It was a busy day and I was tired!

 After we made the decision to not join with the group, and I had read via text we just needed to show up if we were going to help, I went to Sam's Club to pick up what I needed for cooking yesterday...well, what they had available.  Ended up ordering through Fry's as well and did an early evening pickup.  I sure do love the pickup - I buy less cause I can't 'see' everything and grab it... but I do get enough.  They do my grocery shopping and I drive at the specified time and pick it up and they put it in my car.  Sure saves times!  Anyway, while I was at Sam's club my phone went off a few times and someone in the group kept face-timing.  I didn't respond, and I saw that hubby had answered.  Surely he would tell them we weren't going.  He didn't.  I think they figured it out though.  And we weren't the only ones... there were about 5 others that didn't go either.  Surprised that two weren't going, but not at three.   

Regardless, after my trip to the store, then running out to grab a protein shake with hubby, I got started cooking.  My mind was all over the place, I think.  Didn't fix what I wanted to.  Forgot the biscuits at Sam's club and I had ordered on Fry's so couldn't experiment with the peach cobbler.  Hope to get to it today.  I did make Old Fashioned Molasses cookies.... yes, they have real sugar in them.... and they are good, but I'll give them away. :-)  I like Gingersnaps better.  In fact, I think I will experiment with those.  I wanted Roma tomatoes from Fry's... can you believe they said they didn't have any?  I will need to make a run to Fry's today to pick up a few things they said they didn't have.  Then again, I really don't need them today.   I was going to make 'white girl salsa' but ended up buying salsa.

I did make one dish yesterday that I took over to Ms. Vicky.  After I dropped it off, I remembered I forgot to put some things in it so it probably tastes pretty bland.  Embarrassing.  I think I'll make garbage today, if I have everything, or Taco Soup, and take over to her and apologize.  I did make blueberry cobbler yesterday in my crockpot.  Need to take some over to Ms. Vicky and Ms. Diane today.  On my way to Ms. Diane's with her dish yesterday I remembered the things I had forgotten to put in that dish, but went ahead and rang the doorbell.  When I waited and she didn't answer, I came back home.  I'm glad she didn't answer cause I really didn't have time to sit and chat, and that is what she wants more than the food.  I'll take some over when I can sit and visit for a bit.

I left all my ingredients out on the counter so it's either cook/bake or find a place for them for I also rearranged my pantry!  

LOL  It must be cold in Georgia..... Jentezen Franklin is wearing a sweatshirt to preach in this morning.  Yes, I still love to listen to his messages although we have found our own church.  Our messages have been 'on fire' the past couple of months and can't wait to hear what Pastor Pat will bring today.  The worship music is good, but I just wish they didn't jump around like they do.  I get it if the Holy Spirit is in control, but sometimes I wonder and that distracts me.  Call me old-fashioned if you want.  LOL Our pastor's wife is all over the place when we're worshipping.  Me, not so much.  And that's ok.  We worship in different ways and both ways are sincere.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV):  "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

There is nothing we can do in our own power to be saved.  To follow God.  He draws us unto Him, and our Heavenly Father gave His one and only Son, to die for you and for me.

John 3:16 (NKJV):  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

It only takes faith and belief in Jesus to turn our lives around.  He can turn ANY life around; trust me, He turned my life around.  I know men who were extreme alcoholics turn their lives around when they fell in love with Jesus and chose Jesus over anything else.  It only takes faith and belief in Jesus to get through anything.

Yesterday morning I ordered the Discipleship book and the Leader's guide.  I had them before, but I think they got 'donated' when we moved.  I had given up on being able to teach that class again.  I prefer the notebook I used when I took it, but now it is in a smaller spiral form.  Keeps the price down, I'm sure.  But I ordered it, and my thought is after this Monday night Bible study, I may ask a few people if they want to meet in our home and I teach it here.  That class taught me so much about loving Jesus and His love for me.  He turned my life around.

If you have been reading this blog for some time, you know the struggles I've had.  My highs and my lows.  You know my good times and my bad times.  

But I always run to Jesus in those bad or low times.  He is the only One who can heal my broken heart, restore what the enemy is trying to take away from me, and bring healing and hope in Him once again.  It's all about Jesus.  Standing for what is right is more important than having relationships with those who bring us down.

Joel 2:25 (NKJV):  "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you."

The Lord says He will restore all the years that the enemy, the locust, has stolen from us.  The years that turning away from Him; He will restore.  Oh that each reader would turn their thoughts and their hearts to Jesus this morning, it would make my joy complete.

I'm believing that God is restoring those years in my life that I threw away.  He has brought more life to me since I surrendered my life to Him, than I ever had.  He can do that for you too.  All you have to do is ask Him; surrender your life to Him and ask Him to help you through your battles.  He's got this.  Every time.

May your day be blessed.  May you feel His Presence.  May you know that He is God.  He created you in His image.  He knitted you together in your mother's womb.  Only He deserves to be honored, praised, and adored.  Take a moment and just praise Him.  

Blessings!

I made a partial decision

 What do I mean by that?  Hubby actually came to me yesterday and commented he didn't want to go downtown to feed the homeless with the group, but what was I thinking about it.  I told him that I was going to send some money to Teen Challenge, and I was going to stay home and cook; taking food over to our neighbors.  He, of course, thought that was a great idea.  I reminded him that he cannot stand on his feet for extended lengths of time as he loses his balance.  I love to serve people and do for others, but I want to do it in my community, where I can see it helps and make a difference.  Some of these people don't eat right because they live alone.  When we are alone, we know how we eat!  A home cooked meal is rare.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV):  "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let our light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

We are to do good to others, to reflect the light of Jesus to this world of darkness.  Does that make sense?  We either contribute to the darkness, or we bring light to it; the light of Jesus is what this world needs.  

Being around 'old' people pretty much all the time makes me all the more conscious of their need to be sure they are saved and ready to meet Jesus.  I've seen it so much over the years. I've observed people who have been 'busy' about the Lord's work for years.... then when they reach a certain age, feel they can retire and no longer be used by Him.  They make that call.... and they miss out so much on being a light to other people.  Not all people, obviously, but I have seen it over the years.

My heart is with the older generation at times because I know their time is short.  What if they aren't ready to meet Jesus?  What if they have not really embraced what being a Christ-follower is?  What if ....  

With speaking at the RV parks during the winter months when the snowbirds are here, I am more and more often aware of what is at stake.   We've had it told us that we are the only ones who give the invitation to follow Jesus and what it means.  The other pastors must be just fluffing the covers.  But I believe it is my responsibility to tell how to follow Jesus.... if I don't, and they have never committed their lives to Him.... if I don't give them that opportunity.... it will be on me if they don't go to heaven.  I must share the light of Jesus to them, and pray they will receive Him with all their heart.

It is ultimately their choice, yes.  And surprisingly people often will 'joke' they know they are going to hell because they choose one thing over following Jesus.  They hold on to grievances, unanswered prayers (well, they WERE answered, but in God's timing, not theirs), healings they sought and it didn't happen, circumstances that were beyond their control, things they should have given to God to handle and didn't.... or perhaps God took a loved one away and they had prayed for them.  There are so many excuses people give for not following Jesus.

And it's sad, for following Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to me.  I'm not perfect by any means - you know that - but I know for sure that choosing Jesus is the best decision I ever made.  I still make mistakes.  I still get angry.  I still, sometimes, hold grudges or bitterness in my heart.  But as I seek Him, He makes my load lighter, He gives me the strength to get through each day.  When I am weak, He is strong.

Have you ever thought that when you do good to others, that you are being Jesus to them?  When you give out of your provisions, you are Jesus to those whom you give to?  When you show love to others, you are being Jesus to them?  I love that.  Sometimes I'm not very good at some things.... but I do try to be kind to others, even when they are unkind in return.  Yes, there are those kinds of people who do not accept freely what is given them.  Show them the love of Jesus anyway.

I slept until 5AM this morning and laid in bed until nearly 5:30AM.  Hubby had gotten up at 5AM and had gone to make the coffee.  I just wanted the quiet of the morning before I got up.  I finally got up and came in here and here comes hubby with the coffee.  And his complaints.  Sigh.  He was complaining there is something wrong with the Kerig... said it had done it earlier this week too.  He made a pot of coffee.  I'm wondering if he pushed the wrong buttons on it... but heaven help me that I should bring that to his attention.  Of course I'm not to make my own coffee.  After all, in the Bible it says 'He-brews' (Hebrews) and he makes sure everyone knows it.  Perhaps I'll make a pot of tea this afternoon and see for myself if it is the machine, or the person pushing the buttons on the machine.

I probably need to start wrapping some of these Christmas gifts and writing down everything so that I don't overdo it this year.  I am 'done' with my middle child....LOL.... my problem now is that I keep seeing other things I want to get.... but I know he would prefer I spend it on the grandchildren.  But the grandchildren get lots from their parents; why can't I do extra for MY children?  There will be a time that they will understand what I am doing.  I'm cutting back on the grandchildren this year (ok, so the great-grandchildren will be spoiled, but I'm not buying anything else for them!) and focusing on my children.  They are my joy, even when they break me heartache.

But first, I need to decide what I'm going to make today and figure out if I need to run to the grocery store, which is probably yes.  If I'm going to try the peach cobbler, I know I need to go.  Figure out what all I need for what I plan to make.... then come back and get started.

Naw, first will have to be I cook breakfast for hubby.  He seems to think that since I don't have to work, Saturdays I should cook breakfast.  I don't always, but it doesn't hurt me.  It will put him in a better mood for the day so why not. :-)  At least he is in favor of my cooking for the neighbors.  Why?  Because he gets some of it too!  I'm not only cooking for them, I'm cooking for him, right? LOL

So with all this, I'm shutting up for today.  Want to do some reading this morning and just sit with Jesus.  The day is here and things are to be done.  But they will always be there.  Having time to spend with Jesus quickly passes by unless one takes advantage of it.  

This is my time....

Blessings!