Blessed

Saturday, as I was nearing the end of a fish fry I was doing in Muncie, I thot, "I'm really quite blessed". I have already shared with ya'll that I am blessed to have a great family (and the reason (yes, I have to have a "reason" for almost everything) I started my blog with them is that they are the most important thing God has given to me) , but lately I have just been doing some fish frys with some very good/nice people. This may seem like a minor thing but think about it; isn't life sooo much easier when you're working with or even just around people who are not difficult? This maybe goes back to my post about love. I'm not saying we do not love the difficult or annoying people in our lives I'm just saying that it sure is nice to work with people who are not difficult. So a big shout out to Francesville Fire Dept., Pioneer High Scool Athletic Boosters, Avondale United Methodist Church (Muncie), and St. James Lutheran School (Lafayette). Thanks for making my job easier lately!!! And it does not hurt that the weather has been nice lately. It's a small thing in the big scheme of things but I think you would all agree with me that it's just easier to be in a better mood when the weather is 70's to low 80's and not humid as opposed to 80's to 90's and humid:)

Some thing my pastor said this morning reminded me of something I read the other day in Thomas a Kempis' Of The Imitation Of Christ:

"I beseech Thee, my most gracious God, preserve me from the cares of this life, lest I should be too taken up with them; from the many necessities of the body lest I should be ensnared by pleasure; and from all the hinderances to my soul, lest, broken by troubles, I should be cast down" ...

"Oh my God, Thou "Sweetness Unspeakable", turn for me into bitterness all carnal delight which draws me away from the love of eternal things, and attracts me to itself on accout of its offer of present enjoyment; let it not conquer me, O Lord; let not flesh and blood conquer me; let not the world deceive me, and its fleeting glory; let not the Devil by his subtlety cast me down. Give me strength to resist, patience to endure,, constancy to persevere..."

Behold! food, drink, clothes, and all else that pertains to the support of the body, are burdensome to the fervent spirit. Grant that I may use such supports with moderation, and not care too much about them. To do without anything cannot be, for nature must be sustained; but the holy law forbids us to seek superfluities, and luxuries; for did we do so, the flesh would rebel against the spirit. In these things let Thy Hand, O Lord, guide and teach me, that I may not at all run into excess."

WOW!!!