I had a party last night.  It was a pity party and I have to say it was a huge bash.  I tried to invite my husband but he had more important things to do (sleep).  Then I tried to invite my son but he had a prior commitment with a pillow and a blanket.   I tried to invite my cats but well night time is the best time to look out the windows and run around like a maniac so they were to busy too.

I was having panic about my eyes and feeling sorry for myself about my upcoming knee surgery and I am not really sure why I felt the need to drag others along but thankfully they declined.

I was the only guest for a long while but then about midnight I had an unexpected guest show up,   I have known this guy (Jesus) for quite a while now so I am not sure why I felt so surprised when he showed up uninvited. At first I was a little upset he had shown up but then I realized that I had actually invited him.  At first we talked for a while and then we read this really good book that  was written years ago.

During the visit He told me life does not always go the way I would like it to go but I can chose how I deal with it.  He said I could either continue to carry on with my (pity) party life or I could carry on with the life God has chosen for me.

He reminded me…

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

We visited a while longer and then I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew I woke up and it was morning and today I have a new attitude.  Today I feel loved, blessed and very thankful. I felt that way yesterday too, I guess just sometimes I slip back into a fog or something.

Each morning I read a daily devotional written by Ann Graham Lotz today her devotional was titled praising Jesus is contagious!  Her last line was – So…who is praising Christ because you are?

I realize how I chose to live my day can also affect others.  Have you ever been somewhere and someone was complaining or worked in a job where people were unhappy?  I have and something I have noticed is if someone is unhappy the next thing you know someone sympathizes with them and before you know it the whole place is a mess of unhappy people.

Yesterday I went to Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart is not my favorite place to be and from the behavior of most the people in there I think most people share my feelings.

As I was entering the store an elderly couple came in at the same time as me.  The lady went on ahead and her husband told her he would catch up as he got the cart.  He looked at me and smiled with a twinkle in his eye he said to me “how are you this fine day, young lady?” I said I was good and we chit chatted a bit,  instantly I felt my spirits lifting.  As I was getting my cart he started singing.  He was singing “I’ll fly away old Glory, I’ll fly away….”  As I started down the isle he was behind me still singing… the man was behind me all the way to the back of the store singing at the top of his lungs and he did not care who heard him.  By the time I got to the isle I needed I found myself walking with a spring in my step and humming along….I don’t know all the words but I remember him singing Hallelujah by and by I’ll fly away….

I had forgotten about that man until this morning.  I realize that man was Contagious for Jesus … and in Wal-Mart yesterday I was praising Jesus because he was.

Anyway I know this blog is all over the place today. I had a lot of stuff jumbled in my head I was trying to get written down before I forgot. Now its time for me to get to work…but I have one last thing to say …

“Today I want to be contagious for Jesus…. How about you?”

Thank you for reading and have a blessed day,

T

P. S.  If you want to read Anne Graham Lotz’s devotional here is the link… It’s really good.  http://www.annegrahamlotz.com/resources/daily-devotional/