Feeding the dog

Which dog are you feeding today? I was thinking about this today and decided to try it out as a thought in the back of my mind while going through my day.

Last night at my small group meeting my friend Mary brought up an old saying that I had forgotten. It has to do with a white dog and a black dog. The black dog represents the bad things you do to yourself and wrong or sins you do. The white dog is the good things you do in your life and represents your relationship with God.

So my question to myself on the way home from group last night made me think of which dog I was feeding. In the end the dog with the most food wins the fight for my peace and growth.

So today I took an intentional approach to see a picture of who I was feeding to see how the day went. It is amazing how evident your trials and little things you need to go through in a day can become when you acknowledge them. It seems like that old saying just keeps being true that when you bring things that you struggle with to the light they die there so you can move quickly to the blessing of growing from those little trials in everyday life.

So here is to feeding the White dog who has your best interest at heart. He is a sweet puppy with boundless energy and health ready to blaze the trail. Feeding him most today really just made my day. I fed him today by spending time with God reading His word eating healthy and going to the gym for my physical self. If only I could do it everyday.

Fruit: Joy

Song in my head: If I were a... (kids song I cant remember the name of)

Verse: Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

On top of the clouds

Looking up at the grey clouds above me on my drive home from work today I couldn’t help but wonder. It felt like the day had brought these dark clouds in that went on forever. The sky so dark had made the day dreary and long. It felt like I was stuck under this big sky of dark clouds that went on forever without a break.

Driving down the road on my way from Tacoma to Olympia Washington I started to see a little part in between the darkness. It started as a little beam of light peeking through so I could see a sweet little taste of the sun on the other side of those dark clouds hiding the light. It slowly opened just a bit wider and yet a bit more to reveal a glimpse of the glory of a beautiful blue sky with light all around.

I could tell that the sun was always shining on the other side of those clouds. But when my eyes could only see those dark clouds on a glance I had stopped looking up believing I wouldn’t see the light all day. Seeing that opening up in the sky made me think of how I would love to fly up there and dance around on top of the clouds for a bit. It would be great to be free to fly up there and feel the sun on my face. Maybe then I could feel the Son.

Have you ever felt like you were on the wrong side of the clouds on a dreary day? Have you ever felt like you were stuck there? I felt like this today. Then as I saw the sun peeking through and theblue sky it made me remember that the sun is always shining on the other side.

God’s love is like the Sun. It’s always there shining bright on the other side that I can’t always see from where I am at. I just have to look past those dark clouds all around and realize it is always there for me. I just have to keep doing that next right thing to see it.

If I do that and open my eyes and yet close them at the same time I can see His love is here and now always there for me shining His light so I can dance free in it. So even when I can’t see it I can believe it is there. CS lewis wrote “I believe in Christianity just as I believe the sun has risen, not only because I can see it but because by it I see everything else”.

Fruit: Peace
Song in my head: Everlasting God – Lincoln Brewster

Verse: Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.

Perfect Love casts out all fear

“He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”- Proverbs 17:9

The grace of God is like an ocean so vast and deep that it can not be imagined. I can try to think it through but there is absolutely no sense to it. I was thinking about grace today. Most likely this is because, the Lord knows I truely need it

There are so many ways we can fail God and not live up to the expectations we have for ourselves to be the best version of ourselves in a Christian life yet we are clean and forgiven

I think it is sometimes harder for us to have grace for ourselves and to let God give us His grace. It's like we have a need to punish ourselves because we can not fathom a loving forgiving God. It is amazing that He is everywhere seeing all of our failures yet is giving us grace and not loving us less for even one second.

He grace is showing us how to love and not to fear it. His perfect love casts out all fear and doubt. Even when we are not strong enough or think we are not good enough we can trust. He knows we can't do it alone and is by our side. We just have try to do the next right thing everyday.

Fruit:Love

Song in my head: Only grace - Matthew West

Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "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.

Fish kisses

Sometimes I feel like Im a fish swimming quickly to the surface for a breath of life to releave the stress of holding my breath when I hit something.

I hit a clear window just before I get to the surface. It doesn't allow me to get to the clear blue sky that I can see through the window just before air above the water. I know if I could just get past it I would breathe again easily and have some relief.

Yet again I have to keep holding my breath sitting there waiting for that window to open. It seems like a cruel joke of God for that window to be clear because it lets me see the world above that could releave me just above the waters I'm swimming in.

It holds me back. It's hard to be so close to see through the water, through the window and have to turn back realizing the window isn't open for me to swim through so I can catch my breath. I just have to keep holding my breath swimming and praying that I have the breath and strength inside me to keep swimming.

As I am at my last swimming and feeling exhausted and weary is when I realize that I have to pray for the breath of God to breathe new life into me. I can't survive on my own as a fish in this sea. Maybe it's all about stopping swimming and just being still looking for that spirit of God to give me some mouth to mouth resitation.

Only a God who loves me would kiss this fish with a breath of life and give it away without any cost. Jesus never ceases to amaze me. He sits calmly by while we are swimming just patiently waiting for us to stop and embrace the peace He has for us.

Fruit: Peace
Song in my head: Savior Please - Josh Wilson

Verse: Luke 24:41 - 40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence.

On the dock with Jesus

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to lay down at the end of a dock to stare at the Stars on a clear night with a real live breathing Jesus laying right next to you admiring them too?

I hadn't even fathomed this thought tell I read it recently in a book I have been reading called "The Shack". I can't give away the plot but I have to say that this thought of a simple time admiring the beauty of a clear night of stars with God in the flesh next to me sounded wonderful.

I love nature and love how it just proves to me how beautiful God must be to have created it. The thought of a live living breathing Jesus to hug and smile right in the flesh next to me sounded like such a treasure. I wonder what it must have been like for the apostles who got to hug Him every day.

The touch of God can be so real sometimes it feels like it is in the flesh but there is something to that warm feel of a hug from a person. I think God must use people to be His arms here on earth but I still think in awe of the thought of what it would have been like to get a human hug from an earthly Jesus right here on earth.

It is like friends that are far away. You can talk on the phone but it is something more when you can look into their eyes so that you can see into their lives and hearts.

I know that Jesus isn't far away even if we can't physically touch Him. Yet I still think it would be nice to be laying down next to Him staring at the stars and asking "so why did you create that one?" or some other silly question that He could smile and answer with "because I am God".

Fruit: JOY
Song in my head: Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay Lyrics - Otis Redding
Verse:Psalm 46: 10 "Be still, and know that I am God;

Looking for something...

Do you ever feel like you need to go to work to find rest from the weekend? I felt like that Sunday night. I had a full weekend where I felt drained from it. Even praying I thought "are they even my words...?"

What happened?... I had to ask myself as I realized I was feeling down at work this Monday morning. Waking up this morning I had full intention to look ahead with my opening prayer for it to be a day I reasoned better in comparison to the weekend.

I had wondered how my decisions from this weekend could have kept me from a blessing. I had tried to let that go knowing a compassionate God could forgive my indecison that led to my choices.

I could name some seemingly silly endless list of things that had gone wrong over the weekend to the sheer embarrassment of my weakness I wouldn't share not wanting to be seen as a complainer which makes me almost never complain.

However... there were several little inconviences and stupid decisions that I made over the weekend that had me feeling like I wished God had made me different. It is hard to be flawed and human.

Sometimes I just wish I could be an angel. I had opened up with a prayer for the day today like I usually do but it just went downhill from there. I had tried to turn it around.

I had gotten a full nights sleep for the first time this weekend. I had fully prepared with a shower Sunday night. I had put my clothes out ready to jump into the morning groove. I thought I had done everything in my power that I could to make my day start out to be one where I was ready to start off the week on a positive note.

What had I forgotten? Where had I gone wrong? My weekend rebellion from what I could have done to accomplish things as to what I wanted to do as to what I should have done as to what I actually did made me see I need to start trusting my instincts more.

I realized that it is my true instincts that I need to trust and not let those ones that try to creep in creep. My true instincts come from the spirit of God inside me. That other instinct of a sinful nature only creeps in to try and steal or destroy my peace when I let it.

I have to listen to that still small little voice amidst the crowd telling me what is right for me to do. I just need to just DO THE NEXT RIGHT THING and not worry so much about the future and I need to LISTEN to the voice of reason.

I found that next right thing I was searching for once I started looking in the right place. I found my peace when I studied Ephesians reading Pauls prayer like it was a prayer for me.

A Prayer for the Ephesians Eph 3:14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen

It's Gods love that takes me back and turns my weakness into strength, my mourning into dancing and my attitude around. It is only when I choose to do the next right thing in His direction that I find fulfullment and joy.

So in those times when I am reaching for something feeling empty needing something but just can't figure out what will bring me peace I have to remember that a gentle love from God is there for me.

I just need to look for it instead of what the world would tell me to. I need to look in that great book God gave us to give us those answers and peace we are searching everywhere in the world for but can find if we simply seek Him first.

Fruit: Gentleness

Song in my head: As the Deer

Verse: Ephesians 3:18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

I've Got The Joy Joy Joy... Where?

Finding Joy in this day and age can be difficult at times so in those rare moments that Joy just reaches up and grabs you it's important to remember to let it.

On the way to work this morning Spirit 105.3 Radio station just really hit home. Every song they played from 6am to 7am on my way to work just blessed my socks off. Of course I wouldn't want my socks off due to that chilly morning air but just loved a wonderful joyful time of worship.

They played...
Josh Wilson - Savior, Please
Tree63 - Blessed Be Your Name
Jars Of Clay - Love Song For A Savior
Matthew West - Something To Say
Laura Story - Mighty To Save
Newsboys - I'm Not Ashamed
David Crowder Band - Wholly Yours
Third Day - Call My Name
Chris Tomlin - Indescribable

It was awesome with some great Kid stories mixed it. I am so blessed by Spirit 105.3 sometimes when it just hits the spot. Worship takes you back and turns you around to see the creator instead of yourself. It's something beautiful that can't be measured.
Fruit: JOY
Song in my head: Something Beautiful - Newsboys - I've got the Joy
Verses: Psalm 94:19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. Psalm 95:1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation Psalm 96:12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; Psalm 97:11 Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Psalm 98:4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; Psalm 98:6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King. Psalm 98:8 Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy;

Dancing with God

Turn me around Lord I'm not looking at you, I keep turning in the wrong direction. Teach me how to dance.

Wisk me off my feet. Grab my hand and pull me close. Lead me on the dance floor.

Hold me tight and spin me fast making the world a blur. I will spin so fast that all I can see is you.

Let me see what you want me to see. Help me to be what you want me to be.

Then slow me down so I can rest. Turning slowly I can see. I can see your best right before me.

Fruit: Joy

Song in my Head: Savior King

Verse: Matthew 22:37 Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your mind and with all of your strength

Seeing through her eyes

Have you ever found pen in your possession and wondered how in the world you got it? I get so busy sometimes I forget where I pick things up. I found a pen in my purse while paying at the grocery store and wondered where I got it today. Everyday we have little things that happen to us that we could miss if we don't stop and look around once and awhile.

There are so many little everyday things we do as we go throughout the day that can seem like meaningless parts of our existance. I drove to the store walked around looking for that one thing I came for but ended up finding some other things and got in line. Then I ended up in line remembering what I actually came for and got out of line to go to get it.

On a mission to get that one last thing I bumped into the cart of the elderly woman who was not in the slightest bit of a hurry. Her beautiful weathered face smiled as she saw me rushing when I said "exuse me". I walked on quickly but as I got into my car I thought later of her face as she smiled looking after me. I thought of how she must be remembering her days of being younger and in a hurry.

She must have thought "if they only knew they would slow down and look around". We need to look around to see that woman who is lonely needing someone to just take the time to say hello and invest just a bit of Gods love into her.

Thinking of one of my favorite songs lately by Brandon Heath I hummed a bit... "give me your eyes so I can see... all that I have been missing... give me your love for humanity.."

I was thinking of this elderly woman out there in the supermarket with her eyes reaching out looking for companionship. There are alot of lonely people in the world who don't have a loving God to fill that need inside.

We just have to take the time to stop, slow down and reach out. We have been given so much love from God and have so much to give. There are so many who need it. We need to give it away everyday even in our hurried moments because truely there are no meaningless parts to our exsistance. Each act of the day matters to a God who cares for us as much as we should care for others.

Fruit: Love

Song in my head: All the Loney People - Beatles & Give me your eyes- Brandon Heath

Verse: Psalm 68: 5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. 6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing;

Journeys in the snow

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful, Since we've no place to go, Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,

It doesn't show signs of stopping, And I've brought some corn for poppingThe lights are turned way down low, Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,

When we finally kiss good night, How I'll hate going out in the storm, But if you really hold me tight, All the way home I'll be warm,

Fire is slowly dying, And, my dear, we're still goodbying, As long as you love me so, Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,

The snow has been so beautiful this last week but having to travel in it has not been the best with going to work. It took me twice as long and was a bit scary. Through it though I was truely blessed in seeing the best in some people come out in the snow.

We had a wonderful neighbor come and use his tractor to clear the over foot of snow off our driveway the other day. It's great to have neighbors. Sometimes when times are tougher people just pull together to show love for no reason.

I got stuck in the snow two times this last week and both times people with big trucks pulled over and helped me. It amazes me how friendly the people of Washington are sometimes. They aren't just walking by but going out of their way to help each other.

Now that I am on vacation looking at the snow from the inside out. I would love to sing "let it snow" but still there are the Christmas travelers to think of. Once my company arrives "Let it snow... let it snow... let it snow.". :)

I'm thankful tonight for Mary and her obedience and heart as I think about her journey. Her joy must have been overwhelming to see Jesus for the first time.

Fruit: JOY

Song in my head: Let it snow

Verse: Luke 2:16-20 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”-