You have challenged me.

This week is a good week because I feel like I am being challenged in many areas of my life. Being challenged is rough. It doesn't always feel good... but it is beautiful. 

I truly believe in the power of positive thinking. I love to write to encourage, but that doesn't mean I don't have struggles. I want to be challenged in the areas where I am lacking. Challenge means that I examine my life and consider my weaknesses-- that doesn't feel good. Challenge means that I recognize the areas I need to grow in, even when I feel like I am doing just fine. Community, (whether it be blogging, church, MySpace, family, school, etc.)  has allowed me to seek wisdom from the people in my life, and learn from them. God uses people to build us up. We need each other, regardless of how together we think we are. I am thankful for challenge.

God's plan works best when we allow people of all different kinds to work in our lives. It is wise when we use our different gifts to work as a team. I am naturally a person who loves to smile and encourage people with positive words. I try to always look at the bright side. It brings me joy. But I am weak in many other areas, which is why it is important to have many different types of people in my life who will keep me in check, and keep me well-rounded. 

I am weak in theology, I can't quote verses and I have the hardest time remembering the order of books in the bible. I have a bad memory and I forget birthdays! I suck at math... I hate science... I am weak in expressing my feelings... my patient husband is helping me to learn to let it out. I don't feel like the smartest kid in class... but that just means I have so much to learn from everyone else. I am very disorganized, I cry because I miss people, I am a very messy cook=) And believe it or not, I am very stubborn. 

You won't see me write about this too often, because like I said, I enjoy focusing my heart and mind on the positive side of things... it just makes me feel better on the inside. My hope is to brighten your everyday... not burden it. Let's get together for coffee if you want that =)

 Back to what I was saying.... this is why I am so grateful for community and the people in my life. I am grateful for my husband, who challenges me to be a better wife. I am grateful for my small group who challenges me to be a better christian. I am grateful for my family who challenges me to always do my best. I am grateful for the stranger who challenges me to be a good person even when the people who know me best aren't around. I am grateful for my professors who challenge me to be a better writer and have an open mind. I am grateful for people who are way stronger in certain areas than me, so that I can see the areas I can improve. I am grateful for people who get on my nerves, so that I can learn patience and acceptance.

 Life would be so boring without all different kinds of people. Every person is precious in his sight =) Don't ever forget that.

Bottom line: It is good that we are all imperfect. We know we need Jesus, but we also very much need each other. It is good that life is a challenge, and it is good that we always remember to help each other along the way. No matter who we are, or what we believe, no one has all the answers. Let's learn to have an open mind and an open heart, especially to the people we don't agree with. 

Everyone has something valuable to contribute in our lives-- everyone.  As corny as it sounds, we are all in this together. No matter how good we are at what we do, there are many people who have helped us get there.

Show us some teeth!

Honestly-- which individual looks more approachable? Who makes you feel a little happier on the inside? Which woman would you like to sit and chat with over a nice latte? Who are you most likely to remember at the end of the day? 

Today I want to talk about the ever so simple, Smile. It is more meaningful and worthwhile than you may realize. Yet it is often taken for granted. Poor smile competes all the time with that dreadful frown! Which side are you on here?

Okay, I must confess.  I was pretty much trained from the time I was 17 that a smile was "part of my uniform". I was employed at In-n-Out burger for five years.... man, not only did I learn to cook up some of the best burgers in the state, but I was taught a life lesson that was even better than that. I was trained to smile at every single customer I saw that day... and believe me, some people didn't deserve a smile. But then again, maybe that's all they needed-- even more than that juicy burger in their hand. Smiling was one of those things... I never realized how much I enjoyed doing it until I practiced it day after day. 

I know what some of you may be thinking, we're not always happy.... and sometimes we just don't feel like smiling! And those people who smile non-stop just get on our nerves! But do they really get on our nerves? Or do we wonder why they smile so much-- and wish that we could do the same? I know that's the way I used to think.

In-n-out Burger was not the only reason why I began to smile... but it certainly did help. After smiling so often, I realized how good it could make someone's day. Smiling usually makes other people smile, which should be enough reason in itself to keep doing it.  One secret I learned to keeping the smile is to have a grateful heart. If I learn to be thankful for every single person, thing, circumstance in my life... I will have no problem smiling daily. And guess what? There has never, ever been a smile I have regretted or wished I could take back. 

So try it .... put on a smile today. Regardless of the circumstance, or of the person who has made you unhappy.... keep smiling. See how differently people react to you, and how much better you feel at the end of the day. If your day sucks already... I bet you have the ability to make it better- it's your choice. 

No one has the power to take away my smile but me. No, I don't smile 24-7...  but a happy life doesn't always just happen-- sometimes it just takes a little effort. But how hard is it to smile? I bet we put a lot of effort into a lot of other things that don't even come close... Think of what a wonderful life we will have lived if we smiled and thanked God for something small everyday. That's a life worth living. Now show us some teeth! =)

Humility-- just do it.

This morning I was thinking about one word: Humility. When I think of Jesus, this is the first word that comes to mind, besides the obvious- Love. 

To be Humble: not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive.

To be honest, humility is not a quality that is easily achieved in our world today. It is not anyone's fault really, it's just not popular. In our world, success means to make lots of money, gain lots of fame, and to be able to boast about one's many accomplishments. But is this really the point of life? To prove how much we have gained in material possession or status? To be the best, and above everyone else? I'll let that one sit.

When I think of what it means to be a Christian, I don't think of it just as following a certain set of rules. I don't think of it as a straight path that I must walk or I will be struck down by lightning. Being a Christian really is not all the complex. If I had to boil it down to one thing, I would say my mission in life is to study the life and characteristics of Jesus, and to be like him. No, I will never be him, but I want to be just like him. We will probably never make a blind man see with our own two hands, or raise someone from the dead, but we can help heal a broken heart or shine light on a life who has given up on their own. Don't ever underestimate the power of the small miracles people will see through your life because of Jesus. We are here to be used by him. 

Jesus was strong. He was able to do anything. But he was also very loving and humble. His whole purpose in life was to lead people to the kingdom of Heaven. He wasn't interested in self-gain or self righteousness. He simply loved people -- all people, and put them before himself. He loved the arrogant, he loved the crippled, he loved the rich, he loved the sick, he loved the poor, he loved the absolute unloveable. 

It is not easy to get along with every person in our lives, but just remember, Jesus would love them-- just as much as we know he loves us. This is why Humility is so important. Instead of trying so hard to be better than that person who has hurt us, let's try to be humble and love that person. Find out what the problem is. Find out what is making them (and me) so insecure that we are not able to understand one another and help each other. There is nothing more appealing to me than a humble person-- probably because there is nothing more appealing to me than Jesus.

Here is the test: It is so easy to dislike someone who has hurt us, SO easy. It is easy to judge people and shut them out of our lives because we think we are living such a better life-- we are so above them. But how easy is it to swallow our pride and forgive. How easy is it to love them with all of their flaws? How easy is it to realize that Jesus loves them and all their crap just as much as he loves us? Not that easy.  We are strong--like Jesus. Let's try to love and be humble. It won't be easy, but Jesus' way is never easy. 

"He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor". -Proverbs 21:21

“Correction does much, but encouragement does more.”

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Couple's Retreat 2008

" For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" - Genesis 2:24

This weekend Marcos and I get to attend the HDC Couple's Retreat in Costa Mesa, Ca. We are excited about getting away to fellowship with friends after a long week of studying for me, and report cards for Marcos. I am looking forward to focusing an entire weekend on God and my Husband-- And learning more about being the wife God has created me to be for Marcos. 

P.S.   To the anonymous couple: Whoever you are, we are grateful beyond words. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

"My child, come here and rest on me"...

At Seven last Sunday, Matt played my favorite song. It's called Everything by Tim Hughes (well, that's the version I got from itunes). Thanks for playing this song with such conviction Matt. I have been listening to it this week and the words have really been tugging at and shaping my heart. I'm usually one to go for the more upbeat, happy- feeling songs you can clap to.... this one is mellow-- the words are very simple, but very powerful. 

"God in my living, there in my breathing. God in my waking, God in my sleeping.....

Be my everything, be my everything, be my everything.....

God in my hoping, there in my dreaming. God in my watching, God in my waiting...."

The lyrics don't do this one justice, you got to listen to the music. It's a good reminder. Even those of us who think we got things down, God never fails to remind us somehow, just how much we need him. God softly whispers to me through this song that it doesn't matter what I do in life, as long as I am serving him and loving others. Sometimes it feels like God is with us only on Sunday nights or at weekly bible study, but he is there always.

 

I often forget this when I am caught up in my busy day to day schedule. He is there when I'm eating cereal in the morning, he is there when I'm rushing out the door, he is there when I'm paying almost $4 a gallon for gas, he is there when I'm listening to my teacher's boring lecture at school, he is there when I feel the sun shining down on my face, he is there when I get an A on my paper, he is there when I am stuck in traffic, he is there when I'm talking to an old friend, he is there when I'm cleaning the kitchen after dinner, he is there when I'm spending time with my husband-- he is there. 

Life gets hectic, but I never want to forget that everything I do, I need to do with purpose and a joyful heart-- even in the times when I wish something more exciting was happening. I often picture Jesus sitting up there just watching me-- like in the times when I let myself get bothered or stressed over such little things. I can just see him give a little chuckle and say, 

"My child, you think you have it so figured out-- you think you are so tough and you can take care of yourself. Just let it go and let me help you out today. My child, come here and rest on me."

Thank you Jesus for constantly reminding me how much I need you in everything I do.

A thought.

Photo by: Travis Hoehne.

The glass is half empty... or half full?

An attitude of demand... or an attitude of gratitude?

An outlook of fear... or an out look of courage?

A mind of prejudice... or a mind of acceptance?

A dream of self-gain... or a dream of change?

A soul of guilt... or a soul of freedom?

A heart of anger... or a heart of forgiveness?

A life of envy... or a life of love?

Every day, every situation, every reaction, every devastation, every conversation, every person.

We have a choice.