Life isn't always lovely; love it anyway.
Regardless of the mess, confusion, frustration, debt, hard conversations, failed attempts, missed opportunities, could-haves, would-haves, and should-haves... there is a great amount of loveliness in life.
In the midst of every single day, take a moment to search for and acknowledge the lovely.
Find what you love and LIVE it.
...Just a little food-for-thought today...
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013
when the LITTLE things are really the BIG things
Alrighty, friends... brace yourselves, because we are about to enter into a crazy time of life. We could call it "the great unknown" - you know, for dramatic effect and everything. By "we" I mean me. And I mean "crazy" in that in a mere 5.5 weeks I will turn a quarter of a century old, which just sounds OLD. Next, only 11 weeks from now, I will graduate from college. "What then?" you ask? Well, I'm taking a poll - so submit your suggestions via the comment box below! I will gladly review them all and take each idea into consideration. I'm praying that God will speak through you to help cast some vision....
But really.... I have no idea. :)
As I was just writing in my journal about this inner dilemma, I wrote to God: "I just want to live for you!" Before I even finished writing the words on the page I felt the reassurance/conviction in my heart --
Living for God has less to do with my choice of jobs and more to do with the condition of my heart and how that plays out in the day-to-day of life. It's all about the little things... the things that nobody sees and are often overlooked. These are the things that are most important and reveal most about who we are (and WHOSE we are!).
Living for God starts with how I respond to everyday situations & frustrations. It is in how (or IF) I look for ways to serve & love the people around me. It's how I live and the choices I make when nobody's watching -- integrity: "We are who we say we are, and we always do the right thing, regardless of expediency"(Global Expeditions). Living for God has to do with how I choose to spend my time and where I focus my thoughts.
It starts with the HEART, then overflows to everything else... actions, decisions, career choices, major life decisions, etc. Those are all just a reflection of an inward decision to follow Jesus. He constantly refines our hearts, which cause us to walk more closely with Him and reflect His glory.
It seems that those "little" things are actually pretty important; I'd venture to say they're the MOST important & have a pretty BIG impact on our lives.
So what I have to remember in the midst of the coming craziness and decision making is this:
Everything will fall into place, because God is in control. If I focus on what's in my heart - and what's coming OUT of it - then I will be more naturally inclined to follow the Holy Spirit where it leads me. It is more valuable that my heart be positioned before the Lord than figuring out the details of a five-year plan... that will all come as a result of seeking the Lord and following Him closely. I want to walk so closely with Jesus that I just naturally go where He wants me to go and do what He wants me to do.
But really.... I have no idea. :)
As I was just writing in my journal about this inner dilemma, I wrote to God: "I just want to live for you!" Before I even finished writing the words on the page I felt the reassurance/conviction in my heart --
Living for God has less to do with my choice of jobs and more to do with the condition of my heart and how that plays out in the day-to-day of life. It's all about the little things... the things that nobody sees and are often overlooked. These are the things that are most important and reveal most about who we are (and WHOSE we are!).
Living for God starts with how I respond to everyday situations & frustrations. It is in how (or IF) I look for ways to serve & love the people around me. It's how I live and the choices I make when nobody's watching -- integrity: "We are who we say we are, and we always do the right thing, regardless of expediency"(Global Expeditions). Living for God has to do with how I choose to spend my time and where I focus my thoughts.
It starts with the HEART, then overflows to everything else... actions, decisions, career choices, major life decisions, etc. Those are all just a reflection of an inward decision to follow Jesus. He constantly refines our hearts, which cause us to walk more closely with Him and reflect His glory.
It seems that those "little" things are actually pretty important; I'd venture to say they're the MOST important & have a pretty BIG impact on our lives.
"Above all else, guard your heart, for
everything you do flows from it." - Proverbs 4:23
So what I have to remember in the midst of the coming craziness and decision making is this:
Everything will fall into place, because God is in control. If I focus on what's in my heart - and what's coming OUT of it - then I will be more naturally inclined to follow the Holy Spirit where it leads me. It is more valuable that my heart be positioned before the Lord than figuring out the details of a five-year plan... that will all come as a result of seeking the Lord and following Him closely. I want to walk so closely with Jesus that I just naturally go where He wants me to go and do what He wants me to do.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Mary Chose What is BETTER
"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!' 'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her'"(Luke 10:38-42, emphasis mine).
Like you, I've heard this story of Mary and Martha probably 500 times. I don't know about you, but every time I read it, I feel conviction. Am I more like Martha today - "worried and upset about many things"? Or maybe more like Mary - sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to what he has to say?
My typical personal assessment reveals a desire to be like Mary, but a schedule and actions that look a lot more like Martha. My natural tendency, as a recovering people-pleaser and perfectionist, is to go-go-go and do-do-do, everyday all day. If I can't check off a certain number of tasks from a list at the end of the day, then I may feel as if I failed something or someone. Heaven forbid someone find out that I didn't get everything done, skipped a class, forgot to make my bed, spent a night NOT doing homework when there's enough to fill a week's worth of time, stopped going to the gym, left dishes in the sink, etc, etc...
Martha runs around like a crazy person trying to complete necessary tasks and is naturally irritated with her sister for sitting on the ground doing nothing. But in all of that busy work, Martha is not at peace... she's worried and upset. Her work is not fulfilling.
Then there's Mary. All we know about her is that she is sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to him. Jesus calmly reprimands Martha and explains that "Mary has chosen what is better." Mary is perfectly aware of all the tasks and work that must get done, but those things don't even come close in priority to being with Jesus. She gets it.
I started a new semester (ahem, my LAST semester!) of school three weeks ago and life got crazy-stressful REAL fast. It was as if everything was put in a blender and I just stood there and watched as my priorities, tasks, responsibilities and time got all mixed and mushed right before my eyes. It was hard to stop the chaos after it started... I quickly switched to introverted crisis mode. I was too tired to be around people. Clearly, not healthy.
Last Sunday I slept in and spent the morning with Jesus. I turned on my favorite worship music playlist, read the Bible, and wrote a whopping twelve pages in my journal. In the midst of that, I realized that when life gets crazy and overwhelming, I always neglect the most important things. My quiet time, exercise, and healthy eating/sleeping habits are the first things to get dropped. Reality is, when I drop all of those things - especially time spent in the presence of God - that whole blender experience of watching my life get mixed up and confusing is practically unbearable. It's not a matter of sorting things out in a clear-headed way... it's a matter of sitting on the kitchen floor and crying, because I have absolutely nothing left to give.
So instead, I want to be like Mary. I want to choose what is better (JESUS) every time. No matter how busy, overwhelming, confusing, and frustrating life gets, stopping in the midst of it all to sit and listen to Jesus is worth far more than getting everything done and looking like I have it all under control. (Because let's be real, none of us do!)
I saw this while browsing Pinterest last night and it caught my eye... Do you see the parallel between this quote and the story of Mary & Martha? A busy life, though valued in our culture, is not what brings contentment or fulfillment. According to Socrates, it brings barrenness, or emptiness. Essentially, nothing. I'd rather live a simple life, not worried or upset about many things, but completely fulfilled by and hungry for the words of Jesus.
Lord, help me to choose what is better.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Part Two: Actively Waiting
I've been meaning to write a follow-up after re-reading my Thursday post (For When You Just Don't Know What To Do) a few times and realizing how desperate I sounded. Nothin' like a little raw emotion & confusion. :) I've been reading, praying, and talking and I've pulled together a few more thoughts -- probably a little more stream-of-consciousness-esque -- to draw some kind of conclusion about this idea of wading through the "unknown."
When you don't know something, the only thing you want at that point, is to know. But simply TRYING or HOPING to know, bring very little progress in actually knowing. We can muster up everything we've got and still end up with nothing.
No direction. No insight. No clearly laid out path.
I talked on Thursday about being paralyzed in indecision. Essentially, choosing to stay put because I'm too afraid to move ahead in any direction. I want to know not just all options, but the outcome of each, so I can then determine which one is best. I like to make informed decisions.
Reality is, I want to have every detail figured out so I can avoid making a mistake at any point along the way.
Pshh. At least is sounds good.
Wouldn't that be nice?
While that may be the reality of how I wish life worked... it is actually veeeery far from real life. Even when we think we have everything figured out in order to make a wise decision, things always change along the way; something unexpected comes up and we're forced to make room for this new information and change whatever necessary to accommodate the unexpected. It's inevitable. We'd be smart to plan FOR the inevitable, rather than assume that plan A will be carried all the way through.
"All great change is preceded by chaos." - unknown
Change is inevitable. And prior to change, even GREAT change, is oftentimes a mess of chaos. It's okay and good and natural... because life is messy & I don't have it all figured out.
So what does all of this have to do with waiting and not knowing?
Yesterday, as I was again re-reading my last post and trying to make something of it, I thought of the idea of "actively waiting." Purposeful waiting. Intentional waiting. The word "active" implies that the subject is DOING something during the process of waiting... in this case, waiting on the Lord for answers & direction.
Seasons of waiting are not all about ignoring the questions and hoping that one day you will somehow "just know." I'm not saying that things can't just naturally fall into place, but I am saying that there are some things we can do in the meantime to be intentional about seeking wisdom in order to move forward...
There are lots of things to act on in the "waiting" of the unknown...
But even more than all of that... sometimes you just have to move into the unknown, without fully knowing. [Oh brother... now I'm going to have to mull over that thought for a few days and write a part three.] Sometimes moving forward means that you don't have all the answers, you don't know what it's going to look like, but you give it a shot anyways.... all the while trusting that the Spirit of God living in you directs your steps (whether you're aware of it happening or not).
Whew. There are some more thoughts for ya... thank you Brianna & Sarah for your feedback via facebook on that last post -- your words encouraged my heart this week.
When you don't know something, the only thing you want at that point, is to know. But simply TRYING or HOPING to know, bring very little progress in actually knowing. We can muster up everything we've got and still end up with nothing.
No direction. No insight. No clearly laid out path.
 |
| http://www.scoutiegirl.com/2012/07/the-next-right-action.html |
Reality is, I want to have every detail figured out so I can avoid making a mistake at any point along the way.
Pshh. At least is sounds good.
Wouldn't that be nice?
While that may be the reality of how I wish life worked... it is actually veeeery far from real life. Even when we think we have everything figured out in order to make a wise decision, things always change along the way; something unexpected comes up and we're forced to make room for this new information and change whatever necessary to accommodate the unexpected. It's inevitable. We'd be smart to plan FOR the inevitable, rather than assume that plan A will be carried all the way through.
"All great change is preceded by chaos." - unknown
Change is inevitable. And prior to change, even GREAT change, is oftentimes a mess of chaos. It's okay and good and natural... because life is messy & I don't have it all figured out.
So what does all of this have to do with waiting and not knowing?
Yesterday, as I was again re-reading my last post and trying to make something of it, I thought of the idea of "actively waiting." Purposeful waiting. Intentional waiting. The word "active" implies that the subject is DOING something during the process of waiting... in this case, waiting on the Lord for answers & direction.
Seasons of waiting are not all about ignoring the questions and hoping that one day you will somehow "just know." I'm not saying that things can't just naturally fall into place, but I am saying that there are some things we can do in the meantime to be intentional about seeking wisdom in order to move forward...
- Pray.
- Ask for wisdom/counsel from others.
- Journal/process/reflect.
- Refer to God's Word.
- Make a list.
- Sleep on it.
- Gather more information.
There are lots of things to act on in the "waiting" of the unknown...
But even more than all of that... sometimes you just have to move into the unknown, without fully knowing. [Oh brother... now I'm going to have to mull over that thought for a few days and write a part three.] Sometimes moving forward means that you don't have all the answers, you don't know what it's going to look like, but you give it a shot anyways.... all the while trusting that the Spirit of God living in you directs your steps (whether you're aware of it happening or not).
Whew. There are some more thoughts for ya... thank you Brianna & Sarah for your feedback via facebook on that last post -- your words encouraged my heart this week.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
For When You Just Don't Know What To Do
It's kind of like when I'm at the ice cream shop... you know, the birthplace of all good life lessons.
Do I want something fruity or something chocolatey? That decision will determine the type of toppings I choose and the other complimentary flavors that I will potentially add on the side. Sometimes I just stand there because I don't know what I want. It's not a life changing decision; I can always come back the following week and choose the opposite flavored concoction. But boy can I get myself worked up over a silly decision like what kind of ice cream to get and then end up standing there like an indecisive fool. I end up paralyzed in my indecision. As if, "I don't know what to do, so I'm just going to stand here and wait for divine inspiration" is a better option.
It's okay not to know what to do [referring to real life now...not ice cream], but is standing there doing nothing really the most effective response?
I realize that it's not fair for me to compare dessert options with major life decisions. I get that. When choosing ice cream, it's probably okay to just pick a random option and go with it. It's silly to take a long time and weigh the pros and cons of each flavor option. (not that I haven't done that before)
But when it comes to LIFE, what do you do when you just don't know what to do? When it feels like your mind is BLANK and your emotions are fuzzy (at best)? When your thoughts rest on each side of a massive pendulum constantly swaying back and forth, sometimes quickly and other times so slow it's barely visible... one thing appears to be true, but then five minutes later the opposite sentiment rings out and presents itself as truth.
And all you're left with is a big ball of confusion. And probably a tight knot in the pit of your stomach. No fun at all.
"Not knowing" generally equals "Not moving."
We usually wait until we're confident before moving forward in any decision. We want to be smart, resourceful, consider all options. So when does the "not knowing" go away? Well, whenever you KNOW, I guess.
But HOW do you go from not knowing to knowing?
---------------
Well, those are my thoughts this morning.... I will have to finish a "part two" later, as I am already running late and the day feels like it just began. This week is moving far too quickly!
Oh Lord, I need your grace.
Do I want something fruity or something chocolatey? That decision will determine the type of toppings I choose and the other complimentary flavors that I will potentially add on the side. Sometimes I just stand there because I don't know what I want. It's not a life changing decision; I can always come back the following week and choose the opposite flavored concoction. But boy can I get myself worked up over a silly decision like what kind of ice cream to get and then end up standing there like an indecisive fool. I end up paralyzed in my indecision. As if, "I don't know what to do, so I'm just going to stand here and wait for divine inspiration" is a better option.
It's okay not to know what to do [referring to real life now...not ice cream], but is standing there doing nothing really the most effective response?
I realize that it's not fair for me to compare dessert options with major life decisions. I get that. When choosing ice cream, it's probably okay to just pick a random option and go with it. It's silly to take a long time and weigh the pros and cons of each flavor option. (not that I haven't done that before)
But when it comes to LIFE, what do you do when you just don't know what to do? When it feels like your mind is BLANK and your emotions are fuzzy (at best)? When your thoughts rest on each side of a massive pendulum constantly swaying back and forth, sometimes quickly and other times so slow it's barely visible... one thing appears to be true, but then five minutes later the opposite sentiment rings out and presents itself as truth.
And all you're left with is a big ball of confusion. And probably a tight knot in the pit of your stomach. No fun at all.
"Not knowing" generally equals "Not moving."
We usually wait until we're confident before moving forward in any decision. We want to be smart, resourceful, consider all options. So when does the "not knowing" go away? Well, whenever you KNOW, I guess.
But HOW do you go from not knowing to knowing?
---------------
Well, those are my thoughts this morning.... I will have to finish a "part two" later, as I am already running late and the day feels like it just began. This week is moving far too quickly!
Oh Lord, I need your grace.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
A Little List of Everything
I sure have a lot of catching up to do! Sitting here in a Portlandish-cozy coffee shop, sipping my usual hazelnut latte and soaking up the beautiful array of notes in the classical string music coming out of the speakers, I realize how much I miss this -- writing & coffee.
I have two and a half hours to blog, read mi biblia, pour out my heart in the confines of my journal (just about time for a new one... I'm on the hunt), get my schedule situated for the next couple weeks, check off a few items on my grand 'ol to-do list, and make some progress on a few tasks for Cru. Whew! In the middle of a conversation via text message with a friend she made this observation about me: "you never like too much of either fun and relaxation or routine and business. Got to be a balanced mix of both to make you content." Oh, how true this is!!! Too much of anything throws me off... I thrive living right in a healthy balance of everything.
After starting out my summer with a quick weekend trip in Portland, then a couple weeks later in Montana, then Texas, Panama, and now back to Portland for a week... I definitely feel ready to be home and settled into some kind of routine. Since coming back to the country, I've felt like my head is just swimming in a tsunami of crazy life-processing kind of thoughts. Short-term, long-term, hopes & dreams, decisions, plans, etc, etc...
I'm not sure why my brain feels the need to figure it all out THIS week?!
I think that what I need most is a list. A thankful [Thursday] kind of list - yes, on a Wednesday. This funky overwhelmed mood is nothing a little grateful perspective won't fix.
I have two and a half hours to blog, read mi biblia, pour out my heart in the confines of my journal (just about time for a new one... I'm on the hunt), get my schedule situated for the next couple weeks, check off a few items on my grand 'ol to-do list, and make some progress on a few tasks for Cru. Whew! In the middle of a conversation via text message with a friend she made this observation about me: "you never like too much of either fun and relaxation or routine and business. Got to be a balanced mix of both to make you content." Oh, how true this is!!! Too much of anything throws me off... I thrive living right in a healthy balance of everything.
After starting out my summer with a quick weekend trip in Portland, then a couple weeks later in Montana, then Texas, Panama, and now back to Portland for a week... I definitely feel ready to be home and settled into some kind of routine. Since coming back to the country, I've felt like my head is just swimming in a tsunami of crazy life-processing kind of thoughts. Short-term, long-term, hopes & dreams, decisions, plans, etc, etc...
I'm not sure why my brain feels the need to figure it all out THIS week?!
I think that what I need most is a list. A thankful [Thursday] kind of list - yes, on a Wednesday. This funky overwhelmed mood is nothing a little grateful perspective won't fix.
 |
| {Live.Laugh.Love.} Blog |
1. I'm so thankful for this FULL summer of friends, fun, learning, experiencing, faith-building, traveling, leading, preaching, and teaching. God is so good!
2. I'm thankful for friends & family who are so incredibly supportive in helping me get to Panama (and covering me in prayer!) and partnering with me financially in my ministry with Cru this year.
3. I'm thankful for a practically new car since returning from Panama! Everything from replacing the broken side mirror to new brake parts -- who knew my car was capable of driving so smoothly?!
4. I'm thankful for time to catch up with dear, old friends and enjoy good conversation together.
5. I'm thankful for the book The Finishers, by Roger Hershey, that is completely reinforcing what God did in my heart this summer in Panama. "My life for the gospel!"
6. I'm thankful that God provides completely and exactly what we need and when we need it. Even if I think I need something different at a different time. His ways are higher than my ways... and the results are always better. I will trust in Him, even when I can't see what's going on.
7. I'm thankful for coffee shops... because where would I go to think without them?!
8. I'm thankful that I get to serve God in such a tangible way while I am finishing my degree this year. Well, shoot -- I'm thankful that I'm graduating from college, too! (four months from today I will be preparing for graduation!)
9. I'm thankful that God is faithful.... He's faithful to provide everything I need physically, spiritually & emotionally. He knows my heart. He has plans for my life. He's preparing me for what He has in store for the future, whatever that may be.
10. I'm thankful that I don't have to worry or be anxious. I can be rest my restless heart in God's hands because He's got it all under control.
---------------------------------------
See? I feel better already. I just pray that the junk of the world stops sneaking into my head and clouding my view of Truth. Help me to rest in you completely, Jesus!
Friday, August 9, 2013
All Things for GOOD
Today I'm in a bind. This month, an even BIGGER bind. Sometimes things don't work out the way we think they should... but we are promised that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose"(Romans 8:28).
I woke up to an encouraging text from my best friend. I told her that I feel extra groggy this morning and needed to make coffee & breakfast before I started working on sorting out this dilemma and finding solutions. She said this: "Just remember, you only have to be obedient... do your part and trust God to take care of you." I need more than just coffee this morning; I need Jesus. I need peace, provision, and a reminder of the truth that He works ALL things together for good.
So I turned on some worship music and opened my Bible... I flipped to Romans 8 as "Your Love Never Fails," by Jesus Culture, started playing. There's a part in the song that just says "you work all things together for good" over and over and over again.... while at the same time I read in verse 28: "in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him."
It happened without me realizing that I was hearing the same truth in two different forms... when it finally "clicked," my heart was immediately encouraged. I "get" it! This message of truth that came so quickly, it's effect runs deep & is so sweet to my soul...
I do need to be obedient and faithful in what God has called me to do... but I am not the provider, the one who brings success, or even the planner (as much as I'd like to think I am). I am learning to hold my plans with open palms... allowing for God to make them into what He wants, which is what is BEST. I don't see the big picture, but He's got it ALL under control. I can rest in the PEACE that comes from surrendering to and waiting on Him. I put my HOPE in His word, that is TRUTH. My hope is not in my own conjured up talents, abilities, or perfect planning... none of that will suffice. God is the one who brings everything together for good, even when it all seems to be a lost cause. He is GREATER than my plans... and STRONGER than my mistakes. He is faithful forever. Praise the Lord!
I woke up to an encouraging text from my best friend. I told her that I feel extra groggy this morning and needed to make coffee & breakfast before I started working on sorting out this dilemma and finding solutions. She said this: "Just remember, you only have to be obedient... do your part and trust God to take care of you." I need more than just coffee this morning; I need Jesus. I need peace, provision, and a reminder of the truth that He works ALL things together for good.
So I turned on some worship music and opened my Bible... I flipped to Romans 8 as "Your Love Never Fails," by Jesus Culture, started playing. There's a part in the song that just says "you work all things together for good" over and over and over again.... while at the same time I read in verse 28: "in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him."
It happened without me realizing that I was hearing the same truth in two different forms... when it finally "clicked," my heart was immediately encouraged. I "get" it! This message of truth that came so quickly, it's effect runs deep & is so sweet to my soul...
 |
| The Nameless Collective, Tumblr |
I do need to be obedient and faithful in what God has called me to do... but I am not the provider, the one who brings success, or even the planner (as much as I'd like to think I am). I am learning to hold my plans with open palms... allowing for God to make them into what He wants, which is what is BEST. I don't see the big picture, but He's got it ALL under control. I can rest in the PEACE that comes from surrendering to and waiting on Him. I put my HOPE in His word, that is TRUTH. My hope is not in my own conjured up talents, abilities, or perfect planning... none of that will suffice. God is the one who brings everything together for good, even when it all seems to be a lost cause. He is GREATER than my plans... and STRONGER than my mistakes. He is faithful forever. Praise the Lord!
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