I was thinking the other day that I haven't a "God feeling" in some time. When I want to hear him, when I make time to listen, when I open up the scriptures, I never really get that "super-natural ah-ha feeling," I used to get when I felt close to God.

So this morning I was tempted somehow to open up my little New Testament Bible I received from Round Mountain United Methodist Church in Bastain, Va. when I was hiking the A.T. I don't know why I felt like opening it, I really just wanted something to read while I was using the restroom (sorry for that...lol).

So I randomly opened it up to Luke 12:22 and read the story about "Worrying". The parable talks about not worrying about your life, like the clothes you wear and the food you will eat. Jesus says "life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes." But what got me was the next verse. Luke 12:24, "Consider the ravens: they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!"

So I thought about it a little, about all the things that Claire and I have in our house; all the luxuries, electronics, clothes, jewelry, etc... I'm not a person who likes to store up a lot of things. I would say I'm a minimalist. If I had a pack, a tent, and a good pair of sandals, I'd be good to go!

So...

I'm reading this book called "The Man Nobody Knows" by Bruce Barton. (see pic. above) which I told to pick up by my 10th grade History Teacher Mr. Reeves. He mentioned it one time and I actually went to the christian book store in Athens, Ga. and picked up a copy. I hadn't even touched the book until about a week ago, when I decided to read it, because I was tired of reading these "self-help leadership" books that all say the same things..

So I'm reading Chapter 4 this morning about Jesus' Method, and I come across this:

"On another day it was His own disciples who learned how He could compress a whole philosophy into a well directed question. They were by no means free from the frailties of ordinary human nature. They fussed about little things-arguing among themselves as to who should have pre-eminence; wondering how their bills were to be met and just where the whole enterprise was coming out." (worrying)

"He brought them up short with a question." "Which of you by being anxious can add a single day to his life?" "And if you can't do this simple thing, why worry about the rest?.."

(Here's the crazy part...remember I've been waiting for God to speak to me and give me a little "super-natural Ah-ha" feeling!)

"Consider the ravens; they don't sow or reap; they have no storehouses or barns, and yet God takes care of them. Don't' you suppose that you are of more value in His sight than a flock of birds?"

Wow, is right!!!!

I don't think God was really trying to tell me about the things I'm storing up on this earth, or about what to spend my money on, or anything like that; I just think he wanted to see me smile! :) And indeed I did!!!

It's not very often that we come across these so called "coincidences" but when we do they really are cool!!! I had to stop right there and laugh!!! God is Amazing!!! And has a great since of humor!!

So, when's the last time something like this has happened to you? Please leave me a comment! I love hearing about how God is working in people's lives, especially you!

"Time"

What do you do with yours?

Time: a limited period or interval, as between two successive events. (There were other definetions but I choose this one because it is more concrete and simplistic to what time really is.) I'm going to use this quote by Harvey Mackay who is a New York Times Best Seller to help me explain the importance of time and what it really means to us.

"Time is free, but it's pricelss. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keepit, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back."

I've tried recently to use my time more wisely. I'm starting to figure out that we really don't have a lot of time to do the things we want to do. But the question really should be; what are the things that God wants us to do? I think if were not doing the things God wants us to do, then why are we doing anything at all?

I know it's difficult to figure out what God is calling all of us to do, but I ask you, and have to ask myself as well...First, are we ready to listen? Second, How do we know when God's spoken? and Third, now that we've heard God speak, are we willing to do what he said?

Benjamin Franklin once said "You may delay, but time will not." Time is one of the few constants in our society today.

So what do we do with it? We only have one life, and we'll only be the way we are untill we decide to change things. So I ask you, only what I ask myself; what needs change? Ghandi said "you must be the change you want to see in the world," and I agree with that 100% but I also agree with Margaret Mead when she said, "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Time is a period with a beginning and an end. Time is the background noise we wish could be hard rock sometimes and slow jazz other times, but the music like on an ipod is ultimately our choice. What are you listening to?

Like life, time is something we cannot fully control, but we can at least start making everyday choices that bring ourselves and others closer to our creator, and the author and grand architect of life.

Whether we wake or we sleep,

Whether we carol or weep,

The Sun with his Planets in chime,

Marketh the going of Time.

~Edward Fitzgerald

"Quotes"

"Quotes"

I was thinking about what to share tonight and thought about my book of quotes, that I like to use to help me in my daily walk. These are quotes from famous books, novels, movies, sermons, speeches, etc. that I have gathered over the past two years. I've really kept these close to my heart and haven't wanted to share them with anyone. But I got to thinking, what good is knowledge if you do not share what you have learned? So here are a few of my favorite quotes, hopefully one day I will be able to put them all up on this blog for you to take in.

"Music is the universal language of mankind." -Henry Wordsworth Longfellow

"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer." -Albert Einstein

"Seek first to understand, then to be understood." -Stephen Covey

"Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil." -Robert Allen, As a Man Thinketh

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." -Ecclesiastes 9:10

I hope and pray that these words of wisdom will find placement into your heart and mind. Think about them and ponder them. I don't ever think we should just read something to say we've read it, we should always read something to try to fully understand it, for if we do not really understand it, what good did it do reading it.

I have this song on my ipod and whenever I need to relax and forget about all the troubles and hardships in my life and the world, I listen to it. Check it out.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." -Jesus in Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Jesus I Am Resting Resting

By: David Hampton and Jean Sophia Pigott

Chorus

Jesus I am resting resting

In the joy of what Thou art

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart

Verse 1

Jesus I am resting resting

In the joy of what Thou art

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart

Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee

And Thy beauty fills my soul

For by Thy transforming power

Thou hast made me whole

Verse 2

Oh how great Thy loving kindness

Vaster broader than the sea

Oh how marvelous Thy goodness

Lavished all on me

Yes I rest in Thee Beloved

Know what wealth of grace is Thine

Know Thy certainty of promise

And have made it mine

Verse 3

Simply trusting Thee Lord Jesus

I behold Thee as Thou art

And Thy love so pure so changeless

Satisfies my heart

Satisfies its deepest longings

Meets supplies its ev'ry need

Compasseth me 'round with blessings

Thine is love indeed

Verse 4

Ever lift Thy face upon me

As I work and wait for Thee

Resting 'neath Thy smile Lord Jesus

Earth's dark shadows flee

Brightness of my Father's glory

Sunshine of my Father's face

Keep me ever trusting resting

Fill me with Thy grace

I want to start this blog to help me keep up with my thoughts and feelings in my life, and what is going on in and with our world. I will start by saying that this is a in experiment and desire that I have always had of an online journal that will help others, myself and hopefully be glorifying to God. So to everyone who decides to read this please read everything, and if you have any questions or comments please leave me your best!!! Love you all and hope that this is a glorifying and learning experiment for us all. Blessings Always, DB <><