Run in the rain.

   

I recently received an email from my grandpa, the contents of which are in this post.  Its a short little story about life, faith, memories, and running in the rain.  It challenged me and made me smile, I hope it does the same for you.

     

Email story:

"A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in WalMart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.
        It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the WalMart.

        We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world.  Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

        Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, 'Mom let's run through the rain,' she said.

        'What?' Mom asked.

        'Let's run through the rain!' She repeated.

        'No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mom replied.

        This young child waited a minute and repeated: 'Mom, let's run through the rain..'

        'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mom said.

        'No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning,' the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

        'This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?'

        'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ' If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! ' '

        The entire crowd stopped dead silent.. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain.. We all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.
        Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

        'Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,' Mom said.

        Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked.
        They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran.  I got wet.  I needed washing.

        Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday.  To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

        I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN."

Contained

Here goes, the first of my new biweekly posting schedule.  After missing two full months of posts I felt it was time to step up my consistency game.  It'll be tough some weeks I'm sure, but as an artist I've found that when I only create upon inspiration it's much easier to fall into creative slumps, and not as much gets accomplished.  So by putting my creating on a schedule I always have projects going, and if the inspiration for one runs out I can rotate between the other projects and always be producing something.  Summarized, it's like putting your creativity and mind in a box to work and think outside of.  Having deadlines for yourself help as well.

Anyway, speaking of a box that brings us to this weeks topic.  I heard a very challenging message this past week and it caused a shift in me.

In the message the minister talks about how the church is in a battle.  The enemy is the god of this world, the angel whom The Lord cast down from heaven.  He talked about how the devil doesn't necessarily want to win the battle, in fact he knows he wont win so his main goal is to contain the church.  This is the point that really challenged me.  I have the revelation of the Truth and I have the opportunity nearly everyday to share it, but something inside many times contains me.

The day after listening to themessage I went to get my hair cut.  As I was in the chair something clicked inside of me.  "I have the undivided attention of this lady, why am I not trying to minister to her?", I thought.  The usual small talk had taken place right after she began, but like many times before in my selfishness and one-track mind of getting my hair cut and getting on my way, I almost missed the opportunity.  I was almost contained.  Once I had this realization God gave me a boldness to speak, and in just a few minutes the emotionally closed off, probably also one-track minded, lady gained an outwardly apparent joy and life!  It was the joy of The Lord I'm sure, for I know on my own what took place couldn't have happened.

Our conversation wasn't spiritual, but The Spirit was at work.

Please listen to the message that I referenced -   http://archive.ourlifechurch.org/2014/05/20140504-MBerglund-TheStranger.mp3. It's only 40 minutes.  You will be glad you did.

I hope this encourags you and challenges you to examine and see if you're being contained.

  -JCHIV

5 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Time.

I'm back!  Unfortunatly I didn't come through the last two months with posts, I'm going to make it up though by going to a biweekly post.  Consistancy is something a majority of the world lacks in, and I don't want this blog to be part of the majority; oppositely, a blog that you can count on to be consistent AND valuable.

Over the past few months I haven't not had anything to say, had a lot to say actually.  March my main pondering was seasons.  Winter was finally ending, though the next month I was snowed on in Missouri, and I was entering a new season by starting another year of life.  I had many thoughts on the subject, a lot of notes, and study time in preperation to write.  But when I went to write I just had no flow of words, hence the reason for no post that month.

Then, April I had the privilege of spending the month in Missouri where I sat under much great teaching, during which I scribbled notes frivolously planning to have much material to go back over and eventualy blog about.  Then, an unfortunate mishap occured and the notebook I used all month was lost..

Anyway, here we are in the month of May!  As always it's hard to beleive how quickly time flies.  With the hands on the clock seeming to go faster and the days slipping by, it is my hope that we are making the most out of the seconds, minutes, and hours.  In no way am I an expert, but I want to share 5 ways to get the most out of your time. 

 1.  Keep A Day Planner.  Did I mention none of these methods are prophetic?  They're clearly not, but they are simple, applicable, and will help you manage time.  With each of these ways there's no harm in getting overly specific.  For example: in your day planner you can write "Get up at X o'clock.  Get dressed.  Eat a bowl of Capitan Crunch".  By being so specific, you make the most of the minutes.  You can also allot a set amount of time to each objective.

2.  Make Lists.  When you have some free time you wont waste it by having a list of things to refer to.  It can be a to-do list, those are always good when actually refered back to, or it can be a list of things you want to do.  It's frustrating when you get excited about free time, then when it comes you have nothing to do and you're bored again.

3.  Get Up Early (earlier).  The excuse, "I'm not a morning person", would be true for everyone if no one got up early!  Start getting up early and make yourself a morning person; only you can change yourself.  The wisest pepole I look up to get up early.  Most seniors I know, many of who are those wise people, get up early.  It's not easy, I'm not there, but there is something about early mornings that are always benificial.

4.  A Productive Mindset.  None of the first three suggestions will be of much, if any, help without a productive mindset.  Productive's simpliest meaning is:  producing.  If we aren't producing anything we aren't being productive.  Think productive!  It starts with think; produce the thought and you're already well on your way.

5.  1-4.  By combining the four the things you can accomplish are endless!

If you actually take any of this advice, then let me know how it goes.  I'd be overjoyed to hear it helps make you more successful.

Thank YOU for reading!

Side note, check out my new logo in the bottom right corner of the header photo.

- JCH IV

Pray Always