One is silver and the other gold...

Do you remember the song "Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold." :) I think I learned that song when I was a Brownie (girl scout). ha ha


I was inspired today by many things, but this song is finally what got me to sit down and write.
Today has been filled with random memories from old friends.


My day started out with a message from a middle school friend reminiscing about Counting Crows and "the good old days".  


A song or a smell or a place can take me back to so many great memories. The moments that molded the very person that I am today. At the time it was just bike rides or skipping school or listening to Metallica or slow dancing in Ross Melvin's basement (hahaha) but it really did make me who I am today.


God bless you old friends! You were my everything!


Later in the afternoon I was approached by another long-time friend and we started reminiscing about senior scrap books and the hideous clothes we used to wear. LOL 
OMG there was NO fashion at Okemos High School back in 1995. At least not in my closet.

Exhibit A- Maroon Jeans

Exhibit B- Green Shorts & Red T-Shirt

If I could find the picture of me in a green velvet dress with white tights I would post it. I was a fashion fopaux of the 1990's. But who really cares.... they were some of the BEST days of my life. 

So much has happened since High School...since College...who am I kidding, since my 20's! I will be 31 next week and I can honestly say that I am one LUCKY GIRL with the friends I am have made along the way. Every single one of you (you know who you are) have painted a stroke on my canvas. You have pushed me to be better, do better, know better and live better. And for that I am forever grateful.

God has been so good to me!

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Others stay awhile, make footprints on our
hearts and we are never, ever the same.

Tsunami

I woke up this morning and started my day off with two things brown.

One- coffee
Two- dog poop. (unfortunately).

Chance has been pooping by the door in the middle of the night. My best guess is that it takes too much effort for her to bark and let me know. Poor old girl. She will be 15 years old in September.

So after doggy-poo duty I sat down with my cup of coffee and decided to catch up on last week's podcast from Northridge Church. SO glad that I did. Here is what I learned...

As individuals we are limited by our own capabilities. But when we step aside and let God into our lives nothing is impossible.

In life, we honestly believe that we have the capacity to ride out any storm. We know that we won't do it perfectly, but we will still try. We learn that we CAN make it through the everyday tough things...the long commute to work, juggling your families schedules, sickness, difficulties at work...

But somewhere along the way, every single one of us faces an obstacle, a storm, a Tsunami, a moment so large, so empowering that we realize we can't do it alone.

Every one's Tsunami will look different and be totally individual. It could be a lost job, loss of love, death, addiction...

It is in moments of desperation that we pray...that we turn to God...that we look up to the stars and say "God, I know we have not talked in a while, but I need you."

And sometimes our prayers are not answered the way WE want them to be answered, and we have to be okay with that. We have to have faith in His plan, His power, His will...

The truth is God's power is beyond our realm of understanding. It's called Faith. You might not be able to see His power, but you have to trust that it is working in your life.

And nothing is beyond God's ability to control so when you allow God into your life, Nothing is limited...nothing is impossible.

Most of us live like the world is more powerful than us. We live our lives in our own capacity. The consequence of this pattern is despair. We lose hope...we lose all site of the shore...

But we must remember, according to God, no person or situation is beyond Hope. No failure is beyond hope... No health issue is beyond hope... no addiction is beyond hope.

In order to receive God's power and all that He is capable of being in your life you have to:
1. Receive Christ
2. Admit you need him
3. Ask for help with the right motives.
(Stop making problems about YOU. Believe in power for His will, not yours.)

This lecture is just what I needed today. We are all guilty of making life "about us". If only I had this...if only he did that...if only...if only...if only. Living without the power of God is exhausting. After 30 years of running the "I can do it myself" marathon I am ready to hand the baton over to God.

Amen?

This is my version of Brad Powell's lecture. To view the real deal CLICK HERE

Time

~God does not operate in Time, he operates in Lessons.
As humans we want more time with the people that we love.
Instead we need to be grateful for how they impact us~

Bread in your Car

I was thinking about today's post in the shower and the first thing that came to mind was a funny story about "carrying bread (or granola bars) in your car".

Months ago I was driving through Detroit with a colleague (& friend) of mine. We were leaving a business meeting and headed back to the office. As we approached the on-ramp for "the lodge" a man was standing at the corner with a sign that said "Homeless and Hungry".

I said to my friend "roll down your window". She looked at me like I was crazy. In her defense there are stories all over the news about cars being hijacked or people reaching in cars to steal. We live in a desperate time and desperate city.

She said "Why?"
I said "We are going to give him your box of granola bars."

Still looking at me like I was a crazy person, she rolled down her window and ever so cautiously handed the homeless man 2 granola bars.

Window back up and we were on our way.

"Didn't that feel good?" I asked.
"Yeah" she said, "but now my granola bars are gone." (LOL)

I promised to buy her a new box (which I still owe her) but something tells me that next time she is in Detroit she might roll down the window a little less reluctantly...

I'm proud of you for "living on the edge HK":)

And so that brings me to a story about "traveling with bread" from this past weekend. I was driving on Orchard Lake Rd. listening to MPR and noticed a dog walking on the side of the road (of course I would notice this). He was way too close to traffic so I pulled into the next parking lot and called the dog over.

"Hey bud. Come here...cookie treats?".
That always works with my dog.

Think Think Alicia. What can I use to get the doggy away from the road?
Ah ha! There is left over pita bread in my car from an event!

So I opened the hatch and lured the dog over with pita bread.
It worked!
Not only that but she *loved* the bread

No tag, no collar.
uh oh.

I put the dog in my car and ran into the restaurant next door.
Ironically there was a policeman eating.
He offered to take the dog to the local shelter, to which my response was "No. Shelters are too quick to put dogs down. I will take her home".

(Kyle is gonna kill me)

So off we went. I called Kyle to tell him "I had a special surprise."

I decided to drive around a couple neighborhoods before I headed home to see if anyone was looking.
My new doggy friend had her head out the window, happy as can be.

We approached a woman walking and she shouted out "That's my dog!"
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujaaaaaaaah

And so this story has a happy ending...
Pita bread saved this doggy from a potential car accident.

Moral of the story is this...
Carry a box of granola bars of pita bread in your car. You never know who's life you could save or belly you could nourish.;-)

When it is Dark enough you can see the Stars...

A special friend gave me a book with this quote from Charles Austin Beard and it has stuck with me for the last couple of weeks. It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, age, race or gender...darkness creeps into all of our lives at some point.

The only way to fight the darkness is with light. Surrender our worries and anxieties to God every day. When we lose sight of the big picture look up and remember this little quote. Sometimes when we get lost in the darkness all we need is a little flashlight of hope...a friend to lean on...a mentor to give us a reality check...a new perspective. It is in the darkness that we learn the most. Our biggest obstacles are also our biggest opportunities to grow.

Francesca Battistelli tells it best in her new song "This is the Stuff" ...

I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed


This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

45 in a 35
Sirens and fines while I'm running behind
Whoa

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

 

Re-Purpose

This weekend has been all about "Re-purposing". I was sitting on the couch reading the Sunday Free Press and Home Improvement ideas distracted me to think "I really need to finish that old coffee table in our garage". And so I went online to look up ideas and found this really cool piece made by SaintRooster.com

I definitely have the Spring Fever Itch! I wonder if I can re-upholster our Chaise Lounge as well...;-p

Lives are being re-purposed and given new meaning this weekend as well. In a couple hours I am going to Tyler's baptism. A ritual of re-birth, cleansing and finding new purpose with God.

I went to a wedding shower yesterday and met my cousin's fiance for the first time. New love and possibilities are always refreshing to witness.

And in my life there is a lot of addiction. I was born into a family that is braided with addiction. It intertwines every facet of my family and it robs so many of a fulfilling life. My prayer for any one with an addiction is this....

You can set yourself free with God and everyday prayer. Re-purpose your life. Take a new direction. When the path divides, this time choose left instead of right. Trust there is a better life for you. Be honest with yourself. Visualize the life you dream of and take small steps to make it happen. Utilize obstacles as opportunities to grow.

If life is like a beat up coffee table, get out the sand paper and start sanding. Out with the old and in with the new...

Trust Me One Day At A Time

Trust me one day at a time. This keeps you close to Me, responsive to My will. Trust is not a natural response, especially for those who have been deeply wounded. My spirit within you in your resident tutor, helping you in this supernatural endeavor. Yield to His gentle touch; be sensitive to his prompting.
Exert your will to trust Me in all circumstances. Don't let your need to understand distract you from My presence. I will equip you to get through this day victoriously, as you live in deep dependence on Me. Tomorrow is busy worrying about itself; don't get tangled up in worry-webs. Trust Me one day at a time.
~Psalm 84:12; Matthew 6:34
Excerpt from Jesus Calling, gifted by Brenda Lesser (thank you!)

Spirit of Fruit

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands.
It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.
I choose love
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.
Today I will love God and what God loves.
I choose joy
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I choose peace
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
I choose patience
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one that takes my place, I will invite him to do so.
I choose kindness
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.
I choose goodness
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one.
I choose faithfulness
Today I keep my promises.
I choose gentleness
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
I choose self control
I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.
I will be drunk only by joy.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

~From the Max Lucado Devotional Bible, gifted by a dear friend of mine.
Study Reading: Galatians 5:19-25