Third World vs First World

This is my favorite wall in my room. The only things on it, besides a headboard, are these two pictures. They are a constant reminder of the gap between third world countries and our country.
The picture on the left is of a place that stole my heart several years ago. A place that feels so much like home when I'm there, that I miss it often. It is a picture of homes that surround the garbage dump of Guatemala City, Guatemala. A neighborhood known as the squatters area. Many people don't want to go hang out there, but for me it brings so much joy to hang out with kids and teens that live around the dump. Sure they smell, have little to no education, search for food in the dump and probably have lice, however they have faith like no one in the US. Little kids still run around with grins like the Cheshire cat and laugh those deep belly laughs that are super contagious. Everyone that lives in the squatters area just wants to hang out. They want to be heard. They want to share their story, and teach you as much as you might want to teach them and share Jesus. Run and play soccer with them for 10 minutes and they become your best friend. There are teens that are so jaded by what love is, that it has to be hard for them to understand the love of Christ, and yet they are so willing to sit and read the bible with you or sing worship songs. Just writing about this place makes me want to leave the comfort of my home and go visit again. And that is just part of why I love this picture. It is also a reminder to love the orphans and widows. To be the hands and feet of Jesus. To go where no one else is willing to go. To love the unlovable. To do all of it because Jesus loved us first!
The second picture, on the right, is from the top of the Empire State Building in New York. It reminds me daily that I live in a place of many blessings. Roof over my head, food in the refrigerator, new clothes in my closet, and clean air to breath. I know who my parents are and I love them. But despite all those blessings, I find myself sometimes wanting more. Wanting to be something more, do more, and have more. After all more is best right? NOT. The words on the picture say, Hope, Peace, Integrity. The more I have the less I need Hope, because the less I think I need God. I also think the more we have the harder it is to have Peace, since everyone wants what their neighbor has and will always be at war with ourselves and jealousy. Also the more we have/want the harder it is to keep your Integrity. But this is all possible when you realize how blessed you are to be living in this first world country. So this picture reminds me to Hope in the promises of Christ, to keep Peace with friends, neighbors, family and even enemies, and to keep Integrity amongst a society that definitely doesn't value it.

Favorite things in my room =)

Life Giving Relationships

I have always taken extreme pride over the friendships that I have. I'm kind of picky when it comes to whom I spend my free time with and who I share lifes ups and downs with. If you know me well, you know that I'm pretty introverted and love small group or one-on-one relationships. I'm not the life of the party. I'm not the person that loves large crowds and environments where I know no one. I would rather have a small dinner party and game night with close friends then a large, crazy Friday night party. 

In the last two years I have had to become a little more extroverted as I work with high school students in ministry. But to be honest by Sunday night, after working 6 days and pouring into students, parents and volunteers, I'm exhausted. The introverted side of me wants to crawl into bed and be by myself for 24 hours. Resting, thinking, and processing the week that just passed. I can be pretty selfish by the time Sunday night and Monday morning roll around. I don't really want to spend time pouring into others, I want to spend time being poured into. I want to hang out with people that are easy going, low maintenance, no drama. With people that understand how a true relationship works, give and take type of things. And that is where Life Giving Relationships play in. 

I have 6 friends that are life giving! They are incredible women who love the Lord. We have all had our fair share of ups and downs and we have definitely seen the ugly side of each other. Despite the messiness of friendship, we love each other. And this last week I was blessed to spend time with each of them separately. Disneyland, lunch, sno-on-the go, 2 hour phone convos, all so refreshing. By the end of the week I felt like a new breath of life had been breathed in me. As silly as that sounds, I felt that the advice, laughs, and intentional conversations I had through out the week, had left me feeling loved, valued, and blessed. Blessed that I can walk through life alongside of these friends! 

I think it is obviously so important to have friendships that give and take. For me, it is better to have a small group of friends that can walk the storms of life with you then a large group of acquaintances. Life isn't meant to be done alone. We are meant to live in community. This is my community. 6 friends and a loving sister! All living for the Lord. All challenging each other to grow physically, mentally and spiritually.

40 Days is over

40 days of no Facebook has reached its end! I have to say it has been a long 40 days but so good. Yesterday marked a day in history that has forever changed my life and hopefully yours too.
Jesus conquered the grave!!!!

I've spent a lot of time thinking about what Christ did in the 40 days of let and what He teaches us through that. Some of my older post have better summaries of what've learned but below is a picture of what has been going on. 6 words for 6 weeks of reflection. All on my mirror as a constant reminder.
I'm so not ready to jump all in on Facebook again so I've decided the fb app will never go on my phone again. I spend way too much time on my phone without having Facebook to distract me.