on pampering and denial

Wow, Glenice, good questions...

Q. What do you do to pamper yourself? [pam-per: to treat or gratify with extreme or excessive indulgence, kindness, or care]
This evokes thoughts of bubble baths, lovely music, a great book, and lots of time. That happens about once/year though. I take time for 'snatches' of pampering, like giving myself a pedicure or having coffee with a friend.

To deny for the sake of denial is asceticism and just another form of legalism. I don't know that you 'need' to come up with some way that you pamper yourself, unless you want to start doing it. God doesn't say we deserve anything but death, isn't that right? But as His children we can indulge in the delights that He delights to provide. We give Him glory as we joy in His provision and kindness. Deny yourself your right to your self, to say when or what or where or how or who, to let Him guide and prompt whatever you do.

The older I get, the simpler it is to delight me. To drink in the faces of my kids, while they're here with me, that's been a tremendous kindness & pleasure I allow myself. If you need a time of refreshment & rejuvenation, take yourself aside and replenish. Are you wanting to know what that looks like for you personally? what it is that would be an indulgence for your spirit? You're the hardest working person, always trying to keep on top of everything that needs to be done and tended to... Do you relax very often? Do you want to? Does your mind get rest enough to feel strong and clear?

This would be a very interesting thing to talk about all together. Don't know if that'll ever happen, but I can imagine the others would be more help than this. I don't have any other answers than my own experience. I'm sorry for the confusion and unclear status of what pampering and denying entail for you. I guess I just don't think about it much. I just do... or don't do...

Love you, my friend.
Thank you for your great gift last Sunday. Such a treasure.

Cheryl, are you up to an update on you? I didn't know you'd started acupuncture. What do you think of that? Any further word on Tina? I talked with her last week, and she is totally, completely immersed in this new & very different world. Absolutely caught up into it. Very interesting. XO

August is almost here

Well this summer flown by! I love James being home. Although he seems to have a slight attitude about being better than... something. I do believe it has something to do with growing up and separation but I don't like it. We will go camping August 1-2 up at Priest Lake. Huckleberries are being picked down low already. I enjoy picking them. Probably something different and of course the scenery is beautiful.
My garden is doing well. Chickens are not yet laying. Work still needs to be done around the house/yard. I would like to paint the living room this summer.

Rosie asked me a question and I really do not have an answer. So I will ask you to help with the answer. Here is the question: What do you do to pamper yourself? I have thought about it and cannot come up with any one thing. Dean says, "You have a cell phone. That is a luxury." I don't agree. I have a cup of tea to warm up with in the mornings. I am blogging sometimes. I talk on the phone. I enjoy visiting my friends. I do think I ought to come up with something or should I? What does God say? Does He say I deserve to be pampered? You deserve a break today? I don't think so. But I do know He desires me to take care of self. I don't know what that means. This whole topic of not denying self is confusing me. What is it I am to deny myself of... worldly pleasures? Flesh pleasures? anything that puts the focus on self? I do believe there is a balance but where is it? I am an athlete trained to discipline. I am a mother trained to deny self time. I am a girl raised in a "poor" environment trained to deny luxury of any kind. But have those trainings now perverted my truth about what God wants for me? Certainly not to spoil but to be willing to take His blessings and enjoy them? Don't know yet but maybe soon I will. Or maybe it will be another question disappearing into the abyss of confusion.

Please write me comments. I hope to read this blog with in a week.

Until then have a great day in the Lord!

Glenice

PS - Cheryl Wow acupuncture. I pray it works for you. I am sad to know you are in so much pain and just being uncomfortable with it. I am glad your trip went well. Let me know how you are doing. I will continue praying for you.

summer o8