Growing from the crack

One day while walking along a downtown street in a bad part of East Los Angeles California several years ago sad from my worries I saw a sight that made me smile and wonder in awe of it. I saw a beautiful perfect purple flower growing in the smallest of cracks in the asphalt in the middle of this ugly street.

It was a perfect picture to me of how amazing God is. It wasn't by chance that this beautiful flowers seed blew on the breeze for so long far away from any others to land in that crack. How amazing that there was just enough soil and just enough water so it could grow in this wasteland.

Somehow in the midst of its surrounding God made it grow. Somehow cars missed driving over it and somehow it survived beyond it's circumstances.

Sometimes I feel like I am that flower. Sometimes I feel like I am surrounded by bad news on the news and negitive people looking sourly at the outlook for life as we know it to the point of losing hope. It's like if you have a piece of good news you don't feel like you can share it when the outlook is so dim for the world and the people in it.

Who wants to hear of your little joys when their sorrows are so big for the world? You can have a inner party for the little blessing you have going on in your life but at some point you want to share it. You want others to see there is a hope in you and something that makes you see that sun and grow in the midst of that crack in the ground. See the sun today and grow even if your stuck with just a little soil trying to sprout in that crack in the ground.

Fruit:Peace

Verse: I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me

Song in my head: As the Deer

Do you have a Ruff?

When I was a little girl the light of my life was my grandmother. She was a precious woman who loved me unconditionally and gave her heart to me. She was an open door with a huge hug waiting for me inside. I could melt into those arms that would unfold for me to fall into when I scarped my knee or just needed some encouragement.

When my grandmother got cancer when I was 11 and passed away it tore me away from the joy I knew in her hugs. She left behind for me though a bit of her comfort. It was in one of the gifts my grandmother gave to me before she died. It was a piece of her to keep and hold in those times when I just needed a hug and someone to cry with. It was this huge stuffed dog that I so creatively name Ruff.

I couldn’t ever part with Ruff during all the challenges in my life. It’s silly really to think of a grown woman with a stuffed dog she sometimes lets herself cry with. I don’t care though because I know the love behind the stuffed animal is really what is comforting me in those times I need that bit of relief.

Life is messy and full of stresses and everyday little troubles that can leave you feeling like you need a good cry every once and awhile. The key is to let yourself recognize you need to stop and let it happen. Take out that Ruff and cry for a bit and move on.

Another thing my grandma taught me was that there was a God I could pray to and find the peace I needed to move past those good cry times. Ruff is the doll that I hug but he only symbolizes the comfort and peace I seek. Gods love takes me to that place of perfect peace after I lose my worries and let God take them. He can take yours too if you would just let Him.

Fruit: Peace
Song in my head: Jesus loves me
Verse: Psalm 71: 20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. 21 You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. 22 I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

Staying strong

Encouragement comes only when you listen for it.. here is a song that gave it to me..

You're in the moment now
A bitter root A wandering eye
and then The ties that bind start wearing thin, thin
You're in the moment now
When all you've been blessed with Is not enough
Here's where the ground gets loose
Here's where the devils call your bluff

Stay strong You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
You've gotta stay strong

You and I run For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way
We've seen the tragic flaws
The tortured souls The saints with feet of clay
Here's where sin becomes cliche'
We've come through wilderness and watched
The cloud by day The burning sky into dawn

Have you forgotten who you are?
Did you forget whose trip you're on?
Stay strong You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
We've gotta stay strong
You and I run For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way

Get up, there's further to go
Get up, there's more to be done
Get up, this witness is sure
Get up, this race can be won
This race can be won
We've gotta stay strong
You are not lost

Come on and fix your eyes ahead
Our Father's dawn will light our day, our day
Come on and stay strong
His grip is sure
And His patience still endures
There'll be no letting go today, no way
Come on, and stay strong
You and I run For the prize that lies ahead

We've come too far to lose our way, our way

Fruit: Peace
Song in my head: Stay strong -Newsboys
Verse:Philippians 3:14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.