All about Christ.

"Hooray for Friday!" is exactly what I'm happily shouting at the top of my lungs today! Seriously - it's been a super long week and I'm so ready to be able to just head home today after work instead of going to job #2. Although I'm thankful for both jobs, I truly look forward to being able to actually spend time at home and get stuff done {or just be lazy and relax...those days are definitely crucial!}. So, in the spirit of another Friday that I've been beyond blessed to see roll around, I'm sticking with the theme of blessings. Today's five on Friday is all about Christ. 
{one} CHRISTmas. Christmas is in the air EVERYWHERE, and I'm absolutely in love! It's been especially present on my little blog these past few days {seriously, I think there's about a bajillion Christmas linkups - so if you're in the mood, go have some fun!}. I had some fun this week sharing about what I love about the holidays and how I decorated my home and office this year! So, you should definitely go check it out. Also, I'm completely obsessed with the fact that Christmas is officially less than two weeks away! Ahhh! 
{two} thank God. There are a lot of people {way more than I'd like, quite honestly} that seem to feel as if they're at their wits end and don't know which way is up. They are spinning down into a tumultuous black hole and constantly complain about the 'awful' things in their lives. Well, I'm here to say thank God. I've been there, and I know what it's like to completely feel as if what you are facing is just completely terrible and you've been faced with such a huge burden that it's just the worst thing ever. Seeing others experiencing the same hurt, pain, and anger truly makes me thankful to God for the blessings that have been bestowed upon my life. No matter how big or small, a blessing is a blessing, and I am forever grateful. It's so easy to overlook the joys in life and stay focused on all of the negativity. I'm living proof that through the smoke on those bumps of life, there is greatness. There is happiness and joy. There is life. And for that, I thank God. 
{three} remembering. Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The video below is completely heart wrenching and just blows me away every single time that I watch it. Please, please take a few minutes {4 minutes and 5 seconds to be exact} out of your day to watch this beautiful video of Emilie's family after tragedy ripped apart their family just one short year ago tomorrow and changed their lives forever. You'll definitely need a kleenex or two, but it's completely worth it. I promise.  Those blue eyes...I die. This video has gone absolutely viral, as I've seen it posted on blogs, on Facebook, twitter, emails ... it is a truly amazing video of how evil did not win that day. 
In remembering such a terrible tragedy, I went back and read a few blog posts that I wrote regarding that day:  + Newtown, Connecticut Shooting + Because it Still Hurts They're not long posts, but they remind me of my anger, confusion, and faith from that day - the day that so many lives were completely changed forever. The day that will haunt them for years to come and may never go away. The day they lost a piece of their heart. I'm remembering, and I'm praying. May God comfort those that are still hurting from the senseless tragedy and bring a sense of peace that the lost loved ones are joyfully playing in Heaven at the feet of our Creator and Savior. 
{four}little drummer boy. After that last video, I'm now asking you to spend four more minutes watching this one. You won't be disappointed - honest! If you weren't in the Christmas spirit before, you will be now: 
Isn't it beautiful? The union of all of their voices and the gorgeous message behind the song. I can't sum it up any better than Amber did over at Mr. Thomas and Me. Please, please, please go read it. PLEASE! {Yes, now I'm pretty sure I'm begging.} It's glorious, to say the least! Thank you Amber! I can seriously have this song on repeat to enjoy over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. It's that good. Do yourself a favor and go listen to it, even if you've done so already - even a couple hundred times ;). 
{five}healing.  Hallelujah! Colten is finally free of his pneumonia! Now that is something to scream at the top of my lungs! He will still have to use his inhaler for the next month and a half, but he's done with his antibiotics, and he is fully admitting that he's all better {which is a suretell sign that he's better}. I hate feeling completely helpless and having to sit back while the man I love with all that I am suffers day in and day out. So I am praising God today that He has healed my husband and will allow us {hopefully...} to celebrate Jesus' birth day free from illness. What greater gift is there?! 

Of course, linking up with THE GOOD LIFE BLOG. 

The Worst of Times

Sunday morning's sermon was very eye-opening, and quite honestly could not have come at a better time!  In life, we get so caught up in the hustle and bustle, and when things don't go our way, or in some or most instances, go completely awry, we are stressed and 'freak out'.  I admit, I've had so many of these 'freak outs' that I can't even begin to count them.  But, as discussed this past Sunday, we are so burdened with tunnel-vision, that we cannot see anything outside of the terrible things that are happening to us, in which we are so quick to place blame.  Instead, we need to turn to God and praise Him.  Philippians 4:4-8 is the go-to passage for these not-so-easy-to-be-thankful moments:

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

We are being told to always rejoice in the Lord.  No matter the situation, especially in the worst of times, turn to him, with thanksgiving (which, let's admit, it's hard to be thankful for what we have when we're faced with hardship) and give Him thanks!  Rejoice (it's so important that it's said TWICE) in what you have been blessed with and do not worry.  'Do not be anxious about anything.'  This is probably the hardest part for me.  For example, when burdened financially - let's say quite a bit more money was taken from my account for student loans than what we were told - I asked, how am I supposed to NOT be anxious?  Of course I was anxious!  It was our finances and it put us in quite the bind.  However, I did not let it seethe within myself.  As always, the good Lord provides, and he allowed us to be helped where help could be given.  And for that, I am eternally grateful.  When school wasn't quite going as well as I was wanting, I was completely anxious, but I wasn't supposed to have been.  Instead of only seeing the hardship that was my Kinesiology education, I had to be thankful for everything else that I had and know that God would get me through it.  And boy, did he ever?!  I took a complete 180 degree turn in life and pursued my paralegal degree, and now I'm at a job that I thoroughly enjoy!  It is true - do not be anxious about anything and rejoice!  I know that it's easier said than done, but it all happens for a reason.  So, I challenge you.  We all know that tragedy and hardship strikes nearly every day - but it's up to you how you take that and deal with it.  I challenge you to write this scripture verse down and put it somewhere that you can come back to.  And when things aren't looking your way, pull it out and remember to present your requests, with thanksgiving, to God, and always think about anything that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy in your life.  Think about all of the good that outweighs the bad.  I challenge you to not let the worst of times overwhelm you.  I challenge you to pray.  I challenge you to let go, and let God. 

This sermon was such a great reminder - especially because I get so down on myself when things aren't going right.  I don't like for things to be out of my control, but that's part of life.  I logically know that I cannot be in control at all times, because only God is in control of my life.  It's hard to let go, but I'm trying more and more each and every day.  And lately, I see and know that it's working.  While I was sick these past few days, it was dreadful.  I felt miserable and had no energy whatsoever, but I was thankful for my family and my husband for helping to take care of me and provide for me in what I needed.  I was thankful for the shelter I was able to confine to and for the food I was able to eat.  There is so much good in my life, it helped my sickness be more bearable.  I have a post-it note on my computer monitor reminding me:

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is not think, not wonder, not imagine, not obsess.  Just breathe, and have faith that everything will work out for the best.  Let go and let God. 

I love seeing the reminder every single day.  There's also one particular song that comes into mind in helping deal with the worst of  times: Gary Allan's "Every Storm".

I saw you standing in the middle of the thunder and lightning

I know you're feeling like you just can't win, but you're trying

It's hard to keep on keepin' on, when you're being pushed around

Don't even know which way is up, just keep spinning down, 'round, down...

Every storm runs out of rain

Just like every dark night turns into day

Every heartache will fade away

Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain

So hold your head up and tell yourself that there's something more

Walk out that door

Go find a new rose, don't be afraid of the thorns

'Cause we all have thorns

Just put your feet up to the edge, put your face in the wind

And when you fall back down, keep on rememberin'

Every storm runs, runs out of rain

Just like every dark night turns into day

Every heartache will fade away

Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain

It's gonna run out of pain

It's gonna run out of sting

It's gonna leave you alone

It's gonna set you free

Set you free

Every storm runs, runs out of rain

Just like every dark night turns into day

Every heartache will fade away

Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain

It's gonna set you free,

It's gonna run out of pain,

It's gonna set you free

This is such a great reminder that it's going to happen - there's no way that we can go through life with no storms to weather.  But, every storm runs out of rain.  Every dark night turns into day.  It's going to run out of pain and sting.  If God puts you to it, He'll get you through it.  I personally know that the last thing you want to have lectured to you is that it'll get better, that things are going to look up.  But it's true.  It is going to get better.  You've got to keep on keepin' on and not let the 'thorns' of life keep you down.  Lean on your friends, family, and most importantly, God, and you'll get through the struggles of life.  Because part of living life is enduring the storms that are placed in our path.  You've got to enjoy life and make the most of what you're given, and this song is definitely motivation to do so.  Don't wait for your life to start, because in doing so, your life turns into waiting for reality to happen.  And what kind of life is that? 

So, in the worst of times, rejoice in God and give thanks for what you've been blessed with.  And remember, every storm runs out of rain. 

Advent Season

This time of year, we look forward to Christmas - to the celebration of the birth of Christ.  So, I will take this time to now bask in the presence of His glory. 

I recently purchased a devotional for this advent season, wishing and hoping to deepen my knowledge of this season and the true meaning of Christmas.  I'm not sure if it's just the way I'm perceiving and absorbing Scripture these days (it's definitely deeper than I used to!), but I was entranced with only the first entry! 

It is only in Him that we find our true dignity and purpose as people.  He is the author and finisher of our faith, the One who remains faithful even when we are faithless.

How true is this?!  This is just one of the many glorious things that I am very grateful to be a part of.  Just think of someone who remains faithful when we aren't.  Someone who will be there with open arms to receive you when you've been absent from the relationship for years and hasn't moved on.  That's right - no one comes to mind except our Savior.  Jesus Christ wants everyone.  He wants to accept you, me, my neighbor, your friends, the homeless, the non-believers - everyone!  No matter how long you've been away or haven't come to Him yet, he is waiting to welcome you into His loving arms.  I'm blessed beyond words.