It's been a busy past couple of weeks. I have a job now which keeps me VERY busy along with school. I havent been able to go to church on Sunday's the last three weeks, and we will not be having it this week. Its been tough not being able to see and talk with my Lot Family, and I miss them dearly. It has made for a tough past couple of weeks. Yesterday especially. Yesterday was thanksgiving as all of you know. Every year for thanksgiving my family goes out of town to my grandparents house where we eat and enjoy the company of the whole family. I had to work so I couldnt go. I ended up going to my friend Laura's once I got off because my family wasnt home yet and I didnt want to spend thanksgiving by myself. It was just a crappy day all around.
This last Tuesday I got a call from Erin my best friend on the whole planet, check out her blog at http://erinmcgreevey.blogspot.com/ she's awesome! So anyways, we had been talking about her visiting me for a while, and trying to figure out a way for her to come. She calls me on Tuesday morning and says "guess what?? My dad said I can come, and he's going to pay for my flight as my Christmas present!" So now she is coming in town on the 8th, and I am SO excited for that! So later on Tuesday I go into work to ask off for the dates that she will be in. Come to find out that the schedule through the 10th had already been posted, and I worked the 10th from 12-9. A 9 hour shift when my best friend is coming in town from south carolina....yeah that sucks. I looked to see who wasnt working, that day, the only other person off was Dan, and he has asked off which meant...cant ask him. Which means....I had to work it. needless to say...I wasnt a happy camper.
So onto today, I woke up this morning just in a bad mood, I was really groggy and just wanted to sleep, but I had to go meet my friend Justin for lunch. You see, Justin goes to my church, but he's a truck driver so he's on the road a lot of the time. I hadnt seen him in a couple of months, so I really wanted to go get lunch with him. So I got out of bed, got ready, and went to lunch. Which ended up being a great time to just chat and catch up, found out that him and his accountability partner are in the process of memorizing psalms, which I find amazing! Anyone that can memorize psalms is awesome in my book lol. After lunch I went to work and just wanted to go home and sleep. Found my brother's fiance (who works there as well) and started working with her on putting stuff on shelves. My manager walks up to me later and says "the 8th-12th you asked off, if you cant find anyone to work for you on the 10th then you dont have to come it, we'll be fine without you." I honestly said "seriously?? I can have off that day???? You just freaking made my day!" I was so excited that I was able to get off that day! God is so good! So I was in a really good mood the rest of my shift hanging out and working with Ellen (my brother's fiance), laughing, and talking about the wedding. We got done with everything that needed to go on the shelves, and we went and talked to one of the managers to see if there was anything else that needed to be done and he said "all you have to do is face the back of the store and you're free to go" (btw, "face" means to bring everything on the shelves to the front of the shelf, and this was about 2 hours before I was supposed to get off) so Ellen and I were pretty excited about that, got done with the facing, and clocked out. God knew I was really tired today and just wanted to rest, he also knew that I needed off that one day so I could be with Erin. God has been taking such good care of me these last few weeks, and I just want to say, God is so good! I dont thank God enough for everything he gives me. I dont thank him enough for this job that I have. I dont thank him enough for the time I get with my friends and family. I take it forgranted a lot. I never realized how hard it would be missing thanksgiving with my family, but it was really hard! I just wanted to leave work and go to my grandparents and just hang out with everyone. Dont take your time with your family for granted you never realize how much it means to you until it's gone.
Yesterday, Ross, the guy I worked with this summer in Colorado tagged me in this post on facebook. It was really cool, and really blessed and encouraged me and I want to share it with you all. Ross is an awesome guy who really wants to serve God to the best of his ability. I am constantly encouraged by him, and I am so blessed to have worked with him this summer, and to be able to call him my brother in Christ. Here's what he said:
Later yesterday evening I was just in one of my thinking moods. I'd had a rough couple of days and was seriously wondering about several things.
Did my "friends" really care about me; Am I being thankful enough; How can God accept someone who keeps going back to trash?
Eventually in the span of a few hours, I began believing these lies. It's silly how so easily we forget what we've been given.
I do have friends that care for me. I am an extremely blessed man and I don't even realize it. God does forgive me after I yak up all the garbage that I've indulged myself in.
Until later, I gave in and got on here and looked through my messages and found a friend sending an encouraging verse from Philippians. Philippians 4:7, to be exact. So, I turn to it.
Well, so I thought I did. I started reading a section that spoke about clothing ourselves with Christ. That we should be humble and gracious to those around us. We should kill our flesh of the world.
KILL?
But I like myself too much...
I like being comfortable...
I don't like causing a stir...
How many of us actually would say that they do? Not many. But what I read yesterday made so much sense to me. If I "clothe myself with Christ," then none of my fears would matter. What I think and what other people around me think about me doesn't matter.
What matters is what they see. Do they see Christ on the outside of me?
What's interesting here is that I wasn't actually in Philippians at all. I was in Colossians 4. Obviously God wanted me to read this to remind me of what it is I actually profess myself to be.
Now what's even more interesting is this: The passage in Philippians also came from chapter 4. Only this seemed to be a follow up, an encouragement of sorts.
Philippians 4:7 (NLT) - "Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
Kinda funny, huh?
Sometimes it amazes me just how amazing God really is...
There ya go. Have a good weekend everyone. Remember God is good, and he will always take care of you whenever you need!
In Christ,
Hannah
