FOMO no more

Thursday night (12/26) before bed I followed a pull on my heart. It had been a long time coming. To be honest, it's a step I should have probably taken a long while ago.

I took the two social media apps off my phone that sucked most of my spare time. Facebook and instagram. I also removed games off of my phone as well.

I haven't deactivated the apps. However, I have opted to spend more of my time into the people, hobbies and things that nourish rather than drain. I've already found that I have ample time to enjoy such things. Time I never felt I had.

If I'm totally honest, it hasnt been easy to stay away. Several times today, even, I'd find myself reaching for my phone. Out of habit and muscle memory looking for one of those apps.

It's been sobering to mentally note each time I've instinctually reached for the device. I've found myself even tempted to open facebook on the mobile browser. For no particular reason, I'd mostly just mindlessly scroll. 

As the day went on I began to feel a stirring, an uneasy feeling. A sobering conviction. I couldnt quite put a finger on the meaning behind the feeling that was beginning to encompass. 

Then it hit me. Like a 2X4. Spoken straight to my heart by the Spirit himself.

When will your fear of missing out be toward the things I want for you?

This made my heart hurt. How many times have I scrolled all day long to gain nothing that really matters? How many times have I missed the opportunity to connect with the God who created me for the purpose of relationship?

It's a similar message to that which was shared in service this week. Confirmation.

 So I have chosen to take this culture and use it to motivate me to dig into scripture. Challenge me to deepen my prayer life. Draw me closer to my Father.

With Him there is no fear. With Him there is no missing out.

God is still good

We are all well aware of the fact that our world is on a state of disfunction. This is sadly a reality of living in a world with an enemy who lives and thrives on brokenness, hatred, dissension, and pain.

Dissension is the biggest one being brought to the forefront. No one is able to turn anywhere without seeing it. Dissension is absolutely everywhere. 

Every day it seems that a new story comes out that has strong feelings and beliefs on both sides. The next more astonishing than the one before. With each of these stories the wedge is being driven down further and further. 

We see many whom we love in heated debates, arguments even over subjects that, in the end, likely won't directly effect them or anyone they know. These fights leave every party exhausted, always on the brink of defeat, bruised and even more broken than before. So many of us want to make their point known with little interest in having civil conversations about it and actually listening to another viewpoint.

Our country is so polarized over everything it possibly could be. It is literally killing us from the inside out. 

Heres the thing though. These are wars that we were never meant to fight. They are not ours to fight. God is fighting and will continue to fight until He has won.

We are called to many things and arguing over worldly happenings is not one of them.

Where there is brokenness we are called into restoration.
Where there is hatred we are called to love.
Where there is fear we are called to have faith.
Where there is dissension, we are called to seek peace and unity.
Where there is pain, we are called to the Healer.
Where there is Satan, we are to call upon God to usher in. To redeem and restore what is already His.

This is not how the world was ever meant to be, but being a Christian in this world we don't need to fear. We are told in John 16:33 "...in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." No matter how ugly this world gets we can take heart because God has already conquered anything we will encounter.

We are more...

...than our job choice. More than the career in which we spend most of our waking hours working. We are made for more than punching in, working, and punching out. Our identity is not what we do to provide for ourselves. It can only be found in the One who created us.

We were primarily made for fellowship with God. Yes, with instructions to care for the land around us (Gen 2:15). However, like most things humans get a hold of, we took it to the extreme.

In today's society one of the first things you learn about someone is what their career is. Then the concepts of position in the family, if you will. Tack on a list of hobbies, TV shows and various activities we participate in. When really someone wanting to learn about us is really looking to learn what traits we have.

While common interests, jobs, ect are great places to start a relationship. It's mutual sharing of heart issues that strengthens a relationship. This is something a lot of relationships lack.

Likewise, our purpose and worth aren't tied to actions. Not in the meetings we attend. Not in the deeds we do. Not in how we choose to spend our "free" time. Both of these things rest in who God says we are and who He created us to be.

When all is said and our days on earth are done, God's not going to be as concerned with what we were involved in. It's a sure bet, He'll be more interested in how we loved those he gave us. How well we reflect His being to those around us. As well as, and most importantly, our relationship with Him day in and day out.

Without a close walk with God, time in His word, Scripture placed in our heart, and worship as a lifestyle, everything else we give time and attention to is meaningless.

Becoming Bold

Over the last couple years, I have felt as though life just kind of happened to me. Instead of doing what I could to prepare myself, my mind and my heart for what may come, I let life run me over. I'd lost interest in a lot of the things that had once brought a lot of passion and meaning to my life. Writing being one of them.

With the start of the new year, I felt like it was finally time to create a new space to share my heart and life with you all. My goal, as always is to create a safe space for anyone who might find themselves in this space with me. As well as being a writer who strives for authenticity, encouragement and grace. Oh so much grace, to myself and to you.

The last few weeks, as I was looking on to what 2017 may have for me, I felt the pull to step into this new place. It will be a year of rediscovering exactly who I am, what I stand for and how to be the best me I can in every step of life.

In past years I have taken on words in which I hoped would saturate each step I took, only to lose sight of that word very quickly. I have also done the whole resolution stance, only to break those in the first week. So this year, there will be neither of those. My only goal this year is to become more proactive in seeking the One who knows what is down the path

By setting aside time each day to commune with my Creator, I will be better prepared for life's joys, disappointments, and everything in between. Rediscovering what my faith really means to me will better me as a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. A year to become a woman who is not only a more understanding person, but one who oozes grace, love and compassion. Three of the most vital aspects for any follower of Christ.

I hope that you will join me for this year. As it will be one of change, growth and fun.