I am pleased that I actually got some things done yesterday that I wanted to do. Hubby wanted to go to breakfast after out quiet time - but I said no - and I cooked up my potato/egg/jalapeno pepper dish for us, and lots of fruit. After breakfast he went to the post office for me and I debated on what I wanted to do. Did I just want to sit down and read? (big temptation), or get something done. I decided to start with the bookcase in my room. You know, the one I keep complaining about. I did forget that I wanted to move it to another location in here, but that's ok; I cleaned it up, from the top shelf to the bottom shelf. I even started to read a journal that is on the shelf, thinking I need to get working on those if I am going to get through them before I die. But it wasn't bad. And after about a week of reading (yes, I get lengthy in my journals at times), I put it and all the others back on the shelf. I didn't have time for that. But I did get things straightened up, numerous papers thrown away, and it looks much nicer around my chair right now. I'm happy with what I could do with it. Even took some books and put back on the shelf in hubby's office.
Now THOSE books I would love to put in author order - which would take time - but hubby will not let me. And, that is what we have 2 and sometimes 3 books alike... because when we want one, we forget we have it, or he wants to read it the same time I do so have to order an extra copy. Some day, that is a task I will get accomplished.
After we did a run somewhere; can't remember where, I noticed it was warm out enough that I could work in the garage. Left my car in the driveway and started checking the cabinets to see where I could put the Christmas stuff back in. I did not go through anything; there wasn't time for that. But, I did move things around and was able to get things put away; boxes broken down for the recycle, and it looks much nicer now. Hubby kept interrupting me with (to me, stupid) questions like 'are these all the boxes you are going to break up for recycle?' Now, the reason is that I had a stack of boxes and I keep the larger ones for the recycle cache. There were a few small ones that yes, I would get rid of. He knew that. He had nagged at me about getting the boxes cleaned out. He would also ask 'Do you need help?' and I would always answer NO. When I'm working on a project, I want to be left alone. Always have been that way. But, he likes to feel useful and needed.... but I just didn't want the interruption. I wanted to be ALONE. Make sense? If I had said yes, he would have started throwing things away that I didn't want thrown away, and I'd have to watch what he was doing, and then have to give an explanation as to why I wanted to keep it, and then in exasperation, throw it away to shut him up. Women will understand all that; men may - or may not.
But I did get my bookcase - and the garage - straightened up and it felt good to DO something and see progress. I also moved some of the small appliances around - and got asked why. Sigh. Won't do anything today - it's Sunday and the day of REST.
Oh - as far as Thriftbooks and the marked up book I received? I decided to send them an email - and was pleasantly surprised they responded the same day - and refunded my money, apologized for the marked up book, said to keep or discard. I will be putting in the Savers bag. I like buying from them because I can usually get a book for $4 - $5 and it is usually in decent condition. And, I will order from them again. I even order and give books as gifts; I tell the individual where I got it from, and although perhaps written in the front to someone, the inside of the book isn't marked up so perhaps they'd still read it. It works. I give a gift, only spend a few dollars, and we are all happy.
John 4:24 (NKJV): "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
When we worship God, are we looking around, or is our focus on Him? I've been at conferences, and being a people watcher sometimes, I notice some things. For example, at a conference I was at last Fall, I saw a woman standing at the front during worship (some churches nowadays encourage worshippers to come up to the front area of the church before the worship team and worship) and she was doing everything BUT worship, in my opinion. She had her hands lifted up in praise, but she was looking around as though she was looking for someone to join her. She wasn't alone; there were people all around, but for me, it was distracting as I kept watching to see who or what she was watching for. And that is why I close my eyes during worship - to keep from being distracted from other people and the things they do. Some people get out in the aisle and dance. Some go to the front of the church and dance around. I've even seen some of the musicians do the 'dance' on stage as they play. To me that has become a performance, not a worship session. Yeah, I'm a stickler on that. I don't go to church to hear or see a performance of the worship team. I go to church and join in the songs because I want to worship my Lord and King. So I close my eyes. I keep my focus on Him, not on those around me. Or I try to, anyway.
Because our fast is now officially over, there is a danish in the refrigerator for breakfast (yum) - I know, not healthy. Should stay on the healthy route.... but I'm also trying to clean out my freezer, and it's been in there since before Christmas. Need to get rid of it, right? Next weekend or so I want to clear out the freezer and defrost it when there isn't much in there. I've made a big dent in it since Christmas for I quit buying things to put in there. I have a ham in the refrigerator now thawing out. We won't eat it all, obviously, so plan to take some over to my neighbors and share. Maybe I'll fix something to go with it and just take over a meal. Hmmmm. Hubby is so excited to eat meat again. My daughter gave us leftover roast and potatoes so we will have it for lunch today. Tonight we may have the ham, if it is thawed out enough to put in the oven. Hubby is craving a steak - although I never have cooked steak often. But cooking a ribeye in my air fryer is amazing. Truly. Just season it, then put a pat of butter on top of it and let it cook. It is so juicy and tender and good you can almost cut it with a fork. Now I just might be drooling! LOL I don't have any in the freezer, nor do I plan to go to the store, so hubby will just have to eat what I fix him!
And, I need to jump off here and get in the shower before heading to church. Our Worship pastor is speaking today - and the last two times we have heard him, he is really good. There are some things about our church that I am still getting used to, but the preaching is right on. Wishy washy pastors who feed the world just enough to pacify the congregation need to resign their positions. God's Word stands alone and there is no need to sugar coat any of it.
God said it. I believe it. That settles it. Marriage is between a man and a woman. He did not create Adam and Steve. He created Adam and EVE. And there are lots of other things in the Bible that some pastors seem confused about.... they want to 'grow' their numbers so they quit preaching the truth. God will hold them accountable for that. When the trumpet sounds, they won't be ready, that's for sure, nor will their people who haven't committed to Jesus as Lord.
Where do you stand? It's not that we aren't to love others who disagree with God or with us - we are called to love them. Jesus loved them, and He loved us while we were yet sinners. But we are to be an example to them of Jesus. And if we fail to do that, they may not come to know Jesus as Lord - and that is our cross to bear. Are we living like Jesus, so that others see Him in us?
Blessings!
