I made a list...

 and put it on the wall.  List of what?  Just some things that I want to accomplish - at some point.  Sigh. I seem to not remember anything I want to accomplish when I have time to do them.  But looking at my list this morning, there are 12 things on there - and I thought of another one just now to add.  Now these are things that take time to complete, as a rule.  And you know how much time I have to focus on things. BUT - with that said, I DID get some things - not on my list thought! - completed last night.  I needed another skein of yarn to complete a blanket.  I was short ONE ROW!  Can you even imagine?  One row to complete - and I ran out of yarn I needed.  Anyway - after my workout last night, I headed to Michael's and picked it up. I nearly panicked though - I couldn't find it for the longest time.  And that was all I bought there.  One skein.

Then I headed to Fry's to get milk.  I kind of 'screwed up' the other day.... when I went to Safeway and got groceries.  I was carrying several things in at one time, and sat the gallon of milk on the counter in the garage.... then got distracted, and never went back to get it.  I discovered it the next morning. Yeck.  So I stopped to get milk, and a couple other things. Heading home, AND putting the milk in the refrigerator, I was able to finish up the one row that was left on the blanket.  I think this blanket is really pretty so don't think I'll donate it, but save it for a future great grandchild.  Or pass it on to my kids and let them give on to theirs.  I also got the Tovala oven out of the box and found a counter to put it on.  My kitchen is so small compared to my last one, and I just do not have counter space.  Nor cabinet space.  But I managed to find a place for the oven.  Tomorrow our first order of food is to be delivered so I need to figure out how to use it now.  I haven't connected it to the wifi yet. Yes, it connects to wifi; still not sure how it works.

This morning I have a 7:45a workout.  Legs.  Yesterday it was core.  I'll be feeling that one later! Although we only got two sets done on core.  I've got to get moving fairly soon here and get washed up and dressed to go.  I'll need to leave by 7:15a. 

Hubby apparently doesn't care for the caramel coffee I purchased. He informed me the other day that is all we have 'left' in k-cups.  Ok. Then yesterday he made a comment that was all we had.  This morning he commented again that he hoped I liked the caramel coffee as that was all we had.  Yes, I do like it, as a matter of fact.  It's nice sometimes to have a flavor versus just 'coffee', if you know what I mean.  Not all the time, but occasionally.  So - guess I will order a box of medium/dark k-cups and have shipped so hubby can stop worrying about me drinking caramel every morning. Good grief, it is only one cup!  I did find a bag of coffee last night and set it out so he did offer to make a pot of coffee in the percolator. I'll figure out how much coffee to put in the coffee pot so that he can just make a pot of coffee.  Sometimes I feel like a parent... if you know what I mean... I guess actually, I'm achieving many roles now, right?

Youngest son has invited hubby to go see a movie with him and they were going over dates/times last night, but couldn't agree on any.  Hubby suggested they just do lunch.  Then they talked about the movie again.  Some has to do with hubby's schedule of his 'appointments' and some with my son's.  And then there is the great-granddaughter needing picked up from school.  The wife was screaming she wasn't going to pick her up cause she doesn't mind her.  And I'll leave that there.  Sigh. That poor child has to listen to screaming all the time.  I'm going to let my son know that if she can be picked up and dropped off here, I'll 'entertain' her while they go to the show.  If I'm working still, I have an ipad with the kids things on it (belongs to my daughter for the granddaughter) that she can sit in here and watch until I'm done.  I got it covered. 

Well, THAT was an interruption!  Ms. Vicky called to tell me our street was flooded and she had called two people on the board and they didn't pick up their phone (at 5:30a no less!)  Well.... I told hubby, and we went outside and it isn't flooded.... the neighbor across the street has a sprinkler head broken and the water is running out.  Either that or it - and looking at the size of that puddle - it could be a broken pipe.  While we were standing there looking at it (me in my jammies in the courtyard, and hubby dressed (thank goodness!) the neighbor came out and said she had already called the landscaper and he was on his way to fix it.  Teach hubby to be a once upon a time board president!  But why involve me?  Right? But then, Ms. Vicky calls me for a lot of things. The 'danger' of being neighbors with older women, right? LOL

My entire train of thought has gone off the edge now.  I get so caught up in my 'own little world' here in the mornings, that sometimes interruptions like this, that cause me to get up out of my chair and do something else, makes the thoughts fly out the brain faster than they got there!

I mentioned to Morgan last night that I was toying with the idea of having a women's bible study at our house on Tuesday nights.  She surprised me.  She immediate said "I will come if you do!"  I had to repeat it twice to make sure I heard right. I hadn't expected that!  So maybe that is my sign that I need to find a good bible study and start check for maybe 3-4 other women.  I'll let it ride for the moment.

My legs woke me up this morning - well, about 3a I think it was.  Not the seering pain down the bones like it was before, but the muscles themselves, and it wasn't from working out. It wasn't workout soreness, but pain soreness, if that makes sense.  I am wondering if it is the inflammation that showed up on the last CRP test... I think that is the test. I do have that test scheduled for myself at SQL on September 1st.  It was 3.4 or was it 4.5 before.... and that is high.  I will take both test results to Dr. Mark when I go see him in September.  Need to get this inflammation down - and also find out what is going on. I still say it is from the scorpion or bug bites from about 4 years ago.  I still get the pin pricks in that area throughout the day and night.  No bumps, so they can't 'see' anything wrong... but it's inside and that is what frustrates me.  How do I tell them what is wrong when they can't see it?  I don't even know what kind of test they could do to find out what it is and how to fix it.  But I do need to get rid of the inflammation in my body.  Need to do more research, I guess.  Haven't looked in a long while.  Whatever bit me, bit about 15 times in the same area.  The two antibiotics I was prescribed, and the cream, took care of the itching and pain, but did nothing for the inflammation inside.  Even forced the dermatologist to do a biopsy of the area, but it came back with nothing.  Of course I couldn't get in to see the PCP I had at that time, and then I changed to Dr. Mark. Oh well, something for me to deal with.

Psalm 118:24 (ESV)  This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  

We should rejoice in every day for it is a day that we can 'do over' and 'do better', right?  Sometimes that's hard, but we have a choice.  Make it better - or make it worse.  I choose better!

And with that - I need to get dressed for my workout - don't want to go in my jammies!

Have an amazing day - and be kind to someone; you don't know what they are going through.

Blessings!

mmm Flavored.... just right

 On Saturday morning my son gave me a box of flavored coffee.  When I brought it home, I told hubby how I wanted it used.  Since I enjoy a couple cups of coffee sometimes, I want my dark roast 8 oz, and then use the flavored 12 ounces.  Pastor Steve taught me that when he was here - we'd stop for coffee at Circle K and instead of just getting the flavored coffee, he would take a coffee pot and fill a cup part-way, and then fill the rest with the cappuccino.  It just really enhances the flavor.  So - hubby didn't bring it yesterday morning, but he did fix it for me this morning - and it is so good!  But, I think I will tell him to leave it for Saturday/Sunday mornings when I can sit back and really enjoy it.  I can during the weekdays, but I'm 'busy' trying to stay focused to get everything done I want to - and on weekends I can dwaddle, for the most part. 

The message at church yesterday was so powerful and so good, and has given me a lot to think about.  The title was 'What are you doing?'.  Of course the reference was more in to 'what are you doing (how are you serving) in the church'.... but it has given me a lot of thought about other things as well.  Currently we are not serving in the church at all.  The thought of being greeters an occasional Sunday has come to mind and we just might offer to do that, perhaps for the second service, since we go to the first.  It does help to get to know people, especially by 'face' when we don't have a chance to talk.  I'd love to teach a class, but I'm not sure how that would go over.... you know the situation I have with hubby's jealousy of my getting to do something and he doesn't, or he gets to the number of people coming to class and is his class bigger or smaller than mine.  That stuff just doesn't bother me.  I've taught classes where only one person was in it.  If they are there to learn, I am there to teach.  I've thought about an available evening - and even that is hard to come up with.  Currently Monday-Tuesday-Wednesdays are used - and Thursdays we sometimes go out with friends for dinner.  Yeah that leaves Friday-Saturday-Sunday... but we always find other things to do.  And then fall is coming and we have our RV preaching..  I meant to work on that this weekend and instead took a nap yesterday.  A much longer nap than I had planned to take.  Got to write myself a note and put it where I can see it - I must get started on those!

So I don't know how we can serve - perhaps when we meet with the pastor and his wife for lunch on the 22nd we can talk about it.  Surely there is something we can do that we can do together.  It's just hubby and my styles are so different and our thinking is different.  Although.... he did tell me last week when he met with another pastor friend for lunch, this pastor told him that he is more of an evangelist versus a preaching pastor.  I thought that was interesting.  Not for me to dispute or encourage.  Me - I just enjoy telling others about Jesus and how to live for Him - I enjoy it enough I'd do it for free.  I sometimes think, with all his grumbling, that hubby keeps pushing to stay on the list so that he can be paid.  For some people that is their value.  Not to put anyone down.  There comes a time when one needs to say 'no'.  I've gotten that way a couple times the past couple of years... but I do love to be with those we know at the RV parks and I love sharing Jesus with them.  It's just the work involved sometimes is overwhelming.  I've got to research, type out, study, and make sure my notes are correct.  Delivery of it isn't so much of a problem; I'm not confident in myself, but I am confident in the Word so know I can share it.  Need to get busy on researching NOW so that I can be prepared THEN.  I just feel like I 'come alive' when I share the Word of the Lord.  My soul feels free. Does that make sense?

Today is Monday and it's 'back to work'.  Both of my bosses are working today, although my male boss is still in Utah and working remote.  The other admin is back today from her tour of Egypt so I don't have to cover for her.  I still have several things I need to get done today that I didn't finish last week.  But, I did get all the meet and greets scheduled and I hope all the equipment.  I remembered late Friday that I had ordered the equipment for the new hire starting 10/24 - but forgot to tell them to ship it to him!  So sent them an email to which they had not respond last time I checked.  That's what happens when there are a lot of distractions between work - and home!  And that's when I just want to retire and not do this anymore.  

Since I did take perhaps a 2 hour 'nap' yesterday afternoon I had trouble getting to sleep last night.  I have still been pondering over the questions in the Rooted book.  I kept asking God 'what is it that I haven't confessed to You and asked forgiveness for?' - and nothing would come to mind.  Then I tried to remember the word given for it in one of my devotionals.  I thought I had it - and this morning I confirmed it - it's called 'Rapid Repentance'.  When I do something wrong, or feel convicted of something, I immediately go to God and ask His forgiveness and repent of whatever it is.  That is 'Rapid Repentance'.  Because I choose to do that, I don't know that I have anything that I hold on to.  Even if it involves relationships.

And to work through THAT aspect of it..... we had been invited over for lunch today at the youngest son's house to celebrate his and her birthdays.  Yeah, they are just days apart.  I feel it is more to get HER attention, since it is always the closest to her birthday, but it didn't matter this time; I have to work today even though it is Columbus Day and whatever other names the government has chosen to give it. I do not get the day off, and told them so.  BUT, since I want to make sure I don't harbor any feelings against anyone, we invited the son and DIL out to dinner last night to celebrate their birthdays since we won't be there today.  It was a nice dinner.  Unfortunately we chose Coco's.... totally not THEIR style but within our budget... and they only had a couple people working the entire place and service was so slow and although the others enjoyed their food, mine wasn't that good.  I didn't make a big deal of it, we ate, we talked, and then we went to our respective homes.  It actually was a nice time.  At least I enjoyed chatting with them.  We need to to that more - having the children over for dinner.  EVERY year I tell myself once a month.... and then never do anything about it.  Maybe soon?

Now I need to jump off and get ready for work.  In my mind I have a lot of other things I'd rather be doing, so that means this is going to be a tough work day to stay focused.  I have an 8AM call with my one boss but it's just to catch up on things.  Next Sunday isn't only my son's birthday, it is also Boss's day and also Sweetest day.  Don't know where that last one came from.  But I do need to figure out something for my boss and at least send her a card. Well, I guess both of them, but will see.

Hope you have an amazing day!  How are you touching others today with words and actions?  Are you being kind?  Are you encouraging?  Go for it!

Blessings!

Gotta get more coffee.....

 It's going to be one of those mornings, I think, when one cup of coffee is not going to be enough.   I'm thinking a trip to Sam's Club is going to be on the agenda this weekend too, as hubby has told me we only have a few k-cups left.  I really don't HAVE to have a cup of coffee every morning, but hubby brings me a cup every morning so every morning I drink it.  Some mornings it tastes rich, deep, and satisfying.  Today it's like hot water.  It's hard to get good coffee every morning out of a k-cup.  My machine also has a pot for making coffee, and I've encouraged hubby to use it, and he does occasionally, and I have to tell him make only half a pot for we rarely drink it all in one day anymore.  But there was a time that we did.  Anyway, I will probably fix a second cup of coffee today - or perhaps a cup of green tea.  Why?  Just because I feel like I want one.  No other reason. (yeah, I'm looking for something to come to me to write)

The thought has come back to me this morning.... "I would like to not do this job anymore".  And why is that?  Because I am going to have to learn something new, and I don't want to.  It's not something that interests me.  They are changing our timecard system and we have a new program starting in March and we have to take all this training.  And I just don't want to.  I keep telling myself I'm not the only one - and I really have been fortunate that I haven't had to do timecards in the past.... BUT.... when one admin left, all 20+ of her people needed to have their timecards approved and I got to be the lucky one.  Then another admin left, and I got the people she approved.  I have NEVER had to do timecards .... until these admins left.  I tried to get out of it... but wasn't able to.  I finally have figured out how to do these - and now they are changing the entire timecard system.  UGH.  I'd rather be flipping burgers and not having to do this!

I do have a great job, don't get me wrong.  I do less than a fourth of what I did when we were in the office, and they pay me well do to this.  From home.  Some days I'm really busy, but most days I'm not.  I think I would prefer a job in which I could ... could what?  

I think of my daughter who is constantly busy looking for houses to 'flip' - fix up and sell, or in the past, showing houses.  I don't know I could do that.  It's a special skill.

I think of my daughter-in-love who has her masters in physical therapy and has to physically work with people, helping them however they need.  Hands on.  Physical work.  I think I would like that type of job, but of course I couldn't do it now.  Education for one, but I just don't have the strength now.  

I've often thought of writing a book - but how.  Anyone can write a book, and I love books, and I love to share stories, and I could put things together.... but I don't have the time right now to even focus on something like that.  Too many distractions.  And I have to work.

I'm not creative enough to make things and sell.  I love to cook and bake - but... I don't want the hard work of restaurant work either.  Although I have often told a friend of ours who owns a restaurant that if I ever need to find a job, I'm expecting to be hired as one of his waitresses.  And he says yes, anytime that I want to start.  Now that also is PHYSICAL work.  

Am I feeling sorry for myself this morning?  What's up with that this morning?  It's Friday, the work week is nearly over.... and I'm strugging to 'want' to work today.  Probably because I must get on the timecard lessons.  sigh.  I do have a 8AM meeting with one of my bosses.  My favorite boss text'd me last night that she got word another executive is leaving and gong to another company.  This one has barely been here a year and a half.  I have never met him, and don't really know him, so his leaving won't affect my area.  Since he is about the 5th excutive in the last 5 months to leave... it does cause one to wonder what is going on.  Can I hold on 3 more years?  I set a goal for myself - my favorite boss said she'd like to retire at 65.... three years.... surely I can retire at 75, don't you think?  Don't I deserve to have some days of my own?

My brother text'd me the other night that he didn't want to scare me, but his wife had gotten a dental implant last week..... developed a sinus infection (I found out that is where they get the bone for the grafting for the jaw) and they had to remove the entire implant and put her on heavy doses of antibotics.  That doesn't sound encouraging.  But it is good to know that everything may not go perfectly.  She is now going with a bridge instead.  I'm not thinking I will have any complications... but I know there can be.  I'm always confident that God takes care of me, and He always has, so I am not afraid.  If something goes wrong, God will still be taking care of me.

I love the story in Luke 18 of the blind man, when he heard a crowd coming his way, asked what was going on.  He was told that Jesus of Nazareth was heading that way.  So what does he do?  He starts yelling out "Jesus, Son of David!  Have mercy on me!"  Everyone started telling him to be quiet, but he refused.  "Jesus, Son of David!  Have mercy on me!" he kept calling.  Finally Jesus had the blind man come to Him and asked...... "What do you want Me to do for you?" ....  and the blind man said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight."  And Jesus responded, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well."  And the man received his sight and went on his way, glorifying and praising God.

"What do you want me to do for you"?"

Ponder that question. If you wanted to ask Jesus to do something for you, what would you ask Him?  

I am sitting here asking myself that very question, and I must say, "I don't know".  I can see and hear. I can move and breathe.  I am well (well, pretty much, anyway).  I have a good job.  Hubby is healthy.  I could ask for better relationships with my children and grandchildren... but what do I want Jesus to do for me?

Let's both take time today to ponder that question.   What do you want Jesus to do for you?

Have you asked Him to do something for you?  You won't get it just by thinking it.  Take a moment to verbally ASK Jesus to do something for you.

He's waiting.

and Jesus said to him...."What do you want Me to do for you?"

and He's asking you.

More Coffee.... STRONG, please....

My coffee just isn't giving me the wakefulness I desire this morning.  Starbucks has gotten too strong for me anymore - and if I go there at all - I usualy get a vente, shaken Tazo green tea,  unsweetened.  I do enjoy their green tea.  Coffee is meant to be drank; not sipped.  Hot Tea is meant to be sipped.  Right?  Anyway, I stayed up a bit later than usual last night watching movies and my body awoke early (again) this morning.  I told it that today was Saturday... but it didn't listen.  So I got up and came here into my room - and was able to go back to sleep for a bit over an hour; before hubby woke up and brought my coffee in.  I'm nearly done with that cup and desire another cup, one just a bit stronger.  I think we will skip the k-cup and make a pot of coffee so that I can get the strength that I want.

But, then, coffee doesn't wake me up like it used to.  I guess because I have had so much of it over the years.  I used to drink ONLY coffee al day long; one pot after another - until my father-in-law got after me and told me I needed to drink water too.  So I started weaning myself off so much coffee and drink water too.  Now I have only one or two cups of coffee in the mornings and the rest of the day it is generally water - about to 96+ ounces a day!  Occasionally I will have a Coke Zero - but not often.  Sometimes I will get a diet coke just to eat up the flim in my throat.  Yeah, that's why I prefer coke over pepsi.  Won't touch pepsi.  I mean, after all, if coke can clean the acid off a car battery, it can clean the flim in my throat, right?

Today I have a sorta busy day.  Hubby and I will take a short walk in a bit.  Since I slept a bit later, I'm hoping I can put him off at least an extra hour.  We have gotten to where we try to walk at least a mile every day.  Until I can get my treadmill in the house (after I give away some furniture to get it in here!), that mile will have to do.  Then I need to shower and get read to go to our youngest great-granddaughter's one year birthday party.  It's hard to believe she will be one year old on November 17th.  She is walking all over the place and is so funny and cute.  As all my great-granddaughters are. :-)

After that I will have to work on my message for tomorrow.  I mean, the message is done, but I still need to speak it a couple times to get the right flow of the words.  Last week's message honoring our heros went well, I guess, at least it did from the comments I received.  This week's message is on where is God in all that is going on.  I do enjoy somewhat the study and pulling the messages together.  No, I do not usually write them from scratch as I haven't specifically been taught that.  But I take another's message and then work with it to make it my own.  I put in my stories (as a rule) and take out other things and insert my own thoughts.  I need to think about it and verbalize it a couple times to get it flowing the way I want it to.

Next week is going to be sorta busy too.  I'm meeting a friend from work for lunch on Monday; meeting my boss and two doctors I used to work with for lunch on Tuesday...... and then the first part of December I get to meet my boss and a CFO and doctor I used to work with for lunch again!  I am fortunate to have good friends from other companies that I have worked at.  I love these doctors and consider them good friends.  And they enjoy being with me.  Imagine that.

One of the books I'm reading now is by Chuck Pierce and Alemu Beeftu called 'Rekindle the Altar Fire'.  It has as its topic 'Making a Place for God's Presence'.  I am enjoying the read; wish I could read more than a chapter in the mornings.  But, it's my fault for I'm doing my study on the Proverbs 31 woman (and still having great difficulty in memorization!) and my Bible reading, and another book which I may talk about another time.  Then occasionally I start to take time to write in here.

But the book 'Rekindle the Altar Fire' today talks about rebuilding the altar.  He briefly mentions how Elijah had to rebuild the altar on Mt. Caramel before he prayed for God to send the fire to burn up that very wet sacrifice.... and God not only burned up the oxen sacrifice, but also lapped up all the water and all the stones that were surrounding it.  Many of the patriarchs also built altars and offered sacrifices or sought God there.  Remember Jacob and the dream he had as he was heading back to face Esau?  He saw angels ascending and descending on the ladder.... he fought with the 'angel', until his hip was dislocated.... then he took the stone that had been his pillow, poured oil on it, and called the place 'Bethel'.  And I believe it was Abraham who had also set up an altar at Bethel.  

So what does your altar look like?  I must admit that my thoughts went to my kneeling bench that is still stuck in the corner as I thought about it.  But one doesn't need something like that to dedicate an altar to the Lord.  All they need is a willing and contrite heart, and bring it to God wherever you are.  That will be your altar to Him; wherever you lay down the burdens of your heart.

I'm already thinking ahead to the first of the year and our 21 day fast.  I want to be more intentional this year, meaning that I don't want to just name some foods I will give up, but be more focused because when I give up something I really like, it keeps my attention on Him.  Why don't you start thinking about joining me on the first Sunday in January to fast and give back to God a portion of the year?  It could be a meal; it could be a favorite drink; it could be .... anything.  What is in your life that distracts you from being focused on God?  For some people it is Facebook.  I try to stay off it pretty much, but do glance at it occasionally.  Why?  Because I can lose an hour easily or more if I start skimming over things that I don't need to look at.  I prefer to read family things and know what my family is doing.  Other than that, I don't need it.  I've cut back on looking at it, and hope to cut back even further next year.  My life is more important than sitting and reading things on facebook.

Side Note:  I do have several things to get taken over the The Salvation Army - hopefully later this afternoon.  Still have a long ways to go, but at least I'm working on it.  How is that going for you?

What does your altar look like?  Is that a good question?  Mine needs some work as it has been neglected some.  Yeah, I confess, I've had some trouble focusing this past year.  God knows my heart and He knows how desperately I need Him, how desperately I want Him to take over my life.  But He still allows me to make my own choices, which isn't always good.  He's helping me tear down walls built up by years of hurt, but I have a ways to go before they 'all fall down'.  With God's help, and with my laying certain situations upon His altar as a sacrifice to Him, I can trust Him to burn up and remove any thing I bring Him.  He can do that for you as well, if you will take the time to talk with Him about it.  Ask Him.  You will be amazed at how much better you will feel.  THAT is whyI constantly am giving situations to Him; I can't live in the pit.  It's ugly down there.  And I don't want to decorate it, although there are times I try to.

Ok - now I'm starting to ramble and I need to get up and get dressed for our walk.  Got things to do; people to see.

Hoping you have an amazing day.  Remember always that there is One who loves you more than anyone else ever could.  He's always waiting to have a conversation with you.  Will you meet with Him and share a few things?

Blessings!

Verona Coffee this morning....

 Went to Sam's Club and Fry's yesterday and spent way too much money - and still feel that I did not buy very much.  Hubby doesn't like the breakfast blend coffee we have been drinking - and I like strong coffee - so bought a bag of Verona yesterday.  Abit pricey, but drinking it this morning, it is well worth it.  But I do have a question.  Of course I look at the 'directions' when buying something new.... and it said to use two tablespoons for each 6 ounce cup.  My cups are at last 8 ounces; where did they get that a cup is 6 ounces?  So, in preparation for good cup of coffee this morning I am measuring it out last night, trying to calculate and think it through.  I THINK I put 15 tablespoons in the filter and told hubby to push the 8 cup button (according to their 6 ounce theory, that should be 7 1/2 cups.  Knowing it would be strong (because Starbucks always is), I told hubby to just push the 8 (8-ounce) cup on the coffeemaker.  Well, he believes I said 10 cups - and I may have because by then I was way confused.  And you know what - the 10 cups water and 15 tablespoons of Verona seem to work perfectly.  It tastes great this morning - strong enough to wake me up some, and tasteful too.  Coffee.  It's what is good each morning first thing.  Jesus and Coffee always go together. :-)

I am finally starting to recover, but I'm not sure if it is from our trip and the time difference, 'jet lag', or my new prescription I have to take.  All I know is that since we have been back I have been exhausted. I've been going to bed earlier, and although getting up at my usual 4AM (5AM on weekends), I have still fallen asleep for at least 30 minutes while sitting here reading.  Today I feel like I am starting to come out of it, whatever it was.  I will find out if it is my medication come the middle of this week.  I started taking it last Wednesday.... since that time I have had severe leg aching (not cramps) in the middle of the night; my neck has hurt bad enough I spent the $$ to buy cream to put on my neck to dull the pain enough I could sleep.  I take my second dose this Wednesday morning so will see how it affects me.  I am praying for God to intervene with any reactions and will help me get through any that I have.  And I believe that He will.  Just as I am asking for His complete healing of my osteopenia (which means I must also do my part - exercise with weights and walk).  I believe He will heal me, just as He has healed my big brother of osteoporosis.  Yes, He no longer is classified in that range; he is back into the osteopenia range (the beginning of osteoporosis) because he has used weights, walked, and eaten better so that his bones will strengthen.  

We have joined a small group nearby through our new church.  It meets on Thursday evenings at 6:30PM I think it is.  We really need to get plugged in so just 'went for it'.  We haven't gone yet and will probably start this week (just signed up last week).  It will be good to be 'in community' with others again.  Perhaps I can get a woman from that group to walk with me on occasion and become good friends.  

I am reminded this morning in my devotions that everything is in God's timing.  I have prayed many years for many things.  Some have been answered, some have not as yet.  Some I am grateful to God that He didn't answer the way I asked for them.  And in other answers I have praised Him alone for what He alone could have brought about.

I will only say this to you.... if you are reading this.... and you believe in the power of prayer.... be ready.  God is going to do something mighty and great in your life.  It doesn't matter how I pray, or what I pray, when you  are mentioned, God is in control.  You can't fight it forever; you can't really fight it at all.  Be watchful, and see the hand of the Lord intervene in situations  you never thought possible.  He will restore what the locusts have taken away.

Joel 2:25 (KJV) "And I will restore to you the years the locusts have eaten......"

Do I believe the Word of the Lord?  Absolutely.  Do I really believe that years that have taken life away will be restored?  Yes I do.  They will not go back to what they were; they won't even be the same, and perhaps not even as long.  But I believe that the things that took life away will be restored and a New Life will be born.  Yes, I believe it.  And when the Lord restores you, He will bless you and keep you.  You will know beyond all doubt that it is by His hand that you are rescued from disaster and that your feet are on solid ground.

As we begin a new week, take a moment and think of the times that God has already rescued you from disaster, from distress.  Perhaps it was a health issue.  Perhaps it was a financial issue.  Perhaps it was a relationship issue.  It could be anything.

Listen..... do you not hear it?   Jesus is calling your name..... the time is now... do not delay.  Come quickly to the Throne of the Most High God.... the One who loves you more than He loved His own life.  He's calling your name.... and He's waiting on you to make the move to Life and to Freedom in Him.

Blessings.