My husband always tells me my shoes are everywhere and that I must have 40 pairs of shoes or more, well he is right about one part of that - my shoes were everywhere.  So when moving into an apartment here in Alexandria, I decided to get organized.

I bought a shoe rack and put it together yesterday.  I also made an inventory of my shoes.  Work shoes - 7 pairs, Sandals - 5 pairs, slippers - 3 pairs, and boots - 2 pairs.   Now that isn't 40 pairs at any rate, but if you have them all over the place you have a mess and it is hard to count them or keep track of them.

Our relationship with God can be cluttered too.  We can put him in one part of our heart, but block him from the other parts, or we can be all over the place.  We can have a great relationship with God on our terms, or be a Sunday Christian.  Feel good by attending the worship, but then go back to our sins.  My shoes are a representative of sin - they can be a mess in our lives, they can be all over the place.  We can choose to leave our lives like that too or we can organize our life around God.  When we focus on God life is more organized.  We can go about our duties and responsibilities knowing we serve the Lord first.  

It is so amazing how living in Christ makes our lives so much better, not perfect, but we can handle it!  We can rely on God to be our guide.  I read something the other day, that the Bible will not die in the hands of Communist, Socialist, humanists or atheists but in the hands of its friends who do not use it themselves.  My friends we need to be int he word - not just on Sunday mornings or when we need to feel good so we pick it up for a quick verse to make us feel good.  

Like my shoes, I must be diligent to take the time to put them in their place, well my spiritual life needs to be organized and I need to be in the word daily and have time set aside for God.

Praise Don for his patience over my shoes, but more importantly - praise the Lord for his patience with me and that he still loves me even when I fall short of his glory.

 

Today was a wonderful birthday.  My last blog left the impression I was in a bad mood - I was not.  I was very happy person.  I am taking the circumstances of my life and living it. 

Don and I made this decision to have me take this job at the Pentagon and Monday I will be going to work.  I am settled into my apartment and soon - I'll be back to work.

Yesterday the furniture came and everything was put away nicely.  I have a Roku, which I purchased for my birthday.  I also had a massage today!  I was suppose to meet Cheryl for dinner at Olive Garden, but alas, there are many Olive Gardens and this particular road - Leesburg Pike has apparently several.  So Cheryl and I did not have dinner together, because of traffic and other restraints... we ate dinner separately.

I enjoyed my food and took a piece of Pumpkin cheesecake home.

I got home and Janet called me and wished me a Happy Birthday.  Many Facebook friends wished me a Happy Birthday - so as you can see - today wasn't a day of moping.

I love the verses:

James 1:2-3

Trials and Temptations2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Sometimes just like Andy my granddaughter - I can have a less than positive attitude.  

I could be in a real funk this week if I didn't have God in my life. Have you every felt so alone and without friends!  You are never alone without God.

Here is a good verse from Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones"

This week I am fasting - ok not from food, but from a negative attitude.  So when I start to get a negative attitude, I am replacing it with this verse.  We have a helper in the Holy Spirit.  He will guide us and give us the persistence we need in this endeavor.  Just Ask Him.

God spoke to Abraham and he told him to set out for a new land.  Abraham chose to listen.  He also chose to be positive about God's direction for his life.  I feel the parallel between old Abraham and Cathy Merritt.

I set out for a new land all by myself and I can rejoice that the Lord is giving me a great attitude and positive outlook on life.  The journey isn't always easy, but it is rewarding to know I am relying on God and not other people or myself alone.

Think of a time God asked you to do something difficult or risky.  Were you doubtful, wondering why God asked you to do such a thing, were you afraid and worried about the outcome.

Probably nothing in God's plan made sense to Abraham in the beginning.  I know that I feel that way at times.  Genesis 12:4 - "He went, as the Lord had told him."  Being obedient to the Lord is a sure way to move in a positive direction.    Another great verse about plans - Jeremiah 29:11 - "I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

It would be great if my blogs went viral, but God I am not sure that is God's plan either, just finding the blogging helps me deal with my days and deal with my circumstances better.

Yesterday and today could have been frustrating because I didn't receive my furniture.  I don't think they were frustrating at all and I prepared for my Bible study last night and today went about errands and taking the bus around again, to Trader Joe's.  I also got the curtains up with magnets.  A brilliant idea God gave me to try.  

I have my pantry stocked and am ready to relax this evening and prepare for the movers tomorrow.  They called a little bit ago and will be here around 8:30 am tomorrow.

Dear Father, I want to be positive and help me to see when I am not pleasing to you.  Teach me to express myself in ways that truly bring You glory.

Amen. 

Remembering 911 is easy for many of us, because we know exactly what we were doing and what was going on. Remember the lost and remember the families touched by the events of 911. working at the Pentagon will be a reminder of what happened there. Having seen the World Trade Center and going back to NY after 911 it is really easy to see the change and feel the emotion of one of our Nations darkest days. I praise God for taking bad situations and using it for good. I pray you Know God and that you will find peace in knowing him. He bare the wounds of our sins and loves us so much. If you do not know what sin is... only look to the world for the events going on around us to see sin. May God bless you and take a moment to reflect on where our country has been and hopefully will be going. 

I am living and learning this Bible Study first hand.  I have been preparing for this study for several months.  I have all the devotionals on the website and hopefully someone will use them to their own benefit as well.

Today - I was hoping to have furniture and be settled in by the time the Bible Study came - I could be sitting in my chair and talking with you glads rested and ready for the lesson, well best laid plans!!!

I could have been upset just by the fact that the mover didn't call or show up, but he did stay he'd be here on Tuesday for sure.  So that is tomorrow!!!   The study talks about Martha and Mary and I have always been a Martha.  I think in some ways God is showing me that "good" things are ok, but "BEST" thing is having a personal relationship with God.  Taking God with me everywhere.  So today... I started with looking for something to over this huge patio door.  I believe the reason it is bare is it cost too much to cover.  I could have spent anywhere from $750 dollars for blinds to $350.00 for drapes, which wouldn't arrive for weeks.
tot I had to do, but I had God with me on the ride.

I do regret one thing today.  I saw a lady who was asking for help (money).  I was busy trying to get directions to the next store and didn't help her.  

So I ended up going to a merchandise store which I guess sells cheap items, but I found 90 inch long panels, I really need 94, but I took the hem out and it is almost 93 1/2.  So just  a little short, but the stool I purchased isn't tall enough to reach the hooks, so after I get furniture tomorrow - I can hopefully hang the rest.  I'll show you the pictures.  The panels were only $7.99 each or 4 for $32.00.  Much better then hundreds $$$$$$.  I will not win a better homes and garden prize, but it will work.

The next thing was I had to go back out tonight to get a utility knife or a box cutter for tomorrow.  Anticipating my boxes to unload!!!!  The first one I purchased would unscrew and it was very stubborn.

So this day could have been frustrating, but it really wasn't and I was able to do a load of clothes, get the hems pulled out of all the panels, get my handout ready for the Bible Study tomorrow night and record the message for those dialing in.  

I also spent time in the word and with God today.  It was a good day and I am glad for it.  These days will soon be over - and I'll be working!!!

Last night it was a beautiful night sleeping with the window open.  It was almost cold when I woke up this morning.

I got up from the air mattresses and made coffee and saw the beauty of the sunrise.  God really does give us so much to be grateful for in this world.  We need not really look far for the blessing in life.  So today, I decided to try another Church of Christ - Non-instrumental in Springfield, VA.  It is really only 9 miles, and  on the beltway, but very nice drive on Sunday mornings.

They had a nice Adult class in the basement which was on Christian Foundation.  Where do we begin with the Gospel with peoples' frames of reference.  Some people are already Christians, some are not, some do not even know what "Sin" really is.  It was very good.  I enjoyed it and will definitely look to return for more.

The minister is young and very good.  The sermon was on Hosea and Gomer.  It was very powerful too.  

The rest of my day was a little bit crazy, I drove and drove to find a JC Penneys - which was almost impossible.  I finally found one up in Maryland, it was only 17 miles, but took me 45 minutes or more to get there.  Then when I arrived - the drapery department really didn't have anything and the lady said they have discontinued many types of drapes - especially the ones for Patio doors.  This is an extra wide and extra long patio door.  I didn't have a measuring tape, but used my new shower curtain to determine it is approximately 98 inches long and approximately  106 1/2 inches wide.  So I have to find something - no wonder they left it bare.

Many people worship a God that is really unknown to them, but even during distressful times in our lives we can survive the struggles, because we know that God is with us.  Paul was preaching to a people who did not know God by name, if you do not know God by name - read these words:

Acts 17:23
I was going through your city and I saw the things you worship. I found an altar that had these words written on it: ‘ TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ You worship a god that you don’t know. This is the God I want to tell you about.   

This God you want to know is Jesus and he loves you.  Even loved you even before you were born.  He died on the cross for your sins and mine.  If you do not know what sin is - it is anything that separates us from knowing God.    I pray you will seek a place of worship that teaches the Bible and join a church family.   Have a blessed Sunday night and work week.

It was a little humid, but I took the train down to Old Town Alexandria and walked around.

I decided to have lunch while I was there at the Murphy's Irish Pub.  I had great onion rings and pulled pork.  

It is nice to know that I can get around on the train and everything went well.    Good exercise to help with the calories....

I checked into my apartment building yesterday.  It has a bunch of pluses!!!  One when you buy groceries, you get the cart and load up and take the cart right to the kitchen and unload.  Draw back you have to take it back downstairs.  
I'
It is pretty quiet except for the trash bin is right next to me.  So you do hear that occasionally.  The good thing about that is the trash bin is right next to me.  I can load my trash daily and get it out of my apartment. The Laundry room is right next to that and I'll soon need that.

Last night around 5:00 pm - I got a electronic call from Cox Cable.  Well the message I got was set up on Saturday, but no time.  So all day today... I waited and waited.  I even sat outside for about 2 hours and enjoyed the breeze and checked out the shopping center next to the complex.  Good news - there is a Thai restaurant in there.  So I'll have to check it out - so Don will want to come and visit.  SMILE

Not much else, but the grocery stores are only about 1 mile.  So I can handle that.  I could really walk that far or take the bus, but I'll save the bus for work.

I start officially on 17 September.  Monday my furniture should arrive and rest of my clothing.  I am glad for that.  Some familiar items.  Don and I decided to leave most of the good things with the house, so it would show well.  I will have the older furniture, but it isn't in bad shape.  So I have the two comfortable chairs from the sitting area, my original bed set when we got married and the kitchen table and chairs.  Few tables from upstairs and few kitchen items.  

It will be perfect, because we are downsizing.  The only thing I have spent any money on is getting the cable set up.  I had to buy a modem and router, so that was a little bit, but need to keep connected for my Bible Study and of course talking with Don.

Below are a few pictures of my apartment, unfurnished at this point - well I do have a air mattress.  

Take care and God bless everyone.  I survived being disconnected today just fine.