Category: thoughts

Beth Moore · Random Thoughts · Sunday · thoughts · Uncategorized

Sunday Thought

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Restoration.

“Praying this is a season of restoration.  Sometimes it’s about swallowing our pride, owning our own part, and saying a real, live “I’m sorry.”” – Beth Moore

Restoration.  So many hurting right now.  So much loss in Texas.  So far most of my family is okay.  One cousin is washing and drying clothes for those in need.  Another set of cousins rescued some people in their canoe.  Everyone is doing what they can with what they have.

Everyone has something going on.  Every day we have the opportunity for restoration.  The sun rises everyday whether we see it or not, no matter what we are going through.  Harvey has placed this in real time with lots of things that need to be done.  First, waiting on the water to recede so that clean up can happen.  Second, ripping everything down to the foundation.  Third, rebuilding.

It is the same in anything we go through.  Some things are more devastating than others, but we all have something that gets destroyed, rips through us, and we have to rebuild.  Most of the time the hardest part is letting go to get the let the new in.

I feel this way with my anxiety.  It is something that I have to psychically push my way through it.  I know that staying calm in a situation is the best.  With my anxiety, most things appear to be a huge mountain, and in all reality, it is probably more like a mole hill.  A gentle bump in the road to slow down, take a breath, and just be okay.

Hoping all is well wherever you are.

Blessings, always.

 

 

football · Random Thoughts · Razorbacks · thoughts · Uncategorized

Football

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And so it begins:  SEC Football.

There are lots of lions and tigers and bears but only one Razorback.  Tusk is our one-of-a-kind mascot.  Wooo Pig Sooie isn’t just a hog call.  It’s The Hog Call.  There’s no place like Fayetteville on game day.  When you hear the Razorback Band play Arkansas Fight Song…

…and see the Razorbacks run through the “A” in Reynolds Razorback Stadium…

There’ll be no doubt about it.  THIS IS ARKANSAS FOOTBALL.

Razorback

 

Hogs and kisses!

 

birthdays · David's Thoughts · Random Thoughts · thoughts · Uncategorized

Age

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Howdy – David here again! This time out I thought I’d offer up some thoughts on something that everyone can relate to – aging! I turned 54 last week, and had to get my driver’s license renewed, complete with a new picture. Given that the last picture I had taken was 14 years ago, I guess it was time… But the physical changes reflected in those pictures were definitely noticeable! A lot less hair, and what was there was a lot more grey.

I think our society as a whole has a real fear of growing older. We worship youth, and desperately cling to it. And advertisers are more than happy to play to those obsessions.

But you know what? Getting older isn’t that bad! I mean, I miss the resilience of my younger form. I find that I get tired more easily now, and it takes longer to recover when I do push myself. But, overall, as I often say, getting older “beats the alternative”! I would certainly rather have another birthday than not!

Seriously though, I like being this age. I have a level of confidence and comfort with myself that I lacked as a younger man. I have experience and knowledge that can only be gained by living. And, more than anything, I think I have gained an appreciation for the power of the passage of time.

How many times do we hear, when we’re younger, that “time heals all wounds”. Surprisingly enough, I have found that is true. And that is something you don’t learn until you experience it a time or two yourself.

The final thing I’ll mention in this meditation on aging is one of the most important lessons I have learned – everything changes. Nothing stays the same forever. And that is a powerful concept to internalize. It gives me a greater appreciation for the joys in my life, because I know they won’t be there forever. And it gives my hope during the trials of life, because I know they won’t be there forever either.

So in summary, my hope for you is that you embrace today, whatever age you are. Cherish those things that bring you joy, and try to look beyond whatever challenges you may be facing. For both will pass.

Beth Moore · Random Thoughts · storms · Sunday · thoughts · Uncategorized

Sunday Thought

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Storms.  Hurricane Harvey.  Life.  Anxiety.

“A bad storm can blow in a beautiful season.  The Bible proves over and over that how something begins does not get to dictate how it ends.” – Beth Moore

The storm and flooding from Hurricane Harvey is devastating today and it will continue for a while longer.  I have family in Houston, and friends close by.  Worried about them, and will be there if needed.

The quote above reminds me that in the midst of whatever we are going through, God will shine if allowed.  I have to remind myself that homework is a gift.  That I get to do it.  I know that homework is nothing in comparison to a hurricane – please know that.

I have had many opportunities to do different things in my life.  This one has caused more anxiety that others.  I have to be perfect, right?  No.  Only Christ.  Only Christ is the perfect one.  I can strive to be perfect, but will fail daily.  Failing is okay (okay, maybe not with class).  Stumbling is better.  Remembering to get back up after the fall is even better.

Remembering that storms bring rainbows.  We just have to wait for them to come.

My anxiety is much like a storm.  It comes in waves, hard and heavy.  After it passes, I can see the rainbows.  I don’t remember how bad the storm is really, just that I got through it.  Wanting to get through my storm today.

Blessings.

Quotes · Random Thoughts · thoughts

Reflection 

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“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” -Leo Tolstoy

Blessings. 

blog · David's Thoughts · Random Stuff · Random Thoughts · thoughts · Uncategorized

Value

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Howdy, David here again! In order to help Jerry keep up with her schedule, I have agreed to post a blog entry once a week (or so).

When I was thinking about what I wanted to write today, my first thought was “I want to make sure whatever I post brings value to Jerry’s readers.” And that thought gave me my first topic!

Value. We hear that word regularly, but do we really consider what it actually means? Several years ago, I attended a course on marketing. As part of that course, the instructor provided an equation that became a touchstone for me. It was a mathematical equation for value. Here is what he wrote:

Value = Benefit – Cost

The premise is that value is simply the difference between how much we think any particular decision will benefit us, compared to the cost we perceive with that decision. In order to make any choice, we have to see that value as positive – the benefit has to outweigh the cost.

Now, one of the mistakes a lot of people make when they encounter this concept for the first time is that they automatically assign a “dollar sign” to the variables, especially the cost portion. But cost, and benefit, are not only not solely tied to money, but they are also completely subjective. Each individual will evaluate the cost and benefit of any decision completely through their own personal lens.

So, at this point, allow me to offer an example – this post. Some of the costs associated with this post include the time and effort it takes to read it. There are also “opportunity costs” to consider – those things that you aren’t doing right now, because you are currently reading this.

Against these costs, consider the benefits. Maybe you have an interest in economics. Maybe you just have a curiosity about why people do the things they do. Maybe you were just bored and looking to kill a few minutes. 🙂

Regardless, my hope is that the cost of this post, to you, was more than offset by the benefit you received from it. I hope this post did, indeed, provide you value.

Broken · Random Stuff · Random Thoughts · stuff · thoughts · Uncategorized

Toe

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I think I broke my toe. I slammed it into a pile of roof tiles on Saturday evening.

I am sure it is just bruised as it is now in the healing stages, but it hurts.

Just another day…

Blessings.

Beth Moore · Bible · Quotes · Random Thoughts · Sunday · thoughts · Uncategorized

Sunday Thought

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Today, especially…

“In a Christian world of hammers looking for nails, a little gentleness can be a breathtaking thing.” – Beth Moore

Blessings.

dreams · Goals · Random Stuff · Random Thoughts · thoughts · Uncategorized

Dream House

jachancellor1 Comment

Would you rather live in the city in the middle of everything or in the outskirts of town on a couple of acres of land?  No yard maintenance, or a field of gardens?

I love where I live, but I think I would love to be elsewhere.  Just dreaming of a place where people don’t park in our yard.  I told David that I would rather have a condo on the beach (downsize) with no maintenance, or a one story 4-5 bedroom house on five or six acres for a garden and chickens-not too far out of town, but enough to have land.  He wants a bigger house, but in town without a lot of yard.  Ugh.  He doesn’t like yard work, so you would think that he would enjoy a condo.  But.

This won’t happen any time soon, but it doesn’t hurt to dream a little.

Happy Saturday –blessings.

Bible verse · Carmen · family · Random Thoughts · Stephen · Sunday · thoughts · Uncategorized

Sunday Thought

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Ecclesiastes 3:6 continued.

“…a time to keep and a time to throw away”

A lot has been going on this weekend.  We moved Carmen back to LSU on Friday, and Stephen began to move back home yesterday and today.

Carmen’s move, this time, has been more permanent.  We took more time going through “keepsakes” and disposing of items (donating some) that were no longer loved.  It was hard for her to let go.  It meant letting go of parts of her childhood.  Items that just couldn’t be parted with are in stored in the attic.

Her room was to be more of a guest room (she didn’t take her furniture or a lot of her books etc).  That was the primary reason of really not leaving everything in her room.  More of guest feel, but the ability to come home at any time and have a place to stay.  She is getting settled at LSU, and ready to conquer this school year.

But, now Stephen will be occupying her room on a temporary basis.  The majority of his stuff will be housed in the garage.  I don’t like the idea of not parking in the garage (very selfish I know).  Although, he was not thriving on his own with the people he was living with, he realized it before it got to be too much.

He is letting go of some bad relationships and behaviors.  Not allowing people that he thought of as friends continue to hurt him.  His move is harder.  It’s far more emotional than just some stuff being donated.  He has been hurt, and needs to feel secure in this decision.  My concern is not just some stuff in the garage, but his need to be back on a healthy track for his life.

Adjustments and changes.

Letting go.  Asking for continued prayers and good thoughts please.

Blessings.