Rain.

Today is a rainy day. Pouring rain for that matter. Its funny, on so many other days, I would say that I hate rain. I don’t like clouds and I don’t like most forms of any kind of precipitation. Mostly because I find it depressing, but I also just love the sun way too much. Something about warm sunlight and a stunningly blue sky gives me so much happiness and almost a comfort. Today I find myself thankful for the rain. Despite the clouds, despite the sandy snow that continues to shrink down and despite getting drenched as I walk from one building to the next, its okay. The rain is reminding me of God. How he both rains down on my life and in the life of his followers, and how he reigns in my life. No matter how many times I fail and sin and begin to shrivel and dry up, God comes in the midst of a storm and quenches my thirst, replenishes me and builds me back up. The funny thing is that he is always there to do that, and promises to do that, all we need to do is call his name… And yet I continually try to do things on my own. I get caught up in my own issues and stresses and situations of life, only to fall down in the end. Even after my ignorance and selfishness, he picks me up with grace that falls like rain, and I carry on.

So today, and every day, I will strive to find peace in the Lord raining and reigning in my life and I challenge you to do the same. You are a child of God, go dance in the rain and be refreshed. 

Love, Love, Love.

Valentines day. What a loaded holiday. I think that just about everyone has different opinions on Valentines day. Some of us are indifferent, its just another day, while others would rather sleep through the entire day and wake up on the 15^th, wanting to vomit at the sight of roses and chocolate and couples holding hands. And then there are those of us who just love it. Who love… loving. Whether that be a significant other, friends, family, life, you name it. Now me? Ha. If you know me, you already know what kind of person I am… I like Valentines day! And don’t think that its just because I have been in a relationship for the past few Valentines days. Its because I love loving, I love caring for other people. I love making people feel special. What can I say, im kind of a hopeless romantic. Lame, I know. Anyways. Back to the point. Love. I feel like love is something that has been blown up by Hollywood with false hope that will never fail to dissapoint. I mean, you have girls all over the world who are watching chick flicks about men flying across the world to meet the love of his life, or falling in love with a stranger, love at first sight, you know the deal. Don’t get me wrong, if anyone loves chick flicks im the first one to admit it. I absolutely love them. But do they really portray what it means to fall in love? Especially from a Christian perspective… it really messes people up. You have relationships that solely focus on the feelings, if you're not having sex its not normal, your significant other doesn’t act like Noah from the Notebook or Prince Charming and wants to gush to the world his emotions, he automatically flawed. But is that really love? Do any of these movies portray what it really means to fall in love with someone? What does it mean to be in  love? Love is a crazy thing, and something that I can honestly say has been in my life. It’s the best feeling and losing it is the worst. One thing that I have learned, is that love is so much more than a feeling. Love is a knowledge. Love what still lingers no matter what life throws your way. After all the gushy feelings and butterflies fade, love is what keeps you connected, what carries you through at the end of the day. Love means putting that person first, but putting God before each other, always. And through putting God first, you help each other grow through the best and the worst of life. Their happiness becomes your best interest and sometimes you have to give and not expect anything in return. There are so many ups and downs to a relationship, and its never perfect of course. A perfect relationship is unheard of. 

The funny thing about love is that the best love, the best relationship, the only love that will always satisfy without fail, is the love of God. Honestly, how much more perfect of a love can you get? This is someone who loves you no matter what you do- cheat, steal, lie, murder, you name it. This is someone who legitimately got nailed to a cross, crucified, so that we could have life and be forgiven. There is absolutely nothing on this earth more satisfying than Him, only he can quench the most unquenchable thirst, only he can give you lasting happiness and satisfaction that you cant get from anything on this earth. Am I saying that if you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that you will always be happy? Of course not. We live in a messed up world, and nothing here will ever be perfect or happy all the time. But what I am saying is that a relationship with the only one who is perfect can and will be the best thing that you have in this world, and that’s a promise. Don’t believe me? Read it yourself. Im giving you a link to the Fathers Love Letter, a letter from Him to us, derived straight from verses in the bible, not altered or changed in any way. God loves us so much, imagine what it would be like falling in love with Him. He loves you no matter who you are, don't ever doubt that.

The Fathers Love Letter.

Hakuna Matata.

Hi all! Hope the new semester is treating you well, it’s been great getting back into the whole school thing, back on a solid routine and used to my new classes and teachers. If you don’t go to school, I hope things are going great as we are full swing ahead into the second month of the New Year! We have enough snow to last us until at least May, if not August. I forget what grass looks like… you know its bad when above freezing feels warm… okay enough about the winter, you can probably tell I am not the biggest fan : )

ANYWAYS... So, if we are being honest here, which I feel like I should be because it’s a blog and I’m strive to be an honest person, the last month has not been the easiest of months in my life. There have been a lot of things to think about and even more things to worry and stress about. There have been times of complete hopelessness, confusion, anger… No matter who you are or where you are in life, I know you can relate to these feelings. When was the last time you could tell someone that you were totally and completely confident in life and had not a care in the world? Yeah… that’s what I thought. There are a lot of things in life that make us worried! Finances, family issues, school, work, and the list goes on. As human beings, we let worry and stress become a part of our daily lives, it becomes almost normal. Ponder that for a minute… these things should not be “normal” no matter what!

Did you know that worry is a sin? God COMMANDS us not to worry, and to cast our cares upon him. Peter puts it short and sweet- “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) How much more simple can it get? When you are a follower of Jesus, you can find peace in the fact that God has it under control, even in the worst of times. God always has a plan and he also knows best, it may not always feel like it but isn’t that what faith is all about? Trusting that God is with you even in the storms of life, and bringing your fear and anxiety to him, knowing that he will always take care of you. The devo I read put it beautifully. Rick Warren writes:

"...There is no reason good enough to worry. When we are in the midst of realities in our lives that might cause us to worry, Jesus is saying we need to choose faith instead. How do you make this choice? You understand the character of God. You understand his love for you and how he wants to work in your life." 

How much more perfectly can that be put? What a beautiful thing. Ill end this blog with the verse that has been my encouragement, and I can only hope that it would be yours too.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" Joshua 1:9