I'll toast to that!

Here's the most obnoxious thing that I see growing in my generation: anxiety. It could be the expectations of success, perfection, or accomplishment. It could be the fear of failure or nothingness. Either way, the pressure has become an adopted part of growing up. I refuse it! I'm tired of it (although I have fallen victim to it as well). I know others agree with me because I just listened to a sermon the other day by Beau Hughes. He spoke about "The Age of Anxiety" and how anxiety and fear can drive people's lives and even lead to physical health issues.

So, in honor of the recent holiday of Thanksgiving, and in revolt to this expected tendency of stress, fear, and anxiety, here is my gratitude.

The cross of Christ. Without Him, I live a meaningless life. With Him, I am covered in eternal love, grace, and mercy.
The love of my family. Forever grateful for their sincerity, sacrifice, and patience.
The blessings of my friendships. I pray I never take for granted the company of good friends.
My health and body. I have legs to run and hands to work.
Job! (not to be taken for granted in this rocky economy)
Texas, one of the most beautiful states in this great country.
B.A., education.
Leaves turning in autumn.
Good music.
New friends.
V.I.P. friends...ha, ha. no, really.
Long distance friends who'd rather live in the southern hemisphere.
Art.
Laughter...until you can barely breath and your jaw hurts.
Freedom.
Song and dance! (even if I can't really sing or dance)
My career at Starbucks.
New born babies.
Memories.
Mountains in Colorado.
Hope! Eph. 3:20-21
2009...wow.
Chips, salsa, guacamole, and margaritas. Always a lovely combination.
Poetry.
The great mind of C.S. Lewis.
Anything my sister bakes. She always uses real sugar and butter, none of this low fat stuff.
Photographs.
My memory, even when it fails me.
Strangers.
So You Think You Can Dance.
Book stores.
email, cell phones, FB, etc.
Umbrellas and boots so we can enjoy the rain in the rain!
Fresh flowers- any kind!
Crossing guards.
Every day I wake up and take a breath...

My gratitude list could be longer, but I'll keep it abbreviated today. Hopefully this is encouraging to you, and I pray that you may never lose focus of things that are most important in your life.

i heart.

Last night, I was reminded of how small I am in this great world- the peoples, the cultures, the places. The I-Heart Revolution film documentary by Hillsong United, We're All In This Together, was released.

While watching this film, the gravity of our world's desperate situation once again became evident. The truth is that poverty will always be with us (Deut. 15:11). Although it may not be obvious in our own everyday lives, the broken and hurting are here. The victims, the hungry, the lost and the lonely are here. It is daunting to me to think that the need is so vast and widespread. What can I do to solve such a wide, rampant problem?

In this cozy city of the USA, it is easy to forget what is happening in the other parts of the world. I wonder, what are other 24 year women doing on a daily basis? What are there dreams in life? Do they have the capabilities to fulfill these dreams?

And the children. What do they know about life? How have they been raised? It's a sickening thought to know that they may wake up every day and not have a meal in front of them. Perhaps they never leave the city they were born in. And does disease dictate the lives of their mothers?

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." 1 John 3:16

Simply, we were called to love. Love with out condition as He loved us. Love because He first loved us.