Loving Life

I had forgotten how wonderful life is. This week has been filled with pure, absolute joy and everyday I'm caught off guard by it. The past 10 years have been marked by ups and downs with a slight emphasis on the downs. Each season has had its good, but always in the midst of hard lessons to learn. There seems to be no logical reason for this sudden overwhelming joy apart from the Grace of God. I am taking more credits than ever before, working more hours at a more physically demanding job, and have very little free time in my schedule. And yet, each day when I get a moment to stop and think, I'm flooded by renewing joy. I feel more alive than I have in a very long time. I'm overwhelmed by the blessing this is in my life because I had forgotten how good God is. For whatever reason, he has decided to remind me in the midst of busy and demanding schedule. His goodness is not determined by circumstances and I will only find satisfaction in him, not my ability.

Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 106:1

And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion."  Exodus 33:19

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.   Psalm 27:13

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Relationships and Resolutions

The beginning of a new year. As I stop and reflect on the past year and the past 27 years, what I remember is relationships. It always comes back to people. Who have I met, loved, or lost over the years? Who have I forgotten? 

There seems to be an innate sense in humans to want to move on and forget the hard things in life, including relationships. A falling out with a friend, a broken heart, a death. We may grieve for an "appropriate" amount of time but we "must" move on. Why is that? Why must we "get over" the painful events or relationships that have made us who we are? Because those wounds and scars reveal our humanity and our weakness. But Paul boasted in his weaknesses; he declared over and over in his epistles that he was the chief of sinners. Why do we try to hide the pain that reveals God's glory in our lives? This year I want to love and not forget. Love the people in my life and love the journey God has me on. I want to remember the joys and the tears because it's all for God's glory.