February 8, 2005

• It's a great feeling to wake up rested. This morning, I awoke 35 minutes before the alarm went off. The thought of going back to sleep crossed my mind briefly before I realized that I wasn't tired. WOW!!! It seems like it's been weeks since I haven't felt tired. Now, if I could just kick this cough.

  
  

  Still reading from The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I am a full week behind at the moment. Last week was a week from hell. I didn't know whether I was coming or going. I am so glad that is past.

  
  

  Anyway, today in The Purpose Driven Life I read about "What Makes God Smile." I love this book. In every chapter there are parts that speak to my heart. I underlined a few sentences this morning that I want to share with you, but first, let me list the things touched on here that make God smile.

  
  

  
  
  1. God smiles when we love him supremely.
  
  
  2. God smiles when we trust him completely.
  
  
  3. God smiles when we obey him wholeheartedly.
  
  
  4. God smiles when we thank him and praise him continually.
  
  
  5. God smiles when we use our abilities.

  
  

  I think my biggeset problems are with Nos. 2 and 3.

  
  

  But, here's what I underlined this morning...

  
  

  On obedience (speaking of Noah): He obeyed God wholeheartedly. That means doing whatever God asks without reservation or hesitation. You don't procrastinate and say, "I'll pray about it." You do it without delay. Every parent knows that delayed obedience is really disobedience. ... Wholehearted obedience is done joyfully, with enthusiasm.

  
  

  On using our abilities: You may feel the only time God is pleased with you is when you are doing spiritual activities - like reading the Bible, attending church, praying or sharing your faith. ... Actually, God enjoys watching every detail of your life, whether you are working, playing, resting, or eating. ... Every human activity, except sin, can be done for God's pleasure if you do it with an attitude of praise. ... There are no unspiritual abilities, just misused ones.

  
  

  Wow! Those two sections really hit home to me. Do I do use my abilities to praise God? Do I do every task in my day with a joyful heart? No. I oftentimes go through my day grumbling at every little thing that comes my way. I also never really consider my daily work routine as something to please God, nor as a way to praise him.

  
  

  So, on the obedience front, I have decided that I am going to approach John about paying tithes. Please pray for me on this. I am sure that he will say we cannot afford it with all the medical bills we have to pay. I also know that he is going to tell me that if I would give up things like eating out and shopping, he'll let me pay tithes. That is something that is going to take a lot of strength and prayer for me to stick to, but I believe with God's help, I can indeed make that sacrifice. To some of you, that may not seem such a sacrifice, particularly when facing the medical bills we are facing, but when you also work 12-14 hour days, grabbing carry-out sometimes seems like a necessity. So pray for me. Pray for John's acceptance of God's obedience here.

  
  

  Now, I am going to strive to praise God today with all I do. I will serve him with a joyful heart all day, and not grumble or complain today (with God's help - or as a Jewish friend of mine used to say, "From my mouth to God's ears.")

  
  

  Also today, an insurance adjuster for the city is coming by to talk to John about a claim against the city for his fall and subsequent broken wrist. I pray he will see the need to help pay for some of our medical bills. Something is better than nothing. The big thing that worries me the most is this is the same insurance adjuster that handled the claim on my broken ankle four years ago, and he remembers me. For those who don't know, I fell in the drive-thru of a bank and shattered my ankle. It's a long story, but the gist of it is my deposit ticket blew out of the drawer; the teller, rather than print me another, told me it had blown behind my vehicle, I twisted my ankle and fell in trying to retrieve it. I stupidly signed an agreement that the insurance company would pay the remainder of my medical bills (that they knew of at that time) rather than sue them. I should not have signed. They paid $12,000 worth of bills, but I still have problems, pain and suffering, with my ankle. Anyway, please also pray that this guy will see where the city was negligent and should pay for the bills.

  
  

  God bless you all, and have a great day!

  • 7:40 am
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