Sheer Awesomeness

I'm proud to report that this weekend has been nothing short of amazing. =)

Yesterday, I met up with Miranda for lunch and a pedicure. Not at the same time, though. ;-) That would just be weird. Lunch at Chili's was pretty good, as usual. I can rarely complain about Chili's though. You would think that after working there for about 2 years, I'd be tired of it by now, but nope! The exact opposite really. I'm biased. Applebee's, Ruby Tuesday's, TGIFriday's, etc. got nothin' on Chili's. *sigh* I once loathed the place and now I'm giving them free PR. What has the world come to? Ok, I'm way off topic.

So, after lunch we went across the shopping center for a much-needed pedicure. And, as always, I wound up getting the one guy in the whole place. Why is it always me? Am I the only one who feels really awkward with a man other than my husband scrubbing my feet and then painting my toes? Please tell me I'm not! It was a good pedicure, but I just can't ever get over the awkward feeling when I get a guy.

After the pedicure, Miranda invited me to hang out with her and the "monkey" (her 15 month old little boy) while her hubby went to work. First of all, her little monkey man is so cute!!! I could just eat him up! And, if I'm being honest, I think he has a bit of a crush. ;-) He totally showed off for me. Haha! Anyway. I wasn't planning on staying there too long. Just a couple hours, you know. Get out of the house for a while, hang out with people, that sort of thing. And what time did I pull in my garage? 12:45 a.m. I couldn't tell you the last time I stayed out that late! Really, I couldn't! Her hubby got home around 8ish and we talked, and talked, and talked. =) The three of us were all in band at one point: them in high school and college and me, just high school. So, we shared in our band nerdness that makes all of us a family instantly. If you were ever in band, I'm sure you understand. We shared other stories, of course, and it was just so great. =)

It's nice to meet other people who are so much like you. Joe and I aren't partiers - we rarely have more than  1-3 drinks with dinner - and because of that, we don't really get invited to hang out with many people around here. We're more of what you would call "homebodies." We read, we watch movies, talk, laugh, play stupid games, go out to dinner every once in a while and that's all we really need. We're "good, clean fun" kind of people. =) It's nice to find other people like that. I just wish Joe were here to meet them!! I know he'd love them too.

Today was another awesome day. Our church service was nothing short of powerful. The message was on our "benefits" as believers. You know, when you get a "real job" you get benefits: medical, dental, vision, 401k, etc. Well, when you have a relationship with Christ, you get benefits too! The guest speaker was - well, is - a very dynamic, funny guy. I love those types of pastors. =) Anyway, he just brought the message to life for me. Oh, it was powerful. Here's the short version of the message, taken from my notes.

Malachi 4:1-6

- God has a plan for my life. You can drift off course if you live this life (referring to the Christian life) long enough, but God doesn't want you to!

The Believer's Benefits:

1. You will have healing in all aspects of your life.
- Isaiah 53:3-5 says that He was broken so the we could be healed. God can heal your wounds.         Even those that happened so long ago. He can see and heal them all!

2. Freedom from bondage, internally and externally.
- He wants us to break free from the things that keep us running around in circles: alcohol, drugs, pornography, food, etc. He doesn't want us "just trying to get through the day."
- He won't take away the memories, but he will take away the negative energy that's inside of us and replace it with joy.

3. Joy irrespective of external circumstances.
- Joy and happiness are NOT synonyms!!
- Things can make you happy, but only God can give you joy.
- Nehemiah 8:10 {paraphrased} says that, the joy of the Lord is your strength. Not my joy. Not your joy. His joy, that He gives to us! So that even when things are terrible {i.e. divorce, cancer, loss of a family member or friend}, we have joy.
- I Thessalonians 5:16 {paraphrased} "Always be joyful."
- The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy everything that is good and from God. We need to appropriate our benefits and stay on course so that the devil can't hurt us.

4. Restoration for core relationships.
- Jesus didn't come to establish religion, He came to establish and rebuild relationships.
- Satan is constantly trying to destroy our Godly relationships: friendships with Christians, small groups, churches, and marriages. God wants to restore and rebuild them so that they glorify Him!
- God wants nothing less than His best for us.

Again, these are my notes from the sermon today. Once the podcast is up, I'll share the link so that if you're interested you can listen. The worship that took place after this sermon was unbelievable - life changing. I could feel God moving and working in my heart and in the hearts of others around me. So. Unbelievably. Amazing.

Don't you just love it when that happens?!

After church, I enjoyed a lunch with Mrs. C, her hubby and friends of theirs who also go to church with us now. =) Nothing like good food and good fellowship after an awesome church service!!

All in all, I've had a pretty good weekend. It's even better because I was feeling pretty down and out on Friday night. Why, I'm not sure (probably just the PMS blues) but I'm so glad that led to this awesome weekend! And now, preseason football is on!!!! I am one happy, no, joyful girl!!! =D

Hope your weekend was as awesome [or awesomer ;-)] as mine!!!