This is an excerpt from Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life. It's a refreshing reminder that our past does not dictate our future or who we are today. May the truth of this puncture your heart with hope...
"We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it. God's purpose is not limited by your past. He turned a murderer named Moses into a leader and a coward named Gideon into a courageous hero, and he can do amazing things with the rest of your life, too. God specializes in giving people a fresh start."
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Gunk
When I purchased my condo back in March, my garbage disposal was making this terrible grinding noise. The inspector had said it was probably a bent blade. I hadn't had a garbage disposal in eight years, so what did I know? After a few weeks, the grinding turned into humming which turned into no sound at all. Thanks to my sister having a similar issue, I knew there was a reset button at the bottom of the disposal. I pressed it and.....it turned the humming back on and then tripped it off again. So, I researched some informative how-to videos on YouTube because I was determined to save myself some money and fix it myself. Don't all new homeowners think this way?
After trying the reset button, according to the several videos I watched, I was to cut the power off either by unplugging the disposal or switching the breaker to 'off.' After cutting the power, I placed a 1/4" allen wrench in the hexagonal hole at the bottom of the disposal. According to the videos, you should be able to turn your wrench left to right, clockwise and counterclockwise. This loosens up any gunk or debris that is causing the jam in the part of the unit that is called the flywheel. (The humming noise is an indicator that there is a jam, so in every video each teacher said this is an easy diy fix.) Well, I couldn't even budge the flywheel. I'm talking no movement, period. I used all my might, in fact, and almost ripped the disposal off the sink completely. Whatever was causing the jam, was jammed so well that I couldn't see how I could've fixed this on my own, after all. But little did that disposal know, I am not a girl who gives up easily.
I did some more research and read helpful tips on websites that talked about using a broom handle in the sink to help loosen the flywheel from up top. Well, I didn't have a broom handle, so I used my rolling pin. (I found out later that a wooden spoon is a good option, too). Picture a determined woman with a rolling pin down the hole in her sink pushing with all her might to make the flywheel budge and....nothing. I was afraid I was going to break something. I was close to waving my white kitchen towel in surrender, when I came across another blog. Some guy had similar issues. He, too, tried everything. He even tried some WD-40. (Aha! I have some of that! I thought.) He was successful after the broom handle trick. I was determined WD-40 was my answer.
I sprayed some WD-40 down the hole around both blades and the center. I got down on my knees for what I knew would be my final attempt before I conceded and called a plumber. While down on my knees , I prayed a simple request for God's help. I also prayed that I wouldn't break anything. Sounds silly, right? But as I was on my knees, I thought God cares about every hair on my head, why wouldn't He care about being involved with this? After that prayer, I had confidence and strength, and I thought okay, God, this is in Your hands.
I turned the allen wrench to the left and...it budged!! I turned it to the right...it budged that way too! I couldn't believe it! I got so excited I started to laugh and got up to see if it really was moving, so I tried the rolling pin down the hole again. Sure enough, it moved! I stuck my hand down (I know all the videos said not to ever do this but the power was completely off), and I was able to turn the flywheel! I danced around the kitchen with excitement. Whatever gunk and debris that caused my disposal to jam was now cleared out! I turned the allen wrench several times clockwise and several times counterclockwise just to be sure I loosened everything up. Then, I turned the power back on, and voila! My disposal sounded as good as new! The blades weren't bent at all! My guess is that there was a lot of broken glass from the previous owner that caused it to jam up.
Aren't are lives a lot like this? We jam up our hearts and minds with a lot of gunk and debris. Pretty soon that gunk causes us to stop functioning properly. What's worse is that it causes our spiritual flywheel to stop spinning. We need to let go of the gunk. We need the freedom of Christ to help us to function properly again. We need to let Him come in with His power and might, to reset our spiritual buttons, and to bring us back to full power to do what He designed us to do. Let us live our lives clear of the gunk.
After trying the reset button, according to the several videos I watched, I was to cut the power off either by unplugging the disposal or switching the breaker to 'off.' After cutting the power, I placed a 1/4" allen wrench in the hexagonal hole at the bottom of the disposal. According to the videos, you should be able to turn your wrench left to right, clockwise and counterclockwise. This loosens up any gunk or debris that is causing the jam in the part of the unit that is called the flywheel. (The humming noise is an indicator that there is a jam, so in every video each teacher said this is an easy diy fix.) Well, I couldn't even budge the flywheel. I'm talking no movement, period. I used all my might, in fact, and almost ripped the disposal off the sink completely. Whatever was causing the jam, was jammed so well that I couldn't see how I could've fixed this on my own, after all. But little did that disposal know, I am not a girl who gives up easily.
I did some more research and read helpful tips on websites that talked about using a broom handle in the sink to help loosen the flywheel from up top. Well, I didn't have a broom handle, so I used my rolling pin. (I found out later that a wooden spoon is a good option, too). Picture a determined woman with a rolling pin down the hole in her sink pushing with all her might to make the flywheel budge and....nothing. I was afraid I was going to break something. I was close to waving my white kitchen towel in surrender, when I came across another blog. Some guy had similar issues. He, too, tried everything. He even tried some WD-40. (Aha! I have some of that! I thought.) He was successful after the broom handle trick. I was determined WD-40 was my answer.
I sprayed some WD-40 down the hole around both blades and the center. I got down on my knees for what I knew would be my final attempt before I conceded and called a plumber. While down on my knees , I prayed a simple request for God's help. I also prayed that I wouldn't break anything. Sounds silly, right? But as I was on my knees, I thought God cares about every hair on my head, why wouldn't He care about being involved with this? After that prayer, I had confidence and strength, and I thought okay, God, this is in Your hands.
I turned the allen wrench to the left and...it budged!! I turned it to the right...it budged that way too! I couldn't believe it! I got so excited I started to laugh and got up to see if it really was moving, so I tried the rolling pin down the hole again. Sure enough, it moved! I stuck my hand down (I know all the videos said not to ever do this but the power was completely off), and I was able to turn the flywheel! I danced around the kitchen with excitement. Whatever gunk and debris that caused my disposal to jam was now cleared out! I turned the allen wrench several times clockwise and several times counterclockwise just to be sure I loosened everything up. Then, I turned the power back on, and voila! My disposal sounded as good as new! The blades weren't bent at all! My guess is that there was a lot of broken glass from the previous owner that caused it to jam up.
Aren't are lives a lot like this? We jam up our hearts and minds with a lot of gunk and debris. Pretty soon that gunk causes us to stop functioning properly. What's worse is that it causes our spiritual flywheel to stop spinning. We need to let go of the gunk. We need the freedom of Christ to help us to function properly again. We need to let Him come in with His power and might, to reset our spiritual buttons, and to bring us back to full power to do what He designed us to do. Let us live our lives clear of the gunk.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."
Hebrews 12:1
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Enjoyment of Life
I'm totally a Groupon junkie. I'm either daily on the website or scrolling through every email I get from the company just to see if there's any new adventure for me to go on, new class-be it art or exercise-to try, new product, or new restaurant. Since moving to Houston a year ago and since coming from a small town, Groupon has been my tour guide, if you will, around this new city as well as my courage to go out and do something new.
My something new today, thanks to Groupon was a yoga class. Well, truthfully, I tried "Yoga in the Park" last summer a couple of times, which takes place at Discovery Green (fun, free thing to do if you live in the Houston area), but that yoga class was more for simple stretching and breathing. The yoga class I went to today was the real deal. Balance and strength are definitely lacking for me, but I am determined to milk this Groupon for all its worth, which is unlimited yoga classes for a month. Therefore, I have committed myself to doing yoga every day for the next 30 days with the exception of the week I will be out-of-town. My goals are to strengthen and find my balance.
Why am I telling you all of this? One, my gratitude for companies like Groupon, who make it possible for people like me to afford a new adventure; and yes, yoga counts as an adventure. Two, don't be afraid to try something new. I met some new people today, I got out of my monotonous routine, I pushed myself both physically and mentally, and I did something good for my body. Three, God wants us to enjoy life. He wants us to spread our wings, soar new heights, see new sights. He wants us to interact with others and the world around us. There is so much beauty in this world. There is so much to see and do. I encourage you to be bold, be brave, and go try something new. Enjoy this life. It is precious. It is quick to change. It is temporal. Let us glorify God in everything we do. Namaste.
My something new today, thanks to Groupon was a yoga class. Well, truthfully, I tried "Yoga in the Park" last summer a couple of times, which takes place at Discovery Green (fun, free thing to do if you live in the Houston area), but that yoga class was more for simple stretching and breathing. The yoga class I went to today was the real deal. Balance and strength are definitely lacking for me, but I am determined to milk this Groupon for all its worth, which is unlimited yoga classes for a month. Therefore, I have committed myself to doing yoga every day for the next 30 days with the exception of the week I will be out-of-town. My goals are to strengthen and find my balance.
Why am I telling you all of this? One, my gratitude for companies like Groupon, who make it possible for people like me to afford a new adventure; and yes, yoga counts as an adventure. Two, don't be afraid to try something new. I met some new people today, I got out of my monotonous routine, I pushed myself both physically and mentally, and I did something good for my body. Three, God wants us to enjoy life. He wants us to spread our wings, soar new heights, see new sights. He wants us to interact with others and the world around us. There is so much beauty in this world. There is so much to see and do. I encourage you to be bold, be brave, and go try something new. Enjoy this life. It is precious. It is quick to change. It is temporal. Let us glorify God in everything we do. Namaste.
"So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun."
Ecclesiastes 8:15
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Chosen to be Christ to Somebody
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9
Chosen. We are all chosen to be somebody. We are all chosen to be somebody to somebody else. That somebody we ought to be is Christ. I love the saying, "You may be the only Bible people read." How true. I like to think you may be the only Christ people know. Therefore, who we are in Christ is reflected in what we do and in what we say. If we are to be Christ's ambassadors, or ones who represent Him, then we are to love with the same life-changing love He gives to us.
The problem I face is that life sucks all the love out of me: deadlines, appointments, bills, emails, texts, phone calls, plans to make, plans to change, people to spend time with, meetings to schedule, laundry to fold, books to read, papers to file, toilets to scrub, doors to fix, holes to fill, dishes to wash, groceries to buy, food to cook, closets to organize, movies to watch, news to keep up with, church to attend, Bible study work to complete, teeth to brush, clothes to buy, clothes to give away, exercise needed, and sleep to be had at some point. Life-changing love isn't going to happen until my life changes. I have been easily entangled by all the life-sucking piranhas aforementioned. I haven't allowed the life-changing and the life-giving love of Christ to fill me.
"Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name."
Deuteronomy 10:15-20
Deuteronomy 10:15-20
We are all chosen to love and to be loved by the one and only true God. Therefore, let us not be stiff-necked any longer. Let us not allow ourselves to be entitled to receive; but rather, let us give without expectation and without condition. Let us not let life suck all the love out of us because if we spend quality time every day with the Lord of Love, then we will never be dry. Hold fast to the life-changing, life-giving Source of love. Then, others will know Christ lives in us and they will want to know more about what it means to be chosen.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Be a Champion
Love this talk by Rita Pierson...
Our attitudes every day can either reflect light or deflect it. Live today with a desire to shine brightly. By doing so, you will be a champion to whomever you encounter.
Our attitudes every day can either reflect light or deflect it. Live today with a desire to shine brightly. By doing so, you will be a champion to whomever you encounter.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Joy and Trials Don't Mix, Do They?
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith
produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
This has been a year of trials for me. Trials I didn't want. Trials I'm sure I asked for, and trials I didn't even see coming. Joy was not a part of any of these trials. Is it ever? There were times, in fact, during a trial I said to God, "I don't want this." I'm sure I disappointed Him because I know I've disappointed myself looking back on this year of trials and how I handled them.
I did not handle the many trials I had over the past year with grace, appreciation, and certainly not with joy. I fought them. I resented them, and I gave up many times. My faith faltered. My relationship with God was shaky, and I began to hate who I was. I have often thought about how (King) David felt running from his trials and hiding in caves. He certainly wrote some of the most emotional and beautiful psalms during his time of trials. He wasn't joy-filled about the trials, but he remained joy-filled towards the Lord and Who God is. I wish I could say the same.
God is not going to stop believing in us. He's not going to stop loving us, and because of these two things, He is not going to stop testing us. He doesn't want to see us suffer, but He wants us to see Him in our suffering. As long as sin is a part of this world, there will be suffering and trials of many kinds. God wants us to see Him through the suffering and by seeing Him, we can experience pure joy and perseverance. By doing so, we will become complete and mature, not lacking anything. Joy and trials don't mix, but a faithful child of God will find joy in the midst of a trial. Help us, O Lord, to find You and in doing so, joy, in every trial we're facing. Amen.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Fruit, Failure, and Faithfulness
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." John 15:5-6I've been abiding in resentment. I haven't been abiding in my Christ because I've been resentful towards Him. The fruit I've bore as a result have been selfishness, laziness, loneliness, impatience, anger, greediness, and pride. I've not been accepting the life He has given me. I've been hurt by the choices He's made for me because I haven't understood them.
No wonder I've been feeling lost. I haven't been attached to the Vine! So while I've been attempting to love Jesus and follow Him, I've been failing miserably because I've not remained in Him; and as He said, "Apart from me you can do nothing" (verse 5). How true those words are! If I cannot love Jesus the way He ought to be loved (which can only be done if I'm attached to Love Himself), then I cannot do anything. I will fail at everything.
Thankfully, He has not given up on me, and He has gently, patiently pursued me with His truths. I now see how amazing, loving, and generous He is as a Father; and like a good parent, He has made decisions for me that are in my best interests knowing I wouldn't like them and that I would even be resentful towards him. So, so glad He loves me despite my bratty behavior!
Our omniscient God cares and loves us so much that He desires us to remain in Him. He knows what is best for us and what kind of fruit looks good on us! He promises us He has plans that give hope and a future for us, not harm (see Jeremiah 29:11). Harm does come. It's a part of being in this sinful world and being sinful people, but He hasn't once failed to keep a promise, and He never will fail. I know now I must wholeheartedly trust Him even if I don't understand and I don't get what I want. He knows best. He doesn't want to see us branches being picked up and thrown into the fire. No, He wants to see us bear much fruit--the kind of fruit that shows we branches can do anything in Christ!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)