Our new Bible study...

 is going to be a Bible study like we have never attended.  The two times we have gone, hubby and I both have commented on the way home that we felt 'intimated'.  By that I mean that these people, who have been in this study group for some time, seem to have such knowledge of the Bible that our casual readings throughout the years cannot comprehend.  I read my Bible every day.  I've done studies on specific books, but I guess I've never really 'dug' into the Word like these people seem to know it.  Perhaps God has led us to this church, to this Bible study, for this very reason - to learn how to dig into His Word and read it with fresh eyes and a learning heart.  

The book we were told last week that we we going to study was Proverbs, and we wondered how we would do that.  (Did you know that you could read one chapter of Proverbs a day and by the end of the month you would have read the entire book?  Try it!  It's a book of wisdom!)  What we found out when we arrived is that we are going to do the book of James.  Now I enjoy a good study on James.  When I read James, it really helps me understand a lot of things.  "Consider it pure joy...." remember those words?  Oh, go ahead, read chapter 1 - in fact - all we got through last night was versus 1-4.  Lots of conversation; lots of discussion.  And the leader called on me once for my opinion!  Gasp!  I was on the spot!  What did I think that word/words meant?  Guess who is going to be doing a lot of studying on James before our next class!  All good conversation and at a study level we have never experienced over the years.  I wish we had books we could dive into that would help us understand God's Word better, and I will be searching specifically for books on James that we can read so that our knowledge will grow.  In fact, I had started a class on James at Dallas Theological Seminary a few months back, and after the first chapter, didn't get back on it.  I think I need to see if I can retake the course and this time really dive into it.  I do want to know more about God's Word and how to apply it to my life.  I know I have so much to learn.  I've forgotten so many things because if you 'don't use it, you lose it'... and that is what happened.  I want to become excited again about learning.  My excuse anymore is 'I don't have the time with working' - and yet, I think back to 20 years ago I was teaching classes, volunteering, working, and doing other things as well - granted, I wasn't in bed before 9PM like I am now either.  I was up until midnight many nights and doing the things I needed/wanted to do.  And still got up early to go to work.  Didn't think anything about it - and now... I see how lazy I have become. Lord, please help me to change.  Give me a hunger for your Word that can not be satisfied.

James 1:5 (NKJV):  "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

We/I had a delightful surprise yesterday.  For the first time in a long time, I felt truly loved.  You would have to 'walk in my shoes' to understand my comment.  I received a text from my 'favorite' DIL yesterday afternoon that a mutual friend said 'hi'.  I knew this friend had been in a hospital nearby.  We hadn't seen her but a few times since we had left the church.  I immediately asked if she was in the facility where my DIL worked.  After a short pause, my DIL responded she got permission (HIPAA) to tell us 'yes'.  I knew we wanted to go see her.  So after I 'clocked' out from work, got cleaned up, we headed to the facility, which is only a couple miles north of us.  We went to visit our friend and I text'd our DIL 'guess where we are" and in a few moments she appeared at the door of the room.  It was so good to see her.  After she left, our friend commented on how she found out it was our DIL helping her, and spoke highly of her, how kind and thoughtful she is. (and that is true!)  And then our friend said something that touched my heart.  Unless you know how broken my heart has been over the years over situations and circumstances, not necessarily within my immediate family but from others as well, you cannot understand how I have built walls around my heart not to feel so that I wouldn't be hurt again.  But what my friend said, made its way into my heart, breaking a piece of the wall off.  She said, "your DIL said she had a wonderful MIL".  Even now, I feel tears gather in my eyes.  I can't explain how my heart has longed to hear that someone truly cared and thought and loved me, and yet, in those words, I felt it.  Whew!  Let's move on!

Hubby was asking me again yesterday about how I journal.  He knows I write in my journal most every day.  I'm not sure why he keeps asking me.  I used to 'journal journal' of my daily activities, but this year I have made it a point to write out brief prayers in my journal book.  Things that are on my heart.  Then I can pray verbally about 'everything else'.  I don't have time in the mornings to write down every prayer I feel I need to pray about.  Some things should not be written down; some things are better brought to the Lord and laid on His altar and left there.

Oh - another thing that came up last night.  One of the men in our group opened up that he was in counseling and that he had been abused by his mother and father as he was growing up.  Now the age range in this group is probably 40's on up.  We are on the 'up' end.  He shared that he had written a letter to his mother, and was in the process of writing a letter to his father, confronting the abuse and how it made him feel.  He never mentioned that he would be mailing them, but just that he was in the process of writing them.  Our leader suggested that when he wrote the letters, to take them and place on the grill outdoors, pray taht God would take that pain, the anger, the hurt, the anguish - all those feelings he had from his 'growing up years' and then turn the fire on and let the letters burn.  Give all of that to God.  I have heard that before - to burn them - but have never done so.  A counselor I had years ago suggested I do the same thing - I wrote the letter and mailed it.  My stepfather denied every accusation I said he did. And yet, when my younger sister was told by her counselor to write the letter, she did and mailed it and he called her and asked for forgiveness.  That has led to a whole lot of other issues in me.  I know I did not imagine it.  So I am thinking that I need to take some time over the next few months and write out another letter... and burn it, truly offering it to God and letting the past go.  I know some other people I need to write those letters to over the years.  And perhaps that is what I need to do in order to bring healing to my heart.  To break down the walls I have built up for protection.    And maybe you need to think about doing the same thing.  Are you willing to let go of the anger, hurt, etc. that you have held on to for years - that has made you say "that's just the way I am?"  You don't have to be that way!  Give it to God, and forgive the offender, and forgive yourselves.  You will know then how 'walled up' you were.

John 8:32 (NKJV):  "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Blessings!

4 things that cause people to leave church -

 The message yesterday was very good; very interesting.  One of the things our Pastor spoke was that there are four things that cause people to leave a church.  Messages on 1) Giving (there they go, asking for money again!) 2) Hell (people don't want to hear where they will go unless they accept Jesus as Lord) 3) Holy Spirit (some people are scared of the Holy Spirit and want nothing to do with Him) and 4) politics (can't go there in case we offend someone!).

Last week the message was on Hell - based on Revelations 20.  Read it.  Remember the Bible story of the rich man and Lazarus, who sat outside the rich man's gate?  The rich man gave him nothing.  When the rich man and Lazarus died, Lazarus went to heaven, the rich man to hell.  The rich man asked Abraham, who held Lazarus in his bosom, that Lazarus could just dip his finger in water to give the rich man a cool touch.  But he was denied.  The chasm is there that no one can cross over. Read Luke 16 for the entire story. 

Yesterday the message was on the Holy Spirit.  There were several scriptures used and my mind is blank as to the main one - but it was a great message and yes, several people in the church do speak in tongues. Some people believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit died years ago when the disciples all died.  That is not true.  The gifts of the Spirit are alive yet today.  We all do not have the same gifts, but each of us have a gift.  There are different kinds of spiritual gifts and we all have a responsibility to use them for the glory of God.  Some gifts come and go - by that I mean that there may be a time when you need a specific gift and God will provide it, but it may not be there after that one time.  Other gifts are there for a season.  And sometimes, you lose those gifts when you do not press in and use those gifts.  Or pride gets in the way and you pat yourself on the back that you have that gift, and you find you lose it as you try to use that gift in your own power.

Mario Murillo, who is having successful revival messages throughout the country (will be in Chandler this month, I think), and he has the gift of healing.  God will tell him of someone who has a specific ailment and he will call them out - and as they stand in faith, God reaches down in His mercy, and brings healing.  I've watched some of his meetings and have seen people break out in tears over their healing, they have been in such pain that they could barely walk, and now could walk freely and move their body.  Do I believe this is real?  Yes I do.  I believe that God wants to heal us all, regardless of what our ailments are.  

Cindy Jacobs is a prophetic intercessor who heads up Generals International.  I've known other people who have given prophetic messages.  In fact, hubby and I received one years ago, written out to us by someone we know.  I have it still around here somewhere.  I am just not sure where it ended up since we moved.  We were really puzzled over this Word that was written to us - and as time has passed us by, we have remembered and recognized what was 'spoken' to us.  It actually involved a 'religious spirit' of sorts.  We had been in this one church for years - and were happy there.  But this 'Word' said that we would change how we worshipped, that it wouldn't be orderly like we were enjoying.  We couldn't understand that as we had no plans to leave.  But leave we did several years later and the last two churches we have gone to have not been 'in order' but 'as the Spirit moved.  Especially the church we have now felt we are to make our church home.  Some people would be uncomfortable with it; in fact, I have expected hubby to voice his opinion about some things.  'In order' I mean by man's order.  Announcements, a couple songs, preacher speaks, we sing another song, go home.   Sometimes you just need to let the Holy Spirit lead and you follow.  Twenty years ago I can't say we would have even entertained a thought of going to this type of church.  But with the Word spoken, we feel this is where we are to be, for this moment in time.

I know that 'Giving' will be a topic soon for preaching.  It's one of the 4 and Pastor Pat said that he's done two of them now.  It is a touchy subject for some people as they feel their money is their money.  My mother always tithed, although we never thought much about it.  We have tithed over the years.  And because we do tithe, God always provides for our every need.  His Word tells us to tithe and Malachi 3:8-10 states that we are robbing God when we do not give Him a tithe of what we have.  God owns everything we have anyway, so why shouldn't we give Him back a portion of it?  Giving, or tithing, is always a delicate subject for a pastor to speak on because the thought that comes to mind for some people is 'they always ask for money'.  

My big brother is really encouraging me to build up my body in strength.  He walks most days and sends me a copy of his time/miles off his app.  And I do the same back to him.  I didn't really want to - but managed to get on the treadmill yesterday and I walked almost three miles.  I have discovered that the back room in which the treadmill resides, and although it has a ceiling fan, does not cool down.  The treadmill needs to be UNDER the fan.... but it isn't.  And for someone who doesn't usually sweat, I am dripping with sweat!  That's a good thing, right?  I comment it is easier for him to walk because he is retired.... and I work... but.  Yes, But.  I still have time that I can walk, but I am usually too lazy to do it.  I actually sat and thought about it yesterday afternoon.  Afterall, I wasn't working yesterday.  Yes, we went to church, stopped at Coco's for lunch, and came home.  We did stop by one of the rec centers yesterday cause we heard they had a walking track and we wanted to see what it was.  It's a quarter mile track and it is cushioned - but it is outside.  When we got back home from checking it out, I debated on getting on the treadmill... and knew that I was just being lazy.  Hubby kept reminding me Sunday was a 'day of rest'.  Almost convinced me, until my brother sent me his walk info for the day - nearly 5 miles.  I knew I wasn't going to do that.... but propped my Kindle up on the treadmill and located Prime Video and brought up a movie, plugged in my earplugs, and started walking.  I did get nearly 3 miles in before I called it quits.  With being back to work today and our Bible study tonight at 6:30PM,  I'm going to have to work some time in to get my walking in.  And yes, I send my brother my statistics and he cheers me every time I do.  It matters.  Especially cause I don't feel/see any results of my changing my eating habits and walking.  I will, in time, but not right now.  

Hubby is going to the movies today with a friend to watch the new Top Gun movie.  He did ask me to go... but he knows I'm not a big movie theatre fan.  I think it goes back to I was not allowed to go to movies when I was growing up.  In fact, we didn't get to do much of anything.  No movies or shows, no dancing, no football games, no anything.  As for movies, my stepsister and her boyfriend at that time snuck to see The Ten Commandments at an outside drive-in (do you remember those?) and got busted and grounded for it.  I just prefer to sit at home and watch movies on TV.  Anyway, hubby and his friend are going out to breakfast and then will go to the show.  Which means I will have a quiet morning, unless I have meetings to attend.  Haven't turned the work computer on yet to see.

And with all that ... I need to hush and get off here.  Some days I just want to keep rambling and writing. :-)

Blessings!

In my mind, last night....

I had a topic I wanted to share this morning.  Again, as before, I disected what I wanted to share, and how I wanted to share it.  I had a topic, an outline... and I was ready.  This morning.... the mind is blank.  Again. What's up with that?

Yesterday was a good day.  After my quiet time, I walked 1.6 miles on the treadmill.t  I'm trying hard to keep up on doing something every day.  Of course my brother beat me - again - he walked 5 miles.  We track them on a tracker and then share the information with each other.  He wants to do 8 miles by the end of the month.  He has the time to do that; I don't, unless I use a weekend.  Will see.  Found out one of the rec centers has a walking track and I hope to go check it out today.  It's much easier to just walk than it is to stand on a treadmill.  But a treadmill is still better than nothing to get you to walk and move.

We were invited to breakfast by our granddaughter to join them and her parents to celebrate her birthday.  We hadn't been to the Hash Kitchen before.  It is a little pricey by a few dollars, but still doable for a treat.  I had a vegetable fritatta, trying to stay within my diet plan.  It was huge, and I could eat only perhaps half of it.  In fact, no one ate their entire meal.  They all got to go boxes!  Their pancakes even are huge!  As a birthday celebration, they brought our granddaughter a cannoli donut, which she shared with all of us.  What is really cool - if I drank them - they have a Bloody Mary bar!  Seriously!  You can have them build your own Bloody Mary.  If you like those.  I make the mock Bloody Mary - without the vodka - and it tastes just like a real one - seriously!  It is good.  Never saw a place have something like that - it was cool to look at.  We all enjoyed our food and there were huge servings.

Later in the day I got my hair cut and colored.  He cut 3-4 inches off,  and because he had layered it before, it kind of evened it out more.  I like it much better one length.  Won't do layers again; I still have some, but they will grow out.  Which reminds me... he told me a story that made me laugh - and cringe.

Our precious Sheeba was given to a friend of his.  We have know of this friend for years, but had never met him before he came over and took Sheeba.  He has been so good to her and she is being well taken care of.  She has a fenced back yard in which she can run in.  She has a doggie door so she can go in and out.  And he takes her out for a two mile walk every morning.  Well, he wanted to start leaving her out of the crate and let her roam the house while he wasn't home.  The very first day, he comes home from work and finds chewed up paper all over the house.  He couldn't figure it out at first.... until he walked into the front room where he had left his Bible after his quiet time that morning.  Sheeba had pulled out and chewed nearly every page out of his Bible!  I saw a photo yesterday of Sheeba with her head laying on what was left of the Bible, with her eyes looking up as if to say.... I was bad.  I laughed because the comment he posted with it was "the Word got into Sheeba"...  I miss her so much, I really do.  But she has so much more there.  I would love to see her, and we were invited to come see her anytime, but I don't want to confuse her.  

As I sit here and think about what I just wrote, I remember telling hubby years ago that I wanted a SMALL dog, one that I could put up next to me and snuggle with.  His comment was, "why can't you come sit on my lap and snuggle with me?"  Sigh.  He never would let me have a small dog. Oh well.  Life goes on.  No more dogs ... and he hates cats.  I often told him that 'when I am alone.... I can have whatever I want!'.   

A fun thing happened yesterday afternoon as well!  A former boss, one that I went to work for back in January 1975, called me!  I started out at this company working in customer service, and within three months, he had asked me to be the bookkeeper.  I didn't have the training, but he took me under his wing and between he and the CPA, taught me so much!  I ended up having several positions within that company.  He left the company a few years later, but we remained friends, as did his son and I.  I have sent him a birthday card every June 2nd all these years, and we have exchanged Christmas cards, although the last five years or so he hasn't sent any out.  I called him this year, which I don't normally do.  The time difference is always an issue for when I think of it, it is usually his lunch time or dinner time.  I had left a voicemail, wishing him a happy birthday.  Well, he called me yesterday.  I asked how old he turned this year - and he laughed and didn't want to tell me.  He is 98 years old - and he told me that he is still working and traveling.  Not as much as he used to, of course.  He left where we worked together and created his own company in Florida and he sold it off several years ago.  He says now that he works as a consultant for these other companies.  I believed him.

But then as I recalled late last night the conversation I had with his son shortly after.... I am wondering how true that is.  The son told me that his dad does presentations in his sleep.  The son, Michael,  has a baby monitor in his dad's room so that he can keep an eye on him.    Michael told me that he heard his dad talking one night so he got up to see who he was talking to.  His dad was asleep - and giving a presentation in his sleep.  Michael asked, "Dad, are you ok?", and my friend responded, "Shhh, Michael, I am in a meeting".  LOL  That made me laugh - but late last night I got to thinking about it.  I'm wondering now if the traveling and working is only in his mind.  At the age of 98, it could very well be.  He still lives at home with his son, who makes sure he is cared for.  I have so many fond memories of this man - one birthday he had I made for him a pistachio cake!  

This man gave me something that I didn't have.  He gave me confidence in myself and in my ability to do things.  He and the CPA trained me to do what I needed to do for that company - and within 7 years, before I left, I became Secretary of the Corporation.  I did all kinds of positions besides bookkeeper.  I was became the credit manager, the HR representative; I did payroll, I worked with a Burroughs machine when we first opened...eventualy going to huge computers with very large discs that had to be backed up every night.  I loved that job.  And because of this man, I felt valued.

People come into our lives every day.  How we speak to them; how we treat them, will either give them confidence, or it will tear them down.  Be kind, watch your words.  The life you touch can be changed by what you say and do.

Mark 12:29-31 (NKJV):  Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all yur heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'  This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no other commandment greater than these.'"

So who is your neighbor?  Whoever you come in contact with.  Be kind.

Blessings!

Encouragement - we all need it

 My big brother and I have often gone back and forth on who is in better shape.  This week has been no different.  He often challenges me to walk.  When we went back to Indy last year, he and I were to take an 8-10 mile walk - and we would have, but he didn't want to leave hubby out and hubby does not like to take long walks.  He only does what he has to do.  So we didn't walk.  I was disappointed.  But now, this week, my big brother started sending me his walking stats, whether on his treadmill or out in the beautiful outdoors.  He inspires me to 'do something'.  He encourages me.  He challenges me.  He chides me.  And I will not let him get the best of me!

Because he has had diabetes for years and because he has had heart surgery as well, he has been teasing this week that my 'old handicapped brother' has been kicking my butt.  Well, he may be walking further in distance, but I'm doing my part!  I reminded him that he has the time available to do all that walking; I do not.  With working, my time even on the treadmill is limited.  And I'm not crazy enough to spend my evening on the treadmill, either!  But I have been getting on it because he has encouraged me to get active again.  He doesn't want me to become weak and unable to do things as I age.  And I appreciate that!

So this week I have been walking close to two miles most days on the treadmill; 15 minutes here and there a couple times a day - but yesterday, I really applied myself and got nearly 3 miles in!  And my butt/hip is tender this morning!  I did more than just walk.  I used the 'Couch to 5K' app and it starts you out by walking 5 minutes, then for 20 minutes has you run for one minute, walk for 90 minutes, until the last 5 minutes in which you cool down.  By the time I get to that last run, I can barely push myself to get to it - but I did it yesterday - and not once, but twice!  And it got me nearly 3 miles.  I am happy.

But I would not have even gotten on the treadmill (after all, it has been in that room for a couple months now without even being turned on) had my brother not encouraged, via challenging me, to walk.

Acts 15:31 (NKJV):  "When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement."  

I always have felt that encouragement was one of my spiritual gifts as I love to encourage others to achieve things.  We all are capable of far more than we attempt, so why do we not try to reach our goal?  Because we lack the encouragement of others who walk this journey of life with us.

When needing to eat right and exercise, especially, we often need people to encourage us to keep on doing what we are doing.  Sometimes we beat ourselves us badly because we have failed to stay on course, and then we give up.  And why do we give up?  Because no one comes along side us to encourage us and help us stay focused.  Why have I been on so many diets all over these years?  Sure, hubby does them with me (sorta).... but I don't feel the encouragement to keep doing what I know I need to do.  We always start out good, perhaps for several days.... but then we feel discouraged and give up.  We half-heartedly do it, until we just stop altogether.

I did that just last week.  We were on this one 'diet plan' and I haven't seen my scale go down, although I have been pretty much staying on the plan.  I finally said "I don't care!  I'm tired of watching every bite!  I'm going to eat what I want to eat - I know what to eat and what not to eat and I'll do it my way!"  And I did for a few days.  And I knew I wasn't doing what I said I was going to do... I mean, I wasn't eating bad, but ice cream had been calling my name, and it wasn't on any diet plan I knew of.  Then this deal with my little sister and her issue about weight lately, I decided I needed to encourage her - perhaps we could do something together.  Oh no, can't do that.  I begged her to clean off her treadmill (under clothes, of course) and get on it at least 5 minutes a day.  And start building from there.  She complains she has no place nearby to walk outside since they moved two years ago to this house.  She has a treadmill (just like I do!) so use it!  She did tell me yesterday that she had cleaned it off, but no, had not gotten on it yet.  So I begged her again, please just start with five minutes a day and hang on to one side to keep her balance.  She agreed that she would start.  I got an email from her that she has decided to go back to the keto diet and start on Monday.  I'm ok with that.  We just have to do something!  No, I'm not doing keto.  I'm going to eat more vegetables and fruit and pay more attention to what I'm doing.  I love my air fryer so can cook without frying easily.  Last night I baked salmon in my air fryer and added vegetables - and it was so good!  See how easy it is to eat healthy?  

Ok, I'll confess.  Since we usually eat around 4-5PM as a rule (just as easy to start dinner after I 'get off' work), by 8PM I was getting hungry so hubby and I SPLIT an ice cream sandwich so that neither of us got a lot of calories, but was able to taste something cold and sweet, satisfying our hunger for some snack.  No, celery never came up in the conversation.  And I don't feel guilty about eating the ice cream! I am not discouraged because we ate the ice cream; it satisfied that craving.  I am staying on track this time and I'm going to do this.  And I'm doing it for me.  But I do need the encouragement of others.  My brother eats what he wants, and because he exercises, he can.  

This morning we are going out to celebrate a granddaughter's birthday at breakfast.  She invited us to join them.  Haven't been to Hash Kitchen before, but I've heard that it is really good food and a lot of it.  I looked up the menu last night and have decided that I can have a vegetable fritata and will still maintain my goal of eating well.  Sometimes it helps if you go out to eat, to look at the menu first so that you can decide beforehand (especially if you can never make up your mind, like me) what you will allow yourself to have.  I could go simple - scrambled eggs, you know-the usual breakfast, but a fritata is something I haven't made and rarely eat, although it is really good.  So am excited to try it.  Hash Kitchen seems a little pricey, but for a birthday celebration it is fine.

Which means I need to get off here and start getting dressed cause breakfast comes in the morning time, right?  We're meeting at 7:30AM and I not only need to get dressed, I really want to make my face presentable by putting makeup on.  My hair I can't do much with - it's straight.  Hmmm. I made an appointment with my hairdresser for this afternoon to add some highlights (hopefully to hide some of this abundant gray coming through).... thinking about letting him cut 3-4 inches off.  I love my long hair, but since he layered it several months ago, I can't fix it the way I like to.  Maybe going a little shorter to even out the layers will make it easier.  Still thinking about that.  Even at my age, it will still grow, right?

Gotta go.  Wishing you a blessed day, full of love and encouragement.  And if you don't feel you have received encouragement, please go encourage someone else!  Tell that spouse you appreciate them.  Show that child love by giving him/her your undivided attention.  Make them feel valued.  Encouragement.  We all need it.

Blessings!

He made me giggle out loud!

 I wrote in here yesterday about my sneaking a cookie under my shirt and taking to my 'office' to eat in private, so that hubby didn't see me and comment about it.  I've done it more often than not, whether it be chocolate, cookies, or whatever else I wanted at that moment.  Sometimes I choose just not to deal with comments.  I know God sees what I'm doing - and it isn't BAD, and I really can't think of a reason why I do that.   Perhaps part of it is just not listening to a comment about me eating cookies.  Or chocolate.  It could go back to when I was married 40 years ago.  Hubby was a 'health nut' at that time.  He took A-Z vitamins and worked out nearly daily.  He would not 'let' me eat my snickers.  (he literally would take them away from me and throw them away!)  I would sometimes buy a small bag and (truth!) hide them in a dresser drawer, that when I walked by on my way to the bathroom, I could grab one and take it with me.  Yes, I did that.  I didn't want him telling me I couldn't have a snicker so I defied him.  Now he buys snickers and dark chocolate and chocolate covered almonds and puts in my Christmas stockings!!  Times certainly have changed.

The reason I wrote the above paragraph is because I read my son's blog yeserday afternoon and could not stop laughing.  I had to call my little sister to read that part of the blog to her - and we laughed and laughed.  As she sat hiding in her bedroom eating chocolate covered almonds she had bought at the store and didn't want her hubby to know.  She was down to three left - and said she would save those for just before she went to bed.  I called my daughter because I was still laughing... and she starts laughing.  Seems there was one Roca left in the container on the buffet.  She waited three weeks for her hubby to eat it.  So she took it out of the container and put it on her desk.  It sat there several days.  She decided, ok, he's not going to eat it, so I will.  She took one bite, and her hubby walks into the room, so she hid the rest of it under her phone.  Of course he saw that action and asked what she was hiding.  She showed him the half eaten Roca and told him that it was the last one and since he hadn't eaten it after all those days, she was going to.  He walks over to a cabinet in the office and opens it up - to show three more packages of Roca in there.  THAT was why he hadn't eaten the last one in the container.  He knew he had lots more!  We both had a good laugh.

But isn't that what we do.  We hide things, even things that aren't bad.  We don't want mom and dad to see the report card we got from school.  We don't want our friends to know we did something wrong and got punished and that's why we can't go somewhere.  We don't want our friends to think less of us. We tell a lie and don't want anyone to recognize it as a lie, especially the person we lied to, and we don't see them for awhile, in case they realize it.  Why do we do that?  Because we all fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23 (NKJV):  " for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

Living the Christian life really isn't hard.  We all have a desire to do what is right and good.  We all want to be good people, good parents, good students, good ............... fill in the blank.  But sometimes the temptation to 'protect' ourselves or to 'get something we want regardless of whatever anyone else thinks' sometimes takes over in our mind and we do it.  And God's grace is there for us.  Not that we should do things that we WANT to do and shouldn't do, and do it regardless of the consequences and then run to God and ask forgiveness.  He is always ready and willing to forgive us - time and again.  But we shouldn't look at our sins as it is ok to do because we will receive God's grace when we confess it.

Romans 6:1-2 :  "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?"

Titus 2:11-12:  "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age."

John Piper, a pastor and author, said:  "Grace is not simply leniency when we have sinned.  Grace is the enabling gift of God not to sin.  Grace is power, not just pardon."

Sneaking a cookie or a piece of chocolate, or even chex mix covered with sugar isn't BAD.  It may be bad FOR us, but it isn't a sin.  No, I'm not giving 'permission'!  Sometimes we just NEED that bit of salt or sugar to satisfy what our body is craving.  Even in all my diets, I give in and eat something I know that I shouldn't have.  I may as well eat it, cause if I eat a carrot instead, it isn't going to satisfy that craving for the sugar or salt that I want.  (my salt go-to is either potato chips (which I don't dare buy often for I will eat the entire bag in one sitting if I could!), saltine crackers (I love them with everything), or pretzels (just so I can suck the salt off them!)  A carrot or a piece of celery or fruit just doesn't do it. I may as well eat what I'm craving and move on.

Living in the Grace of God, there is nothing like it.  It isn't permission to sin.  But it is knowing that no matter what I do, God's Grace is there for me when I fail to follow His Word.  His laws are good and they are for my protection.  They are for my good.  And God's laws are also for you.  His Grace will always abound to you, when you ask for forgiveness.  You will want to live in His precious, abiding, Grace.

Blessings! 

In the middle of the night...

 once again sleep aluded me. Awakened around 12:15AM by an unknown reason, I could not go back to sleep.  Last time I looked at the clock it was 1:30AM and I debated on getting up and settling down in my chair for the duration of the night.  But I resisted, and finally dozed off to sleep, only to wake up at 4AM. This morning has been a struggle to stay awake - again - and often found my eyes closing.  I finally decided to just get dressed out of my jammies and I think I'm finaly able to stay awake.  Maybe.  It will be a light day today so if I need a nap, I know that I can get one in.  Both of my bosses will be at Corporate today for meetings so I don't expect to hear much from them - if at all. I am still working on my mandatory training stuff so have plenty to do.

Because I have had difficulty staying awake earlier, I haven't read my books yet this morning - well, I did read my Bible, and I have read one other book.  But haven't done my lesson yet.  And I still have time, but thought I'd start on this first.  But the problem with that is - my mind is blank and probably still tired - and nothing is coming to mind to write about.  Let see.... what can I share...

Have you ever done something that made you want to go and hide and not be seen?  Not held accountable for something?  I'm sure we all have at some point in our childhood - and in our adult lives!  A light example would be.....  some time ago I wanted a cookie.  Now I know a cookie is NOT on ANY of the diet plans I have been on.  But I STILL wanted a cookie.  I think they were oreos - which are one of my many favorites.  And I wanted one.  Not a handful.  Just one.  So I got up from my desk, walked to the kitchen (hubby was in the front room and I had to cross over from one side to the other), quietly got into the pantry, got a cookie, and walked back to my 'office'.  I text'd my little sister and told her "It has to be pretty bad when an adult has to go sneak a cookie and hide it under her shirt so that she can enjoy a cookie without any comments" (or something like that).  My sister had to call me - she nearly choked on her water when she read my note!   Now in all fairness, hubby would not dare to tell me I couldn't have a cookie, but he could make a comment... and I didn't want to hear it.  I didn't want him to know I was getting a cookie.  So I snuck it to my room under my shirt, so that I could enjoy it all by myself.  I am 72 years old - surely I can have a cookie if I want it!

And isn't that what we do with life?  We see something we want and go after it, but then we think we shouldn't let it be known (sometimes) what we did.  Sometimes we put the item in the closet and after a week or so, bring it out and when someone asks when did we get it, we respond with "oh it has been in the closet".  And, in all honesty, sometimes you HAVE had it for awhile and the other party just doesn't remember you having it.  But sometimes, that shirt or dress, or a book, may be on a shelf or in the closet for awhile before being brought out into the light. :)

Genesis 3:8 (NIV):  Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden."

Ah, yes, I am referring to Adam and Eve.  You remember the story.  The serpent tempted Eve by asking her "Did God really say you couldn't eat of that tree?"  And Eve, desiring the fruit, took and ate of it, and also gave to her husband, Adam, and he did eat of the fruit.  But then, reality hits!  He looks at her - she looks at him - and both realize they are totally naked!  So what do they do?  They couldn't let God see them naked (although He already had, since He created them!) - so they (somehow) sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.  And then they hid.  And when God came to visit them, to walk with them as He always did..... they were hiding from Him.

And that is what we often do, isn't it?  We may just speak a cross word to a child or to a spouse... and then we want to go back into our corner to hide because we know we did something we shouldn't have done.  It doesn't mean they love us less (overall, anyway), but it just means that we know we have sinned and shouldn't have done that.  We want to hide and pretend nothing happened.

But because of God's great love for Adam and Eve, he clothed them with animal skin, and sent them out of the garden to till the ground.  They still worshipped God, but had to accept the consequences of their disobedience.  Same as we do; same as the punishment we give to our children.  "I TOLD you not to do that - but you did it anyway!  Your punishment is....."  Consequences.  Being banished from the Garden of Eden.  That's tough.  But very necessary.  

Oh, and the serpent got punished too!  He was made to eat dust all his life... crawling along the ground.  And yes, to get even with man, he will strike out at our heels, but the devil's head was crushed when Jesus went to the cross and died for us.  The devil thought he had won the battle over good by getting the people to crucify the One who was God's only Son.  But the battle wasn't over.  Jesus died, was buried, and rose again on the third day - and Victory was declared over the devil.  Death could not hold Jesus down!  Hallelujah!   Now THAT is a story that should never be hidden!

Hmmm now that I mentioned oreos, I want one.  And I don't have any.  Oh well.  Guess I'll fix a shake for breakfast this morning.  It will get me through the morning.

What - or who - are YOU hiding from?  Have you heard that small voice inside trying to tell you something?  Maybe you need to apologize?  Maybe you need to make things right?  Maybe you should change the way you do things?  I don't know... but if you have that small voice causing you to 'hide', then perhaps you need to step back and NOT hide, but face whatever it is.

God loves you - no matter what.  He loves you so much, He has given you such great worth, that nothing you do could ever cause Him to walk away from you.  Why not take a moment and just have 'that conversation' with Him this morning?  Ask Him why you are hiding from Him, and what you can do to get taken care of.

Me.... I'm out of cookies.... so I'm not hiding right now!  (Not that I need to ever!)

Blessings!

His Grace is enough

 I'm on day two of chapter 5 in the workbook I am doing, now on my own.  I really had hoped my sister would do it with me, but ... well, I have continued.  And I'm glad I did.  This chapter really helped me with changes in my life that I need to know and to understand.

Ephesians 2:1-9;  'and you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked.... and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.... so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasureable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.'

Someone had to infuse life into us.  And Someone did,  God would have been justified to let us remain dead in our sins.  They were the choices we made.  But God loved us so much, He gave His One and Only Son to die for us, that by grace, His immeasureable grace, we shall be saved.  Love doesn't get much better than that.  By His grace, God did for us what we could not do for ourselves.  He gave us life when we deserved death, pardon when we deserved condemnation.  At the cross, God satisfied His own vengeance, met the demands of His justice, extended mercy, and then went above and beyond and added the gift of His grace.  Having punished sin, God forgave sinners, then He went on to adopt all who would believe, making them fellow heirs with His only Son.  Such is the extravagent love and grace of God.

Looking back over my life I am often overwhelmed with the grace that God has extended me.  I'm sure you feel the same way.  God took the deadness of our lives and brought us to life with His grace.  Things like grace cannot be bought or earned; God gives it to us freely.  And I'm so grateful.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost, but now I'm found.  Was blind, but now I see.

As much as I love that old hymn, I do love what Chris Tomlin added to it...

My chains are gone, I've been set free.  My God my Savior, has ransomed me.  And like a flood, His mercy reigns, Unending love, Amazing Grace.

As I sit here and think back over my life, I am reminded how much God has forgiven me, and how far His grace has come.  I've shared before how badly I needed Jesus before I returned to Him.  I knew OF Him, but I didn't know Him then.  And now I KNOW Him, and that makes all the difference in the world to me.  I have no life without Jesus.  Nor do I want to.

Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV):  "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your decendants may live;"

I choose life.  My prayer is that you do as well.

Blessings!