Thursday, January 11, 2007

It happened again...

Sometimes life sucks. Something happens, something like (let's say) losing a parent. And life just sucks. But you move on and you have support and you have God and you think things are going again. And then you hear the horrible news - someone else has lost a parent. I guy I graduated lost his mother this past week. She had the flu which turned into double pneumonia. Both her kidneys failed and then her heart gave out. The funeral is tomorrow. I've been thinking the past couple days about the last days that I spent with my father, not the last days of his life but the last days that he was really my dad. Sometimes life sucks for you, and sometimes you can't do anything about it. Sometimes life sucks for others, and then you really can't do anything about it. And that makes life suck.

Please be praying for Daniel, his sister Ashley and brother William as well as their father. This is going to be a tough time for them; Daniel lives away from home at school and William is in the Marines, Ashley goes to high school at Biggs. They need all the prayer they can get - please pray.

Sorrowfully - Skippy

Sunday, January 07, 2007

I got it!!! Remember how I told you that I had something deep to post, but I forgot? Well, I remembered!!! Or, more accurately, I was reminded. I was driving this morning and I heard this song again on the radio, this is what I wanted to post on.

The title of the song is “If you’re going through hell”, Rodney Atkins sings it, and its pretty popular right now. The title comes from Winston Churchill who said “If you are going through hell, keep going.” (Found that online, thank you DaveShearon.) Here’s the chorus:

If you're going through hell
Keep on going, Don't slow down
If you're scared, don't show it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you're there

If you’re going through hell
Keep on moving, Face that fire
Walk right through it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you’re there.

The question of whether or not you could get out before the devil knows you’re there is debatable; however it has no bearing on the purpose of this post.

The purpose here is to agree with the Winston Churchill – if you’re going through hell, keep going. Recently I’ve been feelin kinda down and not really looking forward to anything. And I’ve heard this song before, but yesterday on the way home from Redding I actually listened to it. There are times, lots of times, when I feel like throwing the towel in and throwing my hands up and quitting. Quitting everything – school, work, friends, family, everything. While I have yet to do that, the desire is often there and is often strong. I find that its easier to accomplish something when I don’t have to slow down and think about it. When I can just push through: eyes on the prize, focused on the goal, I can make it.

The point? If you are going through hell on earth right now, keep going. Don’t slow down because when you slow down you start to feel sorry for yourself and you start to get dragged down. Just keep going, focus on Christ and never shift that focus. I once heard a talk on Peter walking on water, he was doing just fine until “seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”” (Matt 14:30 NASB) Peter w as walking on water, but when he took his eyes off Jesus to look around him (no doubt in awe of the experience) he first became frightened, and then began to sink.

And here’s some more food for thought about the second section of the chorus – “face that fire, walk right through it”. Sound like anyone you know? How about Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah? (That’s Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.) They faced the fire, and walk right out of it. Why? Because of the angle of the Lord. How? Because they were focused on God.

If you’re going through hell, keep going. Don’t slow down. Face that fire, walk right through it. Keep your eyes on Christ.

Friday, January 05, 2007

Well, nothin much new to report. Went up to Redding yesterday to work a game. Came back to Biggs today with Allison.

Honestly, other than that there's not much to say.
I had something deep to post, I thought of it on the way home today, but then I forgot it, and so now I can't share it, sorry.

Classes start next week, that might be interesting.

Leaving now,
Natasha