Category Archives: Living

Jan14

DAY 14 (2014)

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Sometimes the harshest trials paint the most beautiful pictures.

Sometimes the harshest trials paint the most beautiful pictures.

So today it was -2 degrees outside. Isn’t that a non number? The weird thing about Western New York, it that it gets prettier and prettier the colder it gets. When the sun shines on frosted glass it literally looks like little sparkling diamonds. As I was thinking about that I realized that cold weather is harsh, yet this state bears it beautifully. Because the harshness of the season brings out the beauty within. The same is true with us, except unlike the city we have a choice of how to react to harshness and trials. We could like Western New York grow more and more beautiful or we could do the opposite. Today God reminded me that hardships are not meant to break us and make us ugly. Quite the contrary, they are meant to build us up and make us beautiful, if we would, like this city, choose to walk through it. Trials hurt, but they also make us beautiful.

“Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being” (Psalm 20:30).

So what am I thankful for today? Non numbered weather… 😉

Dec19

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart. (Picture by Lisa R)

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Samuel 17. “So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, ‘The advice of Hushai the Architeis better than the advice of Ahithophel.’ For the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom” (Verse 14). It is a good thing to allow God to defeat “good” advice. Yesterday I was giving myself “good” advice and thankfully God defeated it. In the case of the scripture God gave Hushai favor in order to save David from his son. In our lives God will defeat our “good” advice in order to save us from ourselves. We see finitely, just what is in front of us. God sees it clear to the end. So if He thwarts our advice let Him. It is because He loves us and has a better plan.

Nov26

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart. (Picture by Lisa R)

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Samuel 5. “Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. So David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?’ And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand” (Verses 17-19). I have been thinking about this portion of scripture I am now reading. It dawned on me that David is an example of honesty Christianity. His first step always (up to this point), asking God if he was making the right step. David had been shacking up with the enemy, however, Saul is dead and Israel has made David king. So now the Philistines are seeking to kill him. What does David do? He consults God. What should we do, about every decision? Yup, got it… Consult God FIRST.

Oct24

DAY 296 (2014)

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A change in perspective, a change of view. (Picture by Lisa R.)

A change in perspective, a change of view.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Been thinking a lot today about how I believe life should be, verses the reality of how life is. I have realized something. We (okay me) tend to live in “the how we think things should be”. The problem…There is rarely a time where fantasy and reality are the same. Moving here in many was has been the best thing that has happened  in a while, but in some ways it has been the most difficult too. Why? Because the picture in my head does not match the reality of what I am facing. Today as I drove through my picturesque city talking (okay technically complaining) to God, He impressed this on my heart… TRUST His reality. Trust the things I know to be true about God. I have been so busy thinking about how I thought things should be I had forsaken the most important thing. What God brought me here for. Today He reminded me that the ultimate problem is, where we put our focus. If we focus on the problem then all we see is the problem, oddly if we focus on our fantasy then once again all we see is the problem. But if we focus on God’s purpose, then we are privy to the big picture. Life doesn’t always fit our fantasy. Heck 99% of the time it doesn’t. That’s because the goal isn’t to live out our fantasy, but to find our true purpose, to unfold into what God created us to be. To be our “real” self. Today His still small voice told me my focus was on the wrong picture. Change your perspective, change view. Stop looking at the fantasy, look at the God who wants to lead us to the best versions of ourselves.

“We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing Him directly just as He knows us!” (1 Corinthian 13:12, The Message Bible).

The Lesson: Don’t focus on the situation focus on God who can fix the situation.

Oct2

DAY 274 (2014)

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Sometimes doing good yields, bad results. At those times make sure your "good" and God's "good" are the same.

Sometimes doing good yields, bad
results. At those times make sure your “good” and God’s “good” are the same.

Yesterday I went on a really horrible interview. One where God had pricked my heart prior to NOT go, but I went anyway. I instantly regretted it. After the interview I was a little down, because I felt like I was spinning my wheel, and worried about the future. But God… reminded me to live in the day. He reminded me of all He had done to this point. He reminded me of the FAITH He was building in me (see DAY 273). Today I had a final interview for a position with a really good company. Although I had made it to the final round, I was still feeling insecure as it seemed that NO ONE in Western New York wanted to hire me (I Know! What a whiner… 😉 ). As I drove to the interview I was listening to a Korean group I really like, they are not a Christian group, but they write lyrics that I find myself relating to. They have a song called, “Let Me Know”, which is exactly what I was asking God to do on my drive to the interview. I wanted to know what was going on, how come someone with my employment background was having such a hard time finding a job? What was the purpose of all this? Ever had that breakdown moment with God? That time when you know you heard His voice, know you’re following His will, but you are completely baffled as to what He is doing? Side Note: Having this moment prior to a job interview is bad for the nerves. After my break down God answered by cycling the song Oceans on my iPod, what did my ear land on… “Help me trust without borders”. As I sat in the car I realized I had put all kinds of borders and prerequisites on my trust in God. My prayer prior to moving here, “Lord let me trust even when I don’t see” (something else He reminded me of). I prayed a quick, “Sorry Lord” prayer asked Him to bless the interview and went inside. The interview went well, in fact I can honestly say I enjoyed the process. At the end of the interview I was offered the job. I looked at them shocked, I am fairly certain my response was, “REALLY?!”. Most corporation usually call you after the interview, but they offered it to me right there. What I took away from that… God saw my heart. He knew the insecurities I was feeling and He reached down and said, “Here you go…” Yes, I am excited about the job, but what I am happiest about is my Heavenly Father showing me just how intimate His relationship with me is. He sees my frame and understands…  He hears and answers.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14).

The Lesson: God understands. He hears. He answers. All in His time.