Life....life is a strange thing. Twisting, turning, making you feel miserable—but then…you realise that no matter how many mistakes you’ve made, life still goes on. And everything will be alright.
God forgives.
And Jesus loves.
***
Life is when a baby takes its first breath. Another spark to join the other embers. Yet each one is so special.
Life is the complicated whirl of emotions swirling around you, never giving you a break. Only in God can give you the everlasting peace.
Life is the bubbling joy mothers experience with their first-born. The cuddles and kisses. The precious moments.
Life is the glow on the bride’s cheek, the sparkle in the eyes of the groom on their wedding day.
Life is the refreshed feeling after taken a shower or brushed your teeth.
Life is the deep flush of the early September rose.
Life is the feeling of accomplishment. The first goal in a soccer game, a medal in the olympics, a closer relationship to God.
Life is politics. Not the ones that happen in parliament or in the months leading up to election. No, politics are everyday life.
Life is all the unfair things. But the happy ones too.
Life is what’s scheduled on your day-to-day calendar.
But it’s a lot more than that.
It’s the choice’s you make, the lifestyle you choose, the paths you take.
What you believe.
The broken hearts. The happy ones.
That’s life.
Meeting new friends, experiencing new joys. Overcoming difficulties. Understanding parents. The world. Being a light in it.
Life isn’t what happened yesterday. That’s history. A history that can be wiped clean.
The life you live is YOUR life. No one else’s.
Make sure you use the short time we have on earth for God’s glory.
*** *** *** ***
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The last few months for me have been really hard. Trying to understand life. This essay is what I wrote at the time. I might or might not edit it later. I really won't want any criticisms on this. I was really discouraged when I was writing this, but when I finished I felt so strong. There are many aspects in life that I have not covered, but I will be sure to cover them if I do another one, edited. Please pray for me. Maddi :)
Comments
Good thoughts. I will pray
Good thoughts.
I will pray for you. I know how it feels to be discouraged. Just pray. Earlier this week I was disheartened and discouraged too. I mean, I do not want to assume the specifics but spending time in the Psalms encouraged me. Also the fact that I knew one friend was praying...even though I just left her a brief email telling practically nothing except that I was disheartened and to please pray. I always like to read the Psalms whenever I feel down. David is a good example on how he pleads to God for forgiveness or struggles but then HE ALWAYS ENDS PRAISING GOD. It challenges me to realize God's forgiveness, perfectness, love and oh! so much more despite daily temptations and frustrations.
So I will pray for you because you are my sister in Christ. We are all one body of Jesus Christ and when you are broken, I am too. And I ask you (and anyone else please!) to pray for me that I would stand MIGHTY as hard as a rock to the difficult choices I make to live and be more like Jesus and to be separate to this world. It has been challenging lately.
God bless you, Maddi!!
"It is not the length of life, but the depth of life." Ralph Waldo Emerson
:)
Thanks Arthur.
Thanks to you Lucy. I found it quite funny this morning after having read your comments. I was reading the Psalms today, and a couple of weeks ago, I realised that David always, always ends up giving praise and thanks to God! How cool is that?
I will pray for you too sister, and thanks again for praying for me. It's great encouragement from you both. God is good!!
Goodbye? Oh no, please. Can’t we just go back to page one and start all over again?” – Winnie The Pooh
We will keep you in your
We will keep you in your prayers. We pray that God will take your discouragement and turn it to rejoicing in the might of God. I will pray that God would use this time of trial for your growth in the faith.
I would also like to thank you for this essay. God has used your time of discouragement to cause me to step back and take a look at the big picture of life and think about what it really is about. This was a good reminder. Thank you.
In Christ Alone,
Benjamin
“D’ye know what Calvary was? What? What? What? It was damnation; and he took it lovingly.”
~John Duncan
:)
Thank you for this, Maddi - for its challenge and encouragement.
I'm praying for you - drop me a line via my contact form if you ever want to talk. :)
Thankyou both. It's very
Thankyou both. It's very encouraging already to know that people are praying for me even from halfway across the globe. Benjamin, you're welcome.
Kyleigh, you're welcome too. And thanks for your offer--we were only talking about having someone (Christian) to talk to and encourage each other. :) I love meeting people like that. Thanks. :)
Goodbye? Oh no, please. Can’t we just go back to page one and start all over again?” – Winnie The Pooh
I am incredibly blessed.
Ohh, I feel SO blessed by just reading all these comments. I mean, we all know each other just a little but then we all are willing to pray for each other because we're all brothers and sisters in Christ!
God is just so good. I've been like walking on air this whole day - through church, and now at home - because of these reminders that He is!
Also, these are some songs that have encouraged me in the past and the present. Again, I am not trying to assume anything so I will let the Spirit lead me on what I give you. :)
The first one is one of my favorites. It was danced in Ballet Magnificat's (a Christian Ballet company) "The Scarlet Cord" performance with hand-motions and all and that was when it really struck me -- the idea that there IS and it made me cry because there is SOMEONE WHO CARES! (Most of the songs here I first heard because of Ballet Magnificat using it to dance to it.)
Someone Who Cares (song begins at the 36 seconds mark) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm08-LiYAe0
Bates Family - God Wants to Hear You Sing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxOsI9L5AAc
He's That Close - Shannon Wexelberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfWnoav_JP0
Orphans of God (There is an advertisement at the beginning but I couldn't find any of this song with lyrics included.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpQ45lc8EVU
"It is not the length of life, but the depth of life." Ralph Waldo Emerson
I know! Isn't it great?? I
I know! Isn't it great?? I have too been "walking on air" as you put it. I actually wrote a song about nobody cares for but Jesus. Along those lines.
Thankyou, I will go listen to them. :) And if you haven't noticed, chapters 3 and 4 of Immersing into Imagination have been published. Hope you like them! God bless. ;) I feel so blessed too! I feel alot more encouraged and strengthened with everybody's prayers now. Great!
Goodbye? Oh no, please. Can’t we just go back to page one and start all over again?” – Winnie The Pooh
Great essay!
That essay was sweet, Maddi.
As you said yourself in that essay, this is YOUR life. Live it. :D
Am praying, will be praying. You are beating this. You will beat this. ;)
When you knock on your friend's door, turn around...
:)
Thanks. You've been great just encouraging and praying for me.
And I am beating this! It feels great when you can surface from anything you're dealing with.
Goodbye? Oh no, please. Can’t we just go back to page one and start all over again?” – Winnie The Pooh
Will be praying.
Will be praying.
"My greatest wish for my writing is that it would point you to the Savior."