#blessings

Have you ever had one of those "wham bam, thank you mam" moments that hit you out of nowhere while listening to a song?  That happened to me yesterday when the song "Blessings" by Laura Story was blaring on my Spotify app.  I've heard that song plenty of times, but for some reason it hit me in a different way.  THAT's the Holy Spirit at work in me!

The first part of the chorus really made me think.  How many times in my life would I consider raindrops to be blessings?  I can definitely relate to healing coming through tears--I've shed plenty of those in my lifetime!  Then the next sentence resonated in me.  How many nights have I tossed and turned worried about something?  Too many to count!  But, now that I have God in my life, I've realized how much calmer I am once I take those worries to Him.

So there I was singing my heart out to Laura's song, and I had to pause and think about the chorus.  Then I hit play again and listened a little more closely to the rest of the lyrics.  Once again, the very last verse of the song spoke to my heart.

I recently experienced a trial in life.  Well, compared to what some people have to deal with, it's merely a hangnail.  But to me it was a HUGE trial.  I had my path in life planned, prayed about it, thought I was on the same page with God, and then He quickly steered me in a different direction.  I even let the devil jump in my head and fill my thoughts with bitterness toward God.  After 2 days--thanks to the love, support, prayers, and wise words from a few friends--God's voice was able to drown out the devil's voice.  I was reminded to TRUST God's plan for me.  That's an easier pill to swallow when I'm not wallowing away in my misery calm and thinking rationally.  One of my dear friends told me that God may have been saving me from heartache.  Definitely a mercy in disguise--only I was to stubborn to realize it at the time.

This song has got me thinking about what I consider to be blessings.  I also realized I don't thank God nearly enough for all the blessings in my life.  I'm quick to turn to him when things aren't going my way, yet not so fast to thank him.  With fierce determination, I'm making it my goal to stop and thank God for even the smallest blessings.

If you haven't heard Laura Story's song "Blessings," check it out below.


I also found her story behind the song on YouTube.  Powerful!


What about you?  Have YOU thanked God for all the blessings in YOUR life today?  If not, take a moment to do that now!

Random sidebar: I didn't copy these pictures from anyone.  I saved clip art, uploaded it to Pixlr express, and added the words.  So, if you want to swipe the pics, feel free to steal them!  I'm happy to share!

Boo KU!

This blog post is sure to send a few tempers flaring.  While some may view this as a bitter rampage in light of K-State's heartbreaking loss in the NCAA tourney today, I assure you that couldn't be further from the truth.  I'm here to set the record straight and explain to the rest of the world why you won't find myself or a majority of the other KSU fans rooting for KU in the NCAA tournament.

Some KU fans say that we have to root for teams from Kansas.  Support our home state AND the Big 12.  Pretty sure the Big 12 is doing fine without me rooting for KU.  Other KU fans claim to have cheered for K-State.  Great.  I sure didn't ask for your support, and I bet Bruce Webber wasn't out there pleading with KU fans to support his boys.  So, if you're a KU fan (or a fan of any other team for that matter) but were cheering for KSU, don't expect us to pat you on the back and tell you what a great person you are.

You see, at Kansas State we are deeply committed to our university and our teams, win or lose.  It's in our blood.  Sure it's a lot more fun winning, but every team has its share of highs and lows.  When our team loses, we pick ourselves up and keep moving forward.  We're family, and we support each other no matter what.  I was reminded of this when I looked at the cover of the 2013 season ticket catalog on Tuesday. 


Check out the entire KSU football catalog by going to http://issuu.com/k-statesports/docs/footballticketcatalog-2013/1?mode=embed&viewMode=presentation.

The pride the Wildcat Nation has in our teams is indescribable.  It's all about family.  That's why we love Saturdays at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.  While we may not spend the day with our blood relatives, we're connected with 50,000+ other family members who bleed purple just like us.

It's also a matter of class.  Look at Coach Snyder.  He's the epitome of class.  I don't just say that because I'm a Snyder Super Fan.  He's earned that reputation on his own.  The way his young men carry themselves and represent the team is partly due to Bill's leadership and the example he sets for them.  He wants them to succeed in life on and off the football field.  The same is true of all our coaches.  They represent the university with the highest standards.  I can't say the same is true of other teams.  Look at the allegations of scandals throughout the NCAA.  Remember the great ticket scandal down the road just a few years ago?  If not, check out this article.  Another article suggests the possibility of police officers being involved in the scandal.

In no way am I writing this to bash the Jayhawks.  I know my beloved Wildcats are far from perfect.  But the level of integrity is just different.  That became VERY clear for me when KU beat Iowa State back in February in one of the most controversial games of the year.  I watched Coach Self stand on the sideline not even 2 feet from Jeff Withey when Withey committed a foul.  After the whistle blew and Withey left the court, Self should have patted his player on the back and congratulated him for a game well played.  Instead, he motioned for Withey to get back on the court, and then the refs called the foul on another KU player.  Here coach had the chance to step in and do what was right--tell the ref that yes Withey did commit the foul.  Instead, he encouraged Withey to get back on the court and keep playing.  It was as if the rules didn't apply to Self and his star player.  What kind of example did he set for his players, fans, and the rest of the world watching that game?  It certainly isn't an example I would be proud to follow!  If you were hiding under a rock that week and missed the buzz, check out this article from the KC Star.

There was one point in my life when I was heavily influenced by peer pressure and actually bought a KU shirt on clearance for $4 (kids department at Alco before they went out of business in JC).  I even cheered for the Hawks to win the NCAA tourney that year in what can only be described as a temporary moment of insanity lapse in judgement. 

I have and always will be a Wildcat.  I join the other alum from around the nation in supporting my team because it's in our blood.  We poured our time, money, and energy into our education at Kansas State University, and couldn't be more proud.  It appears that the loudest KU fans scrutinizing KSU fans for not rooting for them didn't even attend KU.  They don't truly understand that faithfulness to their alumni.  You can't tell me T. Boone Pickens has ever rooted for OU, because he has that OSU pride rooted deeply in him as a graduate of OSU.  Case closed.  While I will wish KU well in the tourney, you definitely won't find this girl rooting for them to win!