I said Ass. (Don't tell my mom.)

ASSUMING makes an "ass" out of "u" and "me." (Excuse my language.)

Know (verb: to know)- To have established in the mind or memory; to understand from experience or attainment; to have knowledge or clear and certain perception.  

Think about how many people you know. How many people do you have established in your mind or memory? How many people do you understand from experience, do you have a certain perception about?

How many people do you know?

I think this term is terrifyingly (is that a word?) overused. To know someone takes years and years of investment. Best friends spend their whole lives getting to know each other, marriages never get old because husbands and wives are constantly learning about one another. 

I think to say we know our 1,000 Facebook friends or the 200 people listed in our phone, or the girl sitting at the table behind us in the restaurant, is a severe OVERstatement. 

This has been my conviction lately because of the way we, especially (and unfortunately), followers of Christ consider ourselves so much "holier than thou," and judge those who are different or strangers, is unsettling to me. The way we can walk into a place and pass judgement almost instantly on the first people we see (whether we admit it or not) is exactly the way opposite of what God called us to do. 

Not to mention that we never, ever know what someone is going through or what they have been through or what they have to go home to every night. We never know what demons they are fighting, or what thoughts they are trying to quiet. So not only do we know very few people, we judge many people, and we think we "know" complete strangers. I think I know we've got our stuff messed up.

SO, as a challenge to my own convictions and my brothers and sisters in Christ, before you laugh at someone, turn your nose at them, look away when they stare at you, or assume you've got them typed and figured out, remind yourself that 1. you are not holier than thou, 2. you have NO idea what that person deals with, and 3. you could probably learn a lot from them. Try smiling and maybe even saying hello. It's amazing the way God can use such a small act for a huge impact. 

P.S.- I'd love to hear of the verses that come to mind when you read this. 

God's plan for your life?

Jeremiah 29:13 

You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart.

Tonight Grant, the pastor, said people come into his office to talk. These people don't know what God's will is for their life. They don't know where God wants them; they can't figure out their purpose. He said he always asks these people what they do for their quiet time. He asks what scripture they are currently reading. He asks what their prayer life is like. He said their answer is all too often some excuse about how they are too busy for any of this. Their answer to these questions is that they don't have a quiet time, and they aren't reading any scripture. They don't have a prayer life. Then he quoted Martin Luther saying, "I have so much to do, I cannot afford to NOT spend  three hours a day in prayer."

Here is my total and complete, ice-cold-water-in-the-face conviction:

We go to class because if we don't, we will never learn anything. We have to show up, pay attention, study, listen, and practice the material. Without doing all of this, we never really learn anything, and we never really figure out what it is we should do with our lives.

It's no different with God's will for our life. If we want God to teach us, to reveal his plan and purpose and will for our lives, we have to show up. We have to meet with him daily. We have to study his word; pay attention to what it teaches us. We have to sit and listen to him; we have to talk to him. We have to practice living as he calls us to live. We can no more expect God to give us his good and perfect will without earnestly seeking it, as we can expect our Spanish teacher to give us a 100 on the test without genuinely earning it.

 I know when I fail at something, as much as it hurts me to fail, it hurts my father even more to watch me fail because he knows if I had just listened to him, I would have succeeded. God has a plan and a purpose for all of us, but as much as he wants us to seek him so he can give us the true desires of our hearts and fill us up, he allows us to choose for ourselves what voices we will listen to and what path we will learn from and follow.

In honor of Martin.

In honor of MLK (Martin Luther King for those of you who don't know...shame.), I feel like I should tell you...

I once had 3 fish. They were named Martin, Luther, and King. This is a true story.
I also own and have read multiple biographies on Rosa Parks and Michael Jordan... and the Holocaust... as a child. Hmm.
I once wrote a story called "My Friend Martin" about MLK. Maybe I should post that as well.
I am completely grossed out by teeth brushing. Not the act of brushing your teeth, just the act of brushing in front of other people. Ew.
I used to collect and number the comics from the Sunday paper.
I once had a dog named Herman.
I also, at one point, had a fish that I named Jessie, after myself of course.
I have always been an introvert. When I was little, I would tell my mom that my life was "too crowded" and proceed to play by myself for several hours. Always did the trick.
I do believe if I went to Hollywood, I could become a famous actress. Seriously. I know I could. For real. No joke.
I am a compulsive list maker. I have several notebooks for all my lists.
I also have a notebook in which I write letters to myself. This might seem weird. It actually helps put things into perspective. I feel like it's no different than talking to yourself... which I also do.
I LOVE to sing. Unfortunately a good singing voice is not one of my gifts.
It has just occurred to me that this post really has nothing to do with MLK, except for the first sentence.
I still dream about being some kind of pro athlete. Unfortunately, I have not been a part of a sports team since 8th grade.
I love to paint fingernails, and not just my own. I just love to paint them.
For that matter, I love to paint anything. Not like portraits though, like walls and bookshelves and fingernails.

That's all for now. Don't feel so weird about your quirks now. They make you.. YOU. :)  <3

Someone Like You

Someone Like You.

You are everything I always thought I wanted,
and even the way you say my name is perfect.
You're careful and smart, but daring and a charmer
and all I can say is I've waited for someone like you to come along.

You'll dance with me in my living room, or fly with me to the stars,
you'll take me anywhere I want to go, or even nowhere at all.
With you, the world is mine, all you want is the thought,
and all I can say is I've waited for someone like you to come along.

I told you how I am, that I'm difficult and complicated.
I warned you that I'm hard to please and often harsh it seems, but
You told me you already know and you thought quite the contrary,
and all I can say is I've waited for someone like you to come along.

I even told you I don't know what I want, or where I'm going or why.
I even told you I didn't know if I would never say goodbye,
but you told me I was worth the risk and confidence is key,
and all I can say is I've waited for someone like you to come along.

So in all my difficulty and reasons I've given you to doubt,
and in all your patience and confidence and faith that it will work out,
you don't waiver and your strength stays strong,
and all I can say is I've waited for someone like you to come along.

Friendly Reminder.

Don't forget....

Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself.
Sometimes what you really need is a good cry; a mouth open, wailing, alligator tears cry.
That wall we all hit at one point or another is really just to remind you how strong you are.
Money is NOT everything.
School is a priority, but it shouldn't consume you.
To love.
To live.
that you are only human. All humans need to be forgiven sometimes. Even if it means forgiving ourselves.
Sometimes you just need to buy a pair of sparkly shoes.
Sometimes a Diet Coke over ice IS the cure.
Starbucks should not be considered a luxury, but a necessity when budgeting.
Mean people have feelings too.
You never really know what another person is going through.
Work is work. It is a must.
God will get your attention, and sometimes it hurts, but it is always worth it in the end.
Smiling at yourself in the mirror will usually stop tears.
If smiling at yourself doesn't work, any movie with Steve Carell will.
Friends really are miracle workers, healers, and therapists.
Not knowing the future is actually a blessing.
Don't hold too tightly to temporary things.
Dancing is GREAT exercise.
It's good to gain weight in the winter... especially after the holidays...especially after eating A LOT of baked goods... It helps you stay warm.
It's totally fine to let the cute neighbor boys work on your car. That's what they are for, right?
Pizza is a vegetable. TOMATO sauce.. hello!

It's a New Year. It's time for new ideas, new inspiration, new plans. Make the most of it.