Actually, when I shut the work computer off yesterday, I just totally relaxed. It felt good. I knew I was not needing to do something with it until Monday morning. Except I have now remembered I forgot to put in an out of office message, so will need to jump online this morning real quick so that I can do that. In the meantime, I can relax knowing that I don't have to work on that stuff today. Hubby and I briefly - very briefly, talked about my retirement last night..... he is afraid we can't make it without my check. I even told him that I would get a part time job! In fact, I know someone who works at a bank as a manager, and she was telling me that their benefits are if you work 20 hours (part-time), you still get full benefits. Hello? I could do that! I would love to do that! Sure, the pay wouldn't be as good as what I make, but it could supplement, right? But, hubby wasn't on board with it so I guess it is still a 'no' for now.
I finally told hubby last night that I was taking today off. He asked why, and I told him that I needed a mental health day, which he knew. He asked what I was going to do. I told him I'm going to take my time in my quiet time (which I am), and I need to work on my message (and I will), and I think I will go shopping this afternoon as I have received several coupons from some stores I shop at (now online) and may see what they have and work on some things for Christmas. The best part? He is going to breakfast with a friend (yay! more alone time) and then also to an early Veteran's lunch with this friend at his church. So he will be eating breakfast and lunch and I can do my own thing. How cool is that? God has orchestrated my day so that I can do whatever I want to do today and enjoy the day off work. I don't have to worry about being home to take care of hubby. He won't feel neglected he is 'alone' all day. I am so grateful He is giving me this day to play.
I stopped to visit Ms. Diane late afternoon yesterday and took over a cup of hot chocolate. We drank the cup of hot chocolate and talked. She has a clock on her wall that I just love. It is a Seiko motion clock and every hour it does movement on it. She told me yesterday it was on sale at Sam's club - and I jumped on the Sams Club app on my phone - found it - and ordered it. It should be here next week. Now to figure out where I am going to put it. I told hubby last night and of course got the grumbling about location. But, I think I will move some things today while he is out and figure it out. I think I know where I will put it - where the big clock is in the living room now - but then where will I put that big clock? It chimes too, but hubby had me turn it off. It was a Christmas gift a few years ago from my big brother so I do want to keep it. I think I know a place in another room to put it - and will work on it today - once hubby leaves. :-)
I read the book of Malachi in my devotions today. Of course it wasn't the first time I had read it - even in this Bible, for I had already underlined many of the scriptures. But as I read it, I was reminded of the first time I had read it and how it had made me determined to give back to God what already belongs to Him.
Malachi 3:8-10 (NKJV): ""Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.""
And THAT scripture is why I know that whenever I retire, whenever that may be, we will always have all that we need. We are tithing our income. Yes, it is a lot of money that we give to the church each month, but God always gives us all that we need. It's His money, anyway. He is the One who has blessed us with what we are receiving. When we withheld giving our full tithe, we were struggling financially. But when we determined to give Him our full tithe, His blessings opened up for us and He has continually blessed us with all that we need. Sure, we don't have a lot of wealth; if we did, hubby would let me retire easily enough. But it's ok..... God knows the time in which I need to retire.... and as He sees the big picture, it's possible that I need to keep working and continue to give, and continue to save, by keeping working.
I've learned over the years that when I relinquish to God all that is His, I have no worries about the future. I've shared stories before of how God has intervened in drastic situations to get us through them. I give Him all the praise and glory, for it is by His hand that we are taken care of.
Sometimes we have to open up our hands and just say, "Lord, I can't do this on my own anymore, I am relinquishing my control, and giving it to You. Would You please take over and help me make the right choices, right decisions, and let go of holding on, and let You take over. Thank You for loving me so much, in spite of the person I have become, You draw me back to You with complete forgiveness as I confess to You the things I've done. You are the Lord my God. I choose You, Lord."
Sometimes you just gotta 'Let go and Let God'. I love to see how God works when I let go of my pride and my 'I'll do it myself' attitude and let Him take control.
Something to give thought to..... it's all His anyway.
Blessings!
