What "gets me"
1. kids. KIDS! They are so great! I can't even begin to fathom why anyone would treat a child in an inappropriate manner. I have such a heart for any and all kids, but probably even (a little) more of a heart for kids who don't receive the proper love and respect they deserve.
2. God. And yes of course, God is before kids... I could go ahead and move Him to the number one place... but I won't... because I'm tired. But honestly, He is my number one passion... and I know that God gave me my passion for kids to be used for Him. Before just recently, I can honestly say that God probably did not hold the highest position in my life. I was always looking for something to fill that void whether it be pictures, or social media, or certain relationships... None of those things mean anything if it is not ultimately going to glorify God.
3. Worship music. I was the person who used to judge the songs being sung in a service or make fun of "worship prayers," calling them "just a bunch of words that pastors throw together to try and make them sound holy enough." Until I truly started listening to the words and taking them in, yes, the songs and prayers were just a bunch of words... but really, worship and worship music and prayers are so much more than that. This summer, between the Wellspring groups from Spring Arbor, or the Jerry time music or the "Lissa time" music being lead by a 21 year old guy on a guitar and a 14 year old girl on the drums, I kinda just fell in love with worship music... if I'm even allowed to say that... but these songs made me fall even more in love with God, so I wouldn't say its all bad to say. Some examples of songs that we sang throughout the summer included, but were not limited to:
5. Nature... sunsets over a lake or especially an ocean... anything that God has created... I don't always notice it's beauty right away... but I can promise you I will always be extremely impressed and awestruck with any sunset God puts in the sky for us. He didn't have to make the world so beautiful, but He did it for us, that it would ultimately bring more glory to His name! Oh and stars! Don't even get me started on stars... star gazing anyone?!:)
6. Christian communities. JACKSON FREE METHODIST CHURCH! ... I love that place. I truly feel I can be myself there now after 21 years and not be afraid of what others will think. While service seems to sometimes be all about me and what I may have taken away from a message, at the end of every service I love comparing notes with others who also heard the message or just hearing about peoples lives... and not just the "I'm good" answer... but getting real, honest stories and hardships that the people I love are going through. ... ps. I am SO pumped for SAU chapel sessions next year... the whole campus getting that into worshiping God TOGETHER sounds like it's really going to be amazing! Alsooo, looking forward to maybe (hopefully.. really would like to!) leading a small group for the Spring Arbor Free Methodist middle school youth group. Lots of kids from camp go to that youth group as well, so it will be awesome to re-connect with these teens I care about so much that I would usually only get to see one week of the summer.
7. Honesty. That person who can be SO honest with you, but they are this honest with you to ultimately make you a better person for God and His purposes in your life. While yes, I think there is appropriate times and places for this honestly, it is just a very refreshing thing in this society. Just be straight up with me and do not sugar coat whatever it is you may be trying to say... now if what you say to a person isn't done out of love, then the honestly is more hurtful than helpful. But a real honest person just "gets me."
8. Seeing others happy. Making someone's day. ... like if there is anything I can do for you, just tell me! Help others to help yourself even. I love to be able to make a kid happy... make them smile... especially if they didn't start our conversation smiling. That is the coolest.
9. Servants. Those who are so extremely servant hearted. They are obviously trying to be more like God, which in turn means I want to be more like them, who wants to be more like God... I look to these servants as an example of Jesus on Earth. While I may not have been able to witness Jesus on Earth, these servants of God, living out each and every day for God, are people I can look to as an example, other than the example of Jesus that I am able to read about in the Bible.
10. Other people who are in love with God. Those people truly captivate my attention and make me want to do better for myself. If they can be that madly in love with God... so can I.. and not only is it possible, it's also possible they could help me along. Thank goodness God gives us people here on Earth to challenge us, encourage us, and love us. .. And to think that the love some people possess for me is no where near the love God has for me... that is crazy! ... crazy hard to wrap my mind around. God sent his one and only son to die for me... and loves meee...and the whole world enough to do so!... Welp, I think I've probably preached enough for one day. I'm sorry if I have offended anyone in this post. I don't mean to do so at all. Sometimes I just really would like to share my thoughts with the world... or just whoever decided they want to listen(read)... and sometimes writing things down works a lot better than verbal communication would. This is me, and all I can really do is keep hoping and praying that the me that God wants me to be is in there somewhere and will continue to show itself over time.
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