Pathways

Each of our paths is so uniquely our own. Sometimes I wonder at the seperate journeys God has us on. They are all so different, His calling on our lives so individual. At times I hurt because people do not understand mine, but do I really understand theirs? We all are so quick to judge another's life because it is not our own.

A passage from  Jesus Calling says, " I have called each of My children to a different path, distinctly designed for that one. Do not let anyone convince you that his path is the only right way. And be careful not to extol your path as superior to another's way. What I require of you is to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Me - wherever I lead."

I do not completely understand why our paths are all so different but I suppose it is because God has a special purpose in the world for each of us, and He only needs one person for that specific purpose - you or me or the lady down the street. We don't need to worry about why our story looks so much different from someone else's - we only need to keep our eyes on Jesus, trusting that He will complete the good work he has begun in us, and give our calling, our purpose, our path all we have to give.

For when I am weak...

"You need Me every moment. Your awareness of your constant need for me is your greatest strength. Your neediness, properly handled, is a link to My Presence. However, there are pitfalls that you must be on guard against: self-pity, self-preoccupation, giving up. Your inadequacy presents you with a continual choice - deep dependence on Me, or despair. The emptiness you feel within will be filled either with problems or with My Presence. Make Me central in your consciousness by praying continually: simple, short prayers flowing out of the present moment. Use My Name liberally, to remind you of My Presence. Keep on asking and you will receive, so that your gladness may be full and complete."

from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

For when I am weak... 

           ~  Then is HE Strong. ~

Singleness Appreciation Day

Valentine's Day has come and gone yet another time. For many people who are without that special someone, it is a sad day full of regret, longing, and loneliness. "Singleness Awareness Day," as it is often called, reminds lonely hearts everywhere to be miserable and count the curses of singleness. BUT I am here to tell you - it doesn't have to be that way! Singleness can be and IS a blessing! Here are some reasons why:

1. Singleness gives you a chance to pursue your hobbies, dreams, and goals. You have the whole rest of your life to be married - you will most likely only be single for a relatively small portion of your life. So, live it up! Take classes in something you enjoy, travel to a place you have always wanted to visit, spend time developing a talent you have never had a chance to hone, find your dream job. Once you are married, time for these activities will be much more limited.

2. Singleness gives you freedom. You can pick up and move across the state - or to another country - if you wish. You can change jobs or go back to school. You can plan your own schedule. Once you are married, you and your spouse will have to plan together.

3. Singleness gives you a chance to focus on the most important relationship of all. If you are a Christian, being single allows you to pour all of your love into Christ. 1 Corinthians 7 says "He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But he that is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife....The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord...but she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband."

4. Singleness allows you to build other important relationships in your life. When you are married, much time will necessarily be spent with your spouse, developing your relationship with each other. While you are single is the perfect time to build strong, close-knit relationships with family and friends.

5. Singleness is simpler. This may seem like a silly reason, but think about it. How much stress, heartache, headaches, and mini-crises do you hear about every day just from relationships with significant others? It just goes with the territory. No relationship is easy, and dating/marriage is the most difficult of all. Men are complicated. Women are complicated. Men and women understanding each other's complexity = impossible. Seriously, though, having a boyfriend/ girlfriend/husband/wife does NOT fix everything and make all your dreams come true. This isn't Disney or a romance novel. Relationships are a lot of work and add their own problems and stresses to an already full and stressful life.

(Or women, if you are a guy!)

6. Singleness is really out of our control. Sure, you can go out looking for the perfect someone. And sure, if you just sit at home and twiddle your thumbs, your prince/princess is probably not going to appear. However, that being said, you can not MAKE the right person come along. When it is time, you will meet him or her. If you try to force a relationship to happen before it is time, chances are you will end up with the wrong person. Better to be single forever than to be trapped in a relationship that brings you nothing but sorrow and misery. Life.is.too.short. to waste it away bemoaning something we cannot change.

Soooooo....ENJOY your singleness! Celebrate it! For most of us, this is just one season of our lives, and one that will soon be over. So, treasure each moment as a single person and resolve to get the most out of this time in your life.

Happy Singleness Appreciation Day!

God's Measuring Stick

Ever feel like no matter how hard you try, you just don't measure up? I feel like that a lot. It is probably the perfectionist in me, but I just want to excel and exceed in all areas of life and when I don't and when others think I don't and when I think I don't, it can be very discouraging. I always try to do the right thing, and I think that others should be able to see that and not criticize what they do not understand. But, of course, life is not always like that, people don't understand and they do criticize and I don't understand them and I criticize. Sad but true. The good news? God doesn't expect me to be perfect. In fact, He knows I never can. And when God uses His measuring stick, He does look at my intent. God sees how hard I am trying and how badly I want to do right, and He is pleased. "Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart." People may look at appearances and results, as they see them, and say I don't measure up, but God looks at my motives and intentions, as they really are, and He says through Christ I am perfect and complete. Now that is good to hear.