Happy Endings Don't Exist

When I was a kid, I watched all of the Disney movies. They always assured my young heart that there would be a happy ending.

When I was a teenager, I would watch those same movies and still kind of believe it.

Now, as an adult, the world tells me that happy endings don't exist. There is divorce, back stabbing, loss of jobs, change, family issues, friend strife. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. All of the assurance those movies gave me was gone in the moment that I realized the world is not a nice place. Society tells us to live a certain way, to act a certain way, to be a certain person and we will succeed in life. Nothing can change, this is just the way it is.

But in a few words, a person can change that whole perspective for me. Today, I was talking to my boss, who has become my friend as well. We were having our bi-monthly review. He told me something that I haven't heard in a while, or even thought of, to be honest.

He told me that I can fulfill my dream.

When I was 13, I had this dream that I was standing on a big stage in front of thousands of people. They wouldn't listen as first, but I started to speak anyways. Slowly, they all began to listen. As I spoke, I saw people taking notes and writing things down. They weren't just listening, but they were hearing me. 

Today, as we sat at Pei Wei, he didn't tell me in so many words that I can fulfill my dream. He simply said, "You connect really well with girls, young women and really women of all ages. I could see you traveling and speaking at women's conferences." 

That's been my dream for years. He didn't know that. I might've casually mentioned it to him a couple times. But there is no way that he would've remembered that and said it...months later. What he said to me...gave me hope. I still can fulfill that dream that I've held for so long. Someday, it will come true. 

Happy endings, though, they don't exist. Not the way the movies portray them, at least. God, the Creator of the Universe, has such a marvelous plan for you. For me. He has created our stories long before we were born. But the thing is, our stories don't end. In His infinite wisdom, God has given us eternal life. The life we live on earth needs to be Christ-centered. We need to seek His kingdom first, because then everything else will fall into place. 

I don't believe in happy endings. They don't exist. 

Instead, I believe in the life God has for me. It comes with ups and downs, twists and turns, pain and heartache. But, after this life, I get to live in the next. That is WAY better than a happy ending in my book.

Father, Forgive Them...

Beaten and bruised.

Scorned and shamed.

Lovingly, he hung.

He asked for the Father's forgiveness.

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."


When someone says something mean to me, the first thing I want to do is punch them in the face. Who are THEY to pass judgment on ME?!? Yet, when we stood and watched Christ on the cross, he asked God for our forgiveness. Who am I to hold a brothers sin against them? I'm human. My flesh gets the best of me sometimes. It happens to all of us.
We use the excuse that they are not quick to forgive. It doesn't matter. Some hurts cut deeper than others. If it takes time, then work through it with God. Don't be spiteful, bitter and angry. The only person that hurts is you. Choose to cling even more to Jesus.

He is my rock and my song.

I know that I don't treat people the right way at times. I struggle to not hold their bad decisions against them, with it's their life and they can choose what to do with it. It is so frustrating to see people reap the benefits of life, even though they're not living for Christ-centered. But that is not my place to judge. I need to worry about my own relationship with Jesus. So do you. The way God wants us to live and to look at people through his eyes will be second nature, if he is our first focus.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 
Matthew 6:33

React

I got into ANOTHER car accident last week, it's the fourth and again, it's not my fault. But it's not as blatantly not my fault as it has been in the past.

Today is Friday. I'm off of work. I have no plans except talking to my lovely friend, K. Tifft. We have a prearranged talking time since we both live in different states.

Lately I've just been wallowing about life. Not truly knowing what I am supposed to do. Then it rained yesterday. If you know me at all, you know that I love rain. it is the way that God tells me tahat everything is going to be okay. I woke up, and there were rain drops on the car that I am driving since mine is dead and gone. Which is  nice, cause I really didn't like that car at all. Onward and upward. But I also have the whole college student thing goin for  me, which means no money saved for another car.

God will provide.

I'm not super worried about the car thing. There are a few possibilities and God ALWAYS works that out for me. God has blessed me with so many wonderful friends and an incredible family that has my back. But for a week there, I had very little hope. I felt like I had to have so many things just figured out so when people ask, i knew the right thing to say. I feel like I have to live up to something. But the thing that I have to live up to is unattainable. I know what I want in life. i know what I'm gifted at and how to work hard for things. That is something that was instilled in me at a very young age. And for that, I am so grateful to my parents. It's really a swelling of emotions. It's like every emotion known to man is tugging at some part of me and I have to choose which one to embrace. There are the sad, depressing ones that are not of Jesus. Those are the ones that I have been choosing to feel. The thing that gets me is when God puts someone in my path to show me how wrong I have been.

At college group this week, we were talking about walking in darkness. Paul was saying that he feels like he walks in darkness a lot...and that got me thinking. More often than not, I walk in darkness as well. And it's saddens me to see my life and wish that I was different. I strive to be like Christ in every way I can. But it's not easy.

I was talking to my mentor, Jen, and she looked at me with the most loving of eyes and told me that life is hard. The things that push our buttons and make us want to not be here anymore, are the things that change us. Life isn't about what we can do the best or how awesome we are. It's about God. It's about serving our Savior first and foremost. Everything else will fall into place. We have to seek his kingdom first. The way we react to life is how we show people the Jesus that lives inside of us. I reacted poorly to my car accident. And for that, I truly am sorry. But God is a God of grace and love. of mercy and goodness. He forgives us. All the time. No matter what. THANK YOU, JESUS!!!!

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. 
1 John 4:16a

Words Change Lives.

Words can be beautifully written. They can be arranged in such a way to move one to tears. They have power, whether they are written or spoken. If they rhyme, they sound poetic. If put to a beat, it is music. Words have power. People tend to forget that. Too often, words are just said, without thought. They are loosely muttered under a person's breath. If they are heard, they can ruin a person's day. If they are shouted to the world, they can change your life. If they are whispered, they can be an encouragement to press on.

God gave us words to use wisely. The Bible is proof that words can change lives. The right words to say are not usually the first ones we think of. But we have to be careful with our words.

There is that old cliche....
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

That is untrue. Completely and utterly false.

Words are a big deal.
Use them wisely.

It's Just Not a Good Time

It's never a good time to do anything.
It's never a good time to make new friends.
It's never a good time for your car to break down.
It's never a good time to try something new.
It's never a good time to make a change.
It's never a good time to do anything, because something is always going on.

What I've learned in the short time I've lived on this earth is that we have to make time for things. Time is precious, because life is short. But it really is never a good time for anything crazy, traumatic, devastating or incredible to happen. When it does, we generally have to sacrifice something in our lives for that thing. Even if it is a good thing, it changes how we live and operate for a time.

What are you willing to make time for?

Most of the time, love doesn't need words.



Sometimes, I'm lonely. I wish I was sharing life with someone. I wish that I'd have that special person to call and tell about the stupid small things in my day that I absolutely love. Sometimes, I hope that he'll come right now, so we can begin to share life together. Then I remember...I'm not alone.

The truest form of love does not come from another person. The truest form of love is Jesus Christ. He came to this earth to show us what unconditional love looks like. He made a way for us to live with him for eternity. The love that he showed us on that cross is the most tangible love that I can possibly imagine. The love story of Jesus is the ultimate love story. He knew everything about us. He waited and worked and loved those people around him. He knew that his Father was God. He only follows His words. That love that Jesus has for us, is something we forget to often. Remind yourself that you are walking in love every single day.


God used words to show us his love in Scripture. But we live in that same love every day...and it doesn't need words.


"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love on another. 
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. 
God is love. 
Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 
In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 
There is no fear in love. 
But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. 
The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 
We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:9-19