Inspiration

Where does inspiration come from? It's kind of funny isn't it? All the different places it comes from. Sometimes it's the reflection of sunshine on a lake, or raindrops on a leaf, maybe it's snow gracing the mountains. Other times it's a song on the radio or a verse that just pops out like a direct message from God, or a seemingly random conversation with someone at the grocery store.

Inspiration comes in so many different way, from so different sources. Today my inspiration came from watching the gerbils I'm taking care of for a friend. They run around like crazy, pushing their bedding up into the corner so they can burrow down just so. Really my inspiration had nothing to do with what they're doing or what they look like it just has to do with the fact that they amuse me and that is enough to inspire me to write.

So what will inspire you today? A butterfly? A child's laughter? A flower on the side of the road? Inspiration is everywhere, God's always offering you little surprises to make you smile, you just have to look for them.

Letters

Have you ever wanted to tell someone something but there was a reason you couldn't? I don't mean that it was too hard or that you didn't want to put I mean really couldn't tell them. Maybe it's a child that you looked forward to meeting, loved them, planned for them, talked to them but a miscarriage or premature labor took them away too soon and they didn't have the chance to hear those words of love and dreams you had for them.
Or maybe it's a relative or a friend who has passed away but there's still things you w ant to tell them. The kid that you or your family have decided to sponsor and you pray for them every day but that doesn't change the fact they live on the other side of the world and you can't yell loud enough for them to hear you from home.
Or maybe it's the person who did you wrong and for whatever reason never got the chance to confront them.
Whoever it is, whatever you want to say how do you get the closure you need if you can't sit down with them face to face?

You write them a letter.

You don't have to mail it, you don't even have to put it in an envelope. You may burn it as soon as it's done, or reread it as you pray for that person. Either way you'd be surprised by how much it will help. Whether it's the closure you need or just a chance to get your thoughts down on paper writing a letter will give you that opportunity.

It's amazing how much it will help.

Your Days are Numbered

YOLO- You Only Live Once, Live life to the fullest, Life's short... and so many other phrases that sum up a culture that gives an excuse to do whatever we want but what's interesting is that like most things there is truth mixed in with the lies. Our lives are short, our days are numbered but that isn't mean to scare us it's meant to comfort us. Because friends God knows how many days we have, He's always known.

Psalm 139: 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

God already knows how long you're going to live, your decisions will affect your life don't get me wrong but one way or another the Lord is in control and there's nothing you can do to change it. So take comfort because whether it's someone who dies too young or someone who lives too long and does more and more damage to those around them it is all part of His plan and God is in control.

Pick a Word

Happy New Year friends and welcome to 2016! I pray that this year will bring you many blessings and draw you ever closer to the Lord.

Every January 1st people pick New Years Resolutions that they want to put into place. Loose weight, work out more, eat better, have some fun, don't have so much fun, whatever. I don't do a lot of resolutions because I never seem to follow through with them and then I just feel disappointed in myself, not a fun feeling. So if I do make a resolution I try to make sure that it's something I can actually follow through with but this year I decided to do something different. Actually I got the idea from a friend but this year rather then a resolution I urge you to pick a word!

What's one word that sums up what you want to work on this year? Or even two words.

My two are confidence and prayer. I've grown up a lot in the last year and I've gained a lot of confidence. I'm learning that the only one I need to please is the Lord. If I'm doing what He wants me to and other people aren't happy with my decisions then chances are they're not looking at me from His perspective. It doesn't mean I'm allowed to get angry with them or that I don't care what they think it means that they need to be my second priority, not my first. I still need some work with remembering that though and with living it out so my first word is confidence.

My second word is prayer. In addition to growing up a lot in the last word my faith has grown a lot but one of the things I still struggle with is communicating with God (aka prayer) not just with talking to Him and giving Him my burdens but also and especially with listening to Him. Sometimes that's the hardest part of my day so one of the things I want to work on this year is prayer.

What are your words? What are your goals? What is God putting on your heart for you to work on in 2016?