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.

The Cup

I am Granddaddy’s girl. Even though he is not here anymore, I am still Granddaddy’s girl. I use to follow Him around everywhere. One of the things I have picked up on was his love, or need of coffee. I noticed that he used the same coffee cup everyday. It was a short, thick glass, 70’s style pee yellow mug. Anytime you went to my grandparents’ house you knew you could have your choice of cup, but no one was to touch Granddaddy’s cup. He loved his cup. He also had a very tough, reliable cup. Sometimes he would leave it outside in the rain, or drop it in the dirt, or let it roll around in the floorboard of his truck. But he always had it every morning ready to refill and use again.

I want my life to be like that cup. Minus the 70’s pee yellow, it was made for a purpose and it served its purpose well. Even though my Heavenly Father may let me see the outside sometimes with the rain, roll around in the floorboard, and occasional lets me feel pain as if I was dropped (but I know I’m not). But I have a purpose. I am loved. Every morning He seeks me and I Him; to fill me up and start our day off together. I want to serve Him as the best cup ever. So when I start my day I offer myself as a servant. I go to work and my routine is simple. I put away my stuff and pour me some coffee in a short, thick glassed, 70’s style pee yellow coffee cup.

Opinions

Don't you just love it when everyone offers you an opinion. Sometimes we ask for it and sometimes we don't; but there is always an abundance of opinions. I personally don't care about those said opinionated people. I amuse them by thanking them for their unwarranted advice, and immediately dismiss it when I walk away. Think of the starving children in China. Your time and efforts will be more appreciated by those malnourished little people. I will go even further into dislike by saying: "Your opinion doesn't matter." There I said it. You can now go deal with this reality.

Moral of this story: (Now really, haven't we learned anything.)

DMV or DUMB

For those of you who have ever dealt with the DMV for anything knows it can be frustrating. All in all, the people I have encountered are rather pleassant but they do occassionaly lack intelligence. I am still dealing with the ripple effects of my wreck. One of these effects is getting a new license plate to replace my stolen one. I have often wondered if the DMV accidentally gave me the wrong plate when I bought it, but dismissed it until yesterday. After returning home I checked my plate against the registration, and sure enough they were 2 different items. Shortly after my discovery the phone rang. It was the DMV wanting to know if my plate and registration matched. I am getting new registration in the mail some time next week.

It is not rude to double check information and goods infront of the person giving them out. Now if you have a arrogant attitude yes, you are a moron and should go learn some tact from people who actually have some. It is a good thing to double check. In Colossians, Paul was writing to the church asking them to be aware of teaching that was not the truth. Maybe if the church had double checked the information against the true gospel Paul would of saved on some postage. As a rule if you ever hear a preacher, Bible study leader, or anyone say something that you have questions on, double check it. After all that is a function of our Bible. It is here to help us.

Moral of this Story: Umm...Double check things. I mean really, can't you figure this one out on your own.

Wrecked

A week ago I wrecked my Blazer. Belton is not the ideal place to have a car accident. For those asking, "Whose fault is it?", it was mine. I was blinded by the sun that blurred the colors of the vehicle infront of me masking the brake lights. Maybe it was a cause of old age. Maybe it was lack of attention. Maybe it was due to heavy traffic. Maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe God takes opportunites to teach us things even if we see it as an accident. So an accident, when things happen that we never meant to. The results are up to us; how we handle things reflect your character.

Immediately I began searching for what God wanted me to learn. Every event is an opportunity to learn. I look at the other driver, she was watching me. I looked at the officer, she was watching me. I looked at the tow truck people, they were watching me. All the cars passing by were watching me. It got a little creepy. So I looked at my Bible in Colossian 2:5 :

"For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is."

I hope that they saw something in me that reflected my faith in Christ. Character is often descibed as the person you are when no one but God is watching. But your character can be evaluated by all those watching including God. I wonder how I would be evaluated? Do you ever wonder how you are evaluated?

Moral of this story: If we asked the world to "look at me!" What do they see?

Best advice EVER!

I received this advise while I was in school and it has helped me in ways I cannot explain. If you really think about it, this simple phrase can shake off all those stupid ideas we have in our heads. Prepare yourself, here it come...

"Take your job seriously not yourself."

Let this sink in. If we would take our life's work more seriously than we take ourselves, insecurities will be slashed by half if not more. No more worrying about what we wear, or how our hair looks. Vanity is not a priority. We will stop staying awake at night wondering if "they" like me or not. We will have fun at church, at school/work, at the DMV!

Now the big kicker is what is your job? What is your life's work? What is the one thing you want to be taking seriously? Is it your family...I suggest you go bigger. How about your area of employment, after all it is your job...but not necessarily your life's work. A sport...you are thinking way too small. Come on now your life's work, what you want to be remebered for. Sit and think about this for a while.

Moral of this story: Seriously, you are your life's work. Make it count for eternity.