Not final

by Max Lucado,  Daily Devotional

The Other Side of Death's River

A missionary in Brazil discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote area. A contagious disease was ravaging the population. To get medical attention they would need to cross over a river - a river, they believed, was inhabited by evil spirits. The missionary told them how he had crossed the river unharmed. No luck. Finally, he swam beneath the surface and emerged on the other side. Then the Indians followed him.

Jesus saw people enslaved by their fear of death. He explained that death was nothing to fear. He called Lazarus out of the grave yet they were still cynical. He had to submerge himself in the water of death before people would believe that death had been conquered. And he came out on the other side of death's river. He proved once and for all, our death, is not final.

That kind of happy

I want to make you the kind of happy, that when you lay in bed at night, you're just like, "Wow, who even knew this was possible."

Independent

Independent females are so undervalued...she doesn't even need you. She just wants you. She's gonna do her thing with or without you. That's a queen.

Absolute best

At your absolute best, you still won't be good enough for the wrong person.
At your worst, you'll still be worth it to the right person.

Takes

Death takes the body.
God takes the soul.
Our mind holds the memories.
Our hearts keep the love.
Our faith lets us know we will meet again.

Real test

by Toby Mac

The real test is being kind to unkind people.

Uttermost

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Empathy without boundaries

by Silvy Khoucasian

Empathy without boundaries is self-destruction.

Make known

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

Colossians 1:27-28
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Aimless conduct

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

1 Peter 11:18-19
Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Appearance

It is nice to be told

you're beautiful or hot

or whatever,

but I'd love to hear

someone say that I

make things easier, that

they're happy I exist,

they don't know what to

do without me, I'm

strong, that they hope

we never lose each

other, that they're

proud of me, that I have

something to offer.

Compliments don't 

always have to be about 

appearance.

Love their own

Real men stay faithful.

They don't have time to look for

other women because they're too

busy looking for new ways to

love their own.

Happy and easy

When you love someone,
when you care for
someone, you have to do
it through the good and
the bad. You can't just
love someone only when
it's happy and easy.

Hooked

It's not the sex

that gets you hooked. It's 

when you feel that emotional,

intimate connection. That's 

the part that makes it hard to 

walk away.

Building up

You can tell who

 the strong women are. They 

are the ones you see building up

 one another

 instead of tearing

 each other

 down.

Smallest things

Nothing is nicer

than having someone who

appreciates you in the smallest

things, accepts you in times of

hardships. comforts you when you 

are troubled, loves you no matter

what and is simply happy for

having you in their life.

Slight chance

If there's ever a slight 

chance at getting something

that will make you happy,

risk it.

Life's too short and happiness

is too rare.

Do not chase

Do Not Chase Love

I hope you can learn to wait for love, instead of chasing it. I hope you understand 

that it doesn't matter how hard you chase after someone - anyone that you need to

chase after is not worth catching. I hope you know that the right person will never

make you chase down their love. The right person will show up and they will never 

leave. I hope you realize that there are other beautiful things worth chasing. Do

not chase love. Do not chase people. Chase adventure, spontaneity and inspiration.

Chase your curiosity, your passion and your dreams. Chase compelling conversations.

Chase moments that take your breath away. Instead of convincing someone that you

belong in their life - spend time building your own. I promise you that love will

come along when you least expect it. It will come after you've fallen in love with 

yourself. It will come after you've fallen in love with the world around you. When

you stop chasing love and start building a life you love - it will find you.

-Bryan Anthonys

Let them go

If someone makes your 

miserable more than 

they make you happy, it

doesn't matter how much

you love them, you need

to let them go.

Meant to be

Sometimes our lives

have to be completely

shaken up, changed, and 

rearranged to relocate us

to the place we are 

meant to be.

Philosophy

Dating philosophy:
Run as fast as you can towards God, and if someone keeps up, introduce yourself.

Know

from Flying Free

Far too much Christian teaching for women about marriage can be summed up as,
"Know your place."

A far better message is, "Know your worth."

Every knee

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

Romans 14:11
For it written: "As I live says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God."

Never perish

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

John 10:28-30
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and the Father are one.

My note: No one, not even me... (also, I'm loving semi-colons lately for some reason)

Firstfruits

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

1 Corinthians 15:20
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Do not owe

I do not owe

a single person an explanation

of why I'm living my life the

way I am or why I do the

things I do.

Can't stand you

Nobody

watches you harder than

the people who can't 

stand you.

Outgrow

It's funny how we outgrow

what we once thought we couldn't live

without, and then we fall in love with

what we didn't even know we wanted.

Life keeps leading us on journeys we

would never go on if it were up to us.

Don't be afraid.

Have faith. Find the lessons.

Trust the journey.

Last enemy

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

1 Corinthians 15:20-22
The Last Enemy Destroyed
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

Shortcut

Was trying to track down where I found this, but no luck...

Loneliness can be a deep cut to our souls, or...
a shortcut to our Savior.

In awe of

Some of the kindest souls I know have lived in a world that was not so kind to them. Some of the best human beings I know have been through so much at the hands of others, and they still love deeply, they still care. Sometimes, it's the people who have been hurt the most who refuse to be hardened in this world, because they would never want to make another person feel the same way they have felt. If that isn't something to be in awe of, I don't know what is.

Okay but not okay

from Mitchell's Journey

OKAY, BUT NOT OKAY...AND THAT'S OKAY
The funeral director told us it was time to close the casket and suddenly I gasped for air and tried to hold back my tears - but nothing could stay my sorrow. This was it. I wasn't ready to look upon my son for the last time - to say goodbye to his little body, his sweet face...this little boy I used to cuddle, hug and laugh with. My youngest son, Wyatt stood beside me and watched me in grief and sorrow tuck his older brother one last time.

I carefully pulled Mitchell's favorite blanket up to his chin, like I did every night, and said, "I love you, little boy...my sweet son. Oh, how I love you." I cried a father's tears, and until that moment I had tasted no deeper tears. I had never known so great a sorrow as to say goodbye to my child. Sweet Mitch trusted that I could keep him safe from harm. He thought there wasn't anything I couldn't do. When he looked at me, he saw Superman. When I looked in the mirror, I saw a broken man. But I tried. God knows how hard I tried. But I was only human.

Months later, my oldest son, Ethan, came into my office while I was writing an entry for Mitchell's Journey. I was unprepared for the interruption, and my eyes were red and filled with tears. Ethan asked, "Dad, are you okay?" I immediately tried to be Superman and put on a brave face, wiping my eyes and said, "Yeah, I'm okay"...as if to suggest all was well and that I was simply rubbing my tired eyes. But Ethan was discerning and knew better. I could tell by his expression he knew I was grieving.

At that moment I thought to myself, "What good do I do my children when I pretend?" I realized I do him no favors when I am not real. I paused a moment then looked Ethan in the eye and said, "Actually, I'm not okay. But I'm okay. Do you know what I mean?" Relief washed over his face, and I could tell he not only understood but that he was glad I was real...as if it gave him permission to be real, too. I wanted my son to know that it is okay to hurt...that you can be "okay" but "not okay" and that's okay.

Ethan and I talked about Mitch for a while, and he shared some of his sorrows about losing his younger brother. We both cried together. I hugged Ethan and let him know how much I loved him - every bit as much. We crossed a threshold with grief that day. My son knew it was okay to hurt and that pretending otherwise serves nobody, not even ourselves. To the contrary, we do a great disservice when we pretend.

I had a moment of truth a few years prior when I read the words of an 18th century French writer who observed, "We discover in ourselves what others hide from us, and we recognize in others what we hide from ourselves." When I read those words, I vowed to retire my masks and get real.

I've tried to have similar exchanges with my other kids. My children, each unique, process their grief differently. And that's okay, too. In all things, I want to be real with them - for it is when we're real that we become equipped to deal with real life.

I am still walking on Jupiter where the gravity of grief is great. The air is thin, and my tears fall as generously as spring rains. Yes, I have moments of sweet relief and happiness is returning - but grief and sorrow linger. I cannot run from sorrow any more than I can run from my shadow on a sunny day. I must learn to live with love and sorrow - there seems to be no other way.

I'm okay...but I'm not okay...and that's okay. That is part of being human.

Natural connection

by Joey Palermo

I believe in the kind of love that doesn't demand me to prove my worth and sit in anxiety. I crave a natural connection, where my soul is able to recognize a feeling of home in another. Something free-flowing, something simple. Something that allows me to be me without question...

Unworthy people

I've spoiled too many

unworthy people with my

time and attention and made them

priorities in my life when they barely

deserved it. I no longer cross oceans

for people who wouldn't even jump

over a puddle for me. It's not worth it.

Especially when there are people out

there who would gladly hold

my hand and cross the

ocean with me.

Obedience

by R.C. Sproul
 
Genuine love for Jesus manifests itself in obedience to His commandments.

Remember that

There isn't a single person

on this planet

who is entitled

to treat you

badly.

Remember that.

Needy

by Lundy Bancroft

An abuser can seem emotionally needy. His wife can get caught up in a trap of catering to him, trying to fill a bottomless pit. But he's not so much needy as entitled, so no matter how much you give him, it will never be enough. He will just keep coming back with more demands because he believes his needs are your responsibility, until you feel drained down to nothing.

Saved

from Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

Romans 10:9-10
...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Power and wisdom

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

1 Corinthians 1:18
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Love led

by Melissa Kruger

Love led Jesus to the cross, and future joy helped him endure it.

Your neighbor

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

Romans 13:8
Love Your Neighbor
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

The risen Christ

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4
The Risen Christ, Faith's Reality
(by the way, love that term: "Faith's Reality")
Moreover brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

Take up the cross

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

Luke 9:23-24
Take Up the Cross and Follow Him
Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it."

All have sinned

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

Romans 3:23-24
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified fully by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Bad chapter

Don't give up because of one bad chapter in your life. Keep going. Your story doesn't end here.

Someone you love

by Brene Brown

Talk to yourself like you would talk to someone you love.

Never done

If you want something you never had, you have to do something you've never done.

Hostage by anger

If you let the anger of other

people decide your course of

action, then you have just 

trained them in how to get 

what they want. Don't be held

hostage by anger.

One day

One day you're gonna 

come across a man that will 

worship the ground you walk on.

Do not stop until you find that man.

He will love and cherish every inch

of you (personality, body, mind),

and he will do everything in his

power not to lose you. Don't settle

for half a.. men.

A seed

They tried to bury me but didn't realize I was a seed.

Beyond the clouds

Beautiful Baby
so far away
Mommy will see you
in Heaven
one day.

I look to the sky
and I realize...
My heart beats
beyond the clouds.

Start over

Strength shows

not only in the

ability to persist,

but the ability to

start over.

Convenient

If you push me away, I promise you, you won't find me where you left me.
My heart's big, but not big enough to deal with people who decide to love me when it's convenient for them.

Want to leave

If they want to leave, let them.

If they push you away, just go. You

weren't put on this earth to convince

anyone of your worth. You're here

to learn, create, flourish, and spread 

love. The ones deserving of

you will always make you 

feel appreciated.

Focus

If you focus on 

the hurt, you will continue to

suffer. If you focus on the

lesson, you will continue to

grow.

Everything alone

Life has been kinda tough lately and

every morning

I tell myself

"You are stronger than this, and if I

have to do everything alone

so be it"

Do better

Do yourself a favor

and learn how to walk away. When a 

connection starts to fade, learn how 

to let it go. When a person starts to

mistreat you, learn how to move on

to something and someone better.

Don't waste your energy trying to

force something that isn't meant to

be. Because the truth is, for every 

one person who doesn't value you,

there are tons more waiting to love

you better. Do better.

Absolutely beautiful

A woman's body

makes her sexy. Her smile

makes her pretty. But it's a 

good heart and soul that

make her absolutely

beautiful.

Funny

It's funny how many

friends you lose when you

stop reaching out to 

them first.

Right people

I like when

I don't have to be careful

about what I say. That's

when you know you're 

with the right people.

Angry

If you say no to someone and they get angry, it doesn't mean you should have said yes.

The kind of person

Be the kind of person who isn't afraid to ask someone if they are okay twice if they say they are, but look like they aren't. Be the kind of person who smiles at people even if they don't smile back. Be the kind of person you wished for when no one was there for you. Be the kind of person who is brave enough to stand alone in a crowd for what is right. Be that person because we need more people like that in the world. Be that person because people like that are rarer than the rarest diamonds and gold.

-Nikita Gill

Doubting

You're over here doubting yourself while so many people are intimidated by your potential.

Personally applied

Someone once asked Billy Graham, "If Christianity is valid, why is there so much evil in the world?"
To this he replied, "With so much soap, why are there so many dirty people in the world? Christianity, like soap, must be personally applied if it is to make a difference in our lives."

Trust God

God closed the lion's mouth for Daniel.
He parted the Red Sea for Moses.
He gave Sarah a baby.
He raised Lazarus from the dead.
Nothing you'll face today is out of His control
Trust God.

Fair

by John MacArthur

Is God unfair in not choosing everyone?
Fair would send everyone to hell.
You don't want fair, you want mercy.

Fair

by John MacArthur

Is God unfair in not choosing everyone?
Fair would send everyone to hell.
You don't want fair, you want mercy.

Set boundaries

When we begin to set boundaries with

people we love, a really hard thing

happens: they hurt. They may feel a hole

where you used to plug up their aloneness, 

their disorganization, or their financial

irresponsibilty. Whatever it is, they will

feel a loss. If you love them, this will be

difficult for you to watch. But, when you

are dealing with someone who is hurting,

remember that your boundaries are both

necessary for you and helpful for them. If

you have been enabling them to be

irresponsible, your limit setting may

nudge them toward responsibility.

by Henry Cloud

Mental level

Everything happens on a mental level before it manifests on the physical level. This is why it's so important to get your mindset right. You have to believe in yourself no matter what the external circumstances are. Strengthen your vision and have hope that things can get better.

Breathe

by Toby Mac

Sometimes
it's okay
if the
only
thing
you did
today
was
breathe.

Worst feeling

The worst feeling is when

you find out you didn't mean

as much to someone as you

thought you did and you look

so stupid for caring so much.

Genuinely happy

My only goal

in life right now is to be

happy. Genuinely, intensely

and consistently happy,

regardless of what that looks

like to others.

Your voice

I have not heard your voice in years, but my heart has conversations with you every day.

In our place

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

Romans 5:6-8
Christ in Our Place
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Belongs to Jesus

Not this extreme for me, but can relate...

Your Sexuality Belongs to Jesus by Megan Cox

I could go the rest of my life without having sex. In fact, I abhor it. I don't ever want to be touched again; I don't want to do anything except ball up in bed and surround myself with pillows. I want to feel safe in my bed.

I listened as this amazing woman shared her sexual aversion with me. She never wants to remarry. She never wants to meet another man or have anything to do with men again, actually. It makes her skin crawl. Clearly, this is common with the women to whom we minister. And I don't blame them. When she finished telling me about what sex was like in her first marriage, I asked her, "Have you ever given your sexuality to Jesus?"

She looked away and her face got hot. I could see tears stinging her eyes. She paused and then turned back to me, angrily..."I'm not going back to him. I'm not giving him my body ever again." I was stunned. But, I understood. I remember the connection I made between God and my husband - the unhealthy connection. I said it again, "No, that's not what I asked. I asked if you had ever given JESUS your sexuality." She looked confused. I knew exactly what was confusing her. I spoke again, "Giving Jesus your sexuality is not equivalent to giving a man your sexuality." She stared at me for a moment, gaining clarity. Her mind was racing. I took a moment and then I went further, "Your husband is not God." I watched as, right in that moment, she began to untangle her sexuality from spiritual abuse. She was literally creating a new pathway in her mind that was separate from what she had been told over and over.

I remembered...I remembered the degradation of sexual and spiritual abuse, all intertwined like dark threads around my heart. Before I found freedom and healing, I equated Jesus being Lord of my life - my entire life and all aspects of it - with giving my body to my abusive husband to fulfill his lustful and pornographic desires. There was a paradigm and a culture in my home and in my church that said, "If you surrender to Jesus, that means you are surrendering to your husband." That, my friends, is putting your husband in the place where Jesus rightfully belongs. We naturally assume, because of faulty teachings in the church, that surrendering our sexuality to Jesus means God is then going to ask us to give our bodies to our husbands as though that is what God wants.

Let me make something very clear: Giving our bodies to our abusive husbands may not be what God is asking of us. Even clearer: God cares about you, sister, more than he cares about your husband using your body over and over. He has NEVER asked you to compromise your dignity, sexually, for the twisted satisfaction of your husband.

When I gave my sexuality to Jesus, He was direct, "Megan, I want to heal this part of you." That's what happened. He never once said, "I now want you to give yourself, like a prostitute, to your husband." For those who do not know this, women in sexually abusive relationships feel like prostitutes. He provides money for a woman and her babies; she provides the sex. It's horrible. It's treacherous; it's evil.

So, when I ask our mamas to give their sexuality to Jesus, they can be assured that they are putting it in safe, scarred, powerful and beautiful hands. Jesus is gentle. His yoke is light. He is in the business of being the Wonderful Counselor, Healer and Comforter of our souls. He does not look at you, precious and beloved daughter of the King, point His finger and say, "Go do what your husband demands." Oh, no...that is not in line with His character. He always looks at us and says, "I want to heal that broken part of you because I care deeply about every single part of you."

So, sister...cut that connection and open your heart to actual and true healing of Jesus without all of the shackles. Separate that part of your brain that links giving your heart to Jesus with allowing abuse in your life. That is NOT His plan. Give your sexuality to Jesus and let Him do with it what He will. You can trust Him, even though you could not trust your husband. Because Jesus is not your abusive husband. And watch what He does. I don't know what He will do but I can promise you He will not ask you to subject yourself to abuse. It's just you and Him, baby. And, even if you cannot trust anyone else in the world right now, you can trust the Lover of your Soul.

People in place

I haven't written a post of my own for a while, but was inspired to do so after a recent situation that happened in a friend's family:

This friend is a lady in my Sunday night Bible Study group. Her daughter and son-in-law had a house fire last Sunday that destroyed their entire house and even killed their dog.

I first heard of this (not knowing I knew anyone tied to it), from a voicemail on Monday at work, saying they had a fire and needed a call back to report the claim. I called the man back and took the information and set up the claim with the claims dept. I mentioned this to Grandfather and Jill because a large claim like this definitely impacts the bottom line of the office.

Later on in the morning, I saw a post on FB about people raising money for this couple. It was posted by Ashley Sutton. I made a comment on it, telling her that these were our customers and that I felt so bad for them.

Later in the day, there was an email from my Grace Group (different group of ladies than the Bible Study group), with a request to pray for this family. That's when I saw the connection to Jane in my Bible Study group.

After receiving a prayer request from the Bible Study group specifically that Jane is in, I reached out to her to tell her that they were insured at the office and that I had talked to her son-in-law about it initially, and that if they needed anything along the way, even though it was now in the claims dept. hands, to let me know. There was another reply email from another friend in the group that said her pastor is neighbors of the couple who had the fire.

We were updated last night with more details from Jane and found out that her son-in-law and daughter had been in contact with someone else who had a house fire and had a list of things they needed to do. All of these instances prompted me to write this post.

When (and the emphasis is on when) tragedy strikes, God has people in place. People in place who are ready to help, personal connections at all levels to help soften the blow. He knows when the tragedies are coming, and for His own reasons, He allows them. But He will always have people in place, ready to help.

I saw this so many times over in your accident, Hayden. I'm still discovering things even after all this time of God's divine orchestration of the aftermath. God will always make a way. And I am so thankful for that.

Boundaries

The only people who get upset when you set boundaries
are those who benefited from you having none.

Alternative

from Flying Free

I remember feeling this hopeless at times...

We might be able to prevent some divorce by tightening our divorce laws or by religious prohibitions against divorce, but such actions would not prevent broken marriages. When couples stay together only because of fear of the notoriety required by divorce laws, or because of church prohibitions, or "for the sake of the children", tragedy can result. Disastrous marital triangles, domestic cruelty, child abuse, murder, and suicide are some of the documented consequences of marriage which had failed, but was not terminated. What a fearful choice! A broken home is a tragedy, but I will never forget a young man who put a gun barrel in his mouth and ended his marriage, his alternative to divorce. His church had forbidden divorce.

Keep on shining

Let people judge you. Let them

misunderstand you. Let them gossip

about you. What they think of you

isn't your problem. Their opinions

do not pay your bills. So you stay

kind, committed to love, and no

matter what they do or say...never

doubt your worth or the beauty of

your truth. You keep on shining

and let the hater hate.

Hard to find

If you find someone 

who makes you smile, who

checks on you often to see if

you're okay, who watches out

for you and wants the very best

for you, don't let them go.

Keep them close and don't take

them for granted. People like

that are hard to find.

Broken home

from Give Her Wings

It frustrates me to hear that my children are "from a broken home". They are not from a broken home. They are part of a home where they are loved, deeply and dearly, and a beautiful tapestry of pain and beauty have been woven together. They are from a home where we were honest about our pain and loved and supported each other through it. They are from a home where abuse is not/was not allowed and where healthy relationships are the goal. They are from a home where life has not been easy, but life is never easy!

The belief that if two parents stayed together, despite the ongoing abuse, that their kids would somehow be "whole" is from a faulty theology that uses equations for "success". Children are whole when they are loved and shown the Gospel every single day. Children are whole when they are not subjected to abuse. I know plenty of families where the parents stayed together...and the children are deeply struggling teens and adults now.

My children are not "from a broken home". They are creative, intelligent, emotionally beautiful, character-savvy, Jesus-loving individuals. And I could not be more proud.

Character does

Someone you've known for only ten days could have
better intentions for you than someone you've known for ten
years. Time means nothing; character does.

Same mistake

Everyone deserves second chances,
but not for the same mistake.

Heart is heavy

When your heart is heavy and your mind is weak, you can only turn to God, so get on your knees, ask Him for guidance, patience, and strength because at the end of the day, He is the only one on whom you can depend.

The comeback

The

comeback

is always bigger

than the

setback

Do not let time

from Jessi Snapp, Luminous Light Studio

So know this. It does get better.

Slowly. But do not let time make you

feel bad for not being better, or further,

or healed. Do not let time hold a 

cloud of expectation over your head. 

Whether it has been a month, a year, or 20.

It's okay to miss them. To have days that are

hard. To still have the days that bring on the

insuperable pain. Time is so different where

we are and it's okay to allow it

to change you and your grief.

But no amount of time will change

the deep love you so fiercely

cling to.

Definition of insuperable: (of a difficulty or obstacle) impossible to overcome

Care

Anxiety is when you care too much about everything.

Depression is when you don't really care about anything.

Having both is just like hell.

Easily go

The biggest rule in 

a relationship is no matter how

mad you are at your partner,

you do not go and seek

someone else's attention, you

sit down and make it

right, because that's your

person. If you can easily go to

someone else, you do not love

the person you are with.

Two broken hearts

Sometimes two broken

hearts find each other and then

they heal each other, and they

protect each other and they

love each other for the rest of 

their lives.

Not good for me

I am slowly 

learning that 

some people

are not good

for me, no 

matter how 

much I love 

them.

Never expected to end

Sometimes we can't let go

of memories, because they

are constant reminders of

a great story that we

never expected 

to end.

Wildfire

by Erin Van Vuren

You will ask
for a match
and I will
give you
a wildfire.
I don't know
how to love
small.

Fake people

Sitting alone and enjoying your own company is better than being surrounded by fake people.

New life

Your new life is going to cost you your old one.

Your worth

There will always be someone who can't see your worth.
Don't let it be you.

Don't become

by Toby Mac

Don't become who hurt you.

Supposed to hurt

by Brene Brown

I thought faith would

be an epidural,

taking away the pain and discomfort.

But faith

is more like a midwife--

a nurturing partner who leans into

the discomfort with

you and whispers,

"Push and breathe.

It's supposed to hurt."

Grudges

Some people are holding grudges against you for things they did to you.

Miss you

Sent this to K on the third day of trip to Jamaica but felt it was blog-worthy:

Have had a lot of "thinking" time these past few days, and I was thinking how much I miss Carter because since he left last Wednesday night, the Jamaica trip happened, we left for it, and we'll be back before he gets home on Saturday.

I texted him this simple thought, "I miss you Carter." And then this thought hit me hard, so much so that for the next hour or so at the pool, I had continuous tears running down my cheeks behind my sunglasses:

I miss you, Hayden

All of a sudden

Everything will happen

for you all of a sudden and you

will be thankful you didn't give

up. Blessings are coming.

Believe that.

Chase people

Good reminder...

You shouldn't have to chase people. If they miss you, they will call. If they want to be with you, they will find a way. If they care, it will show, and if not, then they are not worth your time.

What you do

Love is not

what you say.

Love is what

you do.

No response

No response

is a response. And 

it's a powerful one.

Remember

that.

Burst into tears

Have you ever missed someone so much that even the thought of them made you burst into tears?

Bad dream

Do you ever wish you could just wake up and it was all just a bad dream? Me too.

My note: Every.Day.

Lose yourself

Have seen this before but good reminder

You're gonna lose friends, relationships, and maybe even family but at the end of the day you just have to make sure you don't lose yourself.

True word

by C.S. Lewis

It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, who is the true word of God. The Bible, read in the right spirit and with the guidance of good teachers, will bring us to Him. We must not use the Bible as a sort of encyclopedia out of which texts can be taken for use as weapons.

Our choices

by J.K. Rowling

It is our choices...
that show what
we truly are,
far more than
our abilities.

Make me laugh

by Audrey Hepburn

I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.

Loving you correctly

Never let a man convince you that holding him accountable for his actions is creating "negativity," "stress" or "drama." If he didn't want the task of loving you correctly, he should've never signed up for it.

Been through

One day as I walked along

Feeling like nothing was new

I looked behind me and saw

All that I had been through

The pain where I had been

Was marked by tears and sighs

It saddened me to see them

I wanted to shield my eyes

But when I took a closer look

I was surprised to find

Wisdom, strength and hope

And friends of every kind

Today my heart thanks you

All those who stayed near

With hugs and understanding

You helped keep my path clear

Understand her

I don't think she

is hard to love. Maybe she just

seems difficult because nobody

ever had the patience to

understand her.

Explaining Suffering

from biography of C.S. Lewis

"Its sole purpose (the book The Problem of Pain) is to explain suffering,"maintained Jack (C.S. Lewis). "Most pain in men is inflicted by other men, perhaps from Satan. Yet," Jack yielded, "some pain must be attributed to God. Why would God make men suffer? The hard answer is that in no ways other than pain and death can God make man surrender his self to God. 'Happy' people ignore God; 'unhappy' people seek God and desire the peace and security of his Kingdom." Thus Jack explained why an all-powerful, loving God permits pain.

Lose me

I used to be afraid of losing people, until I realized most of them were never really down for me in the first place. Even though my loyalty and love for them ran deep, they couldn't care less. So instead of being afraid of losing them, I fell back and watched them lose me.

Fill your life

To anybody who's 

reading this, I pray that whatever

is hurting you or whatever you

are constantly stressing about 

gets better. May the dark

thoughts, the overthinking, and

the doubt exit your mind right

now. May clarity replace

confusion. May peace and 

calmness fill your life.

No strings

by Rob Hill, Sr.

When I give, it does not come with strings. I'm not keeping track of what you owe me. When I give, I choose to do so without ulterior motives. I give because I'm genuine. I give because I know what it's like to be without. To long for and be ignored. To speak and not be heard. To care for and have nothing returned. When I give it's because I get it. It's because I know the value in what I have in my heart and I refuse to let the world stop me from sharing that. But when things start being taken for granted, when you no longer appreciate my sincerity, I won't switch, I won't get angry, and I won't be spiteful. I'll just get smart and I'll change your role in my life. Because when I give, I'm all in. But when I'm done, there's no looking back.

Character-impaired

by Dr. George Simon

Narcissists have a curious relationship with the truth. They think so highly of themselves they can easily equate their perceptions with reality. The more character-impaired they are, the less they seek validation of their perspectives. For many, reality is simply what they say it is.

Greater things

Be grateful that certain things didn't work out. Sometimes you don't even know what you're being protected from or where you're being guided to when you're in the midst of chaos. That's why you just have to trust that greater things are aligning for you. Let go gracefully.

Find the lessons

It's funny how we
outgrow what we once
thought we couldn't live without,
and then we fall in love with what
we didn't even know we wanted.
Life keeps leading us
on journeys we would
never go on if it were up to us.
Don't be afraid. Have faith. Find the lessons.

Survival guide

Tell the story of the mountain you climbed.
Your words could become a page in someone else's survival guide.