Growing up with no map?!

People ask me all the time what I want to be when I graduate from college. I tell them I want to be a drug and alcohol counselor, I am called to help those in one of the darkest places of life. I know about myself is I will not be one of those who say I understand(nothing against them) but that's not who I am. I will not tell you I understand when I have no idea what it is like to go through the situation. BUT I will listen to you, and help you in any way that I can. I will straight up tell you where I am coming from. I am empathic and I know how you feel and I will feel your high emotions and everything. That is who I am. God created me that way for a reason. The reason is that the people I will work with are tired of hearing someone say I understand, then when it come to it they have no idea or empathy for them. I have great people skills and I love people.  It's not me, I have one of the biggest hearts for people and I don't like to see them hurt. But I also know that sometimes the truth and being real right away helps more than it does later on. I also keep most things light and funny. I'm goofy and love to laugh. I do know how to be serious but even then my take is more light I will find the good somehow. I search high and low for the good. Because no matter how dark or deep someone goes there is always a good, always hope, always someone there for them.

The church has a dress code?!? Ain't nobody got time for dat.

 The church. First thought that comes to mind for most is dressing up. Second going to a place on Sunday morning or Wednesday nights because you have to, it is expected of you. I've recently as of Sunday discovered what a church really is and what a church is to me. So it started different Sunday, I decided to go to my cousin's church. It was great. The people were very welcoming and kind hearted people. They were real. It made me realize and take a step back. To often we judge the church by what its members look like. For example if someone comes in wearing a suit and tie we tend to think wow they are really into this. But if someone shows up in ratty Tshirt and ripped up jeans, we just write them off. That's not right. We cannot judge the church by what the members wear or look like. A church does not have to be a set building. It could be where a few of his people are gathered together in fellowship. It does not matter to god what you wear, just that you are pursuing him. Just because someone wears a suit and tie does not mean they are more holy,righteous or better than the one who is in camo, or ratty Tshirt and ripped up jeans. God does not look upon our appearance of our outer selves but of our hearts. Keep that in mind next time you see someone in ratty Tshirt and ripped up jeans or wearing Jordan's and a SnapBack. Also remember if you say you are or that you do something carry it through be true to your word. It makes people realize that you are real, that you are different, you are like Christ.  We need to be the body of Christ, doing the work we need to, accepting all just as the come. Just like Christ accepted us without making us change first.

The noise has fallen on deaf ears

Listening. Is a hard thing to do in general we tend to get wrapped up in our own thoughts. Or we stop if we aren't hearing what we want, but sometimes we need to listen anyways. Story time, once there was a woman named Hannah she could not have a child, but she prayed oh did she pray, she put pastors to shame. But she asked and prayed to God to give her a son and if he did she would give her son to him. God did grant this, so when the boy was old enough he went and lived with the high priest or pastor whose name was Eli. The boy was raised in the church. One night the boy heard his name being called he went to see Eli, Eli said I did not call you go back to bed, this happened three times before Eli realized God was trying to talk to this boy. Eli told the boy to say to God I am listening if he was called again. So the boy did exactly that. The boys name if you didn't know was Samuel. Sometimes I think we are like him, always thinking that it is someone else whom is trying to speak with us but really it's God who is. We tend to listen to everyone else talking to us but we to often tune out God. Sometimes It is because we don't want to hear the answer to certain things. But sometimes if you listen to that still small voice it gives you hope. It tells you to keep on trying, that you can make it. We can overcome whatever we think we can't, because well he overcame this world for us. Next time you can't hear anything listen for that still small voice through the silence and know he is with you and wants to talk to you. Because he is not dead, he is alive inside of us or if he not inside of you he sure wants you to let him be. With much love and hope for you all from someone with hope for everyone ❤️

Wait?!? What!!! Where did my time go?

Time is a mysterious but well known thing. Mysterious in the way we never know how much time we have with people or on this earth. Some have lots of term visit and others have a very short stay (a vacation in a sense). We do NOT get to chose which we recieve it's like the wheel of fortune in a sense, you never know what you'll land on. Let's be real, we don't always spend our time wisely. I as well as the next person am guilty of this. We waste our time sometimes napping, reading, playing video games and etc. We have so much time but yet do we give any to God. Truthfully I should spend more time with him and in his presence. What would happen if we spent more time with him. Or if we spent our time actually loving others and talking, building relationships with them. This would include the users,clean, Muslims, atheists, homophobics, the homosexuals and everyone else. What could we do to the world if we showed them true love, Godly love. Someone once told me to love the sinner, hate the sin. My goal is to spend my time more wisely, the time he has given me is limited. I want to broaden my horizons, spread my wings and truly get to know others and their hearts. I'll leave you with this you put your time and effort in to the relationships you want to keep or build. But you also need to use your time wisely because you never know when you'll recieve that call home.

Words

Words are an amazing thing. They can help write a book, communicate an idea and other things. Words can build up or tear down. They can show someone they are loved, inspire them to get their dream, hope. They can also destroy. Show someone that they are worthless, unloved, believe that only killing themselves or others is the only solution. Proverbs 18:21 "Words kill, words give life, they’re either poison or fruit—you choose." MSG. But we could either save someone's life in what we say or take it. Sometimes a nice word could help someone day. You never know who you can save by a simple hello, or sitting by them. The way we talk is up to us. So we can either build or destroy.

We have this thing, idea you can call it, that we have to be perfect. But what does perfect mean. To everyone else it means something else. To God it means to be exactly how he created us. Not to live up to someone else's standard, but to be who he wants is to be. He loves us in despite of our flaws and how we hate ourselves. But think how our society could be if we all thought of each other as perfect in the way God isn't finish working with us. Would it help the eating disorder rate go down, the bullying, the self-harm. To be honest and real I have no idea if it would, it could but I don't know. Don't get me wrong I know my thinking is way ahead and kind of out of this world. But most people who change the world have crazy ideas as well. Just think about what it would be like to all be together and not hate each other. We are called to love our enemies. That means the Muslims,atheists, gays, wicans, Buddhists, and whatever else, because God loved them. He loves us his followers as well but he also loves "them. Piece of advice "don't hate me for saying this" but love the sinner hate the sin, simply concept and let's face it we could reach more if others had this concept, not trying to push it on you, but think about it. Instead of being concerned with how holy are you. Try being concerned about the person next to, talk to them not about Christianity but about Jesus, he is one amazing guy. Be so passionate about him that others come to you because they can see a difference in you. So I'll leave you with these things. We are all perfect to God, he loves us all. And will you join me in my crazy thinking.

Story time

Stories we all have them. Each are completely different than the person next to you. We all have a different one for a reason. If all our stories were the same then we would all be the same, I think that would be a boring life, uneventful don't you think. Anyways God gives us each different situations that we go through, think of it as a chapter if you would like. Slowly each exepirence adds up and soon you have a short book. A book that you need to share with others. You never know who needs to hear your story, whom it could impact. Who could take a small part of your story and apply it to their life. Crazy, huh?!? But what would happen if we took that time we want to watch netflix, take a nap, play video games and instead used it to talk to someone, anyone really. Shared stories or simply just talked, what could happen to us a people. More importantly what could happen to us as a body of Christ. If we took the time to truly get to know each other, how amazing would it be, to be united and together as one body. So you never know who you could help by telling your story to, who you could get to know. Remember even if you think your story is nothing compared to others you are wrong. God created and gave us each our own story that works for his glory. Our stories make us who we are, for that reason do not chane who you are and are meant to be. There is a purpose for you to do. Stories are an amazing way to connect with others around you. But use your story for good, to help, heal, whatever it may be, don't let it go to waste.