UNDER PRESSURE

Recently, I’ve had some things that have tested my heart. Things that made me feel like a pressure cooker ready to explode. Unfortunately, someone didn’t loosen the steam valve and all that chaos under pressure – exploded. That someone was ME!

Now, I don’t know if you’re familiar with or have ever cooked with a pressure cooker. I, personally, have never cooked with a pressure cooker but grew up with my mom cooking with them so I understand how they work.

It’s a different type of pot. When you lock the lid in place there is a rubber seal that becomes the barrier holding the pressure built from steam between the pot and the lid. On top of the lid there is a little pressure valve that needs to be adjusted to allow the steam to release. Depending on what’s cooking the speed of the steam being released is mark by a tick…tick…tick…rattle sound. However, if you don’t loosen that tiny valve on top that pressure will build inside and at some point release itself by LITERALLY by blowing the lid off the pot! The lid just isn’t capable of holding all that pressure – it builds and just becomes too much for the pot and lid to contain.

There were a lot of circumstances that I was “cooking in my pressure cooker.” Unlike one BIG thing that might cause you to blow; there were several things happening at the same time:

            *someone hurt their back

           *insurance didn’t cover some medical expenses

*serious health issues with a dear friend – with no insurance. So why was I fretting over a minor bill my insurance didn’t cover?

*…and the list goes on…

Scripture tells us in James 1:2-4… Consider it pure joy, brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds. Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Although, I “thought” I was finding joy during trials and circumstances, deep within I wasn’t releasing my troubles or pressures to God.

That pot and lid….resemble our body and mind.

The contents within the pot….resemble every day “life” circumstances.

The pressure….resembles the tension building inside.

The valve….resembles our relationship with God.

If we don’t have that open relationship the contents will create the pressure and the pressure will become so unbearable we explode.

As flesh we are not created to control, nor handle, all that pressure. You’ve heard the day old saying “Don’t sweat the small stuff” …well, DON’T! 

All that small stuff will build inside and at some point blow the lid off.

I know you’ve heard the saying…  SHE HAS FLIPPED HER LID!

I just wonder…what did you envision when you hear that statement? I always envisioned a pressure cooker exploding.

Every person’s pressures are different.

Every person handles pressure differently.

But, God wants us to call on Him to help us during these trials.

He promises if we seek Him we will find Him.

He tells us to have the faith of the tiniest of seeds. The Mustard Seed.

Matthew 17:20…  He said, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

Proverbs 3:5-6…  Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t rely on your own understand. Seek Him in all you do and He will lead your path.

2 Chronicles 15:2…  The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with Him! Whenever you seek Him, you will find Him. If you abandon Him, He will abandon you.

So, what’s cooking in your pot?

Did you remember to open the valve?

God’s waiting to hear your…tick…tick…tick…rattle.

Blessings,

Bo

1/18/2014

The Beauty of A Bridge

            I love old bridges!        

   

If they could talk, I wonder what kind of stories they could or would tell. How much fishing has been done off the side of this bridge? How many people have walked its length? How many people have stood on it and had a long passionate kiss?

I encountered this bridge in August 2013. Its beauty mesmerized me and I was able to capture it on my camera. One lane. High rails. Complete protection during the crossing over the water that flowed beneath. And how could I forget the smell of the trees surrounding it? That calming aroma of wilderness that makes you inhale ever so slowly. If you have ever come upon an old bridge like this I know you know exactly what I’m describing.

This picture is extremely comforting to me. It reminds me that no matter how narrow the road to my travels may be; God is sturdy. He is the strength and the protection that guides me along my path.

It’s encouraging to know I can reach what awaits me at the other end of that bridge. My hopes and dreams are protected by a foundation that stands firm. A foundation that is filled with stories and promises that will deliver me at the end of my journey to a miraculous place.

God is my foundation of strength and protection.

The Bible is filled with the stories and promises.

Heaven is the miraculous place in which I will arrive at the end of my journey.

How blessed I was at the sight and beauty of this particular bridge. I pray you also find comfort in the picture captured through my lens.

Blessings,

Bo

01/16/2014

VIEW ON LIFE

Sometimes I will come across something that just impacts my heart and simply blows my mind. What you are about to read.... I DID NOT WRITE!!! I don't know what the title to this is but I have titled it for the blog "VIEW ON LIFE."
I can only pray my belief in and my love for Christ could be seen as clear as "A Christian's View on Life" to those who read and share my blog.

It's all about perspective!

Blessings,

Bo

(Author Unknown)

AN ATHEIST’S VIEW ON LIFE

I will live my life according to these beliefs

God does not exist

It is just foolish to think

That there is a God with a cosmic plan

That an all-powerful God brings redemption to the pain and suffering in the world

Is a comforting thought however

It

Is only wishful thinking

People can do as they please without eternal consequences

The idea that

I am deserving of hell

Because of sin

Is a lie meant to make me a slave to those in power

“The more you have, the happier you’ll be”

Our existence has no grand meaning or purpose

In a world with no God

There is freedom to be who I want to be

But with God

Everything is fine

It’s ridiculous to think

I’m lost and in need of saving

A CHRISTIAN’S VIEW ON LIFE

(read this bottom to top)

(Author Unknown)

LIFE CHANGING CHALLENGES

It’s the beginning of a new year. Everyone’s making resolutions on what they are going to do better. Eat healthier, go the gym, read more, drink less and so on. I hate resolutions because I always fail. Always! I can’t remember one thing from any year that I said I was going to start out doing and I completed or succeeded all the way to the end of that year. HA!

I was talking with Greg, my trainer. He said that at the beginning of a new year gym memberships more than quadruple!! But, by mid February more than a 1/3 of the new members quit. Some pay month to month, but many pay for an entire year upfront. That’s a lot of $$$$$! Cha-ching.

                                                   That’s just crazy to me. Completely and totally crazy!

All resolutions are challenges. But some can be…. life changing!

I think where I failed in the years past was lack of faith.

I didn’t truly believe I could achieve it in the beginning. And with that, I knew deep down it wasn’t going to happen.

Isn’t it something how we sell ourselves short right off the bat?

But let someone else say it about us and… we get furious!!

I have a lot of things swirling around up in my pretty little head. Things that I want to do. I won’t call the resolutions but life changing challenges. The more I think about what challenges I want to conquer I realize what I want to change the most is my relationships. I want to be a better mother, a better sister, a better daughter, a better friend… I want to love more, smile more, give more…believe more!

And, I know at the core of my being what it will take to make this life change. I have to grow my relationship with God. I need to put every ounce of energy into seeking Him.

…Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it…I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.” -Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

I need to be an individual F.R.O.G.      (Fully Relying On God)

Trust in God with all your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do; everywhere you go. He will be the One to keep you on track. Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG)

Chaos! That’s what happens when I try to figure everything out on my own. Total and complete chaos. I don’t know about you but, I could sure use less of that!!

So, as I begin this life changing challenge of growing my relationship with God I not only invite you to join me but, I give you permission to ask me how I’m doing. Hopefully you won’t need to ask. Hopefully you’ll be able to see that I am a better mother, a better sister, a better daughter, and better friend.

I can only pray that you can see and experience that I love more, smile more, give more …and completely believe…

with God….all things are possible!!!  Matt. 19:26 (NLT)

Happy New Year!

Blessings,

Bo

1/9/2014

ONE FLAW IN WOMEN

ONE FLAW IN WOMEN

Author Unknown

Women have strengths that amaze men……

They bare hardships and they carry burdens; but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in…

They stand up to injustice.

They don’t take “no” for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends win awards.

They are happy when they hear about a birth or wedding.

Their heart breaks when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member; yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They’ll drive, fly, walk, run or email you to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their family and friends.

Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

However, if there is one flaw in women, it is……

                                                                                                They forget their worth.

WHITE as SNOW

As I pull back the curtain there lays a winter wonderland right outside my window. A masterpiece of bright white powder. There are no animal paw prints. No human footsteps. Just a blanket of white. Everywhere. Massive quantities of white, wet powder. Snow!

As I watch, the flakes seem like rain falling from the sky. As though there is a pillow fight amongst the angels. The scene I see is amazing. There are not even words that can truly describe it. It’s everywhere. On the ground, bunching on the limbs of the trees, through the woods, it is an endless picture of white. And on top of the snow seems to be a sparkly residue glittering and dancing for my entertainment. Frost!

It’s beautiful. It makes me feel as though God has sent me a personal masterpiece of a message saying…you are pure. You are white as snow. Nothing can stain you. You are my sparkling child. You shall dance with grace.

Psalm 147:16 says….He sends snow white as wool; He scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.

Nothing can stain me. Not even my sins. Because His promise is to wash away sin. He died for MY sins. For YOUR sins. And He sends this beautiful reminder of the pure white snow.

Yet, we manipulate the snow. Not giving one thought of the disturbance we bring to it’s beauty. Sin is the manipulation. We trample it. We disrupt the glorious white picture that God has created for us. We go day in and day out manipulating the masterpiece until is it stained. No longer sparkling white and dancing with glitter. But now it’s grimey, dirty, and slushy looking. We manipulate it so we can make our way through the treacherous path with comfort…without ever looking up and giving praise. We no longer care to look at the sight of the once pure scene because, the beauty is gone. Sin overtook the picture perfect view.

Yet, there is still hope. Hope that washes away our sin.

Psalm 51:7

Purify me of my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Although we lost sight of the beauty that lies within, God has not. We manipulated the masterpiece. Yet, He continues to promise to make us pure. He never fails us.

Isaiah 1:18

“Come now let’s settle this,” says the Lord.” Though your sins are like scarlet I will wash them white as snow. Though they are red like crimson; I will make them white like wool.”

How can we deny such a precious gift of love? No other love is greater than the love of our Heavenly Father and His promises. There is no other God that can wash away our sin and make us pure as the white snow.

So, my flesh shall ask for the forgiveness of my sins as I await the beauty of another arriving snowfall. Another beautiful sign, from God, that I can be made pure.

I deserve nothing. As I fall into the realm of manipulation, time and time again.

Blessings,

Bo

01/05/2013

Alivia

The tiniest are the weakest; yet… the strongest.

God’s, precious, bundles of joy. The tiny humans that steal our hearts.

They know nothing of life but to fight.

They fight in the womb.

Fighting for space. Stretching and kicking.

They fight for their first breath. That gasping breath. That joyful sound that happens the moment when all adults hold their breath. The cry.

They fight until they are swaddled minutes after they enter the world. Giving them a secure surrounding as they nestle, close to your heart.

Should that child fall ill…we as parents again stop breathing.

And, we pray.

Yet we lose sight of who is truly the mighty physician. The sole creator. Our Heavenly Father who chose us to protect the weakest.

A child though tiny and weak, unable to defend themselves, is the strongest. A fighter. A warrior.

Without ever being able to speak a word….. They conquer.

And when we as parents say, “I believe Lord. Help me with my unbelief.” As a father said in Matthew 9:24. God hears.

He hears our cries. Our pleas. Our prayers.

The tiniest are the weakest; yet…..the strongest.

Alivia, the fighter!

Blessings,

Bo

01/05/2014