A Blessed Life

Well, I feel like I'm pretty old. Sure, 25 isn't that old, but when I think about it in terms of the fact that--should God give me the time--a third of my life is probably over, yeah I'd say I'm getting old. And, I'd say that if a third of it is over already, I better be getting to work on more great things for the Lord!

Today, though, I'm not really looking forward. Instead, I'm reflecting on the wonderful 25 years I've had.

My earliest birthday memory is in the form of a Little Mermaid cake. I'm not sure how old I was--not very, for sure--but the little figurines on the cake still stand out in my mind (probably because I played with them for 10 more years). From there my birthday memories revolve around sleepovers with my best friend Jessie and trying to predict if it would be warm enough for putt putt or if we'd have to do some kind of indoor, lame, November-cursed birthday party.

The birthday memories that stick out to me the most are the most recent, though. And as you will see, my life has been abundantly blessed.

It starts four years ago. Four years--wow, it doesn't seem like it could have been that long ago--when three semi-ok friends headed out on an adventure that would change their lives. Alyssa, Shane and I climbed aboard an overnight train to Munich for a weekend filled with exciting, once-in-a-lifetime things. They were SO accommodating for my 21st birthday---letting me take stupid pictures all day in Paris and even letting me go to the Hard Rock Cafe for mac and cheese and free refills (with ice!) that evening. The rest of that trip was equally as amazing, with funny poses in the Louvre, hilarious songs on the trains, and hours and hours of laughter (and a few minutes of terror when we got on a train we didn't actually have tickets for). I will forever treasure that weekend and those birthday memories, because I made them with two people who would become my best friends--and one that would go on to be my maid of honor and music-soulmate.

The last memory I want to share is from last year. Let me just say that married birthdays are the best!!! Robert took me to Nashville to see Wicked, and we stayed in a hotel and dressed up all fancy and had a wonderful meal and cheesecake and basically anything on earth I wanted. But the best part was knowing that every birthday I would ever celebrate would be with him. That definitely made it the best birthday ever! Especially when considering that as of last year, I've been given the two greatest gifts I will ever have: salvation through Jesus Christ and a Christ-centered marriage with my best friend. No birthday I will ever have will offer anything greater than what I am already experiencing!

I have had an extremely blessed and abundant life, and I know that the reason is Jesus Christ. He said in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." The reason Jesus came to this earth was so that I could have the opportunity to have eternal life with Him in heaven. And, if I will be His disciple, my earthly life will be filled to the brim with innumerable blessings. The only reason my life (and my birthdays) have been so joyous is because of my Savior.

I am so thankful for each and every person that is a part of my life or who has been a part of my life. Each of you have helped to make my life rich and full and abundant. Should God not give me until my next birthday, I will have lived a full and happy life. But, should God give me more time on this earth, it is my prayer that I will spend every year of my life serving Him, and telling others about the ways He can bless their lives.

If you are not experiencing a rich and abundant life, please know that Jesus wants you to. He wants to give you life--eternally. Don't waste another year, another day!, without putting Him first in your life and receiving all of the blessings that He so freely gives.

And, I'd like to give a special half-birthday shout-out to my wonderful best friend (and amazing husband) who is exactly 25.5 years old today! I love you!!!!! Let's get a cake to celebrate =)

**And for one more reason I am extremely blessed---my husband started a blog today and his very first post is about me (though completely undeserved). He is so amazing and truly makes me the luckiest.

How to Live in Peace

Sometimes the simplest passages can be the most profound. Romans 12 has proved to be such a text for me. Whenever I am struggling to getting along with a person or group of people, I look to Romans 12 as a guide to living in peace. Perhaps these observations taken directly from the text can help you today, too.

• Love without hypocrisy (v.9)

• Cling to the good things in people (v.9)

• Be affectionate to everyone (v.10)

• Think of others above yourself (v.10)

• Rejoice in hope (v.12)

• Be patient in trying times (v.12)

• Always, always pray (v.12)

• Give liberally to your brothers and sisters (v.13)

• Show hospitality to everyone you encounter (v.13)

• Shower blessings on those who don't like you--even those who make your life harder (v.14)

• Be genuinely happy for people who are happy, and be sad with those who are sad (v.15)

• Don't be arrogant (v.16)

• Don't treat others badly, regardless of how they treat you (v.17)

• Do as much as you can to get along with everyone (v.18)

Remember, God has extended every kindness and grace to us; the very least we can do is extend kindness and grace to others. And God didn't start showing us love after we'd chosen to follow Him, He sent His Son to die while we were sinners. Even while people are your enemies, extend love and graciousness and friendship. "As much as depends on you", live a life of peace.

Christians Should Be Joyful

Last night, my husband delivered a sermon at our home congregation about the life of David: a man after God's own heart. One of Robert's points was about joy. He made the point that, as Christians, we are to be the most joyful people on the earth. After all, we have a hope and assurance of heaven that other people (who have chosen not to be close to God) simply do not have. We have riches beyond compare (in heaven awaiting us), we have plenteous blessings on this earth, and we have been given redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ's blood. For what cause could we NOT be joyful?!

Little did I know that in less than an hours time, Robert and I would be sitting on the side of the road in my Prius after a deer flew into our car. And yes, the deer flew into our car.

Here's what happened:

After speaking at East Hill, Robert had another speaking engagement about 15 miles away. We rushed away from services so that we could have enough time to get across the county. As we rolled out of the parking lot, Robert said, "We're making good time." And we were. We had plenty of time to get to the second congregation of the evening. Well, normally we would have had plenty of time....

The last thing I remember before the loud 'thud' was Robert saying this phrase in preparation for his upcoming sermon: "God is a spirit". Then BAM. It felt like a cinder block hit our car (going 50mph). I didn't see it, but Robert said that he saw the deer (that apparently first hit another car going the opposite direction) flying at our car with its head down and its hind end/tail sticking up in the air. Like I said, the deer flew at our vehicle.

Robert had great control of the vehicle (for which I am thankful). He pulled it off to the side of the road and got out to assess the damage. I was going to get out, but my door wouldn't open. I looked out the window and saw a large chunk of plastic (from my car) sitting beside me, so I assumed it was blocking my exit. False. Robert walked around the vehicle and shook his head, and I knew that ol' Julius (my Prius) had taken quite a blow.

Turns out, the deer did quite a number on Julius. As we were examining and trying to figure out what on earth we were going to do, a couple from our congregation pulled up next to us. Thankfully they had decided to go home instead of grabbing something to eat in town. On their way home, they saw us and first thought we had a flat tire. We only wish we did! They saved the day, really, because they took Robert on to his meeting and then brought me back to the vehicle where I waited with Robert's dad while the wrecker and the police officer came. Needless to say, it was quite an ordeal, and completely unexpected (as most accidents are).

All throughout the night last night and especially today upon further reflection, I have been thinking about Robert's sermon from last night. You see, I love my car. From the moment I bought it (in 2010) I have been completely attached to it. After all, what's not to love about 50mpg? And Julius has been good to me, so you can see where I would be really sad last night as I watched him being put onto the wrecker. And I'll admit: after I climbed out of the back seat last night and laid eyes on him for the first time, my immediate reaction was to cry (though I was in such a state of shock that I really couldn't). But here's the thing: Julius is just a car. While we are without our primary vehicle from now until who knows when, it's just a car. It's an earthly possession.

I could get all bent out of the shape over the process. I could get upset and angry and depressed that a lot of our plans are now either going to be cancelled or at the very least inconvenienced. But what was it that Robert said in his sermon last night? Ah yes, Christians are to be joyful.

Joy isn't fleeting like happiness. Happiness is pretty circumstantial is it not? Robert used the illustrations last night that some people will be happy when there's sunshine and sad when there's rain; they will be happy when something good happens to them but sad when something bad happens. Christians, on the other hand, aren't supposed to be that fickle. Our joy comes from Someone who will never disappoint us and Who has promised us everything. Sure, we may "fall into various trials", but James tells us to "consider it all joy" (James 1:2).

Throughout this process I could get irritable with the insurance adjuster for not calling me back or complain that this had to happen at such an inconvenient time or be moody and depressed, but that's not how I'm supposed to handle situations like this. I'm supposed to consider it all joy, because this process can produce something very valuable: patience (James 1:3).

I love my car and I do hope that it will be ok, but I know that every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17). That car isn't even mine; it's on loan from God. He has given us (me, Robert, you, everyone!) so many physical blessings and sometimes they're taken away. That doesn't mean I'm not still blessed, though, because I still have the gifts of redemption and forgiveness (gifts that will never be taken away from me should I continue to live faithfully). So my car is on a wrecker on some lot awaiting an inspection to see just how much damage was done. So I crushed my iPhone case with my Hulk-like strength as soon as I felt the deer hit our car (yes that really happened). Physical blessings can and will be taken away from us, but during those trials and situations, we have the option to choose to be joyful or choose to respond just like the rest of the world. God has called us to live differently (cf Rom.12:1-2). As a chosen generation and His own special people (1 Pet. 2:9), we must look, act, and respond differently than the world so that the world can see Who made the difference in us.

Don't be so attached to "your" stuff that you let it steal your joy when something bad happens to it. Just remember that it isn't yours and it doesn't really matter anyway.

"And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; it shall rejoice in His salvation." Psalm 35:9

Notice that the Psalmist said his soul was joyful in the Lord, not in physical things. Let your soul be joyful in God, and when something happens to all the stuff you have (and we all have SO much stuff, don't we?) it won't deplete your joy in the slightest.



**On an unrelated note, this article was written by a preacher friend of ours, Chris Clevenger, about my wonderful husband. Please go read it! It definitely brought some joy today.

The Beautiful Road of Hardships

 Life isn't perfect.

I know your life hasn't been perfect, and I can tell you firsthand that my life hasn't been either. Still, I can tell you with boldness that my life has been blessed. One of the beautiful ways that God has blessed my life is by giving me times of trials and tests; by allowing me to suffer through situations that would make me better on the other side.

There are numerous people, situations, and circumstances that have made my life less than perfect. And yet, looking back, I wouldn't trade any person or thing that led me where I am today. I know, I know--that sounds like a cheesy Rascal Flatts song, but it's true. Everything I've been through thus far in my brief 24.5 year existence has gotten me here: married to the most amazing Christian man I've ever met, in a town that I have come to love, surrounded by God's people, working at a job that means something to me.

Presently, I am looking back down a road that was hard. Sure, I'm standing on a hilltop now, looking forward to the next way that God will teach me something that I'm in desperate need of learning. But the road behind me hasn't been an easy one. It's been filled with hurt, tears, bitterness, struggle, resentment, and all kinds of baggage that I simply had to leave along the way. Because, you see, there was no way I could be where I am now if I was still holding on to all of those heavy burdens.

That's the beauty of Jesus, isn't it? He takes away our burdens. He said, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Mt. 11:28-29)

Thanks be to God for His infinite grace and love and wisdom and mercy!

You see, once sin entered the world, life for the human race changed forever. No more would there be walking with God in the cool of the day. There would be no more perfection; at least, not until Jesus Christ came. And that's just it: even though His human race had spurned Him--defied Him--God still sent His Son. For that reason (and that reason alone) we can have hope. We can be joyful, despite living in such a sin-filled world. We can walk hard, long, trying roads and still come out on top on the other side, because Jesus gives us that way. Because He came, we can know that we have another chance at perfection. We can know that there is something greater out there for us. To attain that prize, though, we must endure (and react in a Christ-like way to) whatever is set before us on this earth. We must walk those hard roads. We must endure those trials. We must press on toward that goal.

And Jesus is the way.

Thanks be to God for His perfect gift of love. Thanks be to God for giving us a way of salvation; for giving us hope.

If I weren't a Christian, I would be so sad. If this ugly, tainted, sin-stained world was all there was--why would I want to get out of bed? Why would I want to do anything? Oh, but because of Jesus--because of His blood and the hope of heaven--I can be joyful despite my hardships. I can be joyful despite the ways people hurt me. I can walk those hard roads and be joyful along the way....because I know that one day I will live in perfection, so who cares if my life isn't perfect now. One day it will be. And because my life here is so hectic and hurtful and hard sometimes, that home in heaven above sounds that much sweeter.

Thank you, God, for giving me the opportunity to go through trials. Thank you for giving me more reason to long for heaven, as if being with You weren't enough.