May 25, 2018

I woke up at 2:00 a.m. After tossing and turning for half an hour, I got up and read. I went back to bed and still couldn’t sleep. I got another book and read a chapter of it.

“Be strong and courageous, my daughter. Life is not lived within the safety of walls.” “On Every Side” by Karen Kingsbury

(But I left the house this week, Lord. I went to the baby shower – and stuck my foot in my mouth. And yesterday, I went to lunch and shopping with Bethany and Olivia.) I went back to bed.

After I overslept, I cringed when I read my “list” for the day. I kept moving unfinished projects to the next day. There were 2 items from Monday, 3 items from Wednesday, and 2 items from Thursday.

Scanning the list, I did the one thing that had a noon deadline. Then I started the laundry – 6 loads. Yeah, I was behind on that, too.

I didn’t get confirmation on an important detail for Sunday’s service. I sent an email which led to 4 more calls…(Tell your wife, to tell the Pastor…).

My blogging task for today was to customize my fonts. I chose simple ones and made them large. I chose “Huge” for headlines because I’m nearsighted. (My aunts will thank me.)

My brain was fried by lunchtime. I took a “decorating break.” I added gold centers to the 5 flowers on my swag light. (Decorating rejuvenated me better than a nap.)

My sister called. She was having a bad day and need to print something off. I said, “Sure.”

While waiting for her, I got out the sewing machine. I repaired the loose stitching in 2 of David’s work shirts. I called the bass player’s widow to check on her. I carried the ironing and paraphernalia upstairs while we talked. (Yes, I iron. I want David to look good. I tell him it’s a fulltime job.)

She got another call shortly after my sister arrived. I set up the ironing board while Michele printed a document.

Michele really had a hard day! After the call saying she was laid off, she went to plant her garden. A swarm of bees decided to check it out while she was there. They moved into the tree next to it. We talked about the land of Canaan flowing with milk and honey.

While she was there, my mom and my daughter called! (We can go all week without the phone ringing!) My daughter was hungry for catfish. I told her to call David.

Michele had to go and I started on music. The new bass player borrowed some of my music at practice. I decided to have an extra copy of each song – just in case – for Sunday. I practiced and made copies.

Then I moved on to the Nursing Home Service music. My theme this month is “Faith of our Fathers.” They didn’t have that hymn in the new lyric songbooks. I chose “A Child of the King” and “This is My Father’s World.”

I didn’t have music.

I went through my hymnal collection and found them. I copied them off and learned them. (My sight-reading is a tad rusty.) 

David called, “We’re going out with Laura.”

I threw the last load in the dryer and changed my shirt. I picked out a scarf and some jewelry. (See, Lord, I’m going out.)

It took an hour to get to the restaurant. At Laura’s, David played with the dog and identified some weeds in her flowers.

The chicken is what they are famous for, but they have catfish on Fridays. The food is great and worth the wait.

David and Laura watched the Cardinal’s game while waiting. (I would rather bang my head against the wall. Did I ever mention I hate sports?) Instead, I mentally went over the 13 items still left on my list. Maybe, I could write my post and make a grocery list.

The food arrived and I shocked my daughter by cleaning up my plate. (Normally, I eat half and take the other half home.)

David decided to take a detour on the way home. He drove us to his boss’ farm, admired the barn cats and turned around. (Thank God, no one was home!)

When we dropped Laura off, he showed her how to use her new weed eater. I sat in the van scrolling through Facebook.

I was finally ready to write my post. It was 9:00 p.m. My thoughts were jumbled. I gave up and got ready for bed.

At 3:00 a.m. I woke up again. (Why, God, why?) I remembered the “1 Min Motivation” from Steven Furtick today.

“When You operate by your own standard of forgiveness…’when they apologize’…’when they come back and make it right’…You will never be free until you embrace God’s standard – to forgive as you have been forgiven – not for them, for you. …You cannot let them keep you in a prison of a past event. Until I embrace God’s standard I cannot expect God’s strength. He will be a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. If you let offense into your heart all day long…and look for reasons to be offended…and wonder at the end of the day, ‘Why am I anxious?…There’s no standard.” “You Won’t be Free Until You Do This…” 1 Min Motivation by Steven Furtick

Am I anxious because of unforgiveness? Am I looking for reasons to get mad at David? Am I mad at God for moving me from my old job?

My thoughts came to a screeching halt.

My job was exactly like today! You had to keep switching printing jobs. The copier seemed to run all day. The copies needed collated, folded, stapled, delivered, and filed. (Just like laundry!) In the meantime, you are balancing accounts, paying bills, and filling out reports. Sprinkled through that are calls, texts, emails, and details you can’t forget. Why do I miss it?

I remembered my verse for today.

Acts 12:6, “Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances.” The Message

Peter loved fishing. (I believe it’s like sports – you either love it or hate it.) After Jesus died, he went back to fishing. But Jesus moved him away from the lake into the city. He became a “Fisher of men.”

Herod planned to publicly lynch him in the morning. He was handcuffed to 2 soldiers and there were 14 more soldiers guarding the door. Peter was not anxious, afraid, or tossing and turning. He slept like a baby!

I rolled over, grabbed my teddy bear, (David), and tried to go back to sleep.

God whispered, “Remember when you got the text reminding you of Olivia’s tee ball game? You felt guilty but prayed for rain anyway. Do you hear the thunder? I answered your prayer!”

I finally got back to sleep and got up at a decent time – 5:00 a.m. (Sigh.)

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