Life Isn't Always Smiles

I have been reading lately how social media is a snap shot of only the good in peoples lives, and I would agree. As I scroll through Instagram or Facebook I am flooded with pictures of all the beauty of life and only the happy moments. There is nothing wrong with the beauty God gives us, but we are told to thank God in all things, to rejoice always. It is healthy to share the good, the bad and the ugly with others around us.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

This verse has come to mean a great deal to me lately. Always reminding to thank God in all my circumstances. He is working things out in my life for the good of His kingdom and I may not understand it right now, or even until I get to heave. But I trust the Him.

Well to get to the story for this post, about life always not being smiles, but finding the good in the bad and finding out how to be thankful no matter the situation.

The other night my family and I were just enjoying ourselves, watching a movie. One of my brothers decided to go hangout with a friend and I being the sister who wants to help out and not see anyone get hurt volunteered to drive my brother, as he had been drinking and should not be driving. So we decide to take his truck and as I am pulling out of the driving way I ran into my little car with the tire of his large truck and tore off the bumper and head light of my car. It was not the happiest of nights for me. Yes, tears were shed, I was worried that I may have damaged my brothers truck. Well no damage to his truck was done (thank the Lord) but my car is no longer on the road without a head light.

So why is there rejoicing to be had since I no longer have a working car? Well no one was hurt, I was still able to drive my brother out safely, my other car will be getting fixed sooner, and now my family has something to joke about and pick on me more with. My brother loves me and is happy no damage was done to his car and now he is helping me get my other car on the road, which is something he has been trying to give me money to fix for a couple months now and I always so now, but this time I had to humble myself and take the money to be on the road again, soon I hope.

The good far outweighs the bad. Yes it sucks, but it was my car and I did the damage to it. I can joke and laugh about it.

The damage done...

My car....Brothers truck, just a bit of a size difference.

Learning, Painting, Donations, Coming Soon

Well I can't believe it, but it has been about 4 months of being open. I can't say that it is the easiest thing. It has been a wonderful learning experience, and I am still learning daily.

This last Saturday we hosted a Painting Party with The Canvas Cafe. A group of ladies came and learned how to paint a wonderful picture, they had a blast and all walked away with a wonderful painting. It was such a success we are hosting two more this month and I am sure more in the future.

The Canvas Cafe Painting Party

I am excited to see The Coffee Corner continue to grow, knowing full well that it will take its own time and not move at the pace I want things to, but I am learning more and more patience as time goes on. One day I believe I will have my dream of my cafe and this is just a stepping stone.

The four months that I have been open we have a can on the counter for Guiding Influence, a non-profit in Alaska to raise money for youth to attend camps at Rainy Pass Lodge with Camp Iron Sights. In these months of being opened we have raised $100 and I plan on counting to help as much as I can. Working out at the lodge for three years, two of which had camps during them I have seen these young men grow so much in just a week and a half. Camp Iron Sights is amazing and I love being part of it.
    Check out Guiding Influence and Camp Iron Sights on Facebook to learn more!

Guiding Influence Donation Bucket

COMING SOON!
Very soon there will be large and wonderful changes happening at The Boardwalk Shop (where I am located) We have a bookstore moving in. Beauty for Ashes, a christian book and gift shop will be moving in. We are all supper excited about this ext opportunity and love how much the shop is growing and expanding. You will have to come check it out and grab a book and coffee and enjoy your time in the shop.

The Future is A Secret Thing

About a week ago I was reading my devotional book "Jesus Calling" and loved what I had read. It struck me how often I worry about what my future holds, on a daily basis something about my future goes through me mind. As I read I realized how much of my time is consumed by wanting to know what the future holds and just wishing everything would be going the way I wanted them to be going.

I quickly had to check myself, Why am I worry about my future SO much? I have no need to worry, yes it is something all humans do, but why so much? I don't know why, but what I did learn long ago and it was brought back to my attention is that God is leading me step by step through life. I have no reason to worry. Yes, things may not go as I planned, but God has a plan and there is a reason for the trials we go through and the good things we go through. He has a plan for all of it.

Daily I try my hardest to give my day to the Lord, trying not to worry and stress about where the day will go, how many customers I will have at the coffee shop, worrying about money, what will I be doing in a month or will I be going to the lodge this summer. I have no reason to worry, God has got His hands all over my life.

The future is a huge secret, slowly showing itself to me daily and I just have to be patient and let it come to me as God is ready to show me what is next. I know that if I knew what all was going to happen in my life, I would not be happy because I know I would figure out a way to try and make it better, better to my likings. I would have nothing to look forward to and life would in turn be pretty lame.

So the fact that my future is a secret to me, but God has it all planned is wonderful! Yes I am sure I will want to change things as they come, but I must just remember the grand plan that God has for my life. I am here to glorify Him and share His love with those around me. I am part of the body of Christ. I was not put on earth to worry about my future, but to love and to be a light to others.

My future is in the hands of the Creator, He is my Father, He loves me and wants what is best. He saved me. I think I can handle not knowing every little detail of my life and I am okay with not getting what I want. I pray that the desires of my heart are the desires that God places on my heart and makes me passionate about.