Fond Memories Never Forgotten

As a child I always lived on the water. From our first home on Lake Missaukkee to the house my parents live in now on the Clam River and my absolute favorite, the place that is the most dear to my heart, our families Cottage on Gun Lake. I feel like I was born in the water and always loved being apart of all the laughter and love that was associated with being at the lake. I have vivid memories growing up and spending my weekends with the whole family. Wanting to be cool enough to hang out with all of my older cousins, tagging along with them where ever they went. I'm sure they loved having me around. I just can't believe that those memories are all we are going to have left of the lake now that the cottage is sold. I don't think we realize just how much we took the lake for granted waking up on Saturday mornings to my grandma playing the piano basking in the sun on the Pon toon, tubing, water skiing, jet skiing, picnics in the backyard, walks and bike yards through the cul de sac. I can't imagine how its feels for our parents watching all of us kids grow up at the lake. Its feels like were losing a piece of the family, a piece of tradition. It breaks my heart now that all of us kids are grown and have families we wont be able to share the same memories of the cottage with them.

The cottage

Sunday Picnics with the Meyering Family

Lesson Learned

Is it just me or are Some of the biggest life lessons the hardest to hear when we are being faced with something that seems so much Bigger. Perhaps its just me but i know a lot of the time I spend so much of my time worrying about the situation that it sometimes it feels like all the time that I have spent praying about it is in vain. An I know thats not true. I know that in Gods word it clearly says "ask and you will receive." I just sometimes wonder that when we are going through a difficult situation do we spend so much time trying to do what Jesus would do that we don't take the time to really listen to what he is calling us to do. Just a thought.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Choosing to Forgive Daily!

After reflecting on my quiet time from the last week I find myself feeling overwelmed! Ive been reading a lot on forgiveness and I'm finding that a subject as big as forgiveness really has the ability to wreck your heart. As I reflect on my time with God this week I felt an emotion I hadn't felt in years. An emotion I can only describe as being a wound that never completely healed. I kept thinking to myself how can I be reminded of this when I had forgave years ago. Or so I thought.... How is it that Jesus forgave us yet we can't seem to forgive others. Just like it says in Daniel "The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him." How does he make it look so easy! When in all reality forgiveness is so hard. Then I  was reminded of something that Jeff said a few months back "forgiveness is something you have to do daily." Id never considered this. But how true is it having to relive the same hurts every day just in different ways.  Its crazy to me how God is clearly telling us the key to forgiveness and we live like once is enough. It is our job everyday to wake up and choose. Choose if you are going to have a good day or bad. If we are going to let the past affect our future. To choose what offends us and what will lift us up. So this is what I'm learning each time I choose... I choose to forgive.... and each time I forgive the forgiveness comes that much easier!

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Colossians 1:13-14