School's in Session!

On Oct 25, 2000, I was enrolled in school. It was not of my choosing...well it was kind of. The course work is hard and often difficult. No idea when I'll get my degree...or if I'll pass. 

God enrolled me in this school. I'm learning to live my life pleasing to Him (even in chronic pain), and be transformed into God's image. 

The first lesson I had to learn is that God does love me and He can care for me in more ways than I can even imagine. This lesson has many review sessions, as I tend to forget things!
Another lesson has dealt with "time". Either I'm trying to rush God to do something, or I'm jumping ahead of God. But God works in Him time frame for His good. This is one lesson which I've had many examples the past few weeks (just read the last few of my blog posts). 

When God begins a new chapter or new subject which I think I already know... He quickly shows me that I have a lot to learn. Some of the topics are ones I'd rather skip... can't I take that another year..... or never? 

As God teaches me, the lessons vary from easy and fun to difficult and frustrating. When I look back I can see some of the progress God as made. I have learned a great deal about God and about myself. The most important lesson learned is that I am far from graduation. And I'm VERY thankful for a very patient and kind teacher—God. Being a student of God has many blessings. Just when I think I've failed a test, God gives another exam. Or just when I need some encouragement... He provides it.

One of my on going lessons is creating positive days. This is just one way I can focus on God and His goodness. This also helps me keep a balance in my life. Focusing on pain 24/7 is not healthy. God knows the importance of keeping our minds focused on truth.

Creating positive days

is not only exciting.. but fun!

And I'm all for FUN—

even if I'm in school!

Isn't every day special?

Tomorrow is my birthday. I'll be 46-years-old. I've had many well wishes for a "special day". (Thank you for each of them!)

That made me realize

that every day can be special.

Yesterday, the weather was BEAUTIFUL. The sun was shining and the birds were chirping (including Max). As I went about my day, saw my Chiropractor and then enjoyed a lunch at Red Robin, I was greeted with many smiles. It was nice to share smiles and even a few laughs with other customers at Red Robin.

Reflecting back on the day, 

I'd have to say it was a special day. 

Today, is another Spring day. Although a bit cooler, the sun is shining. Several people went out of their way to help me today. A stranger knew I needed boxes, so went out of his way to save them at his place of work. When I arrived at the store, he even brought them out to my car. Another person ran after a box that went flying across the parking lot! Another held open a door. It's amazing how special a day is when others reach out to help (and I let them; but that's another topic). When the tasks at hand were done, we shared some smiles and thanks and went our separate ways each a bit happier. 

So, will Sunday, April 18 be special? Yes, I think.....no.....I KNOW it will be. No matter the weather. No matter what I do. No matter my pain level. No matter the circumstances I find myself.

The day will be special because
I can reflect on God's goodness. 

He has showered me with blessings and just reflecting on them makes any day special.

Creating a positive day, on April 18th, should be easy! However, often on the "planned special days", Satan works over time trying to discourage me. The best way to make the "special days" really special is to make God a BIG part of the day—including watching for those special blessings from God! He has ways of sending blessings which are all to often missed because of my preconceived expectations.

As I enjoy my birthday...MY SPECIAL day....

I want to create habits

to make every day SPECIAL!

And I hope you will join me!

God's Timing

The past couple of days,

I've been very aware of God's timing.

God's Timing #1: On Friday, due to the accident and coming home via an alternate route, (see post below) God led me to a dumpster FULL of boxes. Exactly what I needed to help with my "non-move". (My apartment is being remodeled, so I'll have to move out for a few days.) The boxes are heavy duty and various sizes... couldn't ask for better boxes. All very clean and were waiting just for me! If I had come home my usual route, or if I had stopped at the store as I had originally planned, I would have missed the boxes. But God led me home via that route and I was able to FILL my car full of boxes (even cut down so more would fit!!). Now, I'm ready to start packing. 

God's Timing #2: As part of the "non-move" I've been purging stuff. The past few days I've been shredding TONS of papers. Today, my shredder jammed and broke. I went online to see what I could find and Office Depot was having a TRADE-IN Special through TODAY!! I was able to get $25 for my broken old shredder!! Again, God knew if my shredder was going to break, today I'd be able to get $25 for it! Plus the shredder I bought was on sale!! A double savings! The new shredder is working great.

It's fun to notice when God does things. Sometimes...okay more than often....I'm frustrated with God's timing. Why do I have to wait so long? Why can't He work faster? Yet, I know that God's timing is best. I don't always understand His timing, yet since God does love me, He works on His time frame....for my good. Sometimes, His timing is to teach me, and sometimes He uses it to teach those around me. No matter the reason, God does know what He is doing and will accomplish His work in His time frame. 

When I allow God to work in my life in His time frame, my life is less frustrating and more enjoyable. If I want to create a positive day, I have to remember that God uses delays, detours, and distractions to accomplish His will. If I go about my day using God's schedule, it is a great day!

God's Protection

Yesterday, I was reminded again of God's protection. I saw my chiropractor and enjoyed a massage. After my massage, I remembered a question I had for my chiropractor, Dr. Moore. I waited as he finished with his last patient, and then we discussed my question.

On the way home, I heard on the radio about an accident at an intersection which I use very often. Just then an ambulance went passed... on the way to the accident scene. I took an alternate route home.

This morning I read in the paper, that a man was killed and four were hospitalized due to the accident. That's when it hit me. If I had left immediately after my massage, I would have been VERY near the intersection at the time of the accident. Once again, God delayed me to protect me from being hurt.

Creating a positive day involves being led by God and not fretting about a delay or a change of plans. Often God is working behind the scenes and is protecting us from dangers which we can't see, or have any knowledge.

You can read another example of God's protection on my post dated 8/28/2009; How God Used Sponges!.

Purging

I'm in the middle of a huge project. My apartment will be remodeled the beginning of May. That means I have to move out for a few days. Since I have to pack everything for the move, I'm trying to get rid of half of everything I own. Why half? Several reasons. 1. I simply have too much stuff. 2. It will be cheaper and easier to move with less. 3. It's time to get rid of stuff I haven't used for years! 4. I to start fresh in a "new" apartment... without all the old stuff. 

Of course, there are somethings which I will keep, no matter the age. But it sure feels good to purge. It's amazing how much stuff I've accumulated in 16 years! Yes, I've been in this apartment for 16 years. Perhaps that explains why I have so much......stuff. 

All this physical purging makes me think of my spiritual life. Do I need to purge my spiritual life too? Do I have preconceived ideas of God or how He works? Do I have "stuff" which doesn't fit into God's plan? Do I fill my life with 'religious' stuff, rather than God's truth? 

Just as I had to be motivated to purge my apartment, sometimes, God creates situations to make us purge our spiritual lives. I look back to when I first injured my back...I was doing okay spiritually....but God knew I needed to "clean house". I had some ideas of how God would work, or could work—and my views put limits on God. Of course, if you had said I "limited God", I would have thought you were crazy. God can not be limited....yet, I was doing just that. God has taught me to re-evaluate my beliefs and search for the truth about God.

Sometimes, we think of purging as a punishment. But it's not. It's simply getting rid of the 'old' to allow room for the 'new'. I don't feel deprived because I getting rid of stuff, rather it is very freeing and refreshing. 

Throughout Scripture, many had to be taught truths about God. Job had to do a great deal of searching to find the truth about God. He couldn't rely on his "friends" to teach him the truth, because they had preconceived ideas about God.  Job had to look to God to learn the truth. In the New Testament, Paul spends a great deal of time teaching Christians to look at God's truth, rather than the 'religion's rules' the people had known all their lives. 

As I continue to purge my apartment, I want to continue purging my spiritual life as well. I don't want to hold on to old beliefs if they aren't truth. The only way for me to know if what I believe is truth or just "ideas" is to search the Scriptures. I'm excited to see what new and exciting truths I learn about God as I purge. 

It's exciting to purge and start new. That is one thing I love about each day. No matter what day I created the day before.... I have a new slate to create a positive day. And when I create a positive day, it's a great building block for the next day.