a time for mourning

Isn't it interesting that the same thing can happen whether or not you plan it, which also determines one's reaction. Take, for instance a chair being pulled out from under someone. As a common prank, this action cause hysterical laughter and enjoyment. But say someone pulls out a rolling chair to sit on and due to the linoleum floor, the chair keeps rolling as the person sits down. As the person inevitably falls to the floor, the reaction of concern and a feeling of heart dropping are the only reactions. It's interesting that the same situation can cause opposite reactions depending on if it was planned or not.
based on true life experiences witnessed.

the previous has nothing to do with the following. thanks for reading.

A time for everything, an interesting thought that has been popping up lately for me. Sometimes I wonder if times are getting worse or if I'm just becoming more aware of constant world turmoil. Surely there are shifts of disasters, war, and peace, for we see the times of major wars and think "now isn't so bad". At the same rate we turn on the news and hear about whole country economies crashing, people protesting persecution, and the current hurricane that's about to destroy another major city in one sweep.

I wonder what would happen if everyone prayed for wisdom and expected God's will, not their own to prevail. How would things change? Where would this world be? Would the leaders lead us a different avenue? Would people recognize unexpected changes meant for the betterment to be positive and support them? I think too often we get lost in our own agenda that we miss God's will completely.

Back to a time for everything. I'm reminded that life cannot always be happy, for there is a time for sorrow as well. Superchick writes about "beauty from pain", and I find it interesting that even in sorrow, joy can be found (or maybe it's simply peace, but that can be described as a form of joy). Through a vulnerable conversation, a deeper understanding can come about. Through a deep cut to find the infection, healing can happen. Through being turned down at one job interview, another job much more suitable can come along. As a person dies, you realize how precious life is and what really matters in life. Through any experience you are able to grow and better deal with the next experience that comes.

Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything

¹ There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Through any experience you are able to grow and better deal with the next experience that comes. We aren't meant to control every action this world brings, we are meant to react and move from there.

Galatians 5

Life by the Spirit

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.


We aren't meant to control every action this world brings, we are meant to react and move from there. When times are sorrowful, we are more readily able to realize this life is precious and each moment is a moment to love and commune with others. Though we don't fully understand the purpose of the events, we seek God's will over our own and once again focus on implementing a meaningful life to move forward.

1 Corinthians 13
¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


There is a time for everything; give thanks for simply that. Remain in faith, hope, and love, and let God take care of the rest.

happy thanksgiving.

Waiting for Tomorrow - Mandisa

Maybe tomorrow I'll start over, maybe tomorrow I will finally change my ways
Said the same thing yesterday...
Don't know why I'm so afraid to let you in, to let you win
To let you have all of me

I can't live my whole life wasting all the grace that I know you've given
Cause you made me for so much more than sitting on the sidelines
I don't wanna look back and wonder if good enough could have been better
Every day's a day that's borrowed; so why am I waiting for tomorrow?
Why am I waiting for tomorrow?

Maybe today I'll start believing that your mercy really is as real as you say it is
It doesn't matter who I used to be, it only matters that I've been set free;
You rescued me, you're changing me
Jesus take everything

I can't live my whole life wasting all the grace that I know you've given
Cause you made me for so much more than sitting on the sidelines
I don't wanna look back and wonder if good enough could have been better
Every day's a day that's borrowed; so why am I waiting for tomorrow?
Why am I waiting for tomorrow?


Some people are waiting for tomorrow because they are living their lives in the past—regretting things they’ve done. Wishing they could change themselves. Feeling stuck with what has happened. Missing what use to be. Wishing they were still back doing ___. Wondering how time flew so fast. Hoping tomorrow things will be better than the past.

Other people are waiting for tomorrow because they live in the future—planning, preparing, dreaming what could be. Getting caught up on failures because it makes the future somehow harder to obtain. Changing and rethinking how to make things better...


It’s sadly common in Pittsburgh to see people breaking traffic laws. Yesterday I saw someone pop over in the bike lane to speed past and hop in front of the line of traffic. The thing is, this truck came upon red lights and we all kept catching up to it. So as great of a plan this truck had, the truck didn’t get anywhere faster than the rest of us.


As for me, I am a future-thinking person. It comes so naturally to me; I am constantly planning and waiting for tomorrow, as Mandisa sings about. The challenge is staying in traffic and enjoying the present. Too many times I find myself speeding ahead in planning only to hit red lights and see I am still in the present with everyone else—not going anywhere faster...

The thing about truly living in the present is you can’t focus on planning nor can you focus on looking back. The focus must be first on being your true self in the present and trusting in God’s grace and mercy. Because isn't the point to fit into God’s will, not fit God into mine?


Maybe today I'll start believing that your mercy really is as real as you say it is
It doesn't matter who I used to be it only matters that I've been set free;
You rescued me, you're changing me
Jesus take everything

I can't live my whole life wasting all the grace that I know you've given
Cause you made me for so much more than sitting on the sidelines
I don't wanna look back and wonder if good enough could have been better
Every day's a day that's borrowed; so why am I waiting for tomorrow?
Why am I waiting for tomorrow?

Oh I'm making this my moment now
To grab the hand that's reaching down
To save me, oh you save me...
So why am I waiting for tomorrow?