Oh the places you'll go.

So I babysit frequently. I love it. I have been babysitting since I was 10, and continue to do it to this day. One family I have now been babysitting for almost 3 years, and babysit for them weekly. They have three children, and I have loved getting to see them grow up. I was reading one of the young boys a book before putting him down for bed. It was Oh the Place You'll Go by Dr. Seuss. There is so many great life lessons, and so much truth in this book. I highly suggest it. Young or old. Here is the text. May this encourage you today.

Oh the Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.

You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You’ll be left in a Lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And if you go in, should you turn left or right…or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from behind? Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.

No! That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t. Because, sometimes, they won’t.

I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!

I lay my hand on my mouth

I was recently reading from Job. This passage stuck out to me. It says the following:

Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

I have spoken once, and I will not answer;

Twice, but I will proceed no further.

Job 40:3 - 4

Now, this verse on it's own might be confusing. It seems that Job is neglecting to answer God. But when put in to context, it holds much truth and an example of an attitude which I aspire to have.

The verse prior gives insight in to the context of the verse. It says the following:

Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

He who argues with God, let him answer it.

Job 40:2

So basically, God has asked Job if he understands how the universe was created (Job 38: 4 - 11) and if he has the wisdom to govern it and all it's creatures (Job 38:12-38). God then asks the question in the previous text I provided. Job's response to this question is laying his hand on his mouth. He is humbled. He recognizes his limited experience as a mortal and could not possibly question God as he is a depraved sinner, in need of God in all his goodness and grace. God name's Job as a faultfinder, and the questions asked allow Job to see himself as simply a human, with a drop of insight in the ocean that is God.

I need this attitude in my life. I so often question God's plans. I so often think that I know it all, and that I have the ability to give some incredible insight to God in regards to what I need or think would be good for my life and the life of others. What a fool I am. I head in to next year, so unsure of so many things. I want so badly to know what to do with my life. I have so many plans and ideas, but know that I cannot direct my own path. Proverbs 19:21 says Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 3:6 says In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. So much easier said than done, but my prayer is that I would just lay my hand on my mouth, knowing that God is sovereign, and has purpose, meaning and a plan for my life.

Now I understand that these verses lead to a bigger issue regarding God's justice in circumstances much larger then the menial problems in my life, but that would be an entire book! So, I have taken the verse, put it in to the context of my life, and pray it encourages you to aspire to this attitude as I am.

My life is yours God. I lay my hand on my mouth (or try to anyways).

Content with Less

Alright. So here I go again. A new year. 2010. A year full of the unknown, however filled with God's faithfulness, of that I am sure. A year full of blogging. (I hope) about the divinely inspired details of my life, ordained by my creator. My previous attempts have floundered, however I am determined to become a better writer. One who's no so interesting life can become interesting because of the purpose it holds. The glory of God.

This blog holds a new title. A title which came to me while reading Ecclesiastes on a damp day in early December. I always found Ecclesiastes to be such a depressing book of the bible, however it took a dark time in my life to realize the hope and truth this book holds. 2 Timothy 3:16 says "All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." I recognize this even more now, after seeing how different books, chapters and verses will encourage, teach and lift you up in different seasons of your life. Proof of the spirit at work.

A Handful of Quietness is found in a verse in Ecclesiastes 4:6. "Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and striving after the wind." I use this as the title, recognizing that I am living in a fallen world, where confusion is plentiful and fear of God is limited. A world where there are so many distractions which can take our eyes off of Christ. A world where I can easily strive after worldiness, and things that do not come close to comparing to the grandeur of God. Along with the recognition that I am in a fallen world, I recognize my desperate need for Christ. I recognize that I need to give up my dreams, my ambitions and my plans and be content with the path God has planned out for me. Whether that be what I have in mind or not. I will be content with whatever God has for me, even if that be less. I long to enter the Kingdom of God knowing I lived my life for Him, with nothing, than to know that I lived for my flesh, and had everything I could ever dream of.

This is my prayer for the year 2010. That I will lay all that I desire, and all this world tempts me to desire, and find myself in Christ. That I may love what He calls me to love, and hate what He calls me to hate. That I may willingly follow God's steps for my life, with joy, peace and utter devotion. That I will be content in all circumstances, knowing that I have a loving father, who cares for me and wants only the best for my life. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." I will live for Him alone, recognizing that He is more than enough and He will give me what I need in order to sustain me in this temporary life.

For His name's sake.