Looking for rainbows…

The title of the blog may paint a picture in you mind of someone skipping through a field, oh so, optimistically, looking for rainbows. Well I am not skipping, for one, I am 33 years old, and someone might have me committed. But I am looking for rainbows in this world.

It was sprinkling while I was driving to work this morning. But the sun was shining. So of course I started looking at the sky for a rainbow. (I promise I was careful, I kept my eyes on the road as well) This reminded that no matter what happen in life we can always look up to see something beautiful. No matter how the rain falls in the storms of life and we think that the sky is dark and filled with clouds there is a Light that we can look to! Jesus is that light! Will our situation immediately change when we look to him? Ummm, that has not been my experience. But what does change is my perspective. I can see past the storm, and have a hope of what is to come.

I am not in the middle of a storm right now. My life is going along pretty smooth. But I look around me and I see friends whose lives are simply in turmoil. It breaks my heart. I know if they simply look to Jesus and His word that they would have all the answers that they need. Ephesians 6:12 says: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” This is a verse that I remind myself of daily, it reminds me that my focus is to be on the Lord. When the “cruddy” circumstances and conflicts happen in life, it diverts our focus. When my “needs” (or what I think are needs but are actually wants) are not being met, when I don’t feel “warm and fuzzy” all over, where does my focus go? To ME! What good does that do?

I truly want to strive to live everyday with my focus on the Lord, and what he want me to do. I do not want to live with my head in the clouds where I do not see the needs of people around me. I want to live my life to the fullest, with eyes to see the hurts of others, so I can come along side of them and point them toward the hope that I have.

Here are the words to a song that I have been listening to a lot lately...

Mighty to Save

Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Savior;
The Hope of nations.

Savior, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.

My Savior, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...

Wonderful Weekend!

I just enjoyed a 4 day weekend! I did not go out of town or anything like that, but this weekend was a true pleasure! Thursday I worked for about 2 hours, then went home and got a lot accomplished. I did learn one thing though… If I did not have a day job I think I would have to have cable! There is nothing on network TV worth watching during the day. I have to admit that I had to watch Maury to see if Tyrell was really the father of Latisha’s baby! Oh, my word girl! (Just so you know I am being sarcastic!)
And, then of course no Thursday night is complete without tacos! Yumo!

Friday was a busy day. I attended the Missouri Baptist VBS training so I will be able to lead workshops for the Greene County Baptist Association. It was a good time and I gathered a lot of information that will be very useful. I tried to take a nap Friday night with no luck. My church had a lock-in that night. It started at 11:00 pm at Incredible Pizza. There, the night was filled with pizza, cinnamon rolls, skeeball, air hockey, and (for a few) Dance, Dance Revolution. (Yeah, I am too much of a white girl. I have no rhythm!) From there we drove back to church. I had three teenage boys in my car and it was quite entertaining to listen them sing with Taylor Swift. Good times….At the church the time consisted of silly games and broken eggs. Honestly it was a great lock-in. Everything was planned very well! I stayed at the church until 5:00. But it was not bedtime yet! I went home changed clothes and went to my BSF leaders meeting.

I made it to bed a little after 9:30 Saturday morning. I woke up around 3 and realized that I had talked to someone while I was asleep. (That is a strange feeling!) All I could remember is that I think I agreed to go to dinner with them that night. I picked up my cell phone and my question was answered. Yes, I had indeed spoken with someone. What all I said was still in question. I gave my friend a call and he said that I was rather funny. He had asked me how the lock-in went and I said “umm, I can’t think of the word”. He could have gotten me to agree to anything. I totally don’t remember anything from our conversation other than dinner (food is pretty important to me. ha)

Well, I did enjoy marvelous evening with a great friend. Dinner at Ocean Zen is always fabulous! Then we spent the rest of the evening laughing while watching a movie and talking. Lots of fun was had! I look back on that night fondly.:)

Well Sunday finished off my weekend. I had a kid ask me a question that I have been asked many times by students. Most of the time when I give the answer it is good enough for them. This time was a little different. During a transition time in Sunday School I had one of my fourth grade boys asked "Miss Carla, are you married?” I smiled and said “no”. Then he responded with another question, “what, so, you just never met anybody?” Hhmm… Well, back to the story of Elisha.

What a grand weekend! Not terribly eventful, but perfect for me. I love my life!