Tonight I finally went to see the movie "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". Personally I thought it was a beautiful fairly clean film and it got me thinking. Blame it on the circumstances, but I'm rather introspective these days. I think if any of us could somehow go back and talk to our 5 or even 15 year old selves asking "what do you want to be doing or where do you want to be when you're 25 (in my case 27), 30, 35...?" odds are what would be said would be different than how life panned out. Some of your dreams and plans that you had when you were little did come true, and that's awesome, but I'm going to guess that there are still some differences from what you originally thought life would be like. The problem is that sometimes we can get so caught up in the "this is not how I envisioned my life!" that we waste the precious life we do have.
Right now, I feel like I am basically in a state of a perpetual holding pattern just waiting for what God is going to do and where the "pillar" will lead me (in Exodus terms). I realize that I've only been in this for a whopping 3 months but I began to realize that although many people have told me this, GOD HAS ME HERE FOR A REASON and I should not waste this time. One guy I've come to understand a little bit more through this time is Joseph from the book of Genesis. The guy was a bit of a brat (said by an oldest child), but he definitely got a raw deal. But from Potiphar's house to prison to the palace, God had him there for a reason. God's purpose in having Joseph go through all of those less than ideal situations was much bigger than Joseph or his family could have ever imagined.
Jesus used the parable of the three servants to bring to light the need for us to go out there and do something... it doesn't even have to be big but just...well... something for His kingdom. Most likely you will live to be 90ish (if you're lucky), no do-overs, no mulligans, that's it. And some of those years may not be what you had in mind of what you wanted, but that's no excuse. Going back to the movie, you may not end up fighting a shark or hiking the Himalayas but God has a reason He has you in the situation you are in right now... don't waste your life, don't waste this year, don't waste this day that God has given you. God has given you life to live it... and seek to hear those beautiful words in the end "well done, good and faithful servant".
Monday, January 27, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
A friend loves at all times...
Proverbs 17:17 basically just hits the nail on the head as far as the "silver lining" of this season being the amazing friends and family God has surrounded me with. Even though it's a season of heartache, confusion, and pain I'm more blessed than words can say by the caliber of people God has put in my life. I know I've mentioned such things before, but well, it's kind of like when you fall in love, pretty much you can't stop sharing how amazing the other person is, that's basically the case of how I feel about who God has blessed me with. There are so many of you out there that when I think of the friends you have been over the years... many many years... I'm awestruck that God would allow me to have you in my life by His grace because I definitely don't deserve it.
This past week, I was able to go on a little trip to spend time with some amazing dear friends! First I went to North Carolina to visit the amazing Greene family. Phil, Em and the kids were such an encouragement to be around as we just enjoyed our time in the woods and just hanging out. You know those friends who are kind of like "soul mates" so to speak, where you are on the same page spiritually and just have a deeper connection as you discuss life and what God's teaching you? Well, that's the Greene family in my life. Our time together was so precious as they now are about to head back to Uganda. I will miss having random rendez-vous with them more than they will know but I know there are those friends where time and distance can't change the bond that you share.
After North Carolina, I headed west to the great state of Tennessee. I couldn't be in that area without going and visiting the one, the only, Tiffany Rockhold and then give hugs to the Clarksville crew. Again, what a sweet time we were able to have together! Tiff is such an amazing friend and it was so encouraging getting to spend a couple of days with her.
Getting to be real with and pray with such amazing friends humbles me to my core. I feel bad because really this past week they ministered to me so much that I felt like I was basically only on the receiving end really having little to give them in return other than my love and appreciation for everything. Because really what they did and how God has used them, there's really nothing I could do or say to even begin to return the favor.
God amazes me by His grace because these people I saw this past week, are just a couple of the people God has blessed me with encounters with during this season. Thank you to everyone He has used and spoken through!
This past week, I was able to go on a little trip to spend time with some amazing dear friends! First I went to North Carolina to visit the amazing Greene family. Phil, Em and the kids were such an encouragement to be around as we just enjoyed our time in the woods and just hanging out. You know those friends who are kind of like "soul mates" so to speak, where you are on the same page spiritually and just have a deeper connection as you discuss life and what God's teaching you? Well, that's the Greene family in my life. Our time together was so precious as they now are about to head back to Uganda. I will miss having random rendez-vous with them more than they will know but I know there are those friends where time and distance can't change the bond that you share.
After North Carolina, I headed west to the great state of Tennessee. I couldn't be in that area without going and visiting the one, the only, Tiffany Rockhold and then give hugs to the Clarksville crew. Again, what a sweet time we were able to have together! Tiff is such an amazing friend and it was so encouraging getting to spend a couple of days with her.
Getting to be real with and pray with such amazing friends humbles me to my core. I feel bad because really this past week they ministered to me so much that I felt like I was basically only on the receiving end really having little to give them in return other than my love and appreciation for everything. Because really what they did and how God has used them, there's really nothing I could do or say to even begin to return the favor.
God amazes me by His grace because these people I saw this past week, are just a couple of the people God has blessed me with encounters with during this season. Thank you to everyone He has used and spoken through!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Theme verse for 2014
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
Over the past year God has definitely softened my rough edges but there are still some that are very much there. This verse seems to be radiating in my mind as I embark on a new year. I go through my day asking for people to be more kind or compassionate and yet I tend to fail miserably at doing it myself. This past year has been so crazy tough that words cannot describe it, well... I guess it wasn't the whole year but just the last couple of months and I've been hurt by a lot of people but that doesn't matter, I need to forgive as I have been forgiven, what a crazy thing to really think about. I mean, can you imagine if we all just lived out this one verse... let alone the other 31,239 verses in Scripture? If we just made a point to show kindness to others, including fellow drivers, waitresses, co-workers, etc... that would be an awesome start but then to add to that compassion... wow! Compassion recognizing we're all dealing with our own pain and battles, showing grace to those who need it the most... we all like to receive it but how quick are we to show it? And the final part is forgiveness... but not as the world forgives but as He has forgiven us. Oh my goodness what a tall order... but that's my goal. Of course, it's January 1st and I've already failed at this but I will make it my goal to each day try to do a little better at being a doer of this verse and not just a reader/hearer of it.
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