Rediscover (day 11): What is He thinking?

I woke up this morning with a fever.  Yeah, not good.  My first reaction was to tell God just what I thought about it. 

“Why?!  Not now! Don’t You know what’s happening this week?!”  (Well, duh, of course He knows what’s happening!)  

I was texting a friend earlier this morning and he reminded me that God’s timing is perfect, even though it may seem like really bad timing.  Now, I don’t know if me getting sick five days before my brother’s wedding has something to do with God’s all perfect plan for my life, but I do know that nothing happens without His say-so.  I know that’s not easy to except, because of all the bad things that happen; as I told my friend, “That’s a hard pill to swallow.”   You know what he texted back?

“I guess that’s where prayer and help from God helps to get it down.” 

Hmmm….

Even though I didn’t want to hear it, he was right.  (I know you’re reading this, so, thanks for reminding me. )

I read this in my Bible today;

Praise ye the name of the LORD.  Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.  ~Psalm 135:1

Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.  He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.  Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.  Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon his servants.  Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings.  ~Psalm 135:6-10

 God does all these things.  We may not understand why, but that’s where we need to come to Him in prayer, lift up our pleas, trust Him to take care of us and praise Him.   

Even though getting sick now was bad timing for me, it wasn’t for God.  Perhaps I needed a lesson in trust…  

Rediscover (day 8): Pleasure in the Simple Things

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Our culture is so media dependant.  We tend to forget about the little, nearly mundane things.  Things like time with family, good friends, sunshine and hard work.  Yes, hard work.

Giving up media has left me with so much open time.  Time to spend in The Word and time to really make each moment matter, (plus my brain has nearly recovered from being TV watching mush. ).  It’s amazing the little things you begin to take pleasure in and stop taking for granted.  God has given us so many real, worthwhile things to enjoy.  Today was a perfect example.

It has been either raining or just gray for the past few weeks, so when the sun came out today I felt a thrilling lift in my spirits.  (It was a BEAUTIFUL day!)  I went into town, did my errands, then met my younger brother, (dropped off by my dad), at Goodwill.  My younger brother (Steven, who is thirteen) and I spent a super fun half hour shopping around Goodwill building him a pirate costume.  It was a blast!  Just me and my little buddy (who’s not so little anymore…) having a good time as brother and sister.  That was something we hadn’t done in a LONG time.  His excited smile just made me feel so happy and warm inside.

My sister had spent the previous night at a friend’s house, and after Steven and I were done with our pirate shopping we went to pick her up.  Her friend lives out in what we call “the boonies” because it’s so far out from town, but it’s worth the drive to get out there.  Roads winding through the Washington rainforest, trees covered in a thick layer of moss.  The sun shining down on the snow speckled Cascade Mountains and the Snohomish River.  It was gorgeous.  God’s creation in all its breath taking splendor right in our very backyard. 

After that is was a walk with the dog, Steven and my best friend Avalyn and her fiancé Matthew.  We had a great walk in the amazing sunshine, talking, joking, and watching Steven having a good time with our dog Heidi, (just a boy and his dog).

Because it was so sunny and nice, I took the time to wash my car.  It really is satisfy standing back and looking at a vehicle you just finished cleaning.  The way the sun glances off the bright paint and just the smell of car soap.  (Yes, I like that smell. ) 

All in all, the day was fantastic.  The time spend with my brother, the walk with friends, the amazing sunshine and the feeling of accomplishment after completing a job.  As I thought back on my day I realized that those are the little things that we take for granted.  With media and internet to entertain us, we forget about the things God gave us to take pleasure in.  Our family, Godly friends, His creation. 

God, thank you for the little things You have given me to enjoy.  They not only fill my heart with joy, they fill my spirit with Your joy. 

Rediscovering the little, God-given pleasures in life.

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. ~Psalm 37:4

Rediscover (day 5): All of Me

The last two days have been a rollercoaster ride of emotions.  My stress level shot to an all time high the other night.   When I get stress, I fall apart.  My stress pulls the trigger on my worry gun, shooting me right in the self-conscious that bleeds dread, causing a puddle of self loathing to grow and spread under my peace of mind, choking the life out of it.  (See if you can make sense of that.)  The result of all this is a frazzled, blond, blue eyed pathetic mess.

In the mist of this I was silently complaining to God.  In my heart I told Him, “What’s up?  I’m doing this Rediscover thing.  It was going so well, what happened to bring me this low?”  Just like so many times before, when I woke up from my little pity party, the answer was all but written on a neon sign and hanging over my door. 

I hadn’t yet given my whole heart to Rediscover.  Sure, I’ve been reading my Bible and praying more then I have in recent months, but my heart was not in it.  I can pick out several times a day where I should have sat down, opened my Bible and spent some extra time with God, but I didn’t.  I roamed around the house absent mindedly ticking off the minutes on my fingers, waiting for the day to end.

Praise God that He is so full of grace!  If He wasn’t, I would have been a smoldering ball of ashes long before now.

It’s time to start putting my heart into it, for real.  Father, take my heart, change it.

Rediscovering where my heart needs to be. 

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. ~Psalm 51:17

Five For Friday

I’ve seen this on another blog.  The blogger post five things about the past week.  I liked the idea so I’m going do it too.  

1.  Raise your hand if you hate allergies.  Me too.  It would seem my allergies have decided to explode this year.  Grrr… My eyes feel like they’re on fire and my poor nose!  (If you’re wondering, yes, I’m complaining. )  I think the worst part is, I can’t just go outside and enjoy the beautiful weather without feeling miserable.  

2.  Sun shine is so nice.  It makes me happy.

3.  I’ve been researching Norse Mythology for my next fantasy novel (I’m loosely basing that worlds mythology off of it,) and it’s hilarious!  Greek Mythology is just downright depressing, but Norse is comical.  (Okay, maybe not all of it, but most is.)

4.  I’m outlining again!  Yeah!  Boy it feels good to be putting a story together piece by piece and not wading through miles (or what seemed like miles,) of edits. *sighs contently*

5.  God is so good.  Yes He is.  He knows my needs and provides for them, even before I ask.  As I’ve said before, I need to start looking for a job so I can start saving for college, publication, a car and few other things.  Well, things at home are rather full at the moment and my mom really needs my help, and to offer my help completely, I would need to stay home.  This pretty much throws the whole job thing out the window.  But like I said, God knows my needs and will provide.  It just so happens I had a babysitting job this past week (and babysitting can pay VERY well,) and I have another job next month.  Even though these are jobs I don’t necessarily want to do, they are jobs, and God has provided them.  Thank you Lord!

Have a good weekend!

As more me, I will behold they face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake with they likeness.  Psalm 17:15

God bless,
~Laura

Soul Food

As I read through the Bible I write down the verses that jump out at me.  Most are about encouragement, stranding strong in hardships, holding fast in the storms, focusing your heart on the Lord and letting God change you.  I’ve been able to encourage others with them and now I am posting them here for you all. 

Romans 8:28 And we now that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Psalm 57:7  My hear is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

Psalm 51:10-12  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Psalm 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Roman 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Romans: 12:12  Rejoicing in hope,; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

Romans: 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Isaiah 35:4  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.

II Timothy 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to out works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

What are some of your favorite verses?