Jesus, our example

Most recent thing God has taught me is how to be willing for Him to use me for His plan. I believe that God puts people in my life and that He will work through me and use my words or actions to be able to encourage that person or help in any way. I never really feel worthy for God to use me but He still does if I am willing and don't fight it. God gives me the words to say even when I have no idea how to answer a question or respond to a situation. Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

I've been reading in Matthew and it's interesting seeing the way Jesus handled others. After Jesus found out that John the baptist had been beheaded  He departed to go into a desert place but the people still followed him. Even when Jesus was discouraged he had compassion on the people and performed a miracle to feed the multitude because they had stayed so long with him Matt 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. vs. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart;give ye them to eat. Reading about Jesus and his time on earth helps me put my own witness into perspective. In Jesus' witness he was compassionate to those who would listen.

Jesus was able to turn common situations into witness opportunities. We learned about this in our Sunday school a couple weeks ago and I began noticing it alot more throughout Matthew as well. Jesus took the situation of the woman at the well and turned it into a witness opportunity. He asked for water and through that began discussing the living water with the woman. In our day and age I feel that people respond better to us if we can relate ourselves to them and not just badger and harp on them about a disagreement. God has put people in my life and through Jesus' example it has helped me to know how I can handle different situations and how to relate myself to them so I can better understand not only what they're going through but how to help them know the truth of God's word.

Redington

Finally got up to redington during monsoon season to do some cliff jumping. It's beautiful and exhilarating up there, can't wait to go again!

 

Beardliness

As per my dad every 10 yrs he goes through a beard stage. Unannounced to all of us this was that year. Although, I have good grounds to believe that a certain "man vacation" caused this outrage of beardliness. So I have documented this time, who knows if I'll be around in another 10 yrs to experience this phenomenon in the future.

Beard

Sophisticated

Caterpillar

Desert in bloom

I realized on my run this morning how the monsoons have affected our desert surroundings.

It always amazes me how bushes and trees that look like dead twigs the majority of the year burst into color, just add water!