Old bubblegum

Sometimes life can seem like the pits.  I mean really.  This morning my husband got up to go to work and he went to get on his bike and it had a flat tire.  He looked out at the rain and sighed a big sigh.  As if it wasn't bad enough that he had to ride his bike in the rain, now he had to walk in the rain to work.

There are so many circumstances like this one where we are having a bad day, week, month or even year!  But I often have to keep it in perspective.  A few years ago God gave me an example of what I see vs. what He can see.  God is big.  I mean, really, really big.  He sees all things past, present and future.  He knows the answers before we even have the questions.  He is making us something in the midst of our bad days.

I remember when I was 4 years old and I couldn't see the top of the counter.  I actually have a memory of looking up and thinking that I couldn't wait to be taller.  I thought I would be so cool when I could actually see what was up there.  Then I grew and I could see.  God is big.  Whenever I feel down, I try to remember that I'm not as big as God.  He sees the whole picture.  He is with me and has my life in His hands.  When I look up, as a child of God sometimes all I see is the under part of the table.  I see old, chewed up gum stuck to the bottom part of the table.  I see where the dog has chewed on the table legs.  I see old gross food that has fallen on the floor and made it's home (even the dog wouldn't eat it!).  I just see that life is stinky. But what I don't see is what God is preparing for me while I grow.  He is preparing for me a table FULL of AMAZING food.  A turkey out of the oven, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, veggies, fruit like pineapple, kiwi and raspberries, homemade bread, and delicious punch with strawberries (not to mention all the chocolate desserts!).  On top of the table there are good things.  I just can't see them.  So when all you can see is nasty old bubblegum, close your eyes, keep your nose in the air as you take a big smell of goodness. And remember, you're still growing.

Jesus on your locker

Ah, school is back in session.  It turned fall up here in Michigan last week.  The weather is chilly and school busses are everywhere.  I remember going to school and what that first week was like.  I felt excited and scared.  Scared that my old friends from last year might not like me anymore, or that I wouldn't find my classes, or that I forgot to wear pants (yes, I had that dream) and excited to start a new year fresh, new beginnings.  I had so much hope and confidence.  But it only took a few days for that to begin to change.

My relationship with Jesus was non-existent at that time.  Oh, I was a "christian" meaning I believed Jesus was God's son and that he raised from the dead for my sins.  But, I didn't really have a relationship with him.  My acceptance with Christ was temporary.  I accepted him at church, but expected him to stay there.  Sadly, I was like Peter who said, "I don't know that guy".

I wish I could've had more of Jesus in me at that time.  I wish I could've taken the time to know him and understood how much he loved me and my friends.  So many people at my school needed a friend.  Or sometimes just a kind word.  I wish I could've been the person they knew wouldn't judge them by their clothes or hair.  I wish they would've looked at me knowing they could be safe and I wouldn't tell anyone else what was going on in their life.  But sadly, I was the one that judged everyone.  I didn't have very many friends because of that.  I was unwilling to make new friends, especially if the person wasn't popular, or if they smelled.  sigh.  The funny thing about that is I wasn't popular.  And everyone thought I was stuck up because I was judgmental.  I wish I could go back sometimes and change it all because the truth is even if I had great intentions that first week of school, that second week came.  And then the third week...fourth week....fifth week...and then it was over.  I influenced no one.

I encourage you guys to find a Jesus partner now.  Find a friend at your school who wants to make a stand or even just be strong for Christ.  Meet early and pray together and invite others to do the same thing.  Pass encouraging notes to one another in the halls.  Leave encouraging notes on peoples lockers that might need it.  Let's get creative in Christ!  It doesn't matter what people say, they are watching and when they need a prayer they will know who they can trust.  You CAN make a difference at your school.  So stand together and start loving with the Love of Christ!

Purity slips

I spent last weekend with friends up north on a gorgeous lake.  We had some great weather and it was totally relaxing just to be away and with friends.  I woke up Sunday morning and after my devotional I decided to go for a swim.  The water on this lake is tropical in color and so clear you can see the bottom in the deep places of even 20 feet.  I was using the snorkel gear and collecting small shells for a project I'm going to be working on soon.  I noticed from about 5 feet in front of me a shining under the water.  I reached down to get it and could tell that it was a shell.  But this shell was beautiful in color, so beautiful that when the sun hit it people could see it from afar.  When I picked it up I realized this "shell" was actually paper thin.  It was a small sliver of beauty but I decided to keep it.  As I reached down to get it the force of the water movement made it slide across the bottom of the lake.  I finally grasped it and was bringing it above water when once again the force of moving water made it leave my hand and float to the bottom of the lake.  I reached out for it again but this time I understood it was delicate and that I needed to pay close attention to the resistance of the water when reaching for it.  I firmly grasped it and then shut my hand tightly to hold onto it as I stood up and took it to my bag of shells.  As I went on searching, I realized that sliver of beauty that took so much time to capture is much like purity.

The site of purity is so beautiful.  God has given us something so rare and priceless.  He trusts us with something that no one can give us.  We can't buy purity.  We can't find it for ourselves if we searched 1,000 years.  We are born pure and from then on we have this gift God has given us.  Yet purity these days is hard to hold onto.  We have it, but with pushing from the world and peer pressure for us to give this gift up, it is hard to hold onto.  We don't hold tightly to it and then before we know it, it is floating away out of our hands.  Hold tightly to the purity you have!  God has given you a beautiful gift that shimmers to the Heavens!  I know it's difficult at times and you might want to give in, but if we hold onto it God will bless you abundantly.  He has chosen you to be different than the world and wait for God's leading through marriage.  THAT is when this gift of beauty really shines.  When you attach yourself to the person God would have you be with, the two of you becoming one creates something far more beautiful than you could ever imagine.  

And if for some reason you have let go of that gift of purity already, know that God still loves you.  Go to Him and ask Him to cleanse you He will lead you to righteousness and bless you.  He will make you like new and give you a heart that will shine with His face.  I too have been in this place of coming to God and asking for forgiveness for impurities in my life.  He spared me and although He didn't give me the answers to my prayers, He gave me something better.  Trust in Him for He is Faithful and He loves you.  

Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our sins from us.

Here we are!

Welcome to my new blog!  I thought I would start writing a few things and see where it goes!  I've been trying to figure out what to name this blog and all I could think of was Cotton Candy.  So now, I want Cotton Candy.  But alas, we have none.  I will have to be ok with the popcorn (made on the stove of course) I made.  Until later thoughts come....