Unemployment Looks Good on Me?

What exactly have I been up to since I was let go from Southwestern Investment Services? Well, the first week I visited friends and then went to MI. It was grand!

I've been able to help a friend whose mother-in-law passed away. I'll be able to help take care of another friend who recently had back surgery and is going to need someone to make lunch and help him get up and down and around during the day.

I had a dog sitting job last weekend and begin again at another place on Friday. I went to a Neil. T. Anderson conference, and this weekend I'm going to hear Joyce Meyer and next weekend Beth Moore.

I've been learning to focus on today--not what happened yesterday or what will happen tomorrow.

I've been blessed with friends who take me out for meals or bring them to me. I had lunch with my "high schoolers" who are now all in college. We talked about life and how we all have to put on our "big girl pants" and be adults.

I've gotten my first unemployment check and the food stamps should arrive sometime this week.

I've had a lot of time to be in the Word and write some devos, pray, and read some of the books on my every growing list.

In some of the conversations I've had, people refer to this as a "dark" time and/or the "wilderness". Honestly, if they had not of used those terms, I do not know that I would have ever thought of them. The peace that I am unable to understand is guarding my heart and my mind. I can honestly say I am grateful for this time. I have my moments of stir-craziness, but for the most part--I'm quite happy.

Maybe unemployment does look good on me...

Free

I looked up this word on dictionary.com. The word free has 36 different meanings.

Over the last couple of weeks free has become my new favorite word. If an event is free, I can attend without agonizing over whether or not I am spending money wisely and/or feeling guilty for spending money on something I enjoy rather than something I need. This is definition 36--without cost, payment or charge

The first definition reads like this: enjoying personal rights or liberty, as a person who is not in slavery: a land of free people. Romans 8:1-2 states "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death."

The life-giving Spirit has given me liberty from the power of sin that leads to death.

Its interesting to me that I've been dwelling on definition 36 rather than the first definition. I am a free person. Everything is permissible to me, maybe not beneficial but permissible. I even live in the "land of the free". I have spent a lot of time asking if events and meals are free; but have hardly spent any time considering the things from which I have been set free.

Its a simple word. When we see it in stores we go crazy. Buy one, get one free--woo-hoo! I think I need to do a little more "woo-hoo"ing about the items I've been freed from.