I'm Going to Eat Donuts for Every Meal and Sleep In

Most of you know by now, I have a love of donuts. A deep passionate love for the frosted fried leavened bread of heaven. I could honestly eat donuts every single day. Sometimes twice a day.

There is this donut shop in Auburn that I drive by frequently, and when I do, its a battle within my mind to not go in there. To be honest, there are times when I go out of my way to drive by it to have the excuse that "I just happened to be in the area". Lets be honest, whats the harm of an occasional fritter or twist?

The longer I live the more I realize that there is a constant war within my body and mind between doing what I should do, and doing what I want to do. The Apostle Paul wrote about this in the book of Romans when he said, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do".

What do I mean? I don't really want to eat donuts everyday. I know that they are not good for me. They don't benefit my health all that much and I really don't need the extra calories.

It seems that if its not donuts, its something else. There always seems to be a struggle between what I know is best for me and what I want to do. I want to sleep, I know I should get up. I want to watch TV, I know I should read my Bible. I want to spend time alone, I should spend some time with my kids. I want to eat a bag of cookies, I should be eating a bag of vegetables. I don't want to help that person and be inconvenienced. Its a constant never ending struggle to stay on the side of the 'shoulds' instead of the side of the 'wants'.

Here's the reality- I can't live my life as a selfish, sleeping in, TV watching, loner who eats donuts every meal. Its not beneficial for me or anyone else. I must choose to do the right thing and keep moving towards things that are better for me, not worse for me.

Do you struggle with doing the things that you know you should be doing? Ask God today to empower you to be a person to make good decisions that move you in the direction that He wants for you that help you get closer to His ideal for your life.

You will find that when you allow Him into your life he will help empower you to be a person that doesn't give in to every selfish whim or un-beneficial desire. He will help you to be a person who makes good decisions, reaches goals and accomplishes great things for His kingdom.

Make good decisions today.

Be blessed
matt

I'm Buying Crystal a Fire Extinguisher or a Vacuum (video clip included)

I'm not the best gift giver in the world. I know it. I don't know why, but I just can't wrap my mind around what is the best gift to give to someone. Most of my gift ideas are either way too expensive, or way too practical. I can't seem to find that happy medium in the middle.

I found a news story today that I think I just might go with for this season- the head of FEMA suggests that for Christmas gifts we should buy our loved ones something practical for disaster preparedness. I'm all for it. Nothing says "The Savior of the World has come to us" like a collapsible ladder in case of a fire. You can read the article here

What's the big deal with gifts anyway? I don't understand how a gift became the shining example of how much you love or care for someone. Sure, its nice to give someone something, but I don't think that its the culmination of a loving relationship.

Here's another idea- how about a dual bag vacuum? There is a great video of a Man who did this. You can watch it here.

I love my wife. Tremendously. The reality is that I would buy her everything in the world if I could. I just don't like the expectation of "as we honor the arrival of the Christ child" that we have to buy a gift that shows how much we love someone. I love my wife everyday.

Here's my rant for the day- we need to spend more time loving people not trying to buy them gifts to show them that we love them. We show people we love them every time we see them by how we speak, interact and serve them. You have a choice to show the people around you how much you love them every day. It doesn't have to happen on the morning of December 25th.

I would think that most people would appreciate people being a loving person, not trying to act loving by buying them something to make up for their social shortcoming throughout the year.

Go and love on someone today. When we love each other, we honor God. Look them in the eyes and tell them that you appreciate them. Love them for who they are, not for what they do for you, or what they give you. What you will find is that more than often people will appreciate your love more than your gifts. Then when you do give them a gift it will be an extension of your love, not your attempt to be loving.

Be Blessed today.
matt

Do You Need An Excuse to Eat Pizza?

I love pizza. Most people do. There was this great pizza place by my house when I was a kid called Pizza and Pipes that we used to go to all the time. It had good cheap pizza and a huge pipe organ that you could listen to while you were eating your pizza. My sister and my brother both worked there at different times, but now its been replaced by a Blockbuster video store. How sad.

Well, that love of pizza continues into my adult life. I have 3 places that I eat pizza from on a regular basis, one of which is Papa Johns pizza. Personally, I think that PJ is that greatest chain pizza that you can buy. That garlic sauce that comes with it is succulent. Its a bit more expensive than other pizzas, but man is it sure good.

About a week a week ago, in Lakewood Washington, a man walked into a coffee shop and killed four police officers at point blank range. Its been a pretty devastating blow to the communities around here. Those deaths affected many families and in response, tonight and tomorrow, in the Puget Sound Region, the Papa Johns in the continues of King, Pierce and Kitsap are having a fundraiser. Those 42 Papa Johns have agreed to donate one hundred percent of the profits from the sales of those two nights to benefit the families of the slain officers.

How great is that? Way to go Papa Johns! As if I needed another excuse to eat pizza. Seriously though, I wanted to pass this on to you readers in the Puget Sound region so that you would know to go and eat some pizza tonight or tomorrow.

I understand that some of you blog readers outside the region may feel a bit short-changed by this regionally specific blog today. Do not let your hearts be trouble. The Victory Blog will be back in full swing tomorrow. Use today as an opportunity to reflect on the Goodness of God. The ways that He blesses you and the love that He brings.

Be Blessed
Matt