Bring the Rain

Bring The Rain
Mercy Me

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

Psalm 116

For the past few days I've been a little off. Trevor went back to Orlando, money is tight, I'm in limbo waiting for the fall semester to start, a relationship has shifted, my employment is in question, just a lot of stuff going on right now. I haven't felt like this for a while, even a close friend said she could see it in my eyes, but I downplayed it.

I've been reading a Psalm a day for the last 4 months and today was Psalm 116. It's funny how God talks to us just when we need to hear from him most.

Psalm 116: 1-7

1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD : "O LORD, save me!"
5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
6 The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.
7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.

I still feel off but this was a great reminder that God has been good to me. Feelings will come and go but God will be with me forever.

Man six weeks sure goes fast!

My 11 year old son Trevor went back to Orlando today where he lives with his mom. He's been here for six weeks and it's just gone way to fast. I had to work a lot while he was here and I didn't get to spend as much time with him as I wanted. The time we did spend together was fun. We went to Crooked Creek Ranch and road the horses one day (forgot the camera), went on a 125 mile motorcycle ride, watched WWE Monday Night RAW, Friday Night Smackdown and goofed around and wrestled a lot. Yesterday we road the South Shore Train to Chicago. We spent a good part of the day at the Shedd Aquarium, had lunch and walked to the Sears Tower. On our way we stopped at the Buckingham Fountain for a photo op. Before we got back on the train we grabbed a Chicago Dog. We had a really great time while he was here.

Alone Time With God

I had the day off today and spent the morning alone with God at Potato Creek State Park near North Liberty In. I try to get away once every three or four months, but it's been since last September. My normal routine in the morning is reading the Bible, a devotional and praying. But sometimes I just need to be alone. REALLY alone! Spud is one of a very few places I like to go to be alone. I really enjoy walking on trail #4, It goes through the woods, along the lake, and has some open meadow areas. About halfway around there is a bench, it's all by itself in a small clearing. Almost three years ago I sat on that bench and had a long talk with God. Today I did the same thing. It was so quite and peaceful. Three years ago I got a sign from God that showed me that everything was going to be alright. Today no sign, no apifiny, no obvious 2x4 to the head. But I just felt peaceful and content. Faith, courage, hope, love, understanding, wisdom, freedom, all these things are in my heart now that weren't back then.

I took a Bible and read passages about Freedom. I thought I'd share a couple with you.

James 1:22-25

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

John 8:34-36

34Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Summer Semester is Over

My summer semester finished last Tuesday. I found that I really enjoyed going back to school after all these years. It was a little tough to cram 16 weeks of work into 8 but I'm glad I didn't wait until fall to start. I checked my grades and I got an A. I feel really happy about that! Fall classes start on August 25th, I can hardly wait!

Strengths

Nearly two years ago I was talking with my good friend Danny V about finding my potential and purpose in life. He told me that I should read the Marcus Buckingham book "Now, Discover Your Strengths". So I went to Barnes and Noble and bought the book. This book is unique. Once you've read it you go online and take a test. From this test you'll find out your five signature themes. The test was compiled by the Gallup Corporation. They studied over two million people and found that there are thirty-four themes that where common to most people. From which each person's top five is revealed from the test.

This was very enlightening to me. I found out why I think, act, and feel certain ways. This opened a door for me, that I walked through very quickly. My life will never be the same. I say this because, before I spent a lot of time trying to fix my weakness. It seemed like more I tried the worse things got. Now I spend that time focusing on my strengths. By doing so the weakness will take care of themselves.

My Signature Themes

Connectedness: People strong in this theme have faith in the links between all things. They believe there are few coincidences and almost every event has a reason.

Adaptability: People strong in this theme prefer to "go with the flow". They tend to be "now" people who take things as they come and discover the future one day at a time.

Empathy: People strong in this theme can sense the feelings of other people by imagining themselves in others' lives or other's situations.

Positivity: People strong in this theme have an enthusiasm that is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.

Responsibility: People strong in this theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty.

One of my assignments this semester was to take a Strengths Quest Analysis. Come to find out it is the exact same test I took before. I was excited and curious to see if anything had changed. Sure enough a couple things did change.

Adaptability, Responsibility and Empathy stayed the same but Connectedness and Positivity moved down, Strategic and Belief take their place.

Strategic: People strong in this theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues and come up with a plan "B".

Belief: People strong in this theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for life.

I think it's cool that I've have seven themes to work with. I can see all of them in myself. This will help me even more to proceed with my mission. To help people find their potential, and purpose in life.

Get the book, read it, take the test, open the door, live up to your potential and with purpose.

Now, Discover Your Strengths

(Do not buy this book used, it includes an access code for the online test.)