QUESTions

Why have we been created as a human who question?  Well the QUESTION IS... what are our questions....  they must be on a QUEST to be beneficial.  If we are only questioning to stir up and cause dumb founded looks on people's faces...then you are causing a stumbling block in the road.

Now that I have said that... NOW I say to STIR THINGS UP.   Stir up the spirit with questions ...questions on one particular QUEST ...the quest of growing closer to the one who created everything.  Yes, being on a quest for truth is very important... but after you have truth...what then?  It can only be left to say that in the end the truth sets you free...and what is that thing that you are free to do?  To have a RELATIONSHIP with the ONE who created you.

Questions are good, but be WISE in what you ask. 
Stir Up the Spirit, but conclude with PEACE
challenge the mind, but make its very foundation LOVE
hold accountable your brother in Christ, but do it with GRACE

Here is a new challenge for you and for me:
 CALL UPON THE LORD with ALL your Questions FIRST

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind."  James 1:5-6

To be wrong...

To be wrong
oh how I long
to be right
so I will put up a fight.

but why do I fight
why?
why do I torture myself with
this myth
that pride is good
and that I should
only look out for number one ... me?

the longer I fight
the longer it hurts
it hurts to be wrong...

But wait..
what is my fate?
is it to late
to be forgiven?

No

and in forgiveness lies hope
and hope gives peace
yes I said peace
not war, not in this heart
I will have no part
because I have found
the sound
of RIGHT

It is right to forgive
it is right to confess
and the wrong will feel right again
and be blessed.

So to be wrong is okay
I do say
I say yes it is because
forgivenss is beautiful
and peace comes after.

-poem, interpretation of guilt and pride finding its way. by Jamie Cook

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.

Make room for CLOUDS in your schedule

"A BEAR! a bear I see a bear!"
"No! I see a turtle", my sister corrected me.
"Oh wait sis,...I think it kinda looks like a dragon"

Patches of puffy white clouds would decorate across the big blue sky.  And my sister and I would lay on the sidewalk in our front yard and stair up at the clouds, creating whatever picture we could make them out to be.

Time passed...  In high school, I would be driving to class as the sun was stretching its rays through the morning clouds and I would enjoy the view.  Beautiful, beautiful!

time passed... in college, while I was working at a bank, we were in some down time and I glanced out the window and soaked in the breathe taking sight of the clouds floating across.  I got out some paper and started to sketch the clouds and realized that I had started getting so caught up with life, that I forgot to stop and "smell the roses" or in this case, admire the clouds and their glorious display like I did as a child.



marker sketch of clouds oustide the window at work 2002

 There are so many things to take care of.... all day long, all month long, all year long... it never ends,.... and it doesn't get any slower or less challenging, so we must MUST MAKE ROOM FOR CLOUDS IN OUR SCHEDULES.  God says to be still and know that HE is God.  Take on this challenge and praise your Maker for making beautiful things like clouds, for creating giant fish to display His majesty, for molding the structure of tiny ants to reveal His wisdom.. 

Take on this challenge.  And you know that you would have been still long enough when you can say that you saw the clouds shift from a bear to a frog.