Loving & Forgiving...

      Over the past few weeks God has really been speaking to me on two major aspects: love and forgiveness.  I have done blogs over the last few years about both topics.  However, I am constantly amazed at how God continues to use two words to speak volumes in various ways.  It is almost as those these words would appear simple, but they are very complex in various ways.  Here is what God has been laying on my heart about both words.

Both words are:

1. Daily aspects of life.  [Everyday we have the opportunity to love each other and forgive each other.  There may be times that we do not think we daily forgive, but we do.  We may have to forgive someone who has cut us of while driving, who has hurt us in the past as we daily face the trails, or we have to forgive ourselves.  We love those who are close to us, support us, work with us, etc.]

2. Action oriented.  [This is a tough concept to comprehend or adjust to.  I struggle with this on a daily basis.  Loving someone who makes it fun or easy to love is nice.  However, God calls us to love EVERYONE.  Even when we have been hurt, repeatedly, we need to love through God.  I will say this, loving someone through Christ Jesus helps us learn to forgive them.  But this I mean, if we love like Jesus did, we learn to forgive like He did.  He is the great example.] ("But I tell you who hear me; Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who cruse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:27-28)

3. Empowering.  [As a Christian, it is my duty to honor God and live a life for Him.  If I am demonstrating how to love and forgive someone, I believe this is empowering for others.  If I can somehow mustard up some strength, moreso faith, to do God's will, this may empower other's to do the same.]  (He replied, "Because you have so little faith.  I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you."  Matthew 17:20-21)

4. Character Assassins.  [If we, you, I, call ourselves Christians and we do not love or forgive...what are we standing for?  There is a song I really enjoy by For King and Country that says, "Let my love love like You and what Your made of, How you lived, How you died, Love is sacrafice".  How beautifully written.  We do not want to shy away from or belittle Jesus' life: His message, His saving grace by not loving or forgiving.  We do not want to lose our character.]

      There are many other ways to say and apply love and forgiveness.  Remember, we are called to love all and forgive all.  I will say that from my experience, loving someone can be from afar and may mean by/through prayer.  Forgiving someone does not mean we approve of someone's behavior.  Instead it means we choose to live a life and have a heart like Christ.  Loving others and forgiving other's frees us from pain and heartache.  I leave you with this quote...

"Dare to love and to be a real friend.  The love you give and receive is a reality that will lead you closer and closer to God as well as to those whom God has give you to love." Henri J. M. Nouwen

Father's are Leaders

      Happy Father's Day to all the dad's and soon to be father's out there.  Today is a day to remember those men who have fulfilled the role of a father in your life.  Today is kind of a bitter sweet day for me.  See, I have been very quiet with aspects of my personal life.  I am not one to shy away from sharing my experiences.  However, I feel that some aspects of my life need to stay quiet, simply to protect those that may get upset/hurt. 
      I have shared through my blogs the message of standing up for your faith and what God calls you to do.  Here is another chance for me to do this.  My relationship with God has become stronger because I have had to place certain boundaries in my life.  An example of this reverts back to my relationship with my earthly father. 
     My relationship with my Heavenly Father has grown closer and deeper because I decided to place Him first.  I have learned that what you put into a relationship, later in life you will reap the benefits from it.  (OK, so in most situations this holds true.)  I have also learned that if you do not take care of or maintain the relationship, the relationship will whither away.
      Think of it this way: if you are in a leadership role, then you are in a status to make changes. Men, this could not ring more true for you in the household. (I may step on toes with this one, but I feel it is necessary to point out God's will.) God called you, men, to step up and lead the house in HIS will, not anyone else's. I, unfortunately, did not always understand this concept until I went through pre-marital counseling. If your father did not take you to church, did not worship God with you, or did not lead by Christ's example, then be the change!
     What bigger and more important role do you have than to be a parent, even more, a father.  Your job is to raise a child the way Christ wants you to.  God has a plan and direction for your family.  God seeks to know your heart as a father in order to help shape it into the heart of a godly father.  Remember fathers and mothers, that when Christ calls you home, He will hold you accountable for your job as a parent. 
     You may not have had the best earthly example of a father.  I will confidently say, you have the best Heavenly Father and example in Him on who to be.  If you do not know God as your personal Lord and Savior, then I challenge you to do so.  Start today and be the change you are called to be. 
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing me richly.  I praise you Father for being the support I need and for loving me.  Lord I pray that I can be the example You need me to me.  I pray Lord, that if you bless my husband and I with children, that we may be the parents You have called us to be.  Amen.       

Your Life = Inspiring?

Everyday I go to work I flip over a page on a daily inspiration calender.  Today's was nothing less than inspirational:

"The blossom cannot tell what becomes of its fragrance when it drifts away,

just as no person can tell what becomes

 of his or her influence as she or he continues through life."

How true is this of life?  We should daily strive to do our best, leave an impression on someone, influence the lost (children, family, friends, etc), and love all.  I will be the first to admit that this is a struggle for me.  It's so difficult to find ways to love some, to do our best when we are tired/worn out, or simply to find the strength to carry on. 

When I think back to those who have influenced my life, it was not only in their successes that I found inspiration, it was during their trials that they showed their true faith and dedication.  Below are someone of the earthly individuals that have inspired me through life and how they have inspired me.  (In no particular order)

1. Mother - Even the moments that I was unlovable (and boy I have more than my share of those moments), she kept loving me.  My mother has taught me through example how to love God, have a passion in life and pursue it, and place family first.

2. 3rd Grade Teacher (Mr. Brown) - I would say that this year was a year of MANY adjustments.  In one year I experienced several loss and changes.  Through those adjustments, Mr. Brown gently guided me and understood my personality (shy, timid, etc).

3. Grandmothers - I have to make this one plural.  Both of my grandmothers are tough, strong, and faithful women.  They have shown dedication to family, been gentle, educators in life's challenges, and man are they good cooks.  (Many of you may agree on the last aspect...hehe!)

4. Coach Hall (former high school advisor) - Through high school Coach Hall challenged his students.  His teaching style truly embraced all aspects; from coloring our notebooks to the realities in the activities.  He challenged my beliefs and thoughts of my faith.  Without experiencing one specific day in his class, I would not have sought out personal understanding and growth in my faith.

5. Courtney - My best friend.  Oh the journey we have been on through senior year of high school all the way through college.  We have understood heartache together, frustrations, love, and crazy times.  Our lives are so parallel in regards to our family circumstances that I cannot imagine not having her by my side through the hurtles.

The individuals listed above do not stand alone together.  There are many other individuals I would put in the category of inspiring.  Without saying, God has lead me down amazing paths.  Without God placing these individuals in my life at the specific times He did, I would not have grown to be who I am.  So I leave you with this...Who are you inspiring?  How are you making a difference in someones life?

Love and Blessings....

Reading = Stress Relief

One of my favorite things that I like to do during my free time is read.  Reading sends me into a different world, it takes me into a magical place, it helps me relax.  So some individuals, reading is more like a chore.  I'll be honest, it use to be a chore for me, literally.  Every summer morning my sister and I had a chore list and on it: 20 minutes of reading (among several other items).  Reading has not always been a pleasure for me, but sometime around 6th or maybe 7th grade it changed. 

Currently my favorite author is Nicholas Sparks.  I enjoy his tastefully writing style, his simple but complex story lines of love and occasional heartache.  I enjoy Nicholas Sparks so much, I have dedicated several vacation trips to some of the locations that his movies have been set in.  (I'll attach a picture with a description).

(Me infront of the house in The Last Song...Tybee Island, GA)

I'm not writing a blog today to talked about Nicholas Sparks.  I'm writing a blog to talk about 2 things, stress and God.  Stress is a part of life, something that is inevitable at times.  We, as humans, as individuals, need to find ways to let go of our stress and take care of ourselves.  God even calls us to do this.  1 Peter 5:7 says, "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." (NLT)  Stress = Worrying.

I'm going to be honest with you, this is something I struggle with daily.  My mother has always told me, if I don't have something to worry about, I'll worry about not having anything to worry about.  I have become a professional at worrying.  However, since I know that this is a weakness of myself, I need to be more aware of the times I worry and place it in God's hands. 

When we surrender our worries, cares, stress, whatever to God, He can fully work in our lives.  If we place our heart, our desires, and love in God's hands, His will can be fulfilled.  So, what are you waiting for?  Worrying does not solve our problems.  Corrie Ten Boom has a valid point, "Worrying does not empty tomorrow of it sorrows, it empties today of it's strength."  Give it to God!

Dear Precious Father, I thank you for your abundant love and support.  Thank you for knowing my needs even before I know them.  Thank you Lord for providing for my needs and even at times my wants.  I praise You for my blessings.  I place all my worries and cares in your hands today and every day Lord.  In Jesus' Name, AMEN.