So what if you create a blog and then just stop writing on it?
Do people still check in? Is it somewhere they go when they're bored at work? Is there a hope that someday the owner of said blog might actually return and write something worth reading?
All good questions.
All without good answers.
I'm hoping to come back.
Waiting for inspiration!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Monday, November 26, 2007
Another Decade
It's been a long time since I've written...I'd be surprised if many folks checked back any longer!
During my hiatus I have kept busy (as always) but I also passed another birthday and this was a big one. I guess that I could say that closing the door on my twenties was a depressing or frustrating experience but the truth is that to me it was just another small miracle in a life so full of them already. What I mean by that is that the longer I live the more I realize just how much we're not guaranteed tomorrow. I've had a dear friend die at a younger age than I find myself at now and I've known others who have experienced great sorrow and loss in their lives. So, when I celebrated my birthday (and celebrate I did) I also spent some time remembering those who haven't had so many blessings and thanking the Lord that I was here to count this day at all.
Now, this may come across as being morbid but truly it's just my inadequate words of thanks to a God who has provided me all that I've ever needed and so much more than I could have asked. So, if you are facing a birthday that you're not looking forward to because your age is older than you'd like, I'd encourage you to stop and think about all that God has done for you and count your blessings one by one. I suspect that by the time you're done (if you can ever truly finish such a task) you'll be ever so much more thankful for your upcoming day and able to celebrate with joy!
So, as I begin a new decade I'm encouraged by God's faithfulness in the days that have passed and resting solidly on His assured faithfulness in those to come. May you also do the same!
During my hiatus I have kept busy (as always) but I also passed another birthday and this was a big one. I guess that I could say that closing the door on my twenties was a depressing or frustrating experience but the truth is that to me it was just another small miracle in a life so full of them already. What I mean by that is that the longer I live the more I realize just how much we're not guaranteed tomorrow. I've had a dear friend die at a younger age than I find myself at now and I've known others who have experienced great sorrow and loss in their lives. So, when I celebrated my birthday (and celebrate I did) I also spent some time remembering those who haven't had so many blessings and thanking the Lord that I was here to count this day at all.
Now, this may come across as being morbid but truly it's just my inadequate words of thanks to a God who has provided me all that I've ever needed and so much more than I could have asked. So, if you are facing a birthday that you're not looking forward to because your age is older than you'd like, I'd encourage you to stop and think about all that God has done for you and count your blessings one by one. I suspect that by the time you're done (if you can ever truly finish such a task) you'll be ever so much more thankful for your upcoming day and able to celebrate with joy!
So, as I begin a new decade I'm encouraged by God's faithfulness in the days that have passed and resting solidly on His assured faithfulness in those to come. May you also do the same!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Philippians 4:8 From Another Perspective
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." - Philippians 4:8
Now, what if this had been written as a what-not-to-do list...I propose:
Finally, brothers, if you find something that is false or that does not give you a firm foundation or that you may wish to be true but isn't, a thought that is shameful or that encourages hiding from the light or that doesn't fight for truth, things that are wrong or evil or perhaps just not in staying on God's side of the fence, those things that are dirty and vile or maybe only slightly tarnished, whatever is ugly or imperfect or negative, things that are to be hidden from sight and disposed of instead of revered- if you find things that are not in keeping with God's standard, that don't glorify Him, that drag you into the world and take you farther from God - do not spend any ounce of your time thinking on such things.
Now, what if this had been written as a what-not-to-do list...I propose:
Finally, brothers, if you find something that is false or that does not give you a firm foundation or that you may wish to be true but isn't, a thought that is shameful or that encourages hiding from the light or that doesn't fight for truth, things that are wrong or evil or perhaps just not in staying on God's side of the fence, those things that are dirty and vile or maybe only slightly tarnished, whatever is ugly or imperfect or negative, things that are to be hidden from sight and disposed of instead of revered- if you find things that are not in keeping with God's standard, that don't glorify Him, that drag you into the world and take you farther from God - do not spend any ounce of your time thinking on such things.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Not You
Confession time: When I'm working through big things in my life I tend to talk to God while I'm driving along the road. So, if you ever pass me and I appear to be engaged in a deep conversation with nobody, that's likely me just working things out with the Lord.
This opening is important because on the way home today I was talking to the Lord about some big issues in my life; struggles that I just can't seem to wrap up in a neat package and emotions that leave me frustrated and a bit down. So, I was just talking to God, getting things off my heart and I found myself saying, "It's not you, it's me." As soon as the words passed my lips it made me laugh because it was such a funny thing to say when conversing with God!
After I thought about it though I saw a couple of things that I can take away from that random line. The first has to do with the statement itself and the fact that it rarely is God that I can blame for the things in my life that I struggle with. So much more often it's my thoughts or feelings running amok that cause the trouble, not God wrecking havoc on my neatly (!?) ordered life! So the reality is that when I'm walking through yucky things, so often I need to be looking at my own part in them and making sure that I'm not trying to cast the blame towards Him.
The second has to do with the typical context of this phrase. We all know that it most often comes into play during the closing statements in a relationship (to refer to such tumultuous talk in such a lawyerly context doesn't seem right but it'll do for now). When thinking about this in relationship to God, I realized that there are times when I feel like throwing in the towel in our relationship and how crazy that really is. How could I ever think that the solution to anything is to 'break up' with the perfect, holy, awesome God of the universe and walk away on my own? This might work on a human level and leaving an ill-fated relationship may actually be the best choice but it's never going to be the best choice when it comes to the Lord! This all just made me think of how much I need to (and truthfully do) rely on God in all my days and how I need to make sure that no matter where my path leads that I'm not trying to walk it in my own power and leave God out of the picture.
This opening is important because on the way home today I was talking to the Lord about some big issues in my life; struggles that I just can't seem to wrap up in a neat package and emotions that leave me frustrated and a bit down. So, I was just talking to God, getting things off my heart and I found myself saying, "It's not you, it's me." As soon as the words passed my lips it made me laugh because it was such a funny thing to say when conversing with God!
After I thought about it though I saw a couple of things that I can take away from that random line. The first has to do with the statement itself and the fact that it rarely is God that I can blame for the things in my life that I struggle with. So much more often it's my thoughts or feelings running amok that cause the trouble, not God wrecking havoc on my neatly (!?) ordered life! So the reality is that when I'm walking through yucky things, so often I need to be looking at my own part in them and making sure that I'm not trying to cast the blame towards Him.
The second has to do with the typical context of this phrase. We all know that it most often comes into play during the closing statements in a relationship (to refer to such tumultuous talk in such a lawyerly context doesn't seem right but it'll do for now). When thinking about this in relationship to God, I realized that there are times when I feel like throwing in the towel in our relationship and how crazy that really is. How could I ever think that the solution to anything is to 'break up' with the perfect, holy, awesome God of the universe and walk away on my own? This might work on a human level and leaving an ill-fated relationship may actually be the best choice but it's never going to be the best choice when it comes to the Lord! This all just made me think of how much I need to (and truthfully do) rely on God in all my days and how I need to make sure that no matter where my path leads that I'm not trying to walk it in my own power and leave God out of the picture.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Anybody have a map?
This week I could really use some help from somebody who knows what I should be doing with my life better than I do!
I'm trying to figure out what the best step is for me to take with my career and the distinct possibilities are very opposite and very time sensitive. There's a position with my current company that I have been encouraged to try for or I can start making plans to return to school in some capacity in order to completely switch job fields in the future.
There are pros and cons in both directions but I honestly don't feel strongly in one way or another and that makes the whole process one of second-guessing my thoughts and making list after list to try and determine the best move to make. Oh yes, and much prayer too! :)
Now, there are those who would just say that I like to worry so I'm making this a bigger deal than it should be. I'll agree that I'm not new to the worrying game but I'm also not sure that what I'm doing here is worrying. Maybe it qualifies and I'm just trying to think my way into validation. Definitely a possibility!
So I guess I'm just struggling and instead of not writing anything I thought I'd let you in on the struggle. An old friend of mine challenges me with his writing to let people see the journey, both the mountains and the valleys, and I want to do that here.
For now, I'll continue weighing the options and hoping for a big neon sign from heaven pointing in the best direction. Change is never fun but I look forward to where the path leads next - unknowns and all.
I'm trying to figure out what the best step is for me to take with my career and the distinct possibilities are very opposite and very time sensitive. There's a position with my current company that I have been encouraged to try for or I can start making plans to return to school in some capacity in order to completely switch job fields in the future.
There are pros and cons in both directions but I honestly don't feel strongly in one way or another and that makes the whole process one of second-guessing my thoughts and making list after list to try and determine the best move to make. Oh yes, and much prayer too! :)
Now, there are those who would just say that I like to worry so I'm making this a bigger deal than it should be. I'll agree that I'm not new to the worrying game but I'm also not sure that what I'm doing here is worrying. Maybe it qualifies and I'm just trying to think my way into validation. Definitely a possibility!
So I guess I'm just struggling and instead of not writing anything I thought I'd let you in on the struggle. An old friend of mine challenges me with his writing to let people see the journey, both the mountains and the valleys, and I want to do that here.
For now, I'll continue weighing the options and hoping for a big neon sign from heaven pointing in the best direction. Change is never fun but I look forward to where the path leads next - unknowns and all.
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