small blessings

Philippians 4:6-7 (New International Version)
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

My thought on today's blog is a simple quick realization I had. I know I've always been taught to believe in prayer and that prayer really works but because I've never asked for big things i tended to over look the small things that were answers to prayer. As I went through this week one of these moments caught me and i realized how God is really there even if I don't think about it. I have been struggling with budgeting because before my recent move didn't really have to worry about it and my second job wasn't needing me like I thought they were so a big chunk of money I thought i was getting was missing. So one night as i was thinking about things and was trying to sleep I just stopped and said a little prayer in my head. I said lord just help me figure out what I need to do and for know give me peace of mind to sleep. The next morning i received a text from my on call job saying they would need me all week when I had the time to come in and they gave me a list of multiple other times they needed me as well as saying the would need me consistently for some Sunday dates. There census of patients had suddenly started to increase, which at first i thought nothing of it because that can happen in nursing homes but realized that I had just been a part of a small blessing from God because when it was worrying me and when I needed it most he blessed me with the extra hours to ease my mind. So I"m posting this story and the simple verse from Philippians to remind everyone what i was reminded of that we don't need to worry just pray and God will be there.

hard to change

I've been trying to get myself back on track and to improve my spiritual life, but it hasn't gone so good its hard to break bad habits and I've gotten into the daily habit of just work, home life, visiting family, taking care of dog then sleeping and doing it all over again. And in my spare time not thinking about including God. Its like trying to workout or exercise you really do feel better after you do it but trying to get yourself into the habit of doing it is hard cause you always find something that seems more important. But I'm trying to remind myself that nothing is more important then God and these little blogs are supposed to help me remember to focus on him more but lately seem to be finding excuses to not focus on them either. A song i was listening to recently reminded me of the reason why I started rethinking my spiritual life and why I started these blogs. I wasn't happy with the way things were. I was searching for the meaning of life and my purpose in it. Here is the song lyrics and a link to listen to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbHxgFbX1Xs
The Meaning Of Life lyrics
by Hawk Nelson
It only takes one to make a difference
It takes a little to change
Lets start today for a new tomorrow
Don’t look back
I wont look back now

Hey yah gonna find a new beginning
Lately tired of the life I’m livin
Find a way to make a change
In the lives of all of us who need
To find the meaning of life

We run the race just to keep our distance
Our lives we must rearrange
Lets chase away all our fear and sorrow
Don’t hold back I wont hold back now

Hey yah gotta find a new beginning
Lately tired of the life I’m livin
Find a way to make a change
In the lives of all of us who need
To find the meaning of life

Oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh
Life Life
Oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh
Life

To find the meaning..
Hey yah gotta find a new beginning
Lately I’m tired of the life I’m livin
Find a way to make a change
In the lives of all of us who need it
Today’s the day don’t hesitate Everybody with me sing

Na na na na na
Na na na na na na x4

It just got me thinking you know that if things don't feel right search for the new beginning, the little change that will make it right. That little change that will make a big change in you. God is the meaning of life and the little change that i need in my life.

not being ashamed

I started these blogs to try and keep myself on track with my devotions, and I have to be honest and say I haven't really been doing much studying like I should, but I have still been listening to a lot of Christian music and this is another thought about a song I heard. It’s actually more about the music video then the lyrics of the song this time. The music video can be found here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpVsF4W8V2Y it’s by David Crowder band and the song is O Praise Him. In the video a man is listening to his headset while walking through the city and the song begins to really touch him. It makes him just want to praise his God. Which is exactly what he does, right there in the street, pretty much right in the middle of traffic, although it was a video and staged; it made me think about the fact that Jesus gave up everything for me. Died on a cross for me and yet I feel like sometimes I’m ashamed to praise him, to truly give him the honor he deserves this God that loves me endlessly and gave all to me and I'm ashamed to left my eyes to him and thank him to openly say that I believe and love him. It made me want to truly and honestly love him and praise him the way he should be and to not be ashamed or care what anyone else would think of me doing that, cause no one else has done for me what he has.

my first thought (secrets and regrets)

So a quick intro about this blog. I've decided to start writing down my thoughts and things I’ve found helpful as I try and improve my spiritual walk. This is to help me review what I’ve studied, read or songs I’ve heard that have helped me; And if it’s helpful or interesting to anyone reading it then that’s cool too. Well on to my first thought.
One thing that really gets me thinking and helps me with spiritual struggles is music and songs. The following song is one that has really got me thinking lately.

• Pillar - Secrets and Regrets
• (From the album Confessions)
• No matter how hard you try to
• You can't make the clock rewind to
• The moment that you lied to yourself
• It never really mattered how they felt
• Your secrets and regrets Are keeping you from going very far
• And you can't let all this get you down
• And keep you living in the dark
• 'Cause all you're lookin’ for is love
• (You’re living in the dark)
• You just can't get enough
• Your secrets and regrets
• You’re holding all this pain inside you
• Can’t seem to leave it all behind you
• Tomorrow will be today soon
• Don’t wait until it’s too late to move
• How many times do you need second chances?
• Not everybody gets another second chance
• No more secrets
• (No regrets)
• You’re living the dark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sje4UPikHfE
I've had a few things in my past that I do regret and I have kept as a secret from others and these things have been keeping me from forgiving myself and letting me move on from my past and getting out of the dark. This song reminds me that even though I’ve made mistakes I can't let them keep holding me back I have to move on from them and take the second or sometimes even second second chance God has given me. And no longer let secrets and regrets hold me back and finally get out of the dark.