For Puzzling Times

I've been reading "You Were Made For More" by Jim Cymbala and can't recommend it enough! Our culture tends to just settle for a "random" mindset. It can be tempting to get caught up in the feeling that there's no meaning to the difficulties in our lives. But it's just not true!

This is a paragraph from the book:
"The unwanted, troubling, mystifying, "senseless" things that happen in our lives are occasions to instill strength in our character, force us to pray as never before, and give us a testimony to help others in need. Our struggles are simply a sign that we, like the ancient Israelites, were made for more."
This makes me think of Romans 5: 3-5 "...but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

We may not get all the explanations that we want as to why things are going the way they are, but it sure is good to know that there is a purpose behind it all.
These verses may be very familiar, but I don't think we can meditate on them enough...Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Romans 8:28. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

The puzzle isn't completed yet, but God knows what it's supposed to look like. And He's working it all to fit together beautifully. And once you're starting to see the bigger picture of how your puzzle is coming together, be sure to pray for others who are just as puzzled as you are now.
2nd Corinthians 1:3-4 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

Got The Blues

Well, it was an awesome year for the Dodgers. Sure, I would've loved to see them win the World Series. But I'm convinced they'll live to fight another day.
After they had "swept" the Cubs, I spotted this Dodger flag hanging at someone's house...from a broom.

No Running By The Pool

Like Music To My Ears

I am so incredibly excited. I got an iPod for my birthday and I've been loading it up with so many awesome songs. It's pretty cool to be able to group all your favorites into one collection. Now I just have to be careful not to sing and dance while walking down the street.
Also, it was getting awfully embarrasing at the gym. With a Walkman, eventually you have to turn the tape over. It's hard to do that discreetly on a treadmill.

Miramar Air Show

Last Saturday I went with the Shorts to the Miramar Air Show in San Diego. It was incredible! It's quite amazing what these pilots can do. We saw the famous Blue Angels. At times they fly 18 inches apart from each other. I think California drivers could learn something from these guys.
We also got to take a look inside some of the planes. At one point I wanted to take a test drive of one of the tanks but they wouldn't let me. Something about it having a canon on it.

Changes

Well, our final service for our Contemporary Service was September 14th. I'm beginning to see that change is just simply part of life. It doesn't necessarily make it any easier, but it sure keeps life interesting! In fact, I'm learning to welcome it -more than fear it. I'd prayed for an adventure awhile back and God has certainly been faithful to answer that prayer. Routine can make for a pretty stale life experience.
When life is full of change, mystery, and just -not enough answers, it can actually be a pretty wonderful thing. It causes us to hold all the more tightly to the One who never changes -who is the same yesterday, today and forever. If change tosses me harder into His arms, bring it on!

Above All Else

Okay, I guess it's no big secret that I'm a fan of John Eldredge's books. In fact, I've been re-reading some of them just to be refreshed again. In "Waking The Dead" he reassures the reader that our hearts matter to God. In fact, he goes so far as to say that caring for your heart is an act of spiritual warfare. I'd never really thought of it that way before.

He writes, "The heart that is weak is vulnerable. Are you able to fend off accusation when you are wiped out from a hard week?
...Listen- the first wave of any strike against us is to rob us of the heart to fight it. It always starts that way, with that sense of being too tired or overwhelmed. Heads up- the main assault is coming on the heels of it.
...The strategy of our Enemy in the age we live in now is busyness or drivenness. The deadly scheme is this: keep them running. That way, they'll never take care of their hearts. We'll burn them out and take them out."

So, caring for your heart, the very place where God dwells, becomes vital to our survival of the assault. One of the practical ways we do this is by "unplugging" from all the chaos and drinking in the beauty that is around us. It could be as simple as stopping to smell the roses -or a trip to a National Park. I suppose that's one of the reasons I love Yosemite so much. I'd also recommend Tahiti.

I've known people who actually brag because they've never taken a vacation. I don't believe that's anything to brag about. Your spirit needs to be refreshed. If you're not refreshed, how can you refresh others? If you didn't get away this summer, take a few days in the fall. I even took a vacation in February one year and ended up hiking in the snow on a trail in Yosemite. It was exhilarating. Until I started falling down too much. Then I went back to the lodge for coffee and a cookie and just watched the snow fall. Amazing how something as simple as that strikes a blow against the Enemy's attack on my heart.

Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
Psalm 23:1-3 "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul."