Happy Birthday to me!

Yesterday (being only 40 minutes into July 31st) was my birthday. I have now walked the earth for 23 years. I'm nearing that quarter century mark. Time is short on earth; I really need to concentrate on what is important; what is eternal. But the one lesson I learned this weekend was this: just because it's your birthday, your one "special day" of the year, it doesn't give you the right to stop being humble and be selfish. Well, I actually tried to be good this year cause I remember being that way last year when Naomi had a surprise party for me at the beach. But I think I did well until this past evening. You see, I received the board game "Risk" as a present from my mom-in-law and sis-in-law. Now it's not just any Risk board game... it's the mack-daddy of all Risk games. It is "Risk 2210". It's set in the future and has a much deeper, expanded gameplay to it. Well, some family friends of ours came over that night who just so happened to love the game as much as I. Needless to say we played for about 4 hours. The selfish part was this: Naomi does not like the game at all. So it was myself, our family friends Chris and Travis, and Karen (mom-in-law). Which left Naomi all to herself for 4 hours. Yeah, we didn't really end untill 11:30pm. I should have called the game off at least at 10. But I chose the selfish way.

Philippians 2:3 says:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

There's no excuse for putting myself first. Even on my own birthday.

the One I follow

Puling up in the turn lane on Gunn to turn onto Linebaugh can be a little of a wait. As it was this morning. I crept up the lane ever so patiently but I was distracted by many things in these few moments. Mostly in my mind but also changing a CD and trying to find some trash on my floor to wipe some snot onto (gross!). But amongst this I noticed that the woman behind me could tell I was distracted and not keeping my eyes where they need to be (I'm not positive on that, but that was my conclusion to my observation). There are two lanes to choose from on Linebaugh. I chose the far right as did she. But as soon as she could, she got over into the left. She probably didn't feel too comfortable behind me. I wasn't being a good leader.

This made me think about what it means to be a good leader. I know that I want to be like the One I follow and I should be the example of my Leader to others who might follow me.

giving myself

Always give youselves fully to the work of the LORD, because you know that your labor in the LORD is not in vain.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58

That's my verse of the day from a widget I use. It simply reminds me to do all my works for Jesus, whatever it is. Even when I'm at work making brochures for grumpy home builders (haha... no, most of them are nice). Even when I'm driving home and can barely keep my eyes open because I've stayed up 'til 2am (learning iWeb). Even when I really don't feel like serving my family when I get home.

I should be setting an example of Christ in all I do. I have to be that man of God that he wants of me. Thinking this way also helps me be closer to Him.

So that's all for today; just a little nugget ;)

running to "John"

I have got to eat better! Well, my family has been eating organic and natural foods for about a month now. Since camp though, I've been eating "regular foods" again (camp food was good though... ok maybe not all of it... I'm just wierd). Now that my body has had a month of detoxifying, eating all the "poisonous" foods has really been, well, poisoning! This has meant many trips to my friend John.

Now that I've stopped pulling on the rope, my mind has been detoxifying. My brain has been less clutterd with garbage and I'm not wanting to put in selfish gains. Though the best part is that I don't mind running to "John" to get rid of any excess junk. 

God wants us to renew our minds daily. Especially in this world where junk is everywhere you look or turn. Make it the very first part of your day to renew yourself with God.

Colossians 3:10 (English Standard Version)
10Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

can't..... wake... up... zzz...

There's something that I really want to start doing. And that is waking up early enough so that I can start having a morning devotion. So this morning I set my alarm for 6:30am (30 minutes earlier from my usual wake up time). I woke up, but I didn't get out of bed. I started thanking God for a new day and asked Him to renew my heart for the day. That's as far as I got. The next thing I know, it's 7:20am!!!

I still didn't waste the morning though cause I praised God like a fool in my car on the way to work! The reason I'm telling you this is because I really don't feel like doing anything in the mornings. I don't actually wake up until lunch time. So praising Him in my car is out of the question. But God will meet you in a magical way if you just give up however you're feeling and just talk to Him; praise His name.

Maybe tomorrow I'll start with waking up just 5 minutes earlier :)

Just keep tugging... eventually I'll get tired.

For such a long time God has been tugging at my heart, but yet, I always tug back. It seems that it is impossible for me to give everything to him. I've always said that I'm the one that makes the excuse. I'm the only one standing between me and God. I know nothing really on where certain Bible verses are, but the one that speaks of Jesus calling the fishermen to drop everything and follow Him comes to mind. That's all I need to do.... but it's harder than it sounds for someone whose been so selfish all his life. 

Today, I got tired of pulling. Pray that I keep my hands off the rope.