the One constant.

This Christmas has been unlike any other.  It's been a day faced with difficult reminders.  Difficult visits (the cemetery and nursing home).  Moments where all you can think of is how quickly things have changed.  Yet, I realize this is life.  The direct opposite of constant.  The only constants we can truly depend on is the grace, mercy, forgiveness, and unending, unconditional, and unchanging love of God.  

This is a short post but I'd like to end it with a prayer... simply because sometimes there aren't enough words that are adequate enough to portray what is going on in our hearts and minds.  But God knows.  

God,

Thank You for loving us so much that You not only sent us Your Son, but You sent us a Savior.  Jesus wasn't only a baby born in a manger, but He came here to save us.  

There is so much hurt all around.  Be with every hurting and grieving heart.  Touch them.  Heal them.  Be with everyone who is sick and suffering.  Be with the parents and families who are looking at wrapped presents under a Christmas tree that their sweet child will never be able to open because their life was taken much too soon.  Be with the families who spent part of today standing beside a loved one's grave.  Be with those who are having a hard time trusting Your plan for their life.  Hold them.  Surround them.  Make them so aware of Your presence that there is no denying that it is You.  God, be with us today.  We know that You are.  If we've ever needed You, Lord, it's now.  

God, we know that Your plans are greater than our plans.  And Your ways are higher than our ways.  Help us to trust You completely.  We know that You work all things together for our good.  And we thank You.  Thank You for your unending love.  Thank You for being the One constant we can always depend on.  Thank You Jesus.  

Amen.  

college bound.

10 days from today, I will be headed to Mars Hill College. Tonight, my parents and I finished shopping for dorm essentials. Everything is ready to go except for my clothes. So surreal. There aren't enough words to describe what this feels like. I am excited. Happy. Anxious. Nervous. Sad. Ready. Thrilled. The list could go on. Unknowns are never easy, and there is so much that I don't know about what is to come. Mostly, I am looking forward to this new journey with great anticipation. I know that Mars Hill is in God's plans for me. I've visited the college 6 times, and I've felt more and more at home every time. It was like God was telling me, "You belong here." I cannot wait to see what God will teach me there. Praying for great things to happen. I would love and appreciate your prayers as I begin this journey. Check back for more on my blog!

Let's Be Real

What is "okay" anyway?

Ever been asked "Are you okay?" or "How are you?" or "What's wrong?"....and you'd absolutely love to say "I'm great" and actually mean it. How often do we lie? How often do we say "I'm good" or "I'm fine" and not mean a word of it. If you are anything like me, you don't always tell the truth when someone asks you this type of question. You say you're fine. You say you're great. And in reality, it's a complete lie.

My friends and I ask each other how we are doing all the time. Our replies vary. Now it's come to the point where when one of us is lying it's more than obvious to the other person. I am grateful we see through that and are truly able to be there for each other. We're able to break down the wall of "fine" and see that our friend is not so "good" even though they'd like everyone to believe that. I think we'd all be more honest with each other if we didn't feel bad for potentially burdening someone else with how you're "really" doing...

Jesus can be that friend. How often do we pray like everything is okay when in reality your heart is broken and you feel like everything is in pieces? How often do we pray and pretend that we're just fine? WHY? Why do we pray to the ONE that can save us, help us, and heal us and put on a show....when with Jesus, we can be REAL. Our answers don't have to be "fine" or "okay." They can be more along the lines of "I'm hurting and I don't know what to do," or "I just need You" and THAT is okay. We can be real with Jesus. We can give him our burdens. We can lighten our load. We can tell Him how we are really doing. No pretending. No lying. No fake pretenses. Jesus can handle our honesty. We can be real. We can cry. We can shout. Sometimes our tears and our honesty is better than a Hallelujah to Jesus.... the "honest cries of breaking hearts." It's better to Him. Because it shows God that we trust Him. We trust that He can HEAL. HELP. HOLD. LOVE. And make us BETTER.

Let's be honest with God. Let's trust. Let's believe that if we are honest with God, God will make us better. Stronger. Wiser.

I'm trusting. And I'm going to be honest for a change.

Blinded by the Rain

I wanted to share a poem I wrote called Blinded by the Rain. It's something God is teaching me and something I hope God can use to help you too.

Blinded by the Rain

Ever just shut down?
Cause you feel so low to the ground.
No one seems to understand
Why you can't bear to stand

The pain you feel is far too deep
And the mountain you climb seems so steep
Your heart hurts and you realize
That most of what you hear is just a lie

But then you realize that God's love is deep.
Deeper than the hurt, taller than the mountain,
Tougher than the ground,
Wide enough to accommodate your pain.

The pain you feel,
God will exchange for your gain.
He works all things together for our good,
And eventually we won't be blinded by the rain.

We'll see how the pain was used by God,
To show others our strength because of Him.
Eventually it'll make sense and we'll see
God's perfect plan for our lives.

Written by Megan Currie