Seasons

That may seem like a funny title to most of you...with all the crazy, abnormal weather we've been having...

And yet, I find myself in the midst of a season I didn't even realize I was in.

I have a beautiful friend who has beautiful babies...and who sometimes feels like God has other things for her to be doing...but she can't do them with her babies. Whenever she brings this up, other mommies remind her that this is just a season...that it will pass and she will miss these days with her babies when they're older and more independent.

Most of the time, I nod in agreement, knowing how true that statement is...for my friend. And yet, I've been realizing this last week that there is truth in that statement for me as well.

Sometimes I don't like to admit it...but I feel very alone a lot of the time...even in the midst of a crowd. Even when I am surrounded by wonderful friends and having a good time. Even when I'm sitting at home with my husband on the couch. It has nothing to do with the people around me...and everything to do with me.

I hadn't been able to put my finger on it until I had an email conversation with a sweet friend this week. She brought up some amazing points that I hadn't even thought of.


We, as women ('cuz I can't speak for you men out there), tend to gravitate towards women that are like us. Women that either share our same passions in life, or have similar stories to our own, or that are in the same place in life we're at. And, there's nothing wrong with that. It's natural to be drawn towards others like ourselves.

And yet, it can be very hard at the same time. Someone who might have been your best friend at one point could now be only an acquaintance...because you've gravitated towards different passions in life. Someone you might have never talked to before could be your new best friend...because you both just recently got married and have similar experiences to talk about. Or, someone you just met in a young mom's group may be the only one who understands how down you're feeling after having the baby.

While it's natural to drift towards people in our same situations, it's hard to deal with the reality that some of the ones we used to call all the time now have new friends to call in their new situations. It's not a bad thing...it's a part of life. And, that doesn't mean it will always be that way...but it is in this season.

So, as I've been accepting this season I'm in, I'm realizing I don't have many women around me that are in my same situation. I love the women in my life and I'm so grateful for them...but oftentimes I still feel alone...because they aren't where I'm at. And, while I know that this is just a season...I also know this is where God has me...and I need to make the most of it.

So, I'm praying about something that could potentially be a wonderful thing. I'm not ready to reveal the details until I'm certain this is where God is leading me...but I must say I am really excited about it. That same sweet friend brought up something that got me thinking about it...and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. I really long to be used by God in a more powerful way in my life...and this just may be the solution to my longing.

I'd like to encourage all of you reading this...no matter what season you find yourself in...to embrace it. Yes, it will be hard at times...yes, it may mean you don't have the same good friends anymore...but this is where God has you...and He has amazing things to teach you in the midst of this season.

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
(Psalm 25:4-5, NIV)

Rest in that, my friends.

Love

I have something heavy on my heart today.

I have written this post twice already and deleted it twice...I just don't know how to put it in a way that doesn't come across offensive or judgmental. But, here is the shortened version (and I'm sorry if you are offended or feel I'm being judgmental. That is definitely not where I am trying to come from):

How do you show God's love to someone that is just not interested in it?

I was never around a lot of non-believers growing up...besides family members. I was definitely not ignorant, and I definitely was not raised in a bubble. My parents taught us to love God and to love other people...and that is how we lived our lives. It was not culture shock for this homeschooled girl to attend jr. college. I'd heard cussing before, I'd been around people that smoked, and I knew not everyone was just like me. Yet, the one thing I definitely was not exposed to was the opportunity to really share my faith with someone else. Another believer? Absolutely. But, not someone who didn't believe.

Maybe that is why it is hard for me to love someone who hears the truth, makes fun of it, and makes fun of me for believing the things I do.

Maybe that's why I feel like I'm being persecuted in a place that is supposed to be "safe".

Maybe that's why I'm having a hard time understanding why someone would be like this.

The only answer I keep coming back to is that I have to keep loving people like this. I have to keep sharing the truth with them...in the hopes that maybe it will plant a seed that will grow much later. I have to keep strong in my faith...and continue to study the Word, so I have the right words to speak when someone comes at me with something that attacks what I believe in.



On a lighter note, I'm looking for some new books to read. Any suggestions?

Have a wonderful weekend!

(I'm linking up with Casey)

Where I Want to Be

So, it's time for Gussy's Inspiration Workshop again...and I'm so excited for this week's prompt:

Spend a day playing.

Since we don't have any kiddos yet, it's always just me and the hubs. And, one of our favorite places to spend the day playing is....

Drum roll, please...



Oh heck, you should know anyway...



DISNEYLAND!


Here are some pics from our anniversary trip earlier this year.



Looking at these pictures makes me wish we were going there in the near future again. I love that place!

How do you spend a day playing?

Motivation

Some days, I have such a hard time getting motivated to do anything.

Today was one such day.

I'm going to blame it on the fact that we just got back from camping yesterday...and that I was still super tired and worn out. But, I'm not sure that's a valid excuse...

One of the things we did on our camping trip was read through the book of Philippians. We were instructed to read each chapter on our own, so we could go over it altogether in the mornings and evenings. Since we arrived on the camping trip a day and a half later than everyone else, we were a little behind on our reading. I got to spend some quality time reading through chapter 3 with some wonderful women on Saturday afternoon while most of the others on the trip went hiking or rock climbing.

I've read Philippians more than once in my life...but every time I read it, I get more out of it (as is the case when I read anything in the Bible more than once). This section really struck me:

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
(Philippians 2:1-4, NIV)

It makes me feel like a failure when I have these days where I'm just not motivated to do anything. I'm supposed to be looking out for others and considering them better than myself. How am I going to do that if I am barely functioning?

I want to figure out a way to recoup from things, while also giving myself the opportunity to be there for someone if they need me. I don't want to be so wiped out from something that I can't even focus on other people.

This is the prayer I want to be praying for those in my life:

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
(Philippians 1:9-11, NIV)

And, how am I going to start thinking like that? By doing this:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
(Philippians 4:8, NIV)

I hope I start having more motivation for doing the things that are right and noble.


(Oh, and I kind of failed in the photo department this weekend. I did not pull out my camera once to take a pic. So, sorry for the lack of pictures. I really do need to get better at this)

Weekend

This post is going to be short and sweet.

I am very excited about my weekend! We are spending some quality time in the great outdoors with some amazing people. It's going to be a.maz.ing.

I hope you are doing something fun this weekend, too!!

Here's to the start of the fun!


What is on your heart today?

(I'm linking up with Casey)