November's End

Happy end of November. I hope you all had a good month, I know it was good for me.

This month has been a roller coaster ride. Emotional ups and downs, but I can say that I'm so happy for the festive season of December. Christmas lights have started to come up and so has family. This is the best time of the year, not because of the food, even though that's great, but for the fellowship with friends and family. 'Tis the season!

A time of peace on earth and goodwill towards men. Merry Christmas

Thankfulness

We all know to be thankful on thanksgiving. We all say a prayer thanking God for who He has put in our lives, for the food on the table, and for all the stuff we have.

But then why must we be thankful?

Thankfulness is a blessing, and if you think about it, it makes life a bit easier. I doubt anyone in the world can say that they feel better when they take for granted what they have. Thankfulness makes life so much more enjoyable.

But what does it mean to be truly thankful?

Thankfulness is from the heart, when you just think and feel "Man, I am really blessed..." Looking at my life, I have no reason to be sad. I have a fancy iMac, the ability to worship freely, warm home, plenty of food... I could spend days writing out all I have.

Take this day and be thankful, truly thankful for what you have - whether it's a spouse or the fact that you own more than one pair of socks. In a capitalist society, like in America, it's so easy to forgive how blessed we really are.

Now, go out and tell someone what you're thankful for. Start a chain of thankfulness, and it doesn't have to be done on Thanksgiving. Be thankful tomorrow, be thankful next week, be thankful next month, be thankful everyday and you'll notice that life will be so much more of a blessing to you rather than living in jealousy of what others have or of what you could have.

With that, I say to enjoy your life and enjoy your day.

happyness

Even though it's so cold out side and the sky is grey, I can't help but feel a joyful air around. Listening to Foster the People only makes me so much happier. Wherever you are, put on a joyful song and dance! Today's a good day and it can only get better... It's all in the mindset!

Be happy!

it has begun.

Winter has officially begun. Snow is falling, hard and life is being made miserable on college campus. Walking from building to building is very hard. The snow falling from all angles, penetrating my soul. This is my second year living in the tundra of northeast Wisconsin. Before that I lived in South Carolina, huge difference. Even though this snow fall means that I'll be living in cold and ice for several months, there still is this childlike joy that comes with the soft flakes falling from the sky softly.

This time last year, there was a similar snowstorm. I still remember the joy I had felt watching the air turn white from the snowflakes falling. It was the most snow I had ever seen in my life. The native cheeseheads, or Wisconsin-ites,  however, laughed at my excitement and joy, knowing that this excitement would eventually turn into distaste.

Maybe it's the southerner in me, but I will always be excited for snow to fall. What this snows means is that when I get home from my classes I can make a hot drink, curl up under a big blanket, and enjoy the day given me and the protection that I have from the cold winds. Winter is the hardest season to bear, but the best season to observe.

and his hand is stretched out still.

Throughout the book of Isaiah, God is continually pronouncing judgment on a fallen Israel. Israel has rejected, despised, and completely turned away from the God who has saved them from the worst of the worst. From a human's point of view, by now, I would've given up on Israel... I guess that's a good thing I'm not God. Instead of abandoning them, like any sinful, fallen human would, God continually pursue them. Throughout Isaiah you see the phrase "and his hand is stretched out still."

One of my favorite things God does is when he takes the covenant with Israel that He knows Israel cannot keep. He walks through the blood of the animals by Himself saying that He will not break His covenant to be with us, to support us, and to protect us.

With all this said, when Israel (or you very well could substitute Israel with your name) turns away from God, "His hand is stretched out still" to bring us back to Him.

I'm glad I serve Him over anything else.