Struggle

I like this picture.  The dog is cute, and it looks as confused as I do about life in general.

I am reading a book called "The Struggle is Real" by Nicole Unice.  It talks about how we struggle daily in our lives between the ideal and reality.  I know I do.  I want things to be ideal but I live in the real.  We struggle because we don't have wisdom, which the Bible says comes from believing in God; believing that He is all-powerful.  I have to make a choice of whether I am going to believe God is omnipotent or not.  This choice is a choice between life and death.  There is no hope if I am not going to believe in God.  All the things in this world can't give me what I really want, what I really need.  And that is life. 

I have a hard time accepting and feeling God's love for me. I know He loves me intellectually, but most of the time I don't feel it.  But I know it is me that stands in the way of His love.  I have a wall of mistrust that stands between Him and most people on earth.  And if I want to have life, I have to let those walls fall down.  I know the truth of the Bible, but has it transformed me?  In some ways it has.  Although I still struggle with mistrust, I no longer hate the world or feel like the word owes me. 

I have a hard time forgiving myself.  I have forgiven some people in my life; it helps to try to understand things from their perspective. Finally, God has set me free from condemnation,  for as it says in the Bible, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  

This is what I have reflected on so far from this book.  On another note, I hate this feeling of being in limbo, of living in pain and having to wait for the cortisone shots to kick in, and of having to wait for another job to add to my existing one.  I know I need to be thankful, but sometimes it is hard to be patient!  I guess that's why I am so hard on myself, why I press myself so much.  I can't relax, and if I see a problem I want to fix it.  But there are some things I can't fix, many things actually.  And I will have to choose to trust the One who made me.  

Love

As you can see I finished my painting and got it framed.  In case you forgot, beloved is what my name, Amy, means.  I used to hate my name until I found out what it meant. I think I thought it was too boring.  

I have been thinking about love lately.  I have been thinking about how spiritual gifts, ones that are listed in  the Bible, are bestowed on us through the Holy Spirit.  I used to think that my gifts were for me.  But later I learned that the gifts are for others.  They are a way for us to love God and others.  It reminds me of those verses in the Bible, in I Cor. 13, of how these gifts are great to have and use, but if love isn't in the center of them, then they are useless.  

I also thought about encouragement.  It is so easy to be negative sometimes, I know it is for me.  I often think negative thoughts, and sometimes speak negative words.  And I regret them now.  I know that a negative word is as intense as surgery without anesthesia.  But a positive word is like a sunny day or a hot bath.  It has been said that it takes so many positive words to counteract one negative one.  That is so true.  Negative words sting and take away your hope.

Finally,  I thought about the 5 love languages, popularized by Gary Chapman.  We respond to different avenues of love.  Some people respond to loving words, while others respond to loving actions, and so forth.  I always say talk is cheap.  But then I am contradicting myself when I just got done writing about how a negative word can steal hope!  Nevertheless, love can be demonstrated in various ways, not just words and actions, but also time, gifts, and serving.  It is helpful to know how people respond so we can show love in a way that is meaningful for them.  

I know this is a weird combination about love, but I think that there could always be more love in the world.  No matter how great we may have it, it is too easy to judge others.  I know I do, and I regret that as well. I think it's because it is hard for me to receive love and compliments.  I've always been so hard on myself.  But I am trying to feel good about myself.  Like I am quite pleased about my painting above.  It's not perfect, but I like it and I have it hanging in my bedroom.  

It's a Wonderful Life

Two days ago I went to a funeral for a friend's father.  I was nervous about going as I wondered if I would know anybody, and I always get nervous that I am going to say or do the wrong thing.  It was the church that I went to when I was a teen, and I hadn't been back there since except for another funeral.  

But I was worried for nothing.  I saw a lot of people that I knew, and they were all so nice and welcoming.   They seemed genuinely happy to see me.  And I was happy to see them.  I had forgotten what community felt like, and when I do get to experience it, it is like a waterfall of grace washing over me.  Even though I had some issues with the church, it was and still is the people who give it light.  They truly are the light of the world, as it says in the Bible.

And I was impressed by the stories about my friend's father.  I knew him, I used to go to my friend's house a lot when we were growing up.  In fact, she is the one who told me about Jesus.  I loved to go to their house with their family of many fun-loving sisters and one brother, and a cat and a dog.  It was an old house full of curious nooks and crannies that I liked to explore.  The family was also so friendly and welcoming to me, I even felt a part of it.  

And hearing these many stories and seeing all the many people at the funeral, I came to realize that my friend's father made a difference in many people's lives.  It reminded me of one of my favorite movies, It's a Wonderful Life, and how like George in the movie, my friend's father had many friends and helped many people.  George was rich because he had friends, and so was this father. 

It reminded me that that's what life is about, people.  And making a difference in their lives.  We read about these great people who do great things.  But most of us are rather ordinary, just living our everyday lives.  But maybe that's what it's all about.  Making a difference where you are at, using what gifts you have been given.  

I hope I remember this always, especially when I am anxious or depressed.  I hope I remember that's what life is about, making a difference even in our own small ways.

A New Year

This new year I am going to once and for all do something for the pain in my arm.  I am also going to look for another job to add to the one I have.  So that is what is new. And I would like to go on a trip, I don't know where and when.  

It hurts so much to  type, actually, it hurts all the time.  I hope the surgery and recovery won't  be so bad.  I will find out this Wed.  

And I need to work more.  I don't like having all this free time.  It makes me depressed and bored.  I need a regular schedule.  So I will begin again the arduous process of applying and interviewing for jobs.  I just can't sit around watching TV.  Besides, there's nothing on.

My last picture that I drew I am getting framed.  I wrote beloved on it as that is what my name means.  I am beloved by God.  

I will still go to art until I get a job.  And I will still go to Bible study, if it still is in existence.  

And I will still work on my writing.  

So that is it for me.  I am at a loss as to what to write here.  During the break, at night, I got inspired by ideas.  Now I am going to write them down.  I seem to be inspired at the most inopportune times.   But I got a journal and pens for Christmas so maybe that is a suggestion for me to keep something with me.  I just like the nights, before bed.  Maybe because I like to be in bed.  I'm hoping that if the pain goes away I will be less tired.  

Since I have no ideas now, what would you like me to write about?  Anything goes.  Well, almost anything.  

Third Artwork

This is my 3rd piece of artwork.  It is an ink and watercolor paint picture.  I finished it at home as the art school had its usual break this month.  The breaks bum me out as I want to keep working on my art and yet have instant feedback.  But they have classes for 8 weeks and then have a break for 5 weeks.  So I took it home and it didn't turn out as I had hoped, I think it is too pale.  And I don't know what to do with the white space in the middle.  It was a picture from a fairy tale book, where this picture was the title page of each story.  I'd like to hang it up in my home but I don't know what to put in the middle.  What do you think?

This night I was supposed to go to a Bible study that I joined 2 weeks ago.  It is only the 2 leaders and I so far.  It is called a medical miracle group, as we have all had medical problems and persevered through them.  I am just getting to know them and now we won't meet again until after the new year.  And their group only meets an hour instead of the usual 2 hours.  At least it is every week instead of every other week.  It was the only group that fit my schedule and my specs.  So needless to say I am bored.  I think I may look for more work after the new year.  This working 2 nights a week is the pits.  What do you think? 

Wurmbrand

I have been a supporter of Voice of the Martyrs for many years, and recently they gave me a movie and book about Richard Wurmbrand, the founder.

Wurmbrand was tortured in a Romanian Communist prison for a total of 14 years, during the height of communism.  There were many atrocities done to many people in these prisons.  It boggles  the mind the depravity of the perpetrators.  But they were raised in hate, much like our present-day terrorists.  All they know is hate.  So even though Richard and many others suffered through a living hell, they still loved their attackers.  This is amazing to me.  How can one love others like that?  But I am reminded that it was not in their nature to love, but through Christ in them, that taught them and empowered them to love.

Because of this great love of Christ in these brave men and women, many were saved and redeemed from a life of hate to a life of love.  What an amazing witness this is of God's power, that He can change people to that extent.  That is miraculous.  Their stories remind me of how good I have it, and how blessed I am to live at a place and time that I am free to worship Christ and fellowship with other believers.  I am free to read the Bible and talk about it.  I just have many freedoms and am so thankful for that.  

Belated Thanksgiiving

I am thankful for:

my loving family

my comfy and cozy home

my dependable car

being born in USA

my loving friends

my career

my education

my art that I create

my Bible

My Jesus

my salvation

my many freedoms

my computers

my church

my pets

my travel memories

Christmas

family memories

and so much more!

It is easy to forget how much I have, and easy to wallow in self pity for what I don't have.  I have to stop and think about what I do have.  I heard a quote that I like that goes something like don't want what you don't have, but want what you do have.  I like that.  There are some things I have no control over, my career, romantic relationships, the weather.  But I do have control over how I respond and react to my circumstances.  So instead of feeling sorry for myself, I have to consciously be thankful because in reality, to much of the known world, I have more than them.