♪ ✈ I'm in Miami, Trick ☼
02 May, 2015
Actually, I lied, I'm in Ft. Lauderdale... close enough. I love coming down here; I used to fly down all the time for swim meets growing up. I counted all the days I've been, and it actually adds up to more than a month! I definitely feel I know my way around (to an extent) and couldn't feel more comfortable here. You've got the sun in the sky, the warm breeze in the air, and the white sand in your toes. What more could ya need, right?
I came down for a 2-night quickie solo vacay. I checked out the Knox Seminary (to possibly get my masters degree) but decided (as of now!) I'm just gonna stay in good ol' Wisconsin for a while with the fam. Maybe I'll save up and buy a condo down here in the next few years, that'd be pretty sweet.
Here's a few pics I snapped so far: (more to come, babes!)
On days I'm traveling/crazy busy/don't have much time, I still try to take some time for God. Martin Luther once said, "I'm so busy today, I need to pray more than usual, three hours!" That's pretty intense... but it proves how prayer can actually make us much more efficient and productive because we'll feel at peace and we'll know our work will make a difference. Prayer makes us the best version of ourselves because we'll have a content mindset.
On busy days like today, sometimes I'll do something a little different. I'll go to the 'Random Bibleizer' website and have it choose a Bible chapter for me. I'll read it through and then write down how it pertains to my life. If God were talking directly to ME based off that chapter, what would He say? Here's an example:
I was assigned Haggai chapter 1. It's a book not many are super familiar with... it's from the Old Testament and not quoted often. But that's the beauty of this exercise, it can get you to check out scripture you otherwise wouldn't! Here's what it says, feel free to skim:
Haggai 1: A Call to Rebuild the Lord’s House
1 The Lord spoke his word through the prophet Haggai. He said, 2 “This is what the Lord of Armies says: These people say it’s not the right time to rebuild the house of the Lord.”
3 Then the Lord spoke his word through the prophet Haggai. He said, 4 “Is it time for you to live in your paneled houses while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, this is what the Lord of Armies says: Carefully consider your ways! 6 You planted a lot, but you harvested little. You eat, but you’re never full. You drink, but you’re still thirsty. You wear clothing, but you never have enough to keep you warm. You spend money as fast as you earn it. 7 This is what the Lord of Armies says: Carefully consider your ways!
8 “Go to the mountains, get lumber, and build the house. I will be pleased with it, and I will be honored,” declares the Lord.
9 “You expected a lot, but you received a little. When you bring something home, I blow it away. Why?” declares the Lord of Armies. “It’s because my house lies in ruins while each of you is busy working on your own house. 10 It is because of you that the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 I called for a drought on the land, the hills, and on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, and whatever the ground produces, on humans and animals, and on all your hard work.”
12 So, they obeyed the Lord their God. They also obeyed the words of the prophet Haggai because the Lord their God had sent him and because the people feared the Lord.
13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord who had received the Lord’s message, said to the people, “I am with you, declares the Lord.”
14 The Lord inspired them ⌊to rebuild his house⌋. So they began working on the house of the Lord of Armies, their God. 15 They began on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in Darius’ second year as king.
This is how I'd journal about it in terms of my life, as if God were speaking directly to me:
I can definitely see how this could and does apply to my life, God. I have a tendency of focusing on myself over you, chasing after my desires instead of following the plan you have laid out for me. I don't take the time I used to to be with you.... to pray, to read the Word, to listen. The more I go without you, the more hectic, rushed, and confusing my life gets. I want to give you my "first fruits," so to speak. I want to offer my life up to you so YOU can lead me where you can best use me. Instead of trying to impress my peers, I need to impress you. You're the one I'm spending eternity with, after all. I want to spend less time building my house, which'll be blown down soon anyhow, and spend more time building YOURS, which is eternal. I am like the dust, here today and gone tomorrow. You are forever, God. Please help me trust you. Help me "carefully consider my ways" like you warn in Haggai. When I plant, I harvest little. When you plant (through me!), I reep more than I could ever fathom. Just like Peter fishing: you told him to throw out his net, and it ripped from all the fish. Have your way with my life, God, and give me the strength to walk away from my house and run toward yours.
A short and sweet exercise. It took me no more than ten minutes, but it'll stay with me all day. Welp, off for some lunch. Enjoy the day, friends! & now, time for some Jack Johnson!
