Finding Joy in the Day to Day

Hello Friends!

Its been so long! Let me update you real fast on my life. School started up in August and as of right now, I am a quarter of the way through junior year. (defiantly not counting over here) I'm a music major, so I spend hours and hours practicing then more hours rehearsing. I saw this on FaceBook earlier today. Perfectly sums up my school life.

That's basically it. If I'm not practicing, I'm probably thinking about practicing, or having a emotional breakdown about all the music I haven't had time to practice yet. If I get past that, then I'm thinking about the other homework I have to submit. All you lucky college students who go to a couple classes a day and then have weekends more or less free, enjoy it, because not everyone has that luxury. When I'm not doing any of the previously mentioned things, I am either working or teaching. (I am privileged to teach twelve private students and a group of preschoolers every week.)

Okay, now you are caught up and hopefully have a picture of the many reasons I haven't written anything in so long. 

We all get so busy. When was the last time you asked someone "How have you been?" and they answered "Busy." Me: A few hours. How long ago did you last tell someone that you had been busy? Me: About tow hours ago while on the phone with my sister. It's almost as if we've been programmed to respond that way, and we get so caught up in the business of life that we fail to take a moment to find joy in the little things. 

I love to stop and smell the roses in life. It helps me to stay focused on what is important in the long run. The things that will matter tomorrow, next week, and in ten years. Take a moment to stop and reflect on what you did today that will matter tomorrow, next week, and in years to come. I spend several hours teaching today. In those hours not only did I set aside the pressures of life, but I invested in the lives of about 15 different people. This thrills me. There are few things that I love more than knowing I left someone, even just one person, with something they can carry with them in life. It is technically my job to invest in these student's lives (as well as their parents'), but I don't have to find joy in doing so. I don't have to walk into a lesson with a smile on my face or teach with contagious enthusiasm, but I choose to.

I choose to live this way because I want to look back on my life and see that I took time to value and find joy in the little things each day. I want to see my students go on to impact others to be great. I don't care if they go on to be a concert musician or if they end up being a doctor, a stay-at-home mom, or plumber. I care that I showed them how to work hard and embrace life, to laugh at themselves, and to choose to find joy in the day to day things. 

We are all like a drop of water in the ocean, we create a ripple that grows farther and farther away from us, eventually becoming lost to us, but not lost to others. My choice to take a moment and find joy in what I'm doing right now has the potential to change someones life. My decision to embrace the opportunity I have to explain or demonstrate a skill for the tenth time to a student could go on to help someone in eighty years realize that they are important and talented. 

Let's put a stop to always feeling overwhelmed in the business of life. I invite you to join me in changing the world by choosing to find Joy in the Day to Day.

Till next time my friends!

Your Sister 

Is Your God Personal?

Hello Friends! Its been way to long since I wrote down any of my thoughts, but here they are. (Inspired from a Sunday School lesson)

I was sitting in Sunday school the other day and the lesson was on not just sharing the gospel with others, but sharing a God that is personal to you. We can tell people all the truth in the world, but they want to hear why we believe in Him and why we have put the destiny of out lives in His Hands. We all know John 3:16, Romans 2:23, Romans 6:23, and all the other verses commonly used to share the gospel with others, but what about what God has done for you?

Sharing what God has done in our lives is a vital part of sharing the gospel with others. If you get on Yelp and look up a new restaurant you don't want to read a comment about what the restaurant says they are, you want to hear what people have to say about their experience at the restaurant. Same with our relationship with the Lord. It is truly incredible to hear how God has worked in peoples lives, protected them, guided them out of a hole or through a valley, encouraged them, prepared them for what was ahead in their life, etc. We have all heard other's testimonies of how God has worked in their lives, but have you shared yours? And do you share it continually or just every once in a while?

Sharing these things with others, namely non-believers, is so powerful! It's the personal experience that we want to hear. People want to hear who God is for you, not just what he has done for everyone. What is your story and will you let it impact those around you?

This is who God is to me, and just a few examples of what He has done in my life.
He is first of all my Savior. Through Him I have assurance of salvation and confidence in where my destiny lies. God is also my friend and comforter. There have been plenty of times that I have just stopped and cried out to God for comfort, help, and support. Life has its trials, and at times it can really really suck, but my God has ALWAYS been there for me. He has helped me see the beauty in sunsets even when the days have been dark. He has protected me when I made decisions that could have gotten me in big trouble. My God has given me a family that loves and supports me unconditionally. He has provided for me financially even when expenses come unexpectedly and in large quantities. He has given me an amazing church family who has adopted me despite my flaws. He has blessed me in every area of my life far beyond anything I could every have asked for.

Most importantly, My God is the first one I call out to for help. Whether I've lost my keys and have leave for work, or I've failed in some way, He is the first I call out to for help, and He ALWAYS leads me back to where I need to be.

My dear friends, the peace I have knowing my God has my life in his hands is beyond anything I could ever write down with words. Do you have the peace that is only possible through God? Who is God to you? What has he done for you? Who will you share that with today? Friends, it doesn't have to be a long elaborate story, but share with someone something that God has done for you recently.

We need to hear the testimonies of others who are living for the Lord.

Love in Christ,
Your Sister

What I would Tell the 16 Year Old Me

I was sitting, half lying, on the couch reading tonight and randomly thought to myself "things seem just like they were when I was sixteen." Yeah they sorta do in the sense that I was reading in that same half sitting half lying position that's really no good for my back, however, in just about every other aspect they are vastly different. What has changed and where I am going with it?

I always find it interesting, and sometimes horrifying or very amusing, to think about who I was several years ago. What I thought I knew that I really didn't, how good I thought I was at things, my mental maturity, how independent I thought I was, how I thought I worked so hard, etc. Haha! If only I knew what was ahead!

Life is like a really really long road trip. Road trip? I love road trips! The road trip we call 'Life' isn't any sort of vacation road trip though. Imagine a really long road through the middle of nowhere and you are going to drive down it with no map or GPS, just your Road Trip 101 handbook and some faith that you'll make it safely. That's more like the road trip we are on. Now think several years down the road when you have learned a whole lot about surviving, and even enjoying, this crazy trip. What advise would you give to yourself when you where setting out on the very first miles of the road? I know there are several things I would tell myself.

Number 1: Embrace who you are and how God has made you. I believe that one of the most common struggles for young people is to accept themselves for who they are. For a long time I didn't and I really wish I had. The key I found to accepting who I am was to see myself as God sees me, His beautiful, precious daughter. When I was able to view myself this way it opened the doors for me to be a stronger testimony and witness for Jesus.

Number 2: Make the most of your education. I think of how much farther ahead I would be if I had really poured myself into my education, practiced my violin more, been eager to learn instead of assuming I already knew enough, and looked at how much I could learn instead of how much I already knew. I was once told "the more you know, the more you know how little you know." This is more true than I ever imagined it could be. As I moved on in life and learned more I have begun to realize how little I really know. Not everyone has the opportunity to graduate high school and go to college. Remember this and take each opportunity you have to learn something and make the most of it!

Number 3: Don't take anything for granted. Going through life it is far to easy to take for granted things like health, friends, having money for your wants (not just needs), etc. All those things can be gone in a moment though. Have you ever realized how little it takes to shake your world? I have on more than one occasion. For example, one day my dad woke up fine, went to work, came home did some work around the house, and started having back pain. Nothing terribly unusual. The next morning I woke up to a note from mom saying she had taken Dad to the ER because it the pain was so bad. Turns out he had cancer and that trip to the ER turned into several days in the hospital and a journey through cancer treatment and recovery that has changed countless things in the past three years. Its hard to remember sometimes how things use to be. I've learned that you never know when things will change, so don't take anything for granted. Ever.

Number 4: Take advantage of the time you have with you family. We have all had fights and arguments with a family member. Maybe it was a parent, maybe a brother or sister, but we have all been there. Its easy to think about how much better things would be if you didn't have to share a bedroom or didn't have mom or dad asking when you would be home, where you were going to be, who you would be with, etc. In reality though, while these things can be annoying at times, make the most of them because you won't always have your parents there to "bug" you. Some day it will just be you. And the little brother or sister that you have to share a room with not always live with you. As my siblings and I have gotten older the times we get to spend with each other have become fewer and farther between. We live on opposite sides of the country from each other and might only see one another once or twice in a year. I wish that I had seen the value in the relationships I have with my siblings before I move away. Get close to your siblings and be best friends with them, I promise, you will not regret it!

Number 5: Ask for advice. Just do it. When you aren't sure about something, or even if you are, still get another opinion. God tells us that "in the multitude of counselors there is safety." Want to avoid problems before they get to you? Ask someone for advice and take it to heart. It will save you time, money, heartbreak, and so much else.

Number 6: Live fearlessly and selflessly. Don't worry about what others say about you, stand up for what is right, and offer a kind and loving hand to others.

Number 7: Live, don't just exist. Don't get caught in a rut, strive to walk the mountain ridge and sore through the sky!

Number 8: Be the person for others that you wanted but never had in your life.

Number 9: Trust in the Lord. He is the one who's hand is in and over everything and He cares about us more than we have the ability to comprehend.

Number 10: Enjoy life. Watch the sunsets, stare at the starts, and laugh at the little things.


Lovingly,

Your Sister

A lesson from Paul: Living with Passion

I just finished reading the book of Acts this morning and was reminded again, even more strongly than before, how hard Paul had it and how much he influenced lives for Jesus. Thinking back to the earlier parts of Paul’s life when he had dedicated his life to persecuting and killing followers of Jesus Christ I find myself thinking “wow, if God is able to use someone as bad as Paul, then he can definitely use me!” I’m not saying that I’m good or have any sort of incredible skill, but I don’t live to kill Christians, I live to follow my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This however, is were I stop this train of thought. 

Yes, we can all agree that Paul was pretty bad. Have you ever thought about how passionate he was about persecuting and killing Christians though? Paul had something that a significant number of us lack, a burning passion. What are you passionate about? I have a few passions, one of which is music. I love music, I listen to it everyday, I play it, I talk about it, and it pulses through me as if it was the blood that keeps me alive. Yes, I am passionate about music! As passionate as I am about music, I think Paul was even more passionate about killing Christians. So why did God pick Paul out of a crowd of thousands of others that were “better people?” 

Well, sorry to break it to you, but I can’t tell you why God picked Paul when there were other people that could have done Paul’s job. Here’s what I can tell you, Paul had passion. When was the last time you met someone who was so passionate that just hearing them talk about their passion made you excited about it? I’m going to guess that it’s been a while. Fiery passion like that of Paul’s s hard to come by, and it is vital to have if you are going to face hardships and be able to keep going. I believe that God saw that Paul was full of passion and know that if he just change what Paul was passionate about then he would be able to influence a huge number of people for God. So that’s exactly what He did. God struck Paul blind and showed him who was really in control, and who he needed to be serving. (If you don’t know the story, go read it. It’s the first few chapters in Acts...better yet, just read all of Acts.) 

I was thinking about this and thinking “am I passionate enough bout Christ?” My conclusion, No, I’m not. I want to have the burning passion that Paul had, but I’m not there yet. My other question, if I was more passionate would I be able to influence others better for the Lord? Yes, I believe so. What about you? Are you passionate enough about serving the Lord Jesus Christ? 

Passion is something that grows and grows. It’s not something you necessarily just get overnight. It can be sparked overnight, but as you continue to be involved in whatever you have a passion for, that passion will grow. As you live your life for Jesus, spend time in the Bible, pray, and do what the Lord directs you to, your passion will grow. 

My challenge to you, and for myself, is to let your passion grow. Don’t hold back because you are afraid of what you family or friends may say, or what responses you might get from any other person. Be “fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” as we are told to in Romans 12:11. Live each day as if it was the last day you had to spend doing something you love! 

Until next time, keep on the journey!

Love your sister in Christ