No, nothing is planned (other than work), and I have nothing on the agenda. As I was bringing up this space that song popped into my mind. "It's gonna be a good day, in every single way. The sun is shining down on me and..." ...... I don't remember the rest. So IS it going to be a 'good day'? It will be if I believe it and make it so, right? Suck it up, buttercup! It's going to be a good day! LOL
Yesterday was fun meeting with the other admins - it ended up being only 4 of us 'girls' and of course our conversation was all over the place. Partly because one, who is the president's executive assistant, well, it's a lot of 'all about her'. She's young, single, beautiful... and very knowledgeable, don't get me wrong. I love her to pieces. But she brings her computer and flips through screens showing us 'how' to do things and what she wants to do with that knowledge, how she's pushing for a supervisor position and who she wants brought under her, etc. Luckily, I have not been mentioned as going under her. She would drive me crazy. I love her, but do not want to work under her. I am perfectly fine under my boss. It could very well hurry a retirement, if I was. Just saying. Definitely would not get the raises I get now under her. She doesn't know me that well. But it was a good lunch and after 2 hours I told them I had to get back to work so we broke up. She even sent her boss an email to ask if she could expense the lunch for all of us. He didn't respond in time so we all paid for our own. He did respond later and she sent us a text that at our next meeting our lunch will be expensed. Whatever.
I read an interesting post this morning before getting to this and it has given me pause. It asked if we prayed before making purchases. Of course it was talking mainly about major purchases, i.e., a car, a home, furniture, etc. But it made me pause and give thought to it. Do I pray about every large purchase? Yes, I think I do. I prayed about purchasing my car; I prayed about us purchasing this house... but you know what... I prayed, then did what I wanted. Does that make sense? Here is what I mean. Sometimes we pray, then we get up and do what we want. You know you do it too.
"Lord, if we are to buy this car, make it happen. If not, stop everything." Then we proceed and even with hiccups at times in the contract signing, we get it anyway. (No, that did NOT happen to me with my car). What I am getting at is that we often will pray about something, then we don't wait to see what the answer is but go ahead and push through our own wants and agenda. Does that make sense?
It reminds me of a sermon I heard a long, long time ago by Dr. Charles Stanley. I believe the title was 'Waiting on God'. In it he talks about this very thing. He shared a story of a family in need of a car. They didn't have money to buy a car outright, and really didn't want to put a car on credit. They prayed about it - and then a week or so later, found a car they liked, and went into deep debt by buying it and putting it on credit. A couple weeks after that, someone they knew was getting rid of a nice car and was going to offer it to this couple free and clear - only to find they had already purchased a car and met their need there. If they had waited a few more weeks, and continued to pray about it, I'm sure - they would have received a nicer car than they had purchased and would have had no debt. (I am sure they were kicking themselves for that purchase!)
But isn't that what we do? We see something we want, we may - or may not - pray about it, and then go buy it. Now I'm talking about major purchases. But the thought has occurred to me about my treadmill I just purchased. It wasn't that much; probably 1/4 or less the cost of the type I had before, and it's much smaller. But I don't recall praying about whether or not I should purchase it. I wanted it. I debated on it in my mind for a couple weeks, but I don't recall praying if I should get it or not. All I could think of was that I really love walking and I can't get out in this heat; I don't have a lot of time to go walking; hubby is terrified I'll be kidnapped if I go walking by myself... and I could walk on this treadmill anywhere as it is only 40 pounds and I can pick it up and move it to in here, in the 'exercise room', in front of the TV, anywhere I want it. No, I didn't buy it on credit, but I also didn't take lightly the money I did spend on it.
John 16:24 (NKJV): Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and receive, that your joy may be full.
So many times, we don't have things because we don't ask God for it. We may WANT things to happen, i.e., healing for someone, extra money for a special event - but we don't ask for it. It's like wanting a bike for Christmas and not telling your parents you'd like to have one! Of course, God knows everything about us and knows our wants and dreams and wishes. But we need to ask Him for them. Want a happy marriage? Pray not that God would change your spouse..... pray that God will change YOU to be the person you should be. Ouch. Yeah, I have to pray that prayer - and do - a lot! And frequently. We want people to change. Pray for them, but don't pray that they will change according to your wishes but pray that they will change according to what God wants for them. Bless them, don't curse them. Encourage them, don't deflate them.
This morning as I was writing out some of my prayers, I thought about what I was writing. I found myself writing about someone who is an irritant. I'll leave it there, but I was praying for this person, not that they would change into what I want them to be, but that their eyes would be open to what they have become and that they would seek God with a sincere heart and seek His wisdom and guidance on how to live life. It makes me sad that I can't be friends with them for fear of retaliation and social media comments. Hurting people hurt people. Will God answer my prayer for this person? I pray He will, but it is in His timing - not mine. In the meantime, I am to be kind.
I wonder how many people stay away from me because of something I have said or done. Ever wonder that about yourself? I never have, until this moment. I don't think I'm a bad person. I don't spread rumors or broadcast on social media all my hurt feelings and accuse people of things that are not true. I don't make life about me. I'm pretty much content staying in my own little world and doing my own little thing. I don't look at life and at occasions as 'what's in it for me' - but how can I bless someone today. Make sense?
I guess I need to stop rambling and start working on the message for Sunday. Yeah, I'm at the facility Sunday afternoon. In November starts our RV park speaking and I will be really busy then! I will be doing a lot more praying for those times! I just want to share Jesus with them and tell them that for one thing, it is not too late to follow Jesus. No matter what we've done in the past, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And two, we are at the end of our lives... or close to it... and if we haven't reconciled with Jesus by now, we need to do it now. We never know when we will be taken from this world. Besides making sure our families will be taken care of, we need to be sure that WE are taken care of - in that we will be with Jesus when we are taken. Are you ready?
Blessings!
