What's in a smile?

Some use a smile as a weapon. The deadly curve, with malice lurking just behind, evil intent, and wicked planned. This vile smirk laughs in the face of gratefulness and love, and strikes down the pure and hopeful grin.

While the wretched plot, and devise and scheme, there is another form that a smile can be.

It is used commonly as a mask. A mask to hide shame, bitterness, pain, and sorrow. Happiness is easy to fake, because people don't like to accept anything less. To them, happiness = success. Regardless of how broken they are, to wear that smile, hurts even worse.

Through tears and agony, these poor souls suffer... there is yet a third face on which a smile can rest.

A face of true joy! A grateful heart is a glad one. When the wearer knows the honesty behind the grin, there is peace, and hope. Love, and warmth. 

While others try searching for it, and some try to fabricate it, only those that found it, know what it's like. 

To be 'happy' is shallow. It's only skin deep.

To have JOY is infectious. (In the best way)

The solution? 

Give thanks. =)

Thoughts? Comments?

Sorry for the Wait...

Folks!

It's been way too long... For that, I apologize.

Seems like a million and one things have happened over the course of these past (near) two years...

I won't get into that though. Far too much backstory.

Don't leave yet! There's been something on my mind, and I'd like for you to read it, and provide input. 

Here goes.

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Waiting. I'm always waiting. It seems to me, that the more I try to get ahead, the further behind I get.

Why is that? Am I doing something wrong? Is it just that I can't do anything? Is that simply my fate?

Fate. What a precarious word to use, so flippantly. 

Too many questions, not enough answers. 

Or maybe, just maybe, I'm just looking in the wrong places...

Sometimes it seems all I have left, is to wait. 

Perhaps... perhaps the answer is patience. 

Wait on God's plan, instead of pushing ahead, in my selfish desire, and sinful blindness.

Human nature has this innate desire to 'do it myself!' Even at a young age, it's evident.

This, in and of itself, doesn't seem wrong at all. In fact, to many, this sounds like a valuable skill. However, this self-sufficiency has bred a different species of value, then what I grew up with. 

I was taught to pray, and follow God's will. Not to prey on the weak, to fulfill my ignorant wants.

I learned the true purpose of dying to myself, so that God can and will be glorified. Not how to glorify myself with useless stuff I'll never use anyway.

My parents led by example. Living selflessly, always waiting on God's timing, no matter what.

In the end, the wait is worth it.

Why is it worth it?

That may be something you need to find out for yourself, my friend.

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My late-night thoughts, this Saturday evening! What do you think?

Let me know!

The Lines Time Creates

There is no way to escape it.

It is always present, and always prevalent.

You can’t hide from it, or ignore it.

This is time.

If a man chooses to be rebellious in every aspect of life, they still cannot deny the final calling of time.

Each and every person will run out of it. Every last soul must succumb to it.

This leaves me with an important question. Amidst the tangles of the many lives we see daily, how many of those people fail to realize the importance of time?

More importantly, how do we use this temporary gift?

It was gifted to us before time began, and gifted by the One who began time.

This alone, is sobering.

Why do we make light of the vapor of time? We waste every second on video games, and Internet cats.

We use our smartphone screens to escape real life, with an earbud implanted in our ear 24/7, to drown out all that we disagree with.

I know of a generation that used imagination to create things of worth…Not to launch birds into a digital structure.  They worked with their hands to produce a living crop, not asking acquaintances to donate a ‘blanket’ or ‘milk bottle’ so your calf in Farmville will grow faster. They got jobs by working hard, and being their best, not by sitting in class, and spouting everything the teacher told them to.

Point is, we all have a predetermined amount of time to accomplish something great, and yet we stare into virtual realities, and worry about what someone will think of your latest tweet.

Let’s face it. This generation is in a rut.

How are we to escape it?

Certainly not by standing still, and waiting for someone else to pick up the slack. For all you know, YOU are that someone.

Get up. Look around. The world is broken. It has fallen to pieces while you sat, phone in hand, browsing Facebook.

Nobody knows how much time you or I have. So together, let’s use what we have left, and redeem it.

Ephesians 5:16

Perhaps I'm rambling...

Thoughts? Comments? Questions?