Just as I walked out of my 'office' here at home, hubby greets me with his friend had called and wouldn't be able to make it to their study tonight. So, hubby offered for us to go 'Dutch' and go out to dinner - my choice. I was thinking Black Angus but their parking lot was full at 4:30PM so we drove by Mimi's and it looked pretty open, so we went there. I had a grilled salmon (about 6 ounces I think; it was small) that was really good, a baked potato and green beans. LOL Those green beans were the long ones, but were only about 1/8" thick - could barely poke them with a fork! But I couldn't eat everything - and it was all so good. Oh yeah, they brought out warm french bread. Yeah.... you know me and bread. Out of the five slices, I ate three. With soft butter dripping all over it. Sooo good. No wonder I wasn't that hungry for the food! Hubby got his liver and onions - and even he couldn't eat everything (he had two slices of bread first). It was someplace different to eat - although we have eaten there before, it's been awhile. I don't like paying $$$ for meals - I think with our drinks the bill came to about $50. I like keeping it down around $20 - but that's me. LOL
I have been up since about 2AM. We went to bed about 8:30PM as usual. I fell asleep fairly quickly, but was awake at 9:30PM. 12PM. 1PM. 2PM - finally I just got up and came in here. Tried to sleep; could not. Did some reading. Knowing hubby wouldn't get up until about 4AM, I tried to go back to sleep around 3AM - but was still awake when I heard him moving a bit before 5AM. I don't know what is keeping me awake, but God and I had a great prayer time this morning. EVERYone got prayed for! Which may be what I was supposed to do - be up all night praying for everyone. My bad for trying to sleep versus pray! I will admit it was nice to have more time - a lot more time - than I have moved it to (5-7 versus 4-7). Maybe I should go back to the 4AM get up time. I just felt I needed that extra hour of sleep. Maybe I should just let God decide what time I should get up. Sigh. He has been waking me up at 4 AM the past few nights - only I rolled over and went back to sleep until 5AM. Hmmm. Maybe I should pay attention better?
I have a dentist appointment this afternoon that I am not looking forward to. Something about two teeth that they need to go in and scale.... not sure what that is about. I just had a cleaning a few weeks ago. Something about the gum was 'soft' so they wanted to focus primarily on these two upper back teeth. Want to bet what may happen? This is a crown area... they will decide to pull the crown, the tooth will be black (as before - it's been crowned for over 40 years!) and the tooth will be soft, so it should come out.... and off to the surgeon again. But maybe I am anticipating too much. Stay tuned; it may be nothing at all.
Hubby has his vascular surgeon doctor appointment this morning, but it is just a checkup so he told me I didn't have to go (yay) as he isn't reviewing any tests; just checking the flow of his blood in his leg and abdomen. Glad I don't have to take off work. My lunch break will be my dentist appointment. Oh joy.
We plan to go to the VFW after I get off work to have tacos..... I understand another large group has been invited, so will leave it up to my son to let us know if we should come or stay away. We are early enough and will be out before most will get there, more than likely. I hope they have enough food - and yet, don't overdo it - for they don't know how many will come. Still, $10 for a meal that fills you up - yeah.... we'll go. I love tacos. :-)
We have a group meeting at church in the morning from 9-11:30AM. It's called a 'growth track' and it is really for new people in the church, but I told hubby (I think I've mentioned this before) that it wouldn't hurt for us to be refreshed in some things, and find out more things about the church. We love our pastors and many of the people there that we have met. In fact, after the growth track, we plan to go visit one of our friends at a rehab center. I talked with his wife yesterday and got to pray with her over the phone. She was so appreciative. I told her I'd call to see if it was a good day before we came over. After that, we will probably head home and I think I need to get back to the diamond art. I would like to finish it before Christmas! LOL
I read something in my new devotional that really stayed with me this morning. Actually, I quickly read it yesterday, but because I didn't have time to think about it, I wanted to read it again today - and I did.
Psalm 16:5-6 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
Sometimes we need boundaries around our own unique struggles and temptations, right? My issue? Food. I.Love.Food. I've told you that many times. Lately another boundary I need to make is around Facebook. I've told you how I get 'hooked' into reading those A1 stories... (yeah, I got hooked on one last night too). Maybe it can be a certain relationship. God helps us put boundaries in place, knowing that we need a boundary but just won't do it. Honoring the boundaries we set helps strengthen us and will move us forward in our daily lives. Here are some things that we can remind ourselves of when we find ourselves fighting against that boundary we set - regardless of what it is.
* I am not made to be a victim of my poor choices. I was made to be a victorious child of God. God helps us put a boundary in place so that our choices are better.
* When I am struggling and considering a compromise, I will force myself to think past this moment and ask myself, "How will I feel about this choice tomorrow morning?" (I think about the times I buy something on Facebook and then immediately wish I hadn't! How many times have I caught myself in that issue!)
* If I am in a situation where the temptation is overwhelming, I will have to choose to either remove the temptation or remove myself from the situation. (Like, I surely can't go to an 'all you can eat buffet' for I will definitely overeat!)
* I have these boundaries in place not for restriction but to define the parameters of my freedom. Psalm 16:5 reminds me that the boundary lines God has placed in my life are in good and pleasant places. When I'm broken, my brokenness can't handle more freedom than this. And I'm good with that.
This battle to have boundaries is really hard. It feels like a war raging in your head and in your heart. You want to do what you want to do - and yet, you know that you shouldn't do what you are thinking about doing - whatever it is! You can overcome whatever that temptation is. You have victory in store for you. We all have different weaknesses - but with God's help, we can overcome and stay within the boundary lines that we - and God - have placed around us. He is for us, not against us. Trust His boundary line.
Blessings!
