Used by God

You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe.  Every day was recorded in your book.  Psalm 139:16

God has been molding me and shaping me since I was born, I thinks that’s awesome.  I believe that when we follow Jesus, we become instruments for God to use.  He uses us to help and comfort others, he uses us to advance his plans, he uses us to care for the earth and so much more…

We are each given 168 hours a week to be used by God.  How we use those hours, what we do, what we say, what we think, what we look for – will impact the world around us.  If we look for ways to assist God, I believe that he will find a way to use us.

We always find what we are looking for.

A vulture will fly over a field and see rotting meat.  He sees dead and injured animals.  He sees what was, what was past.  He sees what is dead and gone because that is what he is looking for.  That is what vultures thrive on.

However, a hummingbird will fly over the same exact field and see vibrant fragrant blossoms.  The hummingbird is searching for what is.  Searching for new life and finding freshness and new blossoms to visit.

Each bird finds exactly what they’re looking for  –  and so will you!

There have been instances in my life where I have had the feeling of being used by God to comfort or care for someone, to teach someone, or even to just entertain someone who needed a pick me up.  If God has been molding you for his purpose, what does it take to be USED by God?

There’s a saying:  There are those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened.  When we walk with Jesus, when God directs our steps and we give the glory to God – we will find new blossoms and become a person who MAKES things happen.

The lighthouse

 by Sally Green

When storm clouds form, it’s another rainy day.

The sky grows dark, and you have lost your way…

Be the lighthouse

A beacon of hope; let your light glow.

Never give up; you’re stronger than you know.

 

When you discover joy and pleasure in your quests;

The sun shines bright, and you are feeling blessed.

Become a lighthouse

A beacon of love; let your light soar.

Lead the way; guide others to your shore.

 

When you are weary from traveling life’s rough roads,

You need a place to lay your heavy load.

Search for a lighthouse

A beacon of peace that shines from above;

Surrounding your spirit with happiness, serenity and love.

This too shall pass

There are many days when I feel overwhelmed, over committed and tired.  I think many women today are feeling the same way.   I need to remember that whatever I am going through will eventually change.  This world is constantly moving and changing and so am I.  My mood is never consistent, my thoughts change, and what is bothering me today will seem insignificant next year.

I find that spending quiet time in meditation and prayer brings me joy and helps me feel better.  It helps me reflect on the things that are significant and let go of the things that are not.

I just want to leave you with a visual reminder of the “this too shall pass” principle that a friend once showed me. Make a fist and look at your knuckles, you will see peaks and valleys.  This is what a life well lived will have;  peaks and valleys, peaks and valleys.   Right now you may be in a valley, but eventually you will be on a peak once again.  Just keep making a fist and fighting the good fight.  Take each day one at a time and try to find joy and happiness in everything you do.

There is a story about a King who asked his servant to find him a ring.  The ring, he told the servant,  had magical powers in so much that –  If a happy man wore it, he would become sad… and if a unhappy man wore it, he would become happy.   The king knew that no such ring existed, but thought he would teach his servant a bit of humility.  He gave the servant six months to find the ring.

The servant searched high and low, but could not find such a ring.  On the night before he was to deliver the piece of jewelry, he met a man in the village square.  ’I am looking for a ring” he told the merchant, “Have you a ring that will make a happy man forget his joy, and the brokenhearted forget his sorrows?”   He watched as the man engraved some words on a plain gold ring.

The next day, the King summoned the servant, “Have you found what I sent you after?” All the others in the room laughed and the King wore a big smile.  The servant handed the King the ring, “Here it is your majesty.”  The king read the inscription on the ring and his smile disappeared.  It simply stated … This too shall pass!

Walking with God

Is it possible in today’s world to walk with God?

Can we walk with God in the grocery store, in the office, in your home, on the street?  When people are annoying, and we’re tired from work, and the children are whiny, and our spouse makes us angry.  Can we still walk with God?  Sometimes it is difficult, sometimes it’s hard.  But if we continue to seek him day by day he will dwell in our hearts and we will feel his presence.

Our everyday experiences of life… shapes our future.  The only moment you have is right now.
the moment before this one is now in the past, and the moment after this one is your future.  Decide to walk with God, right now in this moment and in the moments to follow.

Oh for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame;
A light to shine upon the road,
That leads me to the lamb!
W. Cowper

Inspiring thoughts (for a Monday)

Everyone has something that inspires them in bad times.  Everyone has bad days, it doesn’t matter who they are or how much money they have, there will be times when you’re feeling low.  How we react, our attitudes and our thoughts all play a role in how we feel.

What is it that helps get you through a bad day?  Maybe you have a book you like to read from, or perhaps the Bible brings you inspiration.  Even for those who are not spiritually or religiously inclined, the bible has some wonderful inspiring comments that everyone can enjoy.  Pick it up and find something uplifting.

Maybe you could just refocus your thoughts and think about something you accomplished in your past, a story or poem you wrote, a person you helped, or a friend you made.  Remember something grand you did for someone, or that someone else did for you.  Remembering a past deed or experience can lift your spirits.

Sometimes watching a movie will put you in a better mood.  Putting that movie on and watching something fun and uplifting, or something exciting and adventurous…could be enough to make you feel better.

Finally, remember you’re not alone.  Everyone has bad days.  Talk to a friend, or my favorite thing to do is pray.  I really love praying out loud in the car when I’m driving alone.   Asking God for inspiration, wisdom, courage and strength to get through whatever trial I’m going through.

What do you do to lift your spirits?  What inspires you on bad days?  I would love to know.

Take up your cross

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23

I am taking this wonderful bible study and we talked about taking up your cross…

Taking up your cross and following Jesus isn’t easy and sometimes it hurts.  The small cross I wear around my neck reminds me of the bigger cross that Jesus had to carry and eventually died on.  So what does it mean to take up your cross and follow Jesus?  Jesus carried his cross, he bore the pain, he suffered, he died, and then…. there was a new beginning.  A resurrection!

You may stumble and fall, that cross is heavy.  

You may be afraid of the road ahead – those twists and turns will make you crazy.

You have heartache and fear, especially when everything seems to be going wrong.

Following Jesus at times will result in us having a rough ride.  We will be questioned by those who do not hold the same values as us. We will be tempted to compromise the standards of behaviour we know we should live to.

The best thing is knowing that no matter where we have been, no matter what we are going through, there is always a way to a new beginning.  I believe that the purpose of the cross is to remove all the hurt, all the heartache, all the suffering and bring us into that resurrected life.

Whatever your cross, whatever you are suffering through, know that there is sunshine after the rain.  Nothing ever stays the same.

Everyday brings with it new challenges and new blessings. And when we learn to “take up our cross daily”  we will be delivered from the annoying little frustrations of life and we will be able to discover the blessings that the Lord is bringing daily into our lives.

The cross does bring death, but it also brings resurrection,  and there is joy on the other side of that cross!

Be the coffee bean

I found this story, and added some spin to it…. enjoy!

She put three pots of water over the fire, in the first pot she put some carrots.  In the second pot some eggs and in the third pot she put some coffee beans.  She boiled the pots for 15 minutes and then took out what she put in.

The carrots went in hard and came out soft.  The eggs went in soft on the inside and came out hard inside.  The coffee beans remained, but the water had changed color and there was a wonderful smell of coffee.

Now think about life, it’s not always easy.  Life is not always comfortable and it’s sometimes very hard.  Things don’t always happen like we wish and people sometimes treat up badly.  We work hard and don’t see results.  So what happens to you when you face such difficulties?

Now think of the pots, the boiling water is like our problems…

We can be like the carrots, we go in tough and strong and come out soft and weak.  We get tired, we lose hope, we give up, we stop fighting.  DON’T BE LIKE THE CARROTS!!

We can be like the eggs, we go in with a soft and sensitive heart and we end up hard and unfeeling inside.  We dislike others and don’t like ourselves very much either.  We become hard hearted… DON’T BE LIKE THE EGGS EITHER!!

or…

We can be like the coffee beans, the water does not change the bean, but the beans change the water.  The water becomes different, you can see it, smell it and taste it.  The hotter the water, the longer it boils the better and stronger the coffee becomes.

We can be like the coffee beans, we make something good from the difficulties we face, we learn new things, develop new knowledge and skills.  We grow in experience and we make the world around us better.  We try new things, we believe in ourselves, we’re persistent, we’re patient.  Our problems and difficulties make us stronger and better and tougher.

What are you like when faced with a problem?

Are you like the carrot …

or the eggs ….

or the coffee beans??

BE THE COFFEE BEANS!!!

cause I could use a good cup of coffee

High Hopes

I was in Walmart the other day, feeling overwhelmed.

It was 4 o’clock… I needed to pick up my daughter,
make dinner, and be somewhere at 6.
Plus… I needed to do some laundry, and I was tired.

As I was shopping, I heard a little boy singing at the top of his lungs…

“Just what makes that little old ant,
think he can move that rubber tree plant,
everyone knows an ant cant…
move a rubber tree plant…

BUT HE HAS HIGH HOPES !!
He has High Hopes!!
He has high apple pie in the sky hopes! “

I couldn’t help but smile,
suddenly I wasn’t in such a hurry.

Sometimes when things seem overwhelming,
or life just plain sucks….  its good to remember
that we can have ‘High Hopes’ that things will change.

And when everything is going great, we must remember
to give thanks for the little things in life, and take time to
enjoy life right where you are right now… and you can have
“High Hopes’ for the future.

When you are tired or energized,
when you are happy or sad,
When you are disorganized or in the zone,
when you are going crazy or at peace…
you can always have ‘High Apple Pie in the sky Hopes’
and know that you are equipped to handle anything
that life throws your way.

you can do it, move that rubber tree plant and don’t let
anyone tell you that you can’t!!!

Loss

It’s never easy to lose someone you care about.  This week our church family lost a wonderful woman and my dear friend, Gail Holub.

For some moments in life, there are no words.

While we are mourning the loss of our friend, those on the other side are rejoicing saying ‘Here she comes, We’re so glad you’re here.”

<3  Rest in Peace my friend <3

 

 

Softball

Found this and tweeked it a bit.

It’s more than a sport,

More like a passion…

Red dirt and bruises,

Are always in fashion.

The wind up, the pitch,

Scrambling defense,

Teammates shout…

This is what softball

Is all about!

Enthusiastic  parents

In the stands…

Anxious coaches

Waving their hands.

The swing of the bat,

the bases, the glove…

This is softball,

The game that we love.