Soulful Sunday: Who loves you?

Saturday's List: Top Five From 2015

1. God did incredible things and a campus of my church opened in my hometown. I'm so thankful to be a part of that church plant and excited that it allows God one more way to draw people to Him.

2. After trying for many years, I was blessed with a teaching position in my hometown AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL I went to as a kid! Dreams do come true!

3. I flew on a plane cross country and by myself. And survived. ☺️🙏

4. I got closer to the end on my Dave Ramsey debt snowball. I'm hoping by the end of 2016, the only debt I will have is student loans.

5. After spending the year struggling with my stomach and doing a special diet, taking different medicines, there was finally an answer and some relief. I'm on a new medicine, a new probiotic, and on a fiber supplement. I can finally eat and not worry about the consequences. (Still no dairy because I actually have an allergy to it.) Praise God!!

See, the new things ahead!

For the past few years, I've joined other followers of Christ in seeking God for a word for the year. I've felt this helped me to go deeper with the Lord while avoiding the pitfalls of not meeting a list of resolutions. (See this link on the science behind why 88% of resolutions fail: https://blog.bufferapp.com/the-science-of-new-years-resolutions-why-88-fail-and-how-to-make-them-work)

In 2014, the word was peace. God called me to seek peace that passes all understanding as 2013 challenged my faith. While 2014 was not smooth sailing, I learned to call on Jesus for peace 24/7 each day. You can't accumulate peace over time; it is like manna and you get a daily supply as soon as you ask. 

Last year, 2015, God kept asking me to believe. I had so much on my heart that I wanted to believe God could change or do. Truth be told, I felt like many of the things would never happen. I kept praying like the father from Mark 9, "I do believe, help me overcome my belief!" God worked in numerous ways, definitely showing me He is an Ephesians 3:20 God. 

As 2015 came to a close, there is one thing I'm still trying to believe God will do. If I'm honest with you, it takes a lot of my effort to believe. My heart has done 3000 bicep curls to believe and it knows one more could cause the muscle to fail. And the strength to believe will be gone forever. For 2016, God gave me a new word: still. Be still and know that He is God. Don't fight on my own anymore, just be still and watch Him fight for me. Ignore the wind and waves, for His peace will make them still. Heart, are you listening? You don't have to do more curls to believe. God will do it for us, just be still.

What is your word or goal with Jesus this new year?

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.