What do you want the Lord to do for you?

During the day, I will sometimes pick up my Bible or devotional see what God has to say to me. So often I feel that I don’t listen but instead do all the talking. In fact, I feel that I always do the talking and never let God get a word in edgewise. I want that to change. Saying that is kind of an oxymoron considering the topic of this blog but it's still really good. Anyways, today I picked up... Who can guess? Yes, My Utmost for His Highest and randomly opened to February 29. Here it is. Maybe it will speak to you as it did me. 

“Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Luke xviii. 41

What is the thing that not only disturbs you but makes you a disturbance? it is always something you cannot deal with yourself. “They rebuked him that he should hold his peace... but he cried so much the more.” Persist in the disturbance until you get face to face with the Lord Himself; do not deify common sense. When Jesus asks us what we want Him to do for us in regard to the incredible thing with which we are faced, remember that He does not work in common-sense ways, but in super natural ways. 

Watch how we limit the Lord by remembering what we have allowed Him to do for us in the past: I always failed there, and I always shall; consequently we do not ask for what we want, “It is ridiculous to ask God to do this.” If it is an impossibility, it is the thing we have to ask. If it is not an impossible thing, it is not a real disturbance. God will do the absolutely impossible. 

This man received his sight. The most impossible thing to you is that you should be so identified with the Lord that there is nothing of the old life left. He will do it if you ask Him. But you have to come to the place where you believe Him to be Almighty. Faith is not in what Jesus says but in Himself; if we only look at what He says we shall never believe. When once we see Jesus, He does the impossible thing as naturally as breathing. Our agony comes through the willful stupidity of our own heart. We won’t believe, we won’t cut the shore line, we prefer to worry on. 

Frustration with a capital F

In an effort to combat my frustration caused by this little thing called indecision, I am writing a blog so that 1. I won't have to decide at the moment (procrastination rocks :-D) 2. Hopefully quotes that I can look at frequently will help give me the courage to make the decision 3. I can't think of another reason at the moment. 


Now for some quotes (aren't they the greatest) about decisions. 
"Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach." ~Tom Robbins 


"A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follow public opinion." ~Chinese Proverb


"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your lire; and the procedure, the process is its own reward." ~Amelia Earhart


"I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia."  (just one of my favorite authors, had to put it in)
— C.S. Lewis


Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. ~Robert Frost


"Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide. "
~Napoleon Bonaparte

1 Corinthians 1:20-31

"Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength."

 ²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."

This encourages me. We can do nothing in our own wisdom or strength but there is Someone who fills in for our own weakness and ignorance. I like that. 

Nashville to Atlanta to Ontario

       Sometimes airlines confuse me. Example: it cost more money to fly from Atlanta to Ontario, CA then it does from Nashville but there is a layover in Atlanta when you fly through Nashville. Does this make any sense? No. Airports are probably one of my favorite places to be. They are the hub of awesomeness. It's so interesting to just sit and watch people walking through the airport. Men and women in uniform being sent to different parts of the world, children trying to act grown-up by pulling their own little Barbie or Cars suitcases, muslim women with brightly colored hijabs, the list could go on for literally ever. Where are each of them going? Are the going for a wedding, a funeral, a vacation? I have decided that if I were to have a superpower it would be to be in two places at once. My other self would fly right alone with someone else to their country and experience their life while the my self back in the states could be visiting friends, traveling etc.
      Another reason I like flying is because you meet very interesting people. On my flight from Nashville to Atlanta (ridiculous), I sat next to a Canadian composer who lives/works in Nashville. He was just writing a song for Rascal Flatts. Pretty awesome! He also explained to me how the composing process works nowadays. It is truly amazing what technology has done for the music industry. He also told me that he made music for a lot of the television shows and also for the olympics. Do I believe all this? Probably. Another topic that he also came back to was his cats. He had 3 of them and he loved them a whole lot from the amount that he talked about them. He also loved tennis. It's so interesting to see how much you can learn about a person in about an hour and a half.  On the next flight I sat next to a man who had just gone to his son's military graduation in North Carolina. He was so proud. I slept most of that trip though because my 3 hours of sleep the night before caught up to me.
      Here is just one more reason to love airlines (add sarcasm). On arriving in Ontario, I sadly discovered that my baggage had flown the coop and decided to visit my seat partners military son in North Carolina. It was a most frustrating experience and I was almost in tears from lack of sleep/utter frustration but I called my brother who gave me a little pep talk and the tears dissolved as if by magic. I am going to take this moment to say, I LOVE YOU WESLEY. Thank God for amazing brothers. After that the Brockmann's arrived and my week of fun in California begun with a little fruit basket and a peeling water bottle.

Talents

Playing the piano, singing, reading or eating at fast rates of speed, whistling, having compassion, having brains, painting, these are all random types of talents. Each of us have been given random different talents that makes us individuals. They help define who we are. Over and over I hear, "use your talents for God." Though I don't know how eating quickly would help God, but who knows...
What if someone does not know their what their talents are? Honestly, I view myself as mediocre in really just about every aspect of life. This really doesn't bother me (ok maybe a little), but I really wish that I knew how God wanted to use me. It may just be a part of finding yourself. The constant search for who you are and what God made you to be. Or it may be that if you are just willing God will use one of the talents you never thought He would pick. Is He waiting for the perfect moment for us to become who He wants? Or is He just waiting for us to be willing? Will He reveal it to us when we aren't looking? Sigh... The mystery of life.

Random Summer Pics

Sunset Camp (my family's camp on Raquette Lake, NY)

Cousin Morgan and my brothers

My brother and I after hiking

View from Sunset Camp

Seaton Lake, BC

A random river on the way to Whistler

My crazy family at Wes's graduation at Fountainview Acadmey in BC

An experiment which ended in failure

The Document

It started out a normal day. One girl sat at the computer writing a research paper and two boys sat with eyes glued on the tv screen watching with excitement as little characters ran around on the screen. Harvest Moon and Zelda were swapped back and forth for a couple of hours. These, however got boring and they began searching for a new old school game to play. Desperately they searched until the perfect game was found but to their dismay they realized a minor detail. Neither had money. So, their eyes quickly turned to the only person in the room that had money, the girl who sat working intently on her research paper. The thought of giving them just one more way to waste time didn't seem judicious. For a while the girl held out but their bargaining begin to work as the deal became more enticing. The document below was composed in an effort to crumble the her steel resolve.

"In this sacred document, that shall only be broken on pain of death, I Beau Hawk ________________and I, Wesley Mayes_________________, hereby solemnly swear upon each other's head to uphold this contract. The contractual terms are as follows:
~Alex Mayes, upon fulfillment of this contract, is entitled to no greater or less than one henna tattoo, of reasonable size* by Beau Hawk.
~She is also entitled to no greater or less than three shoulder rubs and two foot rubs.
~She is also entitle to no greater or less than one breakfast in or near the vicinity or a bed or possibly futon if so desired, furnished by Beau Hawk and and* Wesley Mayes.
~2 new pairs of boxers shall also be given to gird the loins of Alex.
              *No larger than her actual body
              *I messed up ok? It happens. I'm human

I, Alex Mayes, accept these terms and conditions as payment for Chrono Trigger ____________

All of this for a ten dollar game.