Tuesday's Treasure

Here is my treasure for the week! The passion started when I worked at Nordstrom's coffee bar. It has never left me. There is something special, about the treat of coffee. Understand it is not a weekly, daily but rather a rare monthly treat. However, I do love it! I also love that my kids think it is the greatest to get milk in their own green cup or the box with a cow! Everybody is happy. By the way, I will confess that when drinking a coffee drink, I almost always get 140 degree coffee or the regular hot. It is just the way I am, it relaxes me. What is your favorite flavor? Mine right now is going back to the Carmel Macciato ~ yum!

Obedience Fulfilled

Last year, my friend talked me into running a 5K. Her convincing point was that we would be running along the beach - can it get better than that? Sure the race was in February, but we live in So Cal, how bad could the weather really get? Well, I trained since I wasn't a runner at the time. I was prepared, or so I thought. The day of the race, it was freezing cold, crazy winds, and POURING down rain, the beach was NOT beautiful, it was grey and the waves were angry. I ran, and I ran hard because I wanted the HELL to end. It was seriously something out of a comic or something, but there was a finish line and I crossed it. My clothes weighed 7 pounds heavier at the end of the race (just so you understand the elements).

As you know (or look in last weeks posts) that I have been dealing with obedience especially last week. Well, I crossed that finish line as well. I was telling Mr. C. that in looking back, what I came to realize was that God was preparing me. He was asking me to train, exercise my faith, and be prepared for the race ahead. But as I was nearing the finishing line, not happy about running in the rain and misery, God delivered me. It was just like Abraham and Isaac. Once, I think God realized that I was in it for the finish line, HE took it away. You see the situation He had put me in, didn't come through. Things changed ~whew. But what I realized was that my heart was right. I fought God and whined, but I was willing to do what He asked. Now my race might not be fully over, but I know that my faith improved this week and I grew. I grew in obedience, and although I didn't like the process (AT ALL), I feel good at the end of it. God gave me His warm arms around my heart, and a refreshing water bottle to refresh my spirit.

The beauty of running the race is that there are finish lines, dry clothes, water bottles, and small victories as we prepare for the next one. Here is to the next race God asks me to run......I better keep training!

Obedience Part 2

So what I have figured out is that in order to really live out my faith that I say I have I need to be obedient. That just put a blow to my ego and pride quite honestly. You see, I wanted to express my faith in God, but not really live out my faith in HIM. Not really want to see where I was being disobedient, or partially obedient but not willing to go all the way. Then Tuesday in BSF, we were reminded again by those good ole' Israelites that in order to grow in faith, we need to grow in obedience. I want to grow in faith. I want to grow in my walk, but there are times when I want to do things the easy way, the chicken way, or simply MY way. I remember all too well the summer that I grew 4 inches and my brother grew 7 inches. ONE SUMMER!! To say that we had growing pains is a bit of an understatement. It hurt to walk, move, be touched, or do anything but be in the water. Faithful growing seems to be much the same way, at times somewhat painful, but worth it in the end.

Then while watching the Dog Whisperer, I had this realization: Ceasar was saying that a good pack leader doesn't do things to make themselves happy, they do the things that need to be done for the good of the pack and make the pack happy and fulfilled. Words for training your dog ~ yes, words for living out the faith I claim ~ also yes. Being a good FOLLOWER isn't about what makes me happy, it is ALL about what makes my LEADER happy and being obedient to HIM. It is when we live out our faith, and exercise our faith that we grow in our faith and therefore, have a happy pack.

Another kicker, as I am helping Bubba with his homework? His memory verse is Hebrews 11:6, talking about what? You guessed it faith! Then his definition is Faith: believing God will always do what He says. Wisdom from the 8 year old's homework, but it also got me thinking. You see, God doing what He says is a double edged sword. What I want to glance over so many times as I am reading the Word is the consequences for NOT being obedient. Guess what, God is going to be faithful in fulfilling those too ~ ouch! Guess it was a good thing I was paying attention to the homework this week. It gave me a lesson too! Here is to growing.

Pointless Poll

Okay, so Target is definitely the winner. According to my readers, the Walmarts of America should be shutting down soon ~ ha! ANYWAY........I know you are anxiously waiting this weeks poll (or so I want to believe anyway), it to me is not as easy as last weeks: the big question for you is which one floats your boat more? Tom or Brad ???? I struggle with this question........Meet Joe Black, verses the volleyball scene in Top Gun? How can you choose??? Yet this week, I am looking forward to seeing the results, and of course reading your comments on the ever pressing issue! OH and by the way, this has NOTHING to do with their personal lives (I won't go there) just base it on looks, ability, muscles, whatever!

Tuesday's Treasure

We have had Koda now for 3 months. He is a 5 month old lab, who doesn't realize just how big he is. If you were to ask him, he would tell you that he is a laprador not a labrador. He doesn't know that soon to be 100 pound dogs don't really fit in your lap, but he tries his hardest to fit in mine. My lap is his safe place! He is funny, cooky, and generally a great puppy. He has HUGE paws, but he also has huge paws to fill, as our last lab was a fabulous dog. It has been three years since Max passed away, and now we are on the adventure of puppyhood. Koda has been a tremendous blessing to our family, it is exciting to see the kids bonding with him the last three months.......Here is to many more posts as we go through puppyhood together and the adventures of having a dog in general.

Obedience

I have been struggling with obedience lately. I think that in general, I am a pretty obedient person by nature. As a teenager, I was scared to death to do anything too major in fear of disappointing my parents, teachers, etc. However, while on our way to church yesterday, I figured out what my problem is lately. You see, in order to be OBEDIENT, you have to be 100% obedient. You have to put aside your will, your desires, your passions and follow those of someone else. The funny irony in all of this, is as I have been studying the life of Moses, I have been quick to judge the Israelites for their disobedience and general lack of faith. But lately, I have been looking at my own circumstances and realized shamefully that it isn't that much different. You see, I have been giving God my 90% and thinking that I am pretty good with myself. However, partial obedience is still disobedience in God's eyes (most parental eyes too).

Then I was taught the lesson that if you are obedient in beginning the process, God will make sure to complete the lesson we are to learn. I hate this part. I recently started on a path of obedience, feeling proud of myself. But now the path is beginning to get hard, the direction is uphill, and I want to quit. I want to jump ship and not be obedient anymore. I know that this is wrong, I know what God still wants me to do, it is just that my heart isn't in it anymore. As fate would have it, in this area Mr. C. is totally excited about the possibilities, and therefore it makes me submit on two fronts: one to God, and one to Mr. C. I will keep you posted.....for this is going to be a journey.

And the Winner Is.......

Today after church we conducted an official taste test of sorts. As posted on Tuesday, my neighbor and friend is a Shamrock Shake fan like me. However, we live very close to a Carl's Jr restaurant as well. This posses a funny problem, as Carl's is having their own minty shake with Oreo tidbits in it this season as well. So to be fair, we decided to have a taste test. So after church we met them at our Carl's Jr (they went to first service). We strategically got water cups so that we would not be swayed by cup difference, and shut our eyes while our spouse fed us the straw. We had option one and two changing every time someone took a part in the contest. Out of the four kids, two participated. The winner for the best shake was.........Carl's Mint Oreo. However, it was very close, much closer than we could have guessed. My personal vote, if getting in the car to go get a shake was still for the Shamrock goodness that I love, and it wasn't just out of nostalgia either.