We watched a couple movies last night - rather, I did. Hubby fell asleep in the 2nd one. He said it was because he didn't like this one actress -and I admit, she was a real jerk in the movie - but still.... and that was his reason for falling asleep. I don't know what time it was but it wasn't late - but I didn't wake up/get up this morning until 5:45AM! And I was STILL sleepy! But I forced myself to get up. Hubby got up a few minutes after 6AM. Guess we were both tired? He says that 'you are always tired on Fridays' whereas I try to correct him with 'at the end of the workday, I usually am tired'. Does it really matter? He thinks it is 'just' the week combined. Naw, it the daily stuff!
Today is going to be a bit different for me. I actually signed up to attend the women's brunch at our new church - and it is today, starting at 9:30AM. In my brain I am flip-flopping on going, but I know hubby will start nagging at me if I don't go. Now mind you, when he chose NOT to go to the men's breakfast last week, I didn't say anything but left it up to him. But, on a positive note, he has changed his Tuesday night bible study with his friend to Thursday nights starting this week - so that he can attend the men's group on Tuesday nights. Will see how that goes. There are older men in that group so I'm hoping that he will find someone to be good friends with.
And, I hope to make new friends with some of the women today. I just don't want to clean up. But I will. This church has basically been very casual (to the point I wore jeans the first Sunday!) but I did wear a dress last week. And I plan to wear a dress today - and tomorrow. I have realized recently that I need to get me some new clothes. I just do not like shopping. But I do need to go through my t-shirts and eliminate a lot of them. They have faded and a couple have stains or holes in them. I'm sure your closet is the same way, right? Faded and some with holes? Yeah, it's time to get rid of them. We tell ourselves that we can still wear them around the house - but we don't. And we certainly don't want to wear them in public!
And you know what? I've done it - hubby does it - and I'm sure you do it as well. We hang on to 'special' items because someone gave it to us. It's a good memory of a gift from a birthday or Christmas or even just because - right? I have some t-shirts I have quit wearing due to the stretching, the holes or the stains on the t-shirt... and yet, I keep them in the closet because someone gave it to me and it was a special memory. Well, I need to change that. I still have the memory - but I do need to eliminate the 'stuff' taking up space in my closet! Right? And so do you!
But I also need to purchase some nice tops (and leave the t-shirts for hanging out or working out) so that when we go out, or I need a nice blouse for church, I have it. In fact, Amazon delivered one I ordered yesterday this morning! I was surprised to get a text around 6AM that my package was delivered - and I ordered it last night! I only ordered one top - you know, got to make sure I'm ok with ordering online from Amazon without actually feeling the material. I hope I like it.
Daughter and SIL came over yesterday and worked hard in this crazy heat to put together our two chairs, the loveseat and the table for our courtyard. It really does look nice. They said they would be back today to put together the umbrella. Maybe hubby and I can sit out under it this evening. But, it is to be hot this weekend.... and there is that.
I John 4:11 (NKJV): Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Many of us, even those who choose not to obey God, know that they are loved by God. But because they choose not to follow Jesus, they don't think about His love for us very much. I wonder if each of us took the time to sit back and think about all the goodness in our lives, if we would realize that it is from the love of our Heavenly Father that we have these things. It isn't 'hard work' or 'our money' that got us these things. It isn't us 'creating' these things. It is because God loves us so much that He wants to give to us. Sure, some things we have to work for, gradually get, wait upon. But do we not usually (perhaps not always) get what we want? In the long run? I think we do in most cases, don't you?
Now our children may give us angst, I agree! But we know we have the love of our children, even when they don't act like it. Even when we are hurting and upset with them, we know we are loved by them and we love them. Unconditionally, right?
And that is how God loves us. Unconditionally. I watched a short clip yesterday of a little boy coming to Jesus and crying and saying he messed up and he was so sorry, and he was also sorry that he had to keep coming back and saying he was sorry. And Jesus just said to him, "but you came back."
There is a scene in The Chosen that Mary Magdelene left Jesus and the disciples (and I understand what she was going through!) went back to the bar she used to hang out. Matthew and John went looking for her, and they found her sitting at the side of building. They talked her into going back with them, although she really didn't want to. She felt so ashamed of herself. When Mary, Jesus' mother, brought her to Him, Mary Magdelene would not even look at Jesus. She told Him she was sorry, and she was so ashamed. Jesus welcomed her, and told her that she had come back, that was what mattered. Jesus forgave her, and told her so. He asked her to look at Him. She said she was so ashamed. He asked her to look at Him, and she did. He told her "I forgive you." and Mary Magdelene ran into His arms.
I run into Jesus' arms because of failures more often than I care to admit. But it is in His arms that I find forgiveness, hope, and safety. Jesus loves you so very much that He died for you. You have turned your back on Him because you didn't get your way; you feel He didn't answer the longing of your heart, didn't answer your prayers. I get that. You know the times I have cried out to Him and believing that He would answer my prayers the way I wanted Him to - but He did not. But I cannot turn away from Him. He is my life. And when you have turned away, turn back to Him, for He is waiting on you to return with open arms.... forgiven.
Jeremiah 20:9 is a verse I memorized and occasionally forget, but will often remember as well.
Jeremiah 20:9 (NIV): But if I say "I will not mention His Word or speak any more in His name", His Word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in, indeed I cannot.
I may not have a vast knowledge of scriptures in my brain, I may not be able to articulate words to say what needs to be said at a given time. But I know in Whom I believe, and I know He is faithful to me in all things. I know that Jesus loves me and is always with me. How can I not praise Him; how can I not seek Him; how can I not bow down and worship Him? He is all I have that remains true to the end.
He loves you more than you can ever imagine. He will never let you go. Run back to Him while there is time. Don't wait until your time is gone for you cannot. Reach out to Him. He is your best friend.
Blessings!
