Thursday, February 26, 2009
My Drumming Career Is Over
Here I am playing at Gwen's wedding. This was the highlight of my time with Black Creek. But due to the time commitment required, I decided to quit. My last gig was January 18. It was a fun time and a great experience.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Does God Really Provide?
Here is an essay that puts in to words some thing I have been struggling with. I found this at http://thekineticexperiment.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5:worthy-always-betsy-eldridge&catid=1:essay&Itemid=7
Worthy, always.
Written by Betsy Eldridge
Worthy, me?Right now I am having one of those moments where I wonder if God really does provide for those who follow him. He has never let me down before. Also, in the end, His way ends up being so much sweeter than...
Have you ever had to sacrifice for the sake of following God? It’s hard to see good things and hold out for God’s best. It’s difficult to explain to others. The thing is God blesses those who follow and never count the cost of what they are leaving behind. The call of God is a hard one to follow, but being in the center of God’s will and experiencing the depth of his love and having intimacy with the Creator of the universe does not compare with anything or anyone else. God provides everything we need, exactly when we need it.
I’m sorry. I’m holding out. My resolution is that I’m letting go. I’m giving everything up to follow God and accept the life that he has for me. It’s hard and amazing all at the same time. Right now I am having one of those moments where I wonder if God really does provide for those who follow him. He has never let me down before. Also, in the end, His way ends up being so much sweeter than mine.
Laying my dreams, desires, and wishes down is hard but accepting God’s dreams for me is special. It is almost like a parent who holds their baby for the first time. Their hearts are filled with overflowing love and hope for the new life that they cradle in their arms. God creates us and has big dreams for us. The abundant life he designed for us does not compare with what we can come up with in our minds. I’m asking for God’s best. I am not going to try and tell an unfathomable God how I desire to live my life when I can’t comprehend the beauty in a sunset or the placement of the stars. I can’t imagine the wonder in the moment when a person realizes they’ve met their spouse or the miracle of life. It will come. Have faith in the season of waiting… for it may seem as if God is not doing anything or hearing your prayers but have faith that he is always at work and moving in and around you.
The last 5 months have been a challenge but I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I am not the same person I was when I moved across the country in September. I am humbled at the work that God has done in and through me.
I had lunch with a friend and something really hit me. As I listened to her share her story I was amazed at how familiar it was with mine. I had just gone through a similar thing. In a moment, I realized that the things in my life are not random. If I had to face that season of suffering to gain the wisdom I was able to encourage her with, then it was worth it. Sometimes we go through seasons of suffering so that God can burn away things that aren’t from him and make beauty from the ashes. I know that my ministry as a counselor could only go so far before … and now it can go farther because of the hurts, tests, and trials I’ve endured front from family and friends to losses and learning to be completely God’s.
Praise God for having a plan bigger than I can imagine. He is worthy… always.
Worthy, always.
Written by Betsy Eldridge
Worthy, me?Right now I am having one of those moments where I wonder if God really does provide for those who follow him. He has never let me down before. Also, in the end, His way ends up being so much sweeter than...
Have you ever had to sacrifice for the sake of following God? It’s hard to see good things and hold out for God’s best. It’s difficult to explain to others. The thing is God blesses those who follow and never count the cost of what they are leaving behind. The call of God is a hard one to follow, but being in the center of God’s will and experiencing the depth of his love and having intimacy with the Creator of the universe does not compare with anything or anyone else. God provides everything we need, exactly when we need it.
I’m sorry. I’m holding out. My resolution is that I’m letting go. I’m giving everything up to follow God and accept the life that he has for me. It’s hard and amazing all at the same time. Right now I am having one of those moments where I wonder if God really does provide for those who follow him. He has never let me down before. Also, in the end, His way ends up being so much sweeter than mine.
Laying my dreams, desires, and wishes down is hard but accepting God’s dreams for me is special. It is almost like a parent who holds their baby for the first time. Their hearts are filled with overflowing love and hope for the new life that they cradle in their arms. God creates us and has big dreams for us. The abundant life he designed for us does not compare with what we can come up with in our minds. I’m asking for God’s best. I am not going to try and tell an unfathomable God how I desire to live my life when I can’t comprehend the beauty in a sunset or the placement of the stars. I can’t imagine the wonder in the moment when a person realizes they’ve met their spouse or the miracle of life. It will come. Have faith in the season of waiting… for it may seem as if God is not doing anything or hearing your prayers but have faith that he is always at work and moving in and around you.
The last 5 months have been a challenge but I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I am not the same person I was when I moved across the country in September. I am humbled at the work that God has done in and through me.
I had lunch with a friend and something really hit me. As I listened to her share her story I was amazed at how familiar it was with mine. I had just gone through a similar thing. In a moment, I realized that the things in my life are not random. If I had to face that season of suffering to gain the wisdom I was able to encourage her with, then it was worth it. Sometimes we go through seasons of suffering so that God can burn away things that aren’t from him and make beauty from the ashes. I know that my ministry as a counselor could only go so far before … and now it can go farther because of the hurts, tests, and trials I’ve endured front from family and friends to losses and learning to be completely God’s.
Praise God for having a plan bigger than I can imagine. He is worthy… always.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Fireproof
We had a chance to watch the movie Fireproof last evening. While some of the acting seemed cheesy and amateurish, I thought it came across with a great message; to be able to love unconditionally you have to truly realize that you are loved unconditionally by your Heavenly Father.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Experience
Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you recognize a mistake when you make it again. -- Franklin P. Jones
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Isn't Modern Technology Great
I just got off Skype, which is a web based phone service, with my friend Raymond Burkholder in Thailand. With the web camera, it's almost like speaking face to face. Really cool!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
An Awesome Experience
Today I celebrated Holy Communion with the Wednesday afternoon group in prison. It was a moving experience to share with a group of guys who are open and honest about their failures and weaknesses and realize that their only hope in changing things around is to trust God to give them the strength. To me it seemed very similar to the first communion. Jesus was in our midst, I know, but I think that he would have loved to be there in the flesh. It was his kind of crowd. I was honored to be there.Sunday, February 1, 2009
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