Choosing to Choose.

     There is so much truth to the ol' saying, "Life is what you make it." You will get out of life what you put into it. If you don't pursue life and the source of life then you probably won't like life too much. But when you choose to enjoy life, no matter what the circumstances are, then I bet you love life or are beginning to love life. I am by no means saying that life is bed of roses and nothing is ever hard. No, not at all, I know this by first hand experience. Life is not easy. But you can enjoy it in all circumstances. 
     It all comes down to choice. Who you are today was made from a series of choices that you have made. Who you will be tomorrow also will be the outcome of your choices. It is time to quit blaming your troubles on "life". That is demonic and not Godly one bit. That is one step closer to satan than it is to God. Choose to love, give, serve and pursue God. Choose to find something sweet in everything. Choose joy, peace, and patience. What you choose determines your outcome. Choose life, and life in abundance.
     You living a mediocre life doesn't do you any favors. Branch out, live out your dreams, be who God has made you to be. Be intentional. This is the phrase that God has been speaking to me the past month. I need to be intentional.  I need to be concious of the things that I choose to do throughout the day. Once again that determines my productivity and the joy that I experience that day.
     When I wake up and I choose to love God, love people, and love life then I am determined that nothing, absolutely nothing, no power of the enemy, no stumped toe, no long line, NOTHING will change that. I choose to have a good day. To have a good life.
     One of the things that Pastor Jeff preaches is Proverbs 27:7- One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet. What does this mean? That in every situation you can find something that is sweet. We are to never become cynical and judgmental with nothing being good enough. That means that today when Chelsea brought me my McDonalds (yep, this is after I worked out) that even though it was cold I was still thankful that Chelsea paid for it! It's simply being able to find the good in every situation. 
     I know that life does get hard, and that things happen to good people. But God is still God, His word is still sovereign. And He still has the most best plans in the world for you. He desires for you to be prosperous, enjoy life, love Him, serve Him, see and bring people to encounter God's love. You are the head and not the tail. You are highly favored. You have a reason to choose joy. I promise. 
     It may be 3 years after something horrible in your life happens where you see the purpose in it all. But for those 3 years- find something, anything and be thankful for it. Thank God. Just think of the things that He HAS protected you from that you don't even know about. 


Choose life. Choose Him. Choose joy. Choose peace. Choose happiness. Choose the higher road. Choose serving. Choose giving. Choose loving. Choose life. Choose a happy life. Choose to not loathe the honeycomb. Choose to find something good no matter the circumstances. 






It's your choice. ;)

Providing Daddy.

     One of my favorite things to do is to play cards. Most favorite game is Nertz. A fast paced game of a mix of solitare and suites.... super fun. (If you wanna play- we'll let ya!) And it is best when played with the Kees brothers, my twin, and my mother. We play every few weeks, but I play Nertz on an app on my iPhone. With playing this I have noticed something. Most of the time you notice that you need a card, and that one card will give you a huge play. (Example you need a 6 of hearts to come up in your deck of "flipping cards" since you have a 7 of hearts and 8 of hearts in your 4 playing cards. Then you would get 3 cards out in the community area where everyone plays. )
     So that one card will open up so many opportunities for you and possibly let you get Nertz. When this happens I always hesitate to keep moving in case someone else puts the card out there and I miss it, or whatever. What I have noticed though.... is that sometimes the card you need or a card that might be better is coming up in your hand.... it's on it's way, you just have to keep moving the cards and keep moving forward.

     I hope you are seeing the parallel in your life. Sometimes we want something so bad that is already in our hand. It's right there. It's just coming up. You have to keep moving, keep pressing, and it'll come up. Instead of waiting for someone else to hand it to you, or just standing still scared to move. You have to keep pursuing being intentional in everything that you do. Making progress with every part of your life. And sometimes while we are moving forward someone puts "it" into play. And onward you go. Bam, bam, bam. Life is moving quickly. Just like in life how God will put things in our past that will score us our next "big run". Or He will give us something that will set us up for a big success.

     So many times, I want to get something new instead of getting creative and using what I have and what is right in front of me. But in all reality, God already has "it" coming up.
     Prime example: I've been praying/looking for a desk for my iMac..... the day my iMac came in (which the iMac was also an answered prayer... I did not have enough money for it, but God provided), God provided me with a desk..... for free. Not only that.... but a free meal to go along with it. And I forgot the desk lamp and chair. God is good. He provides.

     It's all in His plan, beloved. He's got it all under control. Live out your life with God first and you are the apple of His eye. He takes care of His children. He sees your needs. He sees your wants. He desires to fill both. He is a gooood, goooood daddy.

Fun Alone.

     Snow day bliss. I'm not even in school- but I did get a snow day today. We closed the coffeeshop so I have been enjoying a day of nothing. Literally. I'll be totally honest- It's 4:30pm and I'm still in my pajamas. I've watched 2 movies and some tv. And have had a coca cola classic by my side. (I'm horrible at not drinking cokes when I say I'm not going to do it.)  It's been great. When I first woke up and realized that I didn't have anything to do- I started getting a little sad- because I wanted to do something. I wanted to be with friends- playing in the snow. But then I changed my mind. I decided it was time I had fun by myself.
     Yep, it is possible to do it. And I have had a BLAST today all by myself. After the second movie- I started craving ChexMix.... not the kind you get out of the bag- but the real deal- baked in my own oven Chex Mix. So that's what I did. I documented the entire process with my cool camera app:

 

 

Not only did I make Chex Mix.... but I also made "Muddy Buddies" Looking at the recipes on the box- I decided to try it out.... YUMMMMMY. 

 

     And I have had so much fun. I found myself smiling and enjoying myself. I even cleaned up after myself ( mom, aren't you proud). I found myself lost in Brennen land and loving every bit of it. And I think it was a healthy- good- and needed day. We all need time where we enjoy ourselves. We have to do something that makes us come alive. Or if we are so busy- and have lots on our minds- then we need to escape and get lost in a movie. (or 2, and I'm sure 2 more later tonight). 

     The thing is, God is soo good. After I made all of this yummy snack food I found myself in the Word. Soaking up who God is and realizing his love for me. He delights in me. He is enthralled by my beauty. He honors me. He LOVES me.  And He loves YOU as well. God will do the things that he has promised you. He wants you to be happy and fulfilled. He wants your desires to be filled- and he wants your love. He gets jealous when you don't love Him. He paints the most beautiful pictures for you. He has the bestest plan out there for you. And He wants you to be the best you out there. If your name is John- then be the best John. If your name is Suzy- then be the best Suzy. My name is Brennen and I want to be the best Brennen. And today- I've enjoyed me, myself and Brennen. 

Good day.

     Good days are fabulous. I love good days. Today was a good day. Why? Coca Cola Classic. Regular customers. & a cute old couple. (Did I mention Coca Cola?) So stinking awesome. I've been MIA with Coca Cola for the past few weeks. But today was a bank holiday- so that meant that I got to drink Coca Cola. It was fabulous. And for the past few weeks my regular and favorite customers at the coffee shop have been MIA, and they all showed up today! And then I had the cutest older couple come in, and the man wanted me to tell him about facebook. I'm pretty sure he is 70 or older. But I loved it. Absolutely loved it.
     I feel so blessed when I have days like today. When I realize the blessings in my life. I woke up this morning and decided that today would be a good day. I declared it. I believed it. And it happened. Which, coca cola was involved... so of course I'm happy. ;) But, nonetheless, the Lord was so good to me today.
     He revealed and confirmed some things for me this morning in my quiet time. I love it when he does that. And I love it when he speaks on my level. He confirmed a dream I had a few months ago today in a scripture. It was good stuff. I serve such a great God. He has blessed me with amazing things in my life. I love my family, my church, my friends, my God, my job, my car, my shoes, and my new jeans. Seriously, thank you Jesus!

     So, if you are still reading- you made it through my ramblings.... but I want to know what makes you have a good day? When was the last time that you had a good day from all of the little things? I'd love to know. :)