and I'm getting a late start, for sure - and it is on me that I am! Hubby was snoring extra loud last night so since I didn't get to sleep BEFORE him, his snoring kept me awake. Then Maria calls me at 10PM! We are in bed! She knew we went to bed early! I let it go to voicemail the first time - I thought - and then she called back so I finally got up and answered my phone, which I keep in another room. (My watch rings too so I know if I get a call) She was calling to tell me that the cover for the keyboard was left on the porch and I needed to go get it. I told her I'd get this morning - which I have done already. That was what she was calling about. Seriously. Couldn't leave a voicemail, had to keep calling.
I really had trouble going to sleep after that for I had been up and walking and the body was awake. The body was tired, but the mind was busy working in overtime. I don't know what time I fell asleep, but finally arose a bit after 5AM and tried to go back to sleep in here - and I think I did for awhile. Hubby actually went to the gym this morning at 6AM. He said he knew better than ask (tell) me to go... and he's right. My intent is to work out in the garage today - going through cabinets. The dumpster is still next door until Monday and Maria was telling all the neighbors to throw things in it - they haven't even covered the bottom of the dumpster cause the estate lady told them not to throw anything away - even half bottles of shampoo will sell in an estate sale - and they paid $500 for the dumpster for a week! I doubt seriously we will have much to throw away; most things I would pass on to Salvation Army or Savers anyway. Hubby is back from the gym and hinting at going to breakfast but I told him I wasn't done in here. I'm hoping he doesn't ask, for if I don't agree and go, he will get cranky. And there is nothing like a cranky hubby. Especially mine. And I have work to do in the garage. Maybe he won't ask. Especially since I put on grubby clothes, I don't want to go anywhere.
I ought to put something in the crockpot for dinner tonight, but nothing is thawed out. But, half hour or so in cold water will do the trick. Hmmm.... or just fix fish tonight... I don't know... need to figure out something. I got out of cooking dinner last night. Hubby's tummy wasn't doing good so I told him to eat 1/2 peanut butter sandwich.. and I can't remember if I even ate.. oh yes, I ran over to the mall for a bit, and on my way back I stopped at - gasp! - McDonald's and picked up their fish sandwich. I used to like them a lot - but last night it had no flavor whatsoever. But, I got one for hubby and I and that was dinner.
Psalm 40:8 (NKJV): "I delight to do Your will, o my God, and Your law is within my heart."
We all know the laws of God - most is common sense, right? Don't do certain things - we know that - we know that if we do certain things, there will be consequences. It's just like the Ten Commandments - when God says 'Thou shall not..." that means don't do it because He wants to protect us. It isn't to restrict us, it is to be protected. Just like we as parents will tell our children not to do something, we want to protect them.
When we start to do something, God doesn't take us from the temptation to keep us from doing it; sometimes we get our hands slapped because we are reaching out for that temptation. Same as we do for our little children at times. We must slap their hands (lightly, not hard, after all, they are learning) and tell them 'NO'. That's how they learn they shouldn't touch, they should take, they should do that thing. Removing the temptation from them doesn't teach them not to do something. Just like God doesn't remove the temptation from us, we need to learn that we shouldn't touch it. Does that make sense?
My daughter-in-love taught me a lesson like that many, many years ago. She was quietly getting after her daughter who was doing something she shouldn't. As I watched the scene unfold, mama lightly smacked the child's hand and told them, you do not touch this, because if you do, it will hurt you (can't remember what it was; might have been a light socket). Once again the child reached for what she was told 'no'... and mama again lightly smacked her hand and explained why. The child finally understood that mama wasn't keeping her from something fun, but from something that could harm her. That 'lesson' spoke to me because I wasn't raised that way. We won't go in to how I was raised, but this daughter-in-love has always had a gentle spirit around me and in raising her children. She taught me lessons I wish I had known with my own children; perhaps they would have turned out differently and raised their children differently as well.
When we delight in doing what God wants us to do, things like reading our Bible, going to church, we bring such delight to Him. But even more than that, it is living a life that honors Him. Choosing to teach our children about Him; letting our children know that He is the Lord of our life and that we choose to follow Him. That is what brings delight to our Heavenly Father - and that is what also brings joy to our hearts.
Following God is the best choice I have ever made. I truly wish I had known when I was growing up - what I know now. I had the head knowledge of who God is... but I didn't have the heart knowledge. And that knowledge between head and heart make a world of difference.
Need to get up and get out in the garage - or go to breakfast - whichever gets to come first. Hope your day is amazing.
Blessings!
