Today school was cancelled because of extreme weather conditions. Right this second it has warmed up from 6 degrees to 10 degrees. We've seen this "experiment" on the internet from people who are in the negative temp. We decided to give it a try here. Not quite the amazing show people more north give, but it made us happy...
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
365 Page Book
I saw a quote about the New Year that made me smile.
"Today is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one."
How can the beginning of a new year not bring to mind all the possibles that are waiting for you? Everything from "floss more often" to "workout three times a week" and "eat healthier" holds so much potential for most of us. You have the "do less" hopes and the "do more" resolutions. Pair that with a fresh white page of a brand new journal? (doesn't everyone adore the office supply section?) Such excitement!
But then, a couple hours later, it hit me.
The blank pages of a book that hasn't been written... it's waiting for ME to write it?!
The only book that matters was already written.
Psalm 69:28 (ESV) speaks of those whose names will be blotted out of The Book. That means their names, our names, are already there. Already written. Already destined for eternity with The Creater. A book whose pages were filled at the start of time. Filled with our story.
What if it's left up to me to write the next year of my life? Well, then, how many ways will THAT be screwed up? What a terrible book that would be, wouldn't it? While my ability to plan is amazing (*cough*), I am selfish and short sighted. How many times would I plan for something and miss the path already paved FOR me, which is greater than what I can comprehend? (hello 5 kids that we didn't plan for!)
So, how do we find out what the plan is? Are we supposed to sit on the couch and watch out the window for it? Do we barge head first into our days thinking God will bless us because that is what I want? Do we cautiously tip toe through our weeks hoping our choices are His? It's not like that at all. For me, it's like a Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew novel - detectives trying to solve the mystery using clues around them. Maybe even using a super secret decoder pen found in a cereal box! But, instead of looking in bushes and turning over rocks to look for the clues, we are to ask Him what we should do. After all, it's His plot.
How to discover what our pages say? We should pray for the Lord to show us what He wants us to do. And then listen. That's the rub, isn't it? Listening. But if we obey Psalm 46:10 and just be still, it's easier to listen. He'll guide our path and our choices. How much easier will life be if we uncover what is perfectly written for us instead of trying to come up with it from scratch on our own?
So maybe, for me, I change the quote. I think I'm going with...
"Today is the first blank page of a 365 page book already written. Decode with His pen. It will be amazing."
"Today is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one."
How can the beginning of a new year not bring to mind all the possibles that are waiting for you? Everything from "floss more often" to "workout three times a week" and "eat healthier" holds so much potential for most of us. You have the "do less" hopes and the "do more" resolutions. Pair that with a fresh white page of a brand new journal? (doesn't everyone adore the office supply section?) Such excitement!
But then, a couple hours later, it hit me.
The blank pages of a book that hasn't been written... it's waiting for ME to write it?!
The only book that matters was already written.
Psalm 69:28 (ESV) speaks of those whose names will be blotted out of The Book. That means their names, our names, are already there. Already written. Already destined for eternity with The Creater. A book whose pages were filled at the start of time. Filled with our story.
What if it's left up to me to write the next year of my life? Well, then, how many ways will THAT be screwed up? What a terrible book that would be, wouldn't it? While my ability to plan is amazing (*cough*), I am selfish and short sighted. How many times would I plan for something and miss the path already paved FOR me, which is greater than what I can comprehend? (hello 5 kids that we didn't plan for!)
So, how do we find out what the plan is? Are we supposed to sit on the couch and watch out the window for it? Do we barge head first into our days thinking God will bless us because that is what I want? Do we cautiously tip toe through our weeks hoping our choices are His? It's not like that at all. For me, it's like a Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew novel - detectives trying to solve the mystery using clues around them. Maybe even using a super secret decoder pen found in a cereal box! But, instead of looking in bushes and turning over rocks to look for the clues, we are to ask Him what we should do. After all, it's His plot.
How to discover what our pages say? We should pray for the Lord to show us what He wants us to do. And then listen. That's the rub, isn't it? Listening. But if we obey Psalm 46:10 and just be still, it's easier to listen. He'll guide our path and our choices. How much easier will life be if we uncover what is perfectly written for us instead of trying to come up with it from scratch on our own?
So maybe, for me, I change the quote. I think I'm going with...
"Today is the first blank page of a 365 page book already written. Decode with His pen. It will be amazing."
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