The Bible Study Treasure Hunt

I have been feeling lonely lately and decided to do something about it. I heard there was a Bible Study at the college in my town and instantly became interested. Bible? People my age? At a college? Sign me up! I went to the college and learned the Bible Study's information. I was told it took place in such and such building on Tuesdays. It had already happened that week, which was fine because I could go the next week. I was excited! Finally! A chance to be with pears, make friends, and learn about God!

The next week came and, well. . . .

I got cold feet and kind-of-sort-of didn't go. But I said I'd go next week! I promised!
So, the following Tuesday I fought down my nervousness and drove to the college. I fumbled my way through the college building I had been directed to, climbed some stares, turned a corner, and looked into the Bible Study room. It was empty. No one was there. Well, I am early, I guess, I thought. I sat down outside the door and waited.
And waited.
And waited.

For what seemed like forever (more like ten minuets) I sat there. No one came. No one walked by. No one was there. I heaved a sigh, my shoulders sagged in defeat, as I stood and made my way home. Before I walked out of the building, I saw a poster for a free play the college's drama club was putting on. The final performance was on Wednesday, the next day, and I had nothing planned for that evening.

"Go to the play," I heard God say.

Okay, cool! I thought. I love plays and I love the word free! I took a picture of the poster and as I drove home I wondered why God wanted me to go to the play. I felt like I was on a treasure hunt and following one clue after another.

The next day my mom, dad, and I went to the play. It was amusing and something new. During intermission, the three of us walked around the auditorium and stretched our legs. As we moved about, we noticed a group of people standing near by. Some friends stood among the strangers and we walked over to say hallo. They were happy to see us and and asked what we were doing. We told them about the play and returned the question. They said they had a Bible Study every Wednesday night at the college. My eyes widened as I stared at my friend. "You're the Bible Study I was looking for!" I couldn't believe it! They said the web page, which is where I got my info, was incorrect and invited me to come next week. I said I most certainly would!
Amazing! Isn't God so awesome! Let's think about this, shall we?

If I didn't get cold feet, I wouldn't have seen the play's poster because it wasn't up yet. If I didn't see the play's poster, I wouldn't have gone to the play. If I wouldn't have gone to the play, I wouldn't have seen my friends. If I wouldn't have seen my friends, I wouldn't have learned the correct information about the Bible Study. If I wouldn't have learned the correct info, I would still think the study took place on Tuesdays and, yet again, go to the study on the wrong day.

And God knew all that would happen. He knew and took steps to insure I would get the correct information and go to the study. He knew how important going is to me and decided to help.

Isn't He wonderful? I'm so blessed to have Him in my life!
He makes the best treasure hunts!     

My Ego Monster Made Me Fall

I am full of it sometimes.I like to pretend that I'm not, but. . . .
Everyone knows how that goes.
Not to long ago, I was reminded my ego monster needs to stay in it's rightful place.
Some players on my roller derby team and I traveled to Seattle to take part in a two day derby camp, put on by Carmen Getsome. (I don't know if you are familiar with derby, but no one uses their real name. Everyone has nicknames so I don't know Carmen's real name.) It was a wonderful adventure to lean about derby! I remember walking into the polished concrete room where all the skating would take place. I stood at the doorway, in awe of the two hundred skaters who were putting on their pads and skates. I'm not going to lie, I was nervous too. Derby's rough and I knew without a doubt most of the girls at the camp could beat me up with no problem!
Anyways, when the camp started, I had to chose which class I wanted to attend. There were classes for beginners, intermediate, and advanced. I looked at the advanced classes available, and they looked so cool! But, I probably would get my face skated over if I went to an advanced classes. Hum . . . the beginner's class? No! I'm not that lame! I've been skating since I was eight! I can do the intermediate class, no sweet! (Do you see where this is going?)
So, I (very stupidly by the way) went to the intermediate class, which was taught by Shorty Ounce (a player on the Rat City Roller Girls team in Seattle). I looked at the beginner class and saw they were learning how turn from back to front on skates. Ha! I can do that in my sleep! Good thing I went to the intermediate class! The class started and I was ready to go with my snazzy new skates and my bright blue helmet. The twenty players and I skated around the track and everything was going just fine. Oh, yeah! I'm so cool! I thought. Good thing I'm not in the beginner's class! I hope their jealous at my awesomeness -  
"Ah!"

I fell.

And tripped another player. Okay, two other players.
I scrambled to my feet and tried not to get skated over by other players. A thought crossed my mind. Um . . . this might not be a good idea. 
Any doubt of being in over my head vanished thanks to the next drill.
When Shorty Ounce explained what we had to do, I almost croaked. Tomahawks. Tomahawks on skates look like this: skate really fast, turn backwards (either by stepping or jumping) and come to a stop on one's toes. Want to see it? Click here.
Now, just to be clear, at the time I had never even heard of a Tomahawk let alone knew how to do it. I couldn't do it. It wasn't like, oh maybe if I really focus and try hard. No! I could not do it!
So that's when I swallowed my stupid pride and skated over to the beginner's class. Do you know how bad it feels to leave a class of amazing skaters who do crazy stuff perfectly to go to the lowly beginners? Yeah. I wasn't happy.
Needless to say, I stayed in the beginner's class for the rest of the camp, which was the right thing to do. After my ego monster was subdued and put back in it's corner, the camp was so much fun! I learned a lot, got to know my teammate even better, and see Canadian money for the first time! (There were several Canadians there and their money is so colorful and shiny!)
So the next time your ego monster starts taking over, just remember me falling on my face and tripping two players as we all tried not to get plowed by twenty other skaters.
I know I will.     

God! I've Lost My Earring!

God cares about the little things. I know it doesn’t seem like it sometimes, but He does. I’m memorizing a verse right now from Psalms 37:23-24. We’ll focus on verse 23 for now which says “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Did you catch that? “He delights in every detail of their lives.” Delights! It doesn’t say God likes some parts of our lives and others parts He, well, He doesn’t care for them all that much. No! He delights in every detail of our lives!
So, God’s really interested in you, and not just in the big stuff; your job, family, social life, spiritual walk, and so on. He’s curious about the little things. Let me give you a personal example.
I had earrings on as I worked one day and, halfway through my shift, I realized one had slipped off. I know in the grand scope of life, an earring is not important at all, but I had just bought it and really wanted it back! I began to get upset, but right before my face turned red, I remembered God could see my lost earring.
“Okay, God,” I said. “You see it. Can you show me where it is? Thanks. I really want it back, please.” Don’t think I treat God like Aladdin’s magic lamp that I rub when I need my wishes to come true. But . . . He’s my Daddy who created the universe and if He wants to, He can point out a simple piece of jewelry with no problem.
Right as my prayer left my lips I heard God. He gave me directions and I quickly followed them. As I headed where God instructed, something small and metallic caught my eye. I looked down and, low and behold! There was my lost earring at the perfect angle as to catch some light, shine, and get my attention. It was a great moment between God and I. (I don’t look for stuff anymore for two reasons: the story I just told, and I hate looking for things! Now I just ask God to give back what I lost. Usually, the item turns up. You should try it!)
I have buckets of stories where God cared about the unimportant details of me and my family’s lives and helped out. I needed black pants and black shoes for work. He showed me some at a secondhand store. Mom wanted a new dining room table and chairs. That evening, some friends said they didn’t want their dining room set and was willing to give it to us. I wanted to play roller derby. Three years later, I am. My little sister wanted a free, male, black lab. He gave her a free, male, black half lab half border collie.
The next time you lose something, I double-dog dare you to ask God to show you where it is. Don’t forget to believe. You’ve got to believe He’ll show you where it’s at. And if He doesn’t . . . well, He’s probably teaching you patience or something “fun” like that.
God cares. Not just about your income, health, education, etc. (which are all very important). He cares about the little stuff. The things no one but you would ever consider as important. He delights in such details (Psalms 37:23b)!
   

Hold His Hand

They come to hunt, to kill

To take any soul they will

No remorse or mercy found

As they hunt on, like a bloodhound

Laugh at sorrow, smile at blood

Closing in like a black watery flood

So vicious and unseen

Only One can intervene

They attack me day and night

Closing me in, shutting out the light

I fell, tears filled my eyes

Thinking no one could hear my cries

Then I heard a voice above the gloom

Saying I thought I destined for a tomb

“You lost faith in yourself

Darkness’ greatest wealth

I trust you will overcome

The bloody villains and scum

But you don’t

And say you won’t

Win the time-long war

Winning so much more

Why don’t you see

There is faith in Me

I hold the oceans like a drop

I spin the planets like a top

I paint the oh so dazzling sky

And step over mountains so high

I see the now, then, and will be

And I have always lived eternally

"Why say you have no hope to win

And are covered with stains and sin

I am bigger than all of you

And what they say is not true

I have given you victory in My hand

Please have the will to fight and stand.”

They screamed He lies

They swarmed like flies

But I saw the love in His eye

And knew I had to do more than cry

I quickly reached out and took His hand

They pulled me down, daring me to stand

I felt fears

And cold tears

But I had to stand by His side

For I am His joy and pride

I kicked one

Stabbed a ton

Staggered, screamed,

Hit and leaned

They tried their best to hold me down

With strong ropes against the ground

But all in vane

Then quickly pain

Filled their dark hearts

Crashing all apart

They ran off every which way

Wishing He never did stay

For He forced them asunder

With power like thunder

He took my hand

And helped me stand

He kissed my head

Smiled lovingly and said

“Follow Me

To the sea

And the world beyond

The childhood pond

Hold My hand

So you can stand

I will set you free

It’s a gift, just ask Me”

I smiled and cried

As I stood at His side

Gladness filled my once dark heart

Knowing a new journey would start

And so I could stand

Holding onto His hand

But sometimes I let go

And fell to and fro

They would come for me

Like a hornet and bee

Always around

Not a sound

But when He was there

They hid with great care

So He held my hand

Across the burning sand

Over mountains souring

And icy rain pouring

He never left my side

Even at the highest tide

And He found faith in me

So I could live correctly

And I am able to strongly sand

Because I hold His nail-scared hand

Master's Touch

A blank page, so full of potential

So venerable to the master’s touch and desire

Empty, limitless, it has no name

Or face until the pen

Leaves its mark

A simple line, an opening word;

Giving light to the plane white page

And filling it whole

It obeys my bidding

Creating emotions with each stroke

Careful now

Let the pen go

Unleash the hidden treasures within your heart

Release and see what you have made,

On a blank

Snowy

Page

Strange Beginnings

I have been told may times to write a blog, but I never have.Why? Because, honestly, I didn't know what a blog was. Are they about people’s random ideas? Is it their opinions? What happens in the writer’s life? Why would I write about that? My life isn't interesting or something. 

Recently I took a step back and looked at my life objectively.

Well, I thought, I live in a trailer in my dad’s water well drilling shop (Earth and Water Works. I’m so proud of him!). Heavy machinery, tools, and grease are everywhere! I was born and raised in Eastern Oregon (Hick central if you must know. A place where the hub of life is the local Walmart, where people don’t freak out if someone’s caring a gun down the street, and tractors drive down the road without people looking twice. Oh, and a cougar was found  under a woman’s trailer in town.) I make pizzas for a living. I help out at my church’s middle school group. (Crazy, wonderful kids!) I am not going to college even though I graduated high school in 2012. I published a book in 2011 ("The Day the Devil Smiled". (Check it out at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Xlibirs!) And I'm on a roller derby team. Hum . . . maybe I’ll have something interesting to share. I got to begin somewhere, so let's begin somewhere strange.

Life is REALLY odd right now, so I thought I'd share it with you! 

You will be entertained by my daily activities, for you, nor I, never know what will happen next. You will enjoy the short stories and poems I want to share with you. We'll have a good time together.
Let the fun begin!