ALWAYS

Writing this blog is a reminder FIRST and FOREMOST to myself.  It can be easy to take the smooth path of complaining and laziness... to see the glass as half empty... to feel like there is no hope...a dead end... uselessness..

It should be the other way around... even Job in the bible clung onto the Lord.  We should take our troubles and make them opportunities to praise HIM still!




fall snow in Moscow, Russia

 Its raining:  don't worry about your clothes getting wet, praise Him for watering the earth.
Your interview didn't go well:  GOD knows the plans He has in store for you, just wait and see
you can't afford the rent:  HE is a provider
Family Feud:  it helps to Grow, and to trust the Heavenly Father even more and to praise HIM for being such.

Don't be Jonah, when God provided shade for him, yet Jonah still complained! 

These trials are here for a reason, so lets praise GOD for them! ALWAYS

"I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth" Psalm 34:1

Good Memories

OPENING THE WINDOWS and the fresh air of windblown grass, and heavy grey clouds send an aroma to my memories...and I think of youth camp, waking up at the crack of dawn, taking those walks around the camp grounds while the sun was just beginning to stretch his rays over the mountains, and the dew was still fresh, the animals were out mingling before all the people would take over the camp grounds for the day.  The air would be just cool enough to get a chill on a summer's morning.  And in HIS nature alone on walks is where the quiet times where supreme. 

AND AS I SNAP BACK INTO REALITY standing in front of my open window, I think about other Good Memories that remind me of what the Lord has done and how AMAZING He is!

I THINK OF THOSE SPRING BREAKS when all my family was home in the morning (no work or school) and we would actually be bored and say "what do you want to do today" and we would spend our days putting together a 1,000 piece puzzle together, and cook together (well at the time I only was helpful by licking the beaters after my grandmother mixed the cake ingredients).

THE SUMMER WHEN my uncle Johnny came to visit, and him and his buddies would all hang out in the front yard playing their guitar and harmonica and drinking coffee and laughing while my sister and I would go catch "crunchies" (cicada shells) and stick them on our shirts...

THOSE NIGHTS I got a ride from my best friend Diane to church and her dad would be in a meeting afterwards and me and Diane would sit on the back of her dads car and look at the stars...

Those memories
I could go on
they are good to ponder on
they let us not forget what has happened and to give thanks and to count our blessings.

And so today... good weather
a blessing
and a reminder of what He did for my life when I was at youth camp
He gave me a new beginning...a new start  and I will never forget that!

My pastor said at one time that memory plays a big role in our worship, in our daily walk.  If we forget what the Lord has done...we are soon to stray.

So start reminiscing and count your blessings.

Tell Tail Tale: Praise, Humility, and Petition

After a major battle of Narnians and Telmarines, The fellow mice carry to Aslan the severely wounded Reepicheep (first mouse in command- leader of the other mice).  Queen Lucy revives him with her healing potion, and Reepicheep immediately goes to praise and give thanks to Aslan.  As He does, Reepicheep has realized that his tail has been cut off. 

Reepicheep:
"I'm completely out of countenance!" I must crave your indulgence for appearing in this unseemly fashion.

Aslan:
"It becomes you well small one"

Reepicheep:
"All the same great king, I regret that I must withdraw, for the tail is the honor and glory of a mouse."

Aslan:
"Perhaps you think too much of your honor, friend"

Reepicheep:
"Well its not just the honor, its also great for balance..and..and climbing, and grabbing things"

In this moment, Reepicheeps fellow mice are willing to cut off their tails also to sacrifice their honor due to their leader being denied that honor.

Aslan:
"Not for the sake of your Dignity , but for the Love of your people"

And in that moment Reepicheep's tail is given back to him.

Reepicheep: 
"It shall serve as a great reminder of my huge humility"

So much can be taken out of this "tail tale" that is told, maybe you will draw something different or even greater out of this story than i.  But I do want to point out in this story that, The Mouse was grateful, praising his King, but was quick to notice what he was lacking (his tail).  He pleads with his King to restore what he lost, the King mentions to him that he might be thinking too much of his "honor", ... the mouse continues to plead with him, telling him of all the benefits would be if he was given back what he was lacking in.

The key to this story is that the King restores what is lost:  not because of selfish ambition of the mouse, or greediness for honor, but because of the LOVE of his people.  The act of working together in unison, to plead to the King, changes things.  And with the blessing of receiving what was lost, Reepicheep pledges to always remember what Aslan has done for him, and remember his humility.

Continuing into Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Reepicheep talks more about what Aslan has done for him.... He's doesn't forget.

Let Us not forget what the Lord has done.
Let Us come together to petition to the Lord our requests, needs, problems.
Let Us always give praise to our Father
Let Us continue on with a humble heart.

When Life gives you Ice Storms, Make Pot Roast

As the wintery storm came into my town, the streets became like blankets of ice.  The wind blowing at least 20 mph and rain, snow, and ice all falling from the sky at the same time.  DANGEROUS weather to be driving in.  So my cousin and I were snowed in.

With the heater still on, we both still had to wear at least 4 layers of clothing inside.  we shoved towels and blankets where there were any cracks where cold air could possibly come in.  We were home for good, for the whole day.  (not our usual schedule)

Our schedules actually hardly ever allow us to cook together, and now was the time.  Now the disadvantage of the weather, became the advantage for us to cook a pot roast that we had been wanting to make for some time.  We had a good time prepairing it, and then to simply wait on it as the aroma fills the air with roast, bbq sauce and onion smell.  The moment was beautiful.  We knew we had nowhere to go, we weren't rushed, there were no distractions,... just me, my cousin, and the sealed up semi-warm apartment with pot roast aroma dancing in the air.. mmm.

There is a saying some of you have heard before:  "When life gives you Lemons, Make Lemonaide"

Same concept here:  When you have storms, make the best of it.  There is a reason for everything.  A simple thing like quality time with family, or getting balanced with time and tasks.  There might be greater "storms" in your life, depression, family fueding, job troubles, financial bind, etc.  Take that "storm" and make something out of it, seek out the lesson or the blessing, or the opportunity.