אהבה

It’s not my religion; it’s my relationship with God. My place on this earth is not to preach, condemn, or judge, but simply,

to

love
[אהבה]

you.

This is my choice and my life. Plenty has happened in my lifetime that I pray would never have happened to you, however, to exist each day is a gift of grace. I cannot tell you why life is the way it is sometimes. All I can tell you is that grace is the only hope I've ever had to get me through the struggles of this life. Without faith, hope, love, perseverance, temptation, pain, tragedy, sorrow, struggle, and just as importantly, choice, what would you be if you had none of these to fabricate you? Find out what makes you, you.

Ask yourself . . .
What defines you?
What’s your purpose?
Do you use “human nature” as an excuse to be weak?
Do you hate with the same passion with which you love?
Rest assured . . . this is sincere . . . this is true.
Put your heart where your mouth is.

True Love:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

jump.in.deeper

Do you remember back 6, 14, 30, 47 years ago when you were that junior higher. Ahh yes, those were the days. Just leaving elementary school and you felt like you were on top of the world. Someday to be up there in high school where all the cool kids are. I don't think I would ever go back and choose those years to relive, but I almost do.

This will be the fourth year that I have been working in JrHi ministry. JrHi? Really, why JrHi? Exactly, thats what everyone always asks me. I think more than anything it just suprises people that someone would actually want to work in such close quaters with juior highers. In all honestly, yes I may be a little crazy, but I love them.

What is the side of things that people usually think of whe they think of JrHi students? A little crazy, annoying, dont want to listen? Yep those are them, and dont get me wrong, thats definately what they are, but let us go a little deeper.

I think for me it is seeing where they are at and realizing that they have so much potential. A lot of times, people over look them and are not willing to take the time that is needed to pour into their lives.I also enjoy the times that I get to learn from a junior higher. They have some much more life and have not had the chance yet to experinece some of the things that we have all been through and what a great way to teach them. They really are more willing to lisen, learn, and truly engage in life than a lot of people that I know. Every year has been better than the last and I am so thankful that God has placed a passion for JrHi students on my heart.

content.in.my.Fathers.love

I would definitely have to say that 2008 was one of the most intense years for me. So much went on and looking back on it I am glad to begin a new year and a fresh start on life. I have experienced so much and am grateful to say that through it all I have learned a lot about myself and how important my faith in my Father is to me.


The second half of this past year is where I have learned the most, and yes it was a lot but the greatest thing was finally realized just a couple days ago. For those of you who don't know, in June I met who I and he both thought was the person we would spend our lives with, however God had some different plans. Four months of some wonderful memories and fun times came to an end in September and I really thought my whole world had just fallen apart. Depressed for almost a month, I came out of it and tried to keep going on but it just wasn't happening for me. The happiness that I had know for those past four months was the happiest I had ever been and it was suddenly all gone. I kept myself busy, met a wonderful group of new friends, and started reading again to keep my mind off of things. Even more than everything that I began doing was praying. I know this sounds silly because we should be praying continually, but I never really have.


My source of strength to get up each morning and do my best, the peace that I seek when all seems wrong, and the joy that I have found despite my pain, all of this I have found in my Creator. I am more blessed than I know and my prayers attest to that. I am learning how to be content in my Fathers arms. His love is so great and it far surpasses everything that I have ever known. I know that despite my mistakes, shortcoming, broken and fallen times, that there is a Love, Friend, Father who just wants me to sit in His arms even if that is all I can do. Stillness before God has been a place that I have found myself in more these past few months than ever before and it has made me realize that I can be content in my Fathers love, because He will provide.