God is...
Well, take a second. Actually take 5 minutes (time it on your phone if you have to).
And just sit.
And think.
How would you define God?
...and why those words?
I'll be honest, you'll never completely define Him, but maybe if you sit and think about what He is to you, then you'll come to appreciate how indescribable He truly is. And maybe, while you're sitting still, thinking about nothing else, you'll start a conversation with Him (a laid back form of prayer)...and maybe it'll be life changing, or day changing...or something else altogether.
1 Chronicles 7:14, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
...maybe this means a little less to you because you're not a farmer and you don't have land, I don't know. But land back then was livelihood--it was everything. If your land wasn't so well off, well, neither were you or your family...perhaps your whole community would be facing ruin. And then--rescue. Like the guy in a cape, only better, God can pull us out of our worse circumstances. But what is required?--humility, belief, direction (toward Him), and....you got it, prayer. Stop and say a word or two or twenty minutes today. He more than deserves it. But, don't take my word for it.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
the power of your mouth beyond beat box. the power of the Word beyond, well, most anything
There's a difference between inspiration and Christianity. Inspiration is the pick-me-up, encourage me, and so on feeling. We can be inspired by all sort of things, but just because something is inspirational does not mean it's scriptural. First off, I'm not opposed to inspirational, but I am cautious to stray too far away from the foundation of scripture to just talking about God and how awesome He is. He is awesome. Inspiration is good. But all these factors tie together nicely, and all of Christianity should lead back and connect back to the Word of God. After all, God said, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:1-5)
So if Christ is the embodiment of the Word, then we should stay connected with it. Let's get to it. Today, I picked Proverbs 18. I feel like this is a great example of how the Bible can be both inspirational and motivational. Typically, we see inspiration as making us feel good and empowering us, but it is also important to be motivated to do the right thing and to understand the wisdom and logic behind Godly principles. God will correct us--it's essential to becoming better people--but that doesn't always make us feel good (back to the inspirational part). So stay in the Word, glean all it's got for you inspirational and not.
I'm going to go verse by verse and just talk this up. Let's make the Proverb come off the paper and figure it out. Please feel free to comment and give feedback if you agree, have a different perspective, or disagree.
Proverbs 18
1 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
....so what can we get from this? Starting fights is not a good thing. There are no special clauses here that say "when you're not right" or ", but it's ok if they've taken advantage of you." Nope, God is telling you, don't start fights and don't be selfish. And if we admit it to ourselves, many fights start out of the selfish motives of pride or to be right.
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.
...this is kind of like the argument you might of heard before that 'you were given twice as many ears as you were mouths for a reason.' In other words, it's wise to listen to others. Sure, you can express your opinion, but be open to others. You will not always be right no matter who you are. Be humble enough to admit that.
3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and with shame comes reproach.
...simple enough, when you do wicked things, mean things, and wrong things, God and other Christians will look at you in reproach/disapproval. Come on, get your game face on and give your best for God. Don't make Him disapprove.
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters,
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
...Deep waters are swift and powerful. They can wipe you off your feet any moment if you are not in complete control. This is how your words are. So often we do not realize the power that we have with our words. You have the power to build up or destroy. Choose wisely and be conscious about what you say to someone. They may point it out to you 6+ years down the road that sentence you said that you don't remember that has made a negative impact on their life and memory that long. Wisdom is also powerful. Just as a rushing stream can carry a boat a great distance and at a quick pace, wisdom can help us progress to more complete humans more rapidly and also has a lot of power.
5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked
and so deprive the innocent of justice.
...being partial to the wicked...what's that mean to you? Maybe saying 'wicked' makes this seem too old school. So what if we said, don't be partial in admitting that a 'white lie' is a sin...don't be partial to someone who does wrong just because they're a celebrity or have money, etc. The innocent that are taken advantage of by those that do wrong need justice served. Humans in general are much less likely to do what is right if there is no punishment, so judge all equally and punishment needs to be given when it is promised.
So if Christ is the embodiment of the Word, then we should stay connected with it. Let's get to it. Today, I picked Proverbs 18. I feel like this is a great example of how the Bible can be both inspirational and motivational. Typically, we see inspiration as making us feel good and empowering us, but it is also important to be motivated to do the right thing and to understand the wisdom and logic behind Godly principles. God will correct us--it's essential to becoming better people--but that doesn't always make us feel good (back to the inspirational part). So stay in the Word, glean all it's got for you inspirational and not.
I'm going to go verse by verse and just talk this up. Let's make the Proverb come off the paper and figure it out. Please feel free to comment and give feedback if you agree, have a different perspective, or disagree.
Proverbs 18
1 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
....so what can we get from this? Starting fights is not a good thing. There are no special clauses here that say "when you're not right" or ", but it's ok if they've taken advantage of you." Nope, God is telling you, don't start fights and don't be selfish. And if we admit it to ourselves, many fights start out of the selfish motives of pride or to be right.
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.
...this is kind of like the argument you might of heard before that 'you were given twice as many ears as you were mouths for a reason.' In other words, it's wise to listen to others. Sure, you can express your opinion, but be open to others. You will not always be right no matter who you are. Be humble enough to admit that.
3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and with shame comes reproach.
...simple enough, when you do wicked things, mean things, and wrong things, God and other Christians will look at you in reproach/disapproval. Come on, get your game face on and give your best for God. Don't make Him disapprove.
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters,
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
...Deep waters are swift and powerful. They can wipe you off your feet any moment if you are not in complete control. This is how your words are. So often we do not realize the power that we have with our words. You have the power to build up or destroy. Choose wisely and be conscious about what you say to someone. They may point it out to you 6+ years down the road that sentence you said that you don't remember that has made a negative impact on their life and memory that long. Wisdom is also powerful. Just as a rushing stream can carry a boat a great distance and at a quick pace, wisdom can help us progress to more complete humans more rapidly and also has a lot of power.
5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked
and so deprive the innocent of justice.
...being partial to the wicked...what's that mean to you? Maybe saying 'wicked' makes this seem too old school. So what if we said, don't be partial in admitting that a 'white lie' is a sin...don't be partial to someone who does wrong just because they're a celebrity or have money, etc. The innocent that are taken advantage of by those that do wrong need justice served. Humans in general are much less likely to do what is right if there is no punishment, so judge all equally and punishment needs to be given when it is promised.
This is a great verse to drive home pro-life and anti-abortion campaigns. A fetus, a baby, a child, a person with a future--these all describe the innocent lives that are taken by abortion. I'm all about women's rights. I am all about that. But when you have sex (protected or not), you step into the zone of forgoing certain rights. That is, you have to accept the consequences (whether you see it as good or bad, intentional or not intentional) if you get pregnant....because now, there's someone elses rights involved. This is just like driving on the interstate. When you have a license, you have the right to drive. Once you're on the interstate, if you get in a wreck (intentional or not), you're now in someone elses rights area and your insurance may have to pay to fix the damage done. You're in someone elses 'rights zone.' You take a risk by getting on the road, but state law requires certain actions to be taken (i.e. repairing another person's car) if things don't go as planned...it's not your 'right' not to pay to fix it at that point. Same with unwanted pregnancy...you have sex, you are consciously accepting the 'rules of the road', and that's that if you get pregnant, you will respect anothers rights (in this case the baby). The innocent need justice, and if they can't even make it out alive, they'll never say a word to defend their rights. That's up to you.
6 The lips of fools bring them strife,
and their mouths invite a beating.
...you've heard the saying 'silence is golden.' Indeed. There is a time to speak and a time to talk, but a fool will speak when they shouldn't and it will bring them trouble. Do not be a fool, have sense about when to speak and when not to, and get educated about topics you speak on.
7 The mouths of fools are their undoing,
and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
...same thought process: your words have a lot of power to both uplift and destroy others as well as prosper or destroy your own life.
And I'll end there for now. This gives you a peak at how you should study the Bible. Really break things down to where you're not just reading God's Word to have it read (as if you got credit or something), but read it so that it has meaning, so that it speaks to you, and so that you can apply it to your life.
So be inspired, and inspire others, but also remember that in the beginning was the Word, the Word is God, Christ Jesus, and if you want all of Him, the Bible is part of that 'all.'
Saturday, January 22, 2011
the missing touch
I believe that everything in my life happens for a reason. I try to find reason in everything I do, and I also try to learn from it.
The other day I went out to dinner with my family. When preparing to put my coat back on after dinner I noticed a button had fallen off of my coat. While a lost button is not normally something to get excited about, these were fancy buttons that would be hard to replace and the coat was relatively new. As I began my search for my button I realized something. It wasn't until I had lost the button that I really began to see the significance one button had. Quite frankly, the button is the smallest part of the coat, and the smallest part is the most insignificant part, right? Wrong. In fact, some of the smallest parts of things are some of the most important...let's see a few examples:
The 3 smallest bones in your body are found in your ear...without them your balance wouldn't be the same. Balance is key to functioning normally.
Your pinky toe, although seemingly insignificant, is key in how you walk. If someone were to cut off your pinky toe, you'd have to learn to walk again.
What's another thing that you don't notice the signigificance of until it's gone? Maybe the hand of God? We wake up in the morning and go about our days....often forgetting the one who gave it to us. We get going and get lost in the to-dos of the day and worries....then who do we take them to? God. What's interesting is that the very one who tells us not to worry is who we take our worries to. And although we should take our cares and burdens to Christ--that's completely Biblical--what's funny is that we are told not to worry about tomorrow, what we will eat or drink...but we do (Matthew 6). So we get it about half right. And I'll admit that I am one of the worst at these commands. Like a button, when we lose that in-touchness with God or we go through a dry period of our lives, we realize just how important He is and how crucial He is. And although He isn't small like my other examples, He can fit inside your heart.
So take a second to acknowledge His significance in your life and the significance of all the 'tiny' blessings that without them would be huge things you miss...
The other day I went out to dinner with my family. When preparing to put my coat back on after dinner I noticed a button had fallen off of my coat. While a lost button is not normally something to get excited about, these were fancy buttons that would be hard to replace and the coat was relatively new. As I began my search for my button I realized something. It wasn't until I had lost the button that I really began to see the significance one button had. Quite frankly, the button is the smallest part of the coat, and the smallest part is the most insignificant part, right? Wrong. In fact, some of the smallest parts of things are some of the most important...let's see a few examples:
The 3 smallest bones in your body are found in your ear...without them your balance wouldn't be the same. Balance is key to functioning normally.
Your pinky toe, although seemingly insignificant, is key in how you walk. If someone were to cut off your pinky toe, you'd have to learn to walk again.
What's another thing that you don't notice the signigificance of until it's gone? Maybe the hand of God? We wake up in the morning and go about our days....often forgetting the one who gave it to us. We get going and get lost in the to-dos of the day and worries....then who do we take them to? God. What's interesting is that the very one who tells us not to worry is who we take our worries to. And although we should take our cares and burdens to Christ--that's completely Biblical--what's funny is that we are told not to worry about tomorrow, what we will eat or drink...but we do (Matthew 6). So we get it about half right. And I'll admit that I am one of the worst at these commands. Like a button, when we lose that in-touchness with God or we go through a dry period of our lives, we realize just how important He is and how crucial He is. And although He isn't small like my other examples, He can fit inside your heart.
So take a second to acknowledge His significance in your life and the significance of all the 'tiny' blessings that without them would be huge things you miss...
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
you can put it to a beat, but there's no way you'll beat it
Let your love define you
Allow others to shine
Do
What you were made for
Quit trippin and say
Lord,
I need you, I want you
I'm here for you now
Please Use me
Consume me
The world gathered round
My life: a performance
Today, it is gone
Tomorrow I'll change it
I've said and I've done
But this time is different
The guilt that I feel
While clinging to something
I know is so real
My Savior, the Christ
He came and He died
The pain that He felt
Through the skies, how it cried
His burden? Far from
My sins came undone
The brother, His service--
Was my Father's son
So, worth it? I think so
To make the change
These loves that I had
Have been rearranged
My hand's on the table
But I didn't fold
I told you this story
THE STORY was told
Messiah, our Savior
The King above all
You heard it, I'll tell you
Have you felt the call?
The lesson--the message
That you were worth death
A beating, a mocking,
He passed all the tests
Ignore it? You'll try
And perhaps you'll succeed
For a while but oh, child
Just give in and believe
On His name is the game
That your Savior, He came
He died and He bled
Crown of thorns on His head
So that you might not perish
Yeah He came here to spare us
But-Hell--if that's what you want
To go and to burn
You hike up your pride
Oh, a lesson you'll learn
It's not my Gospel
Not a story I made
But every knee will be bowed
Every tongue, it will say
That He is the Father
That He is the King
That's right, someday
His sweet praises you'll sing
At the end of it all
When it's all said and done
When God--yes the Father
He sends back His son
It's all up to you
Free will is a gift
Will you dump it aside
Or take a free lift
To Heaven perhaps?
Less burdened by sin
I can't speak for you
But the truth I do tell
It's been great for me
Could be for you...as well
Allow others to shine
Do
What you were made for
Quit trippin and say
Lord,
I need you, I want you
I'm here for you now
Please Use me
Consume me
The world gathered round
My life: a performance
Today, it is gone
Tomorrow I'll change it
I've said and I've done
But this time is different
The guilt that I feel
While clinging to something
I know is so real
My Savior, the Christ
He came and He died
The pain that He felt
Through the skies, how it cried
His burden? Far from
My sins came undone
The brother, His service--
Was my Father's son
So, worth it? I think so
To make the change
These loves that I had
Have been rearranged
My hand's on the table
But I didn't fold
I told you this story
THE STORY was told
Messiah, our Savior
The King above all
You heard it, I'll tell you
Have you felt the call?
The lesson--the message
That you were worth death
A beating, a mocking,
He passed all the tests
Ignore it? You'll try
And perhaps you'll succeed
For a while but oh, child
Just give in and believe
On His name is the game
That your Savior, He came
He died and He bled
Crown of thorns on His head
So that you might not perish
Yeah He came here to spare us
But-Hell--if that's what you want
To go and to burn
You hike up your pride
Oh, a lesson you'll learn
It's not my Gospel
Not a story I made
But every knee will be bowed
Every tongue, it will say
That He is the Father
That He is the King
That's right, someday
His sweet praises you'll sing
At the end of it all
When it's all said and done
When God--yes the Father
He sends back His son
It's all up to you
Free will is a gift
Will you dump it aside
Or take a free lift
To Heaven perhaps?
Less burdened by sin
I can't speak for you
But the truth I do tell
It's been great for me
Could be for you...as well
Thursday, January 13, 2011
darkness will only go as far as light allows. [aka never leave your flashlight at home]
Tonight on my drive home from a friends I passed the same church I have passed on my way home for over 20 years. This time, though, I noticed that there was a light shining on the steeple of the church. This was the first time I can remember noticing a light put on the roof of a church specifically to point toward the steeple. Interesting.
So my mind wondered and pondered on the significance of lighting a steeple. Was this a brilliant idea or a waste of electricity? I have often seen lights pointed at flags at night as a sign of respect toward the flag. A flag, as I understand it is never supposed to be in darkness. Also, as I understand it, keeping a flag in the light reflects the power of that which it represents.
At the top of this lit-up steeple was a cross, the symbol of the Christian faith. But so much more than that, the cross represents struggle not only of one man Jesus Christ, but also of the vast number of men and women who have given their lives in the name of the faith so that those of us living today might have the opportunity to both hear and share the story of the Christ and His great love and salvation.
The cross also represents victory, for on the cross Jesus Christ gave His life so that NONE shall perish but have everlasting life should they believe on Him and accept His forgiveness. The day of the resurrection was the day of defeat for the Devil, and it scared him (the devil) so badly that he still fights today trying to find some sense of gain. Don't let the devil be victorious over you.
And although the cross represents and embodies so much, as a summary it represents love and promise. The promise that Jesus Christ will love you no matter what, even if you will not let Him be your Savior (though this love will not rescue you from Hell if you do not accept His grace). The love of Christ was perfect and not vengeful--so pure, in fact, that though we back stab Him nearly every day (sometimes unbeknownst to us) He still offers the most genuine love in return. Also, the love of Jesus is so great that He gives us our own free will--that is, we can decide whether to follow Him or not and whether to truly accept His grace and love and allow it to fill our hearts and change our lives. What power He has given us!
So this cross at the top of a steeple was clearly something that deserved to be highlighted, even into the night--for learning from God is a never ending process. Also, the cross most certainly deserves the utmost respect, and the light is a symbol of respect due to the symbol representing the ultimate love and sacrifice.
A wise Christian gentleman once told me that the steeple represents our relationship with God. The closer we get to Jesus, the bigger He becomes in our lives and the smaller ourselves (our own desires and selfish motives) become. Just as the steeple gets smaller the further up it goes getting closer to the cross or closer to Heaven, we also are to make our own desires and human nature smaller as we become more and more like Christ. This is clearly explained in Luke 9:23-26, "Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.'"
The words of Christ are beautiful, but their significance did not end at the cross upon which He sacrificed His life for you. Still today, He reigns, and you can accept His salvation by confessing with your mouth that He is Lord and believing in your heart that He can forgive you of your sins. It's powerful stuff to be taken seriously. And if you have accepted His salvation, your journey is not over. Taking up your cross is a daily walk--symbolism of the struggle of carrying something in your lifestyle that although extremely rewarding eternally, the world may not be very happy about. Like I said earlier, the devil is losing and realizes it, so he appeals to the weaknesses and temptations of people of the world to try to tear us apart from the perfect rewarding love of God. Don't let him do that, God promises there is nothing--no temptation, nothing that is too much for us to handle with His help (1 Corinthians 10:12-13) and that will separate us from his love (Romans 8:38-39).
So carry on, and like the steeple, stand upright and reflect His light. Be courageous in the one you know and all He's done and will do for you.
Referenced Verses:
1 Corinthians 10:12-13--"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
Romans 8:38-39--"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
P.S.--the light on the steeple was not in the least bit a waste of electricity, but instead, a lesson well learned. Thank you, God, for sharing one more glimpse of You with us.
Shine on.
So my mind wondered and pondered on the significance of lighting a steeple. Was this a brilliant idea or a waste of electricity? I have often seen lights pointed at flags at night as a sign of respect toward the flag. A flag, as I understand it is never supposed to be in darkness. Also, as I understand it, keeping a flag in the light reflects the power of that which it represents.
At the top of this lit-up steeple was a cross, the symbol of the Christian faith. But so much more than that, the cross represents struggle not only of one man Jesus Christ, but also of the vast number of men and women who have given their lives in the name of the faith so that those of us living today might have the opportunity to both hear and share the story of the Christ and His great love and salvation.
The cross also represents victory, for on the cross Jesus Christ gave His life so that NONE shall perish but have everlasting life should they believe on Him and accept His forgiveness. The day of the resurrection was the day of defeat for the Devil, and it scared him (the devil) so badly that he still fights today trying to find some sense of gain. Don't let the devil be victorious over you.
And although the cross represents and embodies so much, as a summary it represents love and promise. The promise that Jesus Christ will love you no matter what, even if you will not let Him be your Savior (though this love will not rescue you from Hell if you do not accept His grace). The love of Christ was perfect and not vengeful--so pure, in fact, that though we back stab Him nearly every day (sometimes unbeknownst to us) He still offers the most genuine love in return. Also, the love of Jesus is so great that He gives us our own free will--that is, we can decide whether to follow Him or not and whether to truly accept His grace and love and allow it to fill our hearts and change our lives. What power He has given us!
So this cross at the top of a steeple was clearly something that deserved to be highlighted, even into the night--for learning from God is a never ending process. Also, the cross most certainly deserves the utmost respect, and the light is a symbol of respect due to the symbol representing the ultimate love and sacrifice.
A wise Christian gentleman once told me that the steeple represents our relationship with God. The closer we get to Jesus, the bigger He becomes in our lives and the smaller ourselves (our own desires and selfish motives) become. Just as the steeple gets smaller the further up it goes getting closer to the cross or closer to Heaven, we also are to make our own desires and human nature smaller as we become more and more like Christ. This is clearly explained in Luke 9:23-26, "Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.'"
The words of Christ are beautiful, but their significance did not end at the cross upon which He sacrificed His life for you. Still today, He reigns, and you can accept His salvation by confessing with your mouth that He is Lord and believing in your heart that He can forgive you of your sins. It's powerful stuff to be taken seriously. And if you have accepted His salvation, your journey is not over. Taking up your cross is a daily walk--symbolism of the struggle of carrying something in your lifestyle that although extremely rewarding eternally, the world may not be very happy about. Like I said earlier, the devil is losing and realizes it, so he appeals to the weaknesses and temptations of people of the world to try to tear us apart from the perfect rewarding love of God. Don't let him do that, God promises there is nothing--no temptation, nothing that is too much for us to handle with His help (1 Corinthians 10:12-13) and that will separate us from his love (Romans 8:38-39).
So carry on, and like the steeple, stand upright and reflect His light. Be courageous in the one you know and all He's done and will do for you.
Referenced Verses:
1 Corinthians 10:12-13--"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
Romans 8:38-39--"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
P.S.--the light on the steeple was not in the least bit a waste of electricity, but instead, a lesson well learned. Thank you, God, for sharing one more glimpse of You with us.
Shine on.
Monday, January 10, 2011
when 12 items or less is just not enough
Perhaps your idea of a 'learning experience' is not typically found in the setting of a grocery store. But then again, perhaps the root of our struggle to reach our desired states of Christ-likeness is because we box learning in and do not seek wisdom EVERYWHERE we are.
Tonight I was at the grocery store looking for garbage bags. I was not in any particular rush, but I'm never one to waste time when I do not have to, so I quickly travelled up and down some aisles that looked typical of 'non-food' products, but to no success. So I asked a guy who worked there, and with a confused look on his face, he told me it was his first day and he had no idea. So I travelled along to the big main aisle at the back of the store. I quickly read over the signs and did not see anything that said 'GARBAGE BAGS HERE!'...maybe I was looking for a little too obvious of signs. I started to head toward the dairy section, but then rationalizing to myself that garbage bags wouldn't be mixed in with the food aisles that direction, I headed full speed toward the butchery. Here I found help. I turned to another friendly associate and gave him the same request for help as I had earlier to the other employee. That's when he turned to face the dairy section (the one I had just fled from). This is the point where I felt like I was going to look a little silly for missing the garbage bads...so I once again quickly read the overhanging signs (more thoroughly this time) and before he could get out a complete sentence, said something to the effect of 'oh, I must have overlooked the aisle that says 'plastic bags'...aisle 15...thank you,' and quickly darted that way. As I walked back toward the dairy section that I had so easily dodged with my logic, I realized there were parallels with this in my spiritual life....here goes....
Often when I face something I want(ed) in my life (a new career, a Godly man to be a future husband, high school graduation, college graduation, a healthy baby, etc. etc.) I realize I rush through, trying to get the most done possible and just hit the highlights. Just like in the grocery store, when I try to do this, I often end up missing my true goal and getting even more lost along the way. I begin to seek help from therapists, best friends, self-help books, etc. who (even though they try their best) may not always know or have the answer for me [this parallels the new guy at the grocery]. Then, when I begin to assume that logically something can't work out [this parallels the dairy section dodge] like a medical problem, exam, or relationship issue, I get it all wrong and turn the wrong direction. Finally (and hopefully) when our own path/logic and the help of others does not get us to the goal, we ask the assistance of Godly council or from the Big Guy (Christ) Himself for the answer. ...and then He points us in the right direction and we get the 'ooooh, of course you had it right there in the right order clearly labeled, God' that we deserve for being impatient.
So the point in all that jumbled mess: if I had slowed down and taken everything in front of me in one step at a time, if I had let the garbage bag aisle (representative of a choice or event in your life) arrive at the right time in the right order, perhaps things would have gone a little more smoothly. Be patient, seek the right council, but when things don't always work out when and how you want, don't get anxious...there is a reason.
Here are some verses to back this up...after all, the Word of God (the Bible) is the rock upon which our lives should be founded.
Proverbs 1 digs into wisdom, and to get the full thrust of the chapter without confusing the pictures within it, here it is, all for the reading. Really ponder on seeking wisdom and knowledge in your life. How do you think you can do that more? Well, what do you consider a source of wisdom? If God is the most wise of all...and He is...perhaps reading His Word is a good start? Indeed.
Proverbs 1:
"The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.
My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.
If they say, “Come along with us;
let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
let’s ambush some harmless soul;
let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;
cast lots with us;
we will all share the loot”—
my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;
for their feet rush into evil,
they are swift to shed blood.
How useless to spread a net
where every bird can see it!
These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they ambush only themselves!
Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
it takes away the life of those who get it.
---[The Rebuke from Wisdom, vs. 20-33]
Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
she raises her voice in the public square;
on top of the wall[d] she cries out,
at the city gate she makes her speech:
“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge?
Repent at my rebuke!
Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
I will make known to you my teachings.
But since you refuse to listen when I call
and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
since you disregard all my advice
and do not accept my rebuke,
I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
“Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me,
since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the LORD.
Since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,
they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
...so fear the Lord. And by that, I mean, hold Him in the highest esteem, the highest control, the highest knowledge, and the highest of things you seek. He has wisdom for you to gain. After all, wise men still seek Him...
Tonight I was at the grocery store looking for garbage bags. I was not in any particular rush, but I'm never one to waste time when I do not have to, so I quickly travelled up and down some aisles that looked typical of 'non-food' products, but to no success. So I asked a guy who worked there, and with a confused look on his face, he told me it was his first day and he had no idea. So I travelled along to the big main aisle at the back of the store. I quickly read over the signs and did not see anything that said 'GARBAGE BAGS HERE!'...maybe I was looking for a little too obvious of signs. I started to head toward the dairy section, but then rationalizing to myself that garbage bags wouldn't be mixed in with the food aisles that direction, I headed full speed toward the butchery. Here I found help. I turned to another friendly associate and gave him the same request for help as I had earlier to the other employee. That's when he turned to face the dairy section (the one I had just fled from). This is the point where I felt like I was going to look a little silly for missing the garbage bads...so I once again quickly read the overhanging signs (more thoroughly this time) and before he could get out a complete sentence, said something to the effect of 'oh, I must have overlooked the aisle that says 'plastic bags'...aisle 15...thank you,' and quickly darted that way. As I walked back toward the dairy section that I had so easily dodged with my logic, I realized there were parallels with this in my spiritual life....here goes....
Often when I face something I want(ed) in my life (a new career, a Godly man to be a future husband, high school graduation, college graduation, a healthy baby, etc. etc.) I realize I rush through, trying to get the most done possible and just hit the highlights. Just like in the grocery store, when I try to do this, I often end up missing my true goal and getting even more lost along the way. I begin to seek help from therapists, best friends, self-help books, etc. who (even though they try their best) may not always know or have the answer for me [this parallels the new guy at the grocery]. Then, when I begin to assume that logically something can't work out [this parallels the dairy section dodge] like a medical problem, exam, or relationship issue, I get it all wrong and turn the wrong direction. Finally (and hopefully) when our own path/logic and the help of others does not get us to the goal, we ask the assistance of Godly council or from the Big Guy (Christ) Himself for the answer. ...and then He points us in the right direction and we get the 'ooooh, of course you had it right there in the right order clearly labeled, God' that we deserve for being impatient.
So the point in all that jumbled mess: if I had slowed down and taken everything in front of me in one step at a time, if I had let the garbage bag aisle (representative of a choice or event in your life) arrive at the right time in the right order, perhaps things would have gone a little more smoothly. Be patient, seek the right council, but when things don't always work out when and how you want, don't get anxious...there is a reason.
Here are some verses to back this up...after all, the Word of God (the Bible) is the rock upon which our lives should be founded.
Proverbs 1 digs into wisdom, and to get the full thrust of the chapter without confusing the pictures within it, here it is, all for the reading. Really ponder on seeking wisdom and knowledge in your life. How do you think you can do that more? Well, what do you consider a source of wisdom? If God is the most wise of all...and He is...perhaps reading His Word is a good start? Indeed.
Proverbs 1:
"The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.
My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.
If they say, “Come along with us;
let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
let’s ambush some harmless soul;
let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;
cast lots with us;
we will all share the loot”—
my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;
for their feet rush into evil,
they are swift to shed blood.
How useless to spread a net
where every bird can see it!
These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they ambush only themselves!
Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
it takes away the life of those who get it.
---[The Rebuke from Wisdom, vs. 20-33]
Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
she raises her voice in the public square;
on top of the wall[d] she cries out,
at the city gate she makes her speech:
“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge?
Repent at my rebuke!
Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
I will make known to you my teachings.
But since you refuse to listen when I call
and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
since you disregard all my advice
and do not accept my rebuke,
I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
“Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me,
since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the LORD.
Since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,
they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
...so fear the Lord. And by that, I mean, hold Him in the highest esteem, the highest control, the highest knowledge, and the highest of things you seek. He has wisdom for you to gain. After all, wise men still seek Him...
Friday, January 7, 2011
just how productive is hurling grapes in a snowstorm?
Tonight, I drove home in the worst snow storm I've ever driven in. The snow was coming down so hard that it was very difficult to see even going 10-20 mph on the freeway. On top of that it was dark and there was ice on the roads. There were a few times I felt my stomach twist a little from either not being able to brake or fish tailing a little. Fortunately, I have a brother that taught me at a young age how to drive in storms like this, and how not to react when you lose control.
As I was driving in these extremely dangerous conditions with cars in ditches, spun around backward, and ran into each other, I found myself comparing my drive to our lives. Life is unpredictable, and there is very low visibility far ahead of us. Although we make our 20 year plans and hope and dream big, often what we expect (good or bad) is not exactly where we end up. There were times tonight where I literally could not see more than 15 feet in front of me. That's a tiny amount of space when you're on ice and on a freeway. I found that I had to trust God. The same goes with life--we can't see the future and to a large degree we cannot control it. So it's about learning to work with what we can control and trusting God for the rest. When my car began to fish tail because I hit a rough patch, I had to remember not to overreact, not to brake suddenly, and not to accelerate...but just to completely release. When we come to difficult situations in life like losing a job, a family member getting cancer, and so on, sometimes the best way to react is to release it to God. Let Him set the pace and guide the way.
Also, when it snows, there's often one path in a snow-covered multiple lane road that people travel on. Because of previous car treads, the snow and ice are a little more driveable in that one section. This reminded me of the straight and narrow. As the Bible says in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." At times, it may have seemed tempting to get off the predetermined tire treads that my car had a little more grip on to go around someone, or to be closer to one side of the road or the other, but by staying in the middle I secured the safest path. As I drove, I saw cars around me that had strayed off the path or tried to go faster than what was best and had spun off the road. This parallels staying on the straight and narrow and following God's plan for our lives. By doing this and accepting Jesus Christ's forgiveness for our sins (the times we swerved off the path), we will arrive at our final destination (Heaven) safely. But when we leave the path, we are asking for direction, and unlike the road I was driving on tonight, if we do not stay on the straight and narrow path symbolic of following Christ after accepting salvation, we will not enter Heaven.
Hell is very real...as are the ditches on the side of the road in this life--the consequences we can visualize to compare. The good news is that even if you end up in a ditch, Jesus can pull you out if you will let Him forgive you and give you guidance. But stay in the ditch too long, until the end of your life, and there will be no bailing out and the ultimate consequences will not be pretty.
So what part of the road are you driving on in this storm of life that so often has low visibility? To reflect on Matthew 7 again, perhaps verses 16-20 will reveal a little about where you're at, in case you aren't sure: "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." What fruit are you bearing?
As I was driving in these extremely dangerous conditions with cars in ditches, spun around backward, and ran into each other, I found myself comparing my drive to our lives. Life is unpredictable, and there is very low visibility far ahead of us. Although we make our 20 year plans and hope and dream big, often what we expect (good or bad) is not exactly where we end up. There were times tonight where I literally could not see more than 15 feet in front of me. That's a tiny amount of space when you're on ice and on a freeway. I found that I had to trust God. The same goes with life--we can't see the future and to a large degree we cannot control it. So it's about learning to work with what we can control and trusting God for the rest. When my car began to fish tail because I hit a rough patch, I had to remember not to overreact, not to brake suddenly, and not to accelerate...but just to completely release. When we come to difficult situations in life like losing a job, a family member getting cancer, and so on, sometimes the best way to react is to release it to God. Let Him set the pace and guide the way.
Also, when it snows, there's often one path in a snow-covered multiple lane road that people travel on. Because of previous car treads, the snow and ice are a little more driveable in that one section. This reminded me of the straight and narrow. As the Bible says in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." At times, it may have seemed tempting to get off the predetermined tire treads that my car had a little more grip on to go around someone, or to be closer to one side of the road or the other, but by staying in the middle I secured the safest path. As I drove, I saw cars around me that had strayed off the path or tried to go faster than what was best and had spun off the road. This parallels staying on the straight and narrow and following God's plan for our lives. By doing this and accepting Jesus Christ's forgiveness for our sins (the times we swerved off the path), we will arrive at our final destination (Heaven) safely. But when we leave the path, we are asking for direction, and unlike the road I was driving on tonight, if we do not stay on the straight and narrow path symbolic of following Christ after accepting salvation, we will not enter Heaven.
Hell is very real...as are the ditches on the side of the road in this life--the consequences we can visualize to compare. The good news is that even if you end up in a ditch, Jesus can pull you out if you will let Him forgive you and give you guidance. But stay in the ditch too long, until the end of your life, and there will be no bailing out and the ultimate consequences will not be pretty.
So what part of the road are you driving on in this storm of life that so often has low visibility? To reflect on Matthew 7 again, perhaps verses 16-20 will reveal a little about where you're at, in case you aren't sure: "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." What fruit are you bearing?
Thursday, January 6, 2011
check the specs in your perspective
Have you ever watched a movie more than once? Perhaps on the second time around you heard a line you didn't remember hearing the first time? Or maybe the seventh time through you noticed something hidden in the background that although not crucial to understanding the movie, made it make just that much more sense? Well I will confide in you that I tend to be a big fan of movies and I have watched my fair share of movies more than one time. For instance, tonight I watched a new movie I got a second time and with a different group of people. One of the people I watched the movie with pointed out that the main character almost always wore blue...this was symbolic of something, and we tried together to figure out the story beyond the plot. And I find that thinking through the significance of the little details I learn with each time I watch help me to better understand and better appreciate the whole.
Interestingly enough, tonight I was having a slightly rough night--thinking about a lot and just not in a great overall mood. I was reading back through a journal of some scripture notes I had taken from my assistant pastor preaching over a year ago. He was teaching out of Proverbs 3. It was almost like I immediately shrugged it off when I read that, not looking deeper to see what else I could learn. It was as if I thought "oh, Proverbs 3:5-6, must have been a great message since I've heard the 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths' a million times." Shame on me. Just because you've heard a scripture quoted, had it memorized, or seen it on a plaque or bookmark doesn't it make it any less powerful. It shouldn't. So I flipped to Proverbs 3.
Proverbs 3 is a beautiful chapter I recommend rereading that talks about wisdom, guidance for the young, and giving and receiving. I knew wisdom was here, and I've read this chapter many many times before, but God had something else to say to me.
Recently, I've been thinking a lot more about becoming a better me, and it's almost like I've received a lot of word from others about things I need to fix. I'll admit that it's gotten me down thinking that sometimes the things I say come across as mean or rude to others, or just the fact that words I've spoken have unintentionally really hurt someone. So I'm working on this. And I hope my efforts will have good results for both me and those around me (if you could send up a prayer about this, that would be great). So as I cracked into Proverbs 3, I got to verses 11 and 12 which say, "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights." So as I'm burdened down with this weight almost of guilt and wrong and feeling like I've got progress to make or that I've put a bad light on Christians by my actions, God reminds me 'Hey, I love you and it's because of that that I want you to become even more like me.'
So thank you, God, for continuing to speak to me even when I fail to look for you or fail to seek you as I should. And to wrap back to the original story (hope I didn't lose you), just as we watch movies over and over and learn new things or still get something out of them, we should also look for new things to learn each time we reread something in the Bible. I find that as our own perspective develops or as we face different situations in our lives, we will get something else out of it. And even if we learned nothing new, I find I'm often so hardheaded that I need to hear things repeated over and over sometimes before I'll listen. Also, I mentioned that I watched the same movie with 2 different groups and picked up on different things. This is also true with reading and studying the Bible. I find that each of us has a different perspective thanks to our own life stories. Sharing and discussing the Word with others and being open to their understanding of it is important. You may learn something with one group that you may not have learned with another or on your own.
So rejoice in chastising of God, that He loves you and you're on your way to a better you. Also, rejoice in the fact that God has not stopped speaking to us through His Word, even in all the many ways we approach it and times we read it.
Interestingly enough, tonight I was having a slightly rough night--thinking about a lot and just not in a great overall mood. I was reading back through a journal of some scripture notes I had taken from my assistant pastor preaching over a year ago. He was teaching out of Proverbs 3. It was almost like I immediately shrugged it off when I read that, not looking deeper to see what else I could learn. It was as if I thought "oh, Proverbs 3:5-6, must have been a great message since I've heard the 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths' a million times." Shame on me. Just because you've heard a scripture quoted, had it memorized, or seen it on a plaque or bookmark doesn't it make it any less powerful. It shouldn't. So I flipped to Proverbs 3.
Proverbs 3 is a beautiful chapter I recommend rereading that talks about wisdom, guidance for the young, and giving and receiving. I knew wisdom was here, and I've read this chapter many many times before, but God had something else to say to me.
Recently, I've been thinking a lot more about becoming a better me, and it's almost like I've received a lot of word from others about things I need to fix. I'll admit that it's gotten me down thinking that sometimes the things I say come across as mean or rude to others, or just the fact that words I've spoken have unintentionally really hurt someone. So I'm working on this. And I hope my efforts will have good results for both me and those around me (if you could send up a prayer about this, that would be great). So as I cracked into Proverbs 3, I got to verses 11 and 12 which say, "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights." So as I'm burdened down with this weight almost of guilt and wrong and feeling like I've got progress to make or that I've put a bad light on Christians by my actions, God reminds me 'Hey, I love you and it's because of that that I want you to become even more like me.'
So thank you, God, for continuing to speak to me even when I fail to look for you or fail to seek you as I should. And to wrap back to the original story (hope I didn't lose you), just as we watch movies over and over and learn new things or still get something out of them, we should also look for new things to learn each time we reread something in the Bible. I find that as our own perspective develops or as we face different situations in our lives, we will get something else out of it. And even if we learned nothing new, I find I'm often so hardheaded that I need to hear things repeated over and over sometimes before I'll listen. Also, I mentioned that I watched the same movie with 2 different groups and picked up on different things. This is also true with reading and studying the Bible. I find that each of us has a different perspective thanks to our own life stories. Sharing and discussing the Word with others and being open to their understanding of it is important. You may learn something with one group that you may not have learned with another or on your own.
So rejoice in chastising of God, that He loves you and you're on your way to a better you. Also, rejoice in the fact that God has not stopped speaking to us through His Word, even in all the many ways we approach it and times we read it.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
if only spinning could lead to twirling, perhaps we'd have a tiltawhirl
I talk to a lot of people, especially females, that have this perception that they need someone--to be dating someone that is. Well, honey, you know I'm going to tell you straight up the only one you need is Jesus. Many awesome people have tackled life alone because they found something above and beyone theirselves to live for--be it religion, poverty, younger siblings, a best friend, the handicapped... you name it. But so often I find that the pain many of my very intelligent, even often very attractive friends feel because of their singleness is because it becomes their utmost desire. And whether you believe in God's plan or merely destiny/romantic comedies, most people can agree that meeting 'the one' is not always in your control. While, I completely agree about being proactive on things you are passionate about, sometimes dating is one that becomes too concerning, especially for teens and 20-somethings. So take a breather...remember, Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us, 'God has made everything beautiful in its time.' Don't rush your life. Don't rush love. It could end in regrets, pain, abuse, or other negative consequences--not only for yourself, but maybe even your children down the road. Figuring out who to marry is an important decision, but as I so often have to remind myself 'do you best and let God do the rest...let go and let God.' So now that I've had that spill, here's the poem that inspired it, inspired by a status of a friend of mine from another country who has no idea she inspired it (I wrote this about a week ago). Carry on and keep your head up. Have joy in the now.
Life is a drunken canvas
Though she's never had a drop
Oh, the stories she could tell
Of him, but she couldn’t stop
In circles she would ride her bike
In circles, she would spin
Perhaps someday she’ll spend her time
Not thinking of him
She’ll ring the bell, she’ll serve the beans
But it will never please him
She’ll tear the hem out of her sleeves
And hide the deep bruised skin
She wonders if that day at brunch
That table set for two
When he came in and stole her heart
She knew it wouldn’t do
But wait for Him she wouldn’t
She had her cup of tea
And even though quite bitter
Her cup was not empty
For two that seem at first in love
May not actually compat
Another may have been there
If she’d waited for Her Match
Perhaps He won’t wear army green
Perhaps He won’t be tall
Perhaps she’ll never picture Him
Her mind is just too small
To see the depths the future holds
To predict what is to come
But if she waits, and hopes and dreams,
What’s best just might be done
But hastily she carries on?
For this we wait and see
Would she rather have the here and now,
Or a Better Cup Of Tea?
Have patience child, your time will come
And sweet charms you shall receive
But if you bait the hook too soon
The truth of life may bleed
Life is a drunken canvas
Though she’s never had a drop
Oh, the stories she could tell
About when she learned to stop.
Life is a drunken canvas
Though she's never had a drop
Oh, the stories she could tell
Of him, but she couldn’t stop
In circles she would ride her bike
In circles, she would spin
Perhaps someday she’ll spend her time
Not thinking of him
She’ll ring the bell, she’ll serve the beans
But it will never please him
She’ll tear the hem out of her sleeves
And hide the deep bruised skin
She wonders if that day at brunch
That table set for two
When he came in and stole her heart
She knew it wouldn’t do
But wait for Him she wouldn’t
She had her cup of tea
And even though quite bitter
Her cup was not empty
For two that seem at first in love
May not actually compat
Another may have been there
If she’d waited for Her Match
Perhaps He won’t wear army green
Perhaps He won’t be tall
Perhaps she’ll never picture Him
Her mind is just too small
To see the depths the future holds
To predict what is to come
But if she waits, and hopes and dreams,
What’s best just might be done
But hastily she carries on?
For this we wait and see
Would she rather have the here and now,
Or a Better Cup Of Tea?
Have patience child, your time will come
And sweet charms you shall receive
But if you bait the hook too soon
The truth of life may bleed
Life is a drunken canvas
Though she’s never had a drop
Oh, the stories she could tell
About when she learned to stop.
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