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. 

Stinky Cheese

     I am about to share one of my flaws with you all. So I'm trusting that you will still be my friend after you read this. If you think your view of me might change- then visit another blog. :) One of the things I have struggled with since I was in elementary school was cleaning out my lunch box. I'd leave sandwiches, empty jello containers, spoons with peanut butter on them, a banana peel, you name it- I'm sure I left it in there at sometime or another for a good while. The worst was when I'd take tomato soup- inevitably I'd always leave it in there for a week or so. I'm sure your stomachs are churning at this thought... espically if you are Robin Gaddis- the wonderful lady who gave birth to me and is my mother. Because- not always- but most times- she was the one that cleaned out the moldy, smelly nastiness. Forgive me, momma!
     My old habit has struck again. As I am sitting and typing this blog right now there is a cute pink lunchbox sitting on the stairs right now. And it is holding one of my new favorites foods! Brie cheese and a block of sharp cheddar cheese. This would not be bad if it was ready for me to go to work this afternoon- nope, it's not. It has actually been sitting there for probably a week. I know, I know- nasty. And I'm still dreading going in there and opening it up. I'm sure my stomach is going to turn when I open it. But today is the day. I will conquer the pink lunchbox and stinky cheese.
     So I was thinking about this situation this morning, (of course only thinking- not acting upon it), and the Holy Spirit quickened me and whispered a truth inside of me. He said- do you have some stinky cheese in you that you're avoiding because you know that it isn't going to be the prettiest? Do you have some sin, a situation, a relationship, a wounded heart that you aren't willing to open up and clean up the mess inside? I do this often. I know that there is something that I have got to get settled with the Lord but I keep ignoring it- and the longer I ignore it the worst it gets. You know if I would have came home the day I packed that lunch and put the cheese back in the refrigerator and cleaned out everything else in my lunch box it would have never gotten moldy or smelly. The same way with things I deal internally with. If I would go straight to the Lord and admit that I am struggling then it would never have time to get smelly and nasty. But weeks, months, years pass and we ignore the things that are dragging us down. We think about them from time to time and just pass on that we'll get to them another time.
     So what is it in our lives that we're ignoring? That we're not letting the Savior clean out? Something that is just sitting in our lunchbox? Do you think it's time to clean it out?

     He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5


     He came to make all things new- He came to renew you- to give you joy and peace. Time to clean it out the wounds. Yes, it may stink. Yes, it may have grown to something you never thought it'd grow into- but better to stop it now then let it get even bigger. 


     What's your stinky cheese? What's your advice? 


Yes mom, I'm going to clean it out now. 


<3, B