Life

Life can sure be interesting at times. It can feel like it's going one direction, and then immediatly change directions on you and leave you in the dust. Life feels like an emotional freeway. Going fast, rush hour, the occasional fender bender, then your 15 car pile up. Kinda makes one wish there was another way of getting from here to there. Why is life so sporatic? Why can't it be predictable, like so many people seem to portray it to be? I guess life wouldn't be so enjoyable if you were able to predict it. And as some would say, "with out the bad, the sweet just ain't as sweet." How true that is. Being one that enjoys extremes, in a few ways, I think I can understand that. But still, it's just easy to say the hard times just suck. And I think it's okay to say that, but to continue on with that kind of attitude is pointless. It's easy to just stay in that frame of mind where everything sucks, and life sucks. Oh, and don't forget the attention that you get when someone asks how you're doing, and you get to gloat. I'm sick of when I do that. If I really am doing bad, then I won't be dishonest and say I'm good. But, I try to avoid the whole conversation of why I'm doing bad, and then recieve pity. I hate pity. I don't want anyone to have pity on me, because I have a faith that makes me rich. Like I said, I don't always act like it. It's hard to lean on something that doesn't seem like it's there, but really is there. That's what God is there for. Anyway... enough rambling for now. Back to work...

Ah.. feelings

Do you ever feel betrayed by your feelings?? It's crazy. I think about feelings that I've had towards a certain umm.. person, place or thing, and how I came to a conclusion that even though the feelings I had weren't bad, or sinful, that I would give them up. Then they come back. It's fustrating.. I'm wondering if I should just stop pushing these feelings away and just risk it and go for it. The only thing is, that if it proves to umm.. not work out.. then umm.. relations with this said person, place, or thing would probably be weaker than before. And this person, place, or thing is very important to me. Which, I guess, is why I have such feelings for this person, place or thing. Ok.. I'm going to own up to the fact that I am, in fact, talking about a person. I know pretty well that I could live with this person the rest of my life.. I'm not saying I want to get married right away. There's still more to find out. I'd love to pursue something, but at the risk of friendship? That's a tough one. I deeply desire to have a godly woman to be with, and she has encouraged me greatly throughout my life. How do I know what God is saying? I've been praying about this for a while now.. and still no answer. I guess my only choice is to continue praying and wait on God for His answer. It is a great test of patience. But for this subject, waiting is worth it, for sure. I'd wait my whole life to spend even just a year with the one God has for me. I don't not wish it to be that short, but to wait on God would reap greater rewards. I just have to delight in Him. He promises to reward those who wait on Him. I'll do just that.

Hmm...

Ok, so it's been a while since I've posted anything.. what happened to posting semi-daily on bible verses. Well, I'm a slacker. There's really no excuse for it, cause I've been really lazy in the mornings lately. I got up early today, but took a long shower.. oops. Oh well, on to the good stuff.

I find myself trying to take more joy in situations that I usually do. Being ok with where I'm at in life. I was at a Kurt's house the other day. A bunch of us played HALO until late (not as late as other gamers that I've played with) and then I crashed at his place. The next morning he had to go to a funeral service at church, but I stayed at his place with Justin (him and his wife live with Kurt and his wife) and watched Grace (Kurt's daughter) for a bit. That time really made me look forward to having a family of my own. Grace is soo smart too. She'll just figure things out. She loves peek-a-boo games too. I got some really cute pics of her and Justin in a bounce house inside their house. It was an awesome time. I really look forward to having at least 1 kid. But I can definitely wait. I want to be married for a while before having kids. Enjoy spending time with my wife. Going places. Seeing things. Travel a bit. Hopefully this photography career will take me that direction. I only know the destination in life. God is the one driving, and knows all the stops and turns in my life.
I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as LORD. Hosea 2:20, NLT

And later in the bible it says:

This is a true saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13, NLT

It's natural for us to become unfaithful. There's 2 promises that he will always be faithful to me. All the more reason for me to strive to be faithful to Him. Also when I delight in the Lord, completely make my heart His home, then He'll give me the desires of my heart.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. Psalm 37:4

That delight must truly be in the Lord. And when you're delight is truly in the Lord, you'll notice that your heart's desires change from wanted possessions to wanting more of the Spirit. More fruitful experiences in life. You'll desire to be a light in this world. Shining for Christ. It only takes a second to take delight in the Lord. But to live that way, is a completely different story. It's a life pattern weaved by the fabrics of faith and action. I've been working on my life pattern. It's a tough task, but God never said that being a Christian would be an easy task. I'm glad to be where I am in life, and I know God has a plan for it. And he's planted desires deep inside me that someday will come out and will be reality.

Anyway, I gotta jam to work.. I'm probably going to be late!! Oops! God bless!

a little slice of heaven...

Frozen field in the morning

Ski lifts @ Heavenly

Lake Tahoe

Just a cool looking building on a dock

Taken from the beach south of the boat loading at South Lake Tahoe

Here's the next installment of photos from last weekend!
~Enjoy~

A few Tahoe pics

This is the sunrise at the summit just before coming down to the lake Zoomed in to catch the redder colors of the sunrise
A white dove and a seagull on the dock in South Lake Tahoe
A flower that happened to be on top of the display at the vista point Field on the way to South Lake Tahoe that was frozen.

I'm so excited to have had a camera to take pictures like these! Please tell me what you think!

Look forward to more pics to be posted!

Deep Waters

When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you.
Isaiah 43:2, NLT

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Isaiah 43:2 NRSV

I'm really glad I subscribed to this KLOVE encouraging word thing. Otherwise I'd probably never get to verses like these. This is supposed to be a comforting verse. But I wonder why he says "deep waters" as opposed to something like "tough times" or something like that. I like the way the second one sounds. But why choose that kind of imagery. Maybe he's just trying to get across the point that no matter what you're going through in life, God is with you and will not let you be overwhelmed. Sounds good. That's about as deep as I can get for now. I'm sure when I think about it more, then more will come to me. At least, I hope so.

Living a Godly Life...

As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.
2 Peter 1:3, NLT

So, i'm subscribed to KLOVE's Encouraging Word newsletter. If you don't know about it, you can go to KLOVE.com and on the main page you can subscribe. Anyway.. so I think I'm going to start writing on what I read from it somewhat daily. I just think it would be a good habit to get myself into. Usually when I actually do get myself to sit down and read the bible, I don't know where to start, so I just randomly pick somewhere. But that doesn't work very well most of the time. So anyway..

So, this verse is what I need to keep reading over and over. I'm trying to begin to ask questions about the things I read, and not just go, "yea, that makes sense" to everything. So how do you know Jesus better? Well, I think if you're a christian, then that means you're praying, being a witness, showing compassion, and also reading and studying His word. It's alot more than that, yea, but it's a start for now. So, what happens when we spend this time and walk with Jesus to get to know Him more? "His divine power gives us..." Hold on.. Diving Power? What's that? Power granted to Himself as God...? It seems like that's the power God has, because whatever it is, when Jesus came to earth, he set aside his divine power to take the form of a human being, with all its limitations. Okay, so Divine Power is God's Power. God's Power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. Got it. So, I have to be walking with Jesus, because that's how you get to know someone better. Right? Spending time with them, talking (or with God, praying, of course), and learning more about them. So walk with Chist, and live by Christ, and His power will give me all that I need (not want) to live a godly life. So.. what do you think? That's how I came to understand that passage.

Man.. what a great way to start the day.

Beauty in the morning...

I took this on the way home from a friends house this morning.. I'll let the picture say the rest.

Life Changing

I guess "Changing Life" would be a better title for this blog. What I have up is more eye catching, I think. I'm really starting to work on changing my life. There's alot of things that I really don't like about myself that I have control over that I'm just to damn lazy to change. (sorry 'bout saying damn, but it's the only word I could think of to really color my fustration with myself. So to any who are offended, my apologies) I'm tired of being okay with my life. I've decided that I want to strive for more than I'm capable. Trust more on God for my wants, dreams, joys, fears, and life. But how do I do that? The first thing, really, should be to focus on my relationship with God. If I'm not spending time with Him, then everything else is pointles.. right? I mean, if I don't have a solid foundation on which to walk, then why go anywhere? I guess that's why I feel like my life isn't moving anywhere. I have aspirations, but untill recently, I haven't done anything to pursure them. Just recently (you'd know if you read my other posts) I purchased a camera so that I can start building on what will eventually build into either a career, or a decent paying hobby. Also I have been, for the most part, consistent with working out. Recently alot of crap has been going on, but I'm getting back on it. Anyway.. gosh, I feel like every time I write here, it's a novel or something. If you're reading this, and you pray, please pray for me. That is always appreciated! Thanks!