A Wrinkle In Time

I am now on my Christmas break and thoroughly enjoying my reprieve from that way too liberal school.
I’m anxiously awaiting new years day when I will be reunited with close friends and wedding cake.
I want to flee the country and take you with me and never return.

“I bought a wooden whistle but it wooden whistle. So I bought a steel whistle and it steel wooden whistle. So then I bought a tin whistle and now I tin whistle.” - Sweet Land

Tip Of The Day:
Don’t let your lights burn out!

I’m sure you all have heard of the story that’s been released on the news about the man who lost his house and all of his possessions and more importantly his wife and two young children because of a military Jet plane that crashed on his house. The pilot was able to eject himself and come out of the accident safely. This is such a sad story and at the same time it has a great message in it.

This man’s story is very similar to that of Job’s. Both men lost everything. Job handled it by flying off the handle, going into depression, cursing the day he was born, questioning God and arguing with him. This Korean man chose to handle it in the total opposite way that Job did. This man handled it in a way that I think Jesus would of handled it. He chose to not be angry with the pilot. He forgave him and asked people to pray for him so that he would not suffer from this. He chose to love this man despite the circumstance. This man is amazing. I can’t honestly say I could of done the same. I think that if I were in his shoes I would have handled things a lot like Job did.

I really wish I knew his name so I wouldn’t have to keep calling him “this man.” Amidst this man’s devastating tragedy he chose to take advantage of the opportunity to live out and to teach the world the greatest commandments which are the following: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew22:37-3. In order for this man to humble himself and deal with the situation like he did, he needed to love. I think that the timing for this incident is perfect. We are now preparing for the celebration of Jesus’ birthday, the day that the came into the world to teach us to love and to show us his love by dying on the cross to pay the price for our sins. No body has any reason not to celebrate this holiday.

Grabbing a cup of coffee and driving around town looking at Christmas lights while listening to Christmas music has become a new favorite hobby of mine. I know some people think that is boring, but it gives me time to think and pray. Christmas music is worship. Not the songs like Rudolph or Frosty the Snowman, but the songs that sing about Christ’s entrance into the world. These lights that people hang up remind me of the fact that Jesus came into this world to be the light in a dark place. He wants us to remain in his light. We are to be like shining lights and not just shining at Christmas time, but all throughout the year. Some of the light shows with santa and reindeer are kind of silly and then there’s some that are kind pretty to look at.

As far as school goes, I’m finally done with all of my papers and assignments. Now I just have to buckle down and study for my finals. I’m kind of disappointed right now because my brother came home today and I am stuck here having to wait until Friday so that I can go home and be with my family. We don’t get to be together much as a family anymore. All four of us have very busy schedules and it’s hard to get them to line up . We are having our celebration this weekend because my brother has to work during Christmas and this is the only time that we will all be in one place. I am very blessed to have a family to go home to this Christmas season. I’m thankful for having a family to be reunited with. I feel terrible for that man who lost his family. I can’t fathom not having my family.

Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace…” - O Holy Night

I made a list of all the things that I need to get done before the end of the semester and I have two papers yet to write and four finals to study for and take and then I am finished for the semester. That is encouraging! I can’t wait for this semester to be over with. This has been such an awkward semester, but I’m not complaining. I’m learning to deal with the awkward because that’s just part of life.

I realize that lately I’ve been kind of negative and complaining a lot and for those of you who are reading this and have been effected by this in anyway. I apologize. Please forgive me. I’m trying. I’m trying not to complain and get down about the things that I have no control over and cannot change. I’m trying to switch my focus because I somehow lost it. I sometimes find myself wondering how I get into the places that I end up in and the problem is that I never realize that I’m in those places until I’m out of them. I’m not talking about physical places either. Don’t worry. I know where I am at. Honestly, I do!

I‘m human and I fall short. My God is mighty to save. I have given him plenty of reasons to just say the heck with me and to give up on me, but he doesn’t. He never leaves. He doesn’t quit. He never stops pursuing me. He’s truly my mainstay. He loves me unconditionally and he’s always willing to take me back and forgive me without any hesitation. I’m forever grateful for all that he has done, is doing, and will do for me. I don’t deserve his grace, forgiveness, and love and yet I continually receive it.

One never realizes how big a pan is until it’s contents are spilled all over the kitchen. When I was home last weekend for Thanksgiving I had put some warm water in a pan to let it soak so that it will be easier to clean and I wasn’t aware of there small hole in the bottom of the pan. There was water dripping off of the counter into drawers and it was producing Lake Michigan on the floor. I’m a total disaster in the kitchen. When my mother walked into the kitchen and saw this mess of mine, that is the moment when I reminded her that I would be back in a few weeks to stay for a whole month. She was thrilled I tell ya! If I could, I would spend the rest of my life living at home with my parents. I love being home. I don’t care what you think Bartlett is my glimpse of paradise!

I don’t think that I’ve ever put a prayer request on here before, but if you wouldn’t mind saying a prayer or two for my uncle that would be greatly appreciated. My uncle is in the military and he was just home for a short leave. On his way back to Iraq he found out that he has a blood clot in his leg and so they flew him to a hospital in Germany. He’s had this problem once before and we all think that the blood clot is a blessing in disguise because now he gets to come home by/before Christmas. I would much rather have him in a hospital with a blood clot than have him on the battle grounds any day. He’s much safer in a hospital.

Tip Of The Day:
When you make a list of things that you need to get done, put some tasks on there that you know you have already completed so that you can instantly have the feeling of accomplishment.