The Joy of Living

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Life has its peaks, valleys, victories, and losses.  It also comes with trials.  The reality is, Jesus isn’t the one who causes the trials but he is the one who gets us through them and builds our character because of them.  He is the reason that it’s all worth it.  Really finding joy in life is all about noticing the little, seemingly unimportant things in life like: singing in the car with your best friend, having your breath taken away by a sunset or sunrise, laughing so hard you can’t breathe, taking long hikes, making memories with your friends in Waffle House at 9:00 at night, bawling your eyes out during a worship service, gazing at a starry sky on a chilly night, hearing Jesus tell you that He loves you over and over again, having inside jokes and silly nicknames, finding your favorite song, laughing during a movie with your family, giving encouragement, getting hugs from the people you love, experiencing a bonfire on the beach with friends, singing at the top of your lungs during a concert, watching the first Christmas movie of the season, receiving a “thank you” from someone who really means it, walking into a warm room after being out in the cold, taking long drives on the scenic route,  going to the beach on a moonlit night, seeing someone you haven’t seen in forever, doing absolutely nothing on a rainy day, traveling to places you’ve never been, having meaningful conversations with your closest friends and family, and taking pictures to capture stunning moments.  These memories.  The laughter.  The tears.  The smiles.  The silliness and the seriousness.  The joy.  These are the moments that make life beautiful.

Each of these moments become so special once you view them through Jesus’ eyes.  Once you realize that He is the reason that you can experience them, it gives them a whole new meaning and it allows you to have a truly thankful heart.  Those memories and experiences add to the joy of living.  When you start to live life with Jesus, you receive fulfillment and joy.  Because of that, you can be assured that you can trust Him and fully surrender.  I can honestly say that I don’t regret a single moment that I have lived with my Best Friend, Jesus.  It hasn’t always been easy, but as a whole, it has been so wonderful.

Stay rad, my friends 🙂

A Note to the Lonely and Rejected

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This is a note to the lonely, rejected, and invisible.  I know how much it hurts.  In fact, I am walking through it right now.  I know what it’s like to walk into a room and no one you know even acknowledges your presence.  I know what it’s like to have people suddenly stop talking to you.  I know what it’s like to come home from social gatherings and feel the painful, sinking feeling of rejection.

I’m not here for a pity party, but I just wanted to tell you, reader, that I get it, and I want you to know that there is nothing wrong with you.  However, I have learned that it is so important not to stay in that desolate place permanently.  Whatever you are walking through right now, just know that it is only for a season!  Let’s choose together to rejoice that God is working in this very moment on our behalf.  He fights ALL of our battles for us, and we need only to be still (Psalm 46:10). Many times, before we can be trusted with more, we must grow closer to Jesus.  Use this time of loneliness to draw closer to the best Friend you will ever have.  Jesus is the one Friend who will NEVER let you down.  On the nights when you’ve felt the most broken, Jesus has been right by your side through it all.  He has caught every tear you have cried.  Jesus hurts when we hurt.  He doesn’t like to see His kids in pain.  Although this might feel as though you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death,  you will come out of this so much stronger in due time.  Even now, your character is being built up.  This is part of your testimony!  On the days when you feel really down build yourself up with declarations such as:

1.  I am loved.

2.  I am a great friend.

3.  I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

4.  I am a child of God.

These are just some staple declarations of mine.  I have learned that if you daily renew your mind (Romans 12:2), you begin to see yourself the way that Jesus sees you (loved, precious, and a child of God)!

Stand on Promises

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One thing that has been on my heart lately is the concept of God’s promises.  I feel as though sometimes we just read over the promises that God has given us because we have heard them so much.  Recently, I started to really pay attention to the promises in the Bible.  While I was reading Psalm 37, which is now my favorite psalm, some verses really gripped me.  It is filled with promises from the Creator of the earth, such as: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (v.4), and “Commit your way to the Lord; trust him, and he will act.” (v.5).  Those are just two of the promises given!  I want to encourage you, reader, to not just read through this psalm, but to hang on to every promise as if it was the very air you need to breathe.  It is so important to never lose our awe and wonder of God.  There is something new to behold about Him daily.  There is always something new to discover that will bring us to tears.  Just look into His intense, gentle eyes.

P.S.  A great song that goes along with this blog is “Come What May” by Lindy Conant of The Circuit Riders.  The bridge talks about the promises of God.  It has been my theme song lately!

New Beginnings

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Today was the first day of high school for me.  I came from a private Christian school, so experiencing public school for the first time was a major culture shock!  When I walked in the doors this morning, I felt butterflies of excitement as I thought of all the new opportunities that awaited me.  I thought of opportunities to be a light to others, opportunities in singing, and opportunities in academics.  Most of all, though, I am excited about football games, getting involved in school, and making new friends.  Some of the best advice that I have been given is to just enjoy the journey.  You are only in high school once (hopefully, haha!), so it’s important to just have fun!

Thankfully, I did not get lost today, and I knew where all of my classes were!  Getting lost was my biggest fear for the first day.  Also,  I knew at least one person in each of my classes.  It’s always nice to see familiar faces as you walk down the hallway or go into a classroom.

During the journey of making the decision to go to this high school,  one of the main things I learned was to live in daily surrender and remember that God is the author of my story and it will spoil it if I try to look ahead.  I’m just going to trust in Jesus whatever may come my way as each page unfolded to me!

 

Extravagance

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Worship is not a performance.  It never has been and shouldn’t be.  My heart is grieved when I see people not engaged in worship at all.  But how could you not extravagantly worship the King of kings and Lord of lords?  How could you not extravagantly worship the One who is the reason you have breath in your lungs at this very moment?  How could you not extravagantly worship the One who put the stars in the sky and knows them each by name?  How could you not?

I believe it breaks Jesus’ heart to see people not worshipping extravagantly.  He was beaten, torn, and persecuted for us.  Jesus died the most humiliating death so that we could come boldly to the throne to worship Him.  He is the reason we can worship confidently, so for us to not worship extravagantly really hurts Him.  Extravagance isn’t just extra, it’s necessary.

Wanted

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“It has been weeks, and our brother is still ill,” Martha said dejectedly, “I don’t think he has a chance.”

“Martha, don’t give up hope!  The Teacher will heal him.  I just know it,” Mary replied.

        That day, Mary sent word to the Jesus, the Teacher, that their brother was ill.  He told them that the illness would not lead to death and that he would be glorified through it.  A few days later,  the word reached him that Mary and Martha’s brother had died.  When Jesus reached their town, he learned that Mary and Martha’s brother, Lazarus, had already been in the tomb for four days.  At this time, many of Mary and Martha’s friends were at their house comforting them during their time of grieving.  The two sisters had been very close to Lazarus and were absolutely devastated.  Pain swept over Mary’s heart.

She was having such a hard time with the tragic loss that she had not left the house for days and she was continually weeping.    Many of her closest friends tried to comfort her, but she could not be consoled. In Martha’s heart, hopelessness had sprung up.  She kept asking herself questions like, “What if the Teacher’s teachings were all a lie?”  “What do I have to believe and hope for now?”  Martha heard that Jesus was coming, so she went to meet him outside of her house.

She said, “Lord, if you had been there, my brother would not have died.  However, I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give to you.”

Jesus stated, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha nodded her head and replied, “Yes, I know he will rise again in resurrection on the last day.”

Jesus smiled and took her hands in his.  He gently and quietly declared, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet he shall live, and everyone who lives and believes in me with never die.  Do you believe this, Martha?”

As she looked into His fatherly, loving eyes, without hesitation she said, “Yes, Lord.  I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into this world.”  At last Martha had something to hope and believe in.  She had something to stand firm on.  When Martha confessed that Jesus was the Christ, hopelessness fled her heart and joy and hope settled in.

Right after she said this, she went to Mary and told her, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”  Mary immediately rose and went to Jesus.  As soon as she saw him, she fell at his feet sobbing.

She tearfully said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  Jesus felt her pain so deeply he began to weep too.  Jesus wept for her pain, and he also wept for the lack of faith that she and Martha had.  He raised Mary to her feet and held her in his arms until her tears were quieted.

Jesus softly asked her, “Where did they lay your brother?”  Mary led him to the tomb.  He asked Martha to remove the stone, but she protested saying that there would be an odor since he had been in the tomb for four days now.

Jesus shook his head and said, “Martha, did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”  After he said this, the stone was rolled away.  He thanked his Father for hearing him and then loudly shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” Then, Lazarus miraculously walked out of his tomb.  Mary and Martha began to cry tears of joy and gladness as they hugged their brother and thanked Jesus for raising their brother from the dead.

So, what’s the point?  Jesus wants us.  He wants us to believe in Him, and He wants us to be a part of Him.  Jesus is our Father and He hurts when we hurt.  When He saw the pain that Mary and Martha were experiencing, He showered them with His love and wept with them.  I just want to invite you, reader, to allow yourself to be wanted.  Don’t run away from His love.  His love is the safest place you can be.