I'm going to be attending a Dave Ramsey Financial Class for 14 weeks, starting the 26th. I look forward to that. I am a budgeter, and I use the envelope system, but there must be something still I need to learn since there is always more month than money. We do live by faith, believe me!!
I attended a travelogue meal and presentation on Texas last week. It was a social outing for me, since hubby likes to spend his time in other ways. I went with the church bus gang (all senior citizens). They go once a month. Food and fellowship is okay...presentations put me to sleep. But it is nice to get out of the house now and then.
We also had a Town Meeting after our residents' potluck this past week. Hubby needed to talk about some proposed changes in the Township ruling on building codes. This could benefit the camp lots, so we hope it is an amendment that passes. Township meeting comes up this week.
On Wednesday this past week my only sibling, my brother, turned 63...two years older than me. We chatted for a while. We don't talk often, we haven't been close through the years, but when we do talk all is well between us. We just lead different lives in different locales of the country.
We had falling snow for most of the week, though it didn't accumulate to more than 6-8". It was a cold week, down in the single digits wind chill. When we woke up Saturday morning we were having one of the heaviest snows of the week. However, we had to take a deposit on some chairs to Grand Rapids (an hour north), so we took off on our adventure. There wasn't a lot of traffic out, and the trip went well. In fact, we even took time to drive around the historic district of Heritage Hill where the rich and famous lived in the early days of the development of Grand Rapids. Very large and unique homes.
The chairs are for our Learning Center. I have been watching Craig's List for padded, stackable chairs for quite a long time. This week a church in Grand Rapids was unloading 106 of them...very nice, some still wrapped in their packaging. Hubby is going tomorrow to pick them up. The church still needed them for service today. We feel blessed to get this deal since the chairs are so nice, and match our blue decor at the Learning Center so well.
We did our weekly shopping while we were out on Saturday, and once again I was able to stay within my budgeted envelope amount for food, household, and personal care items. If I don't stick to the envelope amount, I will run out of money before the end of the month, and that's when we get into trouble. I am determined this is the year we stick to the plan.
Today we attended morning worship at our local church, and then headed to Lansing to meet up with family for lunch. It was my father-in-law's birthday, and he chose to eat at Logan's Steakhouse. There were six of us total...nice lunch.
After lunch we delivered some tables that the camp is donating to He Cares, We Care ministry at the Meridian Mall in Lansing. This was our third trip there, and each time it is taking on a new look. There have been some amazing testimonies coming out of the ministry, and we are glad to be able to donate to the cause. The Jesus Film is the key focus of the ministry, reaching lives that the typical church will not reach. People that won't go into a church building feel freer to enter a store front in the mall to see what He Cares, We Care is all about. With couches, tables, chairs, lamps, big screen TV playing the Jesus Film, magazines, coffee, water, and a relaxing atmosphere...it's a great place to just rest from shopping...or to hang out while other family members shop.
I've been spending most of my evenings working on my I Peter Bible study blog, studying Greek, and reading my current selection of books (see sidebar). On cold winter nights, it's a great way to relax and yet keep the mind active. I also like to play Backgammon on the computer, and browse the web for travel ideas. I'm currently working on a spring break plan for our granddaughters, if they are able to visit us that week. I'm also keeping entertained by the half dozen cats that show up on our porch each evening. Some of them are quite playful, but most of them are just very hungry and very cold. Having warm water to sip and cheap cat food to nibble renews their energy...maybe keeps them alive.
Well....here's what stood out to me this week in my daily reading of The One Year Bible (Living Bible) and "The Word for You Today":
Three rules for living:
- Control the climate around you, staying away from negativity, looking for the best in others, being stable and consistent.
- Laugh at yourself.
- Factor God in...seek His face, consult His Word, for He can move mountains.
Never tire of loyalty and kindness...trust the Lord completely. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success. (Proverbs 3:1-6)
"Reduce the Stress of Serving":
- Stop serving to please others. "Well done!" must come from God, not others.
- Stop serving in your own strength...remain in God and receive your power from Him.
"If the challenge you're facing doesn't place a demand on your faith, it neither pleases God nor involves Him."
"How God Reveals His Will to Us":
- Through others - attend church regularly and build strong relationships with other Christians
- Through scripture
- Through our heart's desire...what fuels and focuses you?
"Standing when Everything Around You Is Falling":
- live on your knees
- strengthen yourself with God's Word
- refuse to let pride or inadequacy defeat you
Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (I Cor 10:12)
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Prov. 16:18)
The man who knows right from wrong and has good judgement and common sense is happier than the man who is immensely rich! For such wisdom is far more valuable than precious jewels. Nothing else compares with it. (Prov 3:12-13)
If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it, but if you give it up for me, you will save it. (Mt 10:38-39)
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