Look Up .. Not Around

I listened to a friend and follower of Christ speak on being overwhelmed...We can all relate to being overwhelmed from time to time. 

Some of us spend our whole life feeling overwhelmed.

He said Jesus is the Overcomer in our times of feeling overwhelmed. We need to look UP instead of around, in times of struggle.

He is waiting to lift us out of the miry pit we find ourselves sinking in. Our circumstances may not change... but if our mind is focused on eternity and Him... we then begin to have perspective. 

We become less, as He becomes more.

When this friend witnessed a friend lose his wife, his love, the mother of his children... he saw the pain and anguish of it all. Death can be cruel. He saw the red rimmed eyes from emotions and tears that threatened to overwhelm. 

My friend asked him how he was getting through this. 

The friend replied, 

"Oh, but there is Jesus."

That was it.. all that he needed. Jesus... because He is everything.

I know the pain this friend spoke of. I know that loss, the anguish, that feeling of falling off a cliff, without breath to scream or make the fall stop. 

You just want the pain to end.

It is a moment you choose, who you will put your faith in.. man or God. 

I chose to become less at that moment. 

A call was placed on my life for Him. 

What joy is mine because I am less and Oh....There is Jesus.

Look up, not around. 

The world has no answers for us. 

But there is a solid rock answer, our Creator and lover of our souls.

"Turn you eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, 

and the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

in the light of His glory and grace."

Power, love, peace, grace and mercy.. all wrapped up in a Savior.

 He loves each of us... and is waiting with open arms.

Look Up Today.

The Invisible Children... We Must Make Joseph Kony Famous

http://vimeo.com/invisible/kony2012

WATCH AND SHARE

KONY 2012 IS A FILM AND CAMPAIGN BY INVISIBLE CHILDREN THAT AIMS TO MAKE JOSEPH KONY FAMOUS, NOT TO CELEBRATE HIM, BUT TO RAISE SUPPORT FOR HIS ARREST AND SET A PRECEDENT FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE.

The Nino And His Team... Dreaming Of Sweet CeCe's Stardum....

Check out these college boys and give them some props by watching... there is money at stake here so i was directed to get this on right away. Good young men they are.

Do I Have To Wear The Shirt Too?

A few years ago the daughter was looking at Colleges. At one point she declared that states west of Illinois (California not included) were not even in the running. 

Sorry, I understand this is offensive to some of you.

Why would you even consider going to any these states she exclaimed? They are boring, ugly, squarish in design, void of people with any fashion sense, mostly void of people in general, have detestable weather and ... well, you get the idea. 

I pointed out to her that those states represent where the majority of our food supply comes from, and that we should be happy those states exist. One cannot live on ramen noodles... don't believe they are part of the food pyramid.

At least crops are still made in America.

I admit, I cowered away from her other thoughts on the topic. How crazy do you think I am ...

The facts I shared did nothing to waver her feelings... really why would it? 

She was a bright 18yr old, born in N.Y. where she thought food was made in the back of the A&P or Shoprite.... Farms were something you visited on a School Field Trip. 

They weren't real after all. They were in Pennsylvania and people dressed up like they were Amish and showed you how to milk a cow. The cow went back to the A&P at night. Everyone knows Pennsylvania isn't a real state. It's the land of Hershey, Water Parks and Amish people, right? It's the northeast version of Disney World.

The daughter chose a University in a city compared to Las Vegas, but substitute the L for N. It is trendy, beautiful, the people are talented, hip, and yes, it costs a fortune..

Alas, it has become one of my favorite cities .... however I don't get to live there, I just pay bank like I live there.

I visit and when I do, I recognize that one of the benefits is the uniqueness of the people. Not a lot of conformity. The variety in apparel is confusing to me at times. I can never tell if it works or not. Is it a "what not to wear" or " so hip I can't (literally) stand it."

Compare this... I am in another state and I see a woman with a shirt that spells the state she is in... at the moment. I don't mean mentally, I have no idea about that. The physical state as in, lets say, Kansas... just as an example. 

Does she live in this state? Is she a visitor and so enamored with the state that she can't resist wearing the tee-shirt too?

It is not a University, college or sports team tee- shirt.... just the state. No self promoting, not a hint of anything to do with the wearer.... just the state. 

It got me wondering... if you are In the state, do you need to Wear the shirt too?

Some states are exceptions.... like N.Y.,  yet I never wore a shirt that just said New York..... I knew where I was after all. I am sure I wore an I Love N.Y. shirt with an apple on it... 

 You can bet I wore it with pride too. That's what we do. We self promote.

The other day I saw a guy( in one of those states) that had a tee-shirt on that said, "Jesus hates the Yankees". Really ... because that is NOT the message I received from above.

My husband held me back, no worries.

He was self promoting.. and was probably a Royals fan. Good luck with that.

I can understand if a tee shirt said Georgia Peach, or I love Florida, or Don't mess with Texas

but just the state. 

That seems to be someone who has bought in, drank the juice, hook, line and sinker, a goner.....

Started me thinking...

 What does my shirt say each day?

 Is it about my love for something, my fashion sense? Is it catchy, does it get the attention I am seeking, is it self promoting?

Or does it simply, quietly state where I am, who I am ?  That I have drank the juice. I have jumped in with both feet... a goner. Do I wear the clothes of Christ or of myself? What do others see when they look at me? Someone self obsessed or God obsessed?

We must be clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Job 29:14 says “I put on righteousness and it clothed me.” Righteousness simply means “right-standing”.  It gives you the right to stand in the presence of God without fear or condemnation. We are to wear Jesus everywhere we go. We are to look like Him, walk like Him, talk like Him, act like Him. We are to be Jesus to others. We are to wear Jesus so well that no one will notice the difference – to be in Him and let Him be fully in us.

Father, help me to be clothed in the garments you desire me to wear, and remove the garments that only cause me harm and displease You.

This was an original post from 2011

Happy Birthday Justin Bieber.....

Today is Justin Biebers 18th birthday.

It's a new day in the Beebs world and possibly some of these 18 things are swimming around his brain...

He can now watch a show in Las Vegas. Wait... hasn't he performed there?!

He can marry Selena without parental consent.

He can sign his own contracts.

He can get a forklift license. 

He can finally get that distinctly unique cross tattoo he has been dreaming of.

He can consent for his own medical treatments. I hear butt fillers are all the rage.

He can become a Chippendale dancer.

He can move out of his mamas house and live on his own. Wonder if he will go for a 3 bedroom ranch? 

He can be hired as a bank teller. 

He can apply for his very first credit card... wonder if they will start him at a $5,000 limit?

He can work the register of a Seven Eleven where he can sell buy and sell lottery tickets .

He could have joined the circus at 17. Wonder if he was aware of this fact?

He can legally change his name to Justin Gomez or Will Smith.

Of course there are the obvious things, nicotine, fireworks, porn, register for the draft and vote..... He is from Canada. Do they vote? Are they a monarchy? Do they have their own Queen and who runs that place anyway?

Justin, according to Wiki (which we know to be true), you are "nice, caring, fun loving, down to earth, cute, sweet, talented, handsome, simply amazing, and a prankster. 

So far you sound like my weimeraner. Okay, she's not that down to earth, she's kind of a princess.

Justin...... The King Of Twitter, I imagine you have a million birthday wishes tweeted all day and long into tomorrow. I will not be one of them, however I do wish you a Happy Birthday and offer this short advice.

The coming years will get tougher. Tougher to stay true to who you really are.... deep down in your soul. 

People will tell you how wonderful and perfect you are. Don't believe them.

Remember your roots.

 Remember the friends of your youth.

Have faith in something bigger than yourself and fame. 

Be grounded in a faith that supports you in good times and bad and lasts for eternity.

Remember your mama. How much she loves you and supports you.

Find a passion outside of music that blesses others.

Share what you have with the less fortunate, the lowly, the ones who do not have a voice.

 Be their voice.

Live life passionately, able to look in the mirror each night and know you were an honest man.

Don't save up your treasure on earth.

Remember the words of Horace Greeley -

"Fame is a vapor, Popularity an accident,

 Riches take wings, 

Only one thing endures and that is character."

Happy Birthday Justin