[weakness & change]

I am officially a sophomore in "the real world," meaning that I am near the cusp of beginning to understand many new cultural norms - emphasis on the beginning part:

- Skipping work is not quite socially acceptable. While you can get away with spontaneously skipping classes in college, the term has a whole new meaning in the workforce. It is not so unplanned and involves something known as PTO (Paid Time Off). Delightful.

 

- Your body is accustomed to waking up at 6:15am Monday - Friday, so there goes your ability to sleep in. Even if you do still possess that special talent, you better hurry up and get your butt out of bed on the weekend so you can live it up.

 

- Your wardrobe has taken on a new transformation; what was once Nike shorts and over sized t-shirts has blossomed into pencil skirts and blouses.

 

- Although you may still think of life in semesters, try not to refer to them that way - people may look at you strangely.

So this may sound like I am bitter about post college life, but I can assure you that I am not. These are merely changes (not good, not bad.. just different). However, as certain things in life change, there are those that stay constant, as well:

- You will still make excuses not to go to the gym, and now they are even more legitimate. While you were once too lazy to visit the campus gym (4 minutes away from your house, mind you), of course you're going to be too lazy to hit up the gym 4 miles from your house. It just happens.

- Your college friendships will persevere. Even if you move to different places, you will still keep in touch. The frequency will change but not the friendships themselves. You may have to meet up with your friends at your sorority sister's wedding, but you will make the most of it.

and here comes the fun one..

-  Even though you now have a degree and a full time job, you are still weak.. and quite frankly, I mean that in the best way possible.

This is one of the things I learned about myself in college and continue to see in my post grad life.. ouch. As Americans, we are all about self sufficiency. To have limitations and needs is to be lowly, right? How could fragility ever be a good thing? I encourage you to view weakness in a different manner. Weakness forces us to search for something..someone greater to sustain us. Do you see where I am going with this? How am I ever going to find this something or someone if I am self sufficient? It's not possible.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still [weak], Christ died for the ungodly (..that's us). Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:6-8

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses.. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

weakness = good

[a little bitta community]

Yesterday afternoon I witnessed one of the most precious moments I had experienced in a long time. Well, the most precious moment is quite a stretch.. what the precious moment brought on is what was so special.

There I was sitting in the middle of the La Madeleine in the Dallas Love Field Airport, mango iced tea in hand - you know it. Sitting there reading.. passing time until my flight back to Tulsa, Oklahoma.. T-town, if you will. In walked a little old lady who proceeded to ask a middle-aged woman if she could share a table with her. What? There were plenty of available seats - why is this lady trying to bum a table from a stranger? Enter the sweetest conversation ever.. so what if I was eavesdropping?

The two ladies talked about life, chemotherapy, food, friendship, travels, tornado devastation in Oklahoma. And quite frankly, it was beautiful. Props go to the cutest old lady who had the nerve to sit next to this stranger. I rarely see this in the United States.. not saying that people here aren't friendly - but honestly, who goes up to random people in restaurants to ask if they can accompany them with their meal when there are plenty of available seats?

Even though their conversation was not necessarily gospel centered, it made me think of Christian community. It made me think of Christ's body - the Church. God never intended for us to be disconnected.. to figure out life, Christianity, hard times, you name it.. on our own. In a world filled with over 6.974 billion people (yes, BILLION), it is easy to feel tiny, insignificant, independent.

As much as we try to entertain this so-called independence, this is not about you bucking up while attempting to do life on your own; it's about you realizing that you can't become a 'better' Christian on your own accord. We were made for community. We're apart of something bigger than our own lives.

How awesome would it be if we took after the little old lady in our Christian walk?

What if we discussed our struggles more openly with one another? After all, we're in this together, right?

What if we looked for opportunities to assist in carrying the burdens of others on a daily basis.. Whether that be through the stranger we meet in the coffee shop or our best friend?

Just a little food for thought.

[change & trust]

spaghetti squash.

Bloody Marys.

change.

If you haven't guessed it yet.. these are all things I do not like. Rather than talk to you about spaghetti squash or Bloody Marys (as tantalizing as these subject matters may be..), we're goin with number 3. In all seriousness, this 'change' situation has been a real thriller for me these past few months.

New city, new friends, new job, new house. Where does it end? Honestly, I feel like I've been in culture shock since graduation last year.

It should end in t-r-u-s-t. Or at least that's what my devotional keeps telling me.
"This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.'"
-Isaiah 30:15

I feel like a good chunk of my time has been focused on the last segment of that sentence: '..but you would have none of it.' Instead of trusting the Creator of the world, the ultimate Truth, I have found myself attempting to go against this change.. testing the waters out for myself rather than giving into God's plan for my life through this molding. Only after testing the waters out for myself do I realize that I can't do it alone. I need his guidance. I need to trust in his faithfulness even when it's hard.

Then I am reminded of a somewhat similar situation:

1Now the LORD said to Abram,
  “Go forth from your country,
  And from your relatives
  And from your father’s house,
  To the land which I will show you;
2And I will make you a great nation,
  And I will bless you,
  And make your name great;
  And so you shall be a blessing;
3And I will bless those who bless you,
  And the one who curses you I will curse.
  And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

-Genesis 12:1-3

No, I didn't leave my country.. I merely moved 2 hours north. However, the message still applies. God chose Abram to go through changes just as God uses change in our lives - He had plans to prosper Abram through this time. He didn't promise it would be easy or painless, BUT He does promise that the result will be fruitful.

Only one thing can be better than this. A companion.

"..And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
-Matthew 28:20

Check.
 
Why not choose to view this change for what it really is? A time to lean on the Lord. A time to learn. A transformation with an end result of becoming more like Christ. A time to prosper. A time to trust.

[bloom where you are planted]

Sometimes I get to thinking..

So I have this one shot, one opportunity (..you only wish I was about to bust out Eminem style on you) to live "well." We have an average life expectancy of 80 or something years, and I'm not even promised that. In these 80 years, I desire to live with meaning, with purpose. I hope to live up to the expectations of that awful James Dean quote: "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." I want to be remembered for the way that I loved the Lord, that I served Him, that I gave Him glory.

Pause.

Remember how I'm working that 8:00 to 5:00 job Monday through Friday? Remember how I get so wrapped up in my daily routine that I forget about this whole 'one opportunity to live' concept? Remember that February month that seemed to fly by without me even recognizing it for what it could be? Am I glorying the Lord through my corporate lifestyle? Is he satisfied in my daily routine? Am I really making the most of my life?
 
Yes.

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the set times for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.
-Acts 17:26-28
 
Isn't it comforting to know that we are for a reason? God predetermined the set times and exact places where we should live in order that we may reach out and find Him, the Creator of the entire universe. That job you are working.. I believe God strategically placed you in it to get to know Him more. That daily routine that has you frazzled.. God's going to use it for His greater purposes.

What I'm trying to say is that it doesn't matter that we may not feel like we are living to the best of our abilities.. if we are 'living as if we will die today.' Whether we can see it or not, God is constantly directing our footsteps.. leading us to his wide open arms.. the ultimate satisfaction. All we're asked to do in return is to abide.

abide: continue without fading or being lost.

Not feelin' it?

God is exalted in his power.

Who is a teacher like him?

Who has prescribed his ways for him,

or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?

Remember to extol his work,

which men have praised in song.

All mankind has seen it;

men gaze on it from afar.

How great is God—beyond our understanding!

The number of his years is past finding out.

“He draws up the drops of water,

which distill as rain to the streams;

the clouds pour down their moisture

and abundant showers fall on mankind.

Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,

how he thunders from his pavilion?

See how he scatters his lightning about him,

bathing the depths of the sea.

This is the way he governs the nations

and provides food in abundance.

He fills his hands with lightning

and commands it to strike its mark.

His thunder announces the coming storm;

even the cattle make known its approach.

 -Job 36:22-33

You can trust Him.

[little reminders of l-o-v-e]

Dedicated to everyone who wonders if I am writing about them. I am.

Let's face it.. life is tough. There are times when we question ourselves, question our faith, question our dreams.. lots of questioning. This is for those times. They suck, but I guarantee that they're worth it under one condition: you must join me in choosing to believe and trust that God is using this questioning, this soul searching, these trials to mold you into someone who resembles Jesus Christ, THE king of the universe. Can a girl get an amen?

Following, you will find a culmination of Pinterest quotes, song lyrics, Bible verses, and my own insight. It's comforting to hear truth from multiple sources, dontchya think?

You are exactly where you should be.

Your mercies, they are new every morning. GREAT is your faithfulness.
-Lamentations 3:23

He heard you, when your eyes were closed and your head held low.

All beautiful you are, My Darling. There is no flaw in you.
-Song of Solomon 4:7

He appeared, and the soul felt its worth.

Look for My hand
Look for My hand, and I will lead you across the floor in a dance.
Look for My feet, and I will chase the sun for you.
I wish that I could reach you.
Don't leave your joy behind.
No matter what you find.
I know you're scared.
I know you're scared and you can hardly breathe.
I know you feel alone and empty and empty as can be.
Look for my hand.
-Chloe Leavers

There is no saint without a past, sinner without a future.

Arise my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.
-Song of Solomon 2:10

Buckle up, Buttercup.

You CAN do it.

[in quietness & trust]

Your 'strum' iPhone alarm tone goes off at 6:30 AM to wake you up for work.. (or maybe it's the 'bark' tone, like mine - either way).. after pressing the snooze button once (okay, twice.. three times) you rush to get ready for work.. brush your teeth.. throw on something 'respectably professional' even though you're still 17 at heart.. de-ice your car (what the HECK.. who knew it was supposed to get to 32 last night?!).. high tail it to work while listening to radio talk shows about murders and celebrities.

Okay, so maybe that's a little exaggerated, BUT don't lie - you know that you agreed with at least a few of those. That's just the time from 6:30 - 8, and I'm already stressed. Then there's the whole 8 to 5 thing where you work for a good 8 hours in said cubicle.. OH, and then you have that life thing from 5:30 (after your commute & traffic) until your bedtime. Don't forget dinner, working out, relationships (family, friends, significant others), TV shows, Jesus time, and chores.

SLOW THE FREAK DOWN.

We, in fact, live in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private, and therefore starved for mediation and true friendship.
-C.S. Lewis

Maybe it's the 'American' way of life that is so rapid and hurried, maybe it's our sinful nature.. maybe it's a combination. Is life not a gift? Should we not embrace it with open arms? Should we not savor it, blessing by blessing?

Let's see how Jesus would start the day. No, they did not have iPhones to feed you your best friend's (or that random girl you met one night at that friend's house) every move on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, etc., but that doesn't mean he didn't have the opportunity to get overwhelmed. Large crowds were constantly following Jesus (Luke 14:25, John 6:2) in hopes of either receiving healing or condemning him for being a 'false prophet.' Stressful.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
-Mark 1:35

Love that.

I love that it goes against our culture. Tell me that we don't live in a world deprived of alone time, peace, rest, and joy, for that matter.

Settle down.

Take time to do things that matter.

Ger rid of the rest.

Get some alone time.

Do less.

Pray.

Be grateful.

Go on walks.

Take time to notice the little things.. from the color change in the leaves to the friendliness of your Starbuck's server.

and most (and sometimes hardest) of all..

rest in the truth that He is in control.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
-Psalm 46:10

looooove ya.

[better late than never]

Belated presents.

If you know me.. you know that these are one of my fortes. Better late than never? I think so. SO, if you too are a belated gift giver.. fear no more, for I have the perfect gift idea for you.

Homemade Strawberry Jam

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
• Personally, I'm going with store bought lemon juice. Oops.
• 3 tbs lemon juice = 1 medium sized lemon
• Kerr Mason Jars.. whatever size you so desire
• 1 1/2 pints fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
• If you are an inexperienced 'huller' as I am, the picture below is for you. (You're just cutting out the top middle part of the strawberry.)

 

 

Ingredients

 

Special Instructions Before You Begin:

You're in need of some jams while you make your jam, I can tell. By the way, the pun was intended. I strongly recommend the following video

 

 

Directions

1. Combine the sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved.
 

 
 
2. Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 20 minutes, until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly.
 



Before

 



After

 
3. Pour carefully into your mason jars and either seal or keep refrigerated. Use immediately, or follow proper canning guidelines below.

 

Sterilizing Directions:

• Jars should be made from glass and free of any chips or cracks. Preserving or canning jars are topped with a glass, plastic or metal lid, which has a rubber seal. Two-piece lids are best for canning, as they vacuum-seal when processed. I got mine from Wal-mart - they're Kerr's.
• Boil the jars and lids in a large saucepan of water for 15 minutes.

Happy cooking!