Zombie Apocalypse

Here you go guys, this one is just for all of you Zombie fanatics:

Well here we sit on the verge of a zombie apocalypse.  What do we do?  How do we prepare?  Who will survive this?  Sounds a little crazy doesn't it.  Well that is quite possibly because it is crazy.  So what's the point.  Well it's rather simple.  Do not worry about tomorrow - zombie apocalypse or whatever may happen.  When we spend our time worrying about things that may never happen we miss so much of today.  We miss the joy of today.  We miss the things we are supposed to be taking care of today.  We miss who we are to love today.  We miss the joy of just being.  Tomorrow is going to bring problems of it's own (I wouldn't bet on a zombie apocalypse though) and there will be time for that - tomorrow!!!  Enjoy today, love today, be today, and you'll be living into exactly who God created you to be!!  And that's not a zombie or a zombie hunter - LOL!!!

SHINE

So here we are on the eve of the day of Christmas.  Some of us are giddy with excitement, some of us are frantically trying to get ready for tomorrow, some of us are already dreading the end of the season, and some are just glad it's going to be over.   

I personally wish the "lights" of the season could last for at least 2 more months.  I LOVE Christmas lights.  Lights on the houses, trees, shrubs, fence posts, lining the driveways and sidewalks shining for all to see.

I enjoy the fact that we change the clocks later in the year because I know the wait for Christmas lights to start shining is shorter than when we changed them in October.  

I thank everyone who takes the time to put out lights.  No matter if you have one string of 50 lights or hundreds and thousands of small twinkling shiny lights all over your house and yard it takes an effort at some point to make sure that you're glowing.  Sometimes it also comes with much frustration as you realize only half a strand lights up or the middle of the strand is darkened while the the ends shine bright. 

Somewhat like life!  Our purpose is to SHINE into the world and into the lives of all of those around us.  It just doesn't happen though.  It takes an effort and a lot of work to make sure that when the time is right and the switch is turned on - we SHINE!!

Take time and effort to make sure you are ready when it's your time to SHINE! 

Thanks and Giving - Part 2

So next week many of us will be sitting around tables buzzing with chatter, crowded with food and plates that are heaped.  We will be sharing all the things that we are thankful for, the things we have been "given."  But maybe we have gotten it all wrong.  Maybe we should be giving if we have things to be thankful for that have been given to us.  You may need to read that previous sentence a few times.  I'm not saying to not be thankful, you absolutely should be thankful for the things you have been given.  Each and every single one of us has so much to give, but we don't even realize it.  It may be a smile, time, a helping hand, a listening ear, a hug, a dollar or two, a note, a friendly conversation, and the list goes on.  Any time we give of ourselves to other, we are sharing the light of God.  I shared with the youth how I hate when you see an TV show where someone promises to come home, or promises they'll be safe because those are not promises we can keep for sure.  But I love that I can promise that the light will always pierce the darkness. So give, give, and give some more and darkness will be overcome by His light.

Thanks and Giving - part 1

We are splitting Thanksgiving into 2 parts.  Thanks is part one.  This is not about what you're thankful for but when you have or should have expressed your Thanks.  Thank you to the youth who worked hard collecting food for the Covenant Food Cupboard - the great thing is they can have fun doing it.  Thank you to the parents who drove for the food scavenger hunt, who drove for the outing to the corn maze, who drive their youth to youth group, who bring in drinks and snacks, who offer a word of encouragement or support to the youth and/or myself or other youth workers.  Thank you to all our "neighbors" who filled the bags with food.  Thank you to all those mentors in my life who have guided, supported, and directed me in the many wonderful adventures I've had so far.  Thank you to my awesome and wonderful husband, Kevin, who has loved the youth just as much as I have - if not more at some times.  Thank you to my grown children who send a random text or make an unexpected phone call -  just because.  Thank you to the youth who by nature are pure and total adventure.  Thank you to the driver who let me turn left when there wasn't a break in traffic for half a mile.  Thank you to the cashier who smiled as you did your job.  Thank you to the repair man who didn't overcharge us.  Thank you for the invite.  Thank you for the understanding.  Thanks for being you.  All of these Thank yous are only possible because somebody "gave."  to be continued................................................

Barriers

Why are your barriers up?  We put up all kinds of barriers for all kinds of reasons.  We are afraid of what's on the other side - people, responsibilities, work, reality, situations we've created.  Or maybe it's because we don't want to let anyone in because then we have a responsibility to them as a friend, neighbor, or acquaintance. 
Do you have a barrier up to people who look different, speak different, live different.  If we are living into the people that God has created us to be, those barriers need to come down!! 
We will be experiencing people's barriers this weekend as we participate in the Food Scavenger Hunt for the Covenant Food Cupboard.  There will be doors NOT opened, lights turned off, TVs muted and excuses made.  Barriers will not be taken down if all people see are barriers being built. 
What do we need to do or who do we need to be to start the destruction of these barriers?

Trivia is not always trivial!

So there is a game called Trivial Pursuit that has been popular for years now.  Specialty Trivial Pursuit games have appeared that focus on a particular decade, show, movie or music genre and so on.....   So what's the deal with trivia and being able to answer those questions.  I don't know about you but I get a thrill out of being able to answer those questions correctly and not look like a complete moron.  haha   But if I am gonna claim that I am a fan of/student of/follower of whatever it may be, I should be able to answer certain questions.  Hope I'm doing okay with it, are you?

Expect LOVE

Expectations can be such a huge let down so I've learned not to have many.  But that's not so good either, I just need to know where and how to direct my expectations. 
We've been studying what it means to be together as friends, family, church family, neighbors, strangers, etc.   In all of this togetherness the one constant expectation is and should be LOVE.  I should expect that I will show love to any and all that I know and meet.  I should expect love from our amazing God, and I should expect love from everyone that knows and meets me.  Wow those expectations aren't easy and love has many layers!!  So what are you expecting???