In Search of Ice Cream

Now, here’s the levity you may need today.

A software engineer who loves his McDonald’s ice cream cones has designed a website with a map showing every location in the United States and whether its ice cream machine is working or broken.

Brilliant, man. Just brilliant.

If you like McDonald’s ice cream cones, sadly, you will relate to this. They are delicious! It’s just, they’re often hard to actually acquire. The gentleman (like so many of us if we can be perfectly honest, here) was simply tired of not being able to get the ice cream cone he was seeking because the machine was broken…and so, he did something about it.

Now, thanks to his efforts you can check to see if the ice cream machine is working before you head out to go pick up a cone. Green dot means it’s working. Red dot means it’s broken.

Gotta say, this is a pretty good example of turning frustration into fruitfulness. Bravo sir, lol.

Have a great day!

Fall Into Kindness

Sometimes, life just gets hard, doesn’t it? Things don’t seem to add up. Frustration, sadness, even confusion can all set in.

Why doesn’t it seem to be working out? You might be asking that question right now. I’ve asked that question before…totally get it.

Heard this song today and thought it might bring you some encouragement if you’re in this place at the moment. 

God will meet you exactly where you are. His kindness never ends, even when life doesn’t make sense.

“You’re with me still.”

Praise Him! Amen.

Where Were You?

‘But I wonder, where were you? When I was at my worst, down on my knees? And you said you had my back, so I wonder where were you?’

If you listen to pop music, you know these are lyrics from the song ‘Maps’ by Maroon 5. It’s a song that has absolutely nothing to do with what I’m going to write about, but just stay with me here for a minute.

Right now, there are a lot of people hurting about a lot of things. Perhaps something fairly recent, or something that happened a long time ago.

It could have been the loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, your health, financial well-being…anything. Whatever it might have been, the hurt is still there and along with it, frustration and even anger.

Sometimes, traumatic or significantly stressful events can lead to a loss of faith and a turn away from God. After all, where were you God? When I was at my worst, down on my knees? Why would you do something like that? If you really loved me, why did you make me sick or take that person away from me? Why me? Why don’t you listen to me? How could you let that happen?

I love God deeply…but I would be lying if I said I’ve never thought these types of things in the past. I can remember nights yelling at God, being upset about my circumstances, and wondering why it seemed like He wasn’t doing anything or why He wasn’t listening.

Let’s face it, there are times when it can feel like God’s just not there.

But He is there, and the reason for writing this post is to encourage anyone who’s experienced something difficult that is testing your faith or that has even caused you to throw your hands up with God.

Things don’t always make sense. Life is definitely not ‘fair’ as we would call it. I am not trying to minimize the pain you are experiencing, nor can I understand exactly how you’re feeling or what you’re going through.

But I can speak from personal experience in saying that, God will lift you up when you can’t lift yourself up. He will bring you out of valleys and let you stand on top of mountains. He will never, ever give up on you and He does have a good plan for your life. These aren’t just feel-good words to fill up a blog post…it’s the truth.

Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

So I’d just encourage you today to reach out to God, whether it’s been a long time or if you never have. It doesn’t mean things will magically get better right away. He’s not a genie in a bottle who just grants wishes. But God does listen to our prayers. He hears the cries of the brokenhearted. And, He will get you through whatever you’re going through.

Psalm 107:6
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

And if you never have before, you don’t have to be an ordained minister or know the ‘right words’ to pray – just talk to God. He will hear you.

If you want/need someone to pray for you, I would love to do that. Either leave a comment below or if you’d prefer to stay anonymous, just click the ‘Contact’ link at the top of my blog and email me.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this today. Have a great day and remember, God loves you!

You Don’t Know What I’m Going Through

‘Jesus paid a high price so that we wouldn’t have to live lives full of pain and self-pity.’
-Joyce Meyer

This video is worth checking out: http://goo.gl/MI1xyj

If you’re fighting frustration right now, or feeling down in the dumps, or if you’re mad about something, or whatever it might be…take a half hour and watch the video. The points that are made in it can help anyone both short-term and long-term and I promise it will be worth your time – even if your response to me writing this is, ‘You don’t know what I’m going through.’ 🙂

Have a great day everyone.