Hubby wanted to go to a nearby city and maybe find some antique shops (for me) to walk through. Things have certainly changed since we were last up in this area, lots of new buildings, businesses, and housing. We drove out aways and then stopped at KFC for lunch. We found a strip mall that had a very small JCPenneys and a very small Big 5 Sporting Goods, and we went in to both. Oh, found a small Ross too. Hubby got a belt he wanted and a couple other things at another place, I actually bought myself a new pair of tennis shoes (much less than what I have bought the last two times and will work just as well. I guess one could say we had a 'shopping spree'. Coming back we did one last thing... DQ. Yeah, I saw they had one up here, and I got my turtle pecan blizzard and hubby got his chocolate malt. That ended up being 'dinner' as it was mid-afternoon. Later we watched - with a lot of buffering due to poor wifi service - 'Twister' with Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. I have always enjoyed that movie, although it does have some language in it. All in all, it was a good anniversary day. And I didn't have to cook at all.
Today is our last full day here and my mind has been working overtime on what to do today and preparing to pack to head home tomorrow. We haven't really 'ate out' - and I haven't cooked that much. Have two TV dinners and one other dinner in the freezer still. May end up just leaving one in the freezer, having the TV dinners for lunch today, perhaps. No, I want us to go to the Wild Woman Saloon for lunch - I do know they used to have good hamburgers and it would be nice to eat out beyond fast food at least once on vacation. We can have the TV dinners for dinner, if we are still hungry. I know hubby will go along with whatever I want to do.
I think we finally got a decent sleep last night. I must be getting used to the foam mattress, or I was just really tired. Hubby found another pillow and he didn't toss and turn as much. Neither of us got up until nearly 6AM - but we didn't go to bed until probably around 10PM which is late for us. Regardless, the deep sleep felt good after being so restless the past few nights. One night to go and then we'll be in our own bed, at least for a couple nights.
Hubby wants to go up to Beararizona yet this week. It's as far from here as it is from home. So we will go home tomorrow and unpack.... I'm thinking in my mind that maybe we will go up Thursday some time and stay overnight, do Beararizona Friday morning and then head back down to the valley. Or even stop overnight at someplace on the way back. Afterall, I/we are on vacation. I'm still processing the thought in my mind on going up Thursday or going up Friday. It's about a 2.5 hour drive one way and I'm sure hubby will insist on driving this time. Not sure if I will argue. But getting out of town again, we may as well stay overnight ... and drive back the next day. Just chilling... I don't know. Processing. We haven't been to Beararizona and people have told us that it is great to go through. And a weekday would be better than a weekend.
Matthew 5:6 (NIV) : "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
I read through Matthew 5 this morning, and as I read through the Beatitudes (Be Attitudes).... I paused on verse 6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst to know the truth, to know the Word, to seek after what they do not know..... The character quality of that scripture is obedience. and to do that is to hear and desire to do the will of God. One should have all the characteristics of the Beattitudes, but this one stood out to me today. Why? Because it is my heart's desire to hear God's Word and then obey what His Word says to do.
Many times I fail because I just don't want to do it. (I'm sure you do that as well). Many times I fail because I want to do things MY way and not God's way. (Yeah, you do that too, don't you!) But the point is... I fail when I do not follow what the Word of God says to do. His book of instructions (The Bible), is not for our restriction, it is for our INSTRUCTION. It is to help us live. The ten commandments are not to keep us from having fun, but to show us how to live and have fruitful lives. His Word is not to hurt or harm us, but to give us Hope and Eternal Life in Him. There is nothing greater than that.
I keep reading my Bible because I want to know more about God and about Jesus and about the Holy Spirit. And I have learned some things this week just by reading my Bible and other books. Another time I will go into some of them. But for now, I will suggest that you read in your Bible Matthew 5, and then ponder which of these Beatitudes could apply to you. What would you desire? I read an intersting quote in the new women's Bible i recently purchased for myself.... now mind you, it is from a WOMEN's Bible.... but you can change the words to reflect a man's.....
"People before things; People before projects; Family before friends; Husband before children; Husband before parents; Tithe before wants; Bible before opinions; Jesus before all."
We've also often used the word 'JOY' - "Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last".
I'm sure in our minds we all have thought of people who do things their way and don't follow the Word of God at all. Or like others to think that they do. Just because we post things on facebook about following Jesus or loving Jesus more than anything, doens't mean that we do. As we all know, actions speak louder than words.
So what are your actions saying today? And yes, I'm looking at myself as well. I will never point out something the Bible says and think I am doing jsut that. Why? Because if we follow one commandment (i.e., do not kill), and yet we do not another, (i.e., honor your mother and father), we are still breaking the commandments. And yes, I just used what popped into my mind. Another could be to 'have no other gods before Me'.... 'do not take the Name of the Lord God in vain'.... just saying.
But God does give us grace... I read the obituary of a nephew in law yesterday and in it - 'he gave his life to Jesus in 2018 and although he said he may still cuss, he was 100% belonging to Jesus' (my paraphrase cause I don't remember the excat words). But that stood out to me. We don't have to be perfect to come to Jesus. He accepts us just as we are.
And for that I am so grateful. I will never be perfect or pure or holy in my eyes.... but I will always strive to be His.
Blessings!
