Romans 10:11 (NASB) - "For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes in Him will not bedisappointed..'"
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To disappoint is to "fail to fulfill the hopes or expectations of (someone)." We flawed humans disappoint each other without even trying. Sometimes our lack of action produces disappointment in others. However, most times our expectations are what produce disappointment. This is not to say that we shouldn't have reasonable expectations of others we depend on. They key is reasonable.
God has guaranteed in His Word that He will never disappoint us. Why? The Scriptures tell us what to expect. We get disappointed with God when we don't know what to expect due to ignorance of His Word, we expect God to honor our timetable rather than us honoring His, or we expect godly perfection from each other.
As I continue to grow in my Christian walk, I've learned to analyze my disappointment. God is never the problem; my own lack of understanding or unreasonable expectations of others is always the culprit. The more I learn about the love and care of God, the more I trust Him and the better I can receive from Him.
Let's start things off right...Wednesday is National Dessert Day. What are we having? How often do you make/serve dessert? Store bought or from scratch?
I like to make desserts when I have company so they can help me eat them. Otherwise, I try not to indulge in too many sweets. When I do make them, I prefer to do it from scratch, but I'm not opposed to store bought options for desserts I don't make well.
Slow as molasses, icing on the cake, that's the way the cookie crumbles,
have your cake and eat it too, half-baked idea, that takes the
cake...which phrase might be applied to something in your life in recent
days? Explain.
Slow as molasses. Our governor has extended the statewide mask and "safer at home" ordinances for at least another month. I don't know how much longer my psyche can take this government-mandated solitary confinement. This has already gone on too long.
Something that's 'easy as pie' for you to do?
Overthink things.
Are you someone who likes to 'sugarcoat' news you think might not be
well received, or are you more of a tell it like it is and let the chips
fall where they may? Do you like to receive your news the same way you
give it?
The Bible says that we are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). I believe we should tell the truth in a loving manner. To me, sugarcoating something is just a sweet tasting lie. Like too much dessert too often, sugarcoated news tastes good at first, but leads to a horrendous stomachache later.
Something you did recently that made you feel like a 'smart cookie'?
Hmm. I'm not sure I should answer that. I don't want to be accused of acting "too big for my britches." Instead, I'll just give a funny quote about this very subject. "Why am I always the one to play dumb? Why can't I play smart once in a while?" Peter Tork, The Monkees.
Insert your own random thought here.
In case you're interested:
* My latest Five Minute Friday post is here. * My latest Simple Woman's Daybook post is here.
If you would like to join in and post your own Daybook, please head on over to visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook
For Today: Monday, October 12, 2020
Looking Out My Window ... The hues of autumn are kissing the leaves on the trees. I took this outside of Rosie's Diner in Aurora, Colorado.
I am Thinking...
About Cricut machines. Diana and my great nephew Ferendez have one and all the "in" crafters on YouTube have them, but I've never played with one to know what all can be done with them. No, I'm not in the market to buy one (they are expensive!), I'm just curious.
Why the Sam Hill are people hoarding paper towels again?! Y'all stop!
About reinstating my online "check in" and "check out" procedure. Back home when I would go out to the trail to ride or walk alone, I would post a "check out" to my Facebook friends to let them know I was out. The point of it is that if I don't post a "check in" in a reasonable amount of time, someone can check on me to make sure I'm OK. That way, I'd feel safer. I think I have enough Colorado friends now to make this work. Understand, the only time anything went wrong back home (my bike tire went flat), I had a friend immediately showed up to assist. Since I can't hit the gym yet and I need to get out of the cave AND I need to set up some accountability, I feel the need to bring it back.
I am Thankful...
For college football. Yes, I know it's just entertainment, but my favorite teams (JSU and Alabama) actually having a season brings a little bit of normalcy into my life. I need something like this to anticipate.
For my friend, Annie, and her blog post "One Word: Lean In" from a couple of years ago. This year has been a very hard year for us all. However, winter--the hardest season of all for me--is fast approaching. Her blog post talks about leaning into a season of life. For me, I want to lean in and embrace the winter season and get as much joy out of it as possible, rather than spending it in dread and depression.
For road construction. Yes, usually that's not something to be thankful for, but the side streets around my place were in desperate need of repairing and they were repaved recently. No more fear of losing a hub cap...or worse.
From the Workshop...
The latest "Get 'er Done Art Challenge" post is here. I'm currently working on weeks 5 and 6 of the challenge.
From Auntie's Test Kitchen...
I would consider myself a professional tailgater--meaning I know how to act when I go to someone's house to eat and watch football. From the Iron Bowl tailgate parties my home church used to have to the Saturdays I spent watching Alabama win (for the most part) with Miss Karen's family, there was always Rotel dip...always. Now that college football is in full swing, I decided to take a crack at it. It's three simple ingredients (One or two cans of Ro-Tel tomatoes with green chilies, 1 block of Velveeta cheese, and some browned crumbled sausage) heated in a Crock Pot. Simple, right? Well, apparently the old adage is true that food cooked by others is always better than your own cooking. I tried to make this dip TWICE and neither batch tasted good. I have no idea why. Well, I'll let others make this dip and I'll stick with making spinach dip.
I am Reading...
Thirsty for God Bradley P. Holt
Kingdom Ethics by Glen Stassen and David Gushee
How People Grow by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Completed volumes since my last Daybook:
Invitation to a Journey by M. Robert Mulholland Jr.
Never Give Upby Joyce Meyer
Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
Favorite Quote(s) of the Week ...
"Common sense ain't a flower that grows in everybody's garden." - Amber from This Southern Girl Can
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (KJV) - "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For
if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is
alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."
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Did you know that no "self-help" book I've ever read has been labels as such? In fact, the authors have said the exact opposite. Effective books of this type are more "self-analysis" than "self-help." They get you in a position where you understand yourself enough to know what kind of outside help you need.
So, what does one do in the midst of a pandemic and mandated isolation? How does a person establish accountability that counts when they are alone? That's my dilemma right now. I had great accountability when I could work out at the community center on a regular basis (there were instructors and fellow patrons who were expecting me). However, until they let us exercise without a mask, that's a no-go. I really don't care what the "scientists" say, if I can't talk without getting out of breath wearing a mask, there no way I can exercise effectively in one. I've tried setting up accountability with folks online, but they all play the mommy excuse pissing contest game and nothing gets done.
I hate this. I hate having the flawed type of personality that requires outer accountability. This is the one time I wish "self-help" was actually a thing--where "pulling yourself up by the bootstraps" was actually a one man operation.
What's one part of your
everyday routine you'd be better off without?
The inconsistency. I've been trying all year to reestablish healthy routines and failing miserably. Unfortunately, I'm one of those weak people who need outward accountability. Even before quarantine, accountability was hard to find. Now, it is impossible. I thought about going back to the community center to work out and at least have that built in accountability. However, they want patrons to wear a mask while working out. Uh...no. I get out of breath just talking with the thing on. There's no way I could make it through a workout without either taking the mask off to breathe, or passing out because I'm not getting enough oxygen.
October 5th is/was National Do
Something Nice Day. So what did you/will you do?
I know this sounds snarky, but why do we need a certain day to be nice? I was raised to be courteous and kind, so I didn't need to do anything out of the ordinary. If I can't be nice any other day of the week, a "special" day isn't going to make me any nicer.
What question do you hate to
answer?
It's a string of questions that always go together: Are you married? At your age, why aren't you married? Do you have children? At your age, why don't you have children? I've been getting these questions since I was in my early 20s!
Do we have control over technology or does it have control over us.
In that same vein, have you watched The Social Dilemma (available on Netflix) and if so what did you
think?
Do you mean the royal "we?" It depends on the person. If you mean "we" as in "us," I believe I have control over technology. If I go off to the store and forget my phone, I don't break out in hives and hyperventilate. With technology, I use various forms of technology daily, so I'm not opposed to it. Now, if you mean social media, the more human interaction I have, the less I use social media. I did hear about the Social Dilemma program, but don't have Netflix (and probably wouldn't watch it anyway if I did). I think if someone is at that level of addiction to technology/social media, they need to get help.
What are three small things that make your day better?
A comforting cup of coffee or tea.
A good laugh or two...or three.
Making art, even if it just working on something for a few minutes.
Insert your own random thought here.
Please be in prayer for my family. My 43 year old niece, Lucretia passed away suddenly Monday.
----- We 80s children have lost another icon. In honor of Eddie Van Halen's passing, I share a couple of my favorite Van Halen songs.
----- In case you're interested: * My latest Auntie's Workshop post is here.
