Trust

Trust is such a difficult concept if you really think about it. Sometimes, like love, it is used too liberally...sometimes people just say it without really trusting. Sometimes I say it without really trusting. I don't know, it is just something I have been thinking about this past week. Mostly because I have an area of weakness that I need to face with trust. I have been working on really strengthening my faith...really being open to what God is teaching me, and really striving to give Him total control of my life. I have been learning about all the promises He has fulfilled in the past. I see the wonderful things He is doing in my life and in the world.

Yet, I still haven't been able to tithe.

Yes, through all that I have seen and experienced, I still hold on to my financial situation rather than trusting enough in Christ to give Him what is His. Thankfully, I have some wonderful friends who encourage me. They challenge me by reminding me that it is all about trusting God.

I have a friend who is a parent. And as a loving, caring, parent he/she worries about the safety and security of his/her child. Though I have no idea what it must feel like to be a parent and care for a child, I know that trust must be in Christ.

We all have areas in our life where we are weak in trusting in Christ. So I share this with you not only to hold myself more accountable, but as as a challenge.

How much do you trust God with?

One day, I hope my actions and my response to this question will be....EVERYTHING!

Love My Girls!

It is amazing how friendships work! Last night my great friends (two who I met in college and my sis) and I gathered together for a wonderful dinner! We usually try to get together as much as possible to catch up and to just spend time with each other. We have so many wonderful memories together and I know there are many more ahead. I just couldn't wait to just share how thankful I am to have these ladies in my life...to be able to get together...to support each other's growing families and to keep that friendship going strong!

Dina is such an amazing listener who gives such comforting and loving hugs and who will do anything she can for someone. Ang speaks straight from her heart and has to be one of the most genuine and sincere ladies I know. Jess, what have I not said about her yet? :)...just a beautiful lady inside and out. Last night was really the first night the daughters came...and to watch them grow and interact was something that really was wonderful to see. We all support each other. We are more than just friends, but family!....and for that I am thankful!

I love my girls!

Leaders

Last night was the first choir practice for the year. We all gathered together once again to sing songs that describe God's love and the praises we have for Him. Before choir, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner provided by a Sunday school class and Jess and I talked together as I prepared a little for teaching Sunday school class on Sunday. It was a great night. But as I looked around, I saw more than just friends and my church family, I saw LEADERS.

You see, a church can not survive with just a minister, pastor, priest...etc. If that is all a church needed, who would sing in the choir? Who would sing in the worship team? Who would teach sunday school? Who would prepare the dinners so families can eat together before participating in Wednesday night church activities? Who would decorate the alter table? Who would greet the members and new visitors? Who would make the bulletins? Who would keep the church clean? Who would support the missionaries? Who would work with the youth and children of the church? Who would reach out to others in the community? Who would take care of the finances? And the list goes on.

It took me a bit to figure out how I could be involved in the church, not just attend, but actually be a part of the church. I have heard congregations complain about different aspects of their church and some just want certain programs, etc...but who is going to take initiative and make things happen? Will it be you? My parents are ministers and I know they can't do it all. They already do so much for the church and it is time that we realize that we all can be LEADERS of a church in one way or another.

So I thank the ministers of the church for their leadership, the deacons, the choir members, the worship team, the committee members of all the committees that exist, the Sunday school teachers, the greeters, the custodians, those who prepare food, those who perform skits, those who operate the sound board, and the many others who share their skills and talents with the church. Thank you for being LEADERS so that the church can be a church that is actually a group of people gathering together in the name of Christ, rather than a church of one.

Support

No matter what she says, her eyes say it all. They express the love she feels for others and the encouragement, excitement, and comfort she has. She speaks from the heart. She is one of the people in my life who supports me and encourages me, in all the areas of my life. She challenges me in my walk of faith, my vulnerability, my attitude, my humility, etc. No matter how small a step I take, she is there cheering me on. Together we praise God for all He as done and continues to do in our lives and all around us. Her support, love, and encouragment is definitely a blessing in my life. She is my sister and my friend.

As much as I appreciate the support and love she provides, I would be mistaken to give her all the credit. That love that she shares, that encouragement and support that she expresses, comes from God. She lets Him work through her. She lets His love shine through her.

Just as I can not give her all the credit, I too can not take all the credit for the successess I have had or will have, for they would not exist without the love and support of God. As we learned this past Tuesday, He is faithful and steadfast!

Without the support and love of God, of family (like twin sisters and amazing parents!), of friends, of someone who really believes in us, where would we be? What would we accomplish? They are the ones lifting us up, challenging us, loving us!

Have you taken the time to thank those who support you?

Celebrate!

Yesterday was just a beautiful day!...and several of us made sure to enjoy it. Once again I spent the evening with some good friends out on the lake. Of course the one time I don't bring my camera with me, Jamie does an amazing job going outside of the wake. I can't wait to capture that moment the next time we go out. Brian did a great job, as I am sure he always does. You can definitely tell this wasn't his first time doing any sort of water sport.
Amos just amazes me with all he can do. He even gets out there with a sore ankle! I of course was the spotter for the evening...what I do best!....also, watching and learning, which is important to do before actually trying to board again. Jess and Grace kept us entertained. Their company is something that I truly enjoy! So it was definitely a day to celebrate!

Celebrate beautiful days! Celebrate opportunities! Celebrate successes! Celebrate times with friends and family!

*Since I didn't take my camera with me yesterday, the pictures were from labor day.

No Greater Love...

Love was all around me this weekend. As it surrounded me, I really began to think about its complexity and began to see what love could be in its true form. Let's first get past the misconceptions. I am not talking about lust, convenience, comfortability, settling, fear of independence, or any of the other excuses people mistake as love. I am talking about real love, the love that sees another person's heart and loves them as the special person God created them to be. Love that lifts each person up and allows them to work together to accomplish more than they could ever do on their own. Love that celebrates individuality and unity. Love that sacrifices, encourages, strengthens every day and is founded on the perfect example of love that exists...the Love of Christ! In a world of divorces, of cheating, of unfaithfulness, of games, and of talk shows that never seem to run out of guests who need paternity or lie detector tests, does that real love exist today? The answer is YES!

Just this past sunday my parents held a beautiful church service that incorporated the celebration of a couple's 50th wedding anniversary. Still today, through the tears, through their embrace of each other, through the touch of their hands and the way they looked at each other, you could feel their love...the love that has been the foundation of their 50 years of marriage and the love that washed over their family as they surrounded the couple.

God has to be at the heart of this love. His sacrifice for us...His love for us is much deeper than the love we could have for anyone, but His example allows us to see what true love is about and teaches us how to truly love Him and one another. His love for us provides an endless supply of love that we can share...a love that He wants us to share.

In Hemingway's book, A Farewell to Arms, a priest describes what it means to love God and others. He states, "When you love you wish to do things for. You wish to sacrifice for. You wish to serve." What an amazing love, to be truly open, giving, to serve!...and to love with all that is within you, not holding back.

All I know is that I am not going to settle. I want the foundation of any relationship to have that strong foundation of Christ...His love...and my love for Him. So I look forward and wait patiently for the true love of and for a gentleman that may be in store, being completely satisfied and filled with the love I have for Christ and the love He fills my heart with.

For there is no Greater Love...Example...Foundation...than Christ!

Matthew 22:37
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.