And here it is Monday, and here I am, hoping to come up with some words of wisdom before I have to shut this computer down and get on the work computer. Yes, it is another work day for me and the only thing I think is crucial for today is I have a board prep meeting this afternoon - and no, I am not looking forward to it. I verified I have the deck in order, at least I think I did, but will have to check it again this morning to make sure what I have there.
Last night we had dinner with Pastor Josh and his wife Holly. I guess I had 'met' her before! A couple week ago we were standing in the church lobby, waiting for the 2nd service to get out so that we could go in, and I remember a lady coming to me and asking if we wanted to sit down and pointed to some chairs. (should I be offended? Do I look THAT old?) I thanked her but said no, we were good. Well, I found out last night that - that was Holly!! She had seen us standing there and she had been sitting on the side of the lobby so offered us her chair. How sweet is that? We had a 2 hour dinner, just sitting there talking most of the time. We were asked how we met and hubby started telling 'the story' - and I couldn't believe he got it wrong! I mean, most of it was right, but, some was wrong, and when I tried to correct him, he got angry... but managed to hide it. I'm not going to point fingers so I'm just going to hush here... but it was a very nice time with this beautiful couple and we both enjoyed having dinner with them. Hubby and I did get 'into it' as we left the restaurant in my car. I'm trying to follow Siri on how to get out of that shopping area, and hubby is telling me turn here, do this, do that..... and finally I just told him to stop! I couldn't listen to Siri give me true directions with him telling me where to turn and getting angry with me because I didn't turn! He finally asked me if I was angry with him.... I told him I was not angry, but frustrated (he said "same thing") and I told him that I couldn't hear what Siri was telling me to do with him telling me where to turn. "Well, I've been in here before and I know!" Well - he hasn't been in that area in probably ten years - and there have been lots of changes! In fact, when I was turning off the road, Siri had me turn on frontage road for a short distance, and he was going bonkers, afraid I was getting on the freeway again. I don't think we spoke the rest of the way home. I may be directionally challenged at times, but when I have Siri, I know where I am going - most of the time, anyway!
My sister called me on our way home to talk about the training again. Come to find out, she had been talking with her youngest son and he told her he would pay for her to take some training at the gym! In fact, he had sent her money for Mother's Day via Venmo, but she didn't know it so hadn't even seen it. Good thing, for she would have already spent it! So now she is wanting to get back on the training discussions. I realized this morning that when I was telling her we pay $30 per session, it is because we signed a one year contract for that rate. Our contract has expired and we have not renewed it - nor do we want to, for the rates have gone up. They just let us keep working out at the $30 rate and I'm leaving it there. I think I overheard it is up to $35 a session now. Anyway, I voice-text'd her this morning and told her to tell them she only wanted one month, and how many sessions she wanted, and then ask them how much that would be. She needs to figure it out. If her son wants to pay for it - great!
This morning I feel so old. I'm not sure why.... perhaps it is because I am so weary of things happening. Have you ever had that feeling. When you are just so tired, that you feel your joy of living has been sucked out of you? I keep praying that I would find joy.... but somehow it seems to get squished so much of the time.
And yet, I remember that my joy does not come from my surroundings. My joy does not come from things - or even from people. My joy does come from the Lord! In Him I can have Joy. His Word says so!
Nehemiah 8:10 - The joy of the Lord is my strength.
But what does that mean? It means that in all things, I can find joy in Jesus. That is true joy. It's not in receiving a special gift I may have longed for, it's not in holding that great-grandchild (although THAT is pretty close!), it's not in being in in the limelight or getting things done. My joy comes from Jesus and in Him I can find all joy.
So why do I feel my life is sucked out of me so much of the time? Because situations cause my eyes to fall from Jesus onto my circumstances. No other reason. Jesus is our Joy; He is our Strength; He is our Everything, our ALL.
So today, Father, I pray You help me keep my eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfector of my faith. There is no other. Jesus is the only One, the only Way. Amen.
Philippians 4:13 (NIV): I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
No matter what we come up against today, (even board preps), I need to remember that Jesus is my Joy and He is my Strength to get me through today.
And He is yours as well. Surrender that issue to Him. Let Him take care of it, even if 'just for today'. Sometimes we just need to 'let go and let God'. Today is the day.
Find Joy today.
Blessings!
