SkyMaster

"We are going on the SkyMaster."

"Okay..." I looked at Matt, unsure. We were at a fair and going to take in some rides. Let's just say I am not a big rides kind of girl. I don't like spinny. I hate upside down. I love heights, but more like going to the edge of a mountain and looking down into a beautiful valley, not looking down on more rides, busy people... You get the picture? But there we were, in line for the SkyMaster, standing on concrete, the sound of shrill screams filling our ears as the sent of funnel cakes floated in the air. The screams above us suddenly became louder. I looked up to see those on the ride get swung upside down, and then held there for what seemed like an eternity. Eyes wide, I turned to Matt. You want me to go on that?! My eyes said. 

"You know you want to," he said. "Deep down you know you want to." He was right. I couldn't almost go and then chicken out! That just wouldn't set with me. 

The ride ended. People got off, and on we went. Matt and I got in, sat down, and pulled down our safety bars. 

"What am I doing in here?" 

"It's gonna be fun! Trust me." Matt tried reassuring me. I wasn't so sure. The ride started. We barely were even going when I started screaming. 

"Ahhhh! Ahh! Ahhhhhh!" 

We were gaining momentum. Soon went upside down for the first time. 

"Ahh! Matt! Matt... Matt??!" 

It kept going and going. For a split second I was really having fun. Then we went upside down again and this time stayed that way. 

"Ahhh!!! Ah! Ah! Matthew Carlson, what are you doing to me?!!" 

"Laura, open your eyes."

"No!" I flashed them open. I could see out across the fair. All the rides. All the people. The blue hills behind it all with the sun shining on them. It really was quite a sight. But as soon as we started moving again I closed them. 

We went all the way around a few times. Upside down, then back around. Fast. It feels like I'm flying. The moment of enjoyment ended quickly as I started to feel light headed. 

"Oh no! Ohh no! Oh my goodness!" 

"Laura, you're gonna be okay." 

"Okay, I can do this. I can do this. Ahh! Ah! Ahhhhhh!" 

Though I felt it was going to be never ending, before I knew it, the ride was actually over. 

"Are you okay?" Matt asked. "I've never heard you scream like that before." I've never screamed like that before, I thought. 

As I think back on this now, I can't help but laugh! Replaying it in my head, it's quite hilarious to me. A different side of me was shown both to Matt, and to myself. And I wouldn't trade this new memory for anything.  But I think a lesson can be taken away as well. 

Sometimes life throws you upside down. Go ahead and open your eyes because you just might see beauty. Don't be afraid to take a risk. Go out of your comfort zone. Just trust. What seems scary won't last forever. You'll get turned right side up again. So live life to the fullest. 

Who knows, it might be fun! 

With Us Always

God never looses service on us. Our prayers don't for some reason fail to send. His battery never dies. 

He's always there, always listening. Always ready to comfort us and wipe away our tears. In fact, our tears are precious  to Him. So precious, He collects and keeps them. ("You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." ~Psalm 56:8) 

People are going to let you down. 

This is just what is going to happen because we are imperfect humans. But God is always there. He tells us in Isaiah 41:10, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God." 

God is unchanging; we don't have to worry about His feelings toward us differing day to day. We don't have to wonder if He still wants us. God remains the same. And He wants us. He delights in us. He likes us. He wants to hang out with us. 

 "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His Love, He will rejoice over you with singing." 

United We Stand

There is strength in unity. Something powerful happens when people come together with a common purpose.

Standing alone is scary, but when united together,  fear turns into courage, which leads to the desire to make a difference. 

Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." 

"United we stand, divided we fall." We have all heard this quote multiple times, but let's try living it. Let's come together as one, pray together, and encourage one another. Then together, we will change the world. 

Like brother and sister, we come hand in hand, 

Rising together, we'll take a stand. 

And we'll stand tall, tall together. 

So long world, Christ is better. 

We are no longer alone, 

And we'll help get each other home. 

Two are better than one anyway, 

Gotta have that friend to help you up and pray. 
Lift each other up when we wanna fall. 
Gotta get up; we can stand tall.

And we'll stand tall, tall together. 

So long world, Christ is better. 

We are no longer alone, 

And we'll help get each other home.