Anticipation

Today the Daybed is to arrive. Although I only ordered it 2 weeks ago, I've wanted one for a long time, so now that it's a reality, I'm excited. As I look at where the daybed will go, I am filled with great anticipation. The mattress arrived last week, so this afternoon, I'll be able to be relaxing on the daybed. 

This morning I was so excited that a piece of furniture was arriving...... it got me thinking about my relationship with God. Am I anticipating my time with God, more than the arrival of the daybed? Do I get up excited to spend time reading and talking with God? Or do has it become so routine that the excitement as waned?

Anticipation: expectation or hope. Nothing is more solid than the hope that God provides. It's not a "guess hope" it's a "KNOW SO HOPE". What God says He will do. 

"As the deer pants
for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, O God."

Psalm 42:1

Have you ever experienced one of the really hot muggy days, where your mouth was so dry, you couldn't talk? Remember how you craved that cool drink of water? Remember how it felt as it hit your mouth and trickled down your throat? It was so refreshing, that your entire body shivered as you drank. 

That is how refreshing spending time with God is... or should be. Yet, if my time with God has become routine, or if I'm more interested in the next item on the schedule, something has to change. Time with God, no matter what time of day, should be one that is anticipated with joy. My soul should crave it just as my body craves that icy water on a hot summer day. 

There is no way to create a positive day if I ignore the true source of truth and joy: God.

Move in Day; Labels

Move in Day has arrived! Yesterday, Cathy and Bob took over a couple of loads of items including the living room chairs. This afternoon, the Gang will unload the trailer.

And then the next few weeks....months..whenever, I'll unpack the boxes. When I packed the boxes, each was marked and color coded (Black: living room & kitchen; Blue: bedroom & bathroom; Green: crafts; Red: Fragile). If the box contains something which I'll need right away, it's marked with "NOW" or "ASAP".  That should help me find the necessities.

Wouldn't be nice if God marked items in our life with easy to read codes? Don't do, do now, save for later, be ready for...., etc. I like the "easy" to know aspects of God's will: the 10 commandments for example. It's spelled out. Yet, at times I still don't follow through on those instructions. And then there are those times in life that take discernment; those can be difficult.

God gave us instructions in the Bible, and the reason He didn't just give us the "complete list" of dos and don'ts is because we don't need the list.... God gave us the principles which apply in all areas of our lives. The only way to learn those principles is the read the Bible and allow the Holy Spirit to direct us.

However, sometimes I find myself in situations where I'm not sure what God would have me do. If I could just read a label, it would be so much easier. Then I'd be able to KNOW I was doing the correct thing. But that's not how life works. That's why I need to continually be searching God's word and learning, so that when a situation arises, I have the knowledge of what to do. 

Even though I can't go through life reading labels, I'm thankful that God is a forgiving God and that He continues to teach me. As I learn more about Who God is, and His will, the better choices I'll make in the future. 

The goal each day is to create a positive day, and that can be done without any labels. Perhaps I didn't do something correctly, at least my heart was in the right place and I was striving to be godly. That is what God asks of us... to act godly. And if my mindset is focused on God and His will, than the overall day will be positive. 

Part 1 Complete!

Last Sunday was a wonderful day for the "non-move". God blessed us with perfect moving weather; sunny, with a slight breeze.

The Gang arrived @2:00 and work began. Soon the boxes and all the furniture was out of the apartment. When the trailer was packed, there were a few items left over, so we filled some of the vehicles.

A BIG THANKS

to each of the friends who helped move and clean the apartment.

The place looks so different empty. The remodel began on Monday, May 17th. (Picture to the left is the 'old' empty bedroom.)

This entire "non-move" has been a great deal of work. Not just for me, but for my friends (who have graciously helped). Some have asked, "Is all the work, really worth it?" I guess it all depends on what you see as the final goal. If I was JUST doing this because I wanted "new" things, than maybe the effort wasn't worth it. However, there was more to this than just a new kitchen. The rug needed replacing, the walls and ceiling needed painting.

Perhaps, some would see the work, and say, "That's not for me. I'll make due with the old." But really, you can't focus on the work, rather the results. Each thing we do in life requires some level of work. As a kid, I never understood the reason for making my bed each day. "I'm just going to 'un-make it' again tonight". To me, making my bed was a waste of time. However, my parent's thought otherwise.

As we go through our lives, we determine each day what we will do and how much effort we put into each task. We make those choices each day, often without much thought. It needs to be done, so we do it. Whether it be doing laundry, making a meal, working at a job... whatever the task at hand, we make choices each day. We can do a job well, or do it so it's "just done". We can put off doing a job, only to have to rush through it, or cause more work for us in the future.

Sometimes the work is a "chore" literally. It's a drudgery to accomplish the task at hand. That's one reason God says to do all to HIS GLORY. When working toward that goal, the tasks at hand take on a new meaning. Each day we "work for God". Whether you go to a job, or stay home and clean the house and care for the kids..... God is the Boss! My work philosophy has always been "to make my boss look good."  That takes on a new meaning when I realize that God is my boss. As a Christian, my responsibility is to glorify Him and share His everlasting love with those I meet.

When I reflect back on a day, it may have been positive in areas I like... such as getting a new apartment. However, if I want the day to be a TRULY POSITIVE day, my life, attitude, and all that I did would have been to the glory of God.

Old and New Pictures!

Just wanted to share some pictures of my apartment. These show the 'Old' and the 'New' place. The old has the darker wood, the new is lighter. 

I'll post more pictures when all my stuff is moved back in and I'm unpacked. But I know some of you have been waiting to see the results of the remodel... so enjoy the pictures!

Old bedroom

New Bedroom

Old Kitchen

New Kitchen

New Living Room

(facing front door)

I like the new look and am excited to getting my stuff back in and unpacked. It will take a while to have everything put away. But even with the new look, it's still my home!

Relax, I'm taking care of it...Rather YOU!

The move OUT is TODAY!
 The gang will be here at 2:00.

Last night I was doing laundry and packing the last few odds and ends, and figured I'd do some laundry. I loaded up the cart with the basket and headed to the laundry room. The laundry room wasn't very busy, which means I could get mine done. I put in the 2 loads and headed back my apartment. 

Decided it was time for a much needed rest. As I was reclining, there was a knock at the door. I slowly made my way to the door and opened it. It was young couple, whom I didn't know. The man then said, "I found this, and it as your name and address on it." Then he handed me my laundry card! "THANK YOU so very much!" I didn't even realize I had dropped it! 

Why is that card so vital? In order to use the washers or dryers, you need the card. The card is loaded with money, and each time you wash, or dry, it subtracts the amount. Without the card—can't do laundry! And on top of that, I had just put over $30 on the card!!! There are even more details here: The Office was closed. So, there would have been no way to get a new card last night and I would have had 2 loads of WET laundry!

As I closed the door and made my way back to the recliner. I realized that once again God was demonstrating not only that He loves me—but

HE is taking care of things....

rather He is taking care of ME.

Yes, it was only a laundry card. But you see, God is concerned with each detail in my life. If you've read some of my recent posts, you've seen God's attention to detail. 

It doesn't matter if it's a laundry card with $30 on it. Or a $200 trailer. Or a $1700 daybed and mattress to help lower my pain during the day. The price of something doesn't matter to God. Rather, I matter. God isn't JUST taking care of things—He's taking care of ME! 

When I keep my focus on God, He takes care of the details. My responsibility is to glorify God each day. Whether it's doing laundry, packing odds and ends, or just relaxing, I'm to be doing ALL to the glory of God. A positive day is not about what I've accomplished, or how low my pain level is, or what I did or bought.

 Rather a positive day is only created

if I've glorified God.