Chicken Enchilada Soup

I just stole a Chili's recipe online and I am gonna try it out for dinner. We had a progressive dinner last night with our church and I loved the soup portion of the night. I would have been happy to just have soup and dessert. We will see how it goes.

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Pray for Rain

Today I am sitting in my office listening to the wind blow and anxiously awaiting a storm that is going to hit sometime tonight. I love storms. I am a little bummed out because it looks like we are going to miss the majority of the rain and thunderstorms and I was hoping to fall asleep tonight to the loud sounds and rumbles that a good storm brings. I am sitting here thinking about the storms and trials James talks about in the New Testament. He tells us to consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds because we know that the testing of our faith develops perseverance and perseverance must finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. I can sit here and say I can't wait for this storm to hit because I love going through a good thunderstorm. I have been telling my co-workers all day that I am excited about this storm. How awesome would it be if I were as excited to encounter storms of life in this same way? I try to avoid them at all costs because they are scary and they make me uncomfortable. I look at things differently when I am going through a storms in life. The unknown, the intense pressure, the high winds that blow me around, the rain that pelts me and gets my shoes all wet, the lightning that jolts me, the thunder that reminds me this storm is bigger than I am. All these things in life send me for cover and I fins myself praying for the storm to pass with as minimal damage as possible. James tells us that these trials and these storms are building something in me that can only come about because I persevere through the storm. I think about what God has for me later down the road and I dwell on the dreams in my heart that He has put there and I wonder how in the world can He use me or accomplish those things through me. Then I remember this verse and realize that I will be mature and complete and not lack anything when I persevere through a storm. If I never went through it, my roots wouldn't have a chance to sink down deep. I need the storms and trials of life. I am thinking about going to cheer camp this summer so that the next time I face a storm or trial in life I can do a few flips and cheers so I can welcome it with pure joy.

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What it's All About

Last night was an amazing night for me and for our church. We went to North Reddington Shores Beach and baptized 29 kids, youth and adults that wanted to make a public profession of their faith. I had excitement building all day as I was thinking about going and being a part of decisions they made. We hear a lot of negative talk about this generation and where our world is headed and it gets frustrating and depressing when that is all you hear. Let me challenge you with something - Get involved in a child, a teenager, or an adult's life and be a part of what this life is really all about! It's about God and how He makes a difference in our lives. How He has something different for us than this world offers us. How He can change our hearts and our lives and give us meaning and hope. How He wants to use us to love people and make a marked difference in their lives. When you get discouraged with the economy, politics, and what is or isn't happening that you want to, go love people with God's love and see how that makes a difference. All of a sudden you will find your life having meaning and making a difference. You will see lives being changed. You will see hope for this generation and hope for our future. I'm done sitting on the sidelines and complaining, let's go make a difference in this world. Anybody with me?

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Seasons

I went to a park today for lunch and noticed some trees that were pretty barren. All there was were mostly empty branches with a few brown leaves on them. Here in Florida, Fall doesn't grace us with the beautiful and vibrant colors it shows off to our friends in northern states. I recently went up to Michigan and was able to see the start of fall there. I absolutely love fall. I love the chill in the air and I love the red, yellow, and orange leaves that follow Fall wherever it chooses to go. But I admit there is something depressing that follows Fall and that is winter. The empty trees, dreary skies, and bitter cold air make my mood take a nose dive. I sat at lunch and was thinking about my life and the seasons I go through. Sometimes I complain about the dry, hot seasons because I am weary and longing for God's Presence to be real to me much like I would long for refreshing water in the dead of summer when you can't find relief from the heat. Other times I complain about the darkness when I am discouraged or just walking through a dark time of life. My heart is sad and there is an oppressive blanket covering me just like the gray clouds cover the sun and block the light and warmth from beating down on me. I find myself anxiously waiting for spring to come because I want the newness it brings. I want the new growth, I want the warmer air, I want the flowers and trees to be alive again. And in my heart I want to feel alive. A big difference between the seasons our planet goes through and the season my heart goes through is that I can look on my calendar and know when summer ends and fall begins. I can look at the weather report and plan how to dress. In my life, I can't do this. I can't plug my zipcode in and get a report of what the next ten days are going to be like. What I can do is trust my God and trust that He knows. He knows my life and He knows what is in my next day and what is around the corner. My seasons don't run parallel to winter, spring, summer, and fall. They come and go. Sometimes abruptly without warning. Sometimes they last way too long and sometimes they don't last long enough. Sometimes I feel like I am out in the heat longer than I want to be and the next thing I know I am right in the middle of one of the most refreshing times I have ever experienced. Like my heart gets to go on vacation. I wake up in the morning with 94 degree heat, jump on a plane and land where is it 45 degrees cooler. Instant joy. Instant relief. Instant pleasure. I don't have to wait for weeks and months. But in those seasons where the heat and humidity drain me, I have to remember those refreshing times will come. When I look at the empty trees I have to remind myself that they will be alive with green leaves again. When I feel like I can't take another day of this heat, or another day of this darkness, or another day of the cold, I need to hide away with God. He will be what I need. He will bring relief. It is all in His timing. There is a season for everything under Heaven.

Isaiah 30:15 -- Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me.

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January

This is the third time I have tried to post this blog. I was trying to say hello and goodbye to January in one single blog, but I think January is not happy with this attempt. I lose everything each time I try, so this one is not as near descriptive or witty as the previous 2 attempts.

This month has been a blast from the start. It has been filled with my brother-in-law Mike coming home for a week before he heads out to Iraq, my friend Karen coming for a visit from Idaho, a trip to Disney World, hanging out with family, my birthday and several celebrations, trips to the beach, going to cool restaurants, a visit to YBOR City, and a ton more. Starting the year this way gives me hope that the rest of the year will be as good.

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