and it will be a busy one. Will need to get slides for the power point for the Wednesday board meeting that I have to attend, take minutes, and move the slides along. You know how much I love taking minutes; and so does my boss, but he makes me do it anyway. These board meetings always make me want to retire. And, another case in point for retirement.... my favorite boss txt'd me last night that one of our directors who works in Tucson, we aren't 'real close', but we were friends and he helped me a lot..... well, he passed away suddenly on Saturday. He was younger than me, but was probably at least in his 60's. He was funny, always willing to help, had a great knowledge about how to do things... he was a good man. At least his family was with him. I don't know specifically what he passed from, just that it was suddenly. He did have cancer and has kept it in remission for a few years now, so I wonder if it was a heart attack with the word suddenly. Regardless, it is a shock and he will be missed. Makes it more important I put on my Christmas list I have for hubby..... 'Retirement before I die'. Seriously, I did write that! I'm thinking January 2026 if I can talk him in to it. If not before. Anything can happen. Then again, I said back in 2012 after taking the early retirement package from MCP, the year I had off (because they paid me a year after I left to take early retirement), was probably the only retirement I'd ever get. I never realized that I was placing that upon myself. Life is short; don't waste it.
We went to see 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever' yesterday afternoon. It was so good, and I will encourage you to go watch it! I don't go to movies very much; The Sound of Music with my youngest son a month or so ago was the first time in a few years. But, this movie was well worth going to. Hubby enjoyed it as well. I know my oldest son's wife would enjoy it immensely and I definitely encourage him to treat her to a good movie date. I found out after I watched it that many of the actors were from The Chosen! I knew several looked familiar, but I was thinking the Kendrick Brothers movies (i.e., Fireproof, Giants, etc.) but it wasn't their movie, although they helped promote it. It is from the writers of The Chosen - and they used several of their actors. Regardless, it was really cool and we both enjoyed it. Take kleenex, that's all I'm going to say about that.
We didn't go ahead and put the tree up afterwards; it was getting too dark to work out in the garage (plus I had to fix dinner - which I really didn't fix dinner. Hubby heated up chicken noodle soup and I ate another bowl of chili). I finished another book last night (making it 42 out of 50 goal now) before I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer and we headed to bed. I slept sound too - didn't wake up at all until 4AM and it was time to get up.
Today is Veteran's Day and if you are a Veteran reading this - 'thank you for serving and protecting our great country'. I told hubby so as he brought my coffee in this morning. My youngest son is also a veteran, as are my two living brothers. Three of my brothers served in either the Navy or the Army. My cousins were Marines and Army and Navy. My dad didn't serve; choosing instead to become a minister (well, it was in peacetime too), but many of my uncles did serve in the various armed services. My brother-in-law was a Marine. I'm proud of all of them. And I prayed for each one in our country who has served and suffer trauma from serving; especially VietNam and Afghanistan.... brutal wars... I prayed for each one that God will heal them and restore them.
What would it take for our country to have a revival - I mean a true revival. I think I read recently that it has been since 1904 when Evan Roberts started praying "Lord, bend me" - and a revival started overseas. It spread to the United States in 1906 and lasted until 1915, I have read. Have you ever read the book In His Steps bu Charles Sheldon? When I read that book as a teenager, it made the biggest impact on me. I have the book; I think it belonged to my mother, and I have read it a few times since, each time touching my life. But, it has not touched me, and changed me, as it did the first time I read it. Download it on your reader and take the time to read it. You may say it won't change you; but I think you would be surprised.
What would your life be like if everything you did - you ran it through the Bible first? If you put Jesus first in all your business dealings, in all your purchases, in all your disciplines, in all your words. Would it make a difference in your life? What would your attitude be if you first asked yourself "what would Jesus do?" And then do it. What would change in your life if you looked at how the Bible viewed things, and did it that way?
One thing comes to mind.... no matter who the person was; no matter what was wrong with someone; not matter if they were a leper or a pharisee; no matter if they were rich or poor... Jesus did not mince words nor actions. And He loved them. Just as they are. Just like we want Him to love us, just as we are. Love is what Jesus does; and Love is what Jesus calls us to. It doesn't matter if we like or don't like their behavior, we are called as Christians to love them. We may need to keep our distance from them, but we are called to love. And that's hard. Trust me, that is very hard.
I John 2:15-16 (NKJV): Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world.
Do we treasure the things of this world more than we treasure God and His Word? Is the world and our possessions, which will fade away and break, of more value than having a relationship with Jesus Christ? I think not. I have learned all these years to let go of the things I hold tightly in my hand. I think it is much harder for hubby, as we sometimes seem to 'fight' over things that I think are 'let go of' - things that are material. For example, he questioned my giving away so much food to our landscaper. Hubby had no clue what I had in the freezer. He never cooks. He never gets in the freezer. He had no clue - and yet he questioned me giving so much away. He doesn't get it. I'm not putting him down; it is obviously something his parents never taught him. It is better to give than to receive. I told tell you about us giving food to our landscaper to get praise..... I gave it away because I was defrosting the freezer and needed to get rid of some things! Yes, things I could have held on to - I had a ham in there and some frozen fruit and some veggies. And you know what? I can buy more. I felt blessed that I could bless someone who needed food.
The things we sometimes hold on to aren't really that important in the long run. (Hence I always talk about - but don't always get to - cleaning out cabinets and drawers and closets!) Most often, we are just too lazy to make a decision on what to do with something and just lay it aside (very guilty here!) and then it just piles up. I am going to have to 'force' myself to pay attention and just let it go! LOL And I'm going to try to find time to work on the top of my desk this week. It has gotten way too high with unnecessary papers!
I want to get the trees up soon... but tonight may be out. A good friend just txt'd and we are meeting them for dinner tonight. Maybe by Wednesday I can have the start of the tree up. stay tuned on that one too! And with all that ... I need to get off here and start my day.
Hope that you have an amazing day. Clean off that desk; pick up those clothes! Let's agree to start the new year off with a 'clean' slate! (I don't know about you, but it may take me longer to get this all cleaned up!)
Blessings!
