Looking UP

I was sitting in Freedom Park with my friend, Alena, and she said the most amazing thing. She said," People should look up more often at the trees!"

If you think about it, we spent our whole childhood looking up at the world in amazement. Now? We hardly see it. We are so caught up in our mind that we are busy thinking about or moving towards the "next" thing and ignoring everything around us. You can forget our taking a moment or two to look up!

You could take the idea of looking up in two ways. Literally as in looking up at the trees and the clouds in the sky or figuratively as we look to God for comfort, understanding and most of all to give him praise.

So often we get caught in the midst of going that we never really exist in that moment. It's not bad to look forward but it is bad to look completely past where you are and negate all that you are doing. 

When was the last time you looked up? When was the last time you just sat and took in your surroundings? Rather than calling someone after every great or bad thing that happens, spend that moment taking it in.

Feel that moment and love your life. It's the only one you have and it's a blessing!

Let's look up:

"Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word."
   Psalm 119: 37

Bouncing somewhere

Such a weird and crazy concept this God who is so big, being here for me. Dealing with something that to me has seemingly wrecked my life or at least my heart but in reality is so small compared to people who are starving and being killed every day. But that's how much God loves us. He cares about what hurts us and loves us through it. It might not always seem easy and it isn't but he provides a way if we look. I'm still praying and looking but I find some peace in the midst of everything knowing that God is here.

Finding my beauty in a new way with God right now.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
    1 Peter 3:3-4

It's going to be okay because God never leaves us, not even for a season. He hears us when we call.

"'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,' declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.'"
    Jeremiah 29:13-14

The choice

In each moment and each situation we are faced with two choices- light or dark, God or the world, truth or lies. Every moment we get to choose and today was a great example of that.

In a job that allows so much time to think, it's hard to not get consumed in thought and that usually leads to over analyzing but today God showed me a door out. He showed me a way to interact with a guest or increase the atmosphere and warmth of a room or just to talk to someone who always blesses my day.

It was a good day, but it didn't have to be. I'm thankful that overall I chose the good and that I let God's blessing pour into my life.

So good. Hope you choose the same too!

"That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe."
     1 Timothy 4:10

Blessings & Beer

The heart expands
when things don't go as planned
but we just go and do
something old and new

blessed to see
in the other
what God made us to be
and as we sit
and drink a beer
God only draws us near

to him and
to the other
and away we walk
all smiles and full of wonder

thankful for the day
and how God blessed it in every way!

"Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness."
    Psalm 115:1