Give me wisdom...

I have never before asked God for wisdom as much as I have now.

I look around me and see so many make flippant decisions about life.

It makes me cringe inside, clinging so much more to those in life who do walk in wisdom and seek counsel.

It hurts my heart to see people be the center of their own worlds instead of being worked around who You are and what You are doing.

Proverbs 13:20 says, 

"He who walks with wise men will be wise, 

  But the companion of fools will be destroyed."

The validity of this scripture has been so obvious in my life throughout the years.

I have been thinking lately of the challenge of scriptures such as this.

In its application, it may mean the necessity of rearranging the closeness or influence of certain relationships in your life.

It may also mean the determination of our individual decisions to more closely align to the image of Christ.

I have heard it said many times that we become like those we are closest to, which also means the people we spend the most time with. 

Show me your friends and I will show you your future.

The same rings true that if we want the fruit of another's life in our own, we must be intentional about being around those people.

Invest in what you want to attain.

I am so thankful for those God has put around me to lead me in such a way that glorifies Him.

I am thankful that I have learned to make decisions not purely on my emotions or circumstances, but by the grace and discernment of the Holy Spirit.

God, let me continue on the path with those best for me - headed towards You with intense ferocity.

Time is our friend - if we allow it to be.

Small minded thinking looks at the smaller picture of life - the here and now.

I pray to always look at the bigger picture.

To make decisions that will long outlast the immediate.

I want all of who I am to be invested into the House of God - into who God has made and called me to be more than my own selfish desires.

Proverbs 29:18

"Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law." NKJV

"Where there is no revelation (vision), people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction." NIV

"If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed." MSG

Vision needs to be constantly refreshed.
Constantly worked towards.
Constantly invested into.
Constant priority.

God, keep my eyes ever on You and what You are doing.
Keep my steps in line with yours.
Give to me whatever advances me in Your direction ever more strongly.
Let my life be a celebration of Your work in me and not on how well I can get by on just my own.

If You do not go with me, do not send me. Let Your presence be with me wherever I go or here I shall stay.

Validation.
Affirmation.
Love.

Three things we are all searching for whether we vocalize it or not.

Sometimes there are certain people we just need it from.
Most people will do anything to get it.

"Do you see me?!"
"Do you love me?"
"Am I making you proud?"
"Is this right?"

I know how much I long for some of these from certain people. I can't help it.
I want to make those I love proud.
I want to know for sure I am loved. Remind me!
Are you thinking of me? Do I matter?

Then it makes me think.
Who needs me to remind them that they are loved and lovely?
Who needs to feel respected, brave, strong, and considered?
Who wants to make me proud?

Sometimes I do not think I express my love enough and other times I feel like I am too much.
Yet I never want to be the one who ever forgot.
To always recognize those in my world.
To love my best. Encourage my best. Observe my best. Remember my best.

Do you hear me?
Am I hearing you?

Selfishness is an ugly face.
To be so SELF involved that you are overlooking those around you.

Can we let go of distraction?
Can we make time?
Can we listen well?
Can we see with Jesus like eyes?
Can we put our phones away and be all there?
Can we take note of the little things that have the potential to make big waves?
Can we love so well we cause an overflow and burst through the dirts of life straight to the gold?
Can we have perspective, remembering when we were in the same place, and help develop overcomers?
Can we remember that God can always do all things with all people?

Today I was reminded that all the gold I show and all the gold still to be unearthed, has and will only come when the right people in my world are with me along the way; in word, in action, in love, and in recognizing and acknowledging.
God's goodness makes me great. Makes me thankful. Makes life beautiful.
God's goodness is His presence, His people, His words, and His power.
His power in me.
His power in those around me.
HIs power unleashed the way He pleases.

His validation, His affirmation, and His love come from His presence but also from His people.
So remember to be His vessel.
Remember that its about Jesus.
Remember that its about others.
Remember that theres a price to pay.
Remember that it is worth it.
Remember that it is what matters most.
Remember to be present.

Musings on death...

Yeah, I get that this is really weird.
Musings on death? Kinda morbid. But these are the kinds of things that I think about when I am alone.
But really, thinking about death is really actually thinking about life.

How am I living my life?
Is it in such a way that in my death, how I lived mattered to people?
I fear living a life that was only for myself.
I fear leaving this earth too early and that all those who mattered to me would not be sure of how much I loved them and what I would do for them.
I fear not leaving an impact on those around me.

It pains me to see people not knowing how valuable the life we live is.
That it is not only about us but about those around us.

I constantly find myself looking around and seeing the most incredible individuals around me.
I think of how they have changed my life.
How they challenge me and bring out the best of me.
My people are the evidence of God's goodness towards me.
Can anyone say that about me?
Can they say it about you?