One Of The Hardest Things I’ve Ever Done

1-11pm

A number of things have happened over the past 24 hours. Yesterday, Mike was home and so after gym, I came home and made us a big cooked brunch, which lasted us from 11am to 6pm. After lunch, I posted the blog and then got stuck into a project of a different sort. For EVER so long, I have wanted to clean the ceiling in our en-suite bathroom. It is not that easy. Some of you may remember my friend Riana and I tackling the bathroom and it inspired you to get yours done. Even at that time, the ceiling wasn’t cleaned. It has a high double volume angled ceiling with wooden beams. It was filthy *embarrassed face* and the walls were too. So, I took everything out….

Dragged up the tall ladder and asked Mike to come upstairs “in about 10 minutes.” By then, I knew I’d be up the ladder and he would be able to take the photo…which he did…not my most flattering….

I was cleaning the skylight, but you can see how gross the ceiling is. It was difficult to get all that dirt off. It really needs a coat of anti-mold paint. I laboured on, getting an extra work out going up and down the steps and in the end it was 95% better. I didn’t manage to get all the marks off the ceiling but the difference is so remarkable that I do enjoy admiring it. Cleaning is cathartic. You feel a great sense of achievement.

This morning dawned dark and cold. My alarm clock is set for 5am. After Mike left for work, I had my devotions and then made myself a large cup of coffee! I turned my computer on and logged onto www.facebook.com/helgasdailyblog and wrote up my early morning message…

That is a BIG cup! One of the things I have really enjoyed about not working is that I have TIME to do stuff. The stuff that I would rush before, or fit in quickly, I can now linger over.  After my coffee, I  got dressed into gym kit and jogged 4.90km. It took me 35 minutes. It’s a treat to relax in a run and not be constantly focusing on ‘the next thing.’ In my life, there’s always been ‘the next thing.’  Now there are still things, but I can take my time in getting them done and there are some that can be shelved for another day.

One thing that I have been pondering over for the last month is going to a Beth Moore “Breaking Free” Course. Alison posted a message on FB ages ago saying she was hosting one and any ladies were welcome to contact her if they were interested. I was interested, but didn’t contact her, until yesterday! I kept being prompted (by the Holy Spirit?) to keep 10th June in mind. As the day grew closer, I was thinking about it more and more.  Alison, graciously accommodated me! While we enjoyed a spectacular view from Alison’s home, my car had a beautiful view as well…

What a pleasure. The Breaking Free Course comes with a workbook which has notes for the day’s DVD, followed by 5 days of coursework, which takes you deeper.

I’m grateful to say that I am not a person with baggage or issues. I have had them and by God’s grace, He lead me on a journey to deal with them. So the compulsion I have had to join this group is almost unexpected. It clearly has something to do with the changing of seasons for me. My significance for so long has been ‘Rise and Shine’ related and so I am seeking to find my significance in Christ. I don’t know where He is leading me. I don’t want to take the wrong path.

Two things jumped out at me in today’s introduction. The first is that Beth Moore wrote the original “Breaking Free” when she was 49 and was wanting to enter her new decade having dealt with her issues. I’m 49! My new decade commences November 5th! I’m excited and grateful about turning 50! 😀  Age for me is a blessing! I will wait with anticipation to see what I learn from this course that will see me enthusiastically through my 50s!

The second thing that struck me, was part of the  talk today centred around a passage in the Old Testament book of Judges 6 – it’s about Gideon preparing an offering and laying it down before God. Some months ago, I felt very strongly that I had to give up Rise and Shine & all things CCFm related. I had to lay them down.

Judges 6:20

The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.”

Giving up Rise and Shine is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, yet I felt it was one of the “most right” things I’ve ever done.

I’ll wait for the Lord to reveal what is next!

God bless you on your journey!

In His Grip!

Helga xx 🙂

Gratitude Pic…can’t get enough cuddles in this cold weather from warm, extra furry Truffles….who is not always so accommodating…smile Truffs…