Response

I once read a quote online that says, "You can't always control what happens, but you can control how you react." I'm not too sure who said it, but I know it's a quote that has resonated with me ever since.

There's a lot of things in this crazy world that can bother you. It be a certain crappy situation or even when somebody does or says something that hurts you. I've realized that you can look at all these negatives and be grumpy and angry about it for the rest of your life, or reframe, think differently and stay positive. I want to be the kind of person who chooses the latter every time.

Something I've also realized that is so important when we respond to people especially, is to always think the best and see the best in people. I remember getting into arguments with friends/family/the fiancé, and seeing that I could of either avoided them or softened the blow of them significantly if I just saw the best in people every time. It's so easy to say, "that person doesn't care about me because they're constantly late" and thus get upset because your feelings were hurt, when in actuality them being late has absolutely nothing to do with you. They love you and they care about you, they just seriously have issues with their tardiness and don't have any intention of hurting you. This is a weird example, but you know what I mean. Don't always assume the worst when somebody hurts you.

Think the best, see the best and understand people. It would go a long way. 

It's happened to me... when I was tired or angry at someone else and I've snapped at people. I didn't have any intention of hurting you, but I did. It happens, I fail. Not one of us is perfect. We will all eventually fail, hurt one another, mess up... but let's just love and forgive one another. See the best in one another. Instead of saying "that person is poison, she's no good...I don't want to be her friend anymore." Be humble enough to say... you know what... I'm not going to respond with hate... I know that person is not evil, I've seen the good in her...I choose to forgive and love her.

There is always another way to respond, so choose love every time. 

Fuelled By Love

Let all that you do be done with love - 1 Corinthians 16:14

On Sunday night I attended a Jesus Culture worship night event and the preacher spoke about how some of us get stuck in this routine when serving God, we try to check all these boxes because it's what we "think" Christianity looks like. We would go to church, we read the bible for x amount of minutes or hours a day, and we just focus on the the "do," but don't realize that we should do it through Christ.

I volunteer every single week for the Church and even more so when certain events come up that need help in. It can get so easy to get stuck in this routine and feeling like I just HAVE to do this or else I'm not a "good" Christian. My heart was definitely convicted of this that night and God just ignited that fire and reminded me again of how much He loves me. I always know God loves me, I mean you hear it every single Sunday, but when God breathes on His word and breathes into you and you encounter His presence...I'm blown away. I know I'll never be the same.

God loves me so much. It's more than I can fathom and it's more than I can even comprehend. I don't know why He loves me as much as He does... I just know that He loves me. Suddenly... worship band practice on Friday nights don't become about routine or something I grudgingly "sacrifice" time for...It's because I just love Him. He loved me first...and I'm simply responding to His great love for me.

I focus too much on "omg what am I going to do?" and stress about the things I'm doing but I just need to breathe, take a step back and work with God and work things through Christ who gives me strength.

With this new revelation that the Lord has shown to me, I can feel a shift in the way I lead the rest of my life. God is going to accomplish and do what He said He will do, He just wants us to come along and work with Him.

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God, I know that you have an amazing plan for me and You have this amazing plan to restore this lost  and broken world and restore your glory here on earth. I want to just work with you... be apart of what you're doing here on earth. I want to see your kingdom in heaven come down here on earth, and God I want to see Your glory. Thank you Lord for constantly moulding my heart and teaching me new things. Let all that I do be in love. Let the way I live, the way I speak and the way I treat others be in love. With the love that you first have shown to me. Help me to share Your love with everyone I enounter and change atmospheres by carrying Your presence with me wherever I go.  Thank You Lord for breathing life into my soul once again and igniting the fire in my Heart.

Though It Feels Eternal

Life is unpredictable, 

It changes with the seasons, 

Even your coldest winter, 

happens for the best of reasons, 

And though it feels eternal, 

Like all you’ll ever do is freeze, 

I promise spring is coming, 

And with it, brand new leaves

~e.h