Friday, April 23, 2010

a challenge... with a little love

Alrighty, so today i started a book. Yup another one, that fingers crossed, i will actually complete. Not that i haven't and won't complete crazy love, but this one's different. I am reading this new book, with my lovely friend and mentor. "A Love Worth Giving" by Max Lucado. I started on the first chapter today, and found myself rather enjoying it. It's not so harsh and convicting as Crazy Love, still a magnificent book, but Max takes a softer approach and his just appeals to me differently. I really liked what i read today and wanted to share a core value of what spoke to me the most, with you people...so here goes...


Most of the chapter is explaining how we can never truly show love, unless we are given it (in the correct form) first, ultimate experiencing God's unconditional love. If you are shown little then you love little, however we are called to love one another, it is one of the greatest commandments and we "believe" that we can do this, but normally fail, because we lose the genuine attitude that follows behind it. 


Personally i don't want show someone love unless it's out of the depths of my heart and shown in a way that portrays that of the love of christ or mimics his to a certain degree. I don't want to pity love someone, because it's the right thing to do?! you know?! i wouldn't want that done for me, so how can i expect to give that and have a sufficient meaning for someone else.


As i read on, it continues to explain how we really cannot love someone, or multiple people correctly unless we have experienced true love from him, ourselves. The only love that never fails us, is the love that comes from Jesus Christ.


-1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says,
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."


Those are powerful and comforting words! It gives us hope to just read and have an understanding of it. 
Now that  you've been given the scripture, like the book did, i'm going to challenge you to place your name where "love" or "it" is and read it over and over.


"Mary is patient, mary is kind. Mary does not envy, mary does not boast, she is not proud. Mary is not rude, she is not self-seeking.....and lie and lie and lie...."


You really can't continue it, because as you start the first line you ultimately realize that it isn't a true statement once you put your name in...kind of humbles you huh?! Shoot it sure did for me. As i read it all the way through with my name, God was like ha funny isn't it?! No it's convicting in a good way and kinda becomes an eye opener. However, with it coming off as a lie, we are able to realize that this is the ultimate task we are given to drive our lives towards. These verses, with our names placed in, should be what we strive to become and live for...or how i understood it at least, unless the Big Man is wrong...and newsflash, he's that guy that GOD, he's always right!


Looking for a little less guilt, well read the verse again like normal, and then replace it with this.


"Jesus is patient, jesus is kind. Jesus does not envy, jesus does not boast, he is not proud. Jesus is not rude, he is not self-seeking, he is not easily angered, he is keeps no record of wrong! Jesus does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. Jesus always protects, Jesus always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Jesus never fails!"


Tell me please, where you do not find that comforting and try to tell me you don't feel loved after reading it?!?! You can't! It's the plain truth. There is no greater love than the love of our father and jesus christ. He's always going to be there! And with that being said, maybe we need to strive to be more intentional with those around us and a little more flexible in our daily lives, i mean come on, God is always there for us, always waiting, he is patient!!!


I struggle with patience alot! Believe me do i ever, ask any of my friends, i have good moments i really do, but many other times, geeeeez i don't. So today i made another little bracelet and added another simple one, but with the word patience...as a reminder of what i need to seek throughout my walk over the next couple of months, and however long this bracelet lasts, and if it's awhile then hopefully it will become a part of my daily life. 


But enough rant for today, take the challenge as you will...


Love never Fails! Jesus never Fails!
-mare

Friday, April 16, 2010

"creek bliss"

so typical me..... i wrote down in my journal my "blog" because the wi fi couldn't reach down by the creek, but what happens...it doesn't get typed up till today the 16th, and i dated the journal entry the 8th...


anyhoo, here it is...


   So today i get the privilege of blogging at the best location possible. "The creek". And i'm lucky enough that it's just me, the falls, a very chipper bird and some kyle park and aaron watson...good' ol texas country. I just almost can't get over, just how amazingly beautiful it is outside today. I wish that the scene that surrounds me now, was the exact picture i woke up to face the beginning of my day, everyday. It's moments like these, that i can just sit and bask in the "aww" factor of God's glory and beautiful works. Like seriously, the big man knew what he was doing. From designing it ALL from the creek, to the rocks, to the people who made my necklace, to my scar on my foot, to my bike that caused this stupid scar. And each thing in his eye is beautiful and has a purpose in his creation.
   I like, no LOVE, knowing that the same God who made such a gorgeous day, made me as well!!!


Besides today's weather, its been a good day because i only have a single class and work on thursdays. Therefore i get to wake up, get ready, go to a great job, that i'm blessed with it's flexibility, and sold formal tickets in the sub as well and enjoyed great company of some of the world's most fantastic friends. If you asked me this time last year what my life would look like now, it wouldn't look even close to this. I honestly can't imagine being anywhere else and being this happy!


Another joy added to my day, is i finally asked this certain someone to be my mentor. I've thought about it alot and realized how much an impact it would help with my spiritual walk and i would just get to become closer friends with her as well, to top it off! She is so incredibly joyful and i know that it comes from her love of the Lord and living a life that glorifies him.


All this being said... I came to a decision last night. For the longest time my life has consisted of living for christ but slacking in a personal relationship with him. I have come to realize alot lately, recently, previously and notice i get back into my routine of feeling and thinking "i can do it on my own god, i'm good but thanks anyways". I'll pray here and there, and have a "quiet time" when i "feel" like it...(man the quotations are heavy today)...Then something like focus or revival or biblestudy comm group comes up and i realize it again and have a longing to change it and two days later i'm back to square one. I know this sounds like i had a realization moment and i did, yes, but i know without a doubt in my mind that i want to get off my treadmill of a life and start blazing a trail, a trail that consists of living for him but also loving his people and truly understanding and seeking what it means to be "in" Love with him. It's going to take time i know that and i'm glad, no reason to rush, because he's always there, but no putting him aside and abusing his patience and persistence .
I am blessed with so incredibly much. I have a health and happy "together" family. Amazing, Amazing friendships, and so much more...and i can't rely on him or give him my best? and i have a friend who's mamoo is pretty sick and she's going through so very much and my friend finds joy in suffering and my friend finds joy in it, and stands strong in her walk and manages to do her job and school work and never ever gets stressed because she knows it's not worth it, when it comes to eternity and gives it all to one creator and i am absolutely blessed and manage to let worry and stress rule my life and slothfulness and lazyness as well, run prevalent through me. It's not fair to bug, not fair to me and definaetly not fair to GOD who deserves nothing better than all of me and can handle all my worries. However, i can not let my faith and personal relationship be motivated out of guilt, and i won't. 
Soooo...No more treadmill
Grabbing a walking stick (God) and blazing a new trail.


"For this is the day the Lord 
has made and i will rejoice
and be glad in it!"


-well that was quite an extensive rant...making up for time missed...ish


love much
-mare