Love endures.

I saw a man begging for money today. And I don't care what people will say about homeless people and beggars; but when you truly have nothing, I believe you count your blessings more than the average person. He waved as he walked the grass strip alongside the cars. He didn't even wince walking up to the last car, as I'm sure not every person he passed had a joyful response. He had collected money from two cars and he began to walk back to his belongings. As he returned, he blew two kisses to the sky and waved at every single car on the way to his things. It was the man that blew two kisses to God that made my day. I don't know what was going through his mind as he walked away with that money, but I know what I was thinking. If a man with much less than I had could be so joyful amidst his circumstances, why couldn't I? And, though, I didn't know his situation, I could just tell by his countenance that he was strong.

Yesterday, I heard someone mention love as though it was just a phase that I would grow out of. Then the thought crossed my mind that love is not a phase, it endures. I have learned that love is not just some puppy dog obsession and it is not temporary at all. It is something that takes time and precious care. It is something that lasts forever. And I hope that I don't just love with the intent to find love elsewhere down the road. It is not just a word to be "flung around". This doesn't just go for love between couples; it can be said about all love. Love is looking beyond faults. Love is sacrifice. To quote scripture: " Love is patient, love is kind." Love is more than words. And it never fails.

Let love grow

I am so tired of this apathy,

please take this hungry heart, Lord

and fill it with more and more of You

I do believe that nothing is impossible with You

I do believe that Your promises are true

they are what I cling to 

when it feels like I'm on the brink

of springing forth in praise

and I can't express how I feel on the inside

and my dreams of dancing for You won't subside

I just want them to see

how much you mean to me

I just want to be 

the person you meant for me to be

I am chosen, and free

I am Your child, You are my King

I am Your friend, for eternity

I am more than a conquerer, there is power in Your name

the only name by which we are free

Jesus, it was You who rescued me

and to You I am thankful 

help me to remember daily, all that You have done for me

and let this love for you grow, exponentially.

I know my God is with me

I've heard it said many times before: "In our weakness, He is made strong." But not the way I heard it tonight. Thinking about what happens in my moments of weakness, I thought back to my past. There is that critical point where you can decide to complain and work in your own strength; or you can claim your weakness through Him, the one who overcame. I thought back to when I sat in the hospital, alone in a room with white walls, one small bed with white sheets and a white blanket. Everything within me said I could not move on and wanted to act on my own, end it all in a selfish attempt to take my own life. Yet, someone told me there was more than this, that I needed to pray. And with one desperate, honest plea.... "JESUS!" There were no more thoughts plaguing me, no more hallucinations haunting me in my every move. It was over, I gave it all to him. In my weakness, he became strong.