Keep on Truckin'

I slept for over 4 hours this afternoon. I would normally be ashamed of something like that. I'd be upset I wasted a big portion of the daytime... but today, I accepted the fact that I needed that sleep. And probably more than that. I've been exhausted. Hence, the lack of updates. I've been exhausted... emotionally, physically, spiritually. Just exhausted.

Without getting into all the gory details, I've had a crapstorm of a week that involved my brand new car being backed into, thinking I was going to loose my tooth, and worrying that my dog might meet the big fire hydrant in the sky. It sucked, and I didn't feel like I had anything to give to anyone, let alone this blog. I felt defeated, dragged down. And that's how I was living my life for the better part of a week.

I started comparing myself to Job. I realized that I still had my mom, my friends, my church and my job. But I just wasn't sure where God was in all of this. I mean, I had just been in a car accident a few weeks ago. Now, to make matters worse, my baby needed over $4,000 in repairs. AND on top of all of that, it has now been almost a whole month since my best friend moved away.

When it rains, it pours.

But I realized something. Regardless of the crappy things that happen to us as a result of living in a fallen world, God still has a plan. He still has a purpose for my life. He's still given me a dream to chase. I'm not going to give up just because the waters are getting a little choppy. It may sound silly, but I actually found encouragement from a fortune cookie yesterday. It said, "A calm sea does not make a skilled sailor." It's true. If I'm expected to navigate this crazy life, I'm going to need to learn how to handle some difficult situations.

So, as I learned in Bible study this week, I'm just going to "keep on truckin'..." no matter what puddles I have to drive through.

Also, no matter what junk I've been though this past week, it's nothing compared to what the people in Joplin and other areas affected by the tornadoes are going through. Here's an article I found of ways to help.

Everybody Hurts... Sometimes

Everything hurts, and everything is sore right now. I think it’s mostly stress… but also, that’s what happens when you’re in a car accident. The BFF and I were being good, little Christians, on our way to Bible study yesterday, when- BAM! Some loser-face jerkwad child of God flew through the stop sign and slammed right into us. Had it not been for her swerving, it would’ve crashed right into the driver’s side. I shudder to think what would’ve happened to my best friend if that were the case. Thankfully, God chose to spare us and we veered off to the side of the road- right between a telephone pole and chain link fence.

You’ve probably heard the phrase that God’s got you right where He wants you. Well, I think in that situation, He wanted us right between those two objects. Not a foot to the left or a foot to the right. In fact, had anything happened one millisecond off the way it did, my bestie and I could be toast right now. But we’re not. ‘Cause God’s got our backs… and our fronts.

Often, when crazy things like this happen, we start to focus on the negative: how much damage there is, how much it’s going to cost, all the 1,001 aches and pains going through our bodies the next day. Instead of all that, I want to focus on the positive- the holy crap, I’m alive positive. We didn’t see that car coming. We had no way of knowing he wasn’t going to stop at that stop sign. But God did. He also knew we were going to be fine. I’ve been through things like this before, and to be honest, the first inclination is always, “Why did God let this happen to me?” Sure, He could’ve stopped that other car. He could have slowed us down by making a dog run out in front of the car. But, we sometimes forget that we are subject to this fallen world we live in. The guy who hit us made a bad decision, and now he’ll have to live with the consequences of that decision.

The point I’m trying to make, is that we can’t always see where the road in front of us is going. We don’t know the destination. But we have a Father who can see every side street, every intersection. He knows where it’s going to be gridlocked and where construction is taking place. Are we going to run into some red lights? Sure. A few fender benders? Most definitely. But it makes me feel a whole lot better knowing I serve Someone who can see all the road before me and knows where my final destination is.

Side note: please pray for my friend’s car. The insurance company still has to assess the damage.

Being Sick Sucks

I promise I didn't push my blog day back to Thursday. I've been sick all this week, and to be honest, it's quite hard to think of spiritual lessons when you're figuring out how to breathe through one nostril. I didn't really feel like doing much of anything, which, in a season where I have so much to do, is not very constructive.

Something that I've come to realize more and more over the years, is that life doesn't fit into the timetable you might have imagined. I know that seems obvious, but I used to think that way. I used to thing A things needed to happen by B time or the world would like explode... or something. But life doesn't work that way. I easily forget that God's ways are higher than mine (Isa. 55:8-9), and I try to take the reigns myself. But that rarely works out for me. It's times like these that I come to understand I just need to trust God. I may not know where I'm going, but He does.

So, that's really it for this week. Hopefully, I'll be back on my feet (and more into my blog) next week. Here's wishing you good weather and good health!

Martha (and no muffins)

I almost forgot to write a blog entry this week. Last night I wasn't feeling well and tonight I need to pack for a weekend of visiting my family on the other side of the state. (Plus, I'm still coming down off the high of hearing that Fringe has been renewed for season 4... but I digress.) I totally pulled a Martha.


No, not Martha Stewart (although, I'm thinking her parents gave her that name for a reason!), but Martha, sister of Mary. Her story is laid out in Luke 10. Jesus came to stay at the home of Martha and Mary while He was travelling through their village. Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to Him teach while Martha busied herself with all the preparations. She probably cooked, and cleaned, and got distracted with all the little things that start to go wrong when company comes over. And along the way, she probably thought to herself, "I'm the only one who does any work around here; no one appreciates me." In her frustration, she finally asked Jesus to tell her sister to help her. 


What did Jesus say? “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (verses 41-42). Martha got so involved in all the work to be done, she forgot that the ultimate Teacher was there, waiting to spend time with her. She could have been listening to Jesus the whole time, but she was too busy. 


How often do we do that? Pretend we're too busy for God? I do it more than I care to admit. I did it tonight by almost neglecting to update this blog. I need to remember that my Master is always ready to spend time with me, if I'll just put down the broom and sit at His feet.


On the flip side of that, I wonder... what would have happened if Martha had been sitting alongside Mary, listening to Jesus? How would the food have gotten cooked? The beds made? The house cleaned? We need Marthas. We need people who are willing to work when others are not. Marthas tend to run the world (or at least the household). The thing about Marthas is, they need to learn how to take a break. And that work isn't the only thing in life. 


So how about you, are you a Mary or a Martha? I tend to be a bit of both at times. 

New Blog Rollout!

Ta-da! Well, as you (all less than 5 but maybe more than 1 of you) may have noticed, I have taken a brief hiatus from the blogosphere. But, I'm back, baby! With a brand new outlook on life (and blogging!) and a dedication to do at least weekly updates. I have chosen Wednesday as the day for new posts.

Why Wednesday? That's a fair question. Wednesday tends to be the day I feel the most burned out. It's no longer Monday, but it's still not Friday yet. If I could use a little revitalization mid-week, I'm sure others can too. So Wednesday is the day!

Also, I'm keeping the name of the blog, "Kinetic Love," because I think it will become more about God's love in motion in relation to my life. If I can share some of the things He teaches me with others, maybe we can learn together. I'm not going to always promise to add a Bible verse or be the best example (Lord knows I learn a lot from being humbled), but I will promise to be honest and look for light among the darkness. I hope that there will be post that are funny, sad, quirky, and everything in between. Let's face it: life is messy. And mine is no exception. But having God around to teach me about grace and mercy through the messes, well that's what it's all about.

The Call

I got a call from Jon Acuff the other day.

It was somewhat unexpected, as I had forgotten that I bought his book on the day he was offering blog advice for this very reason. It was also unexpected because I had pretty much forgotten that I had a blog for over a month. OK, that was a lie. I knew I had this blog, but every time I would think about updating it, I'd say to myself, "Oh, I'll do it later." Or, "No one reads my blog anyway." But you know what happened? Jon Acuff, author of two books, came to read my blog and was met with a big fat nada from me!

It was a little embarrassing, but I'm also kind of glad it happened because he gave me some great advice. He asked what I wanted my blog to be, and to be honest, the answer I gave him sounded a little weak to me. What do I want this blog to be? Why did I start it? Those are questions I'm going to be answering in the next few days as I decide what direction I want to take this blog in. The great part about it, is that my readership pretty much consists of my best friend, and the occasional member from my church, so I've got some pretty understanding people who are rooting for me.

Another piece of advice Jon Acuff gave me was to pick one day of the week that I want to update. I explained that I had gotten really excited about doing the blog and then fizzled out as I tried to think of what to write. He said it was better to be at "80% and published, than 100% and still in your head." It was great advice. It also kind of made me realize that I sometimes treat my faith a lot like I treat blogging. Like a burden rather than a blessing.

Why is it that I can find time to watch my favorite TV show, but not to read God's Word? It's because I've been treating my faith like a burden, like it's something I have to do instead of something I am and get to do.

My pastor gave a great sermon on Sunday entitled "Now and Later." He illustrated it with candy, but one of the big things I took away from it is that I have been living too much in the now- focused on the instant gratification over the eternal rewards. My faith isn't meant to be a chore, but a way of life. I shouldn't view my Christianity by the laundry list of things I need to do that day for God, but by the love of Christ which transcends menial tasks and should bleed over into every aspect of my life.

So be on the lookout for a rejuvenated, updated weekly blog. It shouldn't have taken a phone call from a famous, unibrowed author to get me there... but it did.

Hard Times

I'm really not too good with the whole blogging thing. I start off great and then kind of fizzle out. However, I'm determined to not let this blog fall by the wayside like the others I've started. Sometimes it's just a little hard to get motivated.

And isn't that like so many other things in life? How many times have you started something with the best of intentions, only to give up after a week or two? It's especially hard to keep going at something once the obstacles start sprouting up. I guess my point is, I haven't given up. And neither should you. Whatever you may be facing today, remember that "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Rom. 5:3-4).

Distractions

Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Do you ever get distracted? I know I - oh look, a dust bunny! I kid, but in all seriousness, distractions are a big thing for me. I meant to read my Bible, but I got distracted by a tv show... I meant to practice guitar, but I got distracted by a jar of nutella... I meant to write a new blog, but I got distracted by online mahjong. You get the idea.

Sometimes my life is one big distraction. On paper, it doesn't look like I've got too much going on, but when it comes down to it, I feel like I don't have time for anything. Or rather, I'm not spending enough time on the important things. I don't know why I let trivial pursuits get in the way of the bigger picture. You'd think it would have been something I'd have learned by now. But I still do it. I still lay my head down at the end of the day, thinking about all the things I wanted to do and how many I actually did.

Are you like that at all? Maybe you're not. Maybe you've got it all together and always get all the checks on your to-do list. For the rest of you distracted procrastinators like me, hang in there. Don't let the small things get in the way of the big. Keep your focus on the One who's driving you to do it, and the rest will come along... eventually.

Busy? Rest.

Matthew 11:28-29
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

I have been so busy this week. We're going through some changes at work and it's required me to take on more responsibility for a while and work some extra hours. Nothing major, but piled on top of the stuff I already have to do, it feels like a lot. I get bogged down. I realize I haven't updated the blog, and when I started this blog, my intent was to update on a near daily basis.

The thing about life is that it will always be busy. There's always something that's not going to get done. I need to stop focusing so much on all that stuff, and focus instead on spending some time with my Savior. He's promised me rest... then why do I have such a hard time resting?

I don't really have an answer right now. And I think that's OK. What I'm being reminded of tonight is that Jesus called the weary and burdened to Himself. The reward is rest. Maybe I should come to Him more; learn from Him more; spend less time in the world. Maybe then I would know what real rest is.