I stayed home yesterday....

 I think I mentioned yesterday I wasn't sure if I was going to church physically or not.  Well, I didn't go.  I just didn't feel like listening to loud music.... and I'm glad I didn't go.  I did watch it on my kindle, well, a part of the service, anyway.  I was quiet yesterday morning.  I enjoyed being alone.  I didn't do any busy work, other than getting on my work computer and going through the 63 emails I had that came in on Friday.  Got work to do today.  

But I'm glad I stayed home.  By the time the service had ended and I knew hubby would be on his way home, the lightening bolts started again and I headed for the tylenol to stop them.  I had just taken them when hubby got home and I heated up lunch.   Sometimes I think he'd starve if I didn't fix him a meal.  I was feeling pretty resentful at dinner time, but I'm jumping ahead.  If I have a chance today, I plan to call my doctor's office and see if I can get in.... she can't do anything because it isn't visible, it isn't something that one can determine how to fix just by looking at me.  But something is wrong when I get get these lightening bolts flashing and losing my vision.  I may set it a month out and continue to track when I get these and what happens.  This was my 4th or 5th one within the past three months - but what bothers me is that I got these last two in the past two days.  Oh well. Not going to sit here and think about it.... 

It was a quiet day; hubby had to watch the baseball game, but with the score so much in the other teams favor, a movie was opted for.  We ended up watching 3 movies, I think.  Whatever.  I sat and crochet'd and got a total of 4 wash cloths completed yesterday.  

Today is timecard Monday - which by now you know I don't have any trouble getting them done since everyone is salaried.  The good part?  We get paid on Thursday!  Good thing - I got one of the bills from my surgery - the outpatient surgery clinic - my cost - I think for both surgeries, is over $800.  I'm grateful the money is in the bank to pay it.  I am not sure if I owe any more to my eye doctor or not - I've already paid him over $800, which they collected beforehand.  I'd do it again; my vision is so much better.  I just have to wear reading glasses more often.  I do have a prescription so may run to Sam's Club and see how inexpensive they are.  I may just take a pair of glasses and have them change out the lens.  But I want a light pair; I can't stand having something 'there' that I feel constantly.  That's why I usually don't wear glasses!  Those of you who wear glasses understand what I'm saying.  Maybe I will try wire ones.... will see.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV):  "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Faith has been one of my highest spiritual gifts, I think.  I believe that God can do anything ... He may not always give me what I ask for, even if I believe He will.  He sees the future, I do not.  He knows that we do not always ask aright.  I know I don't, and I'm pretty sure you don't.  I believed that He would answer my prayer and heal some people I've prayed for in the past.  He didn't.  I can't pretend to understand why He didn't answer my prayers the way I wanted Him to. BUT, I know He is God and I am not.  His ways are always better than mine, even when I don't understand.

Whether He answers my prayers or not, I will still believe in Him.  Why?  Because my life is His and I choose to be obedient to Him in ALL things.  Pastor Steve's birthday is today and as I read his post this morning, I am reminded of how much God loves us and is in control of our world today - whether it seems to be chaotic or not.  I'm copying and pasting it below - and I know he doesn't care..... 

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May 1, 2023

The Mirror of God's Word - "Reflections"

When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life." - Ecclesiastes 11:8a (NLT)

Today is my birthday. I thought I'd share some lessons I've learned on the journey. Some of them are wonderful insights that God has given me that have spared me much sorrow. Others are insights that God has given me after I experienced much sorrow. I hope they'll be of help to you. 

It's better to be open-hearted than hard-headed. Stubborn is sometimes a nice way of saying "stupid."

You can't fix people. You can only offer guidance and hope they have the sense to seek God and allow Him to fix them.

Prayer is not telling God how to run His universe. It is humbling yourself before God and asking Him to run yours.

Asking for forgiveness when you've hurt someone is a wonderful thing to do. Having the self-control not to hurt them in the first place is a better thing to do.

Following your heart isnot always a great idea. If your heart is not in the right place with God, it can lead you where you don't want to be.

One of the most powerful gifts we have is to control the story we tell ourselves about other people. When we don't know why people act the way they do, telling ourselvse a good story rather than a bad one will change everything.

If I'm going to walk faithfully with God, I have to trust Him. That means trusting Him even when I have no earthly idea why things are the way they are. TheTrinity is not a Quartet.

I used to pray for God to fill our sanctuary so our church would grow big. I now pray for God to fill our War Room  and our Prayer Closets so our church will change lives.

Growing old and dying is not scary. Growing old and not having made a difference is. Life is lived best when we make peace with our past and trust God with our future. That allows us to simply live one day at a time.

Love everyone - the good, the bad, and the ugly. It won't make them better people or more attractive, but it will make YOU that way!

That's God's Word for you today.

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Blessings!

It was a simple question

 that I read this morning in my devotions.  The question stirred my thought process and I began to wonder about it.  What was the question?  

When was the last time you asked God for something supernatural?  

I know that God can do all things.  I have prayed for healings, but haven't really thought of them supernatural, but more of God's attention to a sick person.  Where is my faith?  Do I not believe that God can do more than for what I ask of Him?  I can answer that and the answer is YES.  I do believe God for more things than I ask.

For one thing, an answer to prayer was - I was praying for reconciliation between my youngest son and his prodigal daughter.  Four days in to our fast and they contacted each other and talked through the issue.  I believe that is an answer to our prayer.  Not necessarily supernatural, but an answer.

When was the last time you believed God for something you could not do on your own?  I do not mean something you prayed for that happened. I mean believed for something you could not do on your own.  Why do we limit our faith to things that could naturally happen when we serve a Supernatural God? Why do we settle for a man-made faith and not God-sized miracles?

Faith.  Did you know that there are different kinds of faith?  Yep. There is Common Faith - it means every person has a measure of common faith.  God is saying, "I am tired of wimpy, natural faith.  I want someone to believe in off-season miracles!"

There is Saving Faith.  You are saved by faith.  You receive Christ when you release your faith and believe He is who He says He is.

There is also the Spirit of Faith.  This is also one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Then there is Ever-Increasing Faith.  The disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith.  I do this frequently. I need more faith - and so do you.

And, lastly, there is also the Gift of Faith.  You can operate at a level of faith where other people do not go. This is deep, abiding faith that is given to you by the Holy Spirit.  

Faith is supernatural.  God wants to do supernatural things. Faith looks at natural things that do not want to bring forth, and calls it done by faith. That is the kind of faith that God honors with mountain-moving miracles.

I know that I have asked for supernatural things in the past.  And I honestly believe they happened because I asked, in faith, that God would take care of a situation, heal a person, or do something that we as people could not do.  I believe that God healed my daughter supernaturally because people were praying and fasting and seeking His touch upon her body.  I truly believe if we had not done that, I know she would have died.  I remember when at 5 months post bone-marrow transplant she came off all the meds for the transplant.  That is unheard of.  I know of people who have had t go take transplant drugs for many months after.  I know it is all God; He healed her so that she wouldn't need to continue taking them.  Hallelujah.

Today would have been my older sister's 80th birthday.  It is also my grandson's birthday.  It's hard to believe, even now, that my sister is no longer here.  I think it is because of the suddenness.  And, referring back to what I spoke of above, this is one of those supernatural requests I begged of God.... and He said no.  I had begged and pleaded for her healing; that the antifreeze ingested would not kill her.  But it did.  I don't know why God let her die.  I truly believed He was going to heal her!  I had the faith!  But He said No.  I don't know why He said NO.  Perhaps it is because she had no life.  She knew Him, she said she did, and that she was ready.  But we know she could not have done this on her own. I truly, truly believed ... and when I got the word she was gone... I could only sit and ask 'why'?  And I received no answer.  This side of heaven I will not know the why.  I still miss her. I still don't understand.

I have a dentist appointment this morning that I don't want to go to.  I do not like dentists.  At all.  Although I love this one. I've known him for years.  But today is a cleaning and it should be ok - other than I chipped a tooth and I don't know if he will decide to do something about that.  I kid you not - I started getting texts two weeks ago, reminding me of my appointment.  "Respond with C if you will be keeping this appointment."  I respond with 'C".  I get a thank you for confirming.  I have 'confirmed' three times in this two week period.  I received a phone call three days ago to confirm.  It went to voicemail.  I didn't call them back.  Ooops.  As I was going to bed last night around 8:39PM or so, I received another text reminding me my appointment is tomorrow (today) at 8AM.  If I wasn't going to make it, to call the office.  I wonder if they will be surprised I'm there when I show up?

Since I wanted to go to Tucson this weekend and had to change my plans... I've got the 'inkling' to just get away from the house this weekend.  But where to go?  I could just find a hotel nearby and us go stay there - maybe one with an indoor pool/jacuzzi to chill and relax in.  I've been cooped up in this room for so long and in the house with rarely having times to 'escape' from it... I'm starting to get stir-crazy I think.  Whatever - if anything - I planned, I know hubby would go with it.  See, it's even messing with my thinking!  LOL  

Ok - need to jump off and get ready for work - and remind my bosses I have a dentist appointment this morning.  Oh joy.  I can hardly wait. NOT.

Hope your day is going to start better than mine is!

Blessings!