Proverbs 27:9 says, "Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel." 

The Message says, "Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul."


I've been reminded of this sweetness over the past few weeks from both my friends and family. Words can not express how grateful I am for the friendships and relationships I have in my life, with girl friends and sisters and parents and even a few guy friends. I don't think these people will ever understand how much I cherish our bonds and how much I appreciate their words of wisdom and support and advice constantly. These relationships truly are refreshing to my soul and so so sweet. Thank you all, you'll never know how much I love you all. 

Encouragement.

"Then we who are still ALIVE will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will ALWAYS be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words." -1 Thessalonians 4:17-18.

No matter what your present circumstances, hold fast to this truth- that those who are alive in Christ will one day be with him forever and ever and ever.... Hallelujah! :)

BE.

When I was searching for the perfect quote/lyric/verse to put on the board I made for my room, I stumbled on this treasure (and a lot more from Elisabeth Eliot!) Maybe I'm the only one that can relate, but who knows, maybe you can too...

      “The willingness to be and to have just what God wants us to be and have, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else, would set our hearts at rest, and we would discover the simpler life, the greater peace."    -Elisabeth Eliot. 

I think oftentimes we may desire a thing- a new house, the latest clothes or gadgets, etc. but it doesn't always have to be a THING. Sometimes it can be a relationship or a certain lifestyle or a job or even some answers. And when we're not trying to GET something else, we're worried about what we do have-the circumstances we're in or the things we have to do. How often do we let ourselves BE? I think it would free a lot of stress and worries in my life and everyone's if we would just BE with God and just like the quote says, have only what God wants us to have. It "would set our hearts at rest" and I think free us. Isn't a simpler life what everyone wants? I think that may be simpler to attain than we all think. 

"Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act." -Psalm 37:7 (other versions say  be silent or REST in the Lord.) Ahhh... how inviting:)

The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” -Luke 10:41-42


I love this verse. I feel like Martha should be replaced with Katherine. Because I,too, like Martha worry about many things. The New Living Translation says, "you are worried and upset over all these details!" If that's not speaking right to me, I don't know what is. I always worry over the tiniest details and am concerned over how everything is going to fall into place. (my future right now!) 


But like the verse says, Mary made the right choice and it will not be taken away from her. Mary chose Christ, who can never be taken away from us. I don't want to be Martha. I want to be Mary, with my eyes only on the Lord. That way the "many things" and "details" that upset others have no affect on me, because my trust is in Christ. 

Pot Calling the Kettle Black

One thing I loved about being in Guatemala was the fact that I didn't have Internet on my phone & could only send a few texts while there. Once, this topic came up & we laughed about it saying that the world has somehow managed to keep spinning even though we didn't know what every single person was doing that day. Heaven forbid I couldn’t see that Sally Mae from high school tweeted what she had for lunch or what color Susie Q painted her toes that day and instagrammed. If something dramatic did happen, we didn't know about it & we were just fine. Don't get me wrong I love the Internet & I still use it, but I'm trying to be more conscious of when/where & how often I look at my phone. My pet peeve is when I see a group of people all on their phones, not giving each other the time of day. I feel like we don't even know how to converse any more.

Like the subject says, I'm the pot calling the kettle black because I do this too. It is a lot easier to see other's faults rather than your own. I feel like a little kid sometimes when I'm with people that are always looking at their phones because I want to be like, "Mommy look at me, look at me! Pay attention to me-not your phone!" People seem to be surprised at how nice it is to enjoy each others presence without any distractions like our phones or computers. We were made to be relational people, but we make ourselves miserable by getting wrapped up in petty things & other people's lives. So please if you see me doing this, take my phone & chunk it! & don't be offended if I do the same to you too:)

The SSG's

When I was at the beach I read a book called The Same Sweet Girls. I don't necessarily recommend the book, it was just an easy beach read. However, it did get me thinking.

The book was about a group of 6 women who met in college & have had a reunion together every year since they graduated. Now they're in their 50s & it recounts some stories of their past & their current issues that have all made them grow closer.They leaned on each other through death and divorces and difficult times. Though I have experienced little of the things they have due to my young age, it gave me a new appreciation for the people I have in my life. I am so so grateful for each and every friend I have- from high school and college and everywhere in between. The ones I see frequently or talk to often and the ones I rarely see or rarely get to talk to. Like the girls in this book, I'm sure I drive my friends crazy and yes all girls can get on my nerves sometimes, but I love every quirk about my friends that makes them who they are and all of the things they bring to the table. Each one is unique & different from the other & I wouldn't have it any other way. I love that no matter where we all go and how long it is until we talk the next time, we always are able to pick up where we left off. I feel like all of my friends are the best listeners and never get annoyed when I ramble. (at least they act like they dont!) I appreciate so much every listening ear and word of advice and the jokes that make me laugh. Thank you, Lord, for every person I have in my life that I get to call my friend. Thanks for being my friends y'all! I hope to have reunions like the same sweet girls with my sweet girlfriends.

Paradise

Well, I caved. I've always thought about starting a blog, but always said "I have nothing to write about" or "no one cares what I have to say." But frankly, I don't care who reads what I write or if anyone does at all. Recently I've just had some thoughts I'd like to write out & figured this would be a good outlet.

My tipping point was when I heard about the shooting in Colorado. I went to Guatemala last week for several days (which I will write about later) but one night I volunteered to share a devotion to a local village church.

The jist of what I said was based on a sign in the room where I was staying. It said "Welcome to Paradise" & had palm trees decorating it. While most people think a remote island with crystal clear water & white sandy beaches is paradise, I told the church that to me, "where I am right now is paradise-a place where we all love each other and are worshipping the same God,though in different languages." I told them that this was a glimpse of the real paradise that we will be in one day.

About a week later, I was at the beach with my family when we heard about the Colorado shooting. It hurts my heart knowing there is such evil in the world & that someone could do something so cruel. The people that went into that theatre just went to enjoy a movie, not knowing they wouldn't walk out. It was another reminder, though, that this is not my real home & there is absolutely no where I can go to escape death. Like it or not, we will all die eventually. It could be later today or in 80 years.

I'm not trying to be morbid, it's just a reality that many are afraid of. Growing up, that thought scared me too. But Praise the Lord, my soul is in now the hands of my Savior & I will never really die. I get to spend eternity in the Paradise he has prepared for me! If only I lived in such a way that reflected this.

On the way to the beach my mom and sister and I were talking about this subject. Again, I wasn't trying to be morbid at all, but I told them not to be too sad when I die, because I definitely won't be sad at that moment. I'm not saying death is a happy thing & I hate that people on earth have to miss their loved ones & long to have their presence back. I'm just saying that if a loved one of mine dies I pray that I will realize they are not missing earth at all, though I am missing them. So when I die, (not if, but when) I hope everyone will wear bright colors & have a party at my funeral, because I will be celebrating with my Savior & anxiously waiting for YOU to get there & party with me!!

I've always been fascinated with the topic of eternity & these are some of my favorite quotes/verses about it...

*Time is not running out. With each passing minute, each passing year there's this deepening awareness that I'm filling, gaining time. We stand on the brink of eternity. -One Thousand Gifts


^*Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God,for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16

*"No guilt in life NO FEAR IN DEATH this is the power if Christ in me. From a life's first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny." -In Christ Alone lyrics

*"Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." Philippians 3 MSG & ESV mixed