A Gift of Energy

Tonight I felt a surge of energy and joy, like I was almost weightless, not bogged down and tired as I often am.  I felt as if I could do fifty push-ups, a hundred jumping jacks, and sing a dozen songs.

I don't know why it came--was it the Clif bar I ate, the part of a sermon we listened to from our elder about our incorruptible inheritance, the songs we sang ("O God, Our Help in Ages Past" and "All Things Shall Perish; Thou Dost Remain") the creative things I'd been looking at online, someone praying for me, a combination of all of them--or an unrelated gift from God?  I don't know, though I do know the sermon and songs lifted my spirits.

In any case, I'm thankful for it.  Yes, it came at ten-o'clock at night, but I'll take that.  It made washing dishes easier (I was singing "We're Walking in the Air," ha).

Good night, everyone, and may God give you all the strength you need to carry on.  His grace is sufficient, even for the hardest, most trying circumstances!

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Mines & Mindsets

At home sits a girl, a laptop propped on her lap, music going in her ears.  Clicking mindlessly at the beginning of a dozen minesweeper games, she wonders when the big field will open up where there are few mines.  Just a few more games. Just a few more minutes.  What else is there to do, after all?  Draw-- play music--write--where is the meaning in that?  Oh, perhaps there is more meaning in it than games, but there is always time for that later.  A time when she's feeling more inspired.

The truth is, life is a lot like the minefield on minesweeper.  There are dangers, yes, but we want to find the easiest path with few mines, or what looks like few mines.  But the clear field is really just pushing the mines outward, not lessening the number; they gang up on you in the end, and then they are all the trickier to overcome.

A few obstacles and hardships are helpful along the way to keep us careful, learning, and dependent on God.

And sometimes the littlest things we do are used to the greatest effect by a God who is bigger than all.

If we stop and think, our talents can be used by God, can be a blessing to others, and most definitely are more important than a game of minesweeper, where the only reward is a name on the high score list.


*You do need a bit of a clear field to open up when playing Minesweeper, but if you keep clicking and waiting, you will run into mines, and the game is then over.  Or, like I said, it may be that more mines will be clustered together later and make it harder to finish--that's sort of a working theory.  And I try not to play the game too often.

Television - A Blessing or Curse or In Between?

I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. - Psalm 101:3

The subject of one of my new polls is television. I know several families who do not watch any television, and I admire them for their convictions.

In our family, we grew up with very limited television, and at one point my dad threw our set out.

But we have a television now, which don't spend a lot of time watching, and I think there is a way to guardedly watch television. I believe young children should not watch much if any television, as it may be a distraction and hindrance to work, growth, and intelligence. It may even be the same for adults if we are not careful. There are so many bad influences on TV, that it is necessary to keep a tight rein on it. Even the so-called decent, family movies and shows usually have their problems.

Is a television useless and bad, then? Some may say yes, but I say no, with caution. There are some good shows on helpful things such as cooking, gardening, and household projects. There are even some historical documentaries from which we can learn. But we have to keep our mind sharp, not taking everything we hear as fact, and helping our children to understand what is right or wrong. Then there are DVDs and movies, some of which are decent or even very helpful. You don't need a television for those, of course, as they can be played on a computer.

What of those awful ads? That is one of the wost problems, no doubt. But if you change the channel in between your show or watch only a couple of more conservative channels, it is possible to remain free of such influences.

There are bad influences all around us, from real life to online to on television. We should try our best to avoid the bad, and perhaps it is harder to do so with a television, but I am not convinced it is wrong to have one. I'm open to changing my mind on this, though.

Thoughts?

Diligence

Some convicting/inspiring quotes in one of the areas in which I struggle...

He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread,
But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.
- Proverbs 12:11

The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.
-Proverbs 12:24

The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting,
But diligence is man's precious possession.
- Proverbs 12:27

The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
- Proverbs 13:4

The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,
But the way of the upright is a highway.
- Proverbs 15:19

But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
- Hebrews 6:9-12

Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.
- George Washington Carver

Hard Times

You know those days in which you don't feel like doing anything? (Please say yes.) Well, I had one a couple of days ago. I've never been very self-motivated, and I'm a procrastinator (another word for lazy). But this was worse than normal. I had a hard time prying myself from my computer chair and, shamefully, groaned when my mom told me to do something. This attitude stemmed from: first, my sinful nature--but was exacerbated by something I was worried about. Ironically, I was worried about my sin, and in the process was adding sin to sin.

We can't just wait to do something until we feel like it. But there should be a joy in serving, as we are servants of our wonderful Lord. However, sometimes we don't have the joy we should. What to do? Can we force joy into our hearts? No. But we can pray for God to change us, to give us joy. We can remind ourselves of God's goodness, forgiveness, and the reward awaiting us in heaven. We can sing hymns of thanksgiving. By God's grace, soon we'll be wondering why we were downcast in the first place.

Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. - Psalm 32:11

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. - Micah 7:7

Recommended reading: When I Don't Desire God - How to Fight for Joy