Post-Thanksgiving

I have to say as I get older I think I love Thanksgiving more and more. Of course I love the food- who can beat turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, zuchini bread (one of my favorite grandma's dishes) and deviled eggs (my other favorite of grandmas). Delicious. Of course we can't forget pumpkin pie with cool whip, or should I say cool whip with some pumpking pie. Yes, I do like a lot of whip on my pie :) I also love what Thanksgiving represents- I time to be thankful. Of course the pilgrims had a lot to be thankful for- floating across the ocean back then is very impressive, besides they didn't have vaccines, microwaves, electric heat- all things I can be thankful for now. I love when my consciousness turns to thankfulness my attitude begins to change. Maybe that's why God says- be thankful always for this is the Lord's will for you- let me back up- not maybe- it's 100% true.

Then Thanksgiving is over and it's hard to get back into the swing of things at work- I turn a little lazy. Then I go to the YMCA tonight for some PULSE class- man, oh man does my pulse go up in that class. I'm huffing and puffing even more tonight. I"m like I'm one of the younger ones in the class- I can't let these older people show me up. But as I'm laying on my side lifting my left leg up and rotating it for the 58th time the burning becomes a little too intense and I succumb to pain and rest and yes those older people kept plugging away. Maybe next time....

Tantrum

You know how I love to learn from the little ones I work with and observe their behavior and see how it can mirror my own. This past week I work with this little boy who loves and is fixated on playing basketball. He protests if he needs to stop- when entering into the therapy room he points and definately makes known his desire to play ball. This week the other therapist hid the basketball hoop and man oh man did this little one throw a fit. He got on the floor and cried and could hardly be contained because his favorite thing was missing. This little boy didn't realize that we wanted him to experience other good things- there's lots more out there, more toys to play with that he may enjoy just as much or even more. I got to thinking how we as adults can be fixated on something and we may be missing out on the other good things of God. How God wants us to experience His goodness and because we may be missing "something" that may be a good thing- that the Lord can open our eyes to see His ultimate purpose.

Time

I've been meaning to post this message for awhile, but as those of you who probably have given up reading my blog on a consistent basis due to my inconsistent blogging habits- all that to say one is probably not suprised for my delay.

Time- man, I've been pondering this one for awhile. Actually I had written about this in my last blog, but I've thought some more about time and God has showed me in His Word about His time. Time is something that I will never get my hands on- I will never have the authortiy to stop time; time will happen regardless of what I think or do; however there is importance of what I do in my time as will be read further down in the blog. So last Friday I was in Columbus and had spent two days there for a seminar and was missing my heavenly Father- longing for time in His word and with Him. So, I go to Ecclesiatics 3- so exciting! Let me write it down for you- There is an appointed time for everything. Really- take notice of that word- everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven- a time to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build up. A time to weep,and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing. A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to thorw away. A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace. Then in verse 11, which is so cool- He has made everything beautiful in its time...I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good in one's lifetime.

And that was so comforting to me- that God has made everything beautiful in its time- that includes people. I continue to think of a plant- and Jesus uses this example- of sowing- that a seed has to be planted and given good soil and water and then there takes time- the time for growing and that sometimes growth is occurring when we can't see it- during the elapsed time between planting and fruition.

God uses time to continue to shape us- to conform us to the image of His Son, His beautiful Son. Amen.