Love: It's a Do Thing

"Being devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."
        -Romans 12:10

How do we do that? What does that look like? A little while ago, we talked at school about who our neighbor is. I think by thinking in those terms, we can start to know how to apply these verses. When I think of applying these verses, I instantly picture my family or my sisters in Christ on the basketball team. But, these verses aren't only for the ones we already love. They don't say "Honor your family..." or "Being devoted to your Christian friends..." (although of course you should). I believe they're more open ended. They say, "one another." That's whoever you're around or could ever be around. It's anyone but yourself.

These verses call us to love our neighbor. When we start to see past ourselves and start looking at others as our brothers and sisters, it becomes a whole lot easier to honor and love them. It doesn't mean it will be easy- you still fight with your siblings. It does mean, however, that you'll be quicker to forgive, quicker to help, and quicker to encourage.

Sometimes you're going to really dislike someone. They'll get on your nerves; they'll do and say things that aggravate you and hurt you, but we're called to be devoted to them all the same. Just as you (hopefully) keep on loving that silly brother or annoying sister, you need to keep loving those around you. Keep actively loving your neighbor and pursuing those around you with Christ's love, because that's what love is: it's a do thing.

Can't Wait?

I can't wait for the future! I'm so excited to start my dream job of being a pediatrician! I'm excited to get married and have a family! I'm even excited for summer to come in a few months! I'm excited and so hopeful for the future that I often miss the joy of today. I anticipate and daydream about an upcoming event so much that it often doesn't live up to my expectations or dreams.

On the other hand, I also haunt myself with the past, with both good and bad things. Replaying events over and over, analyzing every detail, instead of simply enjoying the memory or letting go.

So what about today? It's where I am right now after all. Shouldn't my focus be on the present? While I do think it's good to have goals and plans for the future, I don't think we should let the view up ahead cause us to lose sight of the path directly under our feet. By constantly looking forward, trying to see what's just around the bend or over the hill, we might stumble over something directly before us. And if we are constantly looking over our shoulder to what was, we might run into a tree.

I love the movie, Kung Fu Panda, and while it's cheesy, it is true that it offers some good life lessons :)

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the 'present.'"

So enjoy this beautiful gift, enjoy today!

Worn Out

I don't know about you, but I've certainly been feeling tired lately. It's hard with all of life's demands always bombarding you; from staying up late doing schoolwork to spending time with friends, there's so much that seems to zap your energy.

The other day in chapel, our chapel director reminded me to find refreshment in God. I might be tired and have nothing left to give, but Christ always has an abundance. He may not take away the stress, but He will give you the strength and joy to get through it. Matthew 11:28-30 has been incredibly uplifting to me:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

All we have to do is come to God. That's all He asks of us in order to find rest. Yet often times when I get weary, I tend to feel sorry for myself and forget to run into Christ's loving arms.

I've been listening to a song called "Satisfied In You (Psalm 42)" by The Sing Team and the bridge has been reminding me where my heart should be even when I feel drained.

"Let my sighs give way to songs that sing about your faithfulness 

Let my pain reveal your glory as my only real rest
Let my losses show me all I truly have is you."

I hope you aren't worn out, but if you are, may you be refreshed!

Happy New Year: My Resolution

Happy New Year! I can't believe it's 2014 already. Life seems to go by so quickly. For this reason, I've decided my New Year's resolution is to be more spontaneous: to do less planning, worrying, and analyzing, and more, simply put, doing.

I just saw the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, a movie of a man who finally steps out of his day dreams into real life. That's the life I want to be living: one of engagement. We all only get one go at this life, and I want to make the most of every day I'm given.

We weren't meant to simply wander through life, but to live it.

Yes, it is important to be wise and cautious and to sometimes plan. However, you can't get so hung up on all of that, that you forget to actually do what you planned. It's ok to jump and get hurt every now and then; I think God will pick us back up. I don't think He ever intended for us to just sit on the sidelines though, even if it's safe.

So live it up this new year! Get some skin in the game and live each day engaged :).

"I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere."
-Ephesians 4:1 (Message)

"Say What You Need to Say"

Some things are hard to say. You're afraid you'll hurt someone's feelings or what seems worse yet, yours will be. They're the things you feel your heart tugging at you to say; the things you don't want to but have to.

Words hold an awful lot of weight, and I know I sometimes don't speak at all because I'm afraid the words will be to heavy for me or for someone else. This past week or so I felt a tug to say words to someone I'd been putting off. I didn't want to, and I was scared to, but God gives you the grace to do what He calls you to.

It was scary because I had no control how the other person would react. I could only control the words I spoke. The words were heavy as they often are, but I felt such a peace once I let them go because I'd put off the weight I'd been holding.

It can be scary to say the words you have to, and there will be times when things go horribly wrong because of them. However, it's far worse to hold them in because you never know what might have happened if you let them out. The power they could have if you let them breathe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JONA_6ZCrE

Lives of Action

"This sounds like a good idea." "Yeah, I totally agree with that." "People should really do that." While these phrases in and of themselves aren't bad things, they often veil a heart condition and attitude that are detrimental. They're the products of contentment― of being ok with where you are even if it's not where God wants you. We can believe in things, in causes, and we can say high and mighty words of what is right or of what we should be doing. In the end, though, they're all only abstract. We need to be living concretely.

While thinking things and believing things are both important, they are only the starting point. In a race, when you step up to the starting line, you have to come thinking that you're going to do well and that you'll get to the finish line. However, if you simply stand there thinking that, when the gun goes off, you won't reach the finish line. You have to put those thoughts into action. You thought of doing well, but now it's time to actually put one foot in front of the other. It's time to actually race.

I really struggle with this. I have so many ideas of what I want to do and how I want to live my life in a way that honors and reflects God. But everyday, I get caught up in the clouds. I don't always let these thoughts seep into my heart. They don't get applied or built into actions, but they remain as blueprints.

So let us, both you and I, strive to live lives of action.

"Go For Broke"

Give your all,
Give your best,
I ain't looking for more,
I ain't looking for less.

Go for broke,
Go for gold,
Keep on grindin',
'Til you make it back home.

Tick tock, tick tock,
Don't waste your time,
Make it count,
While you're still in your prime.

If you're young,
If you're old,
Go for broke,
Go for gold.

Don't wait for tomorrow to live your life

Go for broke right here and now.