Will fulfill his promise to us, in us, and for us…
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
For the life of me, I want to say that the prompt should be asking, Where is your favorite place to go in your city. Or better yet, if they want to ask what is your favorite place to go, wouldn’t it make more sense to ask What is the name of your favorite place to go in your city.
Do they want an address? They aren’t asking for a name, just your favorite place. Does it exclude places that can be found everywhere, i.e. McDonalds, Walmart, or The Rack?
Maybe this is one of those person, place, or things, kind of confusions… who knows? Or perhaps, I’m just too tired to care much about what the prompt was asking me about.
In the end, it won’t matter any way you look at it, as I am a country girl at heart, so I avoid the city like a visit to the proctologist!
Just the other day, from out of nowhere, came a happy memory of one of my favorite toys from childhood, my Hippity Hop! I was born on a farm and aside from my horse, my favorite toys were ones I could ride on. I have many memories of bouncing around the yard and pasture on that thing, and boy it must have been made of magic rubber because it never sprung a leak, that I can remember.
When I thought on it a bit, I realized that for the life of me, I cannot remember whatever happened to my favorite toy. As I pondered this, more memories of toys that brought me joy came to mind. Some of them came to tragic ends, as some toys do, when we are too hard on them or just don’t take care to protect them. Others, however, I quite honestly cannot remember what became of them.
It occurs to me that people are kind of like toys, in the sense that we sometimes, for whatever the reason, lose track of people that we once loved and held dear. Sometimes I feel like the child, and at other times I have felt like the toy! Instead of this thought leading me, or you for that matter, into the negative, I want to share an insight with you.
I have a soft spot in my heart for those little old fellows that own huge pieces of land simply teeming with old things…some rusted beyond repair, while others may yet be restored and reused. The point is that they simply refused to let go of anything that might one day be saved. They never stops loving and dreaming about bringing the beauty back to those old things. It doesn’t really matter if the old man ever gets them restored. I am just encouraged by him always hoping and dreaming.
I am so glad that God will never get tired of me! He will never forget that I am there, or nudge me aside with His boot. God never stops believing in me, no matter how damaged or dinged up I become. The Masters hands are always mending, rebuilding, and restoring me to how He sees me…His own!!!!!
However strange it may seem, my reading usually involves multiple books at the same time. No, I’m not a marathon reader, nor do I have magic eyeballs that let me read two books simultaneously.
When I say that I read multiple books, what I mean is that I have trouble only reading a single book, one by one.
I read my bible each morning, and then I usually have between one and three other books that I take turns with, chapter by chapter. If it’s a fun fiction, I might power read through it, burying myself under blankets with a cup of tea.
My problem is, of you wish to consider it a dilemma, I don’t usually read simple stories. I have a passion for the really big Saga stories, for diving deep into something, and/or reading on topics that really make you think about what lies beneath the words written. This means I have to take a break from a tougher topic, long enough for it’s meaning to sink in, if you know what I mean.
Right now, I’m reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, as well as the Dragonlance Chronicles by Margarette Weis and Tracy Hickman. The first is not an easy read, and the second is an action packed, imaginative Fantasy series with everything from elves to mighty knights in shining armor, riding on the backs of silver dragons.
I know it seems like a rather odd combination, but hey… don’t judge this Willy Wonka brain! I can’t help it… it’s just what I do.
Here, take one or two of my cookies…
You can dip them in your coffee or tea. Happy reading!
I read somewhere that doubts were like little fears trying to come to life, or something like that. It makes sense if you think about it for a moment.
I guess when I have doubts about my writing ability, that can be seen as the same thing as fear of failure or rejection.
When I have doubts that we will ever get beyond one step above homelessness, isn’t that the same thing as fearing God will let me down… that He’s forgotten me, or simply left me here?
Some call it doubt, some call it fear, and most often, you’ll hear me call it a Rabbit Hole.
Whatever we choose to call it, we all face obstacles that can cause us to doubt ourselves, and our fear of failing to overcome sends us down all sorts of rabbit holes to try and wriggle out of things.
I think the bottom line is whether we have enough faith, or maybe enough courage, and/or enough inner fortitude to rise above the things we face.
I think it is a good idea to regularly remind myself to do some self-checks of who and what I am… to God, to others, but very importantly, to myself! If I don’t believe that I am valuable and worthy of love, how can I believe that God feels that way about this daughter of His? Does that make sense? If I don’t I am worthy enough to serve God, it makes it very difficult for me to step out in faith when He asks it of me, because I get too caught up in doubt.
So, for a healthy reminder to regularly sweep out my doubt closet, Note To Self #12 is from one of my favorite authors…
“We are what we believe we are”. C.S. Lewis
Just to make sure I have brought my point across about doubt and about believing in ourselves, I’ve included a song by Lauren Daigle called You Say. I hope to leave you with a reminder for those who need it…
While I’m not certain as to the significance of where I might find said hair, I would most assuredly want it placed upon my head before any other part of my body.
I suppose if I traveled across the sea, as my ship allows me to do whenever I wish it, I might find flowing hair such as Fabio,
Or better yet, silky and soft like Angelina Jolie,
or even full and glossy like Catherine Zeta Jones,
But, whichever hair I end up selecting, I most definitely want it on my head… ya, for sure there…
wait, what?
Oops… forgive my mistake… I thought it said “If you could have hair anywhere, where in the world would you want it?”
It was an honest mistake, I can assure you (I am so lying about that… I absolutely did it on purpose)!
Sometimes, one must simply call it like it is, you know?
As per societies rules about routines and such, we all get up every morning, and obediently slip into our adulting patterns… day after day after day. Ewwwww!
Of course I’m going to try getting out of adulting, if at all possible… wouldn’t you?
So just remember, if you see me adulting… well, I’m possibly faking it!
So, in case anyone was waiting for the rest of the haircut memory…here goes!
Remember my girlfriend saying that I could one day laugh at her? Well, if your wondering, I did have the occasion to take her up on the offer to enjoy a laugh, at her expense. Probably about 3 or 4 years after the Horse Hair Tragedy of 95, I got an unforgettable call...
My girlfriend declared, “I am calling you first because I said I would, and you get the first chance to laugh before anyone else does.”
Let me back up just a tad…
From the time of his birth, my girlfriend’s son began receiving Beanie Baby Bear memorabilia from his grandmother, as well as, other friends and family. His baby room was covered wall to wall with adorable beanie bears, all perfectly encased, in those little plexiglass cases. Everyone knows that for a collectible, its value is in its preservation… especially the tags attached to the item, from its beginnings.
Well, with the confusing logic that’s usually employed by children, my friend’s son took it upon himself to take the tags off of all his beanie bears. He did this, not being concerned at all with the monetary importance of the tag being intact.
After getting all of his bears off of the shelves and out of their cases, he proceeded to get out his preschool scissors and cut off not only all of the tags, but any ear or foot attached to said tag.
I cannot remember exactly how many bears were maimed that day, but I do know it was a lot!
To this day we laugh about this memory, along with many other crazy things our babies put us through
As soon as today’s prompt appeared on the screen, a song popped into my head, oddly, from something I’d seen the other day… but, for the life of me, I can’t remember where. What’s funny is that it seems a rather fitting answer to the question being asked. Well, sort of, anyway.
While it’s not fully what my personal response might be, I think the song was so popular (and probably still is) because it’s how many people feel, at some point in their lives.
Looking back from where I stand now, its glaringly obvious that I didn’t understand the reality of time, the way I do now. Probably, because I was busy being wild and free! Ahhh, the joyful ignorance of youth…
But, time itself, has a way of sneaking up on one… and then running them over, as it speeds past.
What I’ve come to discover is that no amount of needed, wanted, added, or borrowed time is fully used to its full potential…
I think we’re much better off using the time we have, instead of always dreaming and wishing for more…
at some point, that’s no longer going to be an option!
Journey With Me! 