Early Morning Thoughts

I woke up this morning with my giant to-do list running through my brain. Now, that's a good sign that I must have a lot to do for that list to impeded on the thoughts of, "morning Rose." I could list all that was running through my brain, but I think it might just bore you, so I'll save you that extra yawn and continue on.

At one moment, as I could visually see bullet-point after bullet-point be added to my list, I started to feel a bit bogged down. My list contained a lot of small things that seem to just keep popping up. I just came from a quick weekend get-away with our Youth Staff and was incredibly stirred by what was poured into my life. To shove it all in one sentence: I am called to be a Kingdom Builder, at my age, not living the average life, to see those that the Lord sent His only son to die for come to know who He is. This last weekend has consumed my thoughts. I have decided to not sit in the grey area, but become a revolutionary. So, of course I find myself standing in front of the mirror getting ready for work frustrated. Frustrated, at the thought that I can't seem to reach, "the point," that I need to be at to start walking & fully functioning in the call God has placed on my life. As these thoughts started to flow like the current of a river that so easily will catch you off guard and carry you down stream, the stream came to a sudden halt and these words were so softly spoken:

"This is your calling and purpose, don't walk pass it." 

There was God's voice, so simple, yet so bold. The NXT was brought to my attention and the many faces I know I will be seeing tonight started to flash into my thoughts. It was so simple. I am walking in my ministry. I got caught up in my long day ahead of me, the endless to-do list, discouragement, that I completely missed all the young people right at my finger tips waiting to hear about the love of God. Young people that are desperately searching for whom I get to meet with every single day.

THIS IS IT! 

This is the life. I was stirred from this weekend, but forgot all that the Lord has set before me. All the precious people I come into contact daily that He is desiring to show Himself to. This is it! This is the life my heart so desperately desires, but I have to be willing to see it. And, see it through His eyes.

I walked out of the front door this morning excited. Excited to see tons of young people meet with Him tonight. Excited to know that God has so graciously given me the words to speak to that person who needs to hear three simple words, "I love you," from the Almighty God. I am excited to know that the same heart He has for those people is the very Heart that calls out to me when I start to get bogged down by stupid little bullet-points. 

My God is big. My God is faithful. My God is loving. I am beyond blessed to know He calls me His.

Mid-Summer Thunderstorm

My life is exciting.

Well, let me rephrase that...I think my life is exciting. No, no, I was right the first time...my life is stinkin' exciting!!

I've had this thought lately and it's a thought that has surprisingly stirred the "excitement" pot that is built inside of me.

I was driving over to a friend's house the other day, it was sunny, I felt clean, and it was a Saturday. Half way there I had this intruding thought, "I'm happy." I think I even smiled while I thought it. I quickly laughed, asked God where the heck that came from all of a sudden, and why is it that it struck and quickly interrupted my whole thought process. This thought was similar to the surprise and shock everyone seems to encounter at least once when a lightning bolt flashes across the grey sky in the midst of a storm. I've been having a rough couple of months. Work is hard, stretching, and at some points can be a bit draining. Don't get me wrong, I'm being stretched and growing...but I do have my days where I'd like to put my foot down and say I'm done growing.

Fortunately for me, I don't get that option.

Anyways...back to my story. God immediately showed me that I have tons of reasons to be happy, and yet all I see is the one reason to feel heavy and forget that I am blessed beyond all reason.

It was an amazing thought to me.

God began to remind me where I'm at, what I'm involved in, and where my heart is for my work, ministry, and etc. It's like I had forgotten about all those wonderful things that first came from the "excitement" pot. (Ok, ok let's give it another name...how about, my heart? That'll have to do.) Imparting to girls, loving the unlovely at my work, and pursuing God like the roots of a plant that continually digs deeper until the water in the soil is found is what my life is beginning to consist of and I couldn't be happier.

"Wow," I thought to myself. I have allowed my grey skies and windy evenings to overpower the beauty of a mid-summer thunderstorm. Relationships that needed to be cultivated were left on the shelf. I've forgotten about why I get to be at my work and who I get to influence. I had this false thought that life is incredibly difficult and not something to be joyful about.

I was wrong. All wrong. So wrong. Amazingly wrong...abundantly...well you get the point. God has blessed me. My life is wonderful. I have been given forgiveness, grace, strength, victory, and joy. Why not walk in it? I have to say it's changed my whole perspective on the difficult people at work. And, to bring this longer than expected story to a close; that one quick conversation with God on the way to a friend's house has sparked a new excitement inside of my life at where God is moving, how He's moving, and how I get to be apart of it all. Not only that but be apart of God's plan for my life with joy.

Joy makes circumstances a lot better. It's like the crust to cheese cake. Yeah, we all like the cheese cake, but the crust tops it off. And, personally cheesecake wouldn't be as good without the crust. For example, this picture. A little joy mixed in with goofiness makes a combination of such a great and personal favorite.

Enjoy!

Have a wonderful day!