It's fall... want to turn a 'new leaf'....

 well, today is not the first day of fall, but I actually saw a red leaf yesterday laying on the ground next to the house.  How did that happen here in sunny Phoenix?  The winds must have brought it down from up north.  Which reminds me, hubby is still asking to go up north for a weekend.  Maybe I can convince him to wait until the leaves change up there.  I'd rather head south, just saying.... I can get more excited about that.  Maybe I can get him to compromise.  One weekend north, one weekend south.  Something to think about.

I finished the book Atomic Habits last night and I must admit I felt it was very good.  I do want to change some things in my life, and it gave me ideas on how to do that.  I asked hubby if he wanted to read it next but he complained he already had a stack of books he wanted to read.  So - who's up for reading it next?  I'm curious what my boss will think of it as I gave her a copy for her birthday.  Which is today, in fact, and I need to send her a birthday text. :-)  I do love my boss!

I am to give my testimony at our Bible study group this Monday night.  I've typed out a few pages (yes, pages) of my life and now am working on deleting some things and adding others.  Some things I'd just as soon forget and move on, but they are still part of my life and has shaped me into who I am.  Our past does that.  Whether it was good or bad, we carry those traits with us all our lives.  

With that being said, I disagree with those who say "I can't change; that is just the way I am."  They are wrong.  They don't WANT to change.  True, their childhood may have been rough, I get that.  So was mine.  I get they may have felt worthless and stupid.  I get that too.  But the difference is, from my background to theirs, I CHOOSE to leave that behind me and allow Jesus to transform me into His image.  Yeah, I fail on that sometimes, but He always picks me up, forgives me, and sets my feet back on His firm foundation.  I don't fall back on how I was treated growing up.  I don't whine about what people said.  I don't let myself feel worthless.  Why?  Because I have great value.

Proverbs 22:1 (NKJV):  "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor than silver and gold."

I'm sorry if you feel your childhood was bad.  I can't change your past, any more than you can change mine.  I don't know why, but God allows things to help us grow and to shape us into becoming better than we were.  It's how we respond to those things in our past that makes us who we are.  And, I'll use myself as an example.

I've mentioned before that I was abused growing up.  I wasn't taught to have any respect for myself, I wasn't taught that I had any value.  During the two years between marriages, I continued down that path.  I had been rejected and that just compounded what my growing up years had shown me.  I lived life thinking about me and putting myself first.  I was so wrong.

Once I remarried and came out here and started attending this specific church, I found a personal relationship with Jesus.  For the first time in my life I felt I had value.  I was a 'pearl of great worth' to Jesus.  And He loved me for me.  Not for who I was in the past, nor did I have to change to make Him love me.  He loved me just as I was.  He actually loved me when I lived at home.  Why He allowed all that happened to happen, I do not know.  It wasn't my fault.  But I know that He took what happened and shaped me, and used it for His glory.

I'm still not perfect, by any means.  But loving Jesus and knowing that He loves me, no matter what I do, makes a big difference in ones' life.  I know He has forgiven my 'single life' and has taken my shame and washed me white as snow.  Even now, today, I seek Him more and more.  I ask for better understanding of His Word, I seek a closer walk with Him.  I desire to be completely surrendered to whatever He chooses for me - even when I don't want to do it.  His ways are always better.  I choose Jesus.   Your choices in life define who you are.

Today I get to join a group of women for Needles of Hope, our crochet/knitting group.  I only have a couple blankets to take this month to donate.  I love these women and we get to share our lives with each other.  I feel God brought them into my life because I need friends I can fellowship with.  Once a month is good. 

My neighbor, Ms. Amy, called me yesterday and asked that I come pick her up today and bring her to her home so that she can get some more clothes.  She's been in the assisted living now a couple months and is tired of wearing the same thing.  She WAS going to move to Florida but it was postponed a month ago until the first of the year.  Good thing.  Her daughter's place in Ft. Meyers - a two story condo, the bottom was flooded halfway up (it is on the beach) so they are going to Ohio where they have another home while this one is being repaired.  Her other daughters who live in Melbourne in a house had minor damage, but did lose one of their boats.  They also live near the beach.  Obviously, my neighbor is glad she hadn't moved to the assisted living there yet.  I think I'd think twice about it now even though she is here alone without any family.  Which is why I get the phone call to do things for her.  And I don't mind.  Happy to help where I can.

And with that, I better finish up and get dressed.  I love I don't really have to watch the clock on Saturdays.  Needles of Hope is 9-12PM and come and go - or come and stay.  I have even missed some. But I do enjoy getting with these women and sharing life with them.  Every woman needs an opportunity to be with others to just 'play'.  I need to extend the invite to my DIL again.... she is always so busy though.   My daughter comes occasionally, but not today.  Last month there was just three of us and we had an awesome conversation.  My friend who 'heads up' our group shared what they were doing in the Bible study she teaches and I was inspired and wishing I was in her group!  

Getting to know Jesus more is our goal of life.  What is yours?

Blessings!

He made a difference.

 I can't believe I forgot. But I totally did.  A very dear friend's birthday was June 2nd and I always, for the past - oh my! nearly 50 years! could that be right? - sent him a birthday card.  I also send a Christmas card, and he always sent me one.  But the past couple of years I have heard nothing from him.  No notes, no cards.  I wondered if he had passed on. I googled his name, and found nothing.  I tried dex-online and still nothing.  I let his birthday go without sending a card, but I had to know.  So I wrote his son, whom I had also worked with, and he lived with his dad.  The son emailed me last week that his dad had just turned 97, was still alive, and was always saying "only the good die young".    I got his telephone number and said I'd call on Saturday around noon their time - 9AM our time.

I totally forgot.  I did not think of it at all until yesterday morning as I was starting to sign on my work computer - and then I remembered.   I sent a quick email and asked if I could call at noon Monday.  No response.  At 9AM our time I decided to just call anyway.  Sure enough, he was eating lunch but his son said that he knew his dad would love to talk with me.  So we talked about 10 minutes and it was so fun.  Granted, we didn't have much to talk about; he did ask about each of my children as he knew of each one.  I also asked about his children.  I kept the call brief and told him I will make a note to call him every few weeks just to touch base.  And wished him a happy belated birthday.

Why is this man so important to me?  I met him in January 1975 when I went to work at Peachtree Fabrics Inc. in the customer service department.  My youngest had been born October 1974 and I needed to go to work.  After about 3 months, the bookkeeper was fired and they needed a new one.  For some reason, the president of the this very small company (it had only been open a very few months) thought I had potential.  He and the vice president approached and asked if I would be interested.  I had no confidence in myself and didn't think I could.  But this president of this company thought I had potential.  He asked me to take the position and he and our CPA would train me.

So I did.  I caught on quickly and soon I exceeded my own expectations.   It didn't take long and I was doing payroll for the office and the sales people, figuring commissions, writing checks, approving credit orders, processing orders, payments.... and a lot of other things.  I was added as secretary of the corporation.  Everything I did 'way back when' was completed by hand.  I kept all the books manually.  I wrote all the checks manually.  I posted charges and payments on a Burroughs machine.  About 5-6 years later we got this huge contraption called a computer.  I ran the 'computer department' in addition to bookkeeping as it was kept in my room.  I loved that job.  The CPA and I would challenge each other every month that we met to go over the books.... we'd see who could tally up on the calculator all the numbers the fastest - and I loved to beat him!  

I tell you all this because that is part of my life.  This man that I called yesterday morning was the one who believed in me and gave me confidence in myself.   He took the time to say 'you can do it, I believe in you'.  He invested his time in me to make sure I understood the importance of the job and how to do it the right way.  I was sad when he left the company and moved on, but we have always kept in touch.  I remember making him a pistachio cake one year for his birthday because he loved pistachios.  His son, who is now 65, worked in the warehouse a few summers so I became acquainted with him as well.  I still have a cheese plate that he gave me one year for my birthday.  On the wooden plate he had placed a piece of wax in the shape of cheese and put a small ceramic mouse in it.  A glass dome covers the dish.  I haven't used it often... but I still have that dish - minus the 'cheese' and mouse.

Who do you have in your life (or have had) who believed in you?  Who took the time to value you?  Perhaps it is a friend who encouraged you when you were down.  Perhaps it is your spouse who told you often how treasured you are.  Perhaps it is your child who makes you feel so blessed just because they look up to you.  Perhaps it is a boss who saw value in your and taught you all you know about that area of expertise.  Have you taken the time to let them know how much you appreciate their value, their trust, in you and in your abilities?

Over the years I have often told my former boss of how much I treasure the lessons I learned from him.  I gained internal value because someone believed I could do something different.

It's like Thomas the train engine..... I think I can, I think I can..... and wasn't afraid to try.  And he made it over the mountain.

Perhaps you can't think of anyone who has made you feel valued as I did.  But you know what, YOU can be that person to someone else.  You can be that person to your spouse.  You can be that person to your child.  You can be that person to a friend.  Think about it.  How can you (possibly) step out of your comfort zone and give a word of encouragement and hope to someone today?  Tell them "I believe in you.  I will walk with you in this journey.  I will help you over the tough times.  I will be here for you."

Sounds a bit like our Lord, doesn't it?  Jesus is always telling you that He believes in you.  He will walk with you in this journey of life, regardless of where it leads you.  He will give you the wisdom you need to complete that task.  He will encourage you to succeed and do even better than you did the day before. He will pick you up when you fall, brush you off, and set your feet on solid ground - if you will let Him.  He is always here for you.  And when you are a follower of Jesus, one of our goals is to be like Him.  

Stop right now and think about someone who could use some encouragement in their day.  Grab a piece of paper and write them a note to encourage them.  Pick up the phone an call (or text) them that you are thankful for them.  

Believe in yourself, for our God does not make junk.  You have value, and a high price was paid for you.  Jesus gave His life up for you, and for me.  He loves and treasures and values us - loves and treasures and values YOU so much, He chose to take all our sins and nail them to the cross.  His body was beaten and scarred, His blood flowed, because He loves you so much.  Thank Him.

There is no greater love, than what Jesus displayed for us.  And we are to show that love to others.  Tell someone today they have value.

Begin with yourself.

Blessings!