What day is it?

This is the day the Lord has made;

    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

This is my desk this morning.  I had some back paperwork that I needed to finish this morning.  I need to spend time studying God's word before I start anything else, so I got up really early.

It's now 6:40am (hey, I know that's too early already).  I won't tell you what time I got up, but my friend Kelly was up for some of the same time and she'll agree that I'm going to have a long day today.

Sheila Wray Gregorie asked on facebook today "Is anyone else feeling overwhelmed this Monday morning?"

I was feeling overwhelmed yesterday for today.  Yesterday was Sunday and I don't work on Sundays so any work that I didn't get done by Saturday night I put on Monday morning. 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:33-34

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

So I got up early this morning to get what I needed done.

I made that calendar on my desk based on a similar one I saw on Pinterest.   At the top of each day I've put a reminder of how I need to think about that day.  Here's my list:

Sunday: a day of rest
Monday: a new week
Tuesday: a long day of investment
Wednesday: a day of ministry
Thursday: a day to catch up
Friday: a day to play
Saturday: a day to give

So, since Monday is the beginning of a new week, I will rejoice today and be glad in it!

How do you think about each day of the week?

God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him for our food...

Did you know that the children's meal time prayer is longer?  I didn't.  I had learned this part:

God is great, God is good.  Let us thank Him for our food.  Amen.

Here is the whole meal time prayer:

"God is Great, God is Good.
Let us thank Him for our food.
By His hands we all are fed, give us Lord our daily bread.
Amen."  (source: world prayers )

I've been thinking about my dilemma of eating from my freezer and my pantry.  I really want to do this...why is it so hard?  I keep looking at all the new things that I could make and then I'm discontent with what I already have.

I've found that it comes down to contentment.

So, I'm brought back to my dilemma.  I can show my contentment through getting back to eating from my pantry/freezer.  I can be reminded that by God's hands I am fed.

So, I'm up and running cooking from my pantry/freezer/fridge.  Last night I made a great shredded pork in the Crockpot and today we ate it as taco salad.  I want to defrost my freezer by Spring break so I better stop shopping at the store and get stuff from my freezer.  :)
 
I'm thanking God for His daily provision of not just food, but for His word, my family and friends, getting me up each morning, and His great love for me.

balance

Keels provide extra stability
by providing a weight low enough
to significantly
 lower the centre of gravity.
(Source: Wikipedia)

  Finding balance is hard for me.
             I know that I need it....balance....
                                 I go to extremes.
                                           Maybe I'm just a little too tired today.
                                                           Maybe December was full of
                                                                     transitions and good chaos.

  Here's what keeps me balanced,
                   what keeps me level in my tossing turning world:
                              Like a keel on a sailboat is God's word to my life.

I don't run.  Well, I'm attempting to condition my body to run a 5k using the "couch to 5k running program".  (It's an app and I like it...it tells me what to do so I don't have to think).  I bike though.  So I understand this verse from the book of Hebrews in the New Testament of the Bible from my bike riding.  It is easier to ride with less weight.  It is also easier to keep my balance when going up a hill when I have less weight on my bike. The verse reminds me to take off the things that are just there and are hindering my life.  It reminds be to take off the things that are just wrong.  Both will weigh me down.  Both will find me out of balance.

"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (Hebrews 12:1b)

Eating from my pantry from 2012 overview

So I didn't do too well with that initial try.  I learned a few things: 

1)  I am blessed to be a blessing.
2) I can be content with what I have.
3) I should only buy things I love, not just what looks interesting.
4) Food is food and is there to nourish our bodies, time with family and friends is there to nourish our souls.  Don't get them confused.