Thursday, March 31, 2016

Pinched to Priority

Recently, our toilet seat broke. It doesn't matter how or why it broke. There was a large crack across one side. In case you have not had the experience of sitting on a broken toilet seat, it can be unpleasant. Two uneven pieces of wood when sat upon may not be so bad. UNTIL....one tries to rise from said seat. We will leave it at an uncomfortable pinching occurs. OUCH!

It only takes a time (OK, or possibly 2, duh!) of being pinched before arrangements start to be made to fix the problem. I will confirm that for a short time, tape of the duct variety did come into play. Surprise? (not really if you know us well!)

I will confess that some of my thought processes do occur while in that same room said toilet is located. I started to ponder the paths of my procrastination and the lengths I will sometimes go to avoid dealing with life.

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Lessons from my toilet seat:
(THAT could be a new blog or book title! - not sure anyone would want to read it!)

It doesn't always matter how or why something isn't working. If it is not working enough, fix it or stop complaining.

When life becomes uncomfortable, change it or live with it. It is frequently a choice. Sometimes between the lesser of two evils, but still a choice.

There may be a temporary solution to the problem. Temporary solutions are not usually long-term fixes.

Sometimes we need to get in a bit of a pinch before an issue becomes a big enough priority to DO something about it.

Many times things that we think will take TOO long to deal with? In reality, take mere minutes in proportion to how long we would worry about it by NOT dealing with it.
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Drum roll please?!?!?!?!
One of the first things I did today? Buy a new toilet seat. Already installed. Problem solved.



Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Grace. Amazing!

Probably all of us by now have heard some form of the song, Amazing Grace. There are older hymn versions, newer hip versions, instrumentals, etc. No matter the form....that song gets to me every time.....usually tears are involved.

The word grace has been coming up a lot in my life. Maybe just because I seem more tuned into it lately.

From merriam-webster.com GRACE:
a : unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification
b : a virtue coming from God
c : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace

As Easter approaches, I think about grace. So undeserved. So valuable. Amazing grace, but also grace...amazing!

That someone would know all about me (even/especially the bad parts) and love me enough to stand in my place for the punishment I DESERVE is grace.

Wanting to avoid the suffering, but doing it anyway is grace.

Knowing truth and sharing it is grace.

Not always understanding the why, but struggling through doubts and unbelief is grace.
Matthew 27:50-54 (NIV) And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Have you ever been on the receiving end of someone not extending much grace or favor in a situation? Have you ever been on the giving end of not extending much grace or favor in a situation? What does grace look like to you?