"Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." -Psalm 139:16
These past few weeks, I've been reminded that every day we live is ordained by God, and only he knows how many we are given. My friends' child was given 15 days of this life and no one took for granted one of Abel's days. Each day was cherished. Each day was a weighty and sacred gift.
By the time I finish this post I will have 30 hours before my 30th birthday. I have been given many days. I must admit, I did not cherish each day as the gift it was, but still I'm grateful for the gift of 30 years and I praise God for his love for me and his work in me and for everyday he has given me.
So in celebration of the gift, I propose my list of 30 things in the next 30 hours:
1. Spend 1 hour outside.
2. Spend time with at least 2 people I love.
3. Be completely still for 3 minutes.
4. Send 4 pieces of mail.
5. Drive 5 minutes with the windows rolled down.
6. 6 minutes of dancing.
7. Share 7 of my dreams and hopes with Jesus.
8. Notice 8 small but wonderful things.
9. Skip for 9 seconds.
10. Sing along to 10 songs.
11. Savor 11 bites or sips of delicious things.
12. Spend 12 minutes in a chapel.
13. Ask 13 questions.
14. Read 14 verses of scripture.
15. Say 15 kind and honest things.
16. Learn 16 new things.
17. Get rid of or give away 17 things.
18. Take 18 photos.
19. Watch 19 waves hit the shore.
20. Give away $20 to someone.
21. Pray for 21 people.
22. 22 minutes of painting.
23. Draw 23 straight lines.
24. 24 deep breaths.
25. Take a 25 minute nap.
26. Write 26 words in my journal.
27. 27 minutes of exercise.
28. Donate $28 to a great cause.
29. 29 minutes with all technology off.
30. Thank God for 30 things.
Here's to ushering in 30. I don't know the number of my days but I thank and praise God for giving me 30 years. I'll update with any highlights from my 30 list.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Friday, February 5, 2016
Ants Have Two Stomachs
Recently, my kitchen has been invaded by ants. Just so you know, ants totally gross me out... more than spiders. There's nothing that freaks me out like sitting on a patch of grass and then realizing the ground around you looks like it's moving with an entire ant city.
But oftentimes, what we fear is also something fascinating because we usually fear what we can't control or understand. And even I have to admit, ants are fascinating.
Two facts about ants that I've been thinking about are: (1) they can carry burdens much bigger than themselves and (2) they feed each other.
I think about how the Bible says: "carry each other's burdens" (Galatians 6:2) and also that "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13). Unlike some ant species, I know that I cannot lift anything 100 times my own weight on my own- neither literally or figuratively. But I believe that God enables us to do and to carry much more by his strength.
My favorite ant fact though is that ants have two stomachs- one regular stomach and one stomach to feed other ants. Built into their very anatomy is the responsibility of feeding each other.
Furthermore, a singular ant is almost always insignificant, but an entire group of ants can carry great things together. So too, the family of believers can carry great things for one another. We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses as we run our race. So when one of us is too weak or weary to pray, let us as a family of believers pray for him. When one of us has moments of doubt and fear that cripples any hope for a miracle, let us hope for a miracle for her. We are one. We are united. We can carry each other's burdens, we can pray each other's prayers, we can hope each other's hopes.
Perhaps the hardest part of all of this is allowing for others to carry my burdens. Admitting when I lack faith or hope or love enough to pray big prayers for God's amazing work to be done. Confessing my sins and weaknesses and struggles in order for people to pray with me, pray for me, and encourage me. Realizing the moments in which I cannot feed myself and must be fed by another. Allowing the Church, allowing God's people, to actually be my family as God intended it to be. This is the hardest thing, but it is the most beautiful of all.
"...But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
(1 Corinthians 12:24-26)
But oftentimes, what we fear is also something fascinating because we usually fear what we can't control or understand. And even I have to admit, ants are fascinating.
Here are some ant facts for you to check out:
Two facts about ants that I've been thinking about are: (1) they can carry burdens much bigger than themselves and (2) they feed each other.
I think about how the Bible says: "carry each other's burdens" (Galatians 6:2) and also that "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13). Unlike some ant species, I know that I cannot lift anything 100 times my own weight on my own- neither literally or figuratively. But I believe that God enables us to do and to carry much more by his strength.
My favorite ant fact though is that ants have two stomachs- one regular stomach and one stomach to feed other ants. Built into their very anatomy is the responsibility of feeding each other.
Furthermore, a singular ant is almost always insignificant, but an entire group of ants can carry great things together. So too, the family of believers can carry great things for one another. We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses as we run our race. So when one of us is too weak or weary to pray, let us as a family of believers pray for him. When one of us has moments of doubt and fear that cripples any hope for a miracle, let us hope for a miracle for her. We are one. We are united. We can carry each other's burdens, we can pray each other's prayers, we can hope each other's hopes.
Perhaps the hardest part of all of this is allowing for others to carry my burdens. Admitting when I lack faith or hope or love enough to pray big prayers for God's amazing work to be done. Confessing my sins and weaknesses and struggles in order for people to pray with me, pray for me, and encourage me. Realizing the moments in which I cannot feed myself and must be fed by another. Allowing the Church, allowing God's people, to actually be my family as God intended it to be. This is the hardest thing, but it is the most beautiful of all.
"...But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
(1 Corinthians 12:24-26)
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