whom we either didn't care for the way they preached or how they treated us and others, and even where we are at now, we love our pastors, and as much as we have tried to build a relationship with them, and they tell us all the time how much they love us, we don't see that 'love' in action.  It's interesting and will not elaborate.  Maybe it is just us?  I always thought I was loveable - but perhaps I am not?  Hmmmm  Anyway, I share all this because I wanted to see if there was one that we put on a pedestal.  And we may have for a moment in time.  We both love Jentezen - and I've mentioned him in here many, many times - but it is because he preaches the Bible, which is what we want to hear.  Charles Stanley was a great man and preached the Bible.  But we don't watch him every week any more (since COVID is over).  I still get his devotionals, and as you know I occasionally will listen to a message on Sunday mornings, but I don't do it every week.  I do love their worship though.  Our worship where we are goes way too long and I am finding myself 'shutting down' more often than not... hubby and I discussed that last night too.  Most of the messages are good but our pastor hasn't himself preached in about 6-8 weeks.  His wife has spoken once; the Sunday we skipped by being in Gilbert.  I heard it was a great message (she does do good ones), but haven't listen to it.

I know I'm rambling... but it is on my mind.  I do not want to follow ANY man... I only want to follow Jesus.  That's why I read books to help me live my life better.  That's why I read my Bible every day. In fact, I mentioned to hubby last night that we have gotten out of the habit of reading our Bibles before going to bed.  We did that for awhile.  I miss it. And we need to turn the TV off, put the book or crocheting down, and pick up our Bibles and read God's Word before heading to bed.  Put good things in our mind to ponder as we sleep.  I'm into Revelations now in The Passion Translation and it's interesting how things are worded versus what I have read for years in the NKJV or NIV.  As you know, I love the NKJV, but I have a new NIV that when I finish TPT I plan to start. I had actually bought it for a friend for her birthday and she wanted large print - so that is what I ordered - but it is really large print - and I decided I needed it worse than she did - and ordered her another that I knew the print would be larger than what she was currently using.  I grew in Christ reading the NIV and although I have read it through many, many times, I am excited about reading it again.  It's what I cut my teeth on, really learning about Jesus.  I just love the NKJV and the way the words flow.  

2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV):  but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

To Jesus be the glory!  

Blessings!

It made me smile....

 I just finished reading my son's (Ralphd00d's) blog about stopping over here the other day.  It made me smile as I read and remembered his visit - for whatever reason he was out in this area - it brought me joy then, and it brought me joy again as I read his story of it.  I really had to smile at the dialogue he shared with his wife.  My child! 

I had a great lunch with my boss yesterday down in Tempe and a good trip there and back.  It's about 45 miles one way.  I took my time coming back and stopped to get my car washed.  I decided to go with the 'unlimited' washings because I like my car clean.  It had gotten pretty bad.  I can go as many times as I want each month, for the price I would pay for one car wash.  Win-win.  The inside of my car doesn't get too bad - mainly the front seat where feet get on the carpet, and in the back/trunk area where I place anything I'm buying - groceries, plants, boxes, etc.  I had dirt back there from the plants I had bought on Sunday  It had been over a month since my car was washed and driving in the rain (when we had it before), had left dirt spots all over the car.  It looks so nice now.

Peoria Ford keeps calling me and leaving voicemails, and sending letters, and even sending emails - wanting me to trade in my car for a newer one.  Nope.  Not going to happen.  It's a 2017; I bought it in 2020 and I can't remember the mileage it had then - less than 20K I think - but I have about 40,480 miles on it now.  I keep up with the oil changes, tire rotations, etc.  And, I don't drive it that much.  And even better - I had it paid off in a little over a year by applying all I could towards it.  It costs me nothing but gas and upkeep.  And it's a gorgeous blue.  Why would I want to trade it in for a  newer, different color, car when I'd then have a car payment?  Naw, not going to happen.  I quit taking their phone calls; throw the mail away (after checking to see what they are trying to bribe me with - last time was $1500 over what I still owed on my car. Well, duh, it's paid for.), and emails I just delete.  

I have numerous emails to take care of today for work and daggone it - the chair of the board I have to take minutes at decided to take that week off on vacation and I have to move that board meeting - and I can not find any dates andMy  times that will work.  I'm hoping I can get my boss to just cancel it.  The next one is August 9th.  But I have looked through May and June and there just isn't any time available.  Will see if he makes me overlap meetings to get it in.  Got to take care of it today.

My daughter took me to a new salad place last night - I would go there again.  It's called Salad World and it's at 83rd & Cactus.  You go in and choose what size you want (regular $9.99 or large $12.99) and trust me, regular is big enough for me - and I love salad!  You tell them what kind of lettuce you want - they have 4 trays of different kinds, I think.  Then there is cut up fruit if you want that added.  Then they have about 36 (?) different kinds of toppings.  Now mind you, the toppings are cut in very small pieces - like 1/2 inch squares, and they only put one tablespoon in the metal bowl they are adding everything to.  Then you add meat - ham; chicken; steak;  -  again, in very small pieces for $1.99.  There is also a lot of different kinds of nuts to add.  Then you tell them what kind of dressing you want, either on the salad or on the side, and they stir it all up together and put in the plastic container to give to you.  AND, on Tuesdays they have 2 for $22, including the protein.  We really didn't save as we both got the regular size, numerous toppings (all free)  and the chicken (normally $1.99) - so for us it was about the same cost.  But the salad was very good.  I would go back.  I had a salad for lunch that was smaller, at the restaurant, and it was $11.25 I think - and I enjoyed this one just as much.  I told hubby about it so you know he has to go because he always wants to experience the things I do.

I read a former pastor's blog this morning and he mentioned he was in Ohio to do a funeral of a young woman who had passed away.  She was born on the day of the Oklahoma bombing which left 168 dead and over 600 wounded.  He shared about the tragedy of that bombing - and yet, here was this child born that very day.  He talked about how this young woman, now grown and married, had a smile on her face always; was always so full of life.  He didn't say how she passed away, or what happened, but that she lived life.  And loved life.  Reminds me of 'The Dash' story.  Do you remember it?

The Dash  (by Linda Ellis)

I read of a man who stood to speak / at the funeral of a friend / He referred to the dates on the tombstone / from the beginning.... to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth / and spoke the following date with tears, / But he said what mattered most of all / Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time / That they spent alive on earth. / And now only those who loved them / Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own, / The cars...the house...the cash. / What matters is how we live and love / And how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard. / Are there things you'd like to change? / For you never know how much time is left / That still can be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough / To consider what's true and real / And always try to understand / The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger / And show appreciation more / And love the people in our lives / Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect / And more often wear a smile, / Remembering this special dash / Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read / With your life's actions to rehash..... / Would you be proud of the things they say / About how you spent YOUR dash?

Blessings!