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Lisa Petrarca ⁽²⁹⁸⁾ United States

Lisa Petrarca

http://bowlofinspiration.blogspot.com/

Fix It Now

Posted Saturday, November 07, 2009 (15 days 5 hours ago.) Viewed 6 times.

I just finished putting the last of the groceries away and put a baked potato in the microwave when the lights went out. We scrambled around to find some matches and candles. Expecting the lights to go on in 10 to 15 min., we sat down to eat our chicken and bread dinner by candlelight.

An hour went by, still pitch darknow I was starting to get a little angry. A show I had been waiting to watch was coming on. I thought, "What are those guys doing? They need to fix this problem NOW!"

The time stretched to three hourspitch black. My mind now raced to all the food I had just bought. "What is going on?" We finally decided to just go to bed because there wasn't anything we could do about the situation. At 4:30 a.m. all the power came back on.

During the dark times in your life do you find yourself worrying? Are you filled with anxiety and stress while your waiting for something to change? We cry out to God, "Fix this problem NOW! I have tried everything, I can't take it anymore." Nothing seems to happeneverything stays dark.

What we don't see is what's going on behind the scenes. I didn't know how the electrical company was going to fix the problem and turn on my power. But I knew that they were going to make it happen. I knew that I could go to sleep and wait for them to do their job.

We need to adapt this same mentality with God's work in our lives. He has a plan for us. We may want something to happen NOWbut he knows there are some things that we aren't yet ready for. Know that He is working behind the scenes in your life. In times like this, pray and ask for Him to fill you with his peace, trust and FAITH.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13

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The Butterfly Effect

Posted Wednesday, October 14, 2009 (39 days 16 hours ago.) Viewed 21 times.

As a little girl my sister & I loved to catch the "black furry caterpillars." We would get a shoe box, punch dozens of air holes in the top. Then it was time to scour around the neighborhood looking for all the décor. Lots of broken tree branches with bright green leaves still attached, Small twigs, grass, and a little dirt. We wanted our new pet to feel right at home in his new environment.

Finding the caterpillar was another adventure. This process could take days, sometimes weeks, but we never failed to catch our "pet." We took it home and with a sense of pride, presented it to our mom, who promptly replied, "That better not get out of the shoebox or it's the last time you'll ever have one!"

We would play with our little fuzzy pet daily. We even took him on bike rides, carefully placing the "home" in the basket and taking it out to show our friends. One day, not long after we had it, we went to pull out our little fur ball, but it wasn't there. In its place was a small green hidden pouch, hanging beneath the tree branch. It had made a cocoon, and was undergoing a new transformation.

Two weeks went by as we waited for our caterpillar to change. It was frustrating; we were impatient, checking the box daily. Knowing that once it had changed forms, we would have to let it go. It was a strange emotion, sad to have to give up our new friend, but so excited to see the change.

The day finally came...lifting the corner of the box, to peak inside...bright orange and black wings fluttered. With a squeal of delight, I ran to tell my sister. We gently carried the box outside, preparing to let it free. We counted in unison, "1..2...3!" Opening the lid, it burst out, fluttering up, lingering in front of us for a moment, as we gazed at its beauty, then higher and higher until it was out of sight.

In our lives, many of us are like my pet caterpillar, stuck in our everyday box. We have made a comfortable home there, however, we are made for more than what we are currently living. We have a bigger purpose, something that is greater than we can imagine.

We slowly began the painful process of sitting inside our cocoons. Each of our cocoons looks different, just like caterpillars. Your transformations are happening under the disguise of difficult times. You may be jobless, sick, hurting, lonely, unfulfilled, grieving, fearful, angry, sad, or worried...we all have cocoons. We need to realize that during this process, God is right beside us, carrying us safely through our transformation. He will help us when we cry out to Him...moving us ever so gently towards whom we are supposed to be. We need to be patient, this change cannot happen overnight. We need to shed our "old skin" and with faith, patience, prayer and time, He will help us to eventually emerge as the butterfly... brilliant, beautiful and free. Knowing how to fly because you have complete faith. You are fulfilling God's will and true purpose for your life. You have become the person that God intended you to be!

He says, "I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket. In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud.
Psalms 81:6, 7

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:17, 18

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12

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Lost Dreams

Posted Wednesday, October 14, 2009 (39 days 16 hours ago.) Viewed 8 times.

He had hopes and dreams in his youth. He played hide and seek, dodge ball and had many friends. He had food on the table, slept in a warm bed at night and had parents who loved him very much. In high school he was the star quarterback, went to dances and had a steady girlfriend. But that one evening irrevocably changed his life forever.

It was Saturday night, the mist covering the windshield as they headed up the steep, windy mountain rode. Three cars filled with boys, girls and beer. They had just won the biggest game of the year against their rival school. It was going to be a night of celebrating.

They reached the top, piled out and started to party. Half an hour later, five cars pulled into the dusty parking lot. A group of people jumped out. They were older and looked like a rough crowd.

The quarterback was drunk and agitated that they were trying to crash the party. He shouted, "Get out of here! You need to find somewhere else to go…this is our spot."
The rough crowd charged him. A teammate jumped in front of the quarterback, something bright flickered in the moonlight. Sliding into his chest, he slumped over and fell to the ground. They ran to their cars, tires spinning up dust as they sped away from the scene of the crime.

Stunned, the quarterback picked up his teammate, running to his car he carefully put him inside. He raced to the nearest hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The knife had penetrated his heart.

Life was never the same, he felt responsible for his teammates death. He began to drink heavily and take drugs to numb the pain and guilt. As the years passed his hopes and dreams faded away, he withdrew from life.

The homeless man stood at the corner. He was dirty, hungry and cold. The harsh realities of life along with his poor choices and guilt had beaten, worn and taken away all of his dignity. People walked past him, as he held his sign up asking for food. They looked at him with disdain. Someone shouted, "Get a job loser!"

The homeless star quarterback was asking for food, but he also needed love, compassion and forgiveness. He had been judged his entire life. Who would reach out to him? Who would see past his appearance and notice the lost, hurting soul inside? He needed nourishment for his soul. He needed the love of Christ.

When you look at others, do you see their appearance or do you try to look at them through Christ's eyes? It's so easy to judge, but we are called to be different. Remember, our actions should speak louder than words. Don't walk by someone needing your help. Show them the love and compassion of your Savior Jesus Christ.

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." John 13:14-17

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