This month in Reader's Digest, they gave several reasons why happy people are happy. One of those reasons—listing daily why you are thankful. I thought to myself, "Self, you were really happy when you remembered to have a thankful heart." So, tonight I am returning to the basics. Here are five more reasons why I am thankful:
1.) New foods—inspired by a friends grandma, who likes to try new recipes on me, my mom and I tried to two new recipes for dinner. They were both delicious! I love variety! It is the spice of life! Mom cooked a whole chicken which we turned into a chicken/broccili/cheese/rice dish, and I made what looked like chicken dumplings.
2.) That my taxes are done—I know, it's early, but welcome to my world! :)
3.) Saturdays staying in—today I woke up leisurly, watched a movie, ate breakfast, cleaned and organized my room, played games with the fam, cooked dinner, and am about to do some homework. It's been a good day.
4.) John Mayer—I have been wanting some John Mayer music, and a few nights ago at Wal-Mart my friend urged me to splurge on some new tunes. I am thoroughly enjoying his sweet guitar skills and rugged voice! (bonus thankfulness - other new music of late: The Beatles 1967–1970, Amos Lee, Supply and Demand, The Temptations, The Ultimate Collection, The Best of Cat Stevens, Shane and Shane, Pages, Colbie Caillat, Coco, Amos Lee, (Self-Titled).
5.) The Confidence I Have That One Day I Will Be With Jesus—this past week I have been distraught about Heath Ledger's passing. He was incredibly talented, not that I always agreed with the roles he chose to pursue or the way he lived his life, but I was always very impressed by how he refused to take roles for the sake of money. His death has made me think a lot about how our lives are but a vapor. We only dance on this earth for such a short time. Now is the time to seek out the truth of the Father. I wouldn't survive without the peace of Jesus.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
The Invitation
This was given to us in our American Lit class, and I think it is beautiful...what do you think?
The Invitation
by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Indian Elder
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.
If doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals, or have become shriveled and closed for fear of further pain. I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or yours, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it. I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or yours, if you can dance with wildness, and let ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning you to be careful, be realistic, or to remember the limitations of being a human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you're telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself, if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. I want to know if you can be faithful and trustworthy. I want to know if you can see beauty even if it's not a pretty day, and if you can source your life from God's presence. I want to know if you can live with failure, mine or yours, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "YES!"
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done.
It doesn't interest me who you are, or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in empty moments.
The Invitation
by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Indian Elder
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.
If doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals, or have become shriveled and closed for fear of further pain. I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or yours, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it. I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or yours, if you can dance with wildness, and let ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning you to be careful, be realistic, or to remember the limitations of being a human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you're telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself, if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. I want to know if you can be faithful and trustworthy. I want to know if you can see beauty even if it's not a pretty day, and if you can source your life from God's presence. I want to know if you can live with failure, mine or yours, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "YES!"
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done.
It doesn't interest me who you are, or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in empty moments.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Friend Of God
James 4:4b "I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can't be a friend of God."
During a recent prep meeting for youth group, we discussed this verse. I don't remember the last time that one thought from scripture pierced my heart so strongly. We started discussing what this verse meant... We first focused on the outward—obvious sins like lying, cheating stealing, addictions, etc., but then our fearless leader brought us back to the idea of enjoying the world. Talk about hard to swallow.
There are so many times when I might not seem to be doing too badly in the sin department, but the heart of the matter is that I don't always feel like being concerned with what is on the heart of the Father. I might not be stealing, but I am focusing on my desires instead of Gods. What's worse?
Truthfully, I think that stealing might be the lesser of the two evils. So often, the heart issues get overlooked and buried because they aren't always obvious. We deceive ourselves into thinking that we are doing okay, but in actuality, we are painfully falling short of what God deserves.
Please don't misunderstand me. I don't think that it is okay to go out and steal, but I know that I need to start thinking of all of the time I have stolen from God. This section of scripture ends with a promise from God. The more and more that we make it our aim to be a friend of God, the more and more strength He gives us to stand against these evil desires. Isn't that just like our Heavenly Father? We consistently make a mess of things, and He pours out His strength when we turn to Him.
Tonight I am most thankful for that same grace that saved me.
During a recent prep meeting for youth group, we discussed this verse. I don't remember the last time that one thought from scripture pierced my heart so strongly. We started discussing what this verse meant... We first focused on the outward—obvious sins like lying, cheating stealing, addictions, etc., but then our fearless leader brought us back to the idea of enjoying the world. Talk about hard to swallow.
There are so many times when I might not seem to be doing too badly in the sin department, but the heart of the matter is that I don't always feel like being concerned with what is on the heart of the Father. I might not be stealing, but I am focusing on my desires instead of Gods. What's worse?
Truthfully, I think that stealing might be the lesser of the two evils. So often, the heart issues get overlooked and buried because they aren't always obvious. We deceive ourselves into thinking that we are doing okay, but in actuality, we are painfully falling short of what God deserves.
Please don't misunderstand me. I don't think that it is okay to go out and steal, but I know that I need to start thinking of all of the time I have stolen from God. This section of scripture ends with a promise from God. The more and more that we make it our aim to be a friend of God, the more and more strength He gives us to stand against these evil desires. Isn't that just like our Heavenly Father? We consistently make a mess of things, and He pours out His strength when we turn to Him.
Tonight I am most thankful for that same grace that saved me.
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