Saturday, December 8, 2018
Advent- Day 6
Focusing on Him being my hope. Not a lot to write today. Just trying to focus more on who He is, and what I believe to be true.
Advent- Day 5
Today's devotion stated this, "The people we despise in society can hold a significant place in God's overall plan." I find myself today thinking of those that are despised especially by the so called "Christians" out there. It makes me sad to think that we have written people off. There are people that we see as unreachable, or not good enough or whatever it may be. On this day of Advent I remind myself that I am just one of the regular people that does things wrong all the time that Jesus chooses to use. There is nothing special about me in comparison to anyone else. Yet, my life does matter. We have to stop ranking people. It isn't good for us. It isn't good for our world. It especially isn't what we are called to. So, today I think about my judgment on others, and how I put myself more highly than I ought most of the time. I remember that my life is just as valuable as the refugee's trying to get to another country by any means they can.
Advent- Day 4
Anticipation of the Messiah's birth. Do I anticipate Him? Sometimes I feel like I am so wrapped up in checking off my list of things to do, or going from this place to that. I forget to anticipate a the time when there will be no more fear. I forget to anticipate the justice, peace, and righteousness that will be Jesus' reign. Hoping in that even though I don't see it yet with patience. Knowing that He is faithful. I think that is the hardest part sometimes. Releasing control, and allowing Him to just have it. Resting in the fact that He knows all, and He is on top of things. So today, on Day 4 of advent, I try to anticipate the day when He will reign.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Advent- Day 3
One of my devotionals in the You Version is all about Hope this week. I really think that I need this reminder because I feel like there are a lot of things I have lost hope in. For instance getting married and being a mom. I really do think that my hope is gone in that every happening for me. It will be a mourning process, and then I will move on. But I just don't know that I believe at this point that it can really happen.
Does that mean that I have lost hope in God? No, it doesn't. But it just means that I think that His plans might not be my plans. It is sad for me, and I wish it wasn't that way, but I just think that's the way it is.
I do still have Hope though. I have hope that one day Jesus will come back and reconcile this world. Broken relationships, are the number one thing that I can't wait for him to redeem. I hate when things get so messed up. Misunderstandings happen, and most of the time when communication happens and two or more people are willing to see things from the other person's point of view... they can be fixed. But there are the sometimes when the relationships are just broken and there is nothing that can be done to repair them. So, my hope is in the coming of Jesus. In the restoration of those relationships. In the coming of the Prince of Peace.
While I am waiting I am going to do everything that I can to understand others, and communicate love. I know that I am going to fail, a lot. But I am going to try my best. Putting my Hope in the one that knows brokenness is the best way to start. At least that's what I think!
Does that mean that I have lost hope in God? No, it doesn't. But it just means that I think that His plans might not be my plans. It is sad for me, and I wish it wasn't that way, but I just think that's the way it is.
I do still have Hope though. I have hope that one day Jesus will come back and reconcile this world. Broken relationships, are the number one thing that I can't wait for him to redeem. I hate when things get so messed up. Misunderstandings happen, and most of the time when communication happens and two or more people are willing to see things from the other person's point of view... they can be fixed. But there are the sometimes when the relationships are just broken and there is nothing that can be done to repair them. So, my hope is in the coming of Jesus. In the restoration of those relationships. In the coming of the Prince of Peace.
While I am waiting I am going to do everything that I can to understand others, and communicate love. I know that I am going to fail, a lot. But I am going to try my best. Putting my Hope in the one that knows brokenness is the best way to start. At least that's what I think!
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Advent- Day 2
Darkness and light. We know that it exists. You can't turn on the news, or walk around outside without coming across something or someone that seems void of light. Our world is a dark place, sometimes it seems too much. Especially when I think about those that claim to be walking in the light, yet show no love or grace to those that are unlike them, or not following what they deem as correct. It is hard for me to see the light in them, and to understand it.
When I am in a dark place, what do I tend to do? I tend to look inward, or I look toward the world to solve my problems. Sometimes I hang out with people that I think will help to bring me out of the light. Sometimes they do put me in a better mood, but the truth is that no person can be our light. We can't get stuck in thinking that our circumstances, are going to be the light for us. Right now I have a good job, a good place to live, pretty good health not counting the past couple of days. But if I put my hope and joy in that, then when those things change I am going to be in despair.
On this second day of Advent, I realize that my hope is sometimes in people and circumstances. My hope and joy sometimes comes from where I am at in the world.
But it can't come from there. I can't depend on people to bring me hope. Because every person is struggling with darkness. Yes, the light has overcome the darkness, right? But everyone struggles with living outside of that darkness. We do or say things that we shouldn't. We don't live up to other's expectations. Those are all part of being human. So for me to put my hope, my joy in people, well I will find myself disappointed and depressed every single time. People can't satisfy my longing for hope. Jesus, He is the only one that can satisfy that hope. The hope of a Kingdom of service and sacrificial love. Right now on earth I only see a small fraction of what that Kingdom is going to look like. I only get a glimpse of it every now and then in those that I surround myself with.
So on this second day I look toward Him. I surrender to Him. Every single day, I surrender. I know that my thoughts get jumbled. I know that my focus will get side-tracked sometimes. So I continue to look up. I continue to see the times, when I am expecting others to be my hope. When I am allowing the darkness to control how I see my circumstances whether good or bad. I let go of what I think life should be like, and cling to the only One that knows and will make it what it should be.
When I am in a dark place, what do I tend to do? I tend to look inward, or I look toward the world to solve my problems. Sometimes I hang out with people that I think will help to bring me out of the light. Sometimes they do put me in a better mood, but the truth is that no person can be our light. We can't get stuck in thinking that our circumstances, are going to be the light for us. Right now I have a good job, a good place to live, pretty good health not counting the past couple of days. But if I put my hope and joy in that, then when those things change I am going to be in despair.
On this second day of Advent, I realize that my hope is sometimes in people and circumstances. My hope and joy sometimes comes from where I am at in the world.
But it can't come from there. I can't depend on people to bring me hope. Because every person is struggling with darkness. Yes, the light has overcome the darkness, right? But everyone struggles with living outside of that darkness. We do or say things that we shouldn't. We don't live up to other's expectations. Those are all part of being human. So for me to put my hope, my joy in people, well I will find myself disappointed and depressed every single time. People can't satisfy my longing for hope. Jesus, He is the only one that can satisfy that hope. The hope of a Kingdom of service and sacrificial love. Right now on earth I only see a small fraction of what that Kingdom is going to look like. I only get a glimpse of it every now and then in those that I surround myself with.
So on this second day I look toward Him. I surrender to Him. Every single day, I surrender. I know that my thoughts get jumbled. I know that my focus will get side-tracked sometimes. So I continue to look up. I continue to see the times, when I am expecting others to be my hope. When I am allowing the darkness to control how I see my circumstances whether good or bad. I let go of what I think life should be like, and cling to the only One that knows and will make it what it should be.
Advent Day 1
Yesterday was the first Day of the Advent Season. I was sick in bed, and did not make it to the computer to write my first blog. So here I am....
Advent is a time to think about Jesus' His coming to earth, and His return.
Not all of my friends believe in this, and I am okay with that. In fact I would rather have a variety of friends that believe many different things, than to have all of the people believe the same thing. That would make for a very boring life!
But for me Advent is a season of hope, love, joy and promise. I am looking forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus. I am looking forward to contemplating His story and what it means in my life.
Every day of Advent I am going to write a real letter to someone, and actually send it!
I think that this month is going to be about connection. Connection to Jesus, and connection to others.
So, here's to the first day of Advent, may my focus be on restoration and the hope of what is to come!
Advent is a time to think about Jesus' His coming to earth, and His return.
Not all of my friends believe in this, and I am okay with that. In fact I would rather have a variety of friends that believe many different things, than to have all of the people believe the same thing. That would make for a very boring life!
But for me Advent is a season of hope, love, joy and promise. I am looking forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus. I am looking forward to contemplating His story and what it means in my life.
Every day of Advent I am going to write a real letter to someone, and actually send it!
I think that this month is going to be about connection. Connection to Jesus, and connection to others.
So, here's to the first day of Advent, may my focus be on restoration and the hope of what is to come!
My thoughts for the past monthish
Wow! The last blog post is from October! I guess I have been busy or something! Ha! I am going to try not to ramble in this one, but I have some definite thoughts that have been going through my mind throughout this past month.
I often find myself contemplating, and thinking over the experiences that I have had and how they have shaped me. For the past 2 days I have been stuck in bed due to being super sick. There is no better time for all of the things that you have been thinking about to come to a head, than when you have nothing else to do, but think. So I have been thinking about circumstances, and where I see myself going in this next year.
Just like the past 4-5 years I have found that this past year has brought new people into my life, and gotten rid of some people from my life as well. Some of those I was sad to see go, and some I honestly know that my life is better because they are no longer a part of my day to day. You see I have realized that I tend to find myself in places where I am the person that is always helping. I am always listening to people most of the time complain about how awful their life is, or who did them wrong. Don't misunderstand I know that I do my fair share of that, but I also know that one of my best qualities is that I am a good listener. I don't mind listening, in fact most of the time I would rather be the one listening, than the one talking. But sometimes it is too much. Sometimes I just need to shut the world out, and not listen. Not because I want to be unkind to others, but because it is emotionally and physically draining when all people want to do is complain about how awful their life is.
I am not a dweller. I give myself usually a day or two when something awful happens, I talk it through with someone and then I move on. Dwelling has gotten me nowhere in life, in fact most of the time it just leaves me bitter and angry. So, I choose to keep going forward.
I am single, 37, no kids, no house, no prospects for either of those, with quite a bit of student loan debt. But those things don't define me. They could easily define me. I could easily spend my days wishing that I had a husband, or at least a man that couldn't keep his hands off of me. I could easily spend my days wishing that I had one person that made me their priority even if it was a child. I could easily spend my days wishing that people checked in with me more, instead of me having to be the only one to check in with them. Sometimes I admit that I do dwell on these things. I let them overwhelm me, and bring me down to the point where I want to give up, and stop trying.
The thing is that I can't let circumstances, and other people's decisions determine my worth, or control how I see the world. It is my job as a human to make this world a better, more loving place. I can't do that if I am so self focused that I spend all my time feeling sorry for what I don't have. Last year I was feeling quite lonely. So, I volunteered at the Homeless shelter in my town. It was late nights, and sometimes I didn't feel like going. You know what? It helped me to meet people in the community, and gave me a greater sense of purpose. I wasn't so lonely.
This year I am in a much better place. I am content with my job, my apartment, and my friends. I know that I have people in my life that love me and would be there for me if I called them. But they don't always reach out to me! In face a lot of the time I have to be the one to call or text, and suggest us meeting up. Sometimes that is exhausting, and I don't want to do it. But I realize that everyone is busy, living their lives, and it doesn't take that much time or effort on my part. So, I reach out and most of the time it is so much better because I did.
I want this Christmas to be about reaching out to people. But I also want to be focused on what is important. Because out of that focus will come more love, and energy for others. I believe in having boundaries, but I also think that there is no depth to the amount of times Jesus reaches out to us, right? He brings me back to himself over and over again.
So, even though I get frustrated sometimes because I don't feel like others are giving me what I am giving them, it isn't about that. My focus needs to be on what I can do for them, and giving them that from the overflow of what He has given me.
I'm going to blog everyday of the Advent Season....
Days 1 and 2 coming soon!
I often find myself contemplating, and thinking over the experiences that I have had and how they have shaped me. For the past 2 days I have been stuck in bed due to being super sick. There is no better time for all of the things that you have been thinking about to come to a head, than when you have nothing else to do, but think. So I have been thinking about circumstances, and where I see myself going in this next year.
Just like the past 4-5 years I have found that this past year has brought new people into my life, and gotten rid of some people from my life as well. Some of those I was sad to see go, and some I honestly know that my life is better because they are no longer a part of my day to day. You see I have realized that I tend to find myself in places where I am the person that is always helping. I am always listening to people most of the time complain about how awful their life is, or who did them wrong. Don't misunderstand I know that I do my fair share of that, but I also know that one of my best qualities is that I am a good listener. I don't mind listening, in fact most of the time I would rather be the one listening, than the one talking. But sometimes it is too much. Sometimes I just need to shut the world out, and not listen. Not because I want to be unkind to others, but because it is emotionally and physically draining when all people want to do is complain about how awful their life is.
I am not a dweller. I give myself usually a day or two when something awful happens, I talk it through with someone and then I move on. Dwelling has gotten me nowhere in life, in fact most of the time it just leaves me bitter and angry. So, I choose to keep going forward.
I am single, 37, no kids, no house, no prospects for either of those, with quite a bit of student loan debt. But those things don't define me. They could easily define me. I could easily spend my days wishing that I had a husband, or at least a man that couldn't keep his hands off of me. I could easily spend my days wishing that I had one person that made me their priority even if it was a child. I could easily spend my days wishing that people checked in with me more, instead of me having to be the only one to check in with them. Sometimes I admit that I do dwell on these things. I let them overwhelm me, and bring me down to the point where I want to give up, and stop trying.
The thing is that I can't let circumstances, and other people's decisions determine my worth, or control how I see the world. It is my job as a human to make this world a better, more loving place. I can't do that if I am so self focused that I spend all my time feeling sorry for what I don't have. Last year I was feeling quite lonely. So, I volunteered at the Homeless shelter in my town. It was late nights, and sometimes I didn't feel like going. You know what? It helped me to meet people in the community, and gave me a greater sense of purpose. I wasn't so lonely.
This year I am in a much better place. I am content with my job, my apartment, and my friends. I know that I have people in my life that love me and would be there for me if I called them. But they don't always reach out to me! In face a lot of the time I have to be the one to call or text, and suggest us meeting up. Sometimes that is exhausting, and I don't want to do it. But I realize that everyone is busy, living their lives, and it doesn't take that much time or effort on my part. So, I reach out and most of the time it is so much better because I did.
I want this Christmas to be about reaching out to people. But I also want to be focused on what is important. Because out of that focus will come more love, and energy for others. I believe in having boundaries, but I also think that there is no depth to the amount of times Jesus reaches out to us, right? He brings me back to himself over and over again.
So, even though I get frustrated sometimes because I don't feel like others are giving me what I am giving them, it isn't about that. My focus needs to be on what I can do for them, and giving them that from the overflow of what He has given me.
I'm going to blog everyday of the Advent Season....
Days 1 and 2 coming soon!
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