Contentment. Is the glass really 1/2 empty or 1/2 full??

     Half empty or half full? Which side do you tend to lean to?  There was a time I would have answered you half full yet probably lived a litte more along the lines of hoping the glass was half full- yet preparing myself for it to be half empty.  See, I have had quite a few experiences in life that didn't pan out exactly like I expected them to.  It's these experiences that have led me to question whether the glass is really half full, or how I should approach a situation- would a half full glass veiw change my outcome  or do I need to approach not really expecting anything... more of a half empty glass view.  So I began asking people what they thought.  Most people gave me direct answers- then I asked one fella.  I asked him what he thought, half empty or half full... I think I about fell off my bed when he replied with neither of the options I gave him he said, "the cup just is."  What do you mean it just is??  I couldn't wrap my head around that thought... since then I've been dissecting what that really might look like to realize the cup just is.
     I know that in life, our formed expectations are what cause our disappointments.  When we go into a situation thinking that x, y, and z will happen and get there and a, b, and c actually happen- we get frustrated.  In a friendship when we state one thing and a friend doesn't respond exactly like we'd had planned they would we get aggravated.  Then we begin asking WHY?!  As believers, we say, Lord, WHY!??  If you are anything like me you've probably taken it to step (at some point) thinking Lord, but I've been so good- I've been reading my Bible, I've brought people to Church, etc. Why couldn't you just let me win this or experience that.  WHY, WHY, WHY??!
     But then, I started thinking about the idea that the cup just is.  If something just is, do you expect something from it or do you just let it be?  And what does that truely look like.  I know that in the Bible the Lord tells us He has given us EVERYTHING we need (2 Peter 1:2-9) for life and goodliness, He has come to give us LIFE (John 10:10), that those who hear His word do it will be BLESSED (James 1:22-25), that our cup OVERFLOWS (Ps. 23:5), and when we DELIGHT in Him, our hearts DESIRES will be met.  Then why on Earth do we sometimes feel like He's still not giving us enough? 
     Seriously- how selfish are we?  Nothing compares to what He gave while on the cross- there is nothing more anyone could give.  He was and is the perfect sacrifice for YOU, for ME (2 Cor. 5:21).  He is the BLESSING, every part of WHO He is and WHAT HE'S done for us.  Here's the cool thing though...
     Once we've realized WHAT He's done, we get to be part of WHAT HE IS TO DO.  We are so incredibly blessed to get to be a part of HIStory- seeing changed lives, and when we see changed lives He propels us on to do MORE for Him.  Sometimes we run into those situations (like I mentioned above) that don't work out quite the way I wanted them to.  THANKgoodness for a Lord who loves me enough to continually teach me, and grow me- because hind sight shows I needed those experiences to know and understand Him more, for Him to fine tune who He wants me to be. 
     To end I should probably go back to the inital thought.  "Is the glass really 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?" How about it just is.  As we approach life I pray we understand that the Lord is not our genie in a bottle to grant us Earthly pleasures but that He wants to bless us with the opportunity to TAKE PART in what He is doing- changing lives for Him.  Live life expecting the Lord to do big things, allowing you to experience things that propel you to further His KINGDOM.  FIND the middle ground of contentment stretching both arms out to the sides palms up on one side expecting the Lord to do BIG things, and in the other hand holding EVERY thought, desire, passion you have for life.  If you are really doing this you'll notice that leaves you directly in the middle, the place where contentment is found. I pray you walk in it today :) Be blessed!
  

A Desire He's Put in You

Have you ever..
Felt like you heard a voice or stirring in your Spirit,
telling you to do a simple task in the midst of a busy season.
Lord, but why? I don't have time. 
But deep down you know you do.
Because when you take time to think about it,
what He's saying is actually a desire He's put in you.

It's been awhile, since I've done this Lord
I don't know if I have things to say. 
I hear Him whisper once again
Your obedience will pave the way.

I sit at the computer,
I draw a blank- Lord its time to deliver.
With no certain thoughts I begin to move my fingers
and the words begin to paint the page.

I write about His Love,
His Word,
His Life,
and the Cross...
How His forgiveness bring life to you, to me, to us- the lost.

I sat and ponder how the words just flowed
once I gave Him control.
Why do we continually wait to stop
and simply let things go?

Were told His ways are not our ways,
His thought we can't comprehend.
Why would we wait another second
to give everything to Him?
Don't wait to move when He asks you to,
You don't wanna miss out on what He has planned.
So I'll ask this simple question once again,
to bring this poem to an end.

Have you ever..
Felt like you heard a voice or stirring in your Spirit,
telling you to do a simple task in the midst of a busy season.
Lord, but why? I don't have time.
But deep down you know you do.
Because when you take time to think about it,

You know it's a desire He's put in you.

Two worlds of blue

Sitting in this boat,

What can be seen?

A world of blue a world of green.

Okay, no green but double blue,

Two worlds of blue I see.



The blue of the air,

The blue of water

Meet together at the sun.

As I sit I ponder,

how these two worlds of blue begun.



In the beginning our God He spoke

Creation had began,

He created the birds of the air,

The mammals in sea & on land.



Back to reality in these worlds of blue

I remember I’m on a boat.

Time to stop & gaze on the beauty

That surrounds me with every stroke.



Guided through the water

Each stroke a new sight to see,

Whether the birds or the fish,

The beautiful blue worlds surround me.



Most view the world in blue and green,

Yet in a boat you’ll find,

There is no green, but double blue

Two worlds of blue I see.

"Now is the time"

The Lord lately has been speaking to me through little phrases.  This Spring I was constently thinking of the silly phrase "If life brings your lemons, make lemonaid!" I was constantly praying asking the Lord if it was worth it to make lemonaid, and if it was how I went about making lemonaid.   Remembering scriptures such as Neh 8:10 "The Joy of the Lord is my strength" and John 10:10, ".. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  I would struggle with the fact that I did have Jesus and I should have His joy, a full life in Him and geese I was trying hard a making things work (to make lemonaid of the situation I was in but it never came). As I sought the Lord He showed me a different "recipe" if you will; I thought for the longest time to make lemonaid I needed to stay where I was at and make things better.  But after seeking the Lord I I realized I didn't have to stay where I was, I had the freedom to follow my desires (the desires He'd given me) and to move in a different direction.  It wasn't an easy process to step in faith, even though it was something I so badly desired to do.  It did however end in one heaping glass of very, very sweet lemonaid.  :-)

Another phrase I had going on in my mind this Spring was  "when the going gets tough, the tough getting going!"  I thought about this often followed by my thoughts of thinking, "I've always thought I was tough, but man when the the going gets tough- I don't get tough, I get tired, I get weary.  I would think on Isaiah 40:28-31"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired  His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary."  I needed help, I had worked so hard at "making lemonaid" I was exhausted, I couldn't make it work any longer.  I needed Jesus, I needed His strength and He delivered.  I really thought that once He showed me the the direction I was supposed to go that life would get a lot easier, a little less heavy.  Little did I know making a tough decision is hard, and though I knew I was doing the right thing of moving- it was hard to take the steps to make that happen.  I was completely exhausted, mentally, spritually, emotionally, I HAD to lean on the Lord and remember what He'd shown me above through the process of seeking Him.  He would be my strength, He was my strength.  It wasn't me who got tough to get going, the Lord through me was tough and got me going.  He filled the gap, just like He's done many times before. 

Lately the phrase that has been going through my head is, "now is the time."  Transition in life is always interesting, things/ schedules get a little off course, and it takes awhile for things to get settled back into a sense of normalness.  I feel like the Lord's chanting in my ear "now is the time" coinsides with my life becoming more normal.  (if normal is even possible.)  See, my time in the boonies was great because it allowed me to get good picture of what a semi-balanced life looks like (minus a few things).  The Lord showed me some essentials that need to be in my life daily for me to experience life to the full thru Him.  Life is slowing down, things are settling and He is saying "now is the time" to get back to the basis of those things.  Orgainization of life, exercise, time in the Word, fellowship with people, etc.  As I walk through this I just wanted to throw the thought out to you, what is "now" the time for you?  What is the Lord asking you to partake in, change, or where would He like you to go? 

I know, if you are anything like me you are already thinking... Lord, what if I fail?  What if I can't make it happen just like I feel it should?  What if I can't make the time?  As I question I hear Him say, ""My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."  I have to continualy realized that it's NOT ABOUT ME, it's not about what I can do but IT IS all about Him and what He wants to do.  Just like when the going was tough and He made me strong He will once again fill the gap so that He can be glorified.  Take a step of faith today not only remembering that the Lord is sufficient for us, making us perfect in our weakness but also that we are promised that this "now is the time" moment is part of Him molding and making us to be more like Him, and ultimately letting Him be glorified. In Philippians we are told, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."  Daily the Lord is working in us and through us to make us more like Him.  Take a step today in the direction He is taking you.. Now is the time.  Be blessed!

Runs Deep

The desires of my heart,


Your will runs so deep.

It puts movement to my feet,

And tells me when to speak.

Patiently waiting Lord to see your plan,

I will seek your face-

I will rest in your hands.

Your timing is perfect,

As surely as winter turns to spring.

Like a wild flower blooming,

Which brings a smile, daily to me.

Without question we should trust and obey.

Your character never changes,

You are the one thing that stays the same.

The desires you’ve given me,

I know will come to be.

Because it’s Your will I desire,

It’s Your will that runs deep.

Red fingernail polish.

For some reason I have a lot of "phrases" going through my head right now..they have been continually flooding my brain kinda like a broken record if you will. (and I know you will).  I think they started when I painted my fingernail red.. (red romance that is-ha!)


Some of these are:
Hmmm... I don't know how I feel about that.  Funny thing is, I haven't had much to think about.

Sassy, but classy..haha (I'm feeling sassy today- whatever that means!)

Move along, move along.

Yay, buddy!

Well, mylanta! (who says this? apparently I do now..)

Really??  (that's what I said after attempting to fix my hair this morning)

I can turn a gray sky blue, I can make it rain whenever I want it too.. (that's the song thats been in my head for 3ish days)
I wonder...

Are all things really as they seem?

Sometimes you have to be willing to take a risk.


How does a pair of jeans fit the same if you've lost 20 pounds.. ya, thats weird.  Does that mean the scale is lying to me?

I wonder what those choc/ pb bars taste like that I made last night.. (the fact that the recipe says one was 216 calories has kept me from finding out).  I'm needing a jdm..

I'm not good at taking pictures yet.. i'll try to get better. :)  After posting this I thought I could post some more pictures...

I thought it might be fun to show one (whoever that one maybe) where I daily run. Most the thoughts that run through my head happen here, all other times I'm just a blank canvas. 

Me looking silly, and feeling sassy (at work mind you).. red fingernail polish will do that to you every time.

We are simply following Him...

Holy moly! What have I done?


A leap of faith, and I’m on the run.

I don’t know where this search will take me

I am confident however the Lords voice will direct me.



Taking a step can be hard, can be scary

Do I need to hurry up, or do I need slow down & tarry..

Question after question thought after thought

The mental aspect alone, for me is a lot!



Paul in Philippians gives some good advice,

Do not be anxious, take time to pray.

The words that follow go on to say:

think on these 8 words in the midst of your day.

(Think on things that are true, noble, right, pure,

Lovely, admirable, excellent & praiseworthy)



The combination of these things comes with a promise too.

Think on these things and

The peace of God will be with you!

What a promise, what a truth in the midst of seeking the Lord.

He is always with us,

He won't leave us alone.



Be strong and courageous DO NOT fear..

The book of Joshua commands and tells us the Lord will always be near.

So instead of stopping and thinking Holy Moly! What have a done?

Stop and pray not my will Lord but yours be done!



The Lord will answer, He will direct.

His timing is perfect, we must not forget.

He is the author and perfector of our faith,

In Hebrews were told He’s the

Same, yesterday, forever and today!



What a blessing,

Will you take hold?

He wants to be your Savior,

To make and to mold.

To teach you daily how to live for Him.

Where we no long have to say

Holy moly! what have I done,

We just know we are simply following Him.