ForeverLOVEd

“Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” Hebrews 10:23 Endings. I hate them. A certain sadness hits as you realize that's where the story ends. I hate goodbyes. I hate leaving behind the known for an uncertain future. And to be honest while new beginnings are refreshing, they can be terrifying. 365 days ago one year ended and a new one began. It was my goal to document my life with a blog a week for the entire journey that was the year to come. And surprisingly I sit here today with 52 stories that tell of a year full of adventure, hardship, victory, and love. Each story has spoken of some way God has captivated my heart and moved in my world over the last 12 months. And as the year comes to a close, I'm quite certain of the gift these will serve on my faith journey. The girl I was when I started, is not the girl I am today. And I suppose this might be the greatest lesson I've le

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3: 16-19 I don't know how close I've been to madly in love, but I've gotten enough glimpses of it to know love makes you do crazy things. I've seen depictions of this crazy love in movies and read about it in books. And I've seen this notion that if you truly love someone you would walk to the end of the earth for them. I have never walked to the end of the earth, and with my athletic abilities I'm not sure I could, but I've seen in myself an ability to do things I didn't think I ever could or wou

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:3-5 My friends and I have recently discovered a new skill. We have perfected the art of outsourcing. This idea entered our vocabulary at first as just a joke. We have become keen on recognizing people's talents and recruiting them when needed. But the truth is, once I realized how valuable outsourcing can be I became quite aware that it is not just a joke but truly an ability to see in each other Christ's beautiful gifts. Our ability to outsource I believe started among each other as a group of friends. God has given us so many talents and gifts and we have slowly, as we'

A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3 It's Christmas time again. It didn't strike me until this week that the holiday is so near, and yet I feel completely unprepared. Running from one thing to another, I feel like I barely prepare for one event before the next one is upon me! There are gifts to be purchased, outfits to be assembled, and cookies to be baked. Our decorations are half out of boxes decorating corners of our house. And in free moments we unwrap little pieces of Christmas memories to hang around the house. No matter how much I did to try and be ready before Thanksgiving even hit this year, I feel like I'm so far behind on everything. And as I get older I tend to remember this feeling that the holiday is rushed. Only years ago, however, I recall Christmas taking forever to arrive. Days passed slower than the molasses in our cookies. Countdowns started as soon as th

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live Deuteronomy 30:19 Doomsday. Are you ready for the end of the world? As some predict its nearly upon us, striking on the 21st of December. I don't know what amazing plans you have to prepare for this coming day, but I can say I spent an afternoon mesmerized by a tv show that chronicles the lives of people preparing for the end of the world. These people have hundreds of cans of food in their basements and they have gas masks ready. Water supplies are close at hand and they know how to protect themselves if ailing conditions lead to hand to hand combat. These people have thought of all different scenarios and when doomsday hits, they plan to be prepared. I couldn't help but think this way of life was a little ridiculous, after all these "Doomsday Preppers" as they are called, are all preparin

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." Deuteronomy 4:9 We wrote down what we were thankful for...family, friends, nature, moments...and I placed each family member's leaf on our thankful tree for the year. A couple nights before I had decorated the tree with all the leaves we declared our thanks on over the past few years. I had grown to love this tradition we had started only a few years back. It's a beautiful thing, to recognize the good in your life. It's a beautiful thing, to be able to say thank you! I looked at each person's thanks written on leaves of orange and red. I saw the varying good they had to celebrate with each passing year. And even though the thanks we had to give was all unique, it was certain that, however small or big, each of us had something to be thank

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:24-25 Everyone wants. For instance, right now I could name a list of things I want. In this moment, I want a back massage, a bowl of ice cream and a cozy blanket. Tomorrow morning when I wake up, I will probably want to go back to sleep. Then I'll want a cup of coffee. And throughout the day, I am sure there will be many more things I want. Those wants change from moment to moment. They are a result of my most basic needs. Then there are bigger things I want. These are things like my wants of friendship, love, and faith. These things, I want continually throughout my days and these things tend not to vary with the season or moment. These wants come out of my desire for heaven and out of my most complex needs. It is in our human nature to want. We were created to long for something that is

"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18 Our breath floated through the air as we headed to the car. A pile of signs saying "garage sale" and coffees in hand, we were on our way to lead customers to the destination of my driveway. Over the past year or so we have had maybe 10 similar sales in an effort to raise funds because we believe in the cause for which we are raising them. So it's no surprise that over time, and many early mornings, we've perfected our sign hanging strategy. We selected the lime green posters, wrote words in big letters, and after many tries and failures we attached string to the back of our posters to easily hang them from the poles which line the entrances to the neighborhood. We've mapped out which entrances receive the biggest flow of traffic and know exactly which light poles, stop signs, and trees to place each sign a

Through him we received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles on behalf of his name. You also are among them, called to belong to Jesus Christ. To all those loved by God in Rome, called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Romans 1:5-7 Last Thursday we celebrated my mom's birthday! Those of you who are date savvy might have put together that the date was November 1st. And some dedicated Catholics might even recognize that holy day. On the first of November every year, the Catholic Church celebrates the saints. And my mom, being that she was born on this day, reminds us every year that this is just because God thinks she's a saint. Now, let me tell you a few things about my mom. She's single handedly the most influential person in my life. She is beautiful, and goofy, and so kind. She's taught me every important lesson on life and my faith is so much a result of the faith t

But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,”What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Corinthians 2:7-9 Home. Majority of our lives are spent within the walls that hold a roof over our head. We sleep, and eat, and exist within this place. And to most of us, home is a happy place to be. Think about the effort we put into making our homes into that safe haven. There are stores that sell just home supplies. Shows and cable channels are dedicated solely to home decorating. Entire careers are based on the interior design of homes. And admit it you've browsed the home category on Pinterest. For me, at least, making a safe, and cozy, and pretty place to live is something I enjoy doing. Even before I could sit down and wor

"My confidence is placed in God who does not need our help for accomplishing His designs. Our single endeavor should be to give ourselves to the work and to be faithful to him, and not to spoil his work by our shortcomings" Isaac Jogues You couldn't count the red lights in front of us if you tried. Our map showed red the entire way and our car moved at a snail's pace. We were in traffic. And I was annoyed. We sat there. Seconds ticking on the clock, well aware that we were going to be late. I was getting car sick and had to pee. The stop and go had me aggravated. We continued on to our destination but I couldn't help but curse the fact that an accident had us in so much traffic. And on top of that, I was mad that it had ruined my carefully thought out plans to get off work early and avoid the very thing I now found myself smack dab in the middle of, bumper to bumper traffic. We eventually made it to where we were heading, after some careful navigation and a tw

2 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4 Me, myself, and I. Three people, all of us know, and unfortunately, three things I've been more concerned with then I should be, lately. Isn't it so easy, in our hectic worlds, to only seek what is best for ourselves? I can't peg the exact reasons for periods of my life when I turn the attention to solely what is best for me. Or tell you why I, at certain parts of my life, feel the desire to only look out for myself. But what I can tell you is, when

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 Affliction. All of our lives are affected by trials of one form or another. Think about the past week, how many times have you been frustrated? In what ways has your patience been tested? What moments have left you asking, why me? I think if you reflect on the past, so many times, our trials are what cloud our perception. And, so many times, they are what define us. Beautiful moments happen all the time, and we notice them and cherish them, I'm sure. But our tests, our moments of weakness, when we find ourselves vulnerable to God; those moments are what produce in us a change. Those moments are what shape who we are and who we are going to become. They say when it rains it po

It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. Psalm 44:3 Last week, the news was swamped with fans outraged at the results of Monday Night Football. Fans were in arms over the result of the game. People lost millions of dollars betting on the game, due to the amateur officials they had on the field. And the outcome had the NFL making some changes to better accommodate the league. The incident was so profound, not because football is so important to our day to day lives or because it was life or death, it was because the fans are passionate. They put everything into their team. They dress in the gear, scream at the TV, and put money on the line. They commit to their team all the way and will follow them through good and bad. Those fans, on fire for their team, are what make sports come alive. We say we are fans of sports all the time. We pick our teams. B

17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 1 Peter 3:17-18 With the first day of fall already come and gone and stores crowded with costumes galore, it's hard not to naturally get excited for everything that's so great about this coming season. Here, in Southern California, the weather hasn't really caught up with the whole idea of autumn yet. But the promises of scarves, pumpkin ale, and pumpkin carving still await and give us hope for a change that is bound to come. A dinner conversation the other night had our friend quoting an episode of Jimmy Kimmel from last fall. The premise of the segment was to have parents tell their kids they took all their candy the morning after trick-or-treating. I didn't recall the

Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways. Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You. Psalm 119:37-38 A Saturday afternoon, a million errands to get done, and 90 degree weather already had me in a mood. So it's no surprise that as we entered the jam packed parking lot and made our way to the crowded entrance of Costco, I was still not too impressed by this one-stop shop. Because the millions of people and crowded aisles weren't enough to set me off, I began to become annoyed by the people at every corner trying to sell me the next best lunch meat or the greatest potato salad you've ever tasted. Besides the fact that these claims were over the top and ridiculous, I was not shopping for these items and didn't want to hear all the selling points. I know some people could make a day cruising the aisles and trying everything at every corner. But to me, in the midst of my busy day, it was just annoying. Mi

“The glory of God is man fully alive.” St. Irenaeu This week I celebrated my 26th birthday. For 26 years I have crawled and then walked on this earth being, what we would call, alive. As the day approached that marked another year of life I started getting really stressed! I suppose this was a culmination of many things; health issues, a new school year at work, and the daunting task of deciding what to do to celebrate. But beyond all that, I have this fear, and almost dread, as another year passes by and I'm left becoming more and more, as some of my friends would say, "old as dirt". It's not that I cannot appreciate the years I've had. Or that I don't see how they have in so many ways helped me to find out who I am. Or that 26 is even that old for that matter. But, in so many ways, I am left at these markers in my life wondering what I have to show for my time here on earth. On the surface, I was not exactly looking forward to my big day, yet inside,

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:5 Friday morning, tunes blaring, clouds looming overhead; I rushed to the dentist in an effort to avoid being late to my appointment. Frazzled and still half asleep, I survived the x-rays and teeth cleaning before I got my turn with the dentist. Caught off guard, I was surprised to hear the dentist's joy at my being at his office that morning. My family, all of which go to the same dentist, consists of mostly boys! It's something I've known my whole life, that in so many ways I was a lone ranger in a world of men. But this thought really never caught much of my attention. Sure, I can tell you any random fact about Major League Baseball, know my fair share of football players, and despite my failed attempts to play most sports, I try. But the actual thought of why I am so different from my rough and rowdy cousins and brothers

16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because He first loved us 1 John 4:16-19 A little boy in my class has a stuffed animal frog. "Froggy", as he calls it, has seen his share of love. That same frog has been coming with him, to and from school, almost everyday for the four years I've known him. His stuffed animal, which seems to be less and less fluffy with each passing day, has been smudged with dirt, rolled on the ground, and tossed to the ceiling. More than one little string has come loose and it's definitely taken on the wear and tear of day to day

10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. 1 Timothy 4:10 A quiet moment at the kitchen table, a half eaten yogurt in hand, had me surveying cupboards that didn't quite line up just straight and looking at paint that wasn't really a color that could be named, but a mix between brown and gray. I remember, for a long time, after we moved into this house still thinking to myself, this might never feel like home. We have been here for seven years now, approaching the longest amount of time throughout my life that I've ever lived in one place. And on an average morning, I looked around and realized, "Yep, this might actually have become my home". That thought was followed up by one that had me wondering what God might have in store next. Everytime I ever remember being settled in one state or one house or remember that moment of thinking yep, this is home, God

33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:33 As a fast food restaurant, Chick Fil A has seen its share of news coverage in the past week. A spotlight, that they may or may not have expected, has ensued as the result of one person standing up for their beliefs. The result has been demonstrations, lines that fill parking lots, vandalism, and multiple conversations about what it is to stand up for your faith and what the results can often end up being. I was certain, as I watched the news coverage, that I wish to be the type of person that not only knows what they believe, but also someone that is able to stand up for those beliefs when push comes to shove. And, maybe more recently, I'm learning that I'd like I stand up for those beliefs even before push comes to shove. But I never thought an average trip to the doctor would leave me in my own Chick Fil A type situation. However, in my life I've come to know t