Relationship Challenge

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

Over the past couple of months, the Lord has been teaching me a lot about relationships with other people and with himself. It's insane how much closer you can get to God just by loving other people. Sometimes, we get too caught up in paying attention to ourselves and all of our own needs. We start to numb out by doing things like; watching TV, playing on the computer, reading fantasy books, and even over sleeping. 

I feel that we're all meant to meet with each other, to love one another. Actually, I know that we're supposed to do this. It's says it right above! But what does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? Do you love yourself? Maybe you don't think that you do, but really think about it for a second. Go ahead, think about it. My words will still be here after you think...

Did you think about it? Okay, good. Well, here is my thought; yes, I love myself. Maybe I have a low self esteem, and I wish I was a better person. But who do I pay attention to most of the time? Me. Who's needs to I fill the most? Mine. Who do I usually always think about? (Besides my boyfriend...) Myself. I am so selfish. It's really a nasty habit. 

So, like I said, I'm learning a lot about relationships. People need God. God meets our needs through other people. We need people. We need relationships. I've been very challenged to stop thinking about myself so much. (Which is really hard because I won't leave myself alone.) 

So, my challenge to you and myself, meet someone else's need today. Someone that you don't usually do anything for. Maybe actually take time to talk to that person in the grocery store. You'll be surprised to know that you can make someone else's day fairly easily. Ask someone how they're really doing. Then listen. It will give you a different sense of love. 

Stepping into Adulthood

In our lives, there are always huge choices of what to do next. Sometimes, you can't just go for it. You have to weigh every possibility of what may happen, and how will it effect everyone else's lives. The pondering moments are crucial. 
The biggest step of going into adulthood is learning what you want to do with your future. Do you want to focus on a career? Do you want to go to college? When do you want to move out of your parent's house? Are you capable of being independent? Do you have the money to support yourself? How much are your parents going to help you? Do you have any possible roommates? Well, here I am at 19 years old (and I still feel like I'm 12!), and I'm making these hard decisions. No, I don't want to go to college to focus on a career. I would like to move out on my own, but my simple fast food job isn't going to support my every need. Isn't it a terrible time realizing that you have no one to move out with? Maybe that's just me... 
So while I sit here wondering about my not so distant future, I pray that God will guide me through it all. (And that I'll stop freaking out about the silly things.) Luckily, I opened up an email from my boyfriend, Jordan, and this scripture was in it. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." Proverbs 3;5-6


On a more happy note, I FINALLY BLOGGED!