Unwrapping God's Gift

      You know those mornings when God sets before you exactly what you needed to hear?  Today was one of those mornings.  I wanted to share what my devotional said:

      “I have given you the gift of eternal life, but My giving does not stop there.  Inside of you is a supernatural surprise—a gift that is waiting to be unwrapped…by you.

      Yes, it’s there.  It’s hidden behind dreams waiting to be pursued.  Swallowed up by daily distractions and drowned by disappointment. 

      Let Me help you clear out the clutter and find your gift.  You’ll find it in that place in life that brings you the greatest joy, that place where you soul longs to be, that work your hands love to do.  

But this gift that I’ve given to you is not just for you.  I have blessed you to be a blessing to others.  When you find your gift, I will take it and multiply it beyond what you could ever imagine.  So ask Me, and I will help you open your gift so that you can give it away to the world—not to impress—but to bless.”

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

      My favorite part about people is how different we all are.  I have friends who were born to be writers, teachers, photographers, musicians, lawyers, contractors, chefs and many, many more things.

      I have a friend who finally, after trying out different majors, decided to be a firefighter, why, because he found what his greatest enjoyment was, saving people.  He found the job that brought him the greatest joy and he went for it.  The best part about his story so far is that he failed his last test in his EMT training, but did he let that stop him from pursuing the gift he knew God had given him?  Nope!  He went back, worked harder and faster and by the end he passed the test and is still working toward the shiny, red truck. Haha.

      God doesn’t just hand us our “gift” and a certificate that says “it’s as easy as pie now!”  First off, baking pie isn’t easy, so I’m not sure how that saying came about. haha  Secondly, we enjoy things so much more when we put an effort into them.  We have to work hard and work for the Lord.  E.E. Cummings said, “It takes courage to grow up and be who you really are.” It’s a journey to uncover our gift, it’s a journey to discover how to use them, and it’s a journey to finally be able to bless others by it. 

So don’t stop searching for your gift; seek God’s will, find what you enjoy, and never, ever give it up, pursue it against all odds.   “You were made to fill a purpose that only you can do.”

Blemishes

I've decided to describe how I see myself.

I'm:

Foolish

Rude
Inadequate 

Uncaring

Demeaning

Narcissistic

Unreliable

Dense

Clumsy

Lazy

Pathetic

Unattractive

Depressing

Materialistic

Negative

Antagonistic

Spiteful

Unpleasant

Disrespectful

Completely and totally unworthy of the grace God has given me. 

       I could probably spend a good hour complaining about my faults and asking why I never seem to be good enough.  But as I start thinking about my "blemishes" I realize, I’m good enough for Christ.  HE created me just the way I am.  Sure I mess things up, but that’s where He comes in and catches me. Every good thing that I am and attempt to be is His work in me. 

“Oh Lord, you're beautiful,

 Your face is all I seek,

 For when your eyes are on this child,

 Your grace abounds to me.

 I want to take your word and shine it all around.

 But first help me just to live it Lord.

 And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown.

 For my reward is giving glory to you.”

       Focusing on my faults gets me nowhere but depressed.  Focusing on Christ and His hand in my life causes me to rejoice.  

   Psalms 47:1 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

So CLAP PEOPLE CLAP!!! haha, You are His creation and He made you BEAUTIFUL, because, well, He made you--YOU!

Strong Enough

       Isaiah 40:28-31
” Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

      I just recently heard the song "Strong Enough" by Matthew West and it really got me thinking.  Today's society casts this light on its citizens  saying we should be able to “conquer” life.  Women in particular are challenged to prove themselves to be stronger than men.  Because people are cast this way no one wants to say “I’m not strong enough.”  In fact anyone who states that they’re weak is looked down upon as a quitter.  But there’s wisdom in those who boldly declare, “I can’t do this on my own, will someone help me?”   

       I know I daily struggle with thinking my strength is sufficient.  Soon I find myself frustrated asking why I wasn’t strong enough to handle the tasks at hand.  But life isn’t meant to be lived alone, we’re meant to help others and to BE HELPED.  Jeremiah 17:5
 "This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.”

You don’t have to go through it on your own, it’s okay to say...help...   

      1 Samuel 30:6
 "David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God."

David looked to God for strength, and this is the guy that killed GIANTS!  We all have giants in our lives we’re hoping to conquer, it just takes us accepting our own weakness and asking God for His strength.           

      2Corinthians 12:9-10 "
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

You must, You must think I’m strong

To give me what I’m going through
Well forgive me, forgive me if I’m wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough
For the both of us

Well maybe, maybe that’s the point
To reach the point of giving up
‘Cause when I’m finally, finally at rock bottom
Well that’s when I start looking up
And reaching out

I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough
For the both of us

‘Cause I’m broken
Down to nothing
But I’m still holding on to the one thing
You are God
And You are strong when I am weak
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be strong enough
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be
Strong enough, strong enough
Oh yeah

I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough

For the both of us 

Psalm 105:4 "
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!"

Peter, Peter, Peter

      Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

Matthew 26:31-35

       Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster  crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:69-75

       Christ knew Peter would deny Him, even if Peter boldly declared he never would.  Imagine seeing your friend say “I don’t know you” when you’re undergoing persecution I know my reaction would be “fine! I don’t know you either!”  But Christ didn’t do that Jesus loved Peter still! He DIED FOR HIM STILL.   He knew Peter had messed up (He even told Peter he was going to) but there Jesus hung, beaten, His blood washing away the sins of those who denied Him.  Picture Christ nailed to a cross looking at all those who have denied him, saying, it’s okay, I still love you. “…Father, forgive them for they know not what they do…”  Luke 23:34

       And so I challenge you to never give up on those who have given up on you.  Be Christ-like and love them no matter what they’ve done to you.  “We love because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:19

Boat or Water

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”   “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:25-31

       Peter walked on water.  I keep repeating myself trying to imagine what it must’ve felt like.  I’m quickly reminded that walking on water isn’t always literally “walking on water” the term is used to orchestrate what it’s like to follow Christ and His will for our lives.

That’s something I really admire in Peter he was always so quick to follow Jesus.  He saw him walking and wanted to be there too.  There have been so many times I have seen where Christ was walking and didn’t want to go.  The boat I was in seemed so much “safer” to me than the murky sea.   But that’s how we grow in our faith, by letting go of what we think is “safe” and looking completely into Christ’s eyes. 

       We should be constantly remembering God’s promise “never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5b

Faithfully following Jesus is a hard task when we look at the wind and the waves.  But why are we even looking at the wind and the waves?  Aren’t we supposed to be looking only toward Jesus?   When Peter took his eyes off of Christ and focused on the things that surrounded him he fell.  How often do we get caught up in the winds of life and lose sight of Christ?  But then comes my favorite part of the story, as Peter began to sink he cried out “Lord, save me!”  and Jesus reached out his hand and pulled him up.  Honestly that makes me so thrilled to know that whenever we cry out for God to save us, He will!  "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." Psalm 34:17

         Don’t become complacent in the boat we all have the ability to walk on water, just like Peter. 

One Early Morning

God “gives us brief moments with another...but sometimes in those brief moment we get memories that last a life time...” 

       “Heidi, wake up, mom said if you want to get the route down you have to leave right now with me or figure it out on your own Monday.” 

I looked at my phone. It was 5:15 am. But I realized my younger brother was right, I needed to figure out my bus route for school BEFORE school actually started, plus I had a book I needed to get also.  I groaned, got dressed, grabbed my house keys and walked out the door with him. 

       As we made our way through the dark streets of our neighborhood to the bus stop (which was a thirty minute walk) I realized how lucky I am to have him for a brother.  Whose brother figures out a bus route for you while you’re sleeping and then comes and wakes you up at 5am? 

I was soon lost to my thoughts.  We used to do a lot more stuff together but since we got older our tastes changed from toy cars and dress up.  He dresses up for the football field I played volleyball, he likes video games, I try to stay away from them. Haha.  The bus pulled up and shattered my train of thought, we hopped on and sat for nearly an hour.

      When we got to the campus I found out the bookstore wouldn’t open till 9am, it was only 7am….oh joy.  We decided to take another walk to find a Starbucks, there was only a Carl’s about a mile away, but it would have to suffice.  Our conversations didn’t amount to much, small talk about school and his football team but it was, well, peaceful.  For once in a long time we weren’t surrounded by family members who wanted an answer or help in a task.  It was a moment I could’ve easily said no to and stayed in bed, but I would have missed being able to just silently walk side by side laughing at the antics of random cheerleaders and bus riders.

      When we finally got home it was 10:30 he went off to football practice and I went to finish my work.  I was amazed at how much he’s grown and even though I see him every day I somehow missed out.  He’s not so little anymore, he’s a lot stronger than people give him credit for.  He’ll always be the one person who constantly grounds me telling me “you’ll know when it’s right.” And “who cares?”  I hate those two pieces of advice but so far they haven’t proved to be faulty.  Soon he’s going to be moved out pursing his life goals, I can’t believe how fast our childhood flew by, but he’s going to succeed in adulthood, he’s too stubborn not to.

Don’t waste the moments we have with one another, that one moment may be the last.

Philia-Friends

      Friends and summer, they just fit together kind of like ketchup and mustard.  With this being the last weekend of summer and college starting on Monday I look back to reminisce of all the good times with my friends.  I just saw a picture taken at the funeral for a Navy SEAL, his dog was lying right next to the casket softly sighing.  They say dogs are man’s best friend, looking at that picture and seeing the loyalty in that dogs eyes I found that statement to be more true than ever.  No matter where that Navy SEAL went his “best friend” would always be there to welcome him home.  Even when he came home in a casket his dog was there unmoving, faithfully fulfilling his friendship till the very end.

       My friends never cease to surprise me.  From the ones who want to drug me with Nyquil, or find my annoyance unbearable, or were strangers one day one of my good friends the next, they have all blessed me with the gift (and sometimes curse :P) of their friendship.  The Bible verse “A friend loveth at all times” Proverbs 17:17a has never really struck me as anything spectacular until I realized how true it is.  A true friend loves you, no matter what you say or what you do.  I say stupid things, A LOT, every once in a blue moon I have a moment of genius and say the right thing, but no matter what I say or what I do I know my friends love me--at all times. 

I looked up friendship on Wikipedia and here is an excerpt from it:

“Value that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating the following on a consistent basis:

▪   The tendency to desire what is the best for the other

▪   Sympathy and empathy

▪   Honesty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of pointing out the perceived faults of one's counterpart

▪   Mutual understanding and compassion

▪   Trust in one another (able to express feelings - including in relation to the other's actions - without the fear of being judged); able to go to each other for emotional support

▪   Positive reciprocity - a relationship is based on equal give and take between the two parties.

Whereby you can be oneself & make mistakes without fear of judgment.”

       I’ve found that my closest friends are the ones who are always willing to lend a hand---to either help or slap my face, a lot of times it’s both.

"Better is open rebuke 
than hidden love.

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, 
but an enemy multiplies kisses." Proverbs 27:5-6

 But they don’t nag me, they don’t shut me down with negativity, they quiet me when I’m loud, and let me speak when I’m quiet.   They are the ones who challenge me to daily seek God and encourage me to be my best even when I feel like my worst should suffice.  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 However, sometimes there are those friends who just don’t encourage us.

       1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.” My mom would always quote this to me she really wanted me to understand how quickly one can fall when they are surrounded by “bad company.”  I've always related this verse to people whose sin is outwardly visible, they gloat in it and try to convince you to join them when you can clearly see you’d never want to be like them.  But I’ve come to find that the term “bad company” is much more than outward sin.  When I would talk to friends who are constantly negative about others and always complaining I too would become more negative. They never had an encouraging word and were always looking for something to “prey” on.  "What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up." 1Corinthians 14:26 

       Once I distanced myself from these people and started talking more to friends who constantly encouraged me I found my outlook on life changed.  Because I stopped listening to the negative comments I found I had more time to either spend with God or talk to friends who were uplifting.  Sure friends have their days when they just need to vent (“AHHHHH!!!!!!!!” hahaha) but don’t go along with it and have a pity party, tell them to look for the bright side.  Life is good, God is great and there’s a blessing in every trial.  

       True friendship isn’t a fashion piece; it doesn’t go in and out of style.  Although friends may have to leave, whether it’s to college or marriage or a billion other reasons, you know they are never too far out of reach that you can’t talk to them.  

And friends are friends forever

If the Lord's the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never

'Cause the welcome will not end

Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands we know

That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends.