Seasons!

What season of life are you in?

I love watching the seasons change… When I lived in Minnesota, I would crave the arrival of spring.  Flowers would bloom, the grass would turn green, and I couldn’t wait to hear the birds and observe the arrival of the first robin…

As summer approached, I embraced the first 80 degree day with passion.  Everyone would run outside to feel the warmth of the sun.  As it got even warmer, I would craved the first day I could jump in the lake to go skiing.

When Fall arrived, I cherished each moment with the colors.  As a kid, I remember running through the leaves in the cool crisp air.

Winter brought the cold.  However, I remember being so excited when I saw the world blanketed with a fresh white coat of snow.  I was driven outside with all my friends to build forts, go sledding, and experience a brand new landscape.

As I look back, I noticed that in every season, I felt driven to experience the moment.  I had to go outside and seize the day!  In Las Vegas seasons are a little harder to come by.  (We have super-hot and not so hot…) However, I believe we experience life in seasons.  As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Sometimes, I think we wish we could spend our lives in one season or another.  We never want to grieve, lose, or fall apart.  However, seasons are meant to be experienced.  Perhaps there are times it is important to feel sad, angry, or defeated… and that’s okay!

Today, I hope you can experience God wherever you are at.  I hope you can feel that Love is with you today, and I pray you would allow yourself to cherish every drop of this life!

Blessings!

Brian

Snow and A Fresh Perspective!

It’s snowing in Vegas! 

Just barely a dusting of snow, but we got
pretty excited... :)

This has been a pretty exciting week.  It’s not every day that I get to have a snowball fight in my backyard or see palm trees covered in snow. (Or at least lightly dusted with snow…J) Growing up in Minnesota, I have certainly seen a lot more snow in my life, but this week has still been fun.  I was talking with the kids at our first communion class on Wednesday, and everyone was buzzing with excitement over the idea of a snow day.  On Thursday morning, I got into the spirit as well.  We went outside to watch the snow come down with the neighbors.  I built a snowman with my family, and on my way to visit another family in Anthem, I was in awe over the fresh coat of snow blanketing the area!

In Minnesota, by this time of year, I was usually pretty sick of the snow.  I was sick of shoveling, driving through slippery streets, and walking through that dirty, sloppy slush.  However, there was something wonderful about seeing everything with fresh eyes.  Even if school wasn’t canceled, it was fun to see the kids enjoy the day!

Today, I hope you can take the time to see God’s blessings.  I hope you can see the world in a fresh way.  I pray the beauty of this world never becomes mundane or boring.  I hope you can take a moment to seize every drop, because this day is a gift!

Blessings!

PB

A new heart

Every week I wind up going on several walks with my three year old son.  We never go too far, but it always takes quite a bit longer than I expect.  He has to stop to explore everything…  “Look at this bug!”  “Look at that house!”  “Why is there a picture of cat on that poster?”  “What is that person doing?”

Taking time to enjoy the moment...

Everything is new to this child, and I constantly have to remind myself of that.  Sometimes I just want to say, “No more questions… we have to get home!”  However, he is taking it all in.  He wants to talk to the bugs, splash in the puddles, and give high fives to the neighbors. I am always focused on where we going and when we will be back.  I think it really is a blessing to see the world in a different way. 

Today our scripture passage comes from the book of Ezekiel chapter 36:

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

I love opening myself to a heart that loves stomping in the mud.  However, there are times my heart of stone gets in the way of forgiveness, grace, or love for others.  This is really what our scripture passage is speaking about.  As humans, we can become locked in cycles of anger, revenge, or hopelessness.  This scripture tells us to open ourselves to the bigger picture.  God is at work in the world, and God is at work in you.  However, we have to let God break our hearts of stone.  We have to take the time to discover what love is doing.  We have to take the time to really embrace all the blessings that exist around us.

Peace!

Brian