Defining

Part of me says that I am confident, that I know who I am. I know what I like, want, desire. I am outgoing, beautiful, smart. I am an extrovert. I know what I believe in. I know what I value. I know my passions. This part of me is free, careless and careful. Bitter and sweet. Charming and blunt. Lovely and shattering. Strong and feeble. I do not need to change because I am perfect the way I am. No one needs to think highly of me, yet they all do anyways.

Another part of me shouts a different message-- I am shy. I am an introvert. I doubt myself. I know not of my morals or desires. I am afraid of what they will think of me. Will they like me? My face is scarred. My body is lanky. I will never fit in. I am lost within the depths of my own mind. I battle myself. I do not know who I am. I have lowly thoughts of myself, so they must too.

I have found that there is truth in both parts. It is impossible for a human being to be completely the first half, and a person that is wholly the second half will never survive long. So, I have discovered one thing. It is okay to be shy. It is okay to be stubborn. It is okay to be innocent. It is okay to not know. It is okay to fear. These are the attributes that create us-- that make us human. If I were like you, then what would make me the real me? Embrace weakness and strength because both are beautiful. In the end, who cares what they think? You are the one who lives with yourself. You are the one who is living your life. I will embrace who I am.

I am afraid. I am doubtful. I am weak. I am forgiven. I am loved. I am beautiful.

Advice to Myself

Go to bed earlier.
Fall asleep with an empty mind
And a satisfaction of the past day.
Ignore the frightening dreams that hinder peace,
The insomnia that resists sleep.
Arise in the morning with the intent of productivity.
Set goals. Reach goals.
Keep the future in mind along with the present.
Tie the little boy’s shoe laces and teach him the simple yet important skill.
Decide what really matters most in life
Whether that be self, religion or others.
Keep dancing no matter what excuses there are
Or the thoughts that get in the way.
Look from the perspective of the small child
As well as the mother.
State the facts. Don’t worry what they think.
You are you and you is you.
Who can be a better you than yourself?
Listen to the thunder that plagues a still, dark night
Without irrational fear and appreciate its strange beauty.
Marvel at the brewing storm clouds,
Then dance under the cold, heavenly tears of rain.
Admire the simplicity of life, but do not
Hate the trials which so frequently arise and disappear in the blink of an eye.
Leave the dirty dishes on Saturday morning.
Have a brother clean them instead.
Drop pride and accept the offered help because who knows,
Maybe you are helping them more than they are helping you.
Say hello to the old woman sitting alone,
And give support to the homeless veteran.
Do not fear that others might be hearing the words you sing alone.
Instead, sing loudly and confidently.
Do not take life so seriously.
Laugh at yourself.
Laugh with others and rejoice with them.
Live to the fullest and cherish every moment.

 

Easter: Replacing God with a Bunny

"Do you know what Easter is about?"
"The Easter Bunny. Candy."

The Easter Bunny is depicted as a cute, kind animal who gives candy to children. Honestly though, how can that bunny possibly be a good thing to this world, to kids? Something that covers the real meaning of Easter is a curse, not a blessing. Why are people celebrating a bunny? When you ask children what Easter is, they should say, "when Jesus saved our lives."
A rabbit didn't come to save your heart-- take your sins. Lead your life. Give you hope. Hear your prayers. Answer your prayers. Speak to you. Love you unconditionally even though you're messed up.
In the end, who is going to be there when nothing else is?

Not cheap candy.
Not a random person in a bunny costume.
Not plastic eggs.
Not your mommy.
Not a ham or scalloped potatoes.
JESUS.
Jesus saves our lives.
He made a way. The way.

How can we replace such an awesome God with a rabbit?

Because of Him, we can live. We have a purpose.
The sun and moon can light the sky.
The flowers can bloom.
Your children can laugh.
Our voices can sing. Speak. Teach. Impact.
We can know what true love is.

We treat love like it's cheap chocolate. We fall in and out of love like the styles of clothes that change. When you feel hurt by it, you hate it. We think we understand what it is. We say that we love our favorite food. We say that we love God. We say that His sacrifice is a wicker basket full of candy.

This is love: He came to the earth for you, became a man, was despised and rejected. He took our sin to a cross. Our suffering. Our transgressions. He was shamed, beaten and crushed for you. He died for you. He sacrificed everything for you. After three days of being dead, He came to life again... for you. Why? Because He loves you. Even though we are foolish and lost, He loves us. Even if we don't love Him back, He loves us.

Don't replace God's love with a rabbit. He deserves more.

Isaiah 53

From the Back Yard

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:25-34

A Trip to the Beach...

good morning, beautiful! 

This would be a random lady

The Reggie Sullivan Band. This guy is a boss.

An Awesome Swan!!

a swan I saw in South Carolina

note the water falling from it's beak

my feet looking slightly tan

A Little Bit of Fall!

My awesome Hummingbird Frankie!!!

This was the first tree to turn colors!

   

     Gotta love the fall!!!