Me, A Role Model?

“People tell me I’m brave. People tell me I’m strong. People tell me I did a good job. Well, here‘s the truth of it. I’m not really that brave. I’m not really that strong. And I’m not doing anything spectacular. I’m just doing what God called me to do as a follower of His. Feed His sheep. Do unto the least of His people.”

These words were spoken by a woman named Katie Davis. In December of 2006, then 18-year-old Katie traveled to Uganda for the first time. Almost immediately she fell in love with the people and the culture. She moved to Uganda in 2007 to be a kindergarten teacher. One day while walking a group of children home she was shocked at how many uneducated school-age children there were. She discovered schools are privately owned in Uganda, meaning parents pay to have their children educated. (more…)

The New vs. Old

So…its 20 days into a new year. Supposedly there is something special about being able to start afresh. In the new year we can choose to do things differently, right?  We could choose to evoke resolutions that we want to happen in our lives. Let’s just be real, those things never last. Two weeks after I resolve to wake up every morning and run, I stop. If its not a habit, then it probably won’t become one unless I try very hard. I heard on the news that a habit doesn’t fully form until you do it for 6 months consistently. 6 months is a long time!!!! LOL.

So what do I do with it all? All being my life and all of its contents: everything I want to change, every uncomfortable characteristic, every unfulfilled relationship, every heartache, and every deferred hope. How can everything be new if the old still exists?

One thing I am learning about my relationship with Jesus is that He is so willing to wait until I give Him an opportunity to work. I can try, try, try and try until I am blue in the face and black in the feet. But something overwhelmingly breaks like a snapped bungee cord and smashes me down to reality when I stop trying and rest. Jesus says: “Live in me, and I will live in you. A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself. It has to stay attached to the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit unless you live in me.” (John 15:4)

When we live in Him, we give Him space to open doors of limitless possibilities for us.

I am reminded of the scripture that says:

“Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Clearly, God is making a point here. He is going to do something new…fresh..lively..invigorating in the lives of His people. Is this the same God I follow? Yeppers. He can do new things for me too! YAY

I’m finding that there are very few times (maybe never) in my walk with God that He is dependent upon me to accomplish something. The only effort I put forth is to trust Him to make and re-make all that pertains to me.

So… this year, He’ll be my resolution.

I resolve to be open to Christ and to allow Him to… do what He does best. Will you?

 

Shaken

The rollercoaster at the Denmark amusement park was a little rickety. I heard a clattering sound as a single car climbed the big hill and rushed down the other side.

Excited screams floated on the wind. My family was sightseeing in Europe, and we were stopping at several of the famous theme parks during our trip.

It was almost our turn to ride. There were no ropes at the front of the line where I was standing, so I leaned over to look into the deep tunnel-like track where the roller coaster would stop. It sure was a long drop…

Suddenly, someone grabbed my waist and held me over the track! The rollercoaster was about to return to its station, and I certainly didn’t want to be on the path when it did. A moment later, my prankster returned my feet to the ground. I whirled to look at the person
who thought it was funny to scare the life out of me, and found the guilty culprit, a ride attendant, giggling hilariously at what he thought was a clever joke. Apparently he didn’t share the American fear of the word, “lawsuit.”

Have you ever had that feeling of being unsettled like that? Probably your experience is more serious than an ill-timed prank. The other day I stumbled on this amazing verse, Acts 2:25. It says, “For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken.’” What struck me is that the same God who could not be held by death is the one who is at my right hand so “that I may not be shaken.” Isn’t that incredible? As we hold on to God, he will become the most important thing in our lives and we will never be shaken to the core. Focus on Jesus. By his power, you will never be shaken from his hands.

Do you feel like your parents’ divorce or another problem has been a roadblock in your life? Have you ever felt shaken by a disaster that you didn’t see coming? What have you learned through it?

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

- Aimee

Scars

“How long do you think it will take for them to go away?” I asked while examining the 3-inch scars on the sides of my feet.

“Oh, I’d say about three weeks or so,” my podiatrist answered absentmindedly. He finished up his check-up and handed me back my crutches.

“Really? That seems pretty quick.” I answered, a hint of disbelief in my voice. When I had gone in for my first bunion surgery almost two months ago, I hadn’t considered the fact that I would come out with these scars. Now that the second surgery was over, I was beginning to wonder how long I would bear the marks that made wearing flip-flops a little more dramatic.

Now, almost two and a half years later, I still have long, pink scars on the inner sides of my feet. It’s interesting to see peoples’ startled reactions when they glance down during a conversation and notice them there for the first time. Sometimes I like to come up with outrageous stories of how they got there, at my poor friend’s expense.

There are other ways to get scars than just getting physically hurt. Divorce leaves some big ones – maybe not so visible. Sometimes we can want to hide those scars deep down where no one will ever notice them. We are afraid that we will be viewed as weird or ugly because of the hurt we have experienced.

Unlike the scars on my feet which might never completely go away, the scars that we carry from our parents’ divorce can be healed. God wants to heal you from the ill effects of your parents’ separation. But there is one thing you have to do: stop hiding them from him. Go to Jesus in prayer and expose your hurt to his healing hand. He will make you like new inside.

-Aimee

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Self-Injury

 

“You have so much pain inside yourself that you try and hurt yourself on the outside because you want help.” Princess Diana admitted to cutting her legs in a BBC interview.

“I put out cigarettes on my arms. It didn’t hurt. You get this adrenaline rush and could actually faint from the pain, then a little sting then you actually don’t feel anything. It’s calming actually.”Christina Ricci quoted during an interview with Spin Magazine.

Demi Lovato dropped out of a concert tour with the Jonas Brothers last year to seek help with eating disorders and cutting. Angelina Jolie has admitted to cutting during a rough patch in her teens and early twenties.

Young women resort to self-injury because they are experiencing overwhelming feelings, like extreme anxiety or tension, and in the moment self-injury may seem to provide a feeling of escape or relief. Forms of self-injury can vary. Cutting is the most prevalent but picking, scratching, and burning yourself are also forms of self-injury. (Center for Young Women’s Health-Children’s Hospital of Boston)

This type of addiction is not usually conquered alone.  It’s important to pin-point the reason you harm yourself. If your darkness stems from your parents’ divorce and you don’t feel comfortable talking to your parents, please find another adult you trust. Don’t be ashamed. Your Heavenly Father loves you no matter what and He has a message for you in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you are bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Encouragement:

Teenage years are tough and your parents’ divorce has created a double whammy for you. No wonder you’re experiencing overwhelming feelings. Please know you’re not alone. You can feel alone in a house full of people. I get that. If any of these scenarios represent you, please know God is looking at you right now waiting for you to reach out to Him.

You’re so important to Him and He will give you the strength to tell someone and get the help you need. Don’t think you can stop this alone. I’m passionate about this so if you need to reach out to me. Please do. Seriously.

Know I’m praying for you,

Sherry