My oldest son posted the song 'Feeling Good' by Michael Buble on his blog and I took the time to listen to and watch it this morning. I enjoy Michael Buble's songs and have a Christmas CD here somewhere. Need to dig it out. "It's that time of year."
Nothing exciting happening right now that I'm aware of. We had lunch with our trainer and his girlfriend and had a nice time. He forgot the Christmas gift they had for us - something he made - and offered to show us a photo, but I declined as I wanted to be surprised. He said he'd bring it tonight - will see if he remembers. I have training with him at 5PM tonight.
Church was really good yesterday - the message was titled 'Who are you?' and one would need to reflect on - are we a 'Contender' for Jesus - or are we a 'Pretender'? Are we really a Christ follower - or do we pretend to be? Do you not realize that as a Christ follower we have authority given to us to heal, to cast out demons, to do the things that Jesus did when He was here on earth? So many of us shy back from stepping out in such faith and declaring Jesus is Lord of all things. When given the opportunity to pray for others, I believe that God hears my prayers and acts on them. Granted, He has the final authority if they live or die.... or if they stay sick or get healed. Sometimes He wants to take that circumstance to work in someone else's life. People die young, we don't understand, we get angry or frustrated because we know we prayed and they died anyway. But God. He has a plan in all of it. We have to trust His plan. I don't know why my life ended up the way it did, except for the choices I've made. But God. He can take the broken pieces of my life and heal them - and He has healed many broken pieces - and I am allowing Him to continue to work in me as well as through me. I just need to 'let go' of me trying to take care of it all.
Back to work today after being off last Friday. I see I have 65 messages in my inbox - but I will quickly get through those when I get online. I definitely need to work on the SharePoint this week for my boss wants it right away. I have no clue what I'm doing, but will learn. Hopefully I can keep my 'I don't want to' at bay and understand the things I read and see. Lord Help.
Gotta do a run to the post office today and get some packages in the mail. I'm hoping to stop in at the drugstore in the next day or so and pick up a gift card or something and get another package sent off. My sister is having a fit - she mailed my package a week ago and it was to arrive last Friday - and it hasn't arrived yet. Surely it will come today. I can't believe she threw the receipt away for mailing it - it has the tracking number on it and she also got $100 insurance on it. I hang on to my receipts until I know they have been received. In fact, I track every package and let them know it has arrived! Want to be sure it gets where it is supposed to go! I tried to figure out the tracking number by going on my PO dashboard and I thought I found it - and if so, it is in Los Angeles - but when I key in the tracking number it says it is invalid. And no receipt. I hope she goes through her trash and finds the receipt. The bed looks a little better as I did get a few gifts wrapped yesterday and boxes taken out of here. Still have a lot on the bed though. I need to sit down and figure out who specifically I need to get something for yet - and take a day off work to go out and buy whatever else I need to get. Maybe one day next week. People will still be working. Hmmm I'm meeting my boss on the 22nd, maybe I'll take the 21st... naw.. too many people will be taking it off, I am thinking. Maybe I'll just take an extra hour here and there. Or maybe continue to do things online. Will have to do something, for sure! Time is running out.
Genesis 22:18 (CSV): "And all of the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed my command."
How many times have we told our children "JUST DO AS YOU ARE TOLD!"? We want them to obey us - not smart-mouth us back or just blatantly disobey us. We believe we know best and we want them to listen to us. And God expected Abram to do what he was told to do. Abram (later known as Abraham) was told first of all to leave his father's country and all his family. That was a hard thing to do, now as well as then, don't you agree? Abram's father worshipped idols - but somehow, Abram came to know God. And when God spoke to him, Abram obeyed.
Abram gathered his wife and all his servants, and his nephew Lot, and headed out. Not knowing where he was going, he trusted God to lead him. Years and years later, Abram and Sarai had a son - (their names change to Abraham and Sarah) and they named him Isaac. And God told him - take your son to Mount Moriah and do what I tell you. And what was that? To sacrifice Isaac His covenant son. The one that God promised would be the start of millions of people - as many as the sand or of the stars in the sky. And what did Abraham do? He took Isaac, and wood, and fire, and went to Mount Moriah and tied him up as a sacrifice and was ready to kill him..... when God called out to him. Abraham stopped, and listened. "Do not kill your son, now I know that you love me more than him." (paraphrased) And a ram was found in the thicket and Abraham instead sacrificed the ram and praised the Lord.
Because Abraham was obedient - even to the point of sacrificing his own son - his lineage and offspring did grow until it was beyond counting - as the sand of the seashore or the stars in the sky.
So what have you heard from God and are obedient to do? Are you loving our Heavenly Father more than these? More than your children? More than things? More than pleasures? If God told you - and you knew He told you - to stop doing something or to give up something.... would you?
Sometimes we have to walk away from relationships. Sometimes we have to give up things we enjoy. God will never lead us anywhere and leave us. He will walk through every journey with us. But it requires our obedience. How are you doing with that?
I think I'm doing pretty well... but the problem is ... it isn't my decision to believe 'I'm doing pretty well." Does God think I'm doing 'pretty well'. It's His opinion that counts. And I tell you what, if God tells me to do it - I am going to do it! Even if it costs me everything. I choose to obey. Do you?
Blessings!
