Tuesday's Thoughts

 

 

Had a rough start to my morning ~ my blood sugar was 58, way too low.  I am trying to learn how to balance my eating and this new schedule.  I am sure it will get better once Ron is working his regular shift beginning this Saturday.  Right now he is only working half days and we tend to eat dinner around 6:30 or 7 p.m. and then with going to bed between 9 and 10 p.m. I am taking my medications to close together.  Beginning with his new regular schedule of working from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m we will be having dinner around 5:45 p.m. which will then allow me to eat a snack around 8:30 p.m.  When I spoke with the nurse yesterday she said Dr. Griffith said I should eat some protein before bed like a slice of ham/salami/pepperoni and a piece of hard cheese and that should help with the dropping blood sugars.  Sometimes trying to eat healthy can be so hard.

And I had a horrific headache.  Thought again about going back to bed but got to chatting with a couple friends on Facebook (love being able to connect with people like that - it is my morning coffee chat time.)  And then it was time to get busy with my day.

As I mentioned the other day, I have been having a hard time feeling really connected to the Lord.  This morning I prayed before I started reading and confessed that to the Lord.  He answered me with a good study time with Him and asking myself questions about life, behaviors, goals, I want to be treated by others and how I treat others.

It all began with my devotion this morning taken from Philippians 3: 20-21

 

 I recently received a workbook The Beck Diet Solution Weight Loss Workbook by Judith S. Beck.  See my friend Lynda knows me really well ~ that I like to write lists, do workbooks and that I have been struggling to get my weight under control, lose some weight and make new habits around eating and what we are eating.  This year it seems really, really important for me to get this part of my life under control and get this weight off me.  You see, my sister Kathy died 2008 at the young age of 54 ~ now I am 55 and I am just not ready to die ~ God has given me so much to live for ~ a great husband, two wonderful sons, two sweet and loving daughter-in-laws and five, yes five wonderful grandchildren ~ and I want to be around for a long long time to enjoy each of them and to be a part of their lives.  Enough monkeying around, time to get serious.

And this morning God reminded me in a round about way that my body is His temple and we are responsible for taking care of our bodies.  

This morning I admitted to myself IF I don't buy the candy, the goodies, the sweets then they won't be in our home for me to have to battle with do I or do I not eat XXX.  Along with this workbook I have made an agreement to be accountable for my choices ~ good or bad ~ and to write down whatever I put into my mouth ~ good or bad.  I am using http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ and it really does help a lot...I just have to remind myself to JUST DO IT!  One of the tools from the workbook are "Think Cards" and the very first one says "Do It Anyway"  and I have kind of put it along with "Just Do It" together.  I know what I eat and drink are choices I make every day.  And every day my first choice must be "Do It Anyway"  and so I have told myself and now YOU that I am not going to be buying that S Stuff - Stuff made with Sugar ~ you know the candy, the cookies, the cakes.  This doesn't mean I will never have these, come on, who can live without chocolate?? And I know with God, Dee, Lynda and others on my support team I will become the healthy woman that God's wants me to be.

For the month of April my devotions have been on JOY.  I was taught JOY means Jesus, Others, You.  So first off the definition of Joy:

1     a : the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight

       b : the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety

2    a state of happiness or felicity : bliss

3    a source or cause of delight 

 

Joy catches us off guard.  It wells up inside us from love.  It brings a smile to my face/heart for no apparent reason.  It trusts peacefully when things are falling apart around us.

 

And in 

 

 

 

^{Philemon 4 to 7
4} I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. ⁶ I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. ⁷ Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

And as I read and thought about this verse this morning I thought about the fact that I like to know others think about me, care about me, pray for me,  love me and especially when they share that with me in some way so I need to be doing more of that.  I need to pray for others when I say I am going to, I need to let others know I care about them and love them.  I need to be intentional about sharing with others what they mean to me. Kind of like the

 

And then I moved into Proverbs.  I read one Proverb a day and think about how it applies to my life.  

 

And that is one promise of God I hold up every day ~ 

that God's Word is true and that He is my shield and protector.

What do you find Joy in?

Are you accountable to someone or a group of people about something in your life?

Do you feel trapped, obligated or thankful that you are accountable to someone?

I am thankful to have friends who love me and care about what I do in different areas of my life.  Though sometimes I may not be the nicest person about being accountable and snap at them instead of telling them I appreciate them and that I know they truly care about me or else they wouldn't be a part of my life.  I think it is important to have friends in my life who will challenge me on things I say or do or eat or don't eat, drink or don't drink  because those are my true friends who don't just say the things that make me happy - I am thankful for authentic friends!  And I want to be authentic with them and all those who come into my life whether for a day or a season or for a life time.

Monday Morning Delight

Good morning on this beautiful sunny day in Liberty, KS.  The sun just rose in the last half hour.  It started off a light orange color and as it moved up over the buildings it became brighter and brighter.  Kind of like my morning started. 

When I first got up I thought I would just go back to sleep after Ron left for work.  At least that was my initial plan even though it was not what I have committed my mornings to be like.  But by the time Ron left, one hour and 10 minutes after I woke up, I decided to pick up my Bible instead.  

First I read John 14: 12 ~ 

From The Message:   

“Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can’t believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do."  

My thoughts: It's not what I can do today to make a difference, it's what I do today with the help of the Holy Spirit along asking God to guide me to do His will, not mine that will make today a blessing.

From the devotional The Sanctuary by David Jeremiah: Sometimes we do commendable, praiseworthy things in the energy of our flesh.  BUT when God begins to work THROUGH us, it is an entirely different proposition altogether.  Incredible things begin to happen.

And then I was pondering about the Holy Spirit.  For the last month or so I have started to question "speaking in tongues."  I have been part of a ladies fellowship for almost a year.  We always close in prayer and many of the women speak in tongues while they are praying.  I have heard "you must be baptized in the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues to fulfill your salvation with the Lord" and "speaking in tongues is THE gift of the Holy Spirit and is the proof of your salvation" along with "speaking in tongues is one of many gifts of the Holy Spirit."  So I started asking questions and believe the council I have gotten from my pastor and a couple of strong Christians is that my thinking that speaking in tongues is ONE of many of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and to seek God for what my gift from the Holy Spirit is.  

So I have been looking for a study guide to help me study about the Holy Spirit.  I have read the first two chapters of Acts about three times in the last month.  This morning I found a Bible study on the Book of Acts by J.S. Smith.  And so I printed it out.  I like studies that lead me to find the answers to questions and that I can write down the answers too (remember I like to make lists and write and in fact, yesterday I bought myself 4 new fine point gel colored pens :) )  and so today I started that study.

That is what led me to Monday Morning Delight - I love reading God's word and the more faithful I am at reading it the more I want to read it.  Kind of like my goal to drink 3 24 oz bottles of water a day.  I am finding that the more I drink water the more I want water.  I am consistently up to 2 bottles of water a day, but that is for another post.  Back to my study this morning.

Lesson 1: Ascension and Pentecost

Acts 1:1 - 2:47

Did you know that the book of Acts was written to the lovers of Jesus Christ?  That's what I am and I even claim it in my little bio "I am God Loving"

That people speak in tongues as the Holy Spirit leads them.

That we are to repent of our sins daily.

That we are to break bread together - that mean's fellowship one with another.  I have learned I need to fellowship with other believers.  That includes being accountable one to another, uplifting one another and being there for one another and to help others as we can asking God to help us help others.

Give thanks to God each day for sending us His Son to save us and give us life eternal.

Give praise to God ~ not just for the big things but for everything.

I like to think I am an encourager and this morning I feel the Lord leading me back to being an encourager every day to someone.  It doesn't have to take a lot of money to encourage someone, maybe a smile and hold the door open for someone as you walk into a store.  Call, email or even mail a card through the snail mail.  And pray specifically for someone's need that you have learned about.

How can you encourage someone today?

Has anyone encouraged you lately?  How did that happen?

Dear Lord: thank you for your word this morning, reminding me that I like it when someone does something unexpected for me that brightens my day.  Like the surprise phone call I received yesterday morning and the note on Facebook this morning.  Help me to be that encourager to someone today.  Amen.

Sunny & Foggy ~ the Weather and My Brain

 

The picture above is what it looks like outside this morning and how my brain was yesterday.  

I got up with Ron in the morning, made his breakfast (bagel & banana) and couldn't wait for him to leave so I could go back to bed.  

Back to bed!!!  

What about my plan to have a specific time with the Lord in the mornings, do some exercise every day, plan a nice dinner for in the evenings, work on projects, you know the list goes on and on.  

But what did I do...I went back to bed, setting the alarm for 8:00 a.m. and promptly went back to sleep...so much for my planned day.  The alarm went off at 8:00 a.m. and I turned it off and rolled back over and slept till 8:57.  I then got up and just piddled the day away.  Didn't spend any time with the Lord, didn't drink my 3 bottles of water for the day, ate junk food and didn't plan anything for dinner.  In fact, spent most of the day on the computer and four hours getting the TV hooked up, the Wii hooked up, the Internet on the Wii ~ and tempers were short with both of us snapping at each other...hmmm could it have anything to do with not eating right all day, too much sugar not enough protein?  And dinner ~ so unhealthy: hotdogs wrapped in tortillas and tater tots...no veggie's plus drank a soda pop.  What about my goal to not drink soda pop any more unless it is a special occasion or outing???

Went to bed and was asleep by 9:30...good thing because the alarm was set for 5 a.m.  Praying as I drifted off to sleep I asked the Lord for a better attitude tomorrow.

Well now it is today.  There is a nice layer of fog outside yet the sun is peaking through.  Funny how the little bit of sunshine that is peaking through makes the leaves on the trees shiny and bright.  Encouraging hues of color of what the day could hold.

Made oatmeal and a banana for breakfast this morning.  And started drinking my first bottle of water for the day.  Chatted with Ron till he got ready to go to work and then we prayed together before he walked out the door.  Started to clean off the table and the door opened back up, Ron forgot his vest and gloves...oops, now he is really gone for the day.  He gets off at noon today.  Thinking we will go for a drive this afternoon and check out the area a little more.

Straightened up a few things and then gathered my Bible, the devotional The Sanctuary by David Jeremiah and my journal.  Got distracted by the sun coming up amidst the fog and then turned back to reading and seeing what God had in store for me this morning.

The scripture was Psalm 143:5-6

 

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works;
I muse on the work of Your hands.   I spread out my hands to You;My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. 

 

And I am reminded that God has been with me every step of this journey of life.  He has protected me, guided me, encouraged me and loved me as only the best Daddy in the world could do.

 

I remember how hard it was for me to grasp this concept that God is my Daddy...that's hard to imagine when my bio and step-dad were not the best dads in the world.  Oh, I know they did the best they could with what they knew and yes I have forgiven them for the hurts I incurred from them as a child, a teenager and even as a young adult.   I was 25+ when I stood up to my dad for the first time.  And I am thankful that we were able to talk, spend time together and renew our relationship in a much better way.  I miss my dad a lot and yet I am thankful that before he died we had many good times together and that our son's each had a special relationship with my dad.

I also spent quite a few years working through the abuse of my step-dad and how it affected me and in turn affected my family and other relationships.  I came to a place, with the Lord's help and some great counseling from a wonderful Christian counselor/friend and a pastor who did not give up on me.  I will never forget what Ed did to me but I have forgiven him (with the Lord's help) and have taken a horrible situation and made peace in my life with that situation.

Yet, though there has been healing getting to know and trust God as my Abba Father, my Daddy has not always been easy.  And this morning as I read the above scripture and devotion I am reminded that God has always been with me in the past, I see his handiwork each and every day in the present and so I trust that He will continue to be my side and never let me down...as my girlfriend, Dee, reminds me "He hasn't failed you yet girlfriend!"  And indeed he hasn't.

And I know He won't!!!  And I give thanks to Him this morning for a new day, a fresh start to my goal of getting healthy, a day to honor my hubby by doing things he likes like making him a cup of hot fresh coffee this morning, making him a breakfast that is healthy and nourishing before he headed out the door for work, planning a nice dinner of homemade meatballs and spaghetti and keeping our home clean and relaxing.  I thank the Lord for the beautiful sunshine of this morning after a doomy gloomy day of rain and wind yesterday.  

I hope your today is filled with lots of sunshine and many blessings from the Lord.

If you have a prayer need, please let me know.  I would love to join in prayer with you.

God Bless and have a great day!!!

Friday Morning and It's Raining, Thundering & Lightening here in Coffeyville, KS

What a wake up call we got this morning.  The rolling thundercaps, numerous lightening breaks and an alarm I could not get shut off.  I have been praying for the Lord to help me wake up and not dawdle in bed in the mornings ~ this morning he didn't give me any time to just lay in bed.  And it took me over 3 minutes to turn off the dang alarm and boy was it annoying - a rooster crowing over and over again!!  But God is faithful and answered my prayer.  Just remember what and how you pray - it just may be answered in a way you would not expect.

Dear God:

Thank you for the reminder this morning that the more I seek you the more I will come to know you.  Help me to know you in the most personal of ways and not just give you lip service.  Help me to be authentic in my walk with you.

I thank you Lord for the many ways you take care of us.  For getting our final paychecks from Branson View Campground early.  You know how I worry when our money gets super tight and this week I know I had been worrying about having gas in the Jeep, propane in the motor home and having groceries on hand to make Ron lunches for when he is working.  Lord forgive me for not trusting you a bit more and not claiming your promises that you will never fail us or forsake us.  And even in my doubting you showed me over and over you know what our needs are and that you do to take care of us.

Thank you that our bills for the first half of May are paid, that we have plenty of groceries including fresh fruit and vegi's and that we have a full propane tank which means we have heat in our rig, hot water to shower and do dishes and that Ron has a job!  Help me to give thanks to you each day and not to take things for granted.

Lord so many I know are hurting.  Please be with Barb & Robert as they mourn the loss of Ms. Abby, be with Dee and Tim as they make some hard decisions this week, be with the momma's who have lost little ones way before their time and with so many that we know that are battling cancer and other health issues.    Thank you Lord for your comforting arms and words in our times of trials and struggles.

Lord I know so often I come to you asking for this and that and yet I don't want to be remiss about praising you and giving thanks for the many blessings you shower upon us.

Thank you Lord for Doug who loves our niece, Christi.  Bless them as they prepare for marriage.  Thank you for Jamie & Suzanne.  Give Suzanne peace as she prepares to send Opal off to school.  Let Opal have fun and make many new friends.  Thank you for Jamie & Suzanne, bless them as they support each other in marriage and love on sweet Opal and all those they come into contact with.

Thank you for Brandon & Danalyn and their four boys: Max, Christopher, Treyson and Alexander.  Be with Brandon as he studies and prepares for a new direction in his working career.  Thank you that Danalyn has work as an Occupational Therapist.  Be with her as she serves her patients and clients.  Thank you for the parents they are.  It is so fun to watch them as they nurture and guide those four rambunctious boys.  Thank you that Alexander learned how to roll over yesterday!  He is growing so fast.  Be with Max as he prepares to go to high school next year...hard to believe he will be graduating in four short years.  And thank you for the love and joy that Christopher and Treyson bring to us and the whole family.

Thank you Lord for your love and care and the many blessings you give us.  Be with our friends and family in whatever they are doing today.  Be with Leah as she and Brenna get breastfeeding on the right track.  Give her patience and to remember in her heart that you are in control and that she is a good momma to her precious children.

Lord thank you for loving me and for reminding me of my gift of writing and that it is one way I can communicate with you each day.  Amen.

Changes are a Coming

Changes are a Coming to this here blog.

First off, just a reminder that our everyday blog The Wandering Workentin's can be found here.  Hope you join us as we live/work/travel from our litte home on wheels ~ The Wander Lodge!

Currently I am doing an A to Z Blog Challenge.  Check it out to see what the word of the day is.  Sometimes I close that blog with questions so feel free to answer them in the comment section.

Now for Changes to Alice's Restaurant ~ Dishin' Up Food for Thought

One of the things I have been struggling with is having a sincere time with the Lord each day.  One of the things I used to do was write out my prayers to God each day during my quiet time.  So often when I am praying I get distracted.  And then I beat myself up in the head with irrational and negative thoughts and I know that is not how God would want me to be.  I believe God has given me the gift of writing and what a better way to use this gift then to talk to God.  I also like to write out my thoughts about my devotions each day.  Currently I am using the book Sanctuary by David Jeremiah and was a gift to me from Pam Gillam as we moved away from Branson.  I also get Guideposts Daily Devotions in my email each morning as well as a couple blogs that I read for daily inspiration.  And of course, reading my Bible and studying God's word is very important to me and I work daily at my relationship with the Lord.

I have 33 followers at this time and I hope y'all stay with me on my continuing journey of getting to know our Lord Jesus Christ more and more each day.

Have you been wondering where I've been?

Just wanted to let everyone who follows my blog know that I am combining both of my blogs into one and moving over to Wordpress.

You can find me here. 

(Click on the word here in the previous sentence.)

Please let me know if you have any problems finding our new blog.