Using time wisely...

The truth is back...

Lately I have noticed that people are dissatisfied with aspects of their life. Whether it is what they read on the internet, what they watch on TV, or whatever; they are miffed. Here is a bit of info for those folks to chew on...choose what you spend your time on wisely. If you don't want to listen to people whine, don't hamg out with them. If you don't want to read others opinions on the internet; go outside you pale creatures. If you don't like your lack of love life, ask someone out or join a convent. What ever you chose to do with your time, remember it is your choice. Maybe you would be happier if you made better choices.

Coming to an understanding

At my first church where I was on staff, I played softball on the church's women's team. It was fun. One of the parents, who loved to play softball, had recently found out she was pregnant with her second child. Because of her passion to play ball, she continued to come to practice, sit on the bench, and watch impatiently. We got into a converstation and her comment to me stuck. It was, "you'll never underwstand how it feels not to be able to do what you love." Ouch. To sit gritting your teeth wanting so bad to be involved but unable. Unable not because of skill, or of training, or of passion, but of circumstances. The other stuff you can control, but not circumstances. And those things can keep us from what we really want to do. Now I understand that statement she made, because I want to be involved in an area but because of circumstance, prohibited. Yes it is frustrating. Yes, some of you can understand this also. So what do we do? I wish I had a pointed answer. I wish I could give you a list of "to dos" that would solve this issue. However, the cycle continues. I can not explain what to do to resolve the problem, but I can tell you what to do during the problem. You must first come to an understanding. This understanding is that we are not equiped to control the future. Thus we are not able to control circumstance. "Well, thanks that helps me become more depressed." If we could control circumstances some of the greatest things would not come to pass. That unexpected child, that loss of a job, that not getting a position we really wanted that turned out to be with Enron. We cannot see the fututre, but God can. He also has the ability to control circumstance. So why do they not go my way? The key is the future. What we do today has direct bearing on our future. This point of life may be in preparation for something in my future. "Hmmm, this isn't making me feel any better." I know, but look at it this way; preparation is a good plan for the unknown future. If a soldier doesn't know how not to get shot, it doesn't matter if he is the best shot of the army. In Jeremiah 29:11(the most popular verse for graduates), it talks of God knowing the plans for the future, my future. These plans are for my good for my future. But we often see the hope of this verse and missed the message of the 2 verses after (v.12-13). In order to benefit fully from these plans we must be connected with the One who plans. Seeking God with all our heart will make the time of preparation better. How? Even I do not know the methods and depth of His comfort I just receive it. So, we are to thrive through the days, months, and years of preparations. It all has to do with trust, and in an untrusting world that is what makes this hard to come to an understanding.