Of hard and easy days

With my WPY volunteer friends, on a short visit to the Philippines.

As I was washing the dishes one day, I began thinking...

Why is it that I'm always so much closer to God on the days when it's hard? The easier days when I don't have as much to do, or I can actually try and relax a little bit, is when my hold on God seems to loosen. I know that trials bring us closer to God, and I am learning to appreciate them for that purpose. But what of the days of peace? Why don't I connect with Him as well during those times? How can I change those days so they're a benefit instead of a hindrance?

Then another thought:

That's what praise and thanksgiving are for. 

I'm supposed to simply trust and hang onto God on the hard days, praising Him just the same. But on the seemingly easier days (when it's actually spiritually harder!), I can use that space to thank Him for all He's done in the harder times.

"We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and his teaching in our past history" (RH, October 12, 1905).

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4).

Photo credit: Erick Juanich

The little stuff

It's the little things that really brighten life. I keep a list of simple things that cheer me and remind me of God's ever-present love. Here's a condensed version:

• Adobe InDesign.
• Music alarms on my iPod.
• Scripture Typer.
• An organized to do list.
• Encouraging blogposts (especially missions or practical and applicable spiritual truths).
• Old songbooks (ever heard of Literature Evangelists Sing?).
• Sleeping in.
• Special nuggets from studying God's Word.
• Expecting packages in the mail.
• Listening to owls hooting in the woods.
• Productive Sundays.
• Being the last house on a country road (in other words, the middle of nowhere).
• Starting memorization on a new chapter in Acts.
• Friends who know just how to cheer me up.
• Summer.
• A pile of books to read.
• The mail-order library (where the above books come from.)
• Full moon brightness.
• My cozy little bedroom.
• Hot dogs over the fire.
• Having plenty of time to simply READ (rare, indeed).
• Homemade laundry soap.
• Christmas peacefulness.
• Missionary friends to pray for.
• Church Christmas programs (especially cute kiddos who steal the show).
• Busy work days.
• Sitting next to a wiggly 4-year-old (and then he flings arms round you and proclaims, "I love you!").
• Design assistants.
• Reading back through my journal and seeing how God has led.
• A warm kitty girl sleeping by my feet all night.
• Diminishing my list of memorization review left to do.

Day Ten: I Blessings

Better late than never, right? :-) And since technically every day of the year should be a day of thanksgiving, I'm not too far off target. I start and never finish too many things, but this shall be a project I finish!

Today's theme is blessings that start with the letter I:

Inspiration. There's the inspired Word, yes. And that's such a big blessing. But the kind of inspiration I am really thankful for is the kind that displays itself in my day-to-day work. As a graphic designer, I depend on inspiration for creative ideas. And it is when I am really stuck that I can see just where my inspiration comes from! Though I do have an "inspiration" binder full of pages and brochures and logos and letterhead, no amount of flipping through can give me the idea I need. It's only a fresh idea from God's very hand that is what actually turns out to be the very best! I'm so glad I don't have to depend on my own brain for ideas. :-)

Images. Images are what I do. They're what I play with, work with. Even more than that, they're around me every day. My mind thinks in images. God gives us lessons in images (parables, object lessons). Imagine if life had no images... wow. They're definitely one of the beautiful things in life!

Investments. When you invest your money and/or time in something, you link your life with it. What are you investing in? I'm thankful to have the privilege to invest in the lives of young people here at work. Also, in the life of a little orphan girl in Myanmar, and a missionary in the Philippines. I carry each of these blessings on my heart every day!

Infinite One. He never began, He never ends. He is the word forever, embodied. What a blessing to have an opportunity to be connected personally with such a loving Being!

GreaThings

I haven't been here since July.

Since then, friends have moved away, magazines have gone to press twice, I've gone on camping and hiking trips, new YD staff have arrived, and the church evangelism training class has ended.

And yet, a little over three months' absence is only a quarter of 2012. Time has dashed by and I don't often get a chance to stop and think about what it has produced.

And so, it's only fitting that I begin blogging again with a time of reflection over the past year. A friend of a friend is leading a blessing-a-day challenge, called GreaThings - two weeks of specifics to ponder and remember.

What has God done for you? Will you join us?