Every opportunity

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity."

I read this verse in Colossians last night, and I both liked and didn't like it. It's a great reminder of how we are supposed to act all the time. We are supposed to make the most of every opportunity.

This can mean that we need to always act like Christians, because we should be taking every chance that we get to reach people for Christ.

However, I also think it means that we are supposed to make the most of this one life that we are given. This is one opportunity that we are given on life.

I like the good reminders, but I also didn't like this verse, because I don't think I do that. I don't think I take advantage of every opportunity to reach people for God, and I don't know that I'm really making the most of this life that I'm given. I like TV and sleep a little too much, that I'm not sure I am making the most of all that I am given.

Maybe we should think about that a little bit more - making the most of every opportunity and those opportunities will mean that we are making the most of the lives that we are given.

Well, she's pooped five times today, pottied inside once, stands on me while I'm trying to type on the computer, barks when she doesn't get what she wants and bit a hole in my shirt.

Yet, when she's nervous she comes and huddles at my feet. She cuddles up when she's sleepy. Her ears perk up when she hears my voice.

Puppies are a lot of responsibility, and I know that what she does wrong she doesn't do on purpose. She's just little and hasn't learned everything yet. The love that this little girl gives me is worth all the trouble that she causes.

I have always been a fan of dogs. We got my families dog when I was only 10 years old, and I've missed her so much since I went to college and moved out on my own. I was so excited when my landlord agreed to let me purchase a dog, and the moment I saw this little one I knew that she was the one for me.

I really don't like cats, because they are too independent. They don't like to cuddle; they don't know their places. Dogs can be trained, and best of all they love people. They like to play and cuddle and sniff and walk and go on rides with you.

When thinking about getting a dog, I thought about if I wanted to take on the responsibility of having this little animal depending on me. However, I think it's good to have responsibility. It's gotten me up in the morning and made me care about something other than what I want and my own schedule.

I already love this little puppy, and I'm so glad I took on this responsibility.

A letter from a friend

My children,

Many years ago, in your timeline, I came to Earth on what you call Christmas Day.

Like you, my mom gave birth to me, and my first breaths were taken in a stable with the smell of hay and animals filling my small nose. Right away, some people knew who I was and came to bow at my feet, but also right away, some people didn’t like me.

I always knew who I was. Even when I was a youngster, I wanted to teach people all that I knew about the other part of me, my father.

Thankfully, some of you still remember me on my birthday. On the calendar in the United States, you mark lots of significant birthdays — Martin Luther King Jr., George Washington. On my day, it says Christmas, but not everyone realizes that it’s my day.

A lot of people think that the day is all about presents. I got presents when I was born, and I think it’s great that you want to honor each other with gifts like that. However, it hurts when people don’t notice the little nativity scene remembering me in the background.

Even on Facebook, you’re reminded of each others’ birthdays. You might feel bad when you don’t get a text message or a call from a friend to say ‘Happy Birthday,’ because that means that they forgot about you on the one day a year you are honored.

I want you to honor me every day of the year. However, I really want you to remember me on one of the days that was created just for me.

I don’t need an invitation to the parties that you are having, and I don’t need a Christmas gift with my name on it under the tree. I don’t need you to write out a place card and put out a table setting for me at the dinner table.

I am already there at all those times.

However, as I stand by and watch you celebrate and have fun on a day off of work and school, please don’t ignore me. Please don’t banish me to the corner or banish me to a church. Invite me in, into your hearts and your minds. Tell me ‘Happy Birthday.’

I’m always here for you. Remember me.

Jesus

What's important?

At dance, my class of first graders is sometimes a little out of control.

I tried to control them by yelling over them at the beginning of the year, but the dance studio owner didn't like that, so I have tried to keep them under control in other ways. I don't think I'm very skilled at it though, and I don't know if I am teaching them all they should be learning because I don't get as good of use out of the time we have.

However, the other night, I thought about how I was dealing with the situation. Am I there just to teach them dance or to teach them life skills or to show them love through my actions.

Last night, I prayed when I got there and felt myself getting frustrated that God show me how to deal with them. I don't know if it made any visible difference last night, but I need to keep that on the forefront, that I use that time how God would want me to use it. Although dance is important and is the reason that these parents brought their children to class, I don't think it's ultimately the most important thing.

Colossians 3:22-25 says, "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism" (New International Version).

We may not be technical "slaves" anymore, but I still think we have to keep that in mind - that whatever our work is, it's not for human masters. We can do our everyday jobs for God.

Remembering Pearl Harbor

http://whitsendblog.org/2008/02/free-adventures-in-odyssey-episode-east-winds-raining/

As we remember the catastrophe at Pearl Harbor, take a few minutes and listen to this Adventures in Odyssey story about the day!

Counting my blessings

Whew, what a day I had yesterday!

On my way to work, I was talking to my dad and pulling off the highway to a town when my car suddenly stopped and steam started pouring out from under the hood.

I glanced at my gauges and saw the needle on the temperature gauge was off the charts.

In my cream-colored coat and cream dress pants, I grabbed my tools and tried to open my hood - which was stuck - so I could try to add antifreeze to my car. Someone stopped and helped me open my hood and drove me to a nearby coop repair station, and they towed my car in.

Long story short, I had a four-hour break from work as I tried to figure out what to do with my car, and finally got a ride home from Nate while my car stayed there. I'm still waiting on a friend's brother to check it over and either decide to fix it or just tow it home and try to sell it as a parts car or major fixer-upper.

However crazy the day was, and however crazy life will be coming up as we try to figure out what to do for a new car, the day made me thankful for a lot of things. It makes hard situations better when you think of all the good things instead of all the bad.

1. I was thankful I could talk to my dad, who is great with cars, to figure out how to go about fixing the car and what decisions to make regarding whether to fix it or give up on it since I've had it since I was 16.
2. I was thankful for the opposite schedules that Nate and I have so that he could come get me and since he wasn't at work.
3. I was thankful for flexible work that I didn't have to worry about not making my weekly meeting and taking a few hours in the middle of the day.
4. I was thankful I didn't have to spend 600-700 to fix the car immediately because I am blessed enough that purchasing a car in the nearby future is an OK option.
5. I was thankful Nate has a car that I could borrow to finish up work last night after I got home, that we can share in the immediate future.
6. I was thankful for a friend I could call who has a brother that could check over my car and tow it for less than other companies.

I used to freak out in situations like this, but I'm thankful that I can see God working and that I have realized that I can't control everything. I think I'm going to have to start initiating this counting my blessings in every situation!

His and Her Brains

I heard the first part of this Christian comedians talk on the difference between men and women's brains on the radio yesterday, and it cracked me up.

Nate and I have talked about many of these differences before, especially the fact that men have the ability to think about absolutely nothing.

My mom and I don't understand when we ask Nate or my dad, "What are you thinking?"

"Nothing," they say.

"There's no possible way you can think about nothing. You have to be thinking about something."

Well, according to the study cited in the first segment, men can actually think about nothing. Women can't comprehend this; our brains are always moving.

What can differences can you relate to?

I haven't had a chance to listen yet, but I hope the second segment is as good as the first!