Soulful Sunday: Peace

As I shared with you at the beginning of this year, the word that God laid on my heart for this year is PEACE.  When I wrote that first entry about peace and realizing that God wanted me to seek Him for peace, not that I was going to be in peace, I was frustrated.  Eight months later, and the truth still is there:  Life is not peaceful, BUT God is Peace.  Seek Him and let the Peace of Christ rule in your heart.  I cannot tell you all the situations I have been involved in over the past year, but I can say this: when I choose to look at God, the Peace is there.  The times I haven't looked at God, well...you guessed it.  Those are the times I was frustrated, sad, angry, or fearful.  In fact, let me even confess, I've had to ask God for more self-control to chose His Peace.  My first response hasn't been His peace in a lot of my circumstances.  In case I haven't shared with you, my personality has a strong feeler side to it...What does that mean you ask?  Well, for me, I can easily dwell in how I feel and in the feelings of others around me.  For example, I feel like October was a month of sadness and frustration for myself and others around me.  I was feeling worn out and confused by God.  On my way to work one morning, I was listening to Bethel's Loft Sessions, and the song, "Come To Me" came on.  For about two weeks now, when I am alone in the car, this song is on repeat.  And it has been God's love letter to me.  He is reminding me to come to Him.  Things may look confusing, frustrating, disappointing, sad.  Don't look at the circumstances.  Look at Him.  Receive His Peace.  I leave you with the video of "Come To Me," and don't be surprised if you leave it on repeat too.

Saturday's List

1. My last post was two months ago.

2. Since then, I'm trying to balance social media and my life. To be honest, I was getting too consumed by likes, favorites, and comments. I had to take a break to reprioritize.

3. Raise your hand if you are a teacher and are guilty of letting school over take your life during August, September, and October.

4. Oh wait...that's just me? They say confession is good for the soul. I confess that I struggle with being a workaholic at times. Like the past three months. Forgive me Lord.

5. BTW...when did November get here? I feel like I just had my birthday in May.

6. I'll admit, this week I've felt more like a teenager than an adult. Anyone else have these relapses?

7. Peace and Calming oil from Young Living Oil is so good! Puts me right to sleep...

8. I hate scrubbing the bathtub.

9. I also hate scrubbing the toilet.

10. And washing the bathroom floor is not a top ten on my favorite activity list either.

11. Dear God, if you are going to bless me with a husband one day...maybe you could give him a heart for cleaning the bathroom. And you can give me a heart for the chore he doesn't like. It will be a household chore swap! Thanks and Amen

12. I'm reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I'm enjoying it! It's historical fiction, scifi, and romance all together.

13. Because of the book, I really want to visit Scotland now.

14. Time change is tomorrow. I'm excited to not have to leave for work in the dark.

15. Having rediscovered Tyler candles, I'm in love with their high maintenance    scent.

16. I promise that I'm not high maintenance.

17. No, really I'm not. I've not a stitch of make-up on, homepants on, and a college t-shirt on.

18. Final thing on my list today: I want you to know I love this song:

19. See? It's on repeat.

20. Have a blessed Saturday!!

Thoughtful Thursday: Bring What You Have

Matchmaker Monday: Where's Your Tribe?

Friends are important at all stages, yet never seem quite as vital as when you are a single adult. Sometimes though, it can be difficult to make that lasting connection. I can remember watching episodes of Friends, in it's actual airing, btw, because I am that old, and thinking when you get to be an adult, you have to find those kind of friends to do life with. In fact, I can remember in college, one of my professors talked about how there was a new developmental phenomenon arising because of the influence of Friends. She called it a tribe because it was a group of young adults that did everything together. I remember her saying that it would be interesting to see the effect, such as changed family bonds, delayed marriages, etc. arise from this new tribe mentality.

Now maybe there are people out there who have these Friends-esque tribes they run around in. I'll be honest. I really don't. In fact, if I think really hard for a minute, probably the last time I had a big group of coed friends around me was during college. As I've moved into adulthood, I still have friends around me, but often they are smaller (and now according to Facebook, I'm learning they are very intertwined) and purposeful. I have friends that I work with. I have friends that I do Bible study with. I have friends that I meet for coffee. I have friends I take dance class with. I have friendships that started because their child was in my class.  I have friends that know me heart and soul, and luckily for me, they still choose to be my friend. I have college friends I still see. All of these groups of friends converge to make one giant group of friends- a community, instead of a small exclusive tribe. 

As a single adult, I'm challenging other single adults...please make a large community for yourself. Don't make a tribe. I know TV has glamorized the single persons' tribe. However, in my heart, I feel like the more fulfilling option is to build a community for yourself. In fact this morning, I was reading about Nehemiah working to rebuild Jerusalem after the years of captivity. The way it was accomplished was through many men working on many parts. Together they rebuilt the physical community to allow for spiritual community. I know it can be easy as a single to only want to hang out with other singles. I get it. Sometimes there's only one more conversation about couplehood you can take. But in addition to your single friends, have friends of all types. I know I've received lots of wise council from people in my community that I may not have listened to if I was only looking for a tribe.  Let many types of people into your life and watch as you grow and transform to something better. We all need it! So if you are feeling lonely, dear single friend, don't look to build a Friends tribe. Instead, stop to build a diverse community around you of friends of people of all ages and walks. It will make your life richer.

Soulful Sunday: Three Times

2 Kings 13: 18-19 (NLT) - Then he said, “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.”

This encounter in 2 Kings is Elisha’s last prophecy before he dies.  There were many things that I found interesting here.  First, even though the king knew Elisha (and I’m sure of all the great things God used him for) he only did a minimum.  Elisha becomes angry with the king probably because of how small the request was.  He reminds the king of God’s power and now give a prophecy that the king will not destroy the enemy.

For me the passage hit home about how I can narrow my view of God in light of the struggles I face.  Instead, I should remember how big my God is.  I’m not saying we can manipulate God by showing Him how big our faith is.  This isn’t one of those things that I am saying God will do as I ask because of my faith.  Instead, I’m saying that sometimes, just like the king, I see my struggle as so large, I only ask God for the minimum.  Which to me is a symptom of a heart that is making what I am facing bigger than God.  Which is idolatry.  Which is against the first commandment.  

You know, the one that says we shall not have any gods before God.  SO maybe, just maybe, instead of praying for the minimum solution to what feels like an overwhelming problem, I should start praying from a place of knowing my God is greater than anything.  Instead of “striking my arrows” three times, I should go ahead and do five or six.  Then I can watch God do more than I could ask or imagine!

Thoughtful Thursday: His Ways Are Higher

Soulful Sunday: Broken Vessels

This is on the latest release from Hillsong's "No Other Name."  I have a feeling that this song will be as impactful as "Oceans" was for many last year.  I love the images that come to mind within this song.  It is so beautiful because it reminds us of the fact we are broken due to our sin, but God's grace and love transform us to be used for us.  A great reminder for us all...