FALL IS IN THE AIR

I went to Columbia today to spend the day with my younger sister, Lorie.  .  We talked briefly and emailed a couple of times over the weekend and decided that we would make fall wreaths for our homes. So this morning we met at Michael's on Two Notch Road and picked out all of our materials. 

When we arrived at Lorie's we set up on her breakfast table and got to work.  We painted out frames and our letters.

Next we made a quick lunch and went to eat lunch with our sister, Cynthia.  Here we are!!

Then Lorie and I headed back to her house to wrap the frames with leaf garlands.

Almost done.

Here's Lorie's on her front door.

And the one we made for Cynthia!  It was a surprise for her!!

Here is the one I made. . .

And now it is on my front door!!

We are ready for fall!  And I am ready for some CLEMSON FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOURS CUT AGAIN!

I have the day off unexpectedly because all "non-essential" staff has been "asked" to work only 32 hours a week through the end of August. 

I usually love a day off.  But I'm not excited about this day off for two reasons.

1.  I didn't "ask" for this day off.

2.  It doesn't feel very good to be viewed as "non-essential".

 

I am having a hard time writing about this.  I feel like a big whiner.  I've written several statements and deleted them.  I keep asking myself if I really want someone to know how this makes me feel.

Well, as I was reheating my tea a few seconds ago, I decided since no one reads this blog but me, that I would use this as the beginning of my quiet time with God.

Father, I can never come to you without first just recognizing who You are.  I thank You for Your majesty, Your love, Your holiness, Your love, Your consistency, Your omnipresence, Your glory.  I thank You for loving this world so much that You sent Your Son, Jesus.  And Jesus I truly thank You for being obedient.  Your obedience leads me each day to surrender.  Thank You for teaching Your disciples so we could be taught.  Thank You for showing me how to pray in all situations and at all times.  Thank You for returning to Your Father so that the Holy Spirit could come.  Oh, and thank You Holy Spirit for being my teacher, my constant companion, my comforter, my director, my friend, my correcter (is that a word), the words in my soul.   Thank you for already blessing me with peace for this day, for a smile on my face when a few minutes ago I was frowning and oh so negative.  Thank you, just thank you for always allowing me to enter your presence.

As we begin this day, help me to be a good steward of all that you have given/blessed me.  You have always provided for me and my family.  The money will be cut, seems like that always happens right around my birthday.  What is that all about?  But I know me and when money is tight, that is when it seems like I get an itch to do more for others.  So help me to be discerning and know when it's time to scratch that itch and when it's time to leave it alone.

I always over plan a day off, Lord, and today is no exception.  I have so many things crowding my mind.  Exercise, mow the grass, complete my presentation for Saturday, balance the checkbook, buy new flowers for the pots in the front yard, vacuum the house, wash clothes/linens, quiet time (how did that get in the middle since we always do that first), call ~50 people for Betty's fundraiser, call all the teachers for the fall Bible study, send handwritten notes to all the teachers for the fall Bible study, plan menus for the rest of this month and September, call my mom, check on my siblings, call Carrie, etc, etc, etc. . . . . take a nap!!!

So Father, please slow me down.  I truly pray to have eyes that see today, see Your glory.  I pray to have ears that hear Your voice while I study and then as I work at home, I pray for a mind that not only takes in what I see and hear but understands what I am seeing and hearing.  And then Oh Father, help me to hide it all in my heart that I might not sin against You and that I might take it with me wherever we go today and proclaim it.

This blog began one way for me and now it is ending another way. 

So what if I didn't "ask" for this day off?  I will remember that:

     THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HATH MADE, I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!
                         PSALM 118:24

So what if I am considered "non-essential" by the world?  I will remember that:

     FOR WE ARE GOD'S WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS TO DO GOOD
     WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO.
                         EPHESIANS 2:10

I am going to rejoice in this day and be glad doing the works which God prepared for me in advance!!



    

   

REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE

Romans 12:15

     Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

A couple of days ago I was talking on the telephone.  Someone I am very close to told me some glorious news she had received.  I was very happy for her for a moment. 

That's right I was VERY HAPPY for A moment.

The news she had received was the very news I have been waiting to hear for myself for three years.

Instead of staying in the moment of rejoicing with her;
     Instead of embracing the joy that news brought her;
          Instead of celebrating the answer to one of her prayers;

I turned it into a moment of mourning.

Mourning for the news I haven't heard;
     Mourning for the frustration of my waiting;    

          Mourning for my prayer that has yet to be answered!!

As soon as we hung up the telephone, I heard a whisper in my soul.  Truly in the very depths of my soul.

  BE HAPPY WITH THOSE WHO ARE HAPPY!!

My heart was broken and humbled at that moment.  I asked for forgiveness.  I asked the Holy Spirit to help me never forget how I had taken away at least part of her joy, her celebration, her rejoicing.

Romans 12:15 is a command right in the middle of 13 verses (Romans 12:9-21).  God does not ask us or tell us to rejoice with those who rejoice if we feel like it; God does not ask us or tell us to mourn with those who mourn if we feel like it.  God tells us, he commands us to do these things.


Is it hard to be happy with others when you're sad for yourself?
Is it hard to be sad with others when you're happy for yourself?

YOU BET IT IS!!!!!!

We have a lesson here in Romans 12:15

 

Our lesson is that there will be times that those around us are rejoicing and we truly don't feel like rejoicing.  


Our lesson is that there will be times that those around us are mourning and we truly don't feel like mourning.

Our lesson is that in those times we are to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us so that we can truly -
   

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.