I just read my post from last year. Ending 2013, beginning 2014. I said it was the hardest year of my life. But today I wonder. Was it? Things have happened this year that I think: “That was the hardest thing I’ve gone through…” Will I get to the end of each year thinking it was the hardest? Will there ever be a year that I rejoice and say it was the BEST year of my life? It was the happiest? Most blessed? But what does that mean? Even in the midst of trials I can say that I am the most blessed. I can find joy.

I am currently loving Habakkuk.

He was seeing all these trials and all these hard times and still he says this:

“yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation…The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!”

Yet.

What a powerful word.

In the midst of trials, yet I will rejoice.

2014 took me to:

Austin

Dallas

San Diego

San Francisco

Boston

Asheville

Charleston

Savannah

St Petersburg

Chicago

Greenville

Houston

Elouise was born. What a joy she is. I love that child with all my heart. She always brings a smile to my face. She is amazing. Funny. Happy. Entertaining. Gosh I just love her.

I moved to Asheville.

I went to Storyline TWICE in 2014 in San Diego and Chicago. Met Shauna, Bob Goff & Don Miller.

Went to the Boston Marathon. Participated in a 1 mile tribute walk with many of the other survivors. Hugged Kevin Spacey. Watched my parents and brother-in-law finish the marathon. It was an amazing weekend of healing.

Got rid of my leg brace. I haven’t used it since August!

I passed the 400 days mark. My feeling still isn’t normal. But I’m learning to deal with that.

Had lunch with some FBI agents.

Started a new job. I am currently working at an indie boutique downtown that hosts over 200 artists and has a small coffee shop.

As 2015 is now in full swing. I am looking forward to the many exciting things that the year will bring. I am looking forward to volunteering for Passion next week. Visiting my Grandmother and 3 aunts for all their birthdays. Going to an amazing wedding in Kansas for one of my best friends. Possibly traveling to Europe. Making some trips back to NY to see friends. Moving yet again. Finishing my book. And who knows what else!

The gift of the storm

“We all make mistakes but people forget them. And Jonah days come to everybody… This day’s done and there’s a new one coming tomorrow, with no mistakes in it yet.” Marilla

The holidays can seem like “A whole string of Jonah-days brazenly begging you to head in the opposite direction, to get away from the dark underbelly of people and agendas and loving the unlovely and loud.”

Don’t you just want to run away sometimes? I do. I want to go sit on a beach alone. With a book. And a fancy drink in a coconut. And pretend that my troubles don’t exist.

“You aren’t equipped for life until you realize you aren’t equipped for life. You aren’t equipped for life until you’re in need of grace.”

Adore Him

SINKING

“The literal Hebrew word for wavering means sinking.”

Wavering between gods. Sinking.

“Every moment you live, you live bowed to something. And if you don’t choose God, you’ll bow down before something else.”

What things are causing you to sink? What is bringing you down?

“The only way to overcome idols in your life, is to see that Jesus gives you freely what every other god says that you can only get through your performance. Jesus gives you through His blood what every other god demands through yours.”
Tim Keller

Light to warm us

This world can be so dark. So lonely. Sometimes it seems like there is no help, relief, or saving. But God brings the light. He sent His Light down to us. “We are saved from our loneliness because God is love and He can’t stand to leave us by ourselves, to ourselves.”

We in turn are supposed to take that light and pass it on. “When you light a dark world and the unexpected places with a brave flame of joy; when you warm the cold, hopeless places with the daring joy that God is with us, God is for us, God is in us.”

“Unless you keep passing on the miracle of hope, you live like Christmas is a myth.”

What one thing can you do today to spark hope for someone else?

Looking on hearts

Samuel goes to find the next king. He looks at Jesse’s sons and thinks they are all handsome, strong, brave, but God has other plans. He chooses the youngest son. A boy. A dirty shepherd. David. And God tells Samuel to stop looking at the outside. “You can see it, too, how the world keeps looking for beauty in appearances rather than in His appearing.”

“You only begin to change your life when you begin to change the way you see.”

What can you do today to concentrate on seeing people’s hearts, not their appearance? Start learning to look deeper. Ask God to help your life be about the heart, not what’s on the outside.

Covenant of love

God gives the 10 Commandments. His Law. “They are God saying, ‘Here is My love for you.”

By obeying His Law, we give Him love. And He in return gives us love. “This commandment to relationship fulfills your longings and your love and your being.”

“Who needs more than being loved to death?”