(faith + knowlege) - love = nothing

I consider myself fairly logical. I'm not one of those who go by a feeling in my gut. I rarely make decisions by feeling alone (I'm still a woman, ya know. It's kind of apart of the package). In school, I always liked math, as well as a psychology class I took. I think that most things in my life can be organized, analyzed, or simplified.

So is it any wonder that I broke up these verses into a simple equation? :

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so to remove mountains, but if I have not love, I am nothing.

Hence the title. Although I have been on this faith journey for almost eleven years  now, I still find myself trying to figure out the enigma that is salvation and the redeemed life in the fullest sense. I believe every word of Scripture, so I take great faith in the work of Christ and the inconceivable sacrifice of His own life. It's everything I put my hope and trust in, and everything I live for.

I don't try to figure out why He came or why He thought me worthy to die for. That's just it. I wasn't worthy. I'm still not. My puzzle is how do I best respond to this act of loving kindness? How exactly do I live my life in a way that pleases my King above all else?

This is where the equation comes in.

(faith + knowledge) - love = nothing

 

Order of operations states you must first deal with what's in the parenthesis. This means that you can have as much faith as you can imagine, or more...like enough to move a mountain. You can know all the characters and stories and wise statements of the Bible. You can know all the knowledge of the world. Add it all together, but subtract love, and you're left with nothing. Or something in vain.

Sometimes in my own personal Christian life, I think that what I'm lacking is more faith. I just need to trust God more, that's all. Which I do, don't get me wrong. I don't even have Peter's amount of faith which allowed him to walk the waters. Or, maybe I just need to study my Bible more. That's it. I need to spend more time reading, all day every day just reading and memorizing Scriptures. And I do need that.

But God says I need something even more. Love.

Love which never ends. Love which is greater than faith, greater than knowledge, than hope or doing good or trusting. Loving God, and loving others. Loving the sweet infant who only wants to be close and feel secure. Loving those we deem worthy, but also loving the unlovable. Those we don't think deserve it because of all of the terrible things they've done or the hurtful things they've said to us or about us.

However, greater than a lifetime spent reading and performing great acts of faith is one small act of love toward God or another. Did not Christ also say that when we have done something for the least of these, we have done it unto Him?

Love is the thing that motivates us to spread the gospel news to every soul that hasn't experienced the joy of salvation and the comfort of Christ's crucifixion. The greatest of all is love.

Deeper Than My Feet Could Ever Wander

"Go ahead, I'll meet you on the other side." This is what Jesus told his disciples as he dismissed the curious followers that had crowded around him. The disciples went ahead as their Master broke away to spend some time with the Father in prayer. They had no idea what events would fold before their eyes in the next few hours.

That evening, waves bounced heavily upon the boat that held the closest followers of Jesus Christ. Then, in the distance, they saw an image of what appeared to be a man. Or a ghost? The disciples cried out in fear, only to hear the sweet voice of their Savior calm them with His very presence. It is the same "I AM" that spoke to Moses in the burning bush.

It is God.

"Lord, if it is You, command me to come to you on the water." Peter called out to the figure. Who else would be so eager to prove himself to Christ, the others, or perhaps even himself? Regardless, Jesus beckons him to come. And he came.

Peter slowly stepped on foot out of the boat and felt the salt water wet against his skin, perhaps a hundred feet or more above the bottom of the ocean, and yet it is as solid as the sand that the waves kiss at the shore. But Peter thought of none of this as he defied the laws of density and took one step, then another, and another and his eyes are only on the God-man.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew across Peter's face and he began to feel water not only on his feet, but ankles and legs. He began to sink. "Lord, save me!", Peter cried out and Christ surely lifted him up. He would never leave him to drown. What reason would Peter have to doubt?


I know for certain if I were one of the disciples in the boat, I would not have been the one to step my foot out. I recognize this lack of faith in my own heart. I would be quick to encourage another to take that step of faith and allow myself to sit back and witness the miracle being performed before my eyes all within the safety of the boat.

But is that truly where the safety resides? In the boat? Is the boat the safest place to be, with only pieces of wood nailed together to support this house that holds my soul?

Or is it on the waters, where waves crash hard and where proven laws of science state that I cannot walk? Is that not where my Savior is?



Miracles are occurring all around me everyday. More often than not, they go unnoticed. Or maybe I get too used to their existence. But what miracles wait for me to just say "yes" to the gentle pull of God on my soul? Indeed, they may seem dangerous. Opportunities that bring the fears that plague my spirit along with them. But...what if I say yes? What if I, knowing the danger and fear and all else that is certain to come along with the package, say yes anyway? What miracles would I have the opportunity to experience?

Winter Wonderland Christmas Decor

Can you believe that Christmas is only a week away? I've done all of my Christmas shopping, except for one gift card that I need to pick up this week. Other than that, I'm done. And most of it is wrapped. Now I can sit back and enjoy the last few days of the holiday season rather than including myself in the last-minute-frenzy.

This past weekend we finally put Christmas decorations up at my house (I'll try to get some pictures to come) and during the process I made a few realizations regarding my own personal decorating taste.

For one, I don't like Santa Clauses. I don't believe in hiding the fact that Santa isn't real from kids. I mean, why would you want to let him get the credit for the presents you bought for them with your own hard-earned money? That's just me. I also think it's important to emphasize that Jesus is the reason for the season. Especially to young kids, and the whole Santa idea takes away from the real reason we celebrate Christmas (I know it's kind of cliche, but seriously). I don't necessarily see anything wrong with incorporating a little Santa fun with the Christmas traditions as long as Jesus Christ is magnified first and foremost this holiday season.

Okay, rant over. Back to the point of this post :) ...

In my own home someday, I plan to decorate with snowmen, snowflakes, and items that point more toward the real reason we should celebrate Christmas. I also like the idea of doing a "winter-wonderland" for the fact that you can keep it all up after the holiday, too. I lean more toward neutral colors like white, gold, and silver while adding some red and blue accents for color.

Here are a few things I pinned on my Christmas pinterest board that sum up my holiday decorating style:

          

               

Cute, isn't it? The holiday decor was already 50 percent off at Target today so I picked up a few things I could keep and use in my own Christmas decor in the future.  Maybe after Christmas I'll be able to score a few more things like ornaments marked down even further. I plan to do a post on that after Christmas :)

I hope you have an especially wonderful Christmas this year and that you allow all of the seasonal magic to point back to the Christ that was born to pay the price of our sin many years ago.

The Journey of Becoming a Godly Homemaker Part 2

In my last post, I talked about some things I'd like to learn during this season of singleness (technically in a relationship but unmarried) while I have have many less responsibilities and much less stress.

Since I was about 14 or 15 (or so?) I started collecting a few items in a "hope chest" to save for when I get married one day. Has anyone else done this? I have a few holiday and holiday decorations, some dishes, and other things I'll be able to use in my own house someday. Many of these things were given to me, found on major sale, or bought at some sort of thrift store. I figured this would save me serious money down the road.

Here I will make a list of tangible items that would be good to add to my collection of things that would be useful in my future home someday:

1. Cookbooks
2. Christmas ornaments
3. Picture frames
4. Coffee mugs
5. Dishes
6. Kitchen towels/potholders
7. Blankets
8. Candles
9. Little things to fill shelves
10. Things to hang on the walls
11. Kitchen placemats
12. Baskets
13. Pillows
14. Coasters
15. Canisters I have some of these that I want to paint and put chalkboard labels on
16. Bedspread I actually just bought a cute comforter set a few months ago that I plan to use

Like my other list, I will be marking things off/adding more things! Let these two lists be inspirational to you as to what you may want to save for when your "one day" comes! And feel free to share any other ideas of things that would be useful to a future homemaker :)

The Journey of Becoming a Godly Homemaker Part 1

I've always been the type that likes to know what's coming. I'm a planner for sure. Spontaneity? Not quite my thing. I like to know what's coming ahead and how I can best prepare for it. I am, however, working on having a more go-with-the-flow mindset. Life is full of the uncertain, unplanned, and unprepared for. The truth is that I can't know how anything's going to turn out, but I can hope and prepare for the best, right? Right.

At twenty years old, I don't know for certain what lies ahead for me, but I do hope that a part of the grand plan God has for my life includes marriage and having a home and family of my own someday. I recognize this season of my life to be a very special time that I will never regain during my lifetime. It is a time to prepare. I desire that God would help me to use this special time to cultivate me into becoming the best wife, mother, and homemaker that I could possibly be one day if and when that time comes

Here are a list of goals, which I will be striving to work on while I am still unmarried.

1. Get into the habit of making my bed everyday first thing (Something I'd not like to admit I struggle with)
2. Make a recipe book
3. Have at least 15 meals that I feel completely comfortable making
4. Learn to make homemade cookies, bread, brownies, and cake.
5. Learn home decorating skills
6. Learn to make no-sew pillow covers
7. Learn to make jewelry
8. Learn to make little girls' bows
9. Make homemade detergent and house cleaners
10. Make my own soap
11. Collect more books for children (especially Bible stories)
12. Read 5 books on being a Godly wife
13. Read 2 books on being a Godly mother
14. Go back to college and finish a degree
15. Gain much more financial wisdom
16. Learn to make a detailed budget and stick with it
17. Put money into my savings account with every paycheck and let it build
18. Learn couponing skills
19. Become more organized
20. Read more fiction books
21. Know what makes a good hostess
22. Be more kind, gracious, humble, and forgiving
23. Refrain from gossiping. Learn that it is often better not to say anything at all.
24. Collect some potential holiday traditions


I will also be adding to this list, but hopefully also crossing many of them off! What are some goals you would like to work on to become a good, Godly homemaker one day? :)

Raving

Two wonderful things happened this past weekend. 1. I saw Catching Fire.  2. I started reading the Divergent series.

I read the first book in 2 days and the second book in 4. I could have read the second in three, but my forgetful self left my book at work last night...right on the shelf. Each book is about 500 pages. To state the obvious, they were awesome.  

This morning I arrived at work and headed to the toddler room where I start and end my days. Thankfully, my book Insurgent was right where I thought it was...in the toddler room. Another girl I work with was already in the room and my mouth dropped open when she said she had never heard of the Divergent series...or The Hunger Games.

Where have you been hiding? Under a rock?

Of course I didn't say that out loud. But seriously?


First off, the Catching Fire movie was seriously amazing. I could go on and on for hours about how close the events in the book matched exactly what I envisioned while reading the book. I was already impressed with the first book with how closely the characters matched the books' description of what the characters looked like. I think that's very important. Honestly, in the book, I hated Finnick. Like, really hated him. I didn't like him much in the movie at first, but I was able to trust him much more quickly. (Living in the book, much?) I could tell they really stepped up their game with the second movie when it came to graphics, costume, etc. The Hunger Games was super popular, so I'm sure they had more money to play with this time. People liked the characters they chose, so this one was almost given to be just as...if not more...popular.


Now for the Divergent serious. I. could. not. stop. reading. I've only read the first and second but they've been the best books I've read since the Hunger Games trilogy. I cried at the end of The Mockingjay. I don't cry at the end of a book or movie. I never had before that one.

The difference in my opinion? The Hunger Games was more emotionally enticing (hence I cried) while the Divergent series is much more involved in intellect. The Divergent series was full of so much psychology. I took a psychology class in high school and became so fascinated with how the brain works. The mind truly is an amazing thing. I have enjoyed putting the pieces together in this series, and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the third and final book!

Who else who read this series fell in love with Tris and Four? Especially Four? Four is so strong and brave, and yet doesn't mind showing all his weaknesses in front of Tris. And then she became his greatest, and possibly only, weakness. I liked their romance more than Katniss and Peeta's.

My beef with what I've seen of the Divergent movie, like many others, is that the characters aren't what I envisioned. At all. I plan to forget my own perceptions the books' descriptions and see the movie with an open mind. It comes out in March, very close to my birthday, so I will be seeing it for sure then! I can hardly contain my excitement.

I love a good series, but who doesn't get all nostalgic when it's all over? I will attempt to savor the last book of the series while I am still ignorant of how it all ends.

While there's still much, much more to feel and discover.