We went to church yesterday morning and it was a good service. I'm going to have to think about what was spoken though... something about being rejected by someone, in most cases a father figure, who never thought you were good enough. When our pastor asked those people to stand who felt they had been rejected growing up, several people stood and he prayed over them. Our pastor gave hugs to a few; especially those who said they didn't have a father figure in their life growing up. Then he asked if anyone wanted to surrender this lives to Jesus and these three very loud (during the service with Hallelujah and Amen comments) all raised their hand. It was kind of funny..... I was drawn to this one woman, very pretty and about my age (or less), and I felt like I need to give her a hug. She had been one who had raised her hand to receive Jesus. After the service I went up and I hugged her and said "Keep choosing Jesus, He is the only way to live." and I hear a male voice saying 'well, now, I'm jealous!" I looked up and it was a man who always comes to greet hubby and I every time we are at church, giving us hugs (always insisting I get a hug first). I looked questioning at him and he said "that's my ex-wife and our daughter." I had no idea! LOL That was interesting! But there was no bitterness in the air from either of them, so I'd say they were friends.
After church we grabbed KFC (cause hubby did not want BBQ chicken sandwich again) and came home. About 2-ish I started working on the tomahawk steak we had received. By the time I had taken it out of the plastic bag and seared it - it was about 8 inches across and two inches thick! I seasoned it, seared it, then put in the oven - and only had to cook it for about an hour before it was ready. I'm going to have to experiment with cooking another one. This one was perfect, but the hour almost cooked it too much on the inside. There was no pink - but it was so tender and so good. I baked a sweet potato with it and then we had some raw veggies to eat with it. And then, the best part, the chocolate mousse that came with it. So very sweet and so very good. Needless to say, dinner was good last night. And enough left over for tonight and then some.
After the Diamondbacks game, hubby actually turned the TV off and I was able to read last night. He even read after playing with his phone for awhile. I love my quiet evenings in which I can read. Got disturbing news from our youngest son before we went to bed, but asked him to call me this morning to update, rather than us staying up and just waiting to hear.
Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV): "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others."
How many times do we push our own agenda for things, thinking it is the only way to get things done? We don't think we are conceited or selfish... but yet, are we, when we insist on thigns being done our way, that one's opinion is not as important as ours? I don't think I can say I'm not guilty of that, because many times I know I become so focused on the outcome that I want, that hubby's opinion does not matter to me. I think I can do something better, only because I know how I want it done. For example.... I bought what is called a 'readers nook' for the great grandchildren. It's like a bookcase, only in the middle there is an area in which they can sit and read. I thought it was adoreable, and because it was for my great-grandchildren, I bought it. It arrived the otehr day in a box. To be put together. You know where I am going with this, don't you? It's still in the box because I want to put it together myself. If I open it when hubby is home, he will want to put it together. It's not so much that I don't think he can do it, it is more that I want to do it myself. We've had these 'discussions' before when I bought a TV stand and a bookcase at our other house. I insisted on putting them together myself without his help. That did not make for a smooth relationship, I tell you! It's really not a big deal on who puts the reading nook together. Hubby is not mechanically minded; he does not like to put things together - never has. But, he will throw a fit if I try to do it myself and make comments like 'you don't think I'm good enough to do it". Words that may hold some truth, but yet, because he doesn't allow me to do much of anything (and I'm relegated to knitting and crocheting).... I long to be able to fix things or do things myself. Does that make me wrong? Will see how I feel about it later... I need to get it put together at some point. I was thinking Tuesday morning as his long bible study starts back up... only I have a lunch tomorrow with the other admins and then an early workout at the gym so not really enough time. Will have to let it play out. Maybe Friday when he's gone again to another Bible study.
I received an email from the little sister the other day - telling/encouraging me that I need to quit working and enjoy life. As I have mentioned before, yes, I'd love to 'retire' - but then all my extra money would be gone and I couldn't do for others or ourselves like I can now (like, hubby has to have a wisdom tooth removed - his cost is $1400!) and he wants new hearing aids - who knows how much that will cost - the last pair was $1500. I can help others while I'm working... and other than having to do things (like board meetings) that I don't care for, I have a great job. I have vacation days... I just don't take them because I don't want to go much of anywhere with hubby and his insistence on driving. Although he did ask if I'd drive to church yesterday. I don't make a big deal when he asks me to drive. I'm hoping he will keep asking me to drive when we are together. He makes me nervous and I'm always concerned when he drives off to one of his Bible studies... but he will not listen to me and I can't drive him everywhere and work too. Ah... enough of that.
And with that.... I need to get off here and spend a bit more time with my Jesus. My list of prayers is getting longer and I love opening up my window shades in here, sitting on the floor and looking up at the sky, and talking with Him. These are the most peaceful times of my life. Just those few minutes of my entire focus upon Him. Try it... take a moment and just reflect on who Jesus is.
Blessings!
