Whoo Hoo Friday!

 I'm early today because I didn't sleep well last night and when I came in here, I tried to go back to sleep.  Hubby brought my coffee in.. told me to go back to sleep... then he gets in the shower which is right by my chair.  LOL  No worries.  I need to get woke up anyway.  I want to read my Bible but while I'm waking up and trying to keep my eyes open, I'm writing in here. 

I get to have breakfast with my boss this morning!  Her birthday is in a couple weeks and as I won't be seeing her, I'm taking a couple things that my granddaughter has made (and I purchased from her) to give to her.  Plus I bought her a ceramic pumpkin.  And candy pumpkins and candy corn to put in it.  Just a little something to say I love you to her.  She is an amazing boss, for sure.   I am thinking I want to send her a large danish from O & H Danish Company on her birthday.  They have a birthday one that has a lot of sprinkles on it.  Heck with the sprinkles, the danish are amazing.  Can't wait for Trader Joes to get their Almond Danish in December!  Nearly 1/3 of the price I pay from the company - but Trader Joy's only gets the Almond one.  But it is amazing.  

Hubby ordered new hearing aids yesterday.  He went through his Insurance company this time.  The ones he has are battery operated and the battery only lasts a day or two because he is always on his phone listening to podcasts of some thing or another.  Plus, if he sweats - which he does - the batteries go out. These will be re-chargeable so he won't have to be changing batteries all the time.  It only cost us about what we paid for his battery operated ones.  He's happy, isn't that all that counts?

Debating on taking the entire first week of October off.  I am already taking Monday - Wednesday off for our Jailbreak Getaway - #8 this year.  But both bosses are off on that Thursday, and one is on that Friday.  I am thinking I just might - although there is nothing planned for those two days.  Hubby would be happy if I spent Thursday with him... he could take me out to breakfast or lunch or dinner. :-)    I do have a 6:30AM gym appointment on that Friday; I wouldn't have to rush back to work.  Something to think about, for sure!  I could always ask to make it later too, if I took the day off.  

I am hoping to get some cranberry pumpkin bread made and put in the freezer this weekend.  I do need to clean my freezer out, though, so that I have a place to put them.  Want to start on bread and butter pickles too, but will see.  So many wants, so little time, right?!

Just remembered I finished a book last night titled Rekindled Fire by Steve Fry.  It was a good book and held my interest.  It's about rekindling your passion for God.  Need to put it in Goodreads that I finished it.  I'm tickled that I put 36 (I think) books to be read this year and I think I'm in the 40's now.  Maybe I will put 50 next year and see how I do.  I don't read that often, but I do love to read and if I get ahold of a good book, leave me alone, I'm going to take it in the bathroom with me to read!  Reminds me of when I was growing up - I loved to read so much that I would literally have a book in front of me all the time.  If I was washing dishes (pre-dishwasher), the book would be sitting behind the faucet for me to read pages as I washed.  If I went into the bathroom, the book went with me to read.  I have always loved to read and in my high school years, would read a book a day - and these were not necessarily little books, they were at least an inch or more wide!  I especially loved Grace Livingston Hill books and then read Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney.  Wow.  Surprised I still remembered those names.  Actually, I think my son told me one time that Holt and Whitney were the same person; just two pen names.  My oldest son is the only reader and I like to say 'he got it from me'. :-)

Proverbs 9:9 (NKJV):  "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."

Do you realize that the more you read, the more you learn?  How many times have you quoted from a book you read and in a conversation it came to mind?  I know I've done it frequently.  If you read the Bible, you will find lots of sentences to quote!  Just saying!  But we learn so much when we read His Word and study it!  If everyone even followed the Ten Commandments, this would would be such a better place - do you agree or disagree?  God has given us His instruction book and if we would just read it, study it, follow it, obey it.... life would be so much easier to live.  You get caught on phrases like "Love one another as I have lovedd you."  "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you."  "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind, and all of your strength."  By the way, the last one is the greatest commandment. 

Breakfast today, then back to work to finish out my work day.  Tomorrow I have a ladies luncheon at church.  LOL  Remember when I pulled my things together last month and tok it in?  Yeah, I get to do it all over again.  I'm make my deviled eggs today... and make the cherry cobbler tomorrow.  Hopefully they will be edible!

Need to get some time with God in this morning since I started here, trying to wake up.  I think I can keep my eyes open now so that Ic an read.  Hope you have a wonderful day!  Grab a book - and learn something!

Blessings!

I did it...all by myself!

 and I have a scratch on my arm to show for it!  I wondered where the blood came from that was showing on the frame of the reading nook I was putting together..... then I decided to look on my body to see if something was wrong.... and found about a 2-1/2 inch scratch.  Oh well.  It had already stopped bleeding.  But - I got the reading nook put together with little difficulty.  But, also, after I got it put together, I noticed that the front side of the shelving wasn't painted.  Now I know I was making sure I had the paint sides outward, but I also was checking the instructions on which way the screws were to go and all... so I'm (hoping I'm right) thinking they just didn't paint that one side.  No biggie.  I will buy a small container of white paint and paint it.  Really not a big deal.  BUT - I did get it finished -AND found a place to put it after moving things around a couple times - and was able to accomplish it all while hubby was gone yesterday morning.  Whoo hoo!  Now to go to Goodwill or Savers and find children's books to put in it.  No rush; the great-grands don't come over that often, but it was just too cute to pass up.  It is really for a small child so don't know how long I'll be able to keep it without it just collecting dust.  

When hubby got home it wasn't long before we were heading down to the eye doctor's to check out my eyes.  Well, I found out what it is called - my 'silent migraines' that I call them.  These headaches that are really not headaches, but will occasionally blot spots of my vision, and gives me lightening bolts on the sides - comes and goes in about 20 minutes - is actually called 'occular migraines'.  No pain, just annoyance.

There is no cure.  They are caused by stress, spicy foods, (and extended screen time, I'm sure with staring at the computer 8-9 hours a day) and could be just about anything.  He suggested I track when I get them, to think what I've been doing.  Since I sometimes get them while I'm driving, I'm going to think it's also things that lead up to that moment.  I have gotten them while working; I have gotten them at the gym; I have gotten them in the evening watching TV, I've gotten them while driving.  They don't happen frequently, usually.  Last weekend I had 3, which is a rarity.  Usually it may be once a month.  So - there is no cure; there is nothing I can do to prevent it without writing down what is going on in my life at the time of it happening.  They did this one test on my eyes - after dilating them - that had tears flowing down - I think it was taking photos of my retina.  Anyway - all said and done - I have a diagnosis, nothing I can do about it except stop whatever I think is causing it (when I figure it out).  And life goes on.

I probably could have summed up all that in three sentences - and I gave you two paragraphs so that you had something to read. :-)

Romans 12:2 (NKJV):  "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Webster's dictionary describes 'conform' as 'to make like'.  To conform to something is to change your behavior, or change yourself, to look like something or someone else.  I think we see a lot of that in dress code nowadays, don't you?  People trying to look like celebrities whether in clothing or in hair styles or makeup. 

But for a Christian, we should not conform to this world and the things in it - behavior or clothing - but be transformed in Christ by renewing our minds constantly in Him.  We seek to grow in understanding of God's word, transforming our mind, to discern or prove God's will.  Metamorphesis comes from the Greek word for transformed and indicates change from the inside out.  When we accept Jesus as Lord of our life, we need to use our minds to be transformed on the inside and seek Him and allow Him to change us into being like Him.

Jesus told His followers to 'Follow me".  Paul told us to "Follow me as I follow Christ".  We are to be ttransformed into His likeness and follow in Christ's steps.  How are you doing with that?

Sometimes I think this is an area we all - including me - have to constantly work on.  I often ask God if I have pride in me, that it is reflected in things I possess or people I associate with.  There have been things in the past that I have cut out of my life and took a step back for awhile, because I felt I was feeling prideful about it.  God has shown me since, in one area at least, that it wasn't pride, but the devil accusing me of being prideful and I believed him.  It's sometimes hard to gain back what one gives up. But I strive daily not to be prideful about anything, for pride is a sin of the world.  Nothing is to be before Christ.  

Sometimes I don't know how I get into predicaments... sometimes it is my mouth that does it... but how I choose to respond to things shows how I am confomred to the world, or to Christ.  Sometimes we all get 'stinking thinking'.... and need to sit back and re-evaluate our life.  Do we hate our job so that all we can do is complain about it?  Do we hate our circumstances enough that we will stop and do something about it instead of wallering in the mud all the time?

And I'll use myself as an example...somewhat.... I mentioned about a situation that has come up from a year and a half ago.  Instead of just someone saying, "Hey, this has been on my mind, something you said back aways, and it troubles me and I'd like to talk about it."  .... instead we run from the situation (because it is true? there is guilt here?) and say "I'm taking a break from you because you said something hateful."   Could we do that to our children, our spouses?  Anyway - taking a break from each other isn't going to cause it to go away.  And saying "I forgive you for saying it, but I will never forget it in my darkest of darks, with God as my witness"... so.... no forgive and forget... is that the right attitude?  And - my choice has been to just say 'ok, if that's what you want.'  I'm not going to argue on the truth of my statement.  It is what I said and and feeling guilty about the truth of that statement... well, that's not my problem.  Pride is a terrible thing at times.  When someone calls me out and it is true, I step back and evaluate that truth..I pray about it... and if God shows me that they are right and I was wrong, I will ask forgiveness and let it go.  Some people don't know how to let things go, but choose instead to waller in their distress, their issues, their troubles... and tell everyone what a great person they are because someone did this to them and they cut them out of their life.  Whatever.

In all things, choose Jesus.  He is the Author and Perfector of our faith.  Stop and evaluate how you feel about things, about people.  Have you forgiven them?  Have you talked the issue over with them?  Is it even of any value to do either of those things?  Why not just forgive them and forget about it and let it go?  Be TRANSFORMED into Christ's image and run your thoughts through His Word and see what He says....  it sure can straighten me out at times!  Words will always hurt when we think about them.  I've had people say things to me that I could not share with anyone, but they cut deep.  Praise God He shows me how to let it go, to forgive, and choose life in Him versus letting the enemy distort my mind with my own perceptions and accusations.  Things happen... sometimes we need to just say 'Ok - whatever", and let it go.  Maybe I'm wrong in my situation... I used to beg to resolve our situations, but every time we got together, I would be told what a terrible mother I was, I should get a divorce, I wasn't living the way this person thought I should be.  Interesting how I have learned to step back instead of begging to restore friendship.  I don't need to.  I give it to God and let Him deal with her, with the situation, with me.  It's wanting to be transformed in to His image, and let others see Jesus in me.  Lord, help!

Blessings!

It's another 'I don't want to wake up' morning...

 Yes... I've been sleeping this morning.  I do have an excuse though - and I will use it.  Went to the gym last night and my trainer really worked my legs - hard!  I was not only exhausted when I got home, I had a headache that wouldn't go away.  So - I took an excedrin, and just before bed, I took an ibuprofen.  It's the ibuprofen that knocked me.  I had hoped to sleep all night, but found I was awakened 3 times during the night cause I drank way too much water after I got home, thinking that maybe I just needed water for the headache to go away.  The headache did go away before I went to bed, but, yeah... had to get rid of the water.  TMI?  So - after reading my Bible this morning, I chose to lay my head back and close my eyes.  And that is the story this morning.  Don't have much time to write now. But enough to not make any sense.

Hubby's Tuesday morning Bible study starts back up today so he will be gone a couple hours.  Usually he will go to lunch afterwards with his friend that he has been having breakfast with ... but he informed me last night that he has to work on his study for tonight with his other friend, so he will be home after the study.  I really don't mind him going on out... and tried to convince him to do so.  He said no, so will see.  Oh you know my motive, huh... I love my quiet mornings.

I have another workout tonight at 3:30PM - yeah, taking off work early.  I have my eye doctor appointment tomorrow to find out about the 'silent migraines' I've been getting with the lightening bolts - had three in the last 5 days; 2 in one day.  So... getting that checked out, and hope there is a reason to be found.  I know I'll have a headache after all THAT testing, so opted to change my workout date - and he moved it to today.  So since legs was yesterday, it will be upper body tonight.

Oh pickles!  I just remembered that I have a lunch today with the other admins at the cheesecake factory!  Which means I will have to clean up today.  But, hey, I get out of the house, right?  And I'll be gone for a couple hours.  Plus I have to take off at 3PM to get to the gym... oh, it's going to be a busy day trying to get things done with taking so much time off!  And I have to put makeup on.

Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV):  "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."

That scripture could possibly 'nail' a lot of us.  How many times have we let cruel, sarcastic words come out of our mouths, intentionally to hurt someone?  Ouch!  Sometimes they aren't just cruel, but they are words that sting and belittle.  God says, 'Don't do that!'  

What if, just what if, we try really hard today to think good thoughts - and when those words come when someone irritates us, that instead we stop them from flowing out of our moths and give a compliment instead?  Hmmm what example could I give?

Hubby frequently gets on my last nerve, as you know.  He doesn't do it intentionally, and I know he loves me, but it is a possessive love.   An ownership love.  So - I know!  Remember the story about when I belonged to Planet Fitness and I complained about the trainer there who didn't do his job and show me the equipment and just handed me a paper of what I needed to do?  And hubby went and talked to him and told him I needed individualized attention and that he needed to pay attention to me? )and then I quit Planet Fitness  becuase he did that?).... Instead of getting angry at hubby - and holding my words in that I really wanted to say, but he got my message, albeit he didn't understand why I was angry..... I should have just said something like, "I appreciate you going to the gym (that he didn't belong to) and finding the trainer that was to show me the equipment.  I'm sure after you spoke with him, he understood completely how needy I was and that you were just looking out for me."

Naw, that would be too sarcastic, right?  Anyway, you understand what I'm saying, right?  We need to let good words come from our mouth and edify (build up) people versus tearing them down.  We all have those people who bring out the worst in us at times... but let's try being kinder and more loving to them.  Change your words, change the world.

Blessings!

A nice Sunday went by...

 We went to church yesterday morning and it was a good service.  I'm going to have to think about what was spoken though... something about being rejected by someone, in most cases a father figure, who never thought you were good enough.  When our pastor asked those people to stand who felt they had been rejected growing up, several people stood and he prayed over them.  Our pastor gave hugs to a few; especially those who said they didn't have a father figure in their life growing up.  Then he asked if anyone wanted to surrender this lives to Jesus and these three very loud (during the service with Hallelujah and Amen comments) all raised their hand.  It was kind of funny..... I was drawn to this one woman, very pretty and about my age (or less), and I felt like I need to give her a hug. She had been one who had raised her hand to receive Jesus.  After the service I went up and I hugged her and said "Keep choosing Jesus, He is the only way to live." and I hear a male voice saying 'well, now, I'm jealous!"   I looked up and it was a man who always comes to greet hubby and I every time we are at church, giving us hugs (always insisting I get a hug first).  I looked questioning at him and he said "that's my ex-wife and our daughter."  I had no idea!  LOL  That was interesting!  But there was no bitterness in the air from either of them, so I'd say they were friends.  

After church we grabbed KFC (cause hubby did not want BBQ chicken sandwich again) and came home.  About 2-ish I started working on the tomahawk steak we had received.  By the time I had taken it out of the plastic bag and seared it - it was about 8 inches across and two inches thick!  I seasoned it, seared it, then put in the oven - and only had to cook it for about an hour before it was ready.  I'm going to have to experiment with cooking another one.  This one was perfect, but the hour almost cooked it too much on the inside.  There was no pink - but it was so tender and so good.  I baked a sweet potato with it and then we had some raw veggies to eat with it.  And then, the best part, the chocolate mousse that came with it. So very sweet and so very good.  Needless to say, dinner was good last night.  And enough left over for tonight and then some.

After the Diamondbacks game, hubby actually turned the TV off and I was able to read last night.  He even read after playing with his phone for awhile.  I love my quiet evenings in which I can read.  Got disturbing news from our youngest son before we went to bed, but asked him to call me this morning to update, rather than us staying up and just waiting to hear.

Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV):  "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others."

How many times do we push our own agenda for things, thinking it is the only way to get things done? We don't think we are conceited or selfish... but yet, are we, when we insist on thigns being done our way, that one's opinion is not as important as ours?  I  don't think I can say I'm not guilty of that, because many times I know I become so focused on the outcome that I want, that hubby's opinion does not matter to me.  I think I can do something better, only because I know how I want it done.  For example.... I bought what is called a 'readers nook' for the great grandchildren.  It's like a bookcase, only in the middle there is an area in which they can sit and read.  I thought it was adoreable, and because it was for my great-grandchildren, I bought it.  It arrived the otehr day in a box.  To be put together.  You know where I am going with this, don't you?  It's still in the box because I want to put it together myself.  If I open it when hubby is home, he will want to put it together.  It's not so much that I don't think he can do it, it is more that I want to do it myself.  We've had these 'discussions' before when I bought a TV stand and a bookcase at our other house.  I insisted on putting them together myself without his help.  That did not make for a smooth relationship, I tell you!  It's really not a big deal on who puts the reading nook together.  Hubby is not mechanically minded; he does not like to put things together - never has.  But, he will throw a fit if I try to do it myself and make comments like 'you don't think I'm good enough to do it".  Words that may hold some truth, but yet, because he doesn't allow me to do much of anything (and I'm relegated to knitting and crocheting).... I long to be able to fix things or do  things myself.  Does that make me wrong?  Will see how I feel about it later... I need to get it put together at some point.  I was thinking Tuesday morning as his long bible study starts back up... only I have a lunch tomorrow with the other admins and then an early workout at the gym so not really enough time.  Will have to let it play out.  Maybe Friday when he's gone again to another Bible study.

I received an email from the little sister the other day - telling/encouraging me that I need to quit working and enjoy life.  As I have mentioned before, yes, I'd love to 'retire' - but then all my extra money would be gone and I couldn't do for others or ourselves like I can now (like, hubby has to have a wisdom tooth removed - his cost is $1400!) and he wants new hearing aids - who knows how much that will cost - the last pair was $1500.  I can help others while I'm working... and other than having to do things (like board meetings) that I don't care for, I have a great job.  I have vacation days... I just don't take them because I don't want to go much of anywhere with hubby and his insistence on driving.  Although he did ask if I'd drive to church yesterday.  I don't make a big deal when he asks me to drive. I'm hoping he will keep asking me to drive when we are together.  He makes me nervous and I'm always concerned when he drives off to one of his Bible studies... but he will not listen to me and I can't drive him everywhere and work too. Ah... enough of that.

And with that.... I need to get off here and spend a bit more time with my Jesus.  My list of prayers is getting longer and I love opening up my window shades in here, sitting on the floor and looking up at the sky, and talking with Him.  These are the most peaceful times of my life.  Just those few minutes of my entire focus upon Him.  Try it... take a moment and just reflect on who Jesus is.  

Blessings!

I may not want to get up....

 but I love rising early to have my time with Jesus each morning.  I awoke at 11PM last night and struggled to get back to sleep. But did, and finally arose just before 5AM.  I chalk that wakeup to taking a late nap yesterday afternoon.  Plus being absolutely, totally, lazy yesterday - other than going to Sam's Club and buying way too much - I pretty much sat on the couch all day.  We did read last night - and I'm currently reading two books (actually more than that, but only two by my chair.).. Return of the Gods by Jonathan Cahn and Rekindled Fire by Steve Fry.  

At first, in reading Return of the Gods it was hard to get in to - I'm not used to those type of books.  but I read several pages yesterday and wow - what he is describing are things that happened in my day!  I remember when Madalyn O'Hara did the court thing that took prayer out of schools.  I remember when the big bull was placed in New York City.  But I never made the connection to the idols of old.  

Remember Baal? His body was the bull.  America has brought Baal into America - and just as the Israelites of old fell away from God and worshipped idols, Baal, Asterarth, Isthar, and others.... America is doing it as well.  And God ain't happy, I'm telling you!  When we turn away from God, as America has done, God's punishment will be severe.  His commandments - remember when the Supreme Court ruled they had to be removed from public places?  Removed from schools?  The Ten Commandments that teach us how to live justly?

Oh that God will have mercy on us as we approach the time of Jesus' return.  He will have no mercy for those who turned others away from Him, and He will have no mercy for those who follow Baal or any of the other idols of old.  They have penetrated America, they have penetrated our homes, they have penetrated our lives - if we have let them.  We must constantly be on our guard and do not be lovers of money (Wall Strett), lovers of sexuality (Asterath), and the other idols.  This could be a book that my son may be interested in reading.  Actually, we have several of Jonathan Cahn (who is a Messanic Jew) has written.  His latest is the Josiah Manifesto which hubby is reading now.  I think you would be surprised at things you read - things we just took in stride as we didn't think they really affected us.  But they do.  

I Kings 9:6-7 (NKJV):  "But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples."

And this also applies to America.  Woe is us for we have turned from God and have / are worshipping idols of money, of possessions, of politics, of people, of things!  Do you not see it?  The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.  Do not think for one moment that God will bypass you or your family if you seek after other things instead of Him.  Our God is a jealous God and there is to be no one or any thing in His place.

Wow - heavy stuff from me on a Sunday morning, isn't it!  I don't know about you, but I often have to ask God to forgive me for my pride - and yet, I have never thought of myself as a prideful person.  But when we insist on our own way of doing things - right or wrong - when we push our own agends, when we like to do showy things, like bragging about how we helped so and so or donated such and such... we are being prideful.  I have caught myself being prideful over the silliest things.... which I won't go in to - but it was a wake up call for me.

Now it is ok to be happy, full of pride, over something you have created or over your child.... but don't worship them.  I am proud of my children.  I am proud of my grandchildren.  I am proud of my great-grandchildren.  But I cannot hold them up equal to God and worship them.  I am proud of the work I do for 'my' company.  But I can't worship the work nor the company.  I am happy that I can give to God each week, but I can't be prideful that I can give this or that much.  It is to God that I'm giving it; it is my worship to Him.  Doesn't matter if it is $1 or $100 - it is my worship, my obedience to Him. Does any of this make sense?

Worship God.  Period. Nothing else.  He is Sovereign, Holy, Almighty, and alone is worthy to be praised with every ounce of our being.  Hallejujah!

Church this morning for us, and hopefully will get up off our lazy butts and head to the gym.  We have to do more than workout twice a week and expect miracles to happen.  Lord, help!  I have more strength, for which I am grateful.  My core is getting stronger.  I'm still waiting for the excess to fall off. Maybe soon.  My trainer told me to watch my carbs and eat more protein.  I'm not a big meat eater so need to work on that.  At least I will later today!

My big brother sent me a surprise package the other day.  Remember I mentioned it, but I don't recall if I shared what he sent.  He sent us a large tomahawk steak and a dessert of chocolate mousse.  I kid you not!  Since hubby doesn't grill, he said to put in the oven at 140 degrees for two and a half hours.  I'm going to cook it this afternoon.  It's big enough that we will be eating the meat for at least two days.  Of course hubby is a big meat eater so maybe not. LOL   I love how my big brother blesses me unexpectedly at times.  I had no idea what he was sending. 

Who can you bless today unexpectedly?  Maybe cook a meal for your family - if it is something you don't normally do.  Maybe it is just to pick up after yourself.  Trust me, they will notice!  Maybe it is just doing something nice for them that they don't expect.  Be a blessing to someone today.

Blessings!

Don't settle for crumbs on the floor...

 This morning as I've sat here reading my Bible, a devotional, and just reflecting on various things I read from my emails, one has really stuck in my mind.  It was an email from Thomas Griffin.  I have no idea who he is, but on a whim a few months back I bought some cds he was offering titled 'Secrets of the Secret Place'.  Now that book, by the same name and written by Bob Sorge, is my very favorite devotional and I can't tell you how many times I have read it.  In fact, I know the book 'Secrets of the Secret Place' so well, just starting each reading, I already know it.  But I keep reading it.  Why?  Because it still speaks to me.  This morning I found a devotional from Thomas Griffin in my emails and I paused to read it.

In this devotional, he talked about his very young son, Judah, who was raiding the pantry one night in hopes of finding a late night snack.  Thomas went to the kitchen because it had gotten very quiet - and as we all know, a quiet young child who is awake can be frightening.  So he went to investigate.  Judah was standing by the pantry holding an empty box of crackers.  Someone had put it back in the pantry empty. (Since he said he had six boys, I'm sure it was one of them!)  So Thomas said he reached inside the pantry for a box of pretzels and got a bowl to put some in for Judan.  As he did so, a few fell on the floor and Judah started grabbing and eating those, although they were broken and in crumbs.  He told his son to stop, to look up and see the bowl he had prepared for him. But Judah kept eating the ones that had fallen on the floor.

And it made me think of how often we satisfy our hunger for things, even for God, by keeping our eyes down, looking at and eating the crumbs that fall on the floor.  We are so hungry, and yet, what falls on the floor, we go after it.... when all we have to do is 'look up!' God has filled our bowls so full they are overflowing and all we have to do is look up - look to Him - and allow Him to give us all we want.  But we settle, so many times, for the crumbs.

Are you one of those people, who settle for the crumbs of life and don't look up to God and see what all He has for you?  How many times have we refused something - for whatever reason - but often think "oh, this is good enough.  This will get me by.  I don't need anything better."  I know I have said it, and I have thought it.  A lot of my upbringing was based on I wasn't good enough, and what I had was enough. It met my need.  The crumbs I picked up could satisfy that hunger.  Oh how wrong I was!

When I dive in to a Bible study, or even in reading my Bible or a book that will help me grow, I am looking up into the bowl of all that God has for me.  I'm not looking at the crumbs on the floor to just get by with what I know right now.  I.want.more.  I want the whole thing; not just the crumbs.

I often pray that God will increase my hunger for Him, to know Him .... and the courage to make Him known to others.  And sometimes it happens unexpectedly.  And it changes lives - mine included. Let me tell you a story - a true story at that.

There was a lady I worked with at another company and when we had an opening where I am now, knowing she wanted another job, I shared it with her and even recommended her for the job.  She got it.  About six months in, for an unknown reason, she started spreading lies about me.  Others told me things she had said and I had no idea why.  Another friend whom I had been close to suddenly stopped speaking to me. I had no idea what had happened or what was going on.  Others noticed the attitudes around me.  If they asked me, I just said 'I don't know'.  For I didn't.  I went out of my way to be kind to this person who said these things.  I didn't bring up what she had said to others.  I just reached out in ways as a friend.

Her husband got really sick at work and had to be taken to the hospital.  Then she got seriously ill with her heart and ended up taking a year off work on short term disability.  When she came back to work, I welcomed her back with open arms.  Nothing was ever said about what had happened.  

I finally figured out what I thought it was.  As we sat together at lunch one day - before all the trauma in her family - she mentioned she had Budda statues all over her house, hanging on her walls, etc.  I was shocked as she professed to be a Christian.  And, because I was so shocked I said what came to my mind - "but those are idols! You shouldn't have those in your houes!"  And she responded that she thought they were just 'cute fat babies'.  From then on, she would have nothing to do with me.

Fast forward back to about a year ago... she was back at work and started asking me via email questions about Jesus.  I responded to her questions, even sent her a couple of my favorite devotionals to read.  As she asked questions and I responded, a friendship developed again.  And now, time and again, she will email me that she is reading her Bible, doing studies, and is now leading a women's class.   I don't know if the things are still in her home, and I'm sure if they are, someone will say something to her in her class.  I think this week is the first week in her home; it's been at her church they have met for the past six weeks.  But what I'm sharing is that she has actually called me her mentor and says that she can't thank me enough for helping her understand who Jesus is.

But it wasn't me at all.  It was the Holy Spirit drawing her unto Jesus.  All I had to do was let Him use me in this circumstance.  I had to continue to be kind when I really wanted to give her 'what for' on how she had treated me and lied about me.  But I held my tongue and now we are good friends.  She often shares how God is working in her life.  She is witnessing to her husband and family.  Her grown children now go to church with her occasioally.  And she makes sure they pray over their meals and she has carved out several hours of her day to read her Bible and study.  To God be all the glory.

I'm not telling you this story to get accolades... but when we let Jesus have the crumbs of our life, He can take those and feed others.  He can take all our mistakes and wipe them clean, and use them for our good.  He loves us so much that He died for us.  A horrible, tortureous death.  

Oh how I wish words I write in this blog will cause your heart to yearn for the love of God!  True, much of what I write is just my daily stuff, which I'm sure bores you.  But Jesus will never bore you.  Pick up your Bible and start reading in it.  You will find rich gold in the words.  I'm starting Ephesians tomorrow morning - would you read through it with me tomorrow?  Just a couple chapters a day - and in a couple days you will be finished.  If you don't have a Bible, please let me know in comments and give me a way to contact you; I will send you a Bible.

You can't learn about Jesus without reading the Bible.  You can't learn of God's love, of His commandments that will help us live the life He craves for us without reading His Word.  Don't delay any longer.  Start with the book of John, and you will learn of how much Jesus loves you.  The old testament about Numbers and Leviticus can bore you at times because it is all about numbers (duh) and laws of the priests.  But "read the red" as some people say, in the New Testament.  Those are the words of Jesus.  Read them, reread them, and read them again.

Larry Lea wrote a book years ago called Could you not tarry one hour?  That book spoke to me when I read it 'way back when' in my early walking with Jesus.  He talks in this book of when he first became a Christian and he 'read the red' so that he would know Jesus.

And that is - or should be - our goal.  To know Jesus, and to make Him known.  Glory to His Name.

Don't settle for crumbs.... look up....  go for Jesus and all that He has for you on His table.

Blessings!

I knew it, but a revelation this morning....

 How many times have I said, or you said, "so and so has caused me to lose my joy?"  Well, this morning I was reading in Galatians and it hit me - no one has stolen my joy .... I let the devil have it by giving in to him.  Seriously!  My hubby does not still my joy.  He may make me unhappy at times (as I do him), but he cannot steal my joy.

Joy:  An inward hope and exuberance in spiteof outward circumstances. Joy differs from happiness, which relies on favorable circumstances.

Do you see what I'm saying?  I love the movie War Room and I want to watch it again this weekend. It's a movie so I'm sure I can get hubby to say yes. Anyway, in this movie the wife comes out and is yelling at the devil and says something along these lines...

"and another thing, devil, you can not have my JOY!  My JOY comes from the Jesus and in case you haven't figured it out yet, you are defeated by Jesus on the cross....."

I know that isn't the exact wording - so watch it yourself - you won't regret it.  Great movie, and really makes one think about what we have allowed in our lives.  We all think we are 'good people'.  We do things right, most of the time.  We try to be kind when people drive us crazy.  But sometimes we let circumstances take our joy away.... and in reality, they aren't.  Our Joy comes from Jesus and stays within us.  What happens is that we are not happy with the circumstances.  There is a difference.  And I didn't really ponder that thought until I was reading in my Bible this morning.

So what are your thoughts on it?  Have you been saying someone has stolen your joy?  I know I have, and not just hubby.  I have allowed other people who I held in high esteem to verbally beat me up and wear me down.  I let them steal my joy, when in reality, I buried myself in unhappiness at the circumstance.  But no more!

My Joy is in Jesus alone.  Other things and circumstances just bring me happiness.

Like a child in a candy store, right?  

Galatians 5:22-25 (NKJV):  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

Let the fruit of the Spirit live in you.

Update on my dermatologist... he froze a mole on my arm, cut a mole off the bottom of my foot, and clipped a tag that was annoying me.  Other than that, I'm good for another year.  Still need to call my podiatrist and have him tell me what to do about these bone spurs.... my heels are getting quite painful - with and without shoes.  I don't know what can be done... hopefully no surgery... but will find out. This year is the year to do any of that... my deductible is paid up.

Went to dinner with friends last night and had a great time.  Black Bear Diner always has great food.  My trainer sent me my InBody report... ugh.... worse than I thought it was.  No wonder he didn't want to show me.  He also gave me a note that he wants me to increase my protein intake and cut back on fats and carbs. Easier said than done.  How much protein?  100 grams of protein a day.  Which doesn't seem bad.  30g in Premier Protein, 15g in my protein powder. 20g in a 4 oz hamburger.  But I also need to cut back on carbs and fat. Sigh.  I'm going to do this.  Anyway - at dinner I chose the Cheeseburger salad. 800 calories.  Now what makes it so high I'm guessing is the cheese and the hamburger.  The rest is all lettuce, onions, pickles, hmmm no tomatoes in it.... I don't remember if anything else .. but think of a cheeseburger - you get a burger, cheese, pickles, onion, lettuce.  That's about it, right?  And I used a FF Italian dressing that did nothing for the salad.  And it was so big I could only eat half of it and will have the remainder for lunch today.  And, since I have chicken left over from the other night, will throw on some chicken and yeah - I'll get my protein up!  100 seems a lot, but I guess it really isn't.  It's the carbs and fats that kill me.  Anyway - I'm in this for the long haul so just facing the fact I need to change the way I eat.

Hubby has his Bible study this morning so I will have a few hours - albeit working - of being alone.  What mischief can I get in to?  Not much; work has been ovewhelming lately and I need to start extending meetings into 2024.  Can't believe we are getting ready to hit the last quarter of the year!

And with all that.... I'm going to hush for today.  Got some time left I can curl up with my journal and write some things down to my Abba.  Yeah, I talk with Him too, but sometimes I like to put it on paper so that I can see when He answers my requests.... it isn't coincidence when things come out the way I want them to.  It's God coincidence... He answers.  Thank Him for His answers, even when they aren't what you want them to be.   Your joy is complete in Him.

Blessings!