Reason Enough

The sun rose this morning and I thanked God for a new day. I remembered my reluctance to remove myself from bed that morning and as I drove to work with the glow of the sun through the perfect blue sky my perspective broadened.

I had been given life today. The One that breathed life into existence filled me with life yet another day. It's a life that is full of new mercies every morning. One that doesn't dry up or run out.

More than the life He gave me, I am given an unconditional love. It is a love I didn't deserve or earn but a love that was given with a great cost yet freely to me.

When the days seem dull I must remember that I have been given eternal life and unconditional love and that is reason enough for me to lift my hands and praise Him who gives it all.

We have every reason to thank the One who gives us life and love.

His love never fails us and that is reason enough to live a life of constant thankfulness.

Lived to Love for Us

"Can you hear the baby crying? That's the sound of God denying himself taking on the form of man in flesh. Can you see the virgin weeping? Thats the pain required for keeping God's great promise to deliver us from death. Merry Christmas to all mankind. The King is coming just in time. Into the darkness light will shine so bright and beautiful. Merry Christmas to all!"

As this Christmas season came to life around us I couldn't help but remember the life that was brought into this world that is truly the reason for our celebration. God sent his son Jesus so that we could experience true life and in that learn to fully love.

The lights, the music, the gifts and festivities do bring to life so much happiness and giddiness during Christmas but the true joy comes because of the gift of Jesus Christ. 

Even in the darkness of this world His life shines. Today, on Christmas, I received the news that a precious little girl whom I spent many (yet so few) days with in Moldova was in a car wreck and her life was taken. My heart is broken because I know the joy and love that she brought impacted many and will be missed. I am thankful she now is freely dancing with Jesus though. His love and the promise of eternity exceeds the pain and sadness that we experience now.

Again, we live because of love. Jesus' love is more than we deserve but he loved us anyway. He entered into our lives just as we are. 

"God is not offended by our humanity. Instead, He came into our humanity."

 - Louie Giglio (12 Words of Christmas)

So Merry Christmas; may your life be fulfilled through his life and love.

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:10-14

Living for Eternity

After a young friend passing away unexpectedly, so many innocent lives being taken, and an influential senior at my college dying so quickly from a harsh kidney infection, I am reminded of the temporary and broken place we live in.

I am heartbroken. I am grieved. My understanding is limited. This place is not my home.

"The years go by like stones under rushing water. We only know when it's gone."

It seems so unexpected. It doesn't make sense. We naturally ask ourselves "why?" Run to Jesus. Don't run from him. Remember his promises. 

These tragedies just remind me that we weren't promised easy. We were never given promises for no troubles. We do have hope though through Jesus who redeems, comforts, and loves. As hard as it may be to feel him in those bleak places, he truly is our our refuge. He never leaves us and he never forsakes us. It is a promise.

He doesn't cause the pain, the death, the darkness. We live in a fallen world. He brings life in the darkness though. He reminds us of the light that is to come and the peace he brings even in the midst of it all.

It all can be overwhelming but the sting of death on earth is lightened by the rejoicing of life in heaven.

Yet again, I am reminded to make the most of each day. To live in the moment and live for eternity. Our days are numbered and we never know when our last will be.

Remember to dance. Remember to laugh. Remember to love fully. Remember to live with eternity in mind because truly that is all that matters when everlasting restoration is made. 

To Want vs. Need

What are your friendships build upon? Why do you choose to pursue friendships with certain people and what causes you to continue pursuing them? Or stop pursuing it? Is your friendship with others out of benefit for yourself or for the other person?

It is so easy as humans to want a friendship for what we can gain from it but not for the purpose of what we can give. We thrive when we gain attention or approval from others. So often we seek that which we can receive from people who just like us seek the approval too. We can really drain others by constantly pulling out of them especially when we are not pouring back in. Is that why that you choose to keep that relationship? Just for the benefit of yourself? Maybe you don't realize you are doing that. Think about the relationships you have in your life and the purpose of each of those. 

What do you give for yours friendship? How do you pour into relationships purely for the sake of the other person?

I have learned that at times I feel like I really need my friends. I need their encouragement and support. I also have a need to give that encouragement and support. But when the need is not there, do I still want them? Do I choose them aside from what they can give me? I know I can answer that question positively without a question. Yes, I want them. I am thankful that God has given them to me to help when a need is there but even if they could give me nothing I want their friendship. I desire relationship with them. But I am not dependent on them only for what they can give. 

Really, friendships are not where we should find our satisfaction. We are not complete because of them. We are complete because of God. Only God is consistently the one who can pour into you. You are not required to pour yourself back to Him but He will do greater things in and through You when you give yourself wholly to that relationship. It will be the most fulfilling relationship and fulfills where other friendships fail.

I'll leave you with this quote by CS Lewis, "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art…It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that gives value to survival." 

Renember the One who satisfies and don't take for granted the blessing of friendship. 

"Give It and Feel Love..."

"Being tender and open is beautiful. As a woman, I feel continually shhh’ed. Too sensitive. Too mushy. Too wishy washy. Blah blah. Don’t let someone steal your tenderness. Don’t allow the coldness and fear of others to tarnish your perfectly vulnerable beating heart. Nothing is more powerful than allowing yourself to truly be affected by things. Whether it’s a song, a stranger, a mountain, a rain drop, a tea kettle, an article, a sentence, a footstep, feel it all – look around you. All of this is for you. Take it and have gratitude. Give it and feel love."

~Zoeey Deschanel 

Compared to Eternity

I spent a few days in Georgia a couple weekends ago with many people I love dearly. I don't like living far away. Not that I would want to leave here to live there but I do wish they still lived here. I wish that I could just walk across the street to spend my afternoon with my sweet friend and her baby and hilarious husband. I wish that Grammy and Papa were there to have family dinners on a regular basis. I wish we all could be closer and I could spend my time more consistently with them.

While I was in Georgia though I had a change in perspective. My realization that eternity is much longer than the time we are here became a deep understanding. As much as I miss them and love being around them, all of the times I wish I could be with them does not even add up to the length of time I will actually get to be with them forever.

I still cannot understand why it happens that I become so close to people who either move or are not a part of my life anymore. I have experienced friendships being taken away. Very close friendships. I have felt deep pain from separation of ones I deeply love. But I have also experienced healing and comfort from a God who is more than enough.

While I am here these things might not make sense. I might not understand why my best friend can no longer be that for me or why a sweet baby would steal my heart then have to move hours away. I might not get why I have to feel the pain but I have hope in a God who will never leave me or forsake me. For now I will love with no regret because now is nothing compared to eternity.