Marriage

Marriage. Its wonderful and brings me so much joy. But it is the hardest. thing. I. have. ever. done. Worth it, yes. But when people tell you that marriage is hard, you might as well go ahead and believe them...because they are right.

Sometimes I just want to allow myself to feel disappointed. I guess that's a waste of time though isn't it...

God has blessed me greatly, indeed. David Brown...I am so very very thankful for you.

He's Changing My Life

So I'm sitting in my desk chair with my feet up on my desk and my computer on my lap. I really should be doing homework, but I'm an easily distracted person, and I think that this is a worthy distraction. I'm overwhelmed with all that God is doing in my life. I am in a place today that only a few months ago I was nowhere near. God has been leading me and carrying me and the result is a much more joyful and content Lynea. These are only a few of the lessons that He has been teaching me over the last few months, and more specifically over the last few weeks. They are in no particular order.

1. He's teaching me to live a life of gratitude. I recently read a quote on pinterest. It said: "What if tomorrow you only had what you thanked God for today." I was struck with literally how very little I would have. God has given me SO MUCH and I thank Him so LITTLE. I'm trying to conciously be thankful for so much more now. Its amazing how thanking God can so quickly change my outlook on everyday things from the cafeteria food to the weather.

2. He's teaching me to live a life of prayer. I used to be good at talking to God throughout the day but over the last few years I have gotten lazy and have quit praying as a habit. Recently God has reminded me how essential prayer is in the Christian walk. I need to pray continuously, as Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians. I should pray for everything that comes up in my own life and I should practice interceding for others. God listens to us.

3. He's teaching me to live a life grounded in His perfect Word. The Bible is the ultimate authority for the Christian and in order for me to follow Him, I must follow His Word. That means I need to know His Word, and not simply in an intellectual way. I need to read the Bible every day and let Him speak to me through it. That means dedicating time to it and not just putting it on a list of things to check off. I'm learning to be consistent in my quiet time and to allow enough time that I'm not rushing through it.

4. He's teaching me to live a life of wisdom. I have been reading through the book of Proverbs in my personal quiet time and I am struck over and over again how highly God values wisdom. He doesn't want to have to give us a play by play for every single decision we make during the day. He wants to teach us to think like Him so that we know what choices to make on the day to day things. Proverbs is a book dedicated to comparing the foolish to the wise. It is VERY clear that God is not pleased with nor is He ammused by the fool. On the other hand, he calls us to practice wisdom. The best part is that He is so willing to give us wisdom when we ask.

5. He's teaching me to live a life of discipline. I'll be completely honest: I'm not a terribly disciplined person. I like to eat and I hate to exercise. I like to relax and do nothing and I am not a huge fan of homework. This semester I have made the decision to wake up every morning at 6:30 with Livie to work out. So far, we have succeeded. This is a huge accomplishment and those of you who know me well know this. I hate early mornings. I have also given up soda during the week. I am only allowed to drink coke on the weekend if I have worked out all five days that week. Those of you who know me well know how much I love coke. But God is good and He is blessing my efforts. The simple fact that I have not skipped a workout of cheated and had a coke is proof. It is not on my own strength that I am doing this; it is the strength of the Holy Spirit in me. I would, of course, appreciate prayer that I would continue to remain faithful to these decisions.

6. He's teaching me to live a life of selfless love. This has been a hard lesson to learn, but it is so worth it. When we love selflessly, we are reflecting Christ. And there is no greater joy than to know that you are walking in the way God wants you to.

7. He's teaching me to live a life of forgiveness. After all, He forgave me of everything.

8. He's teaching me to live a life of complete trust in Him. I am about to being serving in a youth group at a local church. I have not worked with youth in over a year, and while I know that this is what God has for me, I'll admit that I am a little nervous. He's teaching me to lean on Him and know that He will be there with me in everything. This new chapter of life is going to challenge me and stretch me, but I know that God is faithful and has everything under control.

Some final thoughts...I am by no means claiming that I have mastered any of these areas. I am simply sharing what God is doing in me. These are all works in progress, but as Paul says to the Philippians, "He who began a good work in your will carry it on to completion unti the day of Christ Jesus" (1:6). I would invite all of you to pray for me that God will continue to teach me how to live a life that reflects Him and that I would continue to have the perseverence to keep following Him even when it gets difficult.

The simple knowledge that God even wants me to be like Him is something I need to be thankful for. We serve an incredible, kind, loving God.

I'm learning to forgive and let go. After all, the alternative is bitterness...and that is a waste of my time and energy.

Its official. The most wonderful time of the year has begun. Just...where are the house decorations?

There are just some things you don't do. Ever.