Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

^"18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. ¹⁹ Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. ²⁰ They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart."

Presence

"I have been given a gift....A gift I will never understand my possession of, but am grateful in its presence." ~lossehelin


Bapa, 


Please help keep me in Your presence. 

Blessing Others

Please remember that letting others help you is a blessing unto the person who's doing the helping.

Sometimes it's hard to be humble and ask for help, but God blesses the humble in heart. He says Himself in Matthew 11:29, "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."

Let others help you when it's needed.

Ready and Waiting to Fall - Mae

Drowning just as fast as I can
But don't throw me a line
Don't reach out your hand
'cause I'm on the brink of something beautiful
And I want to sing about it
But I don't know where to begin
Write a letter
But the words don't come out right
Try and explain how nobody can do me like
You don't understand how helpless I can get
Since the day that we met
Oh can you feel it yet?

It's never been more perfect being alive
I've never been so satisfied
Oh, oh, oh

I could feel something different from the first time
Heaven made sense
And all the words ryhmed
No chance in stopping now
I'm taking it all
And now I'm caught in the air
It's a good glide
Pass it up, wouldn't dare
Oh, what a wild ride
I remember being ready
And waiting to fall
Just like I did tonight

Spinning around and around
Until my left was my right
And up became down
With just one look
You knocked me off of my feet
So unable to speak
Oh, how you made me weak
Though it was a while ago
I still can recall
That moment so ready
And waiting to fall
Can you take me back in time
Remembering when
You captured my heart
Over and over again
First touch of the Spirit and Jesus upon one's heart. Do you remeber how it felt when you first accepted Him, the one and only King?

Measuring Up

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." 1 Corinthians 1:25

Lord,

Your name is to be praised!
To be at Michigan Tech with all these "smart people" does make me feel like I don't measure up, but it's great to be reminded that even the smartest students here don't measure up to You. I'm not saying this to put these people down, but to give myself a small understand of just how majestic You are.

"Who am I that the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name? Would care to feel my hurt? Who am I that the bright and Morning Star would choose to light the way for my ever wondering heart?" ~Casting Crowns

I may not measure up when it comes to human intellect, but I am Yours.

"'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'" Acts 17:28

Poem

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor aught but love from thee, give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persever
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

--Anne Bradstreet

I AM THANKFUL...

...for the wife who says it's hot dogs tonight, because she is home with me, and not out with someone else.
...for the husband who is on the sofa being a couch potato, because he is home with me and not out at the bars.
...for the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes, because it means she is at home, not on the streets.
...for the taxes I pay, because it means I am employed.
...for the mess to clean after a party, because it means I have been surrounded by
friends.
...for the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have enough to eat.
...for my shadow that watches me work, because it means I am out in the sunshine.
...for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it means I have a home.
...for all the complaining I hear about the government, because it means we have freedom of speech
...for the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking and I have been blessed with transportation.
...for my huge heating bill, because it means I am warm.
...for the lady behind me in church who sings off key, because it means I can hear.
...for the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear.
...for weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have been capable of working hard.
...for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means I am alive… 
~ Author Unknown

Day 9 (1/27/11)

Father,

 It is Mitchell's ninth day at boot camp. Thank you for watching him as he works through this eight weeks. And thank you for your majesty. Even in our hardest of times Your glory shines through.
 I won't lie and say that I don't miss him, because I do. It's so weird having guys around me and not having Mitchell here to talk to and spend time with. The saying, "You don't know what you have until it's gone," is so true! Even though I was preparing myself for him not being around, it's hard. And it's so pathetic, but I feel now that I don't have to have my cell phone on me anymore because I won't be getting a random text from him or an unplanned call...yes, I miss him.
 Please take him as You find him there, Father, and mold him. Mold him into the person that You want him to be. Use this time to help guide him.
 I can't thank you enough for having Your hand of protection over him. I know that giving him over to You before he left was the right thing for me do. I know that You're with him and just that thought alone is enough to overwhelm me. Your grace is one thing, so powerful and awe-inspiring. But Your love, that is a whole new facet of who You are. To know that You love Mitchell more than I ever could is outstanding, almost unbelievable, but so real.
 Please give him endurance through his activities. And right now, as he sleeps, please give him a spirit-filled rest. For You are our comfort and strength.