Answered Thought

 I was expecting an item in the mail. I had ordered it a couple weeks ago and was surprised it was taking so long to get to me. It was due in one more week and a couple days. I had ordered it for now,  though,  and was disappointed. I started to ask God to go ahead and send it to me. But I thought and told him that he had too many important things in the world to take care of to worry about that one little item that I wanted sooner than expected. And I went on about my way. When the mail came there was this package in it and I didn't know what in the world it was. And lo and behold who was the item I wanted just in time for when I needed it. And I hadn't even prayed about it but He knew a desire my heart.

 I could not let this day pass without saying something about my & Steve’s special day. We do NOT take the passing of years for granted. We know who has kept us together and it has been our God. 

When we got married, we knew nothing of what a marriage was supposed to be like. I think our pastor talked to us but we don’t remember what was said. All we knew was that we loved each other and wanted to be together for the rest of our lives.

With 20+ moves behind us & about 5 years separation total, due to a military life style we made it through by the grace of God and give Him all the glory for leading us along the way, placing the right people in our paths to encourage us through life and helping us know what a good marriage can be like.

This morning I thought, as we each put our trust in God for not only our eternity, but our day to day lives, when problems happen we not only want the best for each other, but desire to fully follow through with the covenant we made with God and each other in front of witnesses that day so long ago. I imagine it as two anchors intertwined, each grounded in our trust in our God and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We want to thank all the couples who celebrated their 50 years ahead of us and gave us hope that we could do it too … and maybe we would live long enough to see it happen. We also know all the times we could have been called home by sickness or accidents and are grateful for the years God has blessed us with.

Here’s to the next 50 years!

 

At my brother's memorial, as I sat there, sad and feeling hurt because he was taken from us so early, I remember all of a sudden, feeling such a peace and thinking how God was telling me, to not feel bad, but feel happy that we got to share those years that he had on earth, together. We got to share that time!

You see, because we believe a person has a set time to die already planned by God and no matter how it happens it will happen at that appointed time, whether in a dangerous situation, an illness or resting in your living room. And as a Christian, to be absent from the body is to be present with The Lord! So. The above makes sense.

I still grieve, still feel sad and it still hurts, but I can have peace knowing we will be together again one day. 

We didn't realize that at Mom's funeral in Nov 2020, that our circle would be broken so soon.

Too Much Online Time

Friday night we watched a play online about too much internet in our lives and it controlling us. This morning we woke up to Focus on the Family talking about too much internet in our lives and it controlling us. Hummmmm. 

So I stayed off FB for 7 hours. Not saying I am going to stay away, but I sure got a lot accomplished this morning. And I didn't think I was online too much. Something definitely to think seriously about. So, let's see how long I can go this time. I made it 22 hours the second time. Of course, I slept 8 of them. :)

Doing this, is making me realize that I am online more than I thought. Even though, I limit how much time I am on the internet. I have taken my name off a lot of places I used to get email from. I don't do Twitter. I don’t want to have a program where I just say something on the spur of the moment and it be out there for everyone to see ... and then realize I made a goof up in what I said.  No, Thank you! I would rather send someone a message or email so I have time to think what to write and they have time to think how to answer my message. And, I sure don't want to do an on-the-spot online movie! I don't even know if I want to go to another social media, if FB closes. I would miss seeing prayer requests and updates on people's lives, but sometimes, there is just too much drama in people's posts. Then, of course all the social or political things or ads are annoying.

Anyway, I have enjoyed my hours off line and hope to do even more down time.

Now, I guess I need to get offline and do something in my house! 😏

My Weight Loss Journey

Refer to: South Beach Diet Plan dated 9-1-18, before reading this update.

I decided to make a new post on my weight loss journey. A very dear friend of mine told me many years ago that overweight people do not like it when not so overweight people talk about wanting to lose weight. Well, I was MUCH skinnier back then! So, I complied with that thought. However, when I started gaining weight and adding about 10 pounds a year, I realized what I'd look like in another 10 years and did not like what I saw. That is why I started watching my weight. I teasingly like to say to people that I have lost over a hundred pounds in the last 20 years. After I get their 'shocked' attention, I explain that it was the same 10 pounds over and over! But if I had not, I might be over 200 pounds!

June of 2020, I was still down to the upper 130s. My goal has still been to see 130 then stay between 130-135. I think that is reasonable for me. I settled for the upper 130s because the rest would not come off. People kept telling me to change what I did etc. 'shake it up' And I tried but nothing worked. I decided not to worry about losing more and accept where I was.

I was having indigestion problems. Which I have had most of my life off and on. So, just from my knowledge of what I had learned and read during the years, I came up with a plan to see if it would help me with that problem. I decided not to eat for 12 hours over night. (My niece told me that was the intermittent fasting plan. I had wondered what that was.) From whatever the last time I ate until that hour in the morning. Mostly 7pm-7am. Then have nothing but liquids (liquidly smoothies included) until the mid-day meal. Between then and that last time I eat, I can eat whatever I want (staying on the South Beach Plan). I hoped to feel better. And I did! and do!

The bonus of that is that as I kept tract of my plan on my weekly sheet I record on, I noticed that since June to now (Dec) I have lost 5 pounds. So I am in that 130-135 zone1 Yay! I keep wanting to 'rev it up' to see 130, but I tell myself, "NO!" ... and just keep doing what I am doing and slowly let whatever happens happen. 

So, bottom line, to this story is these three pictures. The first was one I had taken in 2011 and I could barely button the shirt. The other two were today (2020). I know most before and after pictures, the person is in sexier clothes and usually different color hair! Ha. That just is not me! So here are my pictures.

(My husband and 'foster' son)  2011

   

Me - 2020

So, slow like a tortoise seems to work ... for me, anyway!

I have been meaning to make eBooks by Belinda Jo Adams available as free downloads for a couple months now. But, life has prevented me from doing so. So, NOW!

Starting in 4 days! All (except Satilla Secrets & Lure of Alaska 'due to tech problems' -- that I may figure out by then) are free in the eBook format for 2 days. That's Oct 27 & 28 Pacific time.

Yes, ALL (hopefully all) will be free as downloads in the eBook format for 2 days only! Mark your calendars and get yours then!

https://www.amazon.com/Belinda-Jo-Adams/e/B00MC12WJ2/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

 Well, I have made it through the pandemic, so far! Praise God from whom all blessing flow! Our world is sure a lot different now. Amazing what a year can do in our lives. I hope all of you are doing well, also!!!

I have been singing this song all day. I think, sometimes, God brings it to my mind, so I don't forget just how broken and scared and confused I was when I finally accepted Him as my personal Savior. I had grown up 'knowing about God' and doing Bible lessons as a child, going to Sunday School, Children Bible Clubs (CEF) etc. I had even made professions a couple times and was baptized a couple times. BUT, in 1975 when I finally truly accepted Jesus as my own personal Savior for forgiveness of my sin, I have never regretted that decision!

(NOTE - this was not written by me - I make NO claims to it.)

Something Beautiful,Something Good

Something beautiful, something good
All my confusion He understood
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife
But he made something beautiful of my life

If there ever were dreams
That were lofty and noble
They were my dreams at the start
And hope for life's best were the hopes
That I harbor down deep in my heart
But my dreams turned to ashes
And my castles all crumbled, my fortune turned to loss
So I wrapped it all in the rags of life
And laid it at the cross.

Listen to it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMQqSarDf8Y

Title: Something Beautiful Author: Gloria Gaither (1971) © Copyright 1971 William J. Gaither, Inc. All rights controlled by Gaither Copyright Management.

Praising the Lord

Below is today's devotional from Days of Praise by:

Praising the Lord: “Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.” (Psalm 146:1)

Each of the last five psalms (146–150) begins and ends with “Praise ye the LORD”—i.e., “Hallelujah.” They comprise a sort of “Hallelujah Chorus”: a grand epilogue to the five books that make up the complete book of Psalms. 
Each of these five books also ends in a doxology. Note:
Book 1: “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen” (Psalm 41:13).

That is all they would let me post, so I guess one needs to go to their link to finish reading it.
I read it this morning and decided to read each of the last 5 Psalms per each week day of the week during this month during the 'shelter in place' issued by our governor. Being this is a 30 day month, I am not reading Proverbs and felt a little 'lost'.
I finished reading the Gospels, so now I am reading Revelation, since Steve and I are listening to a set of CDs a friend loaned us by David Jeremiah explaining the book of Revelation.

God bless you and stay safe! Love and Prayers from Belinda.

PS don't forget about my free eBook offer. See 2 posts below.

I haven't done a post for a while. We are in strange times in our world right now. And I have a hard time thinking it will ever be the same. This COVID 19 time is strange. It gets a person to thinking. This is a very unusual time in our life. We are 68 years old and have not seen anything like this. We had doctors’ appointments to have blood work done Wed, Mar 16. We then went to the grocery store for a few items. At church that night there were about 15 of us and we decided to cancel church until things get better. Wow, I never thought I would say that. Keeping busy cleaning and doing odd jobs that need to be done, hoping we don’t get sick. I placed my first grocery order online and went to pick it up. I hope I did everything right. We didn't get it all and it took a long time and they got it wrong and had to redo it and it took a long time. And the delivery person didn't obey the 6 ft rule and I backed up and I hope she didn't give me anything. 
Now we are home for the duration! 
Our doctor even did our follow up visits after our blood work, at home over the phone! That was a blessing because we did not want to go to the office. He asked up if we would be interested in doing video conferencing as time went on and we said yes!

 On my computer I have uploaded my personal CDs I have about 1500 Christian songs. I like to listen to them at random. I have instrumentals, southern gospel, jazz, hymns, modern praise songs (yes, I like some of them), & children's songs. I have mostly English, but also a few in Spanish, German and Hawaiian. This morning I made cookies and played the songs on my Rove speaker. Sometimes, I was praying for people during this time. Sometimes I was praising God from whom all blessing flow. Sometimes, I was signing the songs in Sign language. I even danced a little jig / exercised to a couple of the toe tapping ones. I had a good time praising God and just being alone with Him away from media for a couple hours. And at the end, I had cookies for treats for the next couple weeks while we are under 'shelter in place’ which starts tonight. Though Steve and I have been trying to do that for a couple weeks.

Well, that is my post for now. God bless each one of you and take care of you and yours!

John 3: 16 -17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

OK people who like my books and would like 1 or 12 eBooks free!
I have been thinking about doing another free eBook giveaway. But I did not know when to do it. It seems like right now would be a good time. With so many people home and needing something to read!
So, for the next 13 days, starting tomorrow, I will give away one at a time for 2 days. The days overlap, so you will actually have 2 days to get your copy (just in case you are busy spring cleaning one of those days!)
The list / schedule is below so you will know when to fill in your library if you already have some of them.

March 28-29 Beyond the Mountains (Novel)
March 29-30 Observations of God’s Word (Bible Study)
March 30-31 The Treasure of North Pole
March 31 - April 1 Silent Love (Novel)
April 1-2 Proverbs Devotions (Bible Study)
April 2-3 The Treasure of Blackshear, Georgia
April 3-4 My Precious Jewel (Novel)
April 4-5 Psalms 119 (Bible Study)
April 5-6 The Treasure of Fernandina Beach, Florida
April 6-7 The Lure of Alaska (Novel)
April 7-8 The Inheritance (Short Story and/or Children's book)
April 8-9 Satilla Secrets (Novel)

Go to this web page to get your free eBooks.

Books by Belinda Jo Adams

The Armor of God

Good morning!

About a dozen years ago, a preacher challenged us to pray the Lord's Armor on us each day with our daily prayers. I had heard that before, but for some reason, that time it 'stuck'.  He gave an example and during the years, it has evolved into what I now pray. Sometimes daily, sometimes, I just pray to first line to cover it all. That way it does not become 'vain repetition' for me.

Here is my version of that prayer:

By faith I ask to be protected by Your armor.

Help me wear the girdle of truth and not deceive or be deceived in any way. Having none of my own goodness, please cover me with your breastplate of righteousness.

Help me walk in shoes of the gospel of peace. Please help me have peace with each and every one. Help my motives be right and people not misunderstand them.

Be my shield of faith today, dear Lord. May Your presence protect me from all of Satan's attacks.

Protect my head with Your helmet of salvation. Let me think thoughts that you would approve of.

Help me use Your Word as the sword of the Spirit. Teach me to use it for my protection and be a witness for You. Help me know its power by what I have studied and memorized.

I thank You, Heavenly Father, that my victory in Christ is not only protective, but I can claim Your victory against everything that opposes Your will in my life. Help me use the name of my Lord Jesus Christ to tear down all Satan has planned to hinder revival in my life, family, church and country.

This year, I guess as a watch word ... or several ... I underlined this part. I don' t know if have ever been impressed to underline something I have written, before.

Help me use the name of my Lord Jesus Christ to tear down all Satan has planned to hinder revival in my life, family, church and country.

As I have prayed it this year, I have been prompted to share it on my blog. 

Sometimes, it takes me a while to follow His lead, which is a shame, but today, I did not let myself become sidetracked. Now, to finish my devotions! God bless each and every one!

Not hanging out with evil

Just a few thoughts on my Bible Reading:

David (in old time) dealt with King Hiram of Tyre. Later, King Ahab’s wicked wife, Jezebel, came from Tyre. Maybe if David had not associated with ‘evil’ though it seemed ok, maybe Ahab would not have met Jezebel, who turned out to be so evil. ???

2 Peter 2:7  "And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:"
One meaning of 'vex' is to to afflict or oppress with evils. Lot was vexed - slowly led away?
What if Lot had chosen to stay closer to Abraham instead of going to an evil city ... would he have stayed closer to God ???

(8-11-19) If we as people of a Christian country did not associate with the wicked though it 'seems ok', maybe our country would not be in such sinful ways now. ???

And me - on a personal level did not do things that 'seem ok', would I be in a closer walk with Jesus ??? And be a better witness for God's way ???