Peace

Everyday annoyances. We all have them. Either they are things that happen daily that are completely out of our control, or perhaps it's something that someone else does. We all have them. Little moments that can drive us completely bonkers! And during the Holiday season, these annoyances seem to occur even more often, and to make it worse, they are 100 times more annoying! And to top it off these "issues" seem to bother us on a whole different level.
       
This could be because we are being pulled in 10 different directions from the moment we wake up to the second we finally drift off into a Christmas filled sleep. Or possibly all the "quality time" we're getting with our loved ones is putting us on edge. The list of reasons goes on. We tend to get frustrated, lash out at others, or hide behind a cheery smile until we can yell at an unsuspecting family member. It is, after all the "most wonderful time of the year".

However, the way in which we react  and handle the extra stress is completely up to us. Paul started out each of his letters with "Grace and Peace to you". Paul is saying no matter what is going on when you receive this letter, may God's grace wash over you and His peace fill you. No matter how stressed you are because your to do list is longer than your done list, Peace to you. Jesus told His disciples, "my peace I give you".... Jesus know these men were going to face some really hard and trying times. Jesus however, knew the peace that comes from His father. He knew that this peace could calm any fear or anxiety.

So right now during the Christmas season, remember God's peace. Remember that this is not a season just to get through, or a time to make every moment perfect. But it is a season to feel God's peace in new and refreshing ways. Know the peace of the father who calms the seas and keeps nature in it's beautiful rhythm. Merry Christmas friends! And may you find time to rest and truly enjoy the season!

A heavy post

Thanksgiving is merely 2 days away. Dang that snuck up quick! I don't know that I'm ready for the Holiday's. Maybe it's the internal struggle over the whole "what's next" issue, or could be the change in weather. Whatever it is, I can say with confidence that I'm in a bit of a funk! While I should be looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with my family, it's not all that exciting to me. There is so much to look forward to, and yet I could probably spend my four day weekend sleeping and watching movies and come away completely ok with it. But why? It's this place that I feel completely stuck in.

There is no motivation, and over all I feel stuck. Knowing that the Lord has great plans gives hope, and knowing that nothing can take me from His hand helps to lighten the heaviness. Jesus Hold me!!

To write a Love Story

I recently have enjoyed watching the movie 'Kate and Leopold'. In case you've never seen it, it's a movie starring Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman. Leopold (Hugh Jackman) is from the 1800's and through some bizarre circumstances, is brought to present day (2003ish) New York City. He meets and falls in love with Kate.... Now that you're caught up ;)...

This movie really isn't a normal type for me. It's a little too mushy lovey dovey, and is not anything that I would normally pick. But there is an aspect to the movie I enjoy! It shows a romance. A gentleman (Leopold)  pursues the woman he has become captivated by (Kate). This raises in me the desire to pursued by the man God has set aside for me. But it makes me think about how over romanticized our society is.

Men and women watch movies, t.v., read books and magazines that all portray this idea of love that we've come to long for. We desire this idea of love that is portrayed through "whirlwind romances", "love at first sight", "love conquers all". We see these stories played out and we want it! We want that perfect moment with the right words,  precise lighting, and the ideal mate. We begin to make up checklists for our future mates. These lists only lead to brokenness, unmet expectations, and calloused hearts.

By creating our own lists and ideas of what love should look like, we create a story that can never be written. We're setting ourselves up for heart ache. By setting up standards according to the world and according to our own heart's there is absolutely no one who will measure up. And we can't expect them to.  But by measuring them by God's standards, we have the potential to find someone worth investing in.

Also, what we realize is that when we allow God to be our guide and matchmaker we will find someone to spend our lives with. It won't be perfect, and it won't always be easy, but it will be designed and focused on Christ. This relationship will be one of great strength that will become a marriage of spiritual richness. God will surprise us. It's a crazy ride and allowing God to write our stories all along the way will take us on a journeys unimaginable.

Personally, this is the kind of romance I want. A romance and relationship so focused on Christ that the journey is a beautiful picture of Christ's love for the church. And man do I look forward to that kind of love!!

An honest look at Halloween Candy

Well, as you know tomorrow is the big day. The day that kids look forward almost as much as they do Christmas. Halloween! A night to dress up in costumes and beg your neighbors for candy. Now Halloween just happens to be one of my very favorite days of the year. Basically I just love to dress up, but the candy is great too! There are so many candies that come out just around this time of year. Candy corn, pumpkin shaped Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Giant bags of assorted candy... Ok so really the normal candy just turns into something bigger and Halloween shaped. But what it really comes down to, is what kind of candy you get at Halloween.

You see, about a week ago, I was in the store and the couple behind me in line put quite a few bags of quality candy on the belt. Almond Joy's, Hershey's, Laffy Taffy, Snickers.... All the stuff that makes walking the streets in pre-winter temperatures worth it. Those are the houses that make your trek a valuable one. But there are some candies that make you wonder why you even bothered. You know the ones I'm talking about. The off brand, tastes kind of like real candy, but really leaves you completely unsatisfied. There are three main categories of these candies

Chocolates: This covers anything from bars to candy shell covered pieces. The off brand usually feels like and tastes like wax. The biggest offender: Sixlets they're supposed to be a competitor for M&M's but don't even come close. The only thing Sixlets are good for are to launch them through a straw at a sibling or unsuspecting passerby...

Chewy Candies: Whether it be taffy that takes you 3 hours to chew, or the gummy worms that you break a tooth on, you must beware of the offbrand chewy candies. The real problem here is you either feel like you're eating pure sugar, or you end up chewing on tree sap.

Waxy candy: I'm not talking about waxy tasting or feeling, I'm talking about straight up wax. Wax lips, bottles filled with colored water, or anything made out of wax is not an appropriate alternative to candy. Nobody wants to be searching through their bag of goods only to find wax. You can't eat it, and nobody wants to trade with you for something better so really wax items are a total fail!

So to those of you passing out candy this year, please make wise choices in your candy selections. You don't want to be labeled as "that house" ya know the one that each year the kids say "oh no it's the house with the horrible candy"And then you run the risk of being egged or toilet papered for years to come. Besides once your labeled, the only way to redeem yourself is if you pass out full sized candy bars.

Have a safe and super fun Halloween!!

Love Blinders~ A lesson in Hope

I'm wondering if I am walking around with love blinders on? Do I not see what is really going on, am I not actually seeing the truth? Am I so blinded? I feel like at this place in my life, I choose to see the good in a situation and in a person. But yet I am not blind to the bad and the possibilities of failure. Ok that just sounded confusing even to me as I'm writing it...

What I'm trying to get at, is am I so wrapped up in the hope that I have for a person that I am failing to see the wrong and the past? I know there is better, I know that this person can do better, and yet I know their past. But there is a burning hope inside of me that this time it will change. What if it doesn't? What if I'm left looking like a fool for defending a putting my trust in them? I keep going back to 1Corinthians 13:4-7... I know this is used a million times at every wedding ever and there are thousands of sermons preached on it every Sunday, but I think it deserves a good look....

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."


I underlined a couple of points that really stick out to me... 
"It keeps no record of wrong"- We all mess up, in fact I'm probably the biggest screw up of all. But what does this mean for those of us who are called to love? I'm called to love ALL. Dang do I fail miserably at that! But what does it mean to keep no record of wrongs? Do we just love blindly and not learn from the past?? I think we are to learn from the past but still believe the best for the future because that is what Jesus does and we are called to love like Jesus.... 


"Always hopes, always perseveres"- Dang!! ALWAYS hopes... I think this is where my problem is right now. I am hoping for the best. But how often do we actually put hope in a person? (well except when their name is Hope) ;)


Hope: to expect with confidence


Hmm... So if we are always hoping for the best in a person, then we are expecting with confidence that the good is going to come. So am I being blinded by my love, or am I merely living out the call to love? 
I wish I had some insight, or word of encouragement, but I don't. I'm wrestling with this. Why? Well because this is a new road for me. God is teaching me to trust in others, and to love them wholly. With this comes the idea that we are called to place hope in others. We are to believe in them.... Even when they fail, so what you stand behind them, love them and continue to hope the best for them... 


Huh... A lot to process... 

Pressed, not crushed

One of the greatest pieces of advice my dad ever gave me was "life just isn't fair sometimes". Why is this such a great piece of advice? Well because it's true!! Life just isn't fair. There are times when we are treated unjustly, trampled by our circumstances, and pressed to our breaking point. People let us down, accuse us, and make us feel inferior. While this is so unfortunate, it is something we have to deal with because we live in a fallen and broken world. The enemy is constantly on the prowl and seeking to destroy us, and we are in a fight for our lives against him. Paul said

 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." ~Ephesians 6:12   

And because this evil is present here on earth, it has the capability to hold people captive. It's through others that we experience the most oppression and pain. And all too often it's the people who are close to us, the ones we place trust in that hurt us the most. It stinks, plain and simple!! But there is hope! 

When you commit to follow Jesus with your whole life, you have someone who goes into these battles for you! You have the power to rebuke Satan and his attacks on you with the name of Jesus!! Woah!! And when you feel like you're at the point where you can't take anymore, remember what Paul said to the Corinthians 

"We are pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." ~ 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

Yeah life might have you in the final round it seems like the knock out is coming at any moment. But you have the life of Jesus in you! The most powerful name in all the universe, the name that can heal the sick, raise the dead, and drive out demons is the name that has given you life! So dangit reach out and use that power! Stand up against the enemy and break free from the bondage he has you in. Granted there will be more to breaking free than just this simple step, but ya know what, it takes you stepping up and boldly declaring freedom in the name of Jesus! 

Silly conversations

I enjoy silly conversations. The kind when there are lots of giggles, and friendly teasing. These are the conversations that you stay up late with your girlfriends, and talk about everything! Especially when we start talking about boys... Oh man. But I love what these conversations turn into. 

We go from surface topics and end up in deep discussions about Christ. The idea of who God is, and His calling and will in our lives becomes a late night topic. We fight the onset of sleep, for the sake of our conversation. There comes a point when we begin to talk about our big dreams, and what we're excited to see God do. Of course there are fits of laughter, and moments when the giggling takes over. But it always slips right back into the moments of seriousness as we share our hearts with one another. 

This is another one of the reasons I am so in love with my savior! I believe that being able to enjoy the company of those He placed in our lives, and being able to laugh over silly things brings Him joy. But I believe that God delights in it when we bring Him into our conversations. When we take our dreaming and allow Him to direct it, the bigger the dreams become! The higher the heights we begin to try to climb. And when we make God the center of our conversations, they become beautiful life giving moments. 

So maybe, it's time for us to have more silly conversations! Maybe we need to allow the Spirit of God to lead us into fits of giggles. Then, we need to allow those conversations to turn to Jesus! And through these conversations, we can fall more in love with who Jesus is!