Is it good or Godly??

Pastor Phil preached a great, and I mean GREAT message this weekend at good ole Puyallup Foursquare.  It was entitled "From Good to Godly" and dealt with how we go through life with things being "good"....with being okay living a life that is "good" enough.  His challenge was to instead live a life that is Godly.  The difference?

Good = choosing to crack my bible open on sundays, when I am at church

Godly = choosing to be committed to having a daily dose of the word of God

Good = choosing to listening to music, watch TV/movie, play a video game that desensitize me to the bad/evil I am allowing in my life

Godly = Choosing to say no to those forms of media that are not Godly influences in my life or that do not give life

Good = choosing to blow money at the mall because they are having a sale after all

Godly = choosing to save up my money until I have enough to buy it, spending wisely and being a good steward of the financial blessing God has gifted me

The bottom line is, it is always my choice.  As much as that sucks at times, its completely on me.  I will reap the consequences of my decisions.  And I choose whether or not to ask the Lord, to seek His wisdom, to be guided.  

The challenge is, how do I change?  How do I make this life represent all that is Godly today instead of what would be labeled as just good.  Hope you feel challenged.  I do. 

Team Foursquare Bieber

Well, it's official......I am a huge, let me rephrase that....a HUGE Justin Bieber fan.  Not in the squealing girl "marry me justin" kind of way, but wow.  I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Never Say Never tonight with my Foursquare ladies.  And I am impressed.  If he can stay true to what God has designed for him and become the man God intends him to be, wow.  I applaud his mother.  I applaud his team.  And I pray that he never, ever focuses on the fame or the money.  Go TFB!

It's only a season....

As I find myself finishing a long, exhausting season, I find myself realizing that you can do anything for a season of time.  The key is that there has to be a clear finish line.  And as much as you may not like the season you are in, you CAN endure, you CAN make it, you CAN finish well.  As I have watched others around me finish seasons [some poorly and some great], I have discovered 3 types of "people" if you will.  

1. As soon as they have decided they are done, this person discontinues being productive in every part of their life.  No one wins in this scenario, they just run for "greener" pastures and don't care what happens to anyone else around them.  This results in a horrible exit on their part and others are left attempting to clean up the collateral damage.  Yuck.

2. As soon as they have decided they are done, they make a half-a** attempt to front a "finish strong" attitude and once again, others are left to pic up the pieces.  Not great, but not as awful as #1.

3. As soon as they have decided they are done, this person not only sprints through the finish line, but ensures those who follow them are equipped to succeed also.  They make it so they are not needed for questions and leave nothing up to guessing.  This is a rare bird.  

I am not sure I am a scenario 3 type of person.  But I can say, I will do EVERYTHING I can to never, ever be a number 1 or 2 person.  The wake left behind is just not worth it.  I will not be someone who others wish they had never had to come after.  I will set others up for success, and I will think of others before myself.  Lord willing.

Beautiful Mt. Rainier....

I finally did it ... I took a whole day and just drove around beautiful Mt. Rainier. 

It was breathtaking, refreshing, and energizing. 

Its funny how easily we forget the things in our life that fill our tanks.

You know, the moments that take your breath away, that cause you to pause life and just take it all in. 

It was amazing to see life awakening as the snow continued to melt and plants began to spring forth.  God is so good.


He always renews the earth and causes a rebirth that is more spectacular than the time prior.  I think of a new favorite song....."Our God is greater, our God is stonger ... God you are higher than any other ... our God is healer ... awesome in power ... our God, our God..."

Thank you Lord for all of the things and people in my life that fill my tank and help me to be the best version of me I can be. 

Things that make you go hmmmmm.....

Well, I find myself pondering a few things as I am on "vacation".....

1. Where does time go?  How does it go from one month to the next and there seems to be little to account for the time?  
2. How does the morning start out gloomy, overcast and doubtful to be anything more than that INTO blue sparkling skies, warm sunshine on your skin and the need for sunglasses??!?!!
3. Kettle Corn.....part salty, part sweet and SOOOO delicious!  Enough said.
4. Giraffe's are by far the tallest and one of the most amazing animals on earth....from their blue tongues to their grace when moving.....amazing.   And I am pretty sure they can dance quite well, Samuel showed me that.
5. I believe we have God-given passions in life, and I find through time I have let some passions lie dormant.  Why?  Photography has been and is one thing that I find my creativity letting loose and the freedom of expression unveiled.  It's time to let that horse back out of the barn....

Can't this freaking weather decide!!!!??!????

So, it was a beautiful, wonderfully sunshiny day all morning and afternoon....I got dressed for work tonight [capri's, sandals & a tank] enjoying the need for sunglasses and bronzer so I didn't look quite so pasty.  I had left the back door open so that my darling Sasha could enjoy the backyard while I was gone.  Much to my dismay, shortly after arriving at work, the BLACK clouds rolled in and the torrential downpour began.  My initial thought was something like, oh great....it's pouring and I am in sandals!   Then my mind quickly shifted to Sasha, who absolutely LOVES to lay out in the rain and had the ability to move in and out of the house at will.   My imagination began to envision muddy paw prints all over the kitchen and living room.  

But don't worry.   Once I was done with work, the sun was shining again.  PTLA!

I am CALLED....

"So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call.  May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do."

                                                       2 Thessalonians 1:11

I am reminded today that God enables me to live according to HIS call on my life, and gives me power to follow through on the promptings from the Holy Spirit.  He is so GOOD!!