I can't believe I slept all night!

 I am usually awake 2-4 hours after going to sleep - but last night, I believe I slept all night!  And a deep sleep at that!  When I awoke this morning, I got up and hit the bathroom as usual.  I didn't look at the clock (actually, I couldn't get my eyes open enough to read it.  When I got back in bed, I looked again and it was 4:23AM.  Time to get up - but I just climbed back into bed!  I didn't want to get up!  But then, I must have awakened hubby when I got up as he started the sighing and moving very slowly, turning this way and that, and finally, it is just wiser for me to get up at that point for there is no way he is going to sleep.  He won't get up until he has to go to the bathroom, but will lay there and sigh, (and he says) afraid of waking me up.  It's just easier to just get up and snuggle down in here.  Which I would have liked to do this morning, but he got up right after I did and would bring my coffee in.  I did have a few minutes though that I could leave the light off and just sink into my chair and continue to 'wake up'.

Church was really good yesterday and I did something.  Yesterday, as I was reading my Bible and praying, I felt like God was telling me that it was time for me to 'step up' at church and get involved more, do more, etc.  I have the Messenger X app on my phone and up popped "it is time for you to level up'.  So when I saw Pastor John, I told him that I felt God was telling me it is time to step up and I had a great message on Gratitude if he wanted a break in speaking.  Not sure how much of my comment he heard, but I said it, and it has been said. I won't mention it any more.  Will see where that goes from here.  I love to preach and share about Jesus. And I felt good yesterday when I shared with him.  Of course I've never preached three services before so that would be a big change for me.  But, I don't know that he would ever let me preach, either.  Not worrying about it.  When we met for lunch several months ago, they told us to let them know when we were ready to get involved because they had places to put us.  I've been quiet, until yesterday.  I put it out there and now I've done my part.  The only Sunday in the new future I'm 'open' is next Sunday, as December is right around the corner and I have 3 Sundays taken with preaching at the RV parks.  Which tells me I need to get busy on the messages, right?

It's Monday again and both bosses are working today.  My big bosses that is.  I have 3-4 others that I support as well, but they aren't the 'big bosses'.  I know I have several messages to look at, and meetings to finish that I requested information on last Friday, but I will take it one day at a time.  This is a busy time here at home with family - and this is a three day week (hallelujah!) - and I can only do so much each day, right?  Plus tonight I have training at 5PM and we are meeting friends for dinner at 5:30PM. Yeah, I'll be late, but I told hubby to go there and talk with them until I can get there, which will be about 15 minutes later. 'It is what it is', right?  

The turkey has been in the refrigerator since last Friday and I'm glad. I checked it out yesterday and it was still pretty frozen on the outside, so know it is on the inside as well.  I moved it to the kitchen refrigerator as it isn't quite as cold as the one in the laundry room.  It should be completed thawed out by Thursday morning.  I'd like to get a smaller turkey after Thursday and keep in freezer for another time.  I have a big grocery list to order online, which I will probably do tomorrow to make sure I have everything I need.  No time to go to grocery today.

Yesterday was somewhat productive and I was tired afterwards, although it didn't seem like I did much.  But, I've lost a tree.  The one that I put on the table outside on the porch.  I think it may be in a box in the far corner of the garage, that I have 50K things in front of it.  So no, I'm not going to clean it out to find it. I'll check around on what's on sale - I only need a 2-3 ft one with out lights - how hard can that be to find. Then I need to get Lil' Debbie treats to put in a bowl.  Although I pretty much limit my shopping deliveries to Tuesday now, and I am about done with shopping, I like to have some snacks there should anyone want.  The tree?  It's my 'wishing tree' - touch a branch and make a wish.  

I remember last Christmas when we had one of our great-granddaughters still, and as she left, she touched the tree branch and at 4 years old, broke my heart when I leaned in to hear her wish "Jesus, will you please give me a family that I can stay with forever."  I may not be remembering the exact words, but you get the jest of it.  She wanted a family.  And it breaks my heart that we have not been able to see her at all since she was taken away unjustly.  Sometimes the courts are not for the children.  People get a burr up their behinds and they want to defy those who want the children and care for them.  And they have the power to do so. But I'm praying that Jesus will intervene and give our family back our great-grandchildren.  

I did get the big tree up, and the tree by the front door yesterday.  So the three trees in the house have been put up.  I didn't cook yesterday other than heating chili up for lunch. Hubby and I both snacked for dinner.  We watched Christmas movies after he watched the football games and some NCIS.  I crochet'd of course. That's what I do while watching movies.  I need to get to Michael's for more yarn - not that I need yarn, but I do need some specific colors that I don't have for Christmas project.

Acts 4:13 (NKJV):  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and  untrained men, they marveled.  And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

I love this verse because it gives me confidence - not in myself, but in God to use me for His glory.  I, too, am 'uneducated' and 'untrained' in many areas.  I've had some training as far as putting messages together, preaching, etc., but I could never 'lead' a church like many can.   I may not preach at theologically as some pastors, but I am willing to share what God has put on my heart and speak in truth. I want to be an empty vessel that God will fill up as He needs me to step up, that I will be used for His glory alone.  I want to be seen as 'a woman wo has been with Jesus'.  That is my heart's desire, more than anything else.  That my life reflects Jesus alone.  People who truly know me may roll their eyes for they know my many mistakes and attitudes about things.... but I hope they also know that my heart always wants to reflect Jesus, whether I 'let it' or not.  

So I pray for boldness to speak God's Word wherever I go.  LOL Ironically, that's a lot of times that hubby gets upset with me because I tend to monopolize the conversation.  Get me talking about Jesus and what He has done in and through those around me - and even in me - and I can't stop talking about His faithfulness and goodness.  It brings me great joy to share about Jesus.  How can I be still and let someone else speak?  LOL  Oh well.  If God wants me to be silent, He will shut my mouth.  In the meantime....

And with that - I need to get off here and get ready for work.  Hopefully it won't be too busy and I can get some more gifts wrapped today.  My goal is by the end of the week I can have all these packages wrapped and under the trees.  Tomorrow will bring a lot more packages so I need to get these out of the way so I can throw the new stuff upon the bed.  And yes, I wrap them all.  Only have a few packages to mail this year and I would like to get those out in a couple weeks.  Maybe next weekend if I have them all done - but I also need to do more baking before I do.  I send my siblings my homemade goodies because although one sister-in-law may bake, I know the other two siblings don't do that - so I want to get things together to send to them.  My lil' sister and I agreed to just one cookbook for Christmas this year.  She wants me to wait a couple weeks until she gets her SS check so she can order my cookbook - I told her I wanted one on casseroles.  She had told me desserts but has now changed her mind so I told her to let me know in a week or so what she wants.  Amazon can ship for me.  But I will still mail a package with my bread and jam as her hubby can only taste my bread (so I've been told) when he has his chemo - which is now 3x a week since his cancer has come back.  He may get two small loaves. :-)

It's a short week and I hope that you get the things completed you want to.  My list just keeps growing! Enjoy your day - this year has gone by so fast - we need to enjoy each moment.

Blessings!

Gonna have some busy in the day

 The youngest son has invited us over for lunch today as part of their 'Thanksgiving' for his side of the family. We are going; yes, hubby is planning on going with me.  We are doing our long quiet time in our own way, then at 9AM will watch Free Chapel/Jentezen Franklin on You Tube, then get dressed to head over to his house.  We don't usually stay long after a meal, and we will be stopping by the daughter's house to feed the cats and clean out litter boxes again.  We thought every other day would be ok if I fill up the bowls full.  I'm not so sure.  LOL Friday when we stopped by, the cats had knocked over a container of 'Greenies' - I think they were snacks - all over the floor...well, what was left of them. I don't know how much had been in the container, but there is only about 1/2 cup left, after I cleaned up from the floor.  All four of the bowls were empty of food (total of 5 cats until they get back; two are the granddaughter's).  I filled up the water dish; filled full the food dishes, cleaned the litter boxes and watered the plants. Today will be a repeat.  But the good news is - got a text this morning that they are now enroute back home! 

I didn't want to cook last night (and leftovers did not appeal to me) so told hubby for us to go out. Where? I don't know. And because I didn't 'know', I had to drive.  LOL I drove North, then West, then North, then East - and eventually I made my way back to familiar territory.  I wanted to see if there were any restaurants in any of those areas - I either didn't go far enough in that direction - or there isn't any.  We ended up at Streets of New York.  I love their thin crust New York Combo pizza.  So that's what we got - and ate it all.  I used to always get the thick crust pizza every where we went for pizza - I love bread, what can I say!  But, I'm learning for pizza to go with a thinner crust - I can eat more. :-)  

Before that, though, I did take off early afternoon and did some 'shopping' and hubby didn't go with me because the Notre Dame game was coming on.  Went to Home Depot and got 4 poinsettias, and a small live fir tree for my wishing tree.  Went to Michael's and bought decorations for it, and a tinsel Santa Claus and a snowman.  Got home and had so much enjoyment fixing things the way I wanted them (without help).  He did offer to help.  I put the poinsettias in the blue pots on the 'columns', and put the fir tree up near the front door, decorated it and put out the snack basket for our delivery guys.  Wrote a note to touch a branch and make a wish, and that may all their wishes come true. It's silly, I know, but everyone should have a wish, don't you think?  I won't have that many deliveries coming anymore, but it's there for anyone coming by.  It brought me joy to fix it up so no matter what, I enjoyed it.

It's December 1 - which means in just over 3 weeks - Christmas will be here.  I have so much I still need/want to do, to make - but most I can't do until a few days before Christmas.  So glad the company closed the offices Monday and Tuesday with Christmas being on Wednesday.  I can devote all that time to baking for our neighbors and delivering things to close friends. Although tomorrow I am meeting my 'oldest' friend, Melonie, and giving her the gifts I have for her. Will need to remember to throw in some bread and jam and maybe some pickles too for her.  She makes delicious buckeyes, but I'm kind of hoping she hasn't done them yet - they are so rich I can't eat but a 1/2 of one at a time.  Sooo good though. I do have the recipe and can make my own, but why?  LOL

Free Chapel worship is awesome this morning.  Really enjoying it.  Will watch it again at 9AM with hubby.

Speaking of church, hubby and I had 'that conversation' again last night.  I finally told him that The Salvation Army was fine.  I like it; there are things he can plug in to if he will, and we both can learn from the Major who speaks.  He is a teaching pastor, as I've mentioned before.  I can always learn about interpretation of the scriptures.  Hubby seemed very happy I said it was ok to go there. Like him, I'm 'tired' of trying to figure out where to go to church. Neither of us like 'crowds'.  There are areas he can plug in; I will leave that up to him. He really needs to just make friends to feel valued. He has limited himself to just a few men that he has study or meals with, and he is so lonely when he isn't involved with that. I'm ok with going there, and he is happy. I like the majors who manage this one.  They have a vision of building a community center in the next few years; it will be really nice, from what they shared with us the last time we were there. Not going today, but plan to go in a couple weeks. Next week I'm up north speaking so won't get down here in time.  Their service starts at 10:45AM and unless we get out of the church up north by 10:15, we can't make it in time.  The RV park here in town I speak at - we have two couples that we hang out with - and both rush over to the SA church after the services. Which means, after I speak, we can 'rush' over as well and can attend church with them.  And, the SA has a meal right after the service every week - and it's only a 'donation'.  The one time we ate there, the food was pretty good.  And it would mean I wouldn't have to cook lunch. :-)

John 1:1-2, 14 (NKJV):  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

This passage is probably the strongest passage in the New Testament for declaring the deity of Jesus. Jesus is indeed God, and He was with God in the beginning.  As was the Spirit of God.  Remember in Genesis 1 that the Spirit of God hovered over the waters as God was dividing it.  

And soon, we will be celebrating Christmas - most of us will take the time to celebrate the Reason for the Season - the birth of Jesus.  Sadly, many parents have neglected to pass on the real and true meaning of Christmas on to their children and grandchildren.  We thought that we were 'forced' to go to church and 'listen' about Jesus - so we will give our children and grandchildren that 'option' of making that decision.... and look at how many have turned out.  I'm not just talking about my own grandchildren who have turned their backs on God; I fear for their children not learning about Jesus.  Who is going to save them if no one shares with them?  And many times we have to walk on broken glass to not offend the parent by sharing Jesus with the children.  Oh that we would go back to loving God first and letting Him lead us!!  We see what the world has become because they have turned away from following Jesus. Oh that a revival will come forth and draw all back to Him!

That will be my focus this coming year.  During my 21 day fast in January, I will be focusing on praying for revival in our families.  Our families need it; my family needs revival.  Listening to services every week isn't enough (speaking to myself here), one needs to be out in the church and living for Jesus.  Listening to messages isn't enough; it's living life.  Whew! Pastor Jentezen is on fire this morning!  Go to You Tube and watch the service!  They will actually post only the 9AM (our time; 11AM their time) on You Tube, but we will be watching that one as well. 

"If you honor the old, the new will spring forth."  

Think on that. Sometimes out of the old vessels come new blessings.  Do you want to disregard the things of the past and push through the new stuff?  We need the knowledge and wisdom and the law of the old, to go to the new and learn how to apply the old in the new. Does that make sense?  Do we not learn from our past, and apply it to the future of our lives?  What if we took the treasure of the Old Testament and apply it to the New Testament where it gives us NEW life?  Oh that we would all choose to follow Jesus completely, not just know about Him, but follow Him completely.  A new thing will rise up once you give your time and talents to Him.  Something to think about.

Blessings!