As a child growing up my family would make an annual road trip to visit my aunt, uncle and cousins. I always looked forward to our visits and time with them was the highlight of many of my summers. Although, I loved being there and spending time together, I did not enjoy the 9 hour road trip! I was ready to be there before the family car left the driveway! If teleportation was possible, I would’ve preferred that route. Continue reading “Are We There Yet?”
Tag: encouragement
A Small Piece of Yarn
I am thrilled to have a guess blogger on neeserisms, my very own AMAZING niece and her great insights…
I learned to knit when I was living in the orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It took me about one month to learn. One teacher taught me the basics and I remember offering my food to friends in exchange for their help teaching me. I have been knitting now for over 6 years. One thing I have learned through this skill is that one small piece of yarn, when put in the right person’s hands, can be transformed into something useful and beautiful. This illustrates what it is like if I put my life in God’s hands. No matter how small I may feel, He can use me to do great things. Continue reading “A Small Piece of Yarn”
The Birthday Lesson That Never Ends
My birthday will soon be here and just happens to coincide with another little holiday called Independence Day. Most of us more fondly refer to it as the 4th of July. I can remember as a little person probably around the age of 5, feeling rather impressed with the big deal so many people made about my birthday! I mean, a lot of people were in on it and not just my family either. The neighbors, the whole community, people on TV, my birthday was kind of a big deal! People would celebrate my special day with BBQ’s, picnics, parades and even fireworks. I didn’t really care for that part so much, so I stayed inside the house with my grandparent’s dog Gizmo, but I thought it was really cool they blew up stuff on my account, cause no one else I knew got that on their birthday. Continue reading “The Birthday Lesson That Never Ends”
Painful But True,Your Comfort Is Not God’s Priority
My Pastor made this statement in a recent Sunday sermon, “Gods agenda is not for you to be happy and comfortable. It’s for you to be Godly.” That statement did not tickle my ears, but I recognized it as truth, truth that I need to embrace.
This is the thing, I like comfort A LOT. I like stretchy pants, a warm cup of coffee in my hand, perhaps someone to entertain me, kicked back in my easy chair. I mean who doesn’t, right? Yet, if comfort is not God’s priority then I’m thinkin’, it probably shouldn’t be mine. Continue reading “Painful But True,Your Comfort Is Not God’s Priority”
No Greater Love
So thankful I serve a God who whispers to me in the midst of difficulty, who brings sweetness even when there’s pain.
When I choose to step outside of MY hurt, MY struggles, MY issues and reach out to bless others despite MY feelings, He is there. It is in these moments, I realize I am closest to Him. It is in the midst of all the messiness of this life that I struggle and wrestle against, the circumstances I don’t want, when I put them aside, I see Him more clearly.
When I make the choice despite MY feelings and MY circumstances to love on someone else, I guess I catch just a small glimpse of Jesus’ heart for me.
Despite HIS pain, Despite HIS struggles, Despite HIS heartache, HE made a choice.
Love is a choice, Love has a cost, Love is sacrificial, Love is selfless, Love is humbling, Love is hard, Love is beautiful. Love is God. There is no greater Love than HIM!!
The God Who Sees You
I was sharing with a friend a few months ago that I had really been struggling with feeling alone. This is not completely off base, as I live alone, therefore I am physically alone, a good amount of time. However, the feelings I was struggling with ran a bit deeper than this. It is difficult for me to even explain, but I’ll try. I think every person desires to be known, to be seen, to have a witness to their life. It’s simple things, like someone knowing when you leave for work and if you got home late, someone who is around to see that I’m extra tired today or if I’m thinking about something. It’s something as simple as the feeling I’ve had when I’m traveling for work, arrive at the hotel, check in and realize that no one is dying to know I arrived safely. Mostly, I wade through these circumstances, try to avoid pity parties and keep moving, but every once and awhile the feelings come and wallop me and well to be honest, I feel downright sad and alone. Continue reading “The God Who Sees You”
When You’re Weary, Feeling Small
I’m a song lyric junkie, there are countless lyrics floating through my mind at any given time. I often wonder what I could do with this brain of mine, if it wasn’t so crammed full of song lyrics?! Bridge Over Troubled Water is the song running through my mind tonight, as I think about a friend who is feeling beat up by life. She is “weary and feeling small”. I wished while listening to her share her discouragement that there was something I could do to make her situation better. Some guarantee I could give her that her next try would result in success, but all I could do was listen and encourage her to get back up again. Continue reading “When You’re Weary, Feeling Small”
More Than A Feeling
What is the most lavish thing anyone has ever done for you that made you truly feel loved? Maybe lavish is the wrong word, no flash mob is required and no romantic proposal displayed on a jumbotron is necessary. What about the most thoughtful thing someone has done for you that really let you know you were special to them?
My sister once decorated a mason jar and hand wrote on individual slips of paper, her favorite memories about the two of us throughout the years. One memory on each little note, a jar full of memories shared between sisters. That gift made me feel so special and loved, not because it was expensive or especially beautiful to behold, but because she thought about me and took the time to let me know. By giving me that jar full of goodness, she was telling me that our times together were important and memorable to her. Important enough that she took the time to think about it and show me how she felt. Pretty special, if you ask me! Continue reading “More Than A Feeling”
Do You REALLY Want To Be Well?
True Story – Sick for 38 years, laying by a pool every single day, waiting for healing and he is asked the question, “Do you want to be well?” (see John 5:1-9) Duh! The answer seems obvious to me and the question slightly insulting. Of course, the poor man wants to be well! He’s laying by the pool again, waiting to be well.
Next, Jesus says to this man, get up, take up your mat and start walking. What?! If he could’ve done that, why would he have spent the last 38 years laying by the pool? Cause, it wasn’t to get a sun tan! However, as I ponder this story, I am struck, like right upside the head struck, with how much I have in common with this man and with the fact that I feel God Himself has asked me this same question. Continue reading “Do You REALLY Want To Be Well?”
Do You Ever Feel Like You’ve Been Forgotten?
About a month ago, I got a copy of my friend Melina’s latest CD release. I am definitely a music lover and I enjoy a great melody that makes you wanna sing along or a rhythm you can groove to, but if I had to pick what aspect of a song I love the most, I would have to say, the lyrics. The ability for someone to put together words that paint a picture, give you a new perspective or help you realize, “hey, someone else gets how I feel” and set it to music is pretty cool. I was struck as I was listening to each song how absolutely beautiful the lyrics were, however, there was one song in particular that when I listened, I thought she had climbed inside my heart and mind, pulled out my thoughts and feelings and penned a song. Part of the lyric says, “It’s been ten years now, feels like eighteen, I’ve been waiting for just one thing and I still haven’t found true love. Now maybe I’m to bold or very stupid for saying that, but do you ever feel like you’ve been forgotten?” Continue reading “Do You Ever Feel Like You’ve Been Forgotten?”
Neeserisms 