Written in the sky

It's not unusual for me to see beautiful patterns in the clouds on my long drive in to work every morning, but yesterday blew them all away. An airplane was skywriting LOVE across the bright blue morning sky. It got me to thinking, and reflecting, and contemplating possibilities. See, for too many of us, we associate love with a feeling. I've done it my whole life. While love causes us to feel, often very deeply, it is because of an action that displayed that love to us.

There is no greater example of this than Jesus.

For God so LOVED the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life" (John 3:16)

Love is a verb. It is something that has to be demonstrated. It is not enough to simply say it because words often lack substance. If you think about it, you've probably said "I love you" many times out of a mere response to someone who said it to you first, without considering whether you truly do, or what you've done lately to show that person. In all of our relationships, we are called to love others as Jesus did. That means much more than an automated reply. It means patience, kindness, humility, perseverance, selflessness, honesty, honor, and trust (1 Corinthians 13). This is the kind of love that never dies. It is eternal and equally rewarding. 

I don't know about you, but I am still working on it. The other part of this is getting to a place where you are ready to receive this kind of love. Many of us struggle with self-worth. Listen . . . you will be forever disappointed by the things and people of the world because they can fail you. God does not fall short. I am reminded of His amazing love for me in spite of all my failings through nature, through music, through the eyes of my children, and even from time to time - through the love letters He writes in the sky.

What I heard when I stopped to listen . .

You can hear much clearer if you listen. Sounds simple, right? Then why are we so quick to interject our thoughts and propose solutions? We do this in our everyday lives, but we more often do it to God. We ask Him for patience or strength. We pray for a miracle. We even give Him our struggles, but then we have to wait. We’re not good at waiting, especially when we feel our time is running out, or things aren’t going the way we thought they would. The act of being still is incredibly difficult for many of us and, of these things, I am the biggest offender.

I spent some real raw, down and dirty time with God yesterday. It’s a practice I would highly recommend, though I know I don’t do it often enough myself. As my pastor stated on Sunday, in his message on what lurks Behind the Curtain of our lives, sometimes you need to get R-rated with your prayers to God. Tell Him like it is – He already knows anyway.

So that’s what I did. Right here.

I sat with God and we had it out. He heard me and He listened, and when I was done, God said:

1. You’re forgiven. You don’t have to carry the weight of who you’ve been. You’re a treasure in my arms.

We all suffer. We all have our struggles that seem, at times, all-consuming. Here’s the truth and the promise:  

After you have suffered a little while, the God of all Grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you (1Peter 5:10)

It is through the suffering and through the pain that we are made stronger and are equipped to deal with whatever circumstances come our way.  

For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (James 1:3)

We are able to persevere because God never leaves us, but rather He promises to bring us through whatever He brings us to. James 5:13 reminds us, when we are suffering: pray and when we are cheerful: sing praise.

2. Do not worry about tomorrow; just give it up to me.

There has never been a time when God did not somehow get me through by providing what I needed in that moment. It may not have been my idea of the perfect provision (not big enough, not good enough) but it was always enough to sustain me until I could get to a better place. We take this for granted so often. Everything we need is available to us if we are faithful and if we ask out of a clean conscience and a pure heart. But that’s where we all fall short, isn’t it? Let’s be realistic. We often worry or doubt because other people have failed us in the past. God does not fail us, we fail Him. His promises should resound with us so that we may never forget:

If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it (John 14:12-14)  

And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us (1John 5:14)

We need to ask for wisdom in our time of need, but ask for it with faith and not doubting (James 1:5-6). It is hard for us to place that kind of faith in anything because our worldly experiences have universally fallen short. It takes courage. It’s the ability to do what God says, when He says, regardless of our fear, because it is often our greatest fear that God can turn into the path to our greatest opportunity (2 Timothy 1:7). He makes all things work together for my good.

3. Reach out, don’t reach within. I’m at the door if you’ll just let me in. I’ll never leave or let you go.

I have tried more times than I can recount to do things my way, in my own strength. Every time, I have failed. We think we’ve got it all under control until the ground begins to crumble beneath us and then we ask God why. We come to Him at that point in our crisis, but never up front, seeking His advice and direction. We have to recognize that we can do nothing on our own (John 5:30).  

For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me (John 5:36)

We are cautioned against attempting to live in our own strength and we fail to realize that our own self-importance will override our discernment every time. 

You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions (James 4:3)

We need to be mindful and guard our thoughts because we often ask out of an impure heart.

4. Be still and know that I am God.

God gives us the power to accomplish whatever He has called us to do, and when we seek first what He wants for our lives, we are unstoppable. It takes faith. It requires that assurance that something that hasn’t yet happened – will. We need to seek wisdom and the scriptures tell us that:  

Wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere (James 3:13-17)

If we are not careful to check ourselves for bitter jealousy and our own selfish ambition, we will invite disorder into our circumstances. We often feel limited by our circumstances, but it can be the things we think restrict us that God can use to set us free. We need to ask God: “Now what?” “What are you doing in my life?” The power is right there, waiting for us. We’re often too busy trying to save ourselves to listen.

In case you’re thinking you’ve heard this all before, most of what I heard was through music on my way to that “thoughtful spot” where I met with God yesterday. It wasn’t until I got real with Him that those lyrics began echoing in my mind. Through reading scripture, prayer, and simple reflection, God filled in the rest.

Pray bigger. God can take it.

Before You Turn 30

While driving to work this morning, my favorite morning radio show talked about an article from Relevant Magazine and the nine things you should know before turning 30. I found them to be so true and ring rather close to home, so I thought I'd share.

1. Life is SO not about you. The only universe you are the center of is your own. A successful life is one lived out of generosity and service for others. One of the hardest parts of growing up is to place others above yourself. If we take our cues from Jesus, this should be a no-brainer. As Mark 10 chronicles, Jesus came not to be served, but to serve.

2. Credit cards are dangerous. College campuses are the locations of the worst offenders of sucking young people into credit card debt. They offer free gifts as incentives and make you feel as though you deserve the things you want but can't afford. If you haven't had the opportunity to participate in Financial Peace University, I highly recommend looking into it. If you are working through debt, it can transform your life and your relationship with money.

3. Stuff will never satisfy. Sure, for a short time, it may, but that feeling is fleeting. Material things are not the source of true joy. Joy comes from helping others, from faith and love, and a sense of purpose. You may feel contentment with your life, but it is only through God that true joy is received.

4. Save now while you're young. Sounds like common sense, right? Saving gets harder the older you get if it's not a habit for you already. If you have a family to support, it becomes that much harder to set money aside. Having an emergency fund is critical and helps avoid the panic that sets in when a crisis hits if you know you have that buffer. Too often we live paycheck to paycheck and end up with more month at the end of the money!

5. You should probably read more. The benefits of reading are tremendous. A healthy mind is nourished by increasing your vocabulary, gaining knowledge, and improving concentration. There's something about holding a book in your hands and flipping the pages, and I'm not talking about a digital pad and a swish of your finger!

6. Pay attention to what you eat. This is probably something many of us needed to do long before 30. As we age, our metabolism slows and if we are not compensating for that through routine exercise and a healthier perspective on the foods we eat, we are opening ourselves up to long-term disease and an unhealthy lifestyle. I am just as guilty of slacking in this department probably more than any other area mentioned in this list. Sometimes it takes a wake up call to prioritize your life, and your health should be at the top of the list. Gwen Shamblin has a terrific take on how to have a healthy relationship with food. I would recommend checking out her workshop (and it's a book, so you're reading too!)

7. Stop comparing yourself to others. So you don't have the latest TV, or the fastest car, or the best looking body. It's time to focus on what you DO have and be grateful for it. There will always be someone prettier, smarter, or more successful than you. In the end, you can't take it with you. Jealousy says "God owes me." The truth is God gives out according to His will and He never claimed to be fair. This is directly related to the first item on this list. You cannot have a heart of jealousy and envy and love people (1 Corinthians 13:4). If you are happy when others fail, you have a heart problem.

8. Get used to saying "No". It may be time to re-evaluate your responsibilities and prioritize. Don't let others make you feel guilty for doing so.You can't do it all, nor should you. Rely on other people for support when you're running ragged and take time for the important people and things in your life. Nothing lasts forever, so savor the moments.

9. Maintain close relationships. The most important thing in life is relationships. Those who travel along the journey by your side are the ones you need to sustain and follow up with. Is there someone with whom you need to reconnect? What's stopping you? It's about doing life together. There's no better way.

Be well. Be joyful. Be you.

Secret Agent of Kindness

I recently came across this news report and thought it was such a terrific idea!
Spreading Random Acts of Kindness

We should all take time in our day to do something thoughtful for others. I don't mean just holding the door for a stranger, but maybe buying the coffee for the person behind you at the drive thru, or leaving a flower with a note on someone's doorstep. It's the little things that make a big difference.

So who's with me? Let's help spread kindness and brighten someone's day!
Secret Agent L

A Girl's Store

One of my favorite places to visit when I trek up to Geneva, NY is Earthly Possessions. Much of my existing jewelry and other fun collections originated here. Yvette is amazing and her store exudes beauty and positivity. Here is my latest find - a beaded cuff! Much thanks to my MIL for this totally cool treasure!

Revival

Hi all!

It's been over a year (far too long) since I posted here and I thought this blog deserved to be resurrected. I took the liberty of going through the posts (very overwhelming and emotional) and removed those that are incredibly outdated. I've left several because I felt they were particularly meaningful in some way for us.

I can't say I've completely decided what form this blog will take as it continues to evolve, but I am sure that it will continue to be fun, inspiring, interesting, and of course, heart-felt.

Much thanks and be well!
Erin