Boston

Boston.  Columbine.  New York City.  Blacksburg. Port-au-Prince.

What do these cities have in common? 

Boston, Massachusetts marathon bombing.  April 15, 2013

Columbine, Colorado High School shooting.  April 20, 1999

New York City, NY terrorist attack.  September 11, 2001

Blacksburg, Virginia...Virginia Tech shooting.  April 16, 2007

Port-au-Prince, Haiti earthquake January 12, 2010

Remember now?

 They have all been in the headlines.  They were very important and sought an emotional response.  Now, let's be real honest...after these events occurred, they were soon forgotten unless you were directly affected by these tragedies. 

This morning while I was reading my Bible and drinking coffee, I noticed the mug I was drinking out of.  It was a Boston mug.  There was so much hype about Boston a month or so ago with the marathon bombing.  It was a tragedy indeed.  But when is the last time someone other than a Bostonian has really had much thought about it?  

Then the Lord just whispered to me "Remember...".

"You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm." -Deuteronomy 5:5

I am so prone to forget tragedies.  I am so prone to forget things that at one time demanded such emotion from me.  And I am also prone to forget his grace, his goodness, his mercy, his kindness that led me to repentance.  

I never want to forget where I was before he rescued me, or his relentless pursuit of me in my sin, but most of all I never want to forget that HE was the one who rescued me!  

I never want to have "Boston moments" when it comes to my relationship with God. 

 His grace demands much more than an emotional response that will soon be forgotten.  Because once you are truly affected by grace, your life will absolutely never be the same.  

NEVER.  

Everything changes.  

Praise God, everything changes!

What is character, Katy?

 

I have been thinking a lot about character lately. It was sparked because I just took a new job, and worked out a two week notice at another.  

Can I just tell you that working out that notice was not easy?

  Everything in me just wanted to fall back into lazy, old behaviors and just up and leave that old job. Because lets just be honest...there wasn't any character or integrity involved in a lifestyle of drinking, drugs, lying, and stealing, now was there?  

Nope.  

So this whole character thing is new.  And that is just as honest as I know how to be. 

I guess I am learning to be a responsible adult.  

And I think I will try it again tomorrow. 

"...endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:4-5)

Lord, build character in me so that you are pleased and glorified.