Anyone ever experienced loss? I know I have. Once I lost an entire sandwich. It was tragic.
But seriously, in life we are often going to come up short. Things that matter to us are going to be taken away. And it hurts bad.
At times when we lose things we love or care about, it can feel like God is a mean kid with a magnifying glass trying to burn all of us ants down here on earth, but I think it's important to remember one thing:
"For though he wounds, he also bandages. He strikes, but his hands also heal."
-Job 5:18 (New Living Translation)
God never destroys for the sake of destruction. He never takes away something from you just because he felt like being a jerk. There is love in everything he does, and if he tears something down, it's to build something better.
And if you're in a time of loss, this ALWAYS helps:
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Fulfillment
I've heard it said the journey is far more important than the victory. I believe that is true.
Case and point: Cookie dough.
I have never once in my life had a cookie that I thought was as good as the dough that formed it. And in all honesty, I think that the store bought cookie dough is pure weakness compared to cookie dough made from scratch. It lacks love. It lacks work. It lacks personal flavor.
Yet somehow, even the best cookies just aren't enough to satisfy my cravings. I will always want more. My mother's finest baking efforts last a short amount of time, as I must consume them due to their deliciousness. The cookies that I fantasize about just aren't enough for me. And I want more. Always.
Don't think that any kind of accomplishment or prize will make you feel whole. As people, we will always want more. Some people work their whole lives for something they wanted very bad, and when they finally get it, it all falls flat.
Here's my advice.
1.) Make knowing Jesus your prize. Then you already have fulfillment you can't lose.
2.) Enjoy the journey he takes you on, and work hard at it.
3.) When you eat cookies, don't rob them of their potential by eating them without milk. It's a waste of cookies.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
But ya gotta have frieeeends
Everyone likes friends, right? Here are a few examples of legendary friends.
Friends are the people that God uses to make us who we are. They bring out the greatness in us when they care about us. And if we're good friends, we'll do the same for them.
God uses your friends to interfere with whatever it is that is stopping you from living the epic life he wrote for you. If you surround yourself with people who care about you, and you do the same for them, you'd be surprised how stinking cool your life will be.
We can understand God's love through our friends, and they can see it through us. Our actions and words are manifestations of the love he's shown us that people can see and feel.
But be careful, because bad company can corrupt good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33). Ask yourself, "Self, who are the people who are close to me? How do they treat me? How do I treat them?"
You teach people how to interact with you. Teach them love.
Friends are the people that God uses to make us who we are. They bring out the greatness in us when they care about us. And if we're good friends, we'll do the same for them.
God uses your friends to interfere with whatever it is that is stopping you from living the epic life he wrote for you. If you surround yourself with people who care about you, and you do the same for them, you'd be surprised how stinking cool your life will be.
We can understand God's love through our friends, and they can see it through us. Our actions and words are manifestations of the love he's shown us that people can see and feel.
But be careful, because bad company can corrupt good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33). Ask yourself, "Self, who are the people who are close to me? How do they treat me? How do I treat them?"
You teach people how to interact with you. Teach them love.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Story Time
Hey guys, I'm working on these two stories. Let me know which one you like better.
Story #1: There is a boy who really likes football so he watches it all the time and talks about with his friends. Sometimes he plays Madden on his 360.
Story #2: A young child dreamt of playing football every single moment of his life, but his coach wouldn't put him on the team because he was too scrawny. So he went to the gym and trained every single day, and he practiced passing with his dad after he did his homework, and he ran sprints in the parking lot across the street from his house. Then the next year at try-outs, he absolutely blew the rest of the kids out of the water and got a starting position on the A-Team.
Did anybody like Story #1 better? Think about it for a second. Go ahead, I'll wait. I'm not going anywhere.
Nobody? Didn't think so. The problem with Story #1 is that there are no challenges, no desires, and no passions. The main character doesn't even really do anything. He just fantasizes about what might be.
Now ask yourself, "Self, does my life look more like Story #1 or Story #2?" I know that most of the time, mine looks more like the first one. Boring.
Let me tell you something, God is a master storyteller and he has the most excellent, epic adventure waiting for you if you'll just let him write it. That doesn't mean there won't be challenges. What story would Peter Pan have if it weren't for Captain Hook getting in his way? Would Toy Story 3 have been very exciting without Lotso the Bear?
Don't let the life you live be meaningless. Live an amazing story. Chase destiny.
Whenever you're doing something, ask yourself, "Am I writing this story, or is God?" The more you let God do it, the more awesome it will be.
The moral of this story is: never trust a bear that smells of strawberries.
Story #1: There is a boy who really likes football so he watches it all the time and talks about with his friends. Sometimes he plays Madden on his 360.
Story #2: A young child dreamt of playing football every single moment of his life, but his coach wouldn't put him on the team because he was too scrawny. So he went to the gym and trained every single day, and he practiced passing with his dad after he did his homework, and he ran sprints in the parking lot across the street from his house. Then the next year at try-outs, he absolutely blew the rest of the kids out of the water and got a starting position on the A-Team.
Did anybody like Story #1 better? Think about it for a second. Go ahead, I'll wait. I'm not going anywhere.
Nobody? Didn't think so. The problem with Story #1 is that there are no challenges, no desires, and no passions. The main character doesn't even really do anything. He just fantasizes about what might be.
Now ask yourself, "Self, does my life look more like Story #1 or Story #2?" I know that most of the time, mine looks more like the first one. Boring.
Let me tell you something, God is a master storyteller and he has the most excellent, epic adventure waiting for you if you'll just let him write it. That doesn't mean there won't be challenges. What story would Peter Pan have if it weren't for Captain Hook getting in his way? Would Toy Story 3 have been very exciting without Lotso the Bear?
Don't let the life you live be meaningless. Live an amazing story. Chase destiny.
Whenever you're doing something, ask yourself, "Am I writing this story, or is God?" The more you let God do it, the more awesome it will be.
The moral of this story is: never trust a bear that smells of strawberries.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Taste Greatness
I am a total nerd nugget
It's totes true, and I'm not ashamed. I collect action figures, I break down movie scripts into their five key story beats for fun, videos exist of me quoting along with The Parent Trap, and I recite trivia about fake sports out loud to keep myself awake on long drives. I used to keep this information to myself, in fact I even kept it from myself. For years I denied myself the privilege of purchasing items that were "uncool" because I convinced myself that I didn't want them anymore. If you think I was lying to myself, you win a free milkshake next summer. Maybe.
Anyways, when I'm surrounded by people who constantly tell me the things I do are stupid, I notice that I start to believe them, and I become a little bit ashamed of myself. I don't like being me anymore. I just want to be someone else.
Do you ever feel the same? Perhaps you'll take comfort in this fun fact: All of those haters are WRONG. God made you exactly the way you are on purpose. Not to say that we're perfect and never need change, but the very essence of your being (a combination of things like your passions, your joys, your sorrows, your skills) was carefully crafted by God himself, and he hand-picked you to do whatever it is you do. Maybe it's being a football player, maybe it's being a musician, or maybe it's just giving the best hugs in the history of hugging. Nobody in the world can do exactly what you do the way God wants it done. Otherwise, he wouldn't have made you. Don't believe me? Check the facts.
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you."
-John 15:16
The fruit stuff may be a little confusing. It's not a literal fruit, but a metaphorical fruit. Think of bearing fruit as getting the job done. And the job is spreading God's love. Jesus has work for you in the world that you were custom made to do. So go do that trash and love it!
It's totes true, and I'm not ashamed. I collect action figures, I break down movie scripts into their five key story beats for fun, videos exist of me quoting along with The Parent Trap, and I recite trivia about fake sports out loud to keep myself awake on long drives. I used to keep this information to myself, in fact I even kept it from myself. For years I denied myself the privilege of purchasing items that were "uncool" because I convinced myself that I didn't want them anymore. If you think I was lying to myself, you win a free milkshake next summer. Maybe.
Anyways, when I'm surrounded by people who constantly tell me the things I do are stupid, I notice that I start to believe them, and I become a little bit ashamed of myself. I don't like being me anymore. I just want to be someone else.
Do you ever feel the same? Perhaps you'll take comfort in this fun fact: All of those haters are WRONG. God made you exactly the way you are on purpose. Not to say that we're perfect and never need change, but the very essence of your being (a combination of things like your passions, your joys, your sorrows, your skills) was carefully crafted by God himself, and he hand-picked you to do whatever it is you do. Maybe it's being a football player, maybe it's being a musician, or maybe it's just giving the best hugs in the history of hugging. Nobody in the world can do exactly what you do the way God wants it done. Otherwise, he wouldn't have made you. Don't believe me? Check the facts.
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you."
-John 15:16
The fruit stuff may be a little confusing. It's not a literal fruit, but a metaphorical fruit. Think of bearing fruit as getting the job done. And the job is spreading God's love. Jesus has work for you in the world that you were custom made to do. So go do that trash and love it!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Happy Valentine's Day!
Hey Sky Ranchers!
To sum up what he did...Justin Bieber flew to New York to make a little girls Valentine's Day. She is battling a rare form of brain cancer but something that often cheers her up is listening to Bieber's music. He heard of her story and spent Valentines Day hanging out with her, playing board games, and eating cupcakes. He later tweeted that it was one of the best things he's ever done.
Happy (belated) Valentines Day! I read an incredible story this morning about one of my faves, Justin Bieber. I know, I know - some of you aren't big Bieber fans (my husband is one of them - why? I have NO idea!), but whether you are a fan or not this is a neat, inspiring story!
To sum up what he did...Justin Bieber flew to New York to make a little girls Valentine's Day. She is battling a rare form of brain cancer but something that often cheers her up is listening to Bieber's music. He heard of her story and spent Valentines Day hanging out with her, playing board games, and eating cupcakes. He later tweeted that it was one of the best things he's ever done.This story reminds me to live like Jesus did, to walk as He walked. I am reminded to think of other people before myself, to care about what Jesus cared about, to love people the way He loves people.
Thank you Justin Bieber for thinking of other people and making a little girls Valentines Day!
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others"
-Phillippians 2:4
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Pardon the Interruption!
What startles you? Do you jump when you get scared? Well, Sky Ranch got a tuba for summer 2012...(I know, aren't you so excited for that?!) This is what happens when the Summer Camp Team gets a tuba and some time on their hands!
Goodbye for now - we're going to go practice the tuba because we have no tuba skills.
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