A true story I heard on the radio last year:
A few days after Father's day in 2005 a line man for a power company was called to reconnect the power in a neighborhood. As he rode up to where the problem was in his bucket, he noticed a Mylar balloon was entangled in the line.
So, he untangled the balloon and reconnected the power. As he was getting back into his truck he noticed there was a note attached to the balloon. So, he got in, started up the truck and read the note:
Dear Daddy,
Happy Father's Day!
I hope you are having a good time in heaven.
Love, Kayla
Just as he finished reading the note, a song started to play on the radio called 'In the Arms of An Angel'.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Critics
Everyone thinks they are a critic. They seem to think that if they say something (or lots of things) negative about a movie, TV show or band, that they are better than those who actually like it.
You can probably already tell that this post is going to be somewhat of a rant, but, I really have to get this off my chest.
There are probably more movies, TV shows and bands that I don't like than those that I do like. Yet, somehow, I manage to NOT seek out ways to declare my dislike of them to the world.
Whether it's Facebook fan pages, YouTube comments, or Hulu reviews, you will see "critics" everywhere. These people actually take time out of their lives to seek out things they DON'T LIKE in order to insult them! As if there isn't enough negativity in this world already.
People, please don't waste your time (or mine) complaining about how watching a movie or TV show is a waste of time. Don't make others feel bad because listening to the music they like makes you feel bad. Don't spread poison because you are bitter. Get a life and let others live theirs.
"In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." -Matthew 7:12
You can probably already tell that this post is going to be somewhat of a rant, but, I really have to get this off my chest.
There are probably more movies, TV shows and bands that I don't like than those that I do like. Yet, somehow, I manage to NOT seek out ways to declare my dislike of them to the world.
Whether it's Facebook fan pages, YouTube comments, or Hulu reviews, you will see "critics" everywhere. These people actually take time out of their lives to seek out things they DON'T LIKE in order to insult them! As if there isn't enough negativity in this world already.
People, please don't waste your time (or mine) complaining about how watching a movie or TV show is a waste of time. Don't make others feel bad because listening to the music they like makes you feel bad. Don't spread poison because you are bitter. Get a life and let others live theirs.
"In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." -Matthew 7:12
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Integrity
Just a few days after my last post, "Unemployment," I was contacted about a job opportunity that I had thought was long gone (ironic, huh?). The job is really nearly perfect for me. The hours, the location and the job description are all suited to my life right now. However, there was one caveat: I would have to screen content posted by users of a social networking site, which could expose me to some pretty inappropriate stuff.
I was going to just write it off as a necessary evil and try to work around it. But, thankfully, the woman who I had been in contact about the job really encouraged me to think about it seriously and make sure I would be okay with it. So, I took her advice and spent this last weekend thinking it over and came to the conclusion that I really wouldn't be okay doing that on a daily basis. Although I do believe God would protect my mind and heart if it came to that, I don't need to be putting myself in the line of fire, so to speak.
So, even though I am still unemployed, I am thankful that I didn't give in to accepting an unacceptable job. I kept my integrity, and hopefully God will bless me for that. I have faith that He will provide.
"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness." -Matthew 6:22-23
I was going to just write it off as a necessary evil and try to work around it. But, thankfully, the woman who I had been in contact about the job really encouraged me to think about it seriously and make sure I would be okay with it. So, I took her advice and spent this last weekend thinking it over and came to the conclusion that I really wouldn't be okay doing that on a daily basis. Although I do believe God would protect my mind and heart if it came to that, I don't need to be putting myself in the line of fire, so to speak.
So, even though I am still unemployed, I am thankful that I didn't give in to accepting an unacceptable job. I kept my integrity, and hopefully God will bless me for that. I have faith that He will provide.
"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness." -Matthew 6:22-23
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Unemployment
Last December I turned 21 years old. Pretty much ever since then, and probably for a while before that, I have been struggling with feelings of failure. You see, I still live at home, have never had a boyfriend, have no job, no car (not even an unrestricted drivers license), and no college education whatsoever.
All of that aside, I do have responsibilites at my parent's home, and my lack of other responsibilities have given me freedom to pursue some things I may not otherwise have time for. I do all of the cooking/baking for the most part, and have been able to develop my skills in that area, especially baking. I have a self-taught working knowledge of the piano and guitar. I even have experience in construction from when we enclosed our carport. All of these things (and much more) are opportunities and experiences that not everyone has or can have.
Even so, I feel so... unaccomplished; unfulfilled.
Money may not be the answer to life's problems, but a lack of it certainly doesn't help. Up until a year ago or so, I didn't really need a job. But the pressure is building, and now that I do need employment, it's nowhere to be found. Ironic? Yes. Fun? No. Lesson? I'm not sure yet.
I know I should be thankful. Not everyone gets to grow up in a truly Christian home, have a Christ-centered education, protected from, but not ignorant of the world and an enemy who would like nothing more than to pull you as far away from God as possible. And I am thankful. Those are all wonderful things that I am truly grateful for. But is it wrong to aspire to even more? The Bible says that Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and favor with God and men. Obviously I want to grow in wisdom and favor with God. But what about man? I know, I'm not supposed to be a people-pleaser or desire accolades from the world. The heart is deceitfully wicked and to listen to it would only lead to darkness.
BUT, that doesn't mean I can't be accomplished. Even Paul had a reputation. Yes, he counted all that he had "accomplished" before encountering Christ as nothing, but after that he maintained a status. He worked to support himself. He administrated. He knew his place in this world, but not of it. Tradition says he spent eight years in Arabia studying. That all has to count for something, right? Should I desire any less?
Yet, I am afraid. Afraid that the right opportunities won't appear, and if they do I will miss them, or be too afraid to take advantage of them. I guess I forget that Jesus is the One who opens doors and no one shuts them and shuts them and no one opens them.
Is that what it all boils down to? Forgetfulness? Lack of faith and trust in God and His promises? Do I simply need to trust in Him for all of my needs and lay my desires at His feet? Why am I asking all of these rhetorical questions that I obviously know the answer to?
--sigh--
I keep on feeling like I'm a failure, and what I don't realize is that I am. Without God I am a complete and utter failure. It's only when I walk with Him and hide His Word in my heart that I can rest in His love and have no fear. My trust and confidence must be in Him and Him alone.
But, because I am so imperfect and forgetful, I know that I will have to remind myself of all these things again in the not-too-distant future. I guess that's just how it works. Even David went through the cycle, from the time he was a young man until he was lying on his deathbed. Despair; realization; peace. It's like we all have incandescant lightbulbs above our heads that periodically burn out, and we're stumbling around in the dark until we (or God) finally replace them.
My, my... What a future to look forward to. At least I'm not alone.
All of that aside, I do have responsibilites at my parent's home, and my lack of other responsibilities have given me freedom to pursue some things I may not otherwise have time for. I do all of the cooking/baking for the most part, and have been able to develop my skills in that area, especially baking. I have a self-taught working knowledge of the piano and guitar. I even have experience in construction from when we enclosed our carport. All of these things (and much more) are opportunities and experiences that not everyone has or can have.
Even so, I feel so... unaccomplished; unfulfilled.
Money may not be the answer to life's problems, but a lack of it certainly doesn't help. Up until a year ago or so, I didn't really need a job. But the pressure is building, and now that I do need employment, it's nowhere to be found. Ironic? Yes. Fun? No. Lesson? I'm not sure yet.
I know I should be thankful. Not everyone gets to grow up in a truly Christian home, have a Christ-centered education, protected from, but not ignorant of the world and an enemy who would like nothing more than to pull you as far away from God as possible. And I am thankful. Those are all wonderful things that I am truly grateful for. But is it wrong to aspire to even more? The Bible says that Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and favor with God and men. Obviously I want to grow in wisdom and favor with God. But what about man? I know, I'm not supposed to be a people-pleaser or desire accolades from the world. The heart is deceitfully wicked and to listen to it would only lead to darkness.
BUT, that doesn't mean I can't be accomplished. Even Paul had a reputation. Yes, he counted all that he had "accomplished" before encountering Christ as nothing, but after that he maintained a status. He worked to support himself. He administrated. He knew his place in this world, but not of it. Tradition says he spent eight years in Arabia studying. That all has to count for something, right? Should I desire any less?
Yet, I am afraid. Afraid that the right opportunities won't appear, and if they do I will miss them, or be too afraid to take advantage of them. I guess I forget that Jesus is the One who opens doors and no one shuts them and shuts them and no one opens them.
Is that what it all boils down to? Forgetfulness? Lack of faith and trust in God and His promises? Do I simply need to trust in Him for all of my needs and lay my desires at His feet? Why am I asking all of these rhetorical questions that I obviously know the answer to?
--sigh--
I keep on feeling like I'm a failure, and what I don't realize is that I am. Without God I am a complete and utter failure. It's only when I walk with Him and hide His Word in my heart that I can rest in His love and have no fear. My trust and confidence must be in Him and Him alone.
But, because I am so imperfect and forgetful, I know that I will have to remind myself of all these things again in the not-too-distant future. I guess that's just how it works. Even David went through the cycle, from the time he was a young man until he was lying on his deathbed. Despair; realization; peace. It's like we all have incandescant lightbulbs above our heads that periodically burn out, and we're stumbling around in the dark until we (or God) finally replace them.
My, my... What a future to look forward to. At least I'm not alone.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
No post yet...
I lost my notes for the post I wanted to write, so, I guess I will just have to think of something else. It's kind of a sad testament to my procrastination. If I had written it when I originally came up with the ideas, I wouldn't have lost the notes and I wouldn't be sitting here writing about it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
