Checkpoint

It doesn't need to get better to be great. It doesn't have to be any more exciting than now to be extraordinary. What if we lived our lives, not based on situational happiness or personal goal achievements, but in the eternal Joy and Peace of Christ? If Christ is first, anything else is bonus. If we are fulfilled, any other gift is over saturation in grace. The time spent with friends around a table is gift. Then suddenly you're qualms and angers are just missed extra credit points. Useless points because Christ already passed our final exam for us. All satisfaction has been giving to us, so let's simply enjoy the time of simple joys that God has granted us. We don't have perfect friends, we don't live perfect lives or make perfect choices, but we have friends and choices and lives. Isn't that the beauty? My high school career shouldn't be about hitting the next checkpoint. If I'm working as hard as I can within God's law, then why not live in the moment? Enjoy the freedom and friends and family without worrying about the next checkpoint. All is gift.

Atlanta

I am at my core, like most people, prideful. It's in my nature to believe that my way is correct, that my preferences are better and that my understanding is somehow deeper than any of my brothers and sisters. Thank God that He whips me into shape pretty regularly. He humbles me. This week in Atlanta was one of those experiences where God broke me down in order to build me up to a standard that more closely fits his purpose. I went with the intention of being a hero. Making lives better with my oh-so-humble trumpeting. "Look at me, I'm going to throw food at the peasants and save their souls". Ha. That's not quite how it worked out. Because the homeless ministry I was a part of wasn't about being a good person. It wasn't about trumpeting ourselves. As was said throughout our week often, the homeless brothers and sisters had more of an impact on us than we did on them. I gave a lunch, one that I didn't even acquire. I offered them my feeble prayer that I can only pray will bless them in the future. But they gave us so much more, because many of them not only prayed for us, but showed us what it means to live with God's provision in mind. The homeless taught me about the trust in God that we must always have. But that was just one area of the trip. I also spent time with many kids staying at the 7 Bridges mission,, it was amazing building relationships with these kids and seeing how the gospel and the Bible have been pounded into them at such an early age. They are so sincere in their every prayer, scripture reading and service. I know many people, including myself, who can not so well articulate their faith through prayer as these kids. And leaving them was painful. It hurt me to leave all of these new relationships after just a few days. The staff at 7 Bridges taught me something else. Just how easy it is to live in God's plan. We don't have to open a homeless shelter to please God. We don't have to go to Saudi Arabia and minister to every non-believer. We can just buy a lunch for someone in need and pray. Prayer isn't quite as difficult as we make it out to be. God showed me just how easy it is to ask someone what I can pray for them about. Why shouldn't I? To be God's child I am called to love, and what better way can I show love then praying to the Giver of all good gifts on someone's behalf? So then, the staff taught me that living in God's will is not an impossible task. It is however, a fulfilling, beautiful one. God has worked in so many ways, humbled my expectations and given me a wonderful new perspective on His kingdom. While I will miss the people I have met, the children who I have grown to love so dearly, I can't wait to see them again in Paradise. God hasten the day when we are together for eternity.