"Blessings"

So this is a song I've been hearing on the radio a lot lately.  And a friend just happened to share the store behind the song via Facebook. 

It's a great song, one that I've been looking for since hearing it about 2weeks ago but Itunes doesn't have it, yet.  So my guess is I'm going to have to head to the Christian bookstore to find it. 

If you are stuggling with anything - anything at all- I really really recomend taking the time to listen to the song (that's the 2nd video)
and just close your eyes- allow God to speak to you through it. 
Soak in his love for you no matter what you have going on.  No matter what you feeling. 

I do too much...

Today was/is one of those days where I feel like I do waaaayyyyyy too much.


Ever have one of those days? A day where you think to yourself, "how do I have any hair left?" Seriously, today was the stressful type that I thought I was about to either



A. Pull out my hair in frustration


or


B. It would fall out from stress.



Work is CRAZY right now for me.


Which while I like my job I don't currently LOVE it.


Probably because apparently the consensus is that I CAN do it ALL.


Because they keep giving me work, and giving me work.


Yet take nothing away.




Which don't get me wrong it's great job security but at the end of the day when I feel like I'm not really making a dent in it, it's well FRUSTRATING!

So I know that it's just a job and all of that.  And I know that at the end of the day I do get to go home. 

But do you ever see that transcend into your personal life? 
Do you ever see yourself taking on too much?
Do you ever have to stop and just take time to breathe?  Take time to focus on what's important?
I wish I could say I didn't have to do that.  That I didn't allow myself to get too busy to read my Bible, to pray like I should, to study as much as I know it would be of benefit.

But more often then not I say yes to too many things, things that aren't bad things - things that aren't wrong.  But they are still things, and yes there are times that some of those things do draw me closer to who He is...like when I'm "working" in the photography stuff, and I can see God's beauty shining in the eyes of a child or in the flowers of a garden. 

However not saying NO sometimes takes me away from Him,  because I get home tired, worn out and just plain exhausted.

So today I challenge you, put down the computer, walk away from the blog or anything thing that could be a distraction.  Start saying No to things and Yes to Him. 
Start making time now for Him.

I'm not ready...

We are now 3 days out from the trip. 
I say 3 because Monday is pretty much over and then we leave Friday morning at 8 am so it doesn't get to count as a day. 

And I'm not ready.  I haven't packed.  I haven't even gotten everything that I need. 
I don't feel ready.  I feel ...well, crazy kinda. 
I know it will all come together.  It always does.
And I'm trying not to stress.  But it's hard. 

A friend asked if I was excited about the trip.  Right now I'm not.  Not will all this left to do. 
but I so very much look forward to it.
It getting away from life as I currently know it. To stepping away from me.
To stepping toward God again.  In a real, physical, tangable way. 
I look forward to reaching out to those around me, the nationals that need us, that need God. 
And I look forward to reaching my hands up to Him, for Him to heal my heart. To heal my soul.
Yes the situation I've been in was of my own making.  But thank God that He is not a God that leaves us to wallow in the mud.  He is willing to help us out of it if we ask...heck he's willing to help us even if we don't ask. 
And He loves us, you & me both, regardless of the stupid things we do. 

I asked a friend for some good scripture to help me with my frame of mind for the trip. 
This is one of the ones he sent me. 
I hope you enjoy it and that it touches your heart like it did mine. 

Wouldn't the world be  a better place if we all lived like this?  Wouldn't we be much better people if we did?  I want to....

Romans 12:9 21 the message

9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.