Nowhere Leads Us to Heaven

It was going to be hard to beat our exciting 18 holes of miniature golf on our first day in New Bern, but we set out to do just that on our second day.  Wherever we vacation, we are always looking for trails to explore, so we were very happy that the Croatan National Forest wasn’t very far from our condo.  The funny thing about this love of ours is that we live right by the Salamonie Reservoir that is filled with trails; and I’ve never been there!

We put the address into my phone’s GPS and we were off on our adventure.  The very nice sounding woman on my phone directed us to streets on the edge of the city, but before long we found ourselves on an unpaved road with trees all around us.  The scenery was beautiful and we kept thinking that it would bring us out into a more civilized area, but it just kept directing us to continue on, instructing us to turn every once in awhile.  Each road we were on was gravel and we weren’t seeing any signs, other than a speed limit sign every once in a while which read, “Speed Limit 35 Entire Road”.  I have no idea why they had to say “entire road”, because we were the only ones for miles!

At this point I started laughing so hard that I was wiping tears from my eyes.  I’m not sure why in the world I found this so funny, unless I was thinking about the fact that this could only happen to us.  I also remembered that just the week before there had been a news story on TV about a couple who thought they would take a shortcut to get to their destination and they had been missing for two weeks.  When they were finally found, the man had not survived and the woman was near death.  This story was tragic, but when I heard that story, I had thought to myself how could someone just keep driving and get themselves lost like that.  Yeah…here we were in the same predicament...out in the middle of nowhere!  

Finally, after driving for a very long time, a car passed us and then a little way down the road, another car.  We were encouraged that we were beginning to see other life on this planet, but just then, the woman’s voice on the GPS which was beginning to sound irritating, told us to turn left NOW.  That would have been fine if there would have been a road to our left.  But there was nothing but forest.

At this point, Dan had had enough and he decided we needed to turn around and go back to a wider road we had previously turned right on, and now turn left.  His inner tracking device had kicked in and he thought if we went that direction we would eventually come to the interstate.  He was right and we finally came back into civilization. 

We had not walked one step on a trail at that point, but we were both exhausted and felt like we had conquered an expedition.  Food was what was needed (of course that is always needed!) so we stopped for lunch.  After eating we were determined to still find a trail and I’m so glad we did because this is what we found:

Now THAT is what we had been looking for...and if that wasn't amazing enough...the trail led us to these views:

Oh...I thought I had died and gone to heaven.  It was breathtaking!  Moral of our story?  The journey you're on may seem hopeless and you are ready to give up.  Don't do it!  You just never know when you may turn a corner and beauty will be all around you!

Soggy Days and Fun Memories

Does anyone else feel like they are going to float away?  My word…the rain just keeps coming!  Dan and I have attempted to get work done outside today but we keep getting rained out.  But even with all of the interruptions, I’ve managed to get most of my flowerbeds weeded and he was able to get part of our grass mowed.

It is currently POURING once again!  I just can’t imagine how the farmers are feeling by now.  It’s a real aggravation for us, but for them it is their livelihood. 

We just returned from a two week vacation so this rain is making it even harder for me to get back into the swing of things.  This trip wasn’t filled with “big” things that we did…but was still full of sweet memories.

Just like our first morning in New Bern, NC.  The resort had MY kind of golf and so I told Dan that I wanted to play on our first day.  That way I could brag to people that I managed to get 18 holes of golf in to start my day!

OK...so it wasn't too strenuous...but it was still fun.    Unfortunately,  I got beat.  We were tied after 9 holes but then Dan really got his stride and the rest, as they say, was history.  But I stilled enjoyed our time together.  And the best part was that it wasn't raining!

But we had no idea what the next morning would bring...

MMM 6.15.15 - A Positive Attitude Part 3

Two weeks ago in my MMM (Monday Morning Memo), I shared that to begin to have a more positive attitude, we need to start by looking inward.  We need to begin to see ourselves through God’s eyes because we are precious and honored in His sight.

Last week I wrote that I think we also need to look upward. We need to do something every day to lift someone else up.  We can become too focused on us and forget that there are people all around us that need a lift too.

 

Thirdly, I think it is important for us to look outward.  We need to evaluate our surroundings to see if there is something or someone that is causing us to see our life as half empty all the time.  Is there an underlying peace around us or is their usually chaos?  I think several things can cause us to live in chaos and turmoil and they are things that we can have control of if we just make a point to do it.

First of all, we need to evaluate whether or not we are organized in what we do on a daily basis.  I have found that being unorganized can turn a good day into a very stressful day rather quickly.  If you aren’t a very prepared person as you face each day, things will go into the toilet rather quickly. 

We all seem to be able to find excuses.  Well, my mom was never organized so I’m not.  Well if you had to live with the family I live with…or if you had to work with the people I work with…you would understand why I’m not prepared.  Unfortunately, excuses aren’t going to get the work done and if the work doesn’t get done, you probably won’t have to worry whether your cup is half empty or half full, because you probably won’t even have a cup!

Paying attention to details can make all the difference in the world as to how we face our daily responsibilities.  Having trouble seeing your cup as half full?  Check to see how organized your surroundings are.  There are all kinds of resources that can help you work on a plan to get your environment more organized and running more smoothly.

Another thing to consider when you look outward is who are you spending your time with on a daily basis.  I’m sure you have heard the saying that “misery loves company”.  Oh how true that is.  Miserable people tend to migrate towards other miserable people.  Unhappy people get consolation from knowing that others are unhappy too and you have a choice as to whether you are going to allow their negativity to affect you are not.  And if you are allowing those around you to invade your mind with negativity you can expect to see your cup as half empty. 

It is also a good idea, as you look outward, to evaluate what you are filling your mind with on a daily basis.   There sure is a lot of garbage out there, isn’t there?  Most of us watch the news, but a steady diet of it can depress you rather quickly.  There are very few heart warming news segments.  And the more you digest all the negativity in this world, the less room there is in your cup for the positive.

It isn’t just the news that can affect us.  Some of the reading material we pick up doesn’t leave us feeling very positive either.  Oh it might seem pretty harmless to pick up that steamy romance book or pornographic magazine or flip on that raunchy soap opera, but what happens when you are brought back to reality and realize that your life isn’t anything like those characters or actors that you just read about or watched on TV.  Their lives seemed so exciting and adventurous and you have to deal with sick kids, aging parents and a boss who doesn’t ever notice all the hard work you do.

As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, comparisons can lead us down a path that we really don’t want to follow.  Maybe you aren’t comparing yourself to a fictional character in a book or magazine or on TV, but that neighbor of yours sure seems to have it better than you do.  Her husband seems to always come home on time each night and is always bringing her flowers and chocolate. 

What about that guy that works in the office next to you?  His wife is able to work two jobs, attend all her kids’ extra curricular activities and still has time to plant a garden.  As I’ve said before, the more we compare the more discouraged we become because what we end up doing is comparing our weaknesses to someone else’s strengths and we are going to lose every time we do that!

Let me clue you in on a little secret.  That woman who lives next door and that man who has his office next to yours…doesn’t have a perfect life either.  I have a feeling that if you asked them, they could list all kinds of problems they have that they wish they didn’t have.  And there is a very good chance that they see something in your life that they wish they had.  Do you know what?  That’s life!  No one’s life is perfect and we need to stop dwelling on all of our negatives and start dwelling on the positives.

As you go through your week, I want to urge you to look outward.  Make sure that what you are filling your mind with and who you are allowing to influence you increases your watermark instead of sucking it dry.  Remember as Christians, we are supposed to have a positive effect on the world as we seek His Image.  That won’t happen as long as we allow the world to influence us.

Sore Toes

Have you ever sat in a church service and you were sure that your Pastor had been watching you in the past weeks, so that he would know what to preach on?  Yeah...happened to me today.  I usually like it when my Pastor steps on my toes with his sermon because I know that I need all the help I can get to look more like Jesus.

But today was really painful.  Tears flowed as I felt like I was sitting in a private counseling session with Pastor Gary, as he shared with me what true trust in my Savior should look like...and I was convicted to the core that I was falling short.  He shared Proverbs 3:5 & 6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."  I have read these verses over and over again, but something he said today hit home.

He shared that we are told in these verses to lean, not on our own understanding, but on His.  But he said that many of us are just standing beside Christ and putting our hand on His shoulder, instead of leaning completely on Him, trusting in Him completely that He won't let us fall.  I haven't been able to get that image out of my mind today and I've had to ask the Lord to forgive me for not leaning completely on Him.

I can't do this sermon justice...so I would urge you to watch it yourself.  Go to our church website at www.hope4thefamily.com, then click on "Media", then Video Archives and select today's sermon 6/14/15, "Going Deeper - Wise Up!"  I guarantee you that it will be worth your time to watch.

"Dear Father, forgive me for just resting my hand on you.  From this moment on, I want to lean completely on You, trusting you in every area of my life so that every move I make will be empowered by You and completely in Your will."

A Subtle Change

I’m sure we have all read a disclaimer as a program begins on TV, stating that the views and opinions expressed in this television program MAY not represent the views and opinions of the broadcasting network.  This morning my husband noticed a change in the wording of the disclaimer.

He had the 700 Club on and the ABC Family network was airing it.  As the disclaimer came on the screen, the words were something to this effect, “The views and opinions of this television program do NOT represent the views and opinions of the broadcasting network.”  A subtle change in words, but a much different meaning. 

This is what is happening all around us as the world has an agenda to discredit Christianity and they are doing it by making one subtle change after another.  What is shown on television now, used to be considered X-rated, but that didn’t happen overnight.   In many instances, it occurred with just pushing the button a little bit more one segment at a time and it happened so casually, that even Christians have gone along with it and accepted it.

This greatly disturbs me.  Does it you?  I would love to hear your comments on this subject…let me know what you are thinking!