A Month in the Life

I woke up today feeling tired still. Stress from my current situation has been keeping me from fully falling asleep. I've been facing some tough choices recently and not just in my job. I'm hard time with them. Andy and I left to go places this morning.

We came home after breakfast and I was at a loss at what to do. My husband was playing on XBOX live, so that meant no internet or TV for me. I decided to download pictures onto the computer. I was going through pictures to edit them. I started looking at old pictures. They made me laugh. They showed all the crazy times: holidays, birthdays, and random get togethers. All I could see in those smiles was the love from the people who have my back. It is those people I gather strength from. They keep me going. The pictures didn't show all the struggles. The pictures reminded me hope lives continually.

We often get caught up in life's concerns. Sometimes it takes looking back to be able to see forward. If you don't trust, you can't move to the future. With that in mind, May God Bless the future whatever it may hold.


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Can I be real with you all ? I don't like nights like tonight. Its the kind of lonely time that I wish I had unattached friends close by. Andy is out having a guys night with his best friend. Most of my friends here are married at least. I know God's blessed me with the friends I have but its nights like this I miss Colorado. I could call any number of people to hang out with. Having too much time on my hands without something productive to do isn't good.
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Today Andy and I went with his Step-dad and a couple others to the Tigers game. It was really hot! We were in the bleachers with the sun to our backs. It was 83*F and some humidity. It was so much fun. We got to go to Detroit. I haven't been to a Large city in quite awhile. I don't think I'll be complaining about traffic for awhile. The game was pretty slow. Neither team scored until the 6th inning. The game went into overtime. The Tigers won in the 10th inning 3 to 2 Cardinals. I really enjoy baseball. I don't really have a a team. I like the Rockies because they're close to home. I was a bit bummed to find out they are playing here within the weekend. I am happy to be home. I've a mild sunburned and feel kinda of sticky. It was nice to have a change of scenery, if only for the day.
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Today was a very busy day. I accomplished almost everything I needed to. I washed, dried and folded my laundry. I returned and filled out more applications. I missed one place that I was going to go to. And I didn't get hired today. It's all good though. I went to Connect bible study. We had an amazing time. Its been a high light of my week, since I've been going. Connect has really helped me feel like my little town is home now. Here's what we learned tonight:

Matthew 5 ( The Message)

You're Blessed

^{1 -2} When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

³"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
⁴"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
⁵"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
⁶"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

⁷"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
⁸"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
⁹"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
¹⁰"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

^{11 -12}"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Salt and Light

¹³"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

^{14 -16}"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

After this great study about being content with who were are and where our focus should lie, they announced next week will be our last meeting together. They are dissolving the group and something else will be coming. They couldn't tell us what it was though. I am feeling curious about whats to come and sad about the end of something I've needed for so long. Thank you Brett and Brooke for hosting this group for this long. I know I will truly miss everything about it. It is my greatest hope that whatever is ahead will.... keep us Connected.

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I've said it before and I'll say it again! Why do applications need to be soooo long and so obtrusive? I understand the point of contact information, citizenship info and work experience. Why do they need to know what I do on my own time, my credit history, my race, my gender, and the color of my eyes? Do you really need my husband's name, phone number and social security number? What does that have to do with my abilities? Do you need to know how many times I've moved or how many times I've signed my name? Do you want to know what my house looks like and when I did my dishes last? Do you need to know my toothbrush is blue or all my socks are white? How about knowing my family tree? Is this really necessary? Why do you need my personality surveyed? By the 5th question, I am annoyed anyway. Does that effect the outcome? Why, oh, why do I need to fill out the employment section on most applications when I have a detailed resume? Do you want to know my shoe size and where I shop? Do you really need my social security number before I get the job? It makes my nervous to pass out that much information on myself with identity theft out there. Why do you need to know what was happening to me between jobs?

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Today church, Jesus dialed my number and spoke to me.
Passage Isaiah 55:11: (The Message)
^{8 -11}"I don't think the way you think.
The way you work isn't the way I work."
God's Decree. "For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think. Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
and don't go back until they've watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth
not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do,
they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

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