Reason to Believe

I had kind of a bizarre realization when I was sitting in World Lit last week. Obviously the decision of whether or not to believe in God is a choice that each person has to individually make for themselves. It's a huge decision and some people are blessed to have people in their lives to answer questions and encourage them while others have to beat the path all on their own. The cool thing is once you make the decision to believe it is so obvious! There are no more coincidences, everything happens for God's divine reason. People always say "it's a small world" and once you are a believer it is obvious that is because we are all God's children! I think one of the biggest things for me is the reason for kindness. I know oftentimes people wonder why strangers are so kind. One of my favorite books, Love is a Mixtape, has a quote that explains the phenomenon:

"People kept showing me unreasonable kindness, inexplicable kindness, indefensible kindness. People were kind when they knew that nobody would ever notice, much less praise them for it. People were even kind when they knew I wouldn't appreciate it."

I feel like once you let God into your heart and the Holy Spirit into your life the kindness is resolved. It just makes sense. Why wouldn't we be kind?

Just a little food for thought. Show some kindness to someone unsuspecting today, whether they affirm you for it or not.

If I Could Give All My Love

I'm back and it has been entirely too long. Like, woah. Apparently my 21 days were non habit-forming. Or maybe I just have a habit-resistant personality type. Most aspects of my life would point to yes. Anyway, I'm going to try and get into some sort of semi-regular blogging pattern (maybe a pattern will be more successful than a habit).

I heard an unbelievably cool quote the other day. I love quotes.

“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.”

Three things is all we need? Well that's pretty simple. That's what I originally thought upon reading this quote. Then I realized what is really up... we only need one thing. God. Maybe you know him, maybe you don't, but there is something really cool about that guy. He is someone to love. He is something to do. He is something to hope for. Amazing.

Sometimes I get in a rut and I feel lonely. I think everyone ends up in that place and some point or another. Usually it lasts a day or two and then I do a mental head slap and realize that is so ridiculous! I don't need earthly bodies around me! God is all I need... He is someone to love and He is someone who loves me. Sadly, not everyone knows that. So, for the people who do, it's our duty to inform them. Therefore, God provides something to do. He created us all in His image, and He has chosen each and every one of us to be a follower of His will. We have been given such an incredible gift, which we are not deserving of in the least, and most of us (myself included) just sit there and bask in it. The amount of love we are receiving is so vast, it's the least we can do to give a tiny portion of that to another person. Your love will give them something to hope for. And, in my experience, it will give you something to hope for to. We live in a fallen society and it's really easy to get caught up in that mentality. If you give a little love, you will be more likely to see the good in the world. The more people who see the good will want to be a part of it.

You know what they say... what goes around, comes around. Who ever said it had to be something bad that was going and coming back around? Be the change. You've got all of the tools you need.

Keep Holding On

I'm revisiting the topic of hand holding. Get excited.

The more and more I thought about it, the more I realized I have to say about the beauty and (what I consider) sacred act of holding hands.

Let me break something down for you... imagine how you pray. Not like the prayers you say throughout the day, but the knees-to-the-earth, crying-out-to-Him prayers. This is the time when I feel closest to God. There is nothing distracting me and no one around me. Just me and the big man. I'm knees on the carpet, elbows on the bed, fingers intertwined. Wait, what?

Yes, you heard me. The hand position that I associate with my deepest moment of prayer is the same one I partake in whilst hand holding. What a beautiful gift to share with someone you care about!

I think it is taken for granted. Most couples I know are holding hands if they are close enough to touch each other. But why? If you save it for special moments, it provides such a strong connection, a channel for love and energy and passion to flow from one person to the next. It can, in a sense, verbalize so many feelings and emotions. It is a form of intimacy that has been trampled on and taken advantage of by our society.

Try keeping your hands to yourself a little more often, so when you do decide to interdigitate the lucky recipient will know you mean business. I think that is how God intended it. Who knows, it might be a refreshing change.

(Don't) Keep Your Hands to Yourself

This entire post might (and probably will) make me sound crazy. But you know how I do. I'm going to just go out on a limb and say that I firmly believe holding hands is a testament to not only a God, but a divine creator.

One of my best friends calls it interdigitating. When you lace your fingers through someone else's fingers. How powerful is that? Not only is it the one form of PDA that I will really tolerate, but I think it's a miracle in itself.

Hold up your hand in front of you, fingers together. (I will excuse you of this task if you are in a public setting.) There are your four fingers, all sitting tightly together, no space in between, like planks of a fence. And then there is your thumb, hanging out below the other digits, but still tightly snuggled into the side of your hand, a part of the group.

Now take your two hands and lace your fingers together. They fit together perfectly! Your fingers can spread out just enough to allow room for your other hand's phalanges. If that weren't enough, think of the concept. It seems like slipping your fingers into someone else's would not be that comfortable. It is after all bony parts all matched up. But God has given us just enough layers of skin and fat to make the spaces between our fingers the perfect home for someone else's fingers.

... maybe I am crazy, but I'm just saying... God is good. So go hold hands with someone, it's a God-given gift to humans.

Lead Me To The Cross

I have so many thoughts tumbling around in my brain right now that I barely even know what to do with them. They will soon turn into a few blogs, but I don't currently have the time to sort them all out into coherent thoughts for you all as I am to be at the airport in a matter of hours and I have yet to pack. So I will leave you with lyrics, and also, the Internet situation could be shifty these next few days but I will do my best to post. If not, I will definitely write down my thoughts and have them prepared for my return.

Savior I come Quiet my soul remember

Redemption's hill

Where Your blood was spilled

For my ransom

Everything I once held dear I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross

Where Your love poured out

Bring me to my knees Lord I lay me down

Rid me of myself I belong to You

Lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I Tempted and tried You are

The word became flesh

Bore my sin and death

Now you're risen

To your heart

To your heart

Lead me to your heart

Lead me to your heart

... I challenge you to let him Lead you to the Cross in your quiet time. Lay down yourself and everything you've held on to, give it all up to Him. I imagine you will feel much more centered and grounded and joyful these next few days.

Only Hope

Meet my favorite song. Ever.

There's a song that's inside of my soul
It's the one that I've tried to write
over and over again
I'm awake and in the infinite cold
But You sing to me over and over and
over again

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands
And pray to be only Yours
I pray to be only Yours
I know now You're my only hope

Sing to me of the song of the stars
Of Your galaxy dancing and laughing
and laughing again
When it feels like my dreams are so far
Sing to me of the plans that You have
for me over again

I give You my apathy
I'm giving You all of me
I want Your symphony
Singing in all that I am
At the top of my lungs I'm giving it back

...He is our only hope.

Too Much to Ask

All who call on God in true faith, earnestly and from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked for. —Martin Luther