As My World Turns

It’s been a rough, rocky week.

Especially after coming home from a weekend that didn’t end quite as I had expected. I thought I would be refreshed and renewed, but instead I am emotionally drained and have more uncertainties than when I left.

It feels a little like this...

As difficult as it has been, though, this week has brought me a few of those little life lessons. Here is my list of things I’ve learned this week:

Sometimes no matter how hard you try,

you will never get it right with some people.

You have to remember that even if THEY don’t know it or act like it,

they aren’t any better than you.

*****

Even though I’ve come a long way over the past year,

I still have miles to go in the self-improvement department.

It’s ok to have a step or two backwards,

just don’t stay there like a deer in headlights or you’re likely to get run over.

*****

After walking through the quiet dimness of an art exhibit,

I remembered how much I like art even though I’m not knowledgeable about it. My current favorite is Pissarro.

This one was my favorite on display.

*****

If you’re praying

and it seems like your prayers aren’t being answered,

remember that Garth Brooks song:

“Sometimes God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”

Country boy knows a little truth.

*****

Most of the time,

when someone has ticked you off,

they either don’t know it or don’t care.

So all that energy you’re wasting being ticked off?

Don’t bother.

*****

Holding a newborn baby

can cause even the most guarded of hearts to become softer around the edges.

Maybe even in the very middle, too.

*****

 Those are my tidbits for the week.  I am off to Bloggy Boot Camp Saturday! I’m really quite nervous about being in a room full of fabulous, experienced bloggers. But I am hoping to come away from it with tons of new information and maybe even a bloggy friend or two.

Wish me luck!

Giants

I’m going on a retreat soon.

It’s a women’s retreat.

It’s an “Encounter”.

An Encounter with God.

I’m eager to learn,
to listen,
to really hear.

I’m excited

to spend quality time with my girlfriends,

who are so much more than friends –

they are sisters

in every sense of the word.

{I’m scared, too.}

There are big, powerful giants living in this place I’ll be going.


I know I’m not strong enough to slay them. Not alone anyway. Not on my own power.


I wonder if I’ll be strong enough…brave enough…to allow God to lead me to this place. I wonder if I will be able, like David, to use the weapons that God gives me to slay the many giants charging toward me.


Taunting me.


Telling me I’m too small. Telling me I’m not good enough. Telling me to turn around and run back home with my tail between my legs.

Because I AM a runner.

When things get too hard and I have to stretch myself…I run.

When things hurt too much…I run.

When the fears loom heavily over me…I tuck my head way, way down…and I run.

I run with all my might to a place that feels safe. Where I am alone. Where I am in control.

But it’s cold there. I don’t like it and I don’t want to go there anymore. Ever again.






I want to be a conqueror. I want to stand tall, head up, shoulders back, weapons of God at the ready.


As I prepare for this battle, I fortify myself with God’s word. Reading Romans 8 helps me feel stronger.


In particular, Romans 8:37-39 speaks to my heart…soothes me:

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. “

I am a conqueror. No, God says I am MORE than a conqueror.

Through Him.

Who loved us (me).

This is my time. My time to stand tall in the shadow of my Great God who will “have my back”. To carefully and precisely take aim, and bring every giant to their knees.

One by one.
          Crashing to the earth.
                    Dead and gone, never to return.

I will be able to remove the well-worn patch over my broken heart that says “runner” (coward) and underneath will be a whole, healed heart consumed with love for God.

A heart that, with every beat, softly chants “con-quer-or, con-quer-or, con-quer-or”… watch out world…here I come.

Green-Eyed Monster

I have a confession…

I am envious. I have - *GASP* - Blogger’s Envy!

It sneaked up on me really. Being a new blogger, I never expected it – there was no warning ahead of time.