Are You In Your Zone!!!!!

  I hear it said so often, "I want to be doing what that person is doing."   We all have these people in our lives, the people that seem to accel at everything.  It doesn't matter weather its sports, or academia.  They seem to always score the points or get straight A's.  But for those of us that are average, we seem to look at people that are achieving their goals and we are envious.
I would suggest a better question.   What if you asked "what should I be doing?"  We all need people we look up to, goals to shoot for, dreams to chase.   But why would we want someone else's dream?  Why would I want someone else's dream, when I don't know if I can fulfill their dream.  I was not designed to fulfill their dream, to reach their goals.
I would challenge you,  get in your zone.  Do what you have been called to do.  Look at other people, learn from other people, but live to your potential, realize your dreams!

It's Either To Hot, Or To Cold!

The other day I found myself think of a few things I had to do outside.  Where I live it’s winter right now,  40 Degrees Fahrenheit.  I said to myself “it’s to cold to do that”  you know, In a way that was complaining.  I then took stock of the normal temperature in Houston Texas…. Troubling.   It’s more often hot here then it is cold.

If the conditions are never right to move forward… then maybe it’s not the conditions that are the problem.   There is something for having an optimistic outlook in every situation.   A can do attitude about the opportunities in front of you or the obstacles in front of you. 

It’s a season to where a jacket, rather than swim shorts!  Enjoy it! Don’t let the cold be an excuse, but rather an opportunity to experience something new and different.

It will be unbearably hot before you know it!

The Prince of Peace: Der Freidensfurst

Visiting my family in Canada this year has brought back so many great childhood memories.  From the Christmas baking to seeing old friends and family. Driving down streets I grew up riding my bike or skateboarding on. But the thing that has captured my attention the most is singing Der Friedensfurst (The Prince of Peace).  Its tradition to sing on Christmas morning in the church I grew up in Emmanuel Mennonite Church.  I have been reading through and translating the lyrics they really are amazing and encouraging.  So here they are... in German!!!

Der Friedensfürst
Horch, die Engelchöre singen,
Horch, die Engelchöre singen,
Dir, o mächt’ger Friedensfürst,
Du Heiland aller Welt.
Hört sie lieblich schallen,
Holde Freudenlieder,
Dir, o mächt’ger Friedensfürst,
Und ein Hosianna tönt auf Erden wieder,
Dir, o mächt’ger Friedensfürst.
Uns ist geboren heut’ ein Kind,
Uns ist geboren heut’ ein Sohn,
Und seine Herrlichkeit
Füllet die weite Welt,
Und er heisst, und er heisst
Wunderbar, Wunderbar,
Der mächt’ge Friedensfürst,
Wunderbar, Wunderbar,
Der mächt’ge Friedensfürst.
Drum besingt den Ruhm des Herrn,
Ihm gebührt der Lobgesang,
Dich erhebt das Herz so gern,
Friedensfürst voll Preis und Dank.
Ehre sei dem Herrn in der Höhe,
Ja, Ehre sei dem Herrn in der Höhe,
Und Friede auf der weiten Welt,
Gottes Friede auf der Welt.
Seid fröhlich alle Völker
Und singet Freudenlieder,
Bringt Ehre und Anbetung, Ihm,
Dem Friedensfürsten dar.
Singt Hosianna, singt Hosianna,
Hosianna bringt dem Gotteslamm,
Singt Hosianna, singt Hosianna,
Hosianna bringt dem Gotteslamm.
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen.