Winter.....Can we just skip it?

I am one who hates Winter. I dread it when it gets near time for Winter to begin. One reason is that I hate the fact that it is so dark out a lot during Winter. That makes people depressed. We need more sunlight all year round. Another reason that I hate Winter is the snow. The snow makes it hard to get out and do things. You are stuck in doors for days and even weeks. I know people say that we need the snow, but I don't see what good that it will do.

I just wish that one year that we could just skip Winter and go right to Spring. I love the warm weather. Makes you want to get out and do things. You have more energy. I would just like for one year to be able to sleep through Winter and wake up in Spring.

Since we have started into January 2015 it seems like each week the weathermen are predicting snow. That is just depressing. I hear people all the time say how wonderful it is that we get snow. I think those are the same people that don't have to go to work in snow.

I don't think snow lovers realize that the more snow we get the more days that school is closed. With West Virginia's new 180 day of school rule that means that we have to make up every day missed due to bad weather. So if we miss a day due to snow we have to make it up. That could mean less Summer vacation.

So if I had my way I would have a magic wand to wave and melt all the snow. I would also wave my wand and make it never snow again. I know that that is just a good wish, but it is a wish none the less.

I just have to remember that God is only going to give us what we can handle. He knows what we need and when we need it. I just hope and pray that he understands that I need to be at work now and not in the summer.

God is going to see me though this winter. Yes I may complain about the weather, but I know it is all in God's hands. Thank you Lord for carrying me through this.

To Blessed To Be Stressed

 

 

There are days when I leave work and head to my car that feel like I have been stressed to the bone. I feel like I just want to scream at the top of my lungs hoping that will make me feel better. I know that it will not. So instead I sit in my car for a little bit before turning it on and talk to God. Yes this might sound funny, but I realize that this is a better way to vent than screaming.

 

 Two years ago I had to drive 30 minutes to work one way. Those drives to and from gave me time to myself. During that time I would talk to God as I drove. I would talk to him like a friend that was right there with me in the car riding shot gun. It felt really good. Better than screaming.

 

I have come to the conclusion recently that being able to talk to God at any point in the day is a good thing. It means that I am too blessed to be stressed. I should not let what goes on in life get to me. I need to just take a moment to give it over to God. No problem is too big or small for him to handle.

 

In fact, God knows our problems before we tell them to him. He is already in the process of dealing with our problems when we tell them to him. We need to not tell God how big our problem is, but instead tell our problems how big our God is.

 

When we are going through a tuff time or a stressful time God will send us a much needed blessing. It might be a hug from a child, a card from a friend with a kind word, a phone call from a friend to say how much they care, and so on. God knows our needs and will see us through.

 

So when you are feeling stressed this is what I suggest. Just say "God is in control". Then tell whatever is stressing you that God is going to deal with it. In the end you will feel better and be blessed. 

Repent and Get Right With God......Speak For Yourself

 

Our Sunday School lesson today was on Prayer. As part of the lesson we talked about praying for others to be saved. This is something that I do often. After church this morning a fellow congregant came up to me saying "Repent and get right with God". This person continued with some unchristian statements that left me speechless. I listened to their words till they were finished. Then I responded with "speak for yourself."

 

I am all for helping others to come to know Christ and be saved. However, when you talk the talk you better walk the walk. That is to say that you need to practice what you preach. Don't come up to me spouting your Christian ideology and then go away doing something quite different.

 

I don't find it at all good that a fellow church member took it upon themselves to decide that I needed to be saved. I thank you to know that I can tell you the date in which I was saved. It was June 21, 1995.

 

I think this person needs to reevaluate their own life and get it right with God. I don't like to judge fellow Christians, but if you are speaking one thing and then living another something is really wrong. You need to change your life before you change others.

 

I hate it when fellow believers go around saying they are Christians and then judge other Christians. That is totally wrong. You should not judge others based on how you believe. Sometimes what you believe is wrong.

 

So my advice to all these so called Christians is to get your life in check before you try to tell someone else how to live their life. It will be well worth it in the end.

Weather......The Science of Uncertainty

We are in the middle of Winter. With that brings bad weather. Weather is a science of uncertainty. That means that the weatherman or the National Weather Service can tell you what they think is going to happen and then it may or may not happen. They have a 50/50 chance of calling it right.

Recently the weatherman has called for 2 snow events that have turned out not as predicted. That is not the weatherman's fault. That is the thing with weather. We never know what is going to happen until it happens.

Weathermen are just predicting what they think will happen. It is their job. They are not perfect by any means. We have to cut them some slack. Just cause you want snow and it is in the forecast doesn't mean that it will happen. It means that it might happen.

Here is another thing. They put a % on each of the weather predictions. If it is 100% you know that it is going to happen. Anything below that and you may or may not get bad weather.

Take last night for example. There was a 100% chance on Monday of snow last night. As we got closer the chance of snow got lower. That was because the models had changed the closer this storm got to us. That is how it works.

Weathermen look at models to make their predictions about what is going to happen. Then it may change or it may not. It all depends too on if the factors are all in place for whatever they are expecting to happen.

Sometimes the factors are there, but the timing is just not right. Last nights weather was too warm and brought several hours of steady rain that did any of the snow chances in. That is good in my book.

So I would tell all those snow lovers out there to not get too overly excited about a snow forecast. It may or may not happen. All the weathermen can do is predict what they think will happen. You will just have to see what happens when the storm comes. That will be the real test. 

Walking....The Lost Art

I got up this morning after a very much needed sleep where I decided to sleep in. I do this a lot on Saturdays because during the week I tend to tell myself that I can stay up a little later and it will be ok. I will still be able to get up in the morning for work. Sleep, though it is a good thing is not the subject of this blog.

I went outside to feed my cat and decided that instead of taking my car down to church that I would walk. This was due to the snow that was on the ground from the night before and the fear that the church hill would not be fit for me to drive up.

I bundled up and headed down the road to the church. As I walked down the road I began to realize that walking places is a lost art. That not a lot of people do it anymore. That people would rather drive their cars than walk. That is sad.

Growing up we walked a lot. Grandma just lived up the road so we walked to her house quite often. Church was down the road so we walked to it in the Summer for youth group. We often walked with my uncle down to the local store. Grandma quite often had me walk to the post office to get her mail. The list goes on.

Now days it seems like we don't walk like we use to. People want to drive even short distances. I know that there are cases where you have to drive. However, there are times that we should just walk. It is better for us in the long run.

So as I walked back up the road I realized another fact that I had not thought about. That is that the roads are just not safe for people to walk anymore. I live out in the country and there are so many dangers in regards to walking on the road. People drive quite fast on the road anymore. 

Now most people only walk these days for exercise rather than necessity. This is in a way sad. I think that if we had to walk more places that we would be healthier by far. People would sleep better after walking a long distance.

So if you ever get the chance I would recommend to you that you take a walk to some place close to you. Make it a habit. You will feel better for it.  

Snow...Not A Big Fan

Snow....Yes, I know that it is a part of the Winter season, but does it have to happen so often and so much. I am not a big fan of snow y any means. I would rather have rain than snow. Last winter it seemed like we were having snow almost on a weekly bases. To me that is too much snow. I got sick of snow quick.

Another reason that I don't like snow is cause of my job. I work for the local school system. You would think that being with kids all day that I would love a snow day. Not so. The state of WV has passed legislation that states that now we have to have 180 instructional days during the school year. That could mean if we get enough snow days this year that we could be going till July. I would rather be in school now than school in June.

A friend of mine pointed out recently that we need the snow. We need it for all the good that it will do this Spring and Summer. We need the moisture. Last year we got plenty of snow and still we had dry ground for crops. That coupled with the lack of rain did not sit well for farmers in the area.

That brings me to another reason to dislike snow. I grew up on a farm. Now as an adult still living on the farm I can see why farmers don't like the snow. Power outages for one. If the snow is heavy enough trees could cut off the power. Not good for chickens and other animals. Plus if the snow is deep enough farmers can't get out to feed their cows and other animals.

Then there is driving. When it snows I don't drive unless I have to. That is a good thing. One less person on the road. It seems that soon after the snow stops that people feel that they have to get out and go. I had an Uncle that as soon as the snow stopped and he could get out he had to go somewhere. Never failed. The roads are not safe anymore after the snow.

I could list a million reasons why I don't like snow. I know that there are people out there that like the snow and that is fine. To each his own.

I have a friend that keeps telling me that God has it under control. That is true. He will not give us anymore than we can handle. That is a fact. I figure that God knows what we need. If he feels that I need to work in June instead of enjoy a break then who am I to argue with that.

So if you love snow I say good for you. If you are like me and don't like the snow then I say join the club. Snow will not be gone till Spring and then will be back again next Winter. It is a fact of life that we just have to deal with.

Worn

 

 

Have you ever been at the point were you just feel worn? I have had days like that. Days were I feel like I just can't go on. Tenth Avenue North's song Worn goes through my head at times like this. When I feel broken I listen to that song and I realize that no matter how broken I feel God will put me back together and use me for a greater purpose.

 

Jeremiah 29:11 says For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Eternal, “plans for peace, not evil, to give you a future and hope—never forget that. That verse says that God has a plan for each and everyone of us while we are here on this earth. That is a fact. God is going to use us for a greater good. We just have to have faith in that.

 

Philippians 3:12-14 says I’m not there yet, nor have I become perfect; but I am charging on to gain anything and everything the Anointed One, Jesus, has in store for me—and nothing will stand in my way because He has grabbed me and won’t let me go. Brothers and sisters, as I said, I know I have not arrived; but there’s one thing I am doing: I’m leaving my old life behind, putting everything on the line for this mission. I am sprinting toward the only goal that counts: to cross the line, to win the prize, and to hear God’s call to resurrection life found exclusively in Jesus the Anointed.  

 

That says that we are not perfect, but God has us in his loving arms. We are on the path to gain all that Jesus has in store for us. Nothing is going to stand in our way. We are leaving the old life behind and sprinting forward to have a life with Christ. That is an awesome thought.

 

Philippians 4:13 says I can be content in any and every situation through the Anointed One who is my power and strength. That says that with God nothing is impossible. We will be able to do whatever we set our mind to. God has our back. That is awesome.

 

So when you are feeling worn just go to God in prayer. He will hear your need and see you through it. All you have to do is ask. Nothing is too big or small for God to handle. God is in control. We just have to have faith.