This is the title of our sermon series right now at FUMC. Here I am at 1am wide awake! Hmmm maybe Bruce's word are relevant to me?! :)
Sometimes life keeps us up for good reasons. I find that I do some of my best thinking, find the best solutions, and oddly have the most creativity at this time.
I've been doing a lot of searching lately on what it means to be a good friend. I believe friendship is one of the hardest things to find, maintain, and keep. Life gets busy. People move in different directions. They meet new people. You meet new people. We are not available as much as we used to be or as much as we'd like.
There is a popular email/forward that gets passed around quite frequently and my eyes have seen it a lot. It talks about people being in your life for a season, reason, and a life time. Then you pass it on and in 5 days your wish will come true! (Ha! Do people really believe that? I would like to have a deeper faith than that!)
I agree with that to an extent. Friendship takes work! You're not "tied" or "committed" to a friend like you would be a spouse with public vows and a ring! All to prove my point even more! There is nothing that says you have to maintain a friendship. I believe every friendship is by choice. We control whether a person is in our life for a reason, season, or a lifetime. We pick which we want to invest time into for a lifetime. We do go different paths and things change...but with enough work...they don't have to be a reason or a season. Some may not agree, but give this idea a chance.
When we see our friends going through painful situations (just as Bruce preached on Sunday!), we just don't know what to do. Sometimes the best thing to do is be their friend. Stay by their side...through it all...even when it is rough. Jesus does this for us. I strive everyday to do as he did (LONG ways to go!). Even the stuff that is hard! We can't pick for ourselves which traits of Jesus we want to do. We have to try for it all. It is a never-ending walk that I wouldn't trade for the world!
At the end of each message, we've watched people from our congregation go to the alter and "be still". People with all different walks of life and different ages have gone forth. Two weeks ago we sang "It Is Well". I teared up watching the 70 something year old lady behind me make her way to the alter. I teared up watching people I knew kneel as we, the congregation, continued singing the soul-saving words. My heart ached for them without even knowing their story or current situation.
When life keeps me up at night, I am thankful for the friends and people I have in life. People to experience this wild ride of life with. I am thankful to share laughs, tears, sorrows, struggles, fears, curiosities, memories, accomplishments, dreams, joys, embarrassments, insecurities, securities, and prayers with...the people that I love and am committed to.
Funniest moment of the day: Eating at Metro. with Amy and Daryl. They both asked for a straw and I joined the crowd by also telling the waitress that "we suck". Good thing she had a sense of humor.
Blessing of the day: Friendship.
Prayer of the day: All those who need to "be still"
Song of the day: "By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue North
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdjRmM0Q0qs
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Simplicity
Simple yet powerful:
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi
"Live in HARMONY with one another; be SYMPATHETIC, LOVE as brothers, be COMPASSIONATE, and HUMBLE." -1 Peter 3:8
Funniest moment of the day: Caleb hitting the high note at the end of "Jesus Loves Me"
Blessing of the day: Being surrounded by the amazing people at FUMC.
Prayer of the day: Real change.
Song of the day: "He's Always Been Faithful" by Sara Groves
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi
"Live in HARMONY with one another; be SYMPATHETIC, LOVE as brothers, be COMPASSIONATE, and HUMBLE." -1 Peter 3:8
Funniest moment of the day: Caleb hitting the high note at the end of "Jesus Loves Me"
Blessing of the day: Being surrounded by the amazing people at FUMC.
Prayer of the day: Real change.
Song of the day: "He's Always Been Faithful" by Sara Groves
Saturday, January 17, 2009
In Tune
Embrace yourself for a long blog!
I have no musical ability what-so-ever (if you count the time I played the sleigh bells at church...then I have one!). If someone asked me to play a tune, sing a tune, whistle a tune...they'd be out of luck!
I love how things in life fit together! Just last week, I was guiding the high schoolers in a discussion about the song "God of This City" and it was the offering song at a different church I attended this evening. My dandy co-worker, Nancy, states that when things like this happen, it means that we are in the right place. We are where we are supposed to be!
If you have yet to hear the song "God of This City", I HIGHLY suggest that you do...right now! The words are way more powerful than this blog of mine. In college, I studied servant leadership and discovered my passion for service work. I felt that I "understood" what it meant to give of myself to something greater. My faith, however, was of another story! I was always waiting for God to somewhat "entertain" me. He needed to be doing the work and showering my life with blessings. In the last few years (being in the "real world") I see my relationship with God a bit different (raise the roof for grace!). Just as the song says, "Greater things have yet to come. Greater things are still to be done"! It is not about what God does FOR me...but all about what I can do to make things better: To show hope to the hopeless...peace to the restless...just as God does.
Our senior year on the Leadership Team, we were to make a mission statement and share it during our final for our senior project. Well, I accidentally threw away my entire Leadership notebook shortly after graduation! It just made me sick that I lost it! Just a few weeks ago, my great friend Hayley told me that she had kept my mission statement and had a copy in the front of her notebook! I had the chance to read my life mission statement that I had written four years ago (seems as if my world has changed dramatically in these 4 years). I was shocked to read the words! I was so full of joy to see that my mission statement, the things I want in life, have remained the same! Through everything...I'm still in tune with who I am!
Even though I am not in tune musically, I hope to be in tune with life. I hope to become more in tune with the opportunities God puts before me, wait for what has yet to come, and contribute to the great things that have yet to be done!
Funniest moment of the day: still pondering :)
Blessing(s) of the day: church and dinner with Dani
Prayer of the day: Be In Tune!
Song of the day: hmmm...I'll have to go with "God of This City" by BlueTree but Chris Tomlin recorded it as well
Here's my mission statement written in 2001 for anyone interested:
IN MY LIFE I WILL:
Find happiness
Not settle for anything that is not the best for me
Center everything around my faith and trust in God
Remember to laugh and smile
Be humbled by my fears and trust in my faith
Love the people in my life
Know that there are going to be “those days” and try to learn from them
Continually grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually
Be thankful for the gifts I have and not take things for granted
Love life itself
Find a career that I love
Always remain true to myself and God’s will
I have no musical ability what-so-ever (if you count the time I played the sleigh bells at church...then I have one!). If someone asked me to play a tune, sing a tune, whistle a tune...they'd be out of luck!
I love how things in life fit together! Just last week, I was guiding the high schoolers in a discussion about the song "God of This City" and it was the offering song at a different church I attended this evening. My dandy co-worker, Nancy, states that when things like this happen, it means that we are in the right place. We are where we are supposed to be!
If you have yet to hear the song "God of This City", I HIGHLY suggest that you do...right now! The words are way more powerful than this blog of mine. In college, I studied servant leadership and discovered my passion for service work. I felt that I "understood" what it meant to give of myself to something greater. My faith, however, was of another story! I was always waiting for God to somewhat "entertain" me. He needed to be doing the work and showering my life with blessings. In the last few years (being in the "real world") I see my relationship with God a bit different (raise the roof for grace!). Just as the song says, "Greater things have yet to come. Greater things are still to be done"! It is not about what God does FOR me...but all about what I can do to make things better: To show hope to the hopeless...peace to the restless...just as God does.
Our senior year on the Leadership Team, we were to make a mission statement and share it during our final for our senior project. Well, I accidentally threw away my entire Leadership notebook shortly after graduation! It just made me sick that I lost it! Just a few weeks ago, my great friend Hayley told me that she had kept my mission statement and had a copy in the front of her notebook! I had the chance to read my life mission statement that I had written four years ago (seems as if my world has changed dramatically in these 4 years). I was shocked to read the words! I was so full of joy to see that my mission statement, the things I want in life, have remained the same! Through everything...I'm still in tune with who I am!
Even though I am not in tune musically, I hope to be in tune with life. I hope to become more in tune with the opportunities God puts before me, wait for what has yet to come, and contribute to the great things that have yet to be done!
Funniest moment of the day: still pondering :)
Blessing(s) of the day: church and dinner with Dani
Prayer of the day: Be In Tune!
Song of the day: hmmm...I'll have to go with "God of This City" by BlueTree but Chris Tomlin recorded it as well
Here's my mission statement written in 2001 for anyone interested:
IN MY LIFE I WILL:
Find happiness
Not settle for anything that is not the best for me
Center everything around my faith and trust in God
Remember to laugh and smile
Be humbled by my fears and trust in my faith
Love the people in my life
Know that there are going to be “those days” and try to learn from them
Continually grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually
Be thankful for the gifts I have and not take things for granted
Love life itself
Find a career that I love
Always remain true to myself and God’s will
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Becoming Healthier...
Many people say that journaling adds health to ones life. I am the type of person that has problems with daily commitments, even if it will make my life better. I have tried to be a journel-er and it has never worked out. So...I've had the thought of blogging for quite some time, but never got around to it. After too much thinking and not enough action...here I am! Now all of my random thoughts will become public!
I am a MTV junkie (always have been...hope I always won't be. Don't judge). I absolutely love the show "Run's House". I think it is hilarious watching little Russy and Diggy. I watch the show wondering if I would have been of character like these boys at that age. Would I have made an interesting TV show? I know my family would now! (Can I get an Amen?) Most of my childhood consisted of sports! Probably would have made for boring TV.
Random side note: I attended a 7th grade basketball game yesterday and I just could not help but watch with a smile on my face! I had youth playing in the game and cheering on the sidelines. I had so much pride and joy watching my youth do the "things" they enjoy doing. I thought about my parents and other family members always on the sidelines at my games and wondered if they felt the same. It was almost harder sitting on the sidelines wanting my youth to play well...and I'm not even the parent!
Back to "Run's House": Another favorite part is listening to Rev. Run end the show. He is always in a huge bathtub, surrouned by candles, and writing an inspirational message on his Blackberry. One goal I have for this blog is to sum up the day with four things:
1.Funniest moment
2.Blessing
3.Prayer
4.Song of the day
Don't worry! I'm not sitting in a huge pile of bubbles with my laptop! I would probably drop it in the water and my daily streak of blogging would be over on the first day!
I can't promise that my blog will be funny, well written, educational, anything interesting, or nearly this long! It will simply be my daily life put to words! So read if you wish! If no one reads it....oh well...at least I'll be a healthier person for writing it :)
Funniest moment of the day: Parents calling while I'm working. They're practicing for retirement.
Blessing(s) of the day: After school Bible study with high schoolers & Thursday nights with the Sheumakers
Prayer of the day: Temps in single digits. Not good.
Song of the day: "The Face of Love" by Sanctus Real (check out the sweet lyrics)
I am a MTV junkie (always have been...hope I always won't be. Don't judge). I absolutely love the show "Run's House". I think it is hilarious watching little Russy and Diggy. I watch the show wondering if I would have been of character like these boys at that age. Would I have made an interesting TV show? I know my family would now! (Can I get an Amen?) Most of my childhood consisted of sports! Probably would have made for boring TV.
Random side note: I attended a 7th grade basketball game yesterday and I just could not help but watch with a smile on my face! I had youth playing in the game and cheering on the sidelines. I had so much pride and joy watching my youth do the "things" they enjoy doing. I thought about my parents and other family members always on the sidelines at my games and wondered if they felt the same. It was almost harder sitting on the sidelines wanting my youth to play well...and I'm not even the parent!
Back to "Run's House": Another favorite part is listening to Rev. Run end the show. He is always in a huge bathtub, surrouned by candles, and writing an inspirational message on his Blackberry. One goal I have for this blog is to sum up the day with four things:
1.Funniest moment
2.Blessing
3.Prayer
4.Song of the day
Don't worry! I'm not sitting in a huge pile of bubbles with my laptop! I would probably drop it in the water and my daily streak of blogging would be over on the first day!
I can't promise that my blog will be funny, well written, educational, anything interesting, or nearly this long! It will simply be my daily life put to words! So read if you wish! If no one reads it....oh well...at least I'll be a healthier person for writing it :)
Funniest moment of the day: Parents calling while I'm working. They're practicing for retirement.
Blessing(s) of the day: After school Bible study with high schoolers & Thursday nights with the Sheumakers
Prayer of the day: Temps in single digits. Not good.
Song of the day: "The Face of Love" by Sanctus Real (check out the sweet lyrics)
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