Yeah... hubby went out to do a couple errands yesterday morning and decided to do laundry upon his return. I heard him go into my closet...and I waited.... and sure enough! He hollers at me "Did you do laundry?" I debated on a comment, but just said 'yes'. "When?" "Tuesday morning." "Why?" "Because I needed to get away from the computer and do something." and that was about how it went. No more comments. He started on his laundry. I suppose I should have done his as well, but I wouldn't have been able to get both done. In fact, I don't think he got all of his done yesterday.
Hubby has breakfast early this morning with a friend and then has a dentist appointment so will be gone most of the morning. I wonder what I can get in to!
Finished another book by Michael V Ivanov last night. Hubby started reading the 'Cabin' one. I need to stop reading and finish up things I need for Sunday. I have the message done, which I can go over some time during the day, but I still need to put together the memorial service I am to do Sunday afternoon. I need to make sure I have all the information together and put together a short message to give, and well, just put it together. Tomorrow will be a busy Saturday so I need to get started today if I can and not put off until tomorrow. (remember, I am a procrastinator... but I do work well under stress too) I'd rather curl up with another good book, just saying!
Today should be a fairly light day at work - I'm hoping. My one boss is in Tucson for the board retreat (sure am praying that goes well!) and my other boss kind of laid back yesterday as she had a stomach bug. I hope she is better, but she also will be taking it easy today, I'm sure. I should be able to work on my message and the memorial service some. Would be nice to be finished and confident about both by end of day.
Tomorrow is Needles of Hope and then Ms. Amy called earlier in the week and wants me to pick her up and bring her to her place for awhile. She wants to get more things - I have no idea what as she has a small apartment at the assisted living and there isn't room for much. But, I told her I would go get her and bring her over. At least with her being stronger now I don't have to stay with her. I can come home and do what I need to do and just check on her periodically. She will only stay a couple hours there and I will need to run her back to the assisted living. And I will probably repeat myself tomorrow and say the same thing in here. My exciting life.
I was reading Numbers 13 this morning about when Moses sent the 12 men into the Promised Land and they came back carrying one cluster of grapes within two poles - I can't even imagine grapes that big! If you recall the story, 10 of the men felt they were 'grasshoppers' to the people there.. but two men felt that if they attacked, God would be with them and they could conquer the people and take the land. The people listened to the 10 spies versus Caleb and Joshua, the two spies (Caleb from the tribe of Judah, and Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim) and it caused them a whole lot of trouble! They choose to be like grasshoppers versus grapetasters!
Did you know that your attitude determines your altitude? If you do not have the right attitude, you will never climb to the right altitude. If you are a person who can perceive greatness where other people perceive frustration, God says, "There is someone I can use. I will give him so much milk and honey and grapes it will blow his mind!" The devil wants you to be a grasshopper and fit into your environment and be nothing. Grasshoppers never go against the grain.
But what if - and He is - God is looking for Grape-Tasters? Grape-tasters stand up against the majority and do not fit into this world. They may look like the world, but they don't live nor act like the world because grape-tasters are different. They see their circumstances in a different way - they know who they are.
All twelve spies had faith... but ten had greater faith in the giants of the land while two of the spies had their faith in God. Ten grasshoppers and two grape-tasters! Self-perceptions are contagious. If I think I am weak, others are going to agree with me. If I think I am a failure, then everyone else will think I am a failure. Whatever you say you are, the world will agree with you. But God says....
Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV): "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."
You were made with great value and worth because God created you in His image. When you choose Jesus over the world, you can embrace all things because God has given them to you and you choose to please Him. No matter what comes against you, whether it is sickness, health, wealth or poverty, there is One who will walk with you all the the way though it. When you belong to Jesus, nothing is impossible for you. The journeys may be a struggle at times; you may not understand why God allows certain things to happen, but He always sees the big picture and He will use the circumstances you are going through to bring you closer to Him.
And all we need to do is open our heart and mind to Him and allow Him to work through us.
Yeah, I grumble a lot at times about work and the stress it is - and how I look forward to retirement - but, you probably also realize my grumbling probably won't go away... I'll just find something else to grumble about. Why? Because that is what we do. We are never 'happy' in our own self. But when I keep my mind on Jesus and how I can honor Him in all I do and say, my grumbling can cease for "He who is greater in me, is greater than he who is in the world."
So what are you thinking about yourself this morning? Yes, we all have faults of some kind, but if we allow Jesus to work in us and through us, we can be assured that we are beloved and redeemed by His blood. I choose Jesus - what about you?
Blessings!
