Thursday, May 26, 2011

A Little SUNshine!

Today I took a break.
A much needed break.
A break I needed so very, very much....

A BREAK I needed very much.
A break I needed very much.
A break I NEEDED very much.
A break I needed VERY much.
A break I needed very MUCH!


The reason I am writing this is just that life can get really CRAZY!
(can I hear an "Amen"?)

Not that I like to brag or anything,
but both of my sons ( 9 & 11 yrs) made their playoffs in baseball.
As if it wasn't already busy, now we are in the "tournament" style of baseball.

Double Elimination....oooooooohhhhh!

One team went into the "Winners Bracket", winning their first game on Saturday.
One team went into the "Losers Bracket", losing their first game.

It has been baseball every night of the week.
Baseball, baseball, baseball!
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE watching my boys in their cute uniforms,
baseball pants,cleats, mitts, hats, etc,

But....I don't really like baseball.

Well, a little...no.... not so much.


All that to say,
"The stress is going to drive me to strangle someone!"
(ever felt like that?)

SOOOOOO,
my friend "S" and I took a morning to relax by the lake.

It was SO TOTALLY AWESOME!

People, we have got to slow down.

YOU have got to slow down.

I have got to slow down.

We have got to take some time to BREATHE!!!!

The sun was shining, the lake was gorgeous and there was not one person on the little sand area where we sat.
We put our little chairs and towels down, took our flip flops off and plopped down.

Ahhhhhhhh....


I could HEAR the wind blowing by my ear.
I could HEAR those darn crows cawing in the tree nearby.
I could HEAR my own breath, for Pete's sake!

I could HEAR, the still. small. voice. of the Lord, whisper in my ear,
"Be still, and KNOW that I AM GOD".

I heard the small voice echo:
(yes, there are canyons in there)

HE loves me,
He is with me,
and
HE is growing and stretching me.


I can trust HIM.

See, I'm having issues right now.

I'll be honest.

I'm struggling with what to do with the rest of my life.

But, I'm not just struggling, it's like I'm fighting with the Lord,
wrestling with him,
wanting to know "the answer"
right now!


His response is,
"Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6


"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9


"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him..."
Pslam 37:7



What are YOU not hearing because YOU are too busy?

STOP!

Take a breath.....
and listen!

what is that still, small voice saying to you today?









Tuesday, May 17, 2011

It's Raining Again

It's raining today.

Made me think of the Carpenter's song, "Rainy Days and Mondays".
That was one of my favorite "albums" growing up.
It had a brown album cover with the word "Carpenters"
written in a beautiful script font.

I would listen to that album over and over.

And although I loved that album, and that song, those of you who know the rest of,
"Rainy Days and Mondays", it goes...."Always gets me down".
Kinda sad, huh.

Well, I love the rain.

We get the perfect amount living in Southern California.

It rains often enough that I can have a reason to stay inside, light the fire in the fireplace and bake some cookies, but not so often that I hate it.

But, since the Carpenter's "Rainy Days and Mondays" is kind of a sad, boo-hoo song, I was thinking about other songs about rain that are more upbeat.

I found this.....it dates me, for sure.
Don't laugh...




I actually listened to the lyrics today.
The first time ever, seriously, and I liked 'em.

It's raining again,
Oh no, my love's at an end.

Oh no, it's raining again
and you know it's hard to pretend.

Oh no, it's raining again
Too bad I'm losing a friend.

Oh no, it's raining again
Oh, will my heart ever mend.

Oh no, it's raining again,
You're old enough some people say,
To read the signs and walk away.

It's only time that heals the pain,
And makes the sun come out again!

It's raining again
Oh no, my love's at an end.
Oh no, it's raining again
Too bad I'm losing a friend.

C'mon you little
fighter,
No need to get uptighter.
C'mon you little
fighter,

And
get back up again

Oh,
get back up again..

Fill your heart again...



I was so excited to read these lyrics.
SO much more positive than,
"Rainy days and Mondays al-ways- get - me dowwwwwwn".

And I know we can all relate to a time or two (or a few hundred) when you have felt like the rain is just coming down,
no,
pouring down on your head.


NO umbrella

&

wet. soggy. hair.
Lots of it.

Thank God, we do not have to sit there with our wet, soggy hair for long.

We have a HOPE!

God promises that after every "rain", there will be a rainbow.


"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to HIS purpose."
Romans 8:28

"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10

Let's be FIGHTERS!

When has God turned your RAIN into a RAINBOW?







Wednesday, May 4, 2011

He Reigns

Well, after blogging about Jesus' Crucifixion, it is only right that I add His Resurrection!

Christ is who HE says he is because of the Resurrection.

He rose from the dead then, and continues to be
ALIVE...

NOW,

TODAY,

at this VERY moment!


My girlfriend shared this video with me about a painter who painted Christ's Resurrection...

it is breathtaking!


I sometimes need to be reminded that I have Christ's HOLY SPIRIT living
IN
me...

It is THAT power that gives me
strength when I feel like I've given everything I've got, but need to give
just a little more.

It is THAT power that gives me comfort
when I am missing my dad or feeling low.

It is THAT power that allows me to
love, when I'm too tired to.

It is THAT power that gives me the energy to serve my family and friends when my
fuel tank is on "empty".

It is THAT power that pushes me to take that one more step,
be a little nicer, more patient, more forgiving,
more like CHRIST...

Thank you, LORD, for that power!

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of
POWER, LOVE and
SOUND MIND!"
1Timothy 1:7

What has the Lord given you POWER to do in your life?