History Lesson

Sometimes returning to the past is not such a bad thing.

There may be treasures you left there.

I hope they are still there.

my advice to you.

Read Romans 12. Seriously! Go do it right now! To busy? Can’t find a Bible? That’s ok I’ll post it for you. Just read it!

Read it twice over. -Once to get the big picture then again much slower… let it resonate and really listen to it. Think about it. Say it out loud. Talk it over to yourself.

Let it change you. Trust me. It’s worth it.

Romans 12

 ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 ³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Assessment Week.

Today I don’t think I did very well on one of my Midterms.
Today I proof read 2 papers at least 30 times. I’m still not sure I like them.
Today I read over 90 pages in my Biology textbook and spent hours looking at my notes.

Now I really don’t feel like doing anymore school, but I will.

Today I was reminded how blessed and fortunate I am because I have the choice of school.
I want to honor that.

Fifty Days Later.

What do you say when you haven’t spoken in so long?
Where do you start when the Grand Canyon rests between now and then?
Is it worth rekindling or best to let it go?

It’s Almost Christmas.

I know because when strangers pass I can see their mirthful eyes.

Am I Listening? Really Listening?

How many times a day do I have an opportunity to learn something? and how often do I actually pay attention in such moments?

I hear so many things, read so many thoughts, see so many people… but most of the time I’m not actually interested.

a want to love.

To be deemed inspiring people normally need to go through something. They must experience some trials or be abandoned and have nothing left to hold onto. I’ve heard a lot of truly encouraging stories of people who endure life’s hardship but still manage to hold on. They embrace hope and cling to it for all it’s worth. The bottom line is, these people needed something. They were are at a point in their life where they could not do it on their own so they had to make a choice, either have faith in something bigger or simply give up.

Almost all inspirational people choose to hope in something, or someone, like God.

I live in a world where I don’t need God. I wake up with a roof over my head, I have food in the pantry, a family that supports, loves, and encourages me. Friends who invest into my life, help me out, and tell me I’m great. I have books to fill my idle hours, and opportunities to further my success in life. I don’t need God and in turn I often don’t remember him. I don’t use my life in a purposeful way to reflect my love for God. I don’t integrate him in all my decisions, nor do I look to him very often for direction or guidance. (Unless of course things get rough.) I have a hard time loving God.

Who then do I find even more inspirational? People like me who don’t need God. They live their lives blessed and successful. They  have all the distractions, opportunities, and potential to be anything they want to be. Life is an easy and abundant walk where God is not needed but instead of being forgotten, he is still chosen. I love seeing people who choose God not out of their hopelessness, or from a desperate plea, but out of thanksgiving and gratitude. Where life could be just as wonderful without God, but they choose to make him a part of it anyways.

Those people are astounding. They know they have something good and won’t let it go.

For Every Action, There is a Reaction.

Life is full of choices, you learn that early on. Obviously as I get older, I have started make decisions that have moved away from menial, and on to bigger, greater things. Although not always easy, this process ends up shaping, and molding me into something different, something new. Whiter I’ve made God smile, or burned someone I love, the finger print of each verdict is impressed upon my pliable skin.

I want to make good choices, and not just with the big things but right down to the nitty-gritty details of life, I hope my discretion will be both wise, and honoring. I want to be so rooted in good, prosperous, and gentle living that I come away satisfied and not ashamed… as for when I do mess up, the scars that result shall be worn with an attitude of confession. Over time may they heal and be made into something beautiful.

Snow Globe.

I felt like I was walking into a glass wonderland as I got off work today. The snow had already fallen, and the air was so crisp it bit at my nose and fingers. It wasen’t that fluffy snow rather the pellet like stuff, not content staying on the ground it swirlled around wherever air currents would take it. I found myself humming a familar tune.

I think I’m ready for winter.

 

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder?

Fonder of new experiences maybe, of vibrantly colored adventures, and interesting voyages that accomplish some degree of excitement. My absence from you only seems to awaken distractions, past memories, and a haunting nostalgia. Often its more a gateway to bitterness as it’s a reminder to my present fails of measuring up. My absence soon turns to forgetfulness, and forgetfulness to contentment. Like the painless flick of a light switch, my zealous lifestyle ends.

My absences from you sure does not make me love you. My friend just reminded me of a great sunday school song.

“Read your bible,
pray everyday,
pray everyday,
pray everyday.
read your bible
pray everyday
and you’ll
grow grow grow.”