Tired

I am so tired right now. Brent is so tired. We just feel like walking zombies and somehow we can't catch up on sleep no matter how early we go to bed. I just long for pure, fulfilling rest. I don't know to get it either. This verse keeps going around in my head over and over:

Matthew 11:28-29

" Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls"

Puzzle Cat

We have a big, fat, lazy cat named Fanta in our family. He sleeps and eats all day and conserves his energy for the times he feels the need to make trouble. This is one of those moments. The boys and I love to do puzzles and last weekend we decided to give a 500 piece puzzle a try. All we did was get up for a moment and this is what we discovered on our return. Fanta always does this. He either sits in the box or lays on top of the pieces so we can't work the puzzle. I have no idea what makes him do this or what enjoyment he gets from this, but whatever the reason it really isn't appreciated at our house.

Every once in awhile I meet someone like Fanta. I am sure you know someone like that also. Someone that waits for the opportunity to make your life miserable, otherwise you wouldn't see them at all. You waited for that special moment to enjoy something and there they appear to make trouble for you and ruin the moment.

As with the puzzle, I am learning that I really do have more control of the situation that I first assessed. Although the cat was a distraction, all I needed to do is just pick the cat up and put him on the floor. Problem solved. People can be handled the same way. I wouldn't suggest picking them up and throwing them on the floor, but a simple reality check that you can walk away from them will suffice. End of problem.

God says that we always have a choice in our actions.

Ecclesiastes 10:1-3
"As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink,
so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.

A wise person chooses the right road;
a fool takes the wrong one.

You can identify fools
just by the way they walk down the street!"

The Amen Lady

Church was wonderful last night. The worship time was great, the special music was touching and the message was just what we needed, but.........................there was the "amen" lady. I have seen her before, or should I say I have heard her before. I had already nicknamed here in my own thoughts, but somehow forgotten about her until last night. I call her the ''amen" lady because every time Dr. Hunter says anything, she shouts "AMEN!" I mean shouts! If he says two or three words together she yells it. If it is a really good point it actually goes to a "Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, Amen" ! It isn't just a little muttering under her breath, but I am certain the people in the back row of the church could hear her and she was sitting in the second row. It is very distracting while listening to the message and I found myself playing the game of: (when will she say it next?). To top her off, the man in the front row would turn around and GLARE at her every time she said it. I couldn't figure out what was more annoying, him or her.

I questioned myself why it bothered me so much for her to yell Amen over and over and over. The message was still the same whether she said anything or not. One might say that she ruined the message last night, but when I thought about it, she really didn't. I let her get to me and she had the best intentions in sitting there yelling. The message really didn't change at all, it was my attitude that changed.

What a valuable insight for me today as I reflect on my life. So many times I have blamed the outside circumstances when I made the wrong decision. The right thing and truth stay the same, it doesn't matter what anyone says or does, they are constant. God's way is truth and is constant and his message is the same whether we are in a peaceful situation or torment and war with ourselves. I am challenging myself this week to look past distractions and listen with open ears. I am also praying that the Amen lady does the same! :-)

Just a note: The message was about suffering and sovereignty!

Hebrews 2:1

" So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it"

Orange Belt

Wesley is now an orange belt. He has worked so hard and we are proud of his baby steps toward his goal of black belt. I love that Wesley is so motivated to do well in something. It has encouraged me to remember how little goals are so important in the every day of life. I was thinking how great it would be if we recieved belts everytime we conquererd a fear, temper or just a struggle.