Saturday, July 28, 2012

Takin' Five for Friday - Beyond

Okay, yes I know it's 6:14am on Saturday but I need to catch up in Five Minute Friday fashion.
Today's prompt "beyond" is a good one too!

6:15
There is life BEYOND where you are right now.
When we get lost in the chaos that is life as we know we wonder what really is next.
Why all the sorrow and sadness, weight and worry?
It's simple because there is laughter and happiness, flight and freedom in it as well.
With new life there is also death to face.  With health comes times of sickness.  There is a victory at the end of the race, sometimes it is just a REALLY LONG race.
I hear people questioning why God let "this one" live in the Aurora, Colorado shootings, but let "that one" die.  I really don't see it that way.  It's not as simple as Him "letting" something happen.  It's the trial of life as we know it.
The good with the bad, the beautiful and the ugly.  Without trials we wouldn't know true joys.  I'm not sure why I "understand" that, I just get that there is something "beyond" what we have going on right now.

Maybe it just gives me peace about it.  Maybe it makes the troubles more bearable, whatever it is, I take great comfort in knowing My Daddy cares and knows the bigger picture.

The beautiful bigger picture of what's beyond today.
6:20

LuvNHugz - SupportNPrayerz
Deo Volente - Nicki

Friday, July 20, 2012

Takin' Five on Friday - Enough

It's been a while but I'm sitting at the county fair and two kids are wandering aimlessly with friends.  Then there four are playing in the dirt, either sweeping up repeatedly or driving tractors through "their farms" ahh, sweet childhood.
Okay on to stealing five minutes for me.  I definitely need it.

Enough

Yup, I've had enough. I'm walking around in a fog lately. Friends with twins that get crazy sick then a month after they start to return to wellness (on their 3rd birthday) their home burns to the ground.  Leaving this awesome family homeless and with nothing but charred memories.  Then there's my dear friend working on rebuilding his marriage.  That tender moment when he thought all was well and then his breath is knocked out of his lungs when he's told otherwise.  How about the sweet young woman that is now watching her family from heaven instead of loving on them here.  Grandparents in hospitals.  Car accidents prevented by listening to God's priceless whispers.  A shooting in Colorado movie theatre.
Worlds turned upside down.  People brought to their knees in prayer.
I've had enough heartbreak I want to see these amazing things God has planned in action.
Off to see the beauty in the day, as it is all around us.  Just like this sunrise and the flowers that are dancing here in His light.  This is where I'll find the beautiful works of our Father, in the every day blessings.

Oh, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.


Thursday, July 12, 2012

Shattered Pieces at Your Feet

How do you know which direction to go when your world has been turned upside-down?
Trials can make us or break us.  The trials of life can be the crutches of why we struggle, the stairs where we stall and fail to finish our climb or the mountain peak that we scale to see the beautiful things in the valley with a bird's-eye view.
What's hard is seeing the precious pieces of life as we know it laying shattered at our feet.  When everything around you has been turned upside-down which way do you look first?
UP! So now you look at me like I'm nuts, right?  Up, what in the world do you mean by that, you wonder.  Look up to your heavenly Father.   The one that knows you, inside and out, for the good and the bad, through the rain and drought, the happy and sad.  He will ALWAYS be there to walk through life with you, He will never abandon you to fend for yourself.
Just this week I have seen trials that would send anyone to their knees.  A family home burned to the ground on Sunday.  Nothing left, there may be a few things to save and put up as keepsakes but honestly practically nothing left but the clothes on their seven bodies.  Monday a young mother was called to heaven far too soon in life.  I know that not all of us will have the privilege of growing old but knowing she leaves behind a grieving husband to a young son and infant daughter makes the loss of her sweet life so difficult. Don't forget the man that on what should be an average week night finds his marriage crumbling around him.  When we hit a crossroads in life we wonder "if this is all there is" and look to see if there is "more put there".  The struggle is in how to forge through on that road WITH the one you vowed forever to.  Is it easy?  Uhm...no, but in the long run it will be worth it to face your trial in the moment and deal with it.
Do I have any advice for any of these people?  Look up. Look to your Daddy that cares about everything you ever do and lean on Him, let Him carry your burdens.  The ones with the burnt home? They said, we always knew that if we lost it that it wasn't where our true treasure lies.  What a priceless sentiment.  If only we could all remember that.
What of the quote...Your actions show what your heart is made of...cuts me to the quick today, that one does.  What are your actions showing today, this minute.  They say the true character of a man is how he treats animals, children and the elderly. Why? Because they have nothing to offer him in return but love and appreciation.
Pray for those you know are struggling and just in general those around you.  Look up to your Father for guidance and listen to what He tells you.  You've got this because He's got you!
LuvNHugz - SupportNPrayerz
Deo Volente - Nicki