Live Like You're Dying

Thanks to a friend, I read this fabulous article about trimming people out of your life that aren't really "friends".  I told her how much I absolutely loved it because there comes a time in life when you have to let go of all the pointless drama and the people who create it and surround yourself with people who make you laugh so hard that you forget the bad and focus solely on the good.  After all, life is too short to be anything but happy. Recently, I did a lot of what this article calls "trimming the friend fat" and I can say I have never been happier (in Houston at least) then what I am right now.  I still have a ways to go, but I'm beginning to find 'me'.  Let me share part of a letter my best friend, Chelsea, sent to me: "I just wanted to let you know that you are an amazing person. I am so happy to have found a friend like you. You have one of the most generous, non-judgmental hearts of anyone I have ever met and that truly endears ...

A girl in my Bible study painted an incredible picture of faith last night during study.  She said faith is like standing at the top of a 10 meter diving board and looking down at a waterless pool.  God says "jump and trust that I will fill the pool with water before you get there." Would you jump? To be honest, I don't think I would.  I get scared jumping from the 10 meter when there is water below me!  And asking me to jump with no water?!?!  I just don't think I could do it. That fact, that feeling is hard for me to deal with/swallow, because I know I've trusted God in the past and He has been faithful.  But have I really said, "ok God I trust you COMPLETELY.  Where you lead I will follow"? No, I haven't.  You know why?  Because I'm afraid of where He'll send me.  What if He says "Go to Haiti and be a missionary", "quit your job and go work with the homeless"?  The truth is I trust God just enough to follow His path ...

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.    1 Peter 5:8  My parents' pastor shared a story about back in the late 80s, when he was in Dallas, Texas a group of about 50 ministers met to talk about the war on drugs. One minister’s wife stood up and spoke to all of us about her own story. She told them about her addiction to Valium and prescription drugs and how it almost destroyed her marriage and her husband’s ministry.    Addiction can happen to anyone. And as I look around today, I see so many people with so many addictions. There are drugs, yes. But there’s also addiction to work; there’s addiction to social media; there’s addiction to pornography; there’s addiction to sports, to name just a few. Addiction can be to anything that owns you and owns your affections. And today’s passage tells us that addictions that steal away our rational thoughts are evil and cripple us ...

They say two things in life are certain: death and taxes.  And yet, when some one dies, even when we know it's coming because of something like cancer, it doesn't make it easier.  My good friend reminded me that "Death will be a celebration for those who believe."  I have no doubt my Aunt Pat is celebrating with our maker in Heaven right now, but I'm still upset that she is gone.  I'm still in mourning. This has been a tough year, and it's hard to see people hurting like my family.  Praise the Lord I'm in such a better place right now than I was two months ago when I first heard about my aunt's diagnosis because I know that this too shall pass... WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO Cancer is so limited... It cannot cripple love  It cannot shatter hope It cannot corrode faith It cannot destroy peace It cannot destroy confidence It cannot kill friendship It cannot suppress memories It cannot silence courage It cannot invade the soul It cannot steal eternal lif...

Live life to the fullest, whatever it brings you.

I've said this before, and I'm saying it again, "Love is not enough to make a relationship last". I never watch the Bachelor or Bachelorette, but last night some of my girlfriends got together to watch it, so I joined.  They were sweet enough to fill me in on everything that has happened this season since I don't watch.  And then I saw that Emily was coming back to speak... My room mate also loves the Bachelor/Bachelorette so last year I heard Emily's story.  I was interested having lost my boyfriend my freshman year of college in a car accident so I wanted to watch her interview last night.  In her interview, you could tell she genuinely cared for Brad saying that she still loved him but that it just wasn't enough to make it work.  It takes respect, honesty, and time combined with that love.  What she said is true, no matter how much two people WANT to make something work, sometimes, that is not enough. Spend time appreciating your partner for the uniq...

Ok, I have to say this past weekend was the first time I had a REAL glimpse at what it means to be a parent.  I had the chance to see my sweet baby niece, Brynleigh and I just can't describe HOW much I LOVE that little girl.  It's scary to think that if/when I have become a mom myself that I am going to love my child more than I love her.  It also helps that she is an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING baby!  She didn't cry once!!! In fact, I loved her so much I'm switching part of my schedule around to go back there and see her again soon! Enjoy pics below!  Car ride to the baseball game!  Definitely my sister's baby!  Just chillin'  Not a baseball fan (:  at least not yet  Laughing at Aunt Linnie Love her more than I could have ever imagined! It takes a special person to be a parent.  I have so much more respect for them after this weekend!  What an honor and special gift from God.  "Train up a child in the way he should go: and whe...

 A friend of mine forwards inspirational emails to me from her AA group.  If you know me, you know I love reading daily affirmations, Godly inspirations, things of that sort to start my day.  This is the one she sent me today and I LOVE it! I don't make assumptions. Assumptions are nothing more than lies that I'm telling myself. Not making assumptions gives me immunity in the interaction that I have with myself, with my own voice of knowledge.

"It is not scientific doubt, not atheism, not pantheism, not agnosticism, that in our day and in this land is likely to quench the light of the gospel. It is a proud, sensuous, selfish, luxurious, church-going, hollow-hearted prosperity." Frederic D. Huntington Forum magazine, 1890    This past weekend was A) ABSOLUTELY AMAZING !!!  God could not have blessed me more at a more perfect time.  He knew exactly what I needed and the people that I needed around me. B) it was also very convicting of where I fall short as a Christian.   First off, my girl friends Lara and Lauren are two women that God brought into my life for a reason.  I am better for knowing them.  And the two of them truly blessed my life and gave me so much joy!  We had intellectual talks about God and the way he uses people and circumstances in our life to show His love.. We prayed together.. Cried together.. and had tons of laughs.  I can not wait to see these two wom...