Today would have been my Dad's 63rd birthday. Unfortunately, he isn't here to celebrate with. Nine years ago he went home to be with the Lord after a long battle with heart disease. Every year this day comes and instead of it being a good day of remembering him, it always seems to be more of a sad day in remembering that he is not here! As I was talking with God this morning, I felt that I needed to focus on the good I got from my Dad, so here are my thoughts on what I learned from my Dad!
1. I learned that the greatest gift in life is to love. He was a man who gave his whole heart and never regretted. He loved to the ends of the earth.
2. I learned that I couldn't do anything to earn his love. He loved me anyway! Although my Dad wasn't around much for the first 16 years of my life, the day he can back, it felt as if he were never gone.
3. I learned that a flick on the back of my head was a good thing. It was his love pat and something that would be deeply missed.
4. I learned that everyone should have a nickname and that it really makes one feel special. There are so many: Termite, Cryin Ryan, Bubba, Baldy, Spaceshot, BubbleButt, Nickel, Lady Di, it goes on and on!
5. I learned that working hard and giving your all makes a world of difference to those around you who are watching everything you do.
6. I learned that the way you treat people is how you earn respect.
7. I learned that smoking is a terrible addiction that is extremely and almost impossible to break and that it definitely shortens your life!
8. I learned that one man giving his life to Jesus, can affect so many!
9. I learned that ultimately no one can make you happy, you have to be happy with yourself.
10. I learned that very few people get the honor of having that one special person that they fall in love with and will love literally until the day they die.
I definitely miss my Dad, but I can honestly say, I am so thankful that I had him in my life even though it was for such a short time! It is a true blessing to have been his daughter and to have been so loved.
Blessings,
Termite
"There is a time for everything, a season for very activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to rebuild.
A time to cry and a time to laugh
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to lose.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speack up.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Perception
Florence Chadwick was a swimmer and she was pulled into the boat after giving up. Because there was so much fog, she could not see how much further she had to go. She was exhausted and decided to give up. Once on land, when she was told that she only had half a mile to go before the shore, she said:
"All I could see was the fog, if I could have seen the shore, I think I could have made it." Florence Chadwick
Our Youth Pastor, John Riley spoke on this last Sunday morning and it really touched my heart! Isn't this how so many of us live our lives? We only live for the moment. We can't see past the one thing (our fog) that is so consuing. Every decision is based on the hear and now. Long term thinking, or long term waiting is not what we practice. If we believe in a Sovereign God, why do we limit ourselves?
We tend to only focus on the fog. Think about that. When there is heavy fog, we can only see right in front of ourselves. We can't see past the fog. Even in light foggy mornings, we only see the fog, we don't see the sun that is looming in the distance. We only see the one thing that is right in front of us, the fog. When we face our "fog" what do we, we give up, because it is too heavy! It is the only thing we can see, we know that the sun is out there, just waiting to break through, but we can't see it.
Our "fogs" can be different for each of us. Sometimes it's heavy, death, divorce, illness, unemployment. Sometimes it seems trivial, or what others may see as trivial, to us it may be overwhelmed with housework, spouses, children, jobs, basically life issues, BUT, in our fog it is real to us. It is overwhelming, stressful and scary. We can't understand why we are in this fog. We think we will never be able to see the other side, so it seems easier to give up. Just give in and let life pass us by, because, really what's the point of all this? And yet, we find out it's just a little bit further to get to the shore!
So, what to do when in our fog? I believe the first step is to get to the realization point that we are giving up. Sometimes, that is the most critical point. Realization. Take the time to acknowledge that all you see is fog. Whether it is heavy or light, it is fog. And we are in it!
After realizing you are in a fog, accept it. Accept that you are in the fog, you don't know how thick it is going to be, but you are gonna keep pressing through until the fog gets lighter and lighter. It may be within minutes, or days, weeks, months or even years, but it will get lighter.
And then, let go and let God. I know that is cliche, but really, it is what it is. It truly is our only Hope! We have to give our fog to the One who can walk us through it, every little step. Inch by inch. We have to get to the point of saying, "God, only you know what I need, and what is best.. Give me Your ears to hear and Your eyes to see! May my will be Your will so that You are glorified in all things. Amen."
Our lives here on earth are only a small fraction of our lives spent in eternity with the One who loves us. Let's step into the fog when it rolls in and know that God is in the fog!
Photo by The Mighty Neptune
Blessings to you!
Terri
"Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say to me, "There is not help for him in God." But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people." Psalm 3:1-8
"All I could see was the fog, if I could have seen the shore, I think I could have made it." Florence Chadwick
Our Youth Pastor, John Riley spoke on this last Sunday morning and it really touched my heart! Isn't this how so many of us live our lives? We only live for the moment. We can't see past the one thing (our fog) that is so consuing. Every decision is based on the hear and now. Long term thinking, or long term waiting is not what we practice. If we believe in a Sovereign God, why do we limit ourselves?
We tend to only focus on the fog. Think about that. When there is heavy fog, we can only see right in front of ourselves. We can't see past the fog. Even in light foggy mornings, we only see the fog, we don't see the sun that is looming in the distance. We only see the one thing that is right in front of us, the fog. When we face our "fog" what do we, we give up, because it is too heavy! It is the only thing we can see, we know that the sun is out there, just waiting to break through, but we can't see it.
Our "fogs" can be different for each of us. Sometimes it's heavy, death, divorce, illness, unemployment. Sometimes it seems trivial, or what others may see as trivial, to us it may be overwhelmed with housework, spouses, children, jobs, basically life issues, BUT, in our fog it is real to us. It is overwhelming, stressful and scary. We can't understand why we are in this fog. We think we will never be able to see the other side, so it seems easier to give up. Just give in and let life pass us by, because, really what's the point of all this? And yet, we find out it's just a little bit further to get to the shore!
So, what to do when in our fog? I believe the first step is to get to the realization point that we are giving up. Sometimes, that is the most critical point. Realization. Take the time to acknowledge that all you see is fog. Whether it is heavy or light, it is fog. And we are in it!
After realizing you are in a fog, accept it. Accept that you are in the fog, you don't know how thick it is going to be, but you are gonna keep pressing through until the fog gets lighter and lighter. It may be within minutes, or days, weeks, months or even years, but it will get lighter.
And then, let go and let God. I know that is cliche, but really, it is what it is. It truly is our only Hope! We have to give our fog to the One who can walk us through it, every little step. Inch by inch. We have to get to the point of saying, "God, only you know what I need, and what is best.. Give me Your ears to hear and Your eyes to see! May my will be Your will so that You are glorified in all things. Amen."
Our lives here on earth are only a small fraction of our lives spent in eternity with the One who loves us. Let's step into the fog when it rolls in and know that God is in the fog!
Photo by The Mighty NeptuneBlessings to you!
Terri
"Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say to me, "There is not help for him in God." But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people." Psalm 3:1-8
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)