Ch-Cha-Changes in Meeting Mr. Jesus Christ

Not much to say tonight. Went shopping at the Volunteers of America thrift store yesterday, got a new pair of jeans, a few shirts and covers to go over some dresses. I've been on a vintage clothes style trend for some time, just find the modesty more tasteful right now.

Today my tablet arrived. I returned the old one, the processors didn't work properly. Too bad, I liked that device. This new one I'm not so sure about. It's half the capacity of the old one, which likely won't matter, but so far I'm finding the ease of use factor lacking. It came loaded with little so I will need to spend time somewhere that has good wi-fi and download what I need and want to use.

Long ago a friend told me he had committed a certain amount of his monthly budget to buying reading material to promote his Christian life. I always liked the idea but wasn't finding my way to doing so. Recently I have. Tonight I ordered the Thompson Chain Reference Bible which one of my mentors has been bugging me to do for well over a year. I look forward to finding out why he felt it would be such a valuable tool in my growth.

Tomorrow night is the last symphony concert of the season. I have a very mixed set of emotions about it. I always feel a bit sad to see the season end, so long until fall when the next starts. But this time is different, it is my dad's last concert. He is retiring as symphony manager and member of the orchestra after over forty years, nearly all of my life. I truly cannot remember a time when I knew my dad was not involved in music, and this symphony has been a part of my life since I was six years old when I began attending rehearsals with dad.

I am happy for him to have reached the decision to retire and spend his remaining years doing some other things he wants. But there is a side of me that is so deeply sad to see him put down his bass fiddle, hang up his tux, walk out his office door and never go back. I just cannot imagine him without music. I wonder if next year we will attend concerts together? I know, that is selfish. It really is. But, music has been my life, too. With my dad's retirement comes an end to some fine privileges I've been blessed with because of who my dad is and me being his daughter.

Sunday evening is the official retirement party. Ryan and Jessica will be driving here for the party, we'll all attend together. Who knows, my family might act like a family for one night. With he advent of my niece being pregnant (a lot more that I was told), she has made up with my brothers. Now one is having a BBQ/shower for her. If that can happen it's possible my baby brother will show up at my dad's retirement party. He hasn't acknowledged him in nearly 15 years. Very sad. I'd like a chance for my daughter-in-law to be to meet everyone and in a setting where there is no possibility of anyone bring embarrassment to my dad, in particular, but all of us in general. Jessica comes from a very strong, healthy family. We could be, I think, if everyone would just let the past be thirty-five years ago and live in the now.

No news on the medical front. I meant, there is news but I can't say with assurance what it is. I have several more tests I need, will be doing them this week. Getting my liver biopsy on Tuesday, that will be a day spent in the hospital that I am NOT looking forward to. I don't care how much sedation they do for that test it hurts. I am praying all will go well, it's one of those where things can easily go wrong, the kind of wrong that is followed with problems and pain that lasts sometimes for weeks. Yeah, been there done that. I'm feeling a bit cynical about my status right now, irritated that it just drags on. That is tonight. I'll be busy all weekend, then with the new week I'll be back in the testing groove and rolling with it.

I liked this so thought I'd include it tonight.

True Friendship BIBLE MEDITATION: “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: True friends will put an edge on your life. They will make you a sharper person. Not all my friends do that for me, but my best friends do. Have you ever had a friend who loved you so much that he would even hurt you in order to help you?

Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” What truer words of love can be spoken than from the heart of a friend who is going to spend an eternity with you? Even if those words hurt, they are words that will heal.

ACTION POINT: Do you have a friend who sharpens you as iron? It will only take you a moment to send that friend an encouraging note or postcard. Do it today.