This time of year

 

It is has come again, this is the time of year full of family, friends, carols, snow, presents, food, and the new year right around the corner. There is so much around us and so much going on that we can get lost in the hustle of everything. I myself find that this time of year is very busy, not only with the family gatherings, outings with friends, and planning around schedules, but also with the sense of another year, and the feeling of time slipping flying by and not seeing how fast life is moving around myself. So I am taking this time to look at the things around me and see that I am so thankful for them. I am grateful for the people that I have to spend my time with. This time of year is also one of which I find so beautiful and amazing, the trees topped with snow, the crunch of snow from your shoes, the amazing way water can form beautiful icicles.

 I look around and see that life is beautiful and amazing, and it is precious. So stop with me for a second from the planning and hustle and look around yourself, look at what you find pretty, or beautiful, and thank God that He has placed that in your life to give you the reminders that He cares about you, and loves you. He has given us so many amazing, precious, gifts to see, enjoy and glorify.

Just the right words...

 

There are so many times that I am in search of just the right words. It doesn't matter what it is for, whether I am explaining something to someone at work, or I am writing an essay, or my blog, or even if I am just looking for an answer to reply or to receive. The right words can sometimes just flow so easily together, but then other times they feel a million miles away.

Just recently I was taking a break, and talking with friends. Then a friend and I were talking about how life is so busy, and how there is so much stress on midterms that were coming up in the next couple of days. Then out of the blue (at least that is how I felt it to be), my friend told me this....

 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about

 itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

And instantly I recognised it, knowing that it was from the book of Matthew in the Bible.

 I love that verse, and to be honest I had not thought of it in a long time. My friend

had remembered me mentioning it from the previous year and how I liked it and how

 I felt about it, so she reminded me of it. I didn't know at the point in time, but that was

exactly what I needed to hear. Those words were ...

just the right words.

She had given me a gift out of the blue, and it was perfect timing, and it meant so much, even if she did or did not realize it at the moment.

Sometimes we search and search because we think we have to find the right words, or the answers, but really it may be so much closer than we think. We might be the one who contains the answers (or the right words) for someone else, and we might not even know it. But God does know it. He knows the answers,and the right words. We just have to think of him, and remember that he has the control and he loves us... so that we won't worry about finding the right words, or worrying about what tomorrow will bring, because he will come through for us. He is always there.

Realizing Fear

 

I know what fear is. I learned about it as a child growing up, it is a feeling you get when you are scared. It happens almost involuntarily. But I have recently learned more about fear,...

I now know that it (fear) has the ability to hold onto someone and it can be a distinctive game changer in someones life, with or without them realizing it. It is sometimes unrealized and we look right past it. Fear, is what makes us miss out on opportunities that life presents to us.

In my life there has always been a reoccurring feeling of fear. Not just the idea of  "this is spooky, I'm scared" kind of feeling, but the part of fear that comes with the trying of new things, and getting out of your comfort zone. The feeling that holds you back from doing what you want to do.

Just recently I have realised fear is present more often than I think. I was at a youth retreat and the speaker was talking about how we miss out on so many opportunities. He linked it all back to the story of Peter taking his eyes off Jesus while he was walking on water. He said that Peter may have been wrong to stop focusing on Jesus, but at least Peter took the first step. Peter got to experience something that the rest of the disciples in the boat did not get to, because they stayed in the boat.

So naturally I started thinking about this, and how it is with my life. When have I stayed in the boat? When have I missed out on opportunities because I was held back by fear? Well, the answer is, many times, more than I have realized, or can think of.

So I can stay thinking about all that I might have missed out already, but instead I am going to look forward. When I feel/sense that feeling that I am going to just sit back, or that I do not really want to do something, I ask myself, what am I possibly going to miss out on? Do I really want to miss an opportunity that life is handing me? Am I going to stay in the boat, or this time get out?

Prayer

Prayer is something that everyone sees differently, understands differently, uses differently. I asked some people if they had to summarize prayer into a sentence to tell someone, anyone, what would they say… this is what I got.

Prayer is a dialogue with God, not only talking to God but also listening to him. A two way conversation

Prayer is an ongoing, intimate conversation with God.

Prayer is a conversation between two friends. The purpose is to understand and get to know each other better, just like talking to a trusting friend.

In the last couple of days I have been trying to read in my bible about prayer, and see what the scriptures say, what I have learned is that God is there, he is listening to what you say, he may not answer right away, but he is there. He will answer, for the scriptures say in Matthew 7:7-8, Keep on asking and you will receive what you ask for, keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

This doesn’t mean that if we pray every night asking for a perfect score on a test, that it will happen. I learned that God responds to wisdom and love. That what glorifies him will be answered, and isn’t every little thing we want.

But the major thing that I have read and learned, and had it repeated by different people… is that that Prayer is more than simply asking God to give us what we want. It’s living, active, and powerful communication with the LORD. My study bible gave me an analogy, have you ever seen two people who are friends, and they spend a lot of time together, they become more like each other, they may talk, act, and possibly think a lot alike. They are becoming more like each other. So, if we are spending time with God in prayer, it is the intimate two-way conversation between you and a trusting friend. You are going to become more like Him. Or look at it this way,… I personally have had it that when I am around a group of people, they tend to sway me to talk like they do, whether I notice it or not, and well, I think that it is the same with God. If I spend more time with him, then I will be veering towards Him in our relationship, than if I am not spending that time with him.

I know that I have to be willing to let prayer surround me, it can be so powerful., but I have to let it be, and be willing to open my heart and let God speak to me. We can get to know each other, even though he already knows so much about me, He still wants me to talk to Him, tell Him my hurts, fears, excitements… everything. So in the next couple of days I am going to challenge you, and myself. Not only to pray to God and to pray for yourself, but also to pray to Him about others, the person sitting next to you, or your co-worker, etc. And you can pray about numerous things… for someone to understand God’s will, gain wisdom or spiritual understanding, to honour God, bear fruit, appreciate God, or to be filled with his love, and joy, and to be thankful.

 

 

NOTE ** This week for my youth group I had the privileged to read devotions. So I decided that I was going to write my own for a change, since I usually read them from a book, or find one online. Therefore, I decided to take my devotion and also use it on my blog. It is slightly different to work for my blog than the one I read but the almost the same.

Plans I have for you....

 

 

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future" - Jeremiah 29:11

This verse has showed up in a couple different things in a small matter of time. So that made me sit and think about how it relates to me right now...

Right now I am in the decision making process about my schooling and where I will go... Will I go to a univeristy nearby, far away, or do I take the college approach then into a university, or do I go for a year of bible college and then to university/college. ?? There are too many decisions that I find all come together into my head and comfuse me, I can say that for sure...

 I am confused.

But I don't like that, I want an answer to fall into place, for the decision to be made and then be final. But of course that doesn't just happen. When I was talking to a member at my church a little bit ago, I mentioned not knowing what I was going to do, he had said to me that the answer will come eventually, and that I have probably prayed about it. That stopped me right there.

I haven't prayed about this. I haven't ask God what/where he wants me to go. So know I am trying to pray about this and see what happens. Then now I have been seeing this verse in different places.. and well it is a comfort to me that this verse is standing out... I hope that it is a message from God, and that I can just sit back ,adn don't need to stress out about it, because no matter what happens, I know that God will be right beside me watching out for me. He already knows what my plans will be.

 

This verse is just what I needed to read and it came at the right time.

 

Living today...

If you have noticed, I have changed the title of my blog,... but that may only be a temporary thing. I have been thinking a lot about what I post and about what I want to write about, what I already write about, etc. But I haven't really think that I have nailed what I truly think that is the right thing for me yet,... at first I was posting pictures of the gifts that I see that God has created for us, those peaceful comforts. But then I started writing a bit more but I still don't think that I am 100% happy with my blog, so I am going to try something else out,... I am going to try to,..

Live for Today.

Not only because of my blog, but because I am a person who gets caught up in the past, and in the future. I don't very often end up in the present time. This bothers me often because I know that in the bible, in Matthew 6:25-34 there it tell you not to worry. Then pinpointing it down to the single verse of Matthew 6:34 So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (NLT)

Right now in my life I have so much going on, I am "growing up" so to say, in less than a month I will be entering grade 12, the last year, and even though there are so many great things, I seem to always get caught in the worries and the questions... but I wish that I could just live in the present.

So I am taking a small step with my blog, but in different areas of my life I am also going to try and live today, not for tomorrow, or from the past. And even though I have changed the name, and a bit of my outlook, doesn't mean that I can't post the peaceful comforts that come in my life, because those are still living today, but I think I need more than that, I think I need to challenge myself a bit more.

Memories

Memories, the act of retaining or reviving events, impressions, facts, previous experiences...

Today I was lying down on my couch and thinking about life, about the past the present
 and the future. I was thinking about my family, and my friends. As I would think
about something or someone my brain would give me a show, a devine recollection of
a past event, or maybe better put ...  

... a memory.

I was thinking about the people in my life, and then suddenly I am replaying what the past held. How we always used to sit at the end of the hall in our church on Sunday mornings, and we would talk until it was time for the service. I think about how we became friends, and how we made the bad parts of our freindship turn into something better. There were memories of homework marathons, and going to youth group.There are memories of camping trips, and campfires. I remembered how we would hangout, laugh, and joke with each other. How we would get together early in the morning and talk, and pray. There are memories of innocent card games turning into the some of most competitive times that I can remember. These memories were the babysteps to how these people have become so close to me and how they are now a very important part in my life.

There are somethings that you just can't forget, mind you I don't want to forget them, but that gives me the warm, peaceful feeling that even though it has happened in the past, I know that I can still think of it and replay parts of it, even if it doesn't have as much detail as when the event actually occured, but it is still better than only being about to experience things once. Today I could remember things that happened years ago, and how we have come to the present day.

So today I am thanking God for the amazing gift of memories, and being able to replay those events from the past. I thank God that he is so loving that he has given us the use of this astounding gift.

Challenging Decision

"Why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies

of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you

that not even Soloman in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

If that is how God loves clothes the grass of

the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not

much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"

Matthew 6:28-30

       This is a passage that I have been struggling with personally. I want to be able to not worry about what I am wearing, and to be able to pick out clothes much faster. I find that I can sit at my closet for 20min and still not know what to wear, why am I wasting this time on something that doesn't even matter that much? I could be using this time for reading God's word. Why can't I get over this challenging decision that realy shouldn't be that challenging?

       Not only just those verses but the entire section of Matthew 6:25-34 is really good for me. I especially love the last verse,

 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for

 tomorrow will worry about

 itself. Each day has

 enough trouble of its own"

 Matthew 6:34

                                

      To me I can use this verse in everyday in my life, and not just about the clothes that I wear, but also the stress that comes with exams, or tests, or presentations, or jobs, anything. Even though verses 28-30 come to me as more of a challenge, I see that 6:34 is more of a comfort, and when I am stressed out, and this one shows up, then it always gives me that sense of relaxation.

  

      So today, I am thankful for God's word and for these verses especially, but I am also thankful for the small group that has brought these words to my attention again.

One Page...

Tonight I have started a new book, it is called, "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" by Donald Miller. Sitting on my bed, I have started with the Author's Note in the front, which was only a page long, and I already interested and excited, I'm seeing and realizing the truth in short amount of words I have just read. If this is just the first page, then I have no idea what to expect for the rest of the book, but am I excited or what!!

So tonight I start this book, and I want to thank God for placing this book in my path to read, and my prayer is that with God here to help me, this book will challenge me and that I will not only take root to those words, but to the words of the bible.

Comforts in...

Today I am sitting here and reflecting on the things that give me a sense of comfort. There are so many things in life that give people comfort, in different ways, and right now for me the main ones are...

Family and friends

Hugs

Blankets and Pillows  

Tears

Mug of cold milk

These are things that right now I am so thankful for because they put me at ease, help me relax, and give me a calm feeling. They help me through the hard times and help me continue pushing on. I am so glad that God has given me these people and items in my life to gain comfort.

Colourful fun

Do you remember when you were little and drew with pencil crayons, but then when it

broke, it was annyoing when you had to sharpen them and all the

shavings would make a big mess,... Today, I was sharpening my pencil crayons, but then I looked

at that "mess" in a different way. I saw them as a gift of colourful fun.

Everyday Gifts

During the day I use and see so many things in my life. So many of these items I use

 and then just keep on going on about my day. Here are some things that I have

 come to be so thankful for...

Apples... so delicious and nutritious

 

Mirrors... use them everyday

Socks... what would I ever do without them

Soap... we use it a lot

 

Pillows... they are where I can crawl up and feel comfortable in seconds

All of these items I see everyday, but if I stop and take a second I see that they are all little comforts to me. They are the little presents that I took for granted, but get rid of them and I would be sad. I thank God for these everyday gifts.

Pancake Tuesday

The youth group that I attend, had pancakes today because today is Pancake Tuesday, also known as Shrove Tuesday. Here is a quick peek at some of the beautiful food that we were blessed with.

 

I am  thankful for gift of different tastes, the sweet and sours, the vibrant colours, and for the community that was made while we made the pancakes. I am also thankful for what Pancake Tuesday leads to,... lent, Easter, but as the bigger picture here, that...

 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16. 

Take A Second Glance

You see them almost everyday, but step back and to take a second glance... they are little gifts that God gives us to show us how much he truely loves us. All made by Him, here for us.

Snowflakes, so small, each comes down seperatly, but together they create something much more. 

When a snowflake falls, nobody can tell it where to land, and it becomes that piece of decoration to something else.

Plaid... Stripes.... Adds design to your day.

Each and everyone is different.



Made by a creator, as were we, intricately woven together. 

 

Peaceful Comforts

This is a new journey that I am branching out on. I am starting a blog. But this blog has meaning to me, there is a reason behind it, and a reason to pursue it.
First I'll give a bit of background. I am teenager, and I go to a great youth group that is filled with people that have helped me become the person that I am today, because of their words, their faith in God, and their faith in me to grow and advance in my walk with God. Our youth group had a S.H.A.P.E. weekend and it was for us youth to learn about our Spiritual gifts, and one of my top ones is Creative Ability. Then we were challenged to do something with our gift, and I have decided that I want to take pictures or draw pictures of where I see little gifts from God, then instead of keeping them to myself, I plan to post them here
Now I come the the name of my blog, "Peaceful Comforts" I like to look at it this way... When I am given a gift from God, I also see it as little pieces of God's grace, and to me that strikes a relaxing and soothing feeling. So that makes me feel comfortable and peaceful, therefore I combined them and Volia!, now you have Peaceful Comforts!
So all in all, I hope that you enjoy these gifts just as much as I enjoy them!