Worlds Connect

I don't believe it's healthy to build your life around one person, not even your spouse. One person should not be your entire world. One person can't satisfy all your needs. Each person adds something unique to your life. (Or takes something away in certain scenarios.)

That being said, whenever you become close with someone, your worlds connect. If you care about someone, its inevitable. And it's a beautiful thing to get to know someone's family, other friends, co-workers, favorite restaurants, stores, etc. It can add so much to your life. Unfortunately, when relationships split up, from mild friendships to deep love stories, these things make life difficult. It's not just the relationship that's severed, but each piece of that person's world now becomes a gray area. Ideally, responsible people don't assume things; they ask a few questions, maybe; and they don't pick sides. But there will also be those who assume they have all the answers for the problem they didn't even ask about. Sometimes the splits are a result of awful situations, abuse, etc. and other times the relationship just wasn't healthy. Whatever the case, now there are people you're not sure how to talk to or if it's even a good idea. Places you used to go don't seem so welcoming anymore. People you thought were your friends were actually just their friend at the end of it all. So whether you set out to make someone your whole world or not, your worlds do connect. When your worlds split, it's hard. You have to go through the "We don't talk anymore" with people until they all find out. You realize all your lost expectations and dreams you had for the relationship. You grieve. You scream. You cry. You wish it were all a nightmare that you'll wake up from. It's not fun. I'm just realizing how much being in relationship with someone really connects your world to theirs. When that breaks, it's rough.

If you're ever around a relationship split, please don't assume. Don't think you know everything about a situation. That stuff hurts. Please...be kind.

*Memorial Day*

From the time I joined marching band, memorial day has had a certain significance in my life. I didn't appreciate what it stood for until I was older. When I was younger, it was just a parade to march in and play patriotic songs for the ceremony. But now, I'm deeply grateful for those who served in the past and currently serve in our military. While freedom looks differently today than it did even twenty years ago, while you may have various opinions on our government, men and women laid down their lives for our country and for your protection. I am so thankful for their sacrifice and I continue to be thankful for the men and women who are currently serving. And a very special thank you to my brothers, Dan & Joe, and my cousin, Dave. Take time to thank those who serve.

Be Content

It used to be that if I didn't have a few hundred dollars extra in the bank, I felt like I didn't have much. Then God started taking me on an incredible journey of faith. And one day, after not having any spare cash, someone bought me a soda. Not only did they buy it for me, but they told me they were bringing it to me whether I liked it or not, so I should just pick which kind I wanted. I was blown away.

The thing is, a year ago, a soda wasn't a big deal. (Especially because I worked at a place that gave me a free drink per shift.) I was never like, "Hmmm...I wonder if I can afford a soda." I wouldn't say I was rich, by any means. I had more than enough money to live and have some fun. But I look at what I was making a year ago, and what I might make in a good month now and am like, "Where did I put all that extra money????" If I had that much now, I'd think I WAS RICH. But, I'll tell ya what, not having much money has made me start to realize what is important and what's not. And I feel blessed to have a special drink or a good meal. And I've seen God's provision and faithfulness OVER and OVER again.

Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)-> "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Remembering Martha Waite

"Every now and then you get the privilege of meeting someone who makes your life a better place. I am so honored and blessed to have known Martha. It was only for a few months, but who she was inspired me to love more deeply and care about others more deeply. She truly represented putting others above herself. She was one of the sweetest people I have ever met. I will miss her smiling face and her caring ways. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing us to connect. While my heart is sad, it is feeling so blessed to have known such an amazing woman."

That was my Facebook status the day I found out Martha had passed away. My house-mate and I were introduced to Martha through a friend of ours. We met her while she was in a very weak state of her life (physically). But I was just amazed at how she was just so sweet to us and the people around her. In a time where her body was so drained all the time, she kept giving of herself. From what I saw and knew of her, she was more concerned with how others were doing and caring about them, than her own personal troubles. She inspired me to love deeply. Not the cheesy, worthless love in some movies and such, but LOVE-putting others above yourself, really caring about people, loving when things aren't easy, loving when life is hard, being humble, always being full of hope. 
While I wouldn't say that I knew Martha WELL, I think I got to know her a lot faster than I normally do with people because I spent a lot of time in her home. And while my heart still has an ache that she is gone, I am honestly so glad that we connected. It's not often you meet people that truly love. And her example of loving, even her weakest state....well...I pray that I remember that and continue to live out my life DEEPLY LOVING OTHERS, just like Jesus.

Move

"You can't hear God when you're rooted in what you own and where you're at. (He can't speak to you about moving if you're not willing to move.)" -Dad

My Dad is a very wise man. I'm blessed to have him as a father and a spiritual input into my life. We had been talking about how we both know know people who have been just packing their whole lives up and moving hours away just because they feel like God called them to do it. Anyway, what he said really got me thinking. I wonder how many of us just stay put because we're so settled in what we have and where we live.

My house-mate and I have also been talking about Abraham and Sarah: what God called them to do and their faith. I don't think they did everything right, by any means, but they took some huge risks.

Hebrews 11:8-12 (NIV) By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him ofa the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

What is God asking you to do? Maybe it's time to do something outrageous.  :)

Perspective

I've had a few conversations with people in the past week about HOW we look at our lives. Our lives can seem really grim to us, but to others looking at our lives, things don't really look that bad. Many times we only need one or two things to change for us to have a completely different outlook. We just get so caught up focusing on the things that are wrong/not going the way we want, that we lose sight of the bigger picture. And, most of the time, I think the bigger picture is that the majority of things are okay.

I don't want this to be a long post. It's just something I've been thinking about and talking with others about. Maybe, sometimes, we just need a fresh perspective. Maybe we need some input from some trusted friends or family. Maybe we just need to see God's heart for us and our situations.

Thoughts?

Faith involves trust

Walking by faith involves a GREAT MEASURE of trust in the Lord. And I think COMPLETELY walking by faith would involve COMPLETELY trusting Him. I think it has always been encouraging to hear stories of great faith. They inspire me to want to step out and trust God and see what happens. I don't think I'll always get it right, but I think His grace can cover where I err. And I think He sees the heart.

I've been typing up some old sermon notes in my spare time (to get rid of a box full of notebooks taking up space, but that's another story). I went to school with a guy named Dean Gootee. My junior year he did a sermon about trusting the Lord. One thing I found profound when I was typing up these notes was when he said, "When we forget what He's done, we don't trust Him." He also said, "Thank Him for what He’s done in the past because when we remember His character, we trust Him." And I think that's it. When we forget God's faithfulness in our lives, we stop trusting Him. When we look at our circumstances instead of WHO HE IS, we stop trusting. But God's faithfulness is not dependent upon our circumstances. He DOES NOT CHANGE with each issue and problem.
My challenge to you: 1) remind yourself of how God has been faithful in your own life 2) share your stories with others to encourage them 3) listen to others' stories\ask them to share how they have seen God's faithfulness in their lives