Victory Through Struggles

Sorry for the gap in posts. I've been restless for the past few months. I'm working through some spiritual struggles although I feel and know that God is victorious.

Today I want to leave you with the scripture I Peter 3:21

"...and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also — not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

It's Time to Take 'Sin' out of "Sin City"

So, Las Vegas may be called Sin City, but who says things can't change right?

I'm thinking, no, I'm KNOWING that God will take over that city for a HUGE change.

I had this crazy awesome dream that the hotels were still there but that the casinos and clubs were shut down.

A movement is HAPPENING!

What is Closure?

I want your opinion. What do you think closure is?

Home Alone.

No, no, stop think of the movie. No need to set traps for stupid morons.

I am really home alone though. Unless you count the three dogs, then I'm not really home alone; but they're doing there own thing, and I'm kind of lonely. Psh, Daryl, get over it already.

A Love So Undeserved

"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." For all the things we have done, we are still Loved. With a love that is unconditional.

Masquerade

Lately I have been listening to the [Original Cast Recording] of The Phantom of the Opera.
Wonder piece of music, I highly recommend it! Anyway, As I listen to it, I find that in some ways I can identify with certain characters. Or at least certain personality aspects to different characters.

The Phantom: On the basic level the mask is used to hide a facial deformity. The Phantom has in mind and heart that because of his face others will think of him as a cast-out. A monster. A ghost. Because of this mindset, he has chosen to use his deformed face as tool to get what he wants. To frighten people. He wants Christine. Though, in the end, he realizes that that dream can never really come true. All he ever really wanted was to feel loved.

Often I feel like I have to hide my true feelings behind a masquerade of silence. A masquerade of silence. Fearing that no one will care. In some way almost wanting to be secluded to myself; thinking that if I step into my lonely corner everything will just be okay. It's when the feelings stay bottled up that they begin to eat you up. They change the way act. The way you react. They change who you are.

My advice to you: Pray. Don't keep it in and all to yourself. You will end up hurting not only yourself, but the ones who love you the most. God's love never fails.

It rains, It Pours

I woke up this morning to mixed emotions.

It was raining quite hard. I have been looking forward to the rain for quite some time now. Yes, I like it when the sun is out, but more so, I like it when the clouds are out. The expectation that some form of precipitation will follow soon always fills me with a certain eagerness.

Someone once told me that not one rain drop ever falls the same as another rain drop. Maybe this is just a random occurrence, or maybe this all just the Way of our Magnificent Creator.

I say this all to simply say: I like the rain.

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I'd like to say that I will make my blog posts daily, but I can't make any promises. With work, and other things, sometimes it hard to find time to get on to my computer a write a new post.

Stay tuned!

Back ... I think??

It's hard to believe that I have come here since the day before my birthday (April 5th).

A lot of stuff have has been going on and has happened over the past few months. Some good, and some not so good. Some miracles and and some prayers that have yet to be answered.

Through it all, the one thing I know is this, God's Love NEVER fails.

Smile

Is it possible for a simple thing like a smile to captivate one so much?

Wow.

Changing Your Atmosphere

Something my pastor said this morning really struck a chord with me.
It was something like this. . .

Worship and Praise can change our Atmospheres.

When our Atmosphere is changed it allows us to see how absolutely Amazing God is.

Feeling Bad About Feeling Good?

So here it is, Sunday morning and I am going down to get my early dopio espresso before I head to church for worship practice, and as I go through the door of the coffee shop I see a friend of mine who works their and he says, "Hey Daryl, how's it going?" and I say, "Hey man, I can't complain at all; how are you?" To which he replies, "I can definitely complain. I got a flat tire when I got to work this morning."

After he said that, I kind of felt a little guilty about being so positive about my morning. It was as though my gladness made him feel even worse than he already was, although he didn't let on.

My question to you: Should I feel guilty??

I Am Restless

I have been quite restless as of late.

Perhaps it's just a part of growing up.

Or maybe it is not related to that at all.

I think what I feel is something that everyone feels at some point in there life.

I have lived in the same town I grew up in for my entire life.
I am ready for something new.

I get this distinct feeling that my life is not really going anywhere.

It is as though I am stuck on the proverbial fence.

I am ready to break out into something that I have never experienced before.

I want to travel. I want see places that I have never seen before.

To experience life outside of what I know of as normal.

This economy prevents me from doing such things.

Maybe if I had done things differently early on in my life my current circumstances would be different than what they are now.

I want to break out of the same old-same old routine that I am in now.

Seeing Red (Or Is It Blue?)

In the past several days the Red River areas of North Dakota , Minnesota, and Manitoba have been experiencing flood levels like they have never seen them before.

I would encourage everyone to say a prayer for the people that are struggling with these flood waters. Think about them for a while as you offer up a prayer.

To those in the North, we're thinking about and praying for you! Stay strong in the fight. God is watching over you.

Getting Out of Jail Free. I THINK NOT!

If you live in the Northern California Bay Area you have, no doubt, heard the news about the slayings of Oakland Police officers Sgt Mark Dunakin, Officer John Hege, Sgt Daniel Sakai, and Ervin Romans, by one Lovelle Mixon.

My heart goes out to the families of the victims and to the family of the slain shooter.

In the wake of this event San Francisco Chronicle columnists Matier & Ross, in the Wednesday edition of the Chronicle, wrote about how the cash-strapped state California may free thousands of prison inmates.

I pose this question to you: In the shadow of this outrageous Oakland shooting, why even propose that prison inmates be set free. Setting aside the fact that California is pretty much out of money, what could be worse the having criminals running free in our streets. Not only does this give us a fear for our lives and our family's lives, but this will give our kids the impression that wrong-doers will not be punished or be taken away for what they have done.

This is not right, nor is it SAFE!

Out of Touch With Reality

I must apologize that I have been a skosh out of touch with reality as usually happens when I get sick. I started to get sick on Monday (3/16) evening, went to work the next day at only about 80% health, and thankfully made it through the day relatively painlessly. I had Wednesday and Thursday off from work which I used to recover. I worked on Friday, and was called in to work on Saturday (I don't usually work on Saturdays) which I didn't mind since I have not been getting that many hours as of late.

Right now it's Saturday at around 3:57 and I am blogging from my "office" at Starbucks in Larkfield. I am having a hard time trying to concentrate because there are three kids around 5-7 years old running around and throwing articles of clothing all over the place. It's quite maddening because the mothers of the respective kids are doing nothing whatsoever to keep them under control.

My question to you: What has the world come to when parents do not take the effort to keeps their children under control in restaurants, coffee shops, and other public establishments.

I have recently join a weekly vlog (video + blog) group on YouTube called The 7 Vloggers. I, myself, vlog on Wednesdays. I encourage you to check out our videos!

http://www.youtube.com/user/The7Vloggers

Flying, Safer than Driving?

For Facebook/MySpace readers:

Flying Safer Than Driving

Happy Day

First watch this video:



For those that will read this on Facebook/Myspace, click the following link:

Happy Day as performed by JesusCulture



Now that you have watched this video (at least I'm hoping you have watched it), I have but one question: In the midst of our uncertainties why do we STILL worry and fear, when God has everything under control.

Bonus Question: Why do we question God?
Bonus Answer: We shouldn't. Period.

God's Timing + Our Timing : A Lesson on Waiting Patiently

So, I had this idea of what I wanted to write for my next blog then I saw the update on my friend Jerad's blog: Finite Calls Infinite.

Then I thought, "Man, how can I say it any better than that??" So, instead of trying to say it better, I'm just going to put some things in my own words, as well as Words from Scripture.

Love is patient... [ I Corinthians 13:4]

Over the past several months I have often struggled with accepting God's timing. Specifically as it applies to relationships and when I will meet the one that God has for me. I have often been plagued with feelings of loneliness. I have questioned God, asking Him, "Why the feelings of loneliness and sadness?? Why the long waiting time?? You brought Eve to Adam because it was not good for man to be alone."

I realized that during this period of time of questioning God was teaching me something. Helping me to grow more mature. The most important lesson being that Our Timing is not always God's Timing. Often God must teach us a 'lesson' before he allows something to happen.

We must be willing to strip away the mindset of wanting things (i.e. companionship, in my case) in our timing; and replace it with the mindset of allowing God to prepare us for the wonderful thins he has in store for us. God has taught me and given me the patience to wait.

The feelings of loneliness still linger, yes, but I know that with all my heart the waiting will be well worth it when I see what God has in store for me!

Love is patient...

You're Not Alone + Trust Me

There was a time when I thought that I could handle all of my life's problems on my own. I was wrong. It was too hard. I was in pain. I was depressed; not seriously, but I had quite a few bad days.




At this time in my life I am waiting on something. At times it is difficult to accept that God's timing is the best timing. In my heart I so long for a certain something, but I'm waiting because I know that God has something amazing in store for me!

If you take just one thing away from this blog post let it be this:

Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
~Psalm 27:14

Filled With Joy . . . at Work??

As some of you may know I work for a certain rental car agency here in Santa Rosa.
Believe it or not while being at work I continue to be filled with this amazing God given Joy.

Although my co-workers are not (yet) believers I take great pleasure in continually praying for God's blessings over them. They, as far as I know, are unaware that I pray for them. Because of this, every time I set foot on the job God fills me with outstandingly amazing Joy. A joy that makes me happy to be at work; A joy that encourages me to work all the more harder for my manager(s); A joy that, even though I don't make very much money, makes me content with what I have.

I thank God that he has placed me in this job, that I may continually pray blessings over my co-workers and the company.

You may find that if you start to anonymously pray over your co-workers and the company you work for, you will find a Joy you never knew existed. A joy that comes from God Himself, and is through faith!

Blessings on this Sunday morning!

Daryl

Musings of a Church Drummer + The Beggining

I must admit that this not the first time I have attempted to start maintaining a continual blog. Quite a few months ago I vowed that I would create a blog and then update it at least once a week. Needless to say that never really went anywhere so to speak.

I suppose my failure to have a genuine blog was for fear that no one would actually visit and comment on my latest posts (not that there were any to actually comment on.

Anyhow, I am going to try again. While I daily update my DeviantART page and my Facebook profile, I will do my utmost best to regularly update my blog with occurrences that happen through out my week.

Cheers!