True Meaning of Life

As I have been reflecting on life, it is imperative and essential to mention there really is no life outside of having a union with Christ. In John 15 it describes the vine and the branches. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. All of life is really about God and everything he has done on our behalf. He enables all of life to work. Jesus laid his life down for us so that we shall live, and when we lay our lives down for him we gain eternal life in him. This begins a new life in him and suddenly life is never really the same again. Each day with him in our heart, he reminds us of his presence in some form. There hasn't been a day that has gone by since becoming a believer that I have not thought of him in some form or fashion within each 24 hour period. He desires our attention. When we are attentive, we get to learn what he has for us and he directs our path according to his will. Over the past 15 years, my life has gradually grown and changed spiritually. Although many days, I still feel challenged with feelings of unworthiness, rejection, shame and guilt, I am reminded in scripture that my sins have been washed clean and forgiven as far as the east is from the west. I have a new life in him worthy of love, acceptance and unconditional love that surpasses all understanding. I am now able to share this generous love I have been so graciously granted. Giving away this free love has brought many friendships and ministries my way and I have found great joy helping and loving others. So life really boils down to love for me. This is why I feel so passionate about Christian education. The more people that come to this realization of sacrifice Christ endured on the cross, the more people will be changed and engage the world for Christ. This gives great hope for a great future when one day there will be no more pain and suffering, no more tears and only great joy with a new heaven and a new earth. This is the true essence of life; living today for a better tomorrow.

Reflections

Being sick this week has afforded me the opportunity to stop and reflect on important questions pertaining to life. What is life? What does it mean? Is life just a series of milestones, work or educational accomplishments, sports, vacations, celebrations, and entertainment? Is life cooking healthy meals for the family and trying to stay physically fit in order to avoid disease? Is life encouraging my children to be their best, study hard and get good grades so they can get into the "right" college to set them up for "a successful future?" Is life just a series of brief joyful experiences or brief sorrows? What drives life and all of the decisions that accompany it? Still reflecting and will post more on this topic.

Courage

Recently, I read Mile Marker 825 by Jason Mirikitani. This book has continued to leave a lasting impression on my heart and mind. There are several intriguing truths and reminders in this book, but one theme that clearly stands out to me is his continued ability to articulate courage. This man in his selflessness and desire to encourage and help others has taken on probably the most difficult task in the world, which is to be completely vulnerable, authentic and real by laying all of his pain and suffering out for the benefit of others. This takes full trust and courage along with complete humility. Humility is a gift from God and Jason actually recognizes this and honors God throughout the book for all the miracles along his journey. He had to rely on truth for survival. The pain and loss he endured is surely next to unbearable, but the strength he draws upon from God is miraculous. He fully trusted even though sometimes he didn't feel God nearby. If there were a category for a spiritual MVP, Jason Mirikitani would be my choice. My life or perspective of justice, fairness and grace will never be the same thanks to this man's courage and selfless desire to see others grow in their faith.

Control

God has control over the entire universe and everything in it. This is a mind blowing concept. Do we really believe it? Well, today I discovered an even more fascinating detail of the car accident on October 15th. While engaged in conversation with the mother of the young man whose car was sitting to the right of mine the day of the accident, she shared her heart with me and proceeded to tell me that weeks prior to the incident her heart was burdened. She brought her cares to a large number of people including close friends and her Bible study group. She said she was very concerned for her son and had specifically asked these people to pray for him. Her heart had been heavy for many weeks. When I shared with her what was laid upon my heart being prompted to pray for protection even a week or more before the accident, it became very clear to me how real the Holy Spirit is and how the Spirit intervenes even before we really know our own needs. This gave my entire body chills all over today several times. This is really refreshing and comforting to think God showered his blessing of protection over both of us and cleared the way for the accident to occur without harm to either one of us. When I received the report back, it clearly defined where each car was located. As she also mentioned today, if I would have pulled to the white line, her son too would have probably been crushed and killed as well. There would have been no way for him to survive with that kind of impact because this car also landed just feet from him (actually next to him, where I was supposed to be.) Her proclamation of thanksgiving went back out to all of those who had prayed for her son with a picture of the accident. I learned in the most miraculous way the power of prayer within the body of believers and how each one mattered for this occasion. My faith has grown today in a different way regarding God's provision for both of us and how it was orchestrated; because even though I realized it was a true miracle; by witnessing all of the debris, car engine and remains of the car, I now realize it was the body of Christ praying beforehand for protection. This gives me complete and utter assurance who is really in control.

Passion

I love English proverbs. My new favorite is "never put off until tomorrow what you can do today." Recently, many thoughts have been entering my mind regarding what I thought could be attained or accomplished by the time I turned 40. With the internet and all of its various sources, skies the limit right? Well, for many years I think assumptions were clearly made in my mind that tomorrow will come and I will have time. My first priority has always been to be here for my children. They come first, and I will have time later to pursue my dreams and passions. My thoughts have been challenged lately, and I am wondering what exactly are my dreams and passion? Do I still have dreams and passion? If so, what are they and how can I seek to fulfill the desires that have been inbedded in my heart? After studying the Bible for close to 15 years, God has made very clear my number one passion is to tell others of his great love for them and to give them hope for a future. At heart, I would love to be a missionary. However, this mindset needs to start in the home and thanks to many amazing women who put value on the role, I have been able to have confidence motherhood is making a difference in their lives and the lives of their friends now and later. I feel that I have set my priorities straight by being here first and foremost for my children to teach them right from wrong and to be servant leaders in every capacity, whether at home or in the classroom or on the field in sports. Looking back over the past 15 years, I really don't really have any regrets. I have been doing what is most valuable and most important - instilling great biblical principles and values in their hearts for kingdom service which is the highest calling and utmost privilege a human being can have. I am delighted to say these years have been the most enriching years of my life, and I am so blessed and fortunate God have me an opportunity to experience motherhood. Hopefully, there will be many possibilities to share stories of the great miracles and testimonies of those who have come to faith and how they have walked despite hardship and challenge.

Honoring a Veteran and a Father

There are so many qualities of a man who risks his life and devotes himself completely and selflessly for the benefit of others. Today, 11/11/11 at 11:00, I want to honor my father who by blood is not my own but by selfless sacrifice stepped in to adopt me in place of the one who left me and made a pledge to be here for me as a supporter, encourager, and provider. Over 39 years of faithful dedication, he has been committed and diligent to keep his promise to be my father and now a grandfather. He has attended numerous sporting events, celebrated holidays, made it to most grandparents days and been an overall fabulous role model. Just about anyone can reproduce a child, but it takes a person of true honor and character who is selfless and sacrificial to stand by one not his own. Through the years, he has given help, assurance and love that surpasses my ability to express full gratitude. Over the years, I have learned so much about helping others and service through his careful consideration of what it means to have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. He served in Vietnam, he worked relentlessly to get a degree, worked hard, took many risks and showed me what hard work and perseverance mean. His ability to sacrifice all of these things to benefit so many others is a true honorable mention. Thanks dad for the life you have given me and for the father and grandfather you are and for serving this country so well!

Fruitfulness Despite Suffering

God is steadfast and never failing. I know I can rely on him through hard times and difficult circumstances. His faithfulness to me means he follows through on his commitments and unfailing love and also enables me to do the same when I put my trust and confidence in him. He promises not to depart from me. He is able to replace a heart of stone filled with heartache and transform that same heart and fill it with peace, love and joy. Experiences of true transformation in the heart translate into being able to accept suffering because the suffering comes from his providential orchestrating of events in order to refine the heart for redemptive purposes. 1 Peter 4:19 says "so then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful creator and continue to do good. Perspective: In the long run, there will be no pain or suffering and every tear will be wiped away, so this life and the sufferings that come along with it are temporary. I can rejoice and remember that not even a hair can fall from my head without his knowledge and will. What great news and comfort to know how well I am known and loved. Psalm 139:1-18 "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise, you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in - behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me, even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body, All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. This is so comforting in the midst of sorrow.