Seasons

Seeing the title and entering into more Spring-like weather you may think that I am referring to weather seasons.  I'm not.

I have been thinking about this topic for a while now. 

I am a lifer.  When I make a friend I feel like they are (or should be) a friend for life.  It takes me a bit longer than many to open up to people.  I guard myself.  I have security issues and don't want to get hurt and don't want people to not like me.  I am shy and easily intimidated.  It's silly, but it is what it is.

When I open up enough to have a friendship with more than the "Hi how are you?/Good, how are you?" conversations then I probably consider you a friend.  The more communication we have and the more time we spend together, the closer I feel to to you.  Once we get to the friend stage it is near impossible for someone to no longer be a friend, in my eyes. 

I have a hard time meeting new people and just feel awkward, but I greatly appreciate the friendships that have formed after so many meetings. Over the years God has brought some really phenomenal people into my life, and I am so thankful!

Life happens.  Just as seasons happen.  Sometimes I try too hard to hold on to relationships that perhaps were only meant to be for a certain season.  The relationship can die out or fizzle. This is hard for me because, as I said, I am a lifer. 

I am not intending this to mean that I am actively trying to make any of my friendships fizzle out.  It's more for those I feel have moved on to a new season and I am in denial. :) 

Seasons of life is something I need to accept. I need to let go of those who are now in a new season as well, but it is never willingly on my end.

Thankfulness:
1. The school bus driver
2. Green grass
3. Sports that bring families/friends together
4. Garden Claw that aided me in yard work this week
5. Rhubarb

Verse to Chew on:
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:14

He's not Stumped

I have been tagging along life with some pretty amazing family and friends. 

Lately, I have been hearing of some pretty severe situations occurring in the lives of some close friends.  My heart aches for them.  I want to do something.  Anything. I want to help. I want to offer encouraging words. I want to be a concerned friend.  I am a concerned friend.

I know that each person who stumbles across this message has their own trials they are facing. And, I am sure we all know someone who is facing heartache.

The message I want to share today is simple.  It was some words passed along by my father-in-law who has no idea of the situations my dear friends are facing.  But the words are appropriate.

Was Jesus ever in a situation in which He was stumped? Was He ever in a situation He couldn’t handle? Even the cross was part of His plan. Your situation doesn’t stump Him either. Give the situation over to God and lean on Him. 

On the flip side of these trials and tragedies, illnesses and pain, I stand in awe.  I am in awe of how God works.

I am writing this next part hoping that it comes across with sensitivity to you yet praise to God.

As I was praying with some friends tonight I kept thinking, who am I and who is my family that we should be blessed in so many ways and for so many generations?  Our trials seems so minimal in comparison to massive grievances of those dear friends surrounding me.

I pray with heartfelt sincerity and fervor for my troubled friends and their families, and I thank God with my undeserving being for abundant blessings.

Thankfulness:
1. Friends I can be real with
2. A husband who loves me unconditionally
3. The dustbuster to clean up little messes
4. Comfort
5. Grace

Verse to chew on:
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

Censor and Joy

Some days I can't control my tongue.  I say things I wish I did not say, and even worse, I say things that hurt people and I don't even know what I have done.  Words just come out.  Sentences.  Paragraphs. Loud volume that is uncalled for.  It explodes and I can not take it back and I feel deep regret.  Once something is said, it can never be taken back.  You can apologise and plead jest, but it is all about the heart behind the words.

If my heart is in a kind state, those words, sentences and paragraphs are much less frequent. 

If I am feeling anger, self-pity or wallow in ridiculous expectations, you can guarantee those words spew out rapidly.  And it is usually to those I love most.

I don't say "bad" words.  I say hurtful words.  But, is there really a difference?

I was reminded of this tonight.  I am in a "kind state" so it was not with me.  Indeed it is easier to see faults in other people before myself.  I was reading through some social media posts and was embarrassed at what I was reading in my news feed.  I was thinking, I wish I could censor what I am reading to only see things that are beneficial...or at very minimum, things that are neutral on the scale of "good and bad". 

I wish there was a censor that blocked out bad posts on Facebook, but I wish even more that I had a tighter censor on my thoughts and words that come out of my mouth.  I can not control what others do and say, but I have full control of my own voiced thoughts and often what I am viewing.

I have been thinking about the relationship between joy and what I intake.  If I am seeing "garbage" on my news feed, and I am hearing junk on tv that is not glorifying to God, does that correlate to my mental state of joyfulness?  I think it does.  The more good that goes in, the more good comes out.  Seems like a simple equation to me.

So, my conclusion, be VERY aware of intake and censor even closer what comes out of my mouth. Keep a joy flickering (or better yet, burning!)  in my heart and don't let it be quenched by garbage, but instead ignighted with God-honoring intakes.

Thankfulness:
1. A voice to speak
2. Eyes to see
3. A safe home
4. A dishwasher to wash my dishes
5. Forgiveness

Verse to chew on:
James 3:5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 

Perspective

Snow.  In March.  Just when us Wisconsinites thought Spring should soon approach.  How do YOU feel about snow???

In years past I have not been thrilled with snow storms and the added blanket of white to the frozen earth.  I had wished away the winter to bring the warm weather.

But not this year.  I am not sure where the mental shift came from but I am more excited than ever to see more snow on this beautiful snow day! 

It is such a blessing to see the kids excitement of playing in the winter wonderland on their new snow boards and even to see Carlee, our dog, frolicking in the snow.  And, what a great blessing that I can have another day home with my boys when they are usually in school! The better attitude I have about the snow, the more excited the kids are to play in it. 

Another perspective I have taken to is that there is beauty in each season and it won't be long until each season passes.  With each season pass, my boys get older.  I know that seems obvious but it is in looking back at photos from years ago that I realize how fast time goes and how much they have grown.  It seems so cliche to say that time goes fast, but seriously...time goes fast! Before I know it my boys may not want to go play in the snow, or they will feel too old to want to enjoy time with their mom. 

So my goal: enjoy each day as it comes and with what it brings.  If there is snow falling, lets play in that snow and make fun memories!  Take a few pictures, but don't take so many that you are behind the camera and miss the actual interaction. 

On a semi-random side note but also of great importance: When I look outside, the pure whiteness seems almost blinding it is so bright.  God says he will wash away our sins and make us white as snow!  What a comforting thought to know that all my past mistakes are gone and forgiven, thanks to Jesus paying the ultimate price for me, while I was still a sinner.  He makes me white as the blinding snow!   

Thankfulness:
1. Freshly falling snow in March
2. The mailman diligently trudging through the snow storm
3. Shovels
4. Zack and Owen's laughter
5. Ears to hear

Verse to chew on:
Isaiah 1:18  "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Conflictions

I have been thinking about different topics I want to write about and I have yet to make formulated presentations of these thoughts...until today!  So after several months of neglecting blog writing, I have decided to make some fresh attempts.

One issue that I have been thinking about is health.  It is recommended to stay active to stay fit and in shape.  It is recommended to eat healthy foods and skip the junk.   Right?

My problem:  Each item that I listed does not have a definite answer.  Here is what I mean.  If someone tells you to eat healthy, what do you eat?  I have been programed to think that whole wheat bread is more nutritious than white bread, and that all fruit is good for you and any veggies are healthy and adequate for consumption.  Does that sound reasonable?

Here is where it starts to get tricky.  You know those side bars of advertising you see while browsing on the net?  One of them lured me in with the title of "5 Foods You Should Never Eat".  I read through the list.  Top on the list was whole wheat bread.  Next Bananas. I know there were 3 more but I can not remember the others.  I was frustrated. 

It is recommended to stay active to stay in shape so your body will be healthy.  I joined a gym.  I was looking up some workout routines and up pops some headlines in my search engine results that essentially encouraged only 3 days a week of exercising and saying that anything more than that is too much.  I was doing 5 days a week and feeling pretty good.  According to this article if you go too often your body will get too fatigued and won't respond to your workouts any longer.

There is so much conflicting advice "out there".  I am learning that I need to do what is best for my body and that I can find conflicting advice that can support any view or stance I choose to take.  The Internet is not the ultimate answer.

I know what IS the ultimate answer.  And right now it is opened to Exodus 33.  If you are expecting me to reveal any health tips in Exodus, change your expectation.  :)  Just a few chapter back, God has feed the Israelites manna for 40 years.  They are God's chosen people and they were not eating whole wheat bread or bananas. God wants us to take care of our body by eating nutritious food in moderation. 

If you are looking for answers solely on the Internet for problems or questions, you may want to change your source to the one that does not conflict with itself.  And if you think it does conflict with itself, then dive in to the content and don't blindly pull verses out of context as that issue is far too common.

I am going to start a new format in my blogs and list 5 things I am thankful for toward the end. 

Thankfulness:
1. The snowplows and drivers who work hard for us to safely traverse the roads
2. The fruit bowl sitting across the table from me that has nutritious foods to help keep me healthy
3. The driver's Ed car that just passed my house-it reminds me of my Grandad teaching me to drive
4. The cozy warm sweatshirt I am wearing that Dan gave me for Christmas-its keeps me warm and reminds me of his protection and care for me
5. Blinds-they keep the darkness out and let the light in and aide in a sense of security

Verse to chew on:
Deut 26:11 ...you shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your God has given you and your household.