"Scared of the world outside? You should go explore...
...So go unlock the door
And find what you are here for
leave the great indoors."
-This is my blog. About the world and how I see it. About living in God's grace and trying my best to follow closely behind him, even though I fail at that daily. God has given me a purpose here, and I am trying to GLORIFY him with my whole life.
Dear Baby Bass,
We are TERRIBLE at hanging out. I am sorry I am such a bad friend too you. Lets hang out soon. Mizz you.
This is one of my favorite pictures of us because we sat and talked about life and God and looked at the beautiful sky!! Thanks for being such a great friend to me!! I love you and thanks for living life with me!
Can we still be friends?
Check Yes or No:
☐ YES!!!!! ☐ NO!!!
-Sarah
Acts 2:42-47
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
I love this because I think this is the Author’s advice on how to live a good life. (The Author is believed to be Luke.) I think this is kind of the secret. “Eat, drink and be merry”.
I think that for the most part, most of the people I know are living this life. It is about being intentional with one another, and genuinely caring for one another. I love that verse “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” I think that is such a beautiful picture of friendship and God’s love for us.
It’s like being a family. I think heading into the Christmas season, I really want to recenter myself around loving and caring for people well.
Ashley and I were talking about what Christmas is about and what it is supposed to look like. Ashley said something that really warmed my heart:
She said Jesus is light and He shines in the darkness and we wouldn’t be able to see how BRIGHT his light is if it weren’t very dark. “Let’s look for Jesus!”
I just really love that. When I think about Christmas I think about a little pine tree with lights and shiny ornaments on it. Or houses covered in lights. Whether you like it or not, Christmas has a LOT to do with light, and being bright and being the brightest. But after Ashley called this to my attention, I can’t help but see how it is a great reflection of Jesus.
Life is hard and I am sure everyone can agree with me to some degree! So I will encourage you, as my dear friend Ashley has encouraged me, to find the light this Christmas season. Look for Jesus daily. Maybe write it down? Where you saw him and how?
And if nothing else, break bread with one another, and share the good life with each other. That is a picture of Jesus and that is a picture of light!! Don’t get so caught up in money or what to get as gifts. (I get so distracted by what to buy for everyone!) Instead, get caught up in the light. It is so BRIGHT and ever shining.
-I hope everyone has a blessed holiday. I hope to see you all before you go home to your families.
My fantastic basketball team!!!
OH yeah….
Sam and I were talking about the weekend ahead and music and such…
“Sam, who is the special music guest this weekend?”
Sam: “Oh actually… it’s me, I just found out!!!”
That’s right!! THE SAM HEILIG is THE special music guest this week at Sharp Top!!!
It’s such a great opportunity for him! Promoting his album, and spreading the Gospel through his music!!!! I am very proud to say I am his friend, and it will be very cool to watch the kids get excited about his music!
Praying for you buddy!
I am headed to Sharp Top Cove this weekend. My dear friend Sam asked me to play music with him this weekend! So me and some friends are gonna be the band for the weekend!!! I am very excited/nervous.
Also. Update. For those who care. (if no one does… this can be considered like a journal/diary entry, and I will just have it on file for memory).
I am Tiny Tim. I have a stress fracture (the doctors think). So I get to crutch on around for a while. It is no picnic. Except people are very nice to me. I got to thinking though… People can clearly see that I am hurt/injured. They go out of their way to hold the door for me, offer help with my books, ask how I am feeling, etc. It has been so great. I have really seen God’s compassion in them. Complete strangers. But why is it when we can see people are hurting, do we go out of our way to be kind? I am the worlds worst at making sure everyone believes I am fine-not struggling with anything. But everyone has little or big battles going on in their own lives. Hard stuff. Why can’t we love people even when we can’t see they are hurting?
Just a thought I had. Just something to think about. Maybe a challenge?
This is it! Proof that I ran/walked/limped 13.1 miles, and lived to tell the tale! The tale:
We awoke at 5:45 and put on some layers and headed down to the Marta from our hotel (My dad and I). ALMOST missed our train, and then switched trains, and then got off right in front of the bag drop at the Chamblee stop. We took off a lot of layers and put them in our bags that they would have for us at the finish line. My armor: Running tights
Shorts
T-shirt
Long sleeve “running” shirt
head band
Gloves (complete with tape that read: Phil4:13 on each hand)
Hoodie (Socks and shoes)
Then we lined up WAY far back from the starting line. Which was fine with me. The race started and it took us about 15 minuets to cross the starting line because there were so many people! We got going and all was well. I had my ipod in and I remember the first two songs that played were “One Time” by Justin Beiber, and Party in the USA… It was a lovely day for a run! We got to about the 5 mile marker and I started to feel great pain in both of my knees and hips every time I took a step. So we walked for a little. Then ran a little. The pain continued to get worse, but I knew I would never finish the race if I kept walking, so I would run as much as I could and then I would walk a little. Every now and then there would be a drink station, which I always enjoyed!
After about 8 miles I started getting leg cramps and cramps in my side. OH MAN those hurt so bad!!! I felt bad for slowing my dad down, so I told him at 10 miles he could jog it in, and I would see him at the finish line. It was MUCH harder to motivate myself without him with me. But I finished the race only about 15 minuets after him!! Jogging down the final hill to the goal line was one of the greatest feelings. People cheering for you, even though you didnt know them! They were so happy for you! I even saw some familiar faces along the chute (a few friends I knew had some family supporters at the end). Running through the finish line my foot started closing up in my shoe. I almost FELL over. My father was there to greet me at the end which was a great feeling to see him.
Then we went and got our stuff and put on our warm clothes. This is where the pain caught up to me, ugh. It was awful! But we walked back to the Marta and made it to our hotel safely.
After all was said and run (too much??) It was cool to say that I ran that far, and now whenever I drive down Peachtree and head towards Turner Field, I can say I ran that road! I am still recovering from being sore, and maybe have some minor injuries… but, I did it, and by the Grace of God, I finished. It’s truth. I CAN do ALL things THROUGH Christ who strengthens me.
This Is my nephew, Ricco. He is such a playful little tike. I’ve been playing with him all afternoon! Oy! So tomorrow is my big race. 13.1 baby! I have been training, I not as far as I would like to be, but I think I will do fine. I will post again tomorrow evening, if I am stil alive! Pray for me friends.
May I just say that I am thankful for my friends.
On Friday most of my closest friends from high school were able to hang out that night. We ended up sitting in my living room going through high school yearbooks and laughing and reminiscing. Which I know sounds completly stupid, but it was so great to see all of them.
Also Anne-Marie came into town and we got to the greater part of the day together and watched the dawgs game on Saturday. It was good to be around her and catch up!
I just love how the holidays bring people home and bring people close.
And tonight! My best friend is staying with me, and I look forward to spending time with her. And getting coffee for the FIRST time.
My sister is coming to town in a few days and I am SO looking forward to seeing her and just hanging out and relaxing together. As we get older, I get to know her more, and I love her more and MORE!
God, thank you for bringing people into my life and for taking them out of my life. I thank you that I have so many great relationships with so many great people. I pray that you continue to bless those friendships. I pray that you continue to bless their lives! I pray that each friendship can be a picture of how beautiful your love is for us. Thank you for my family, blood related and not. Lord, you know my heart and you know that the people that love me are the biggest blessing in my life. I pray that I am always aware of how wonderful all of these people are. I pray that you continue to remind me! Thank you, Thank you!
Amen!
We have been talking about the power of the Holy Spirit in church for the last few weeks.
This is what I’ve learned.
I thought I’d share it.
My life is not my own, it is in the Lord’s hands. Therefore—my life is in a never ending process of God’s will. He has instilled the Holy Spirit in me. He takes care of my life.
He takes all of the situations in my life, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and uses them for my good, my benefit, my growth (Romans 8:28)*. Thankfully, I have only had a few struggles in my life, but I have come to know and love two verses when I struggle with being thankful or grateful:
James 1:2-4: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Romans 8:18-19: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
It is cool to see that happen in my life, though most of the time I can’t see it in the moment. It is crazy to see how each thing has grown me. But the Holy Spirit is dwelling in me and the Lord is using situations in my life to pull out the Holy Spirit and Glorify him.
So I will continue to do my best to embrace the process that is my life. Cling to the Father when its hard, Cling to the Father when its good.
