We will never forget.

There are days I sit in the pew at church watching and listening to my husband preach, and feel so blessed and honored to be his wife. The biggest reason why- because I clearly can see God working wonderfully through Him.

It can be a challenge and a struggle to allow God to work through you. We all have a choice. Sometimes we want to do it our way, even though God knows it's not the best way. But when we surrender, when we give it all to Him, and all the glory to Him- life is so much better. And more importantly, we can receive eternal life- through His Son Jesus Christ who suffered and died on that cross for us.

So with that, and with J's permission, I am sharing here what he shared for a communion meditation yesterday, edited slightly to try to match what he added to it while speaking yesterday.

"Luke 22:17-20

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

There are events that happen in our life that we don't easily forget. September 11th 2001 was such an event for most of us in here. We remember that terrible day. The motto of New York and our country that came out of that day was "we will never forget." And we haven't. Every year on this date, we remember. This needs to be true, not only for events like these, but also for us as Christians. September 11^th was a major event, but an even more major event took place 2000 years ago that changed the entire world forever. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ: His death, burial and resurrection. That event changed everything. Through His death and resurrection, we could now be in a right relationship with God. Our sins could now be forgiven. A free gift of salvation was granted once and for all.

Jesus wanted us to remember this always. So he instituted the Lords supper for all those who believe. We do this each week to remember His horrible death but to also celebrate our salvation. Let us never forget that Friday He died, and the Sunday He rose again. As we take these emblems today, let us never forget.

Let's pray." 

Originally Posted: Why do marriages fail?

***When I returned to Chicago 3.5 years ago for my surgery, I started a blog as one place all family and friends could go to read updates on my health. I then realized it was also a way of promoting awareness. Shortly after that, I started a second blog, for the purpose of sharing my faith. As time went on, I became convicted about something.

It was wrong of me to separate the two, as my faith, Jesus, is the absolute reason for my strength in getting through this. I could not exclude Him from my health blog even if others suggested to do so. Thus, I started talking more about my faith on my main blog. Now, many times, it's more about Him than me, which is where I came up with the current title 'About Me, Not About Me'. This story may be about me, but really it's not about me, it's about Him. That old blog still sits out there no longer being used. So I decided over time I will begin to move those posts from there to here to have everything in one place.

In just beginning to read some of my first posts, I've realized the amount of work God has truly done in me. A lot of times we hate the journey and want to get to our next destination, but it is in that very journey that God molds you into who He created you to be.

And this here is my last post to transfer over to this blog. It was just shortly before writing this post below that I met the man I am married to now. Crazy how the good part of what I was talking about was already in the works. God is truly amazing.***

Originally Posted: August 27, 2014
Why Do Marriages Fail?

Two people fall in love, get married and live happily ever after. Right? Wrong. And that misconception is exactly why some marriages fail.

Marriage is about love, I would agree with that, but 'what is love?' should be the real question. How we define love and more importantly how we act upon it may be what keeps two people together or splits them apart.

God is love. Period.

We can fall in love with how someone looks, but that someone is going to age and their looks are going to change. They may get in a serious accident in which you no longer can even recognize them. Then what?

We can fall in love with someone's personality. We may feel strongly about who they are as a person, their character, traits and how they live their life. We may get along really well and similarities may make it seem like it was "meant to be." But people change, people grow. Sometimes people change for the worse and sometimes people grow apart. Then what?

We can fall in love with the idea of love. We can build this fairy tale idea in our head that this really is our happily ever after. She's my princess and he's my prince charming. Nothing can take away this love we have. That love is a feeling. But what happens when feelings fade, when trials come and arguments happen, when temptation arises from another person brought into the middle. Then what?

Nearly everything can change, can break, can end. Everyone can get sick, go into debt, lose a job, even have a personality change. None of those things are guaranteed to last forever. So if we put our trust in those things, if we base our "love" in those things, we are setting ourselves up for failure.

God is love. God is the only One who does not change, who does not leave nor forsake us, who will always be there in the good times and the bad, the only One we can fully and always trust with our lives and with our hearts.

Love is not merely a feeling with butterflies and goosebumps and bubbly hearts all around us. Love is a choice. Love is an action. Love is a commitment, a vow, a promise, a forever.

A true marriage is a union of two souls coming together as one through God. Marriage takes three. Marriage takes commitment, dedication, humility, sacrifice, strength and so much effort. But if God is the center, that effort is going to bring such reward. That effort is going to ultimately shape us into who God wants us to be. That marriage will come closer to what God truly intends for marriage to be and a representation of Christ's love for the church, for us.

In knowing that, I know if I ever get married again, that marriage will be based off of and centered on God. I have heard before, "Have your heart so deeply in Jesus that a man needs to go to Jesus in order to find you." and I couldn't agree more. Furthermore, I always want to stay there. God first. God center. God always.

God bless.

Originally Posted: Heaven on Earth

***When I returned to Chicago 3.5 years ago for my surgery, I started a blog as one place all family and friends could go to read updates on my health. I then realized it was also a way of promoting awareness. Shortly after that, I started a second blog, for the purpose of sharing my faith. As time went on, I became convicted about something.

It was wrong of me to separate the two, as my faith, Jesus, is the absolute reason for my strength in getting through this. I could not exclude Him from my health blog even if others suggested to do so. Thus, I started talking more about my faith on my main blog. Now, many times, it's more about Him than me, which is where I came up with the current title 'About Me, Not About Me'. This story may be about me, but really it's not about me, it's about Him. That old blog still sits out there no longer being used. So I decided over time I will begin to move those posts from there to here to have everything in one place.

In just beginning to read some of my first posts, I've realized the amount of work God has truly done in me. A lot of times we hate the journey and want to get to our next destination, but it is in that very journey that God molds you into who He created you to be.***

Originally Posted: May 9, 2014
Heaven on Earth

Thanks to a gift from a sweet friend I am reading the daily devotional "Jesus Calling." Yesterday one line in there stood out to me, "Do not seek your heaven on earth." Have you ever thought about this?

Every day this is exactly what we are trying to do even if we don't realize it at the time. We constantly want more, want better, and we do it in the worst way possible. We do it often times without God's lead.

Here on earth we are separated from God, and we will be until we one day join Him. But our desire for Him is SO extremely strong. And instead of reading His word, seeking His will and building a relationship with Him, we do just the opposite. We bring on destruction.

We look for this heaven within the earth. We will never find it here but we keep on looking. We look to other things. We look to other people. We look to desires, physical relationships, affairs, alcohol, gambling, revenge, money, etc. We in fact look to evil and sin in search of something so much greater. These things will never please because they don't last. They are brief moments of pleasure that give us a high for that instant. They are fleeting. And they are extremely damaging to ourselves and those around us.

Our time here on earth is brief compared to all eternity but we have a purpose. We must continue to remain close to Him, grow into who He wants us to be. We need to treat others with a loving heart. We need to not expect or search for heaven on earth... but maybe, perhaps through our actions, we should strive to create as close to it as we can for those around us.

Jesus Calling says "Do not seek your heaven on earth."
I say "Be a little piece of heaven for this earth."

Let God flow through your words, through your actions, through your life here on earth. When others see you, pray that they instead see a glimpse of Him.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12

Originally Posted: Think on these things

***When I returned to Chicago 3.5 years ago for my surgery, I started a blog as one place all family and friends could go to read updates on my health. I then realized it was also a way of promoting awareness. Shortly after that, I started a second blog, for the purpose of sharing my faith. As time went on, I became convicted about something.

It was wrong of me to separate the two, as my faith, Jesus, is the absolute reason for my strength in getting through this. I could not exclude Him from my health blog even if others suggested to do so. Thus, I started talking more about my faith on my main blog. Now, many times, it's more about Him than me, which is where I came up with the current title 'About Me, Not About Me'. This story may be about me, but really it's not about me, it's about Him. That old blog still sits out there no longer being used. So I decided over time I will begin to move those posts from there to here to have everything in one place.

In just beginning to read some of my first posts, I've realized the amount of work God has truly done in me. A lot of times we hate the journey and want to get to our next destination, but it is in that very journey that God molds you into who He created you to be.***

Originally Posted: April 3, 2014
Think on these things

Why is it that we hold back our feelings? Hold back our emotions? Hold back words?
Why when asked something sometimes we feel the need to fabricate the truth, tell a story or omit things?
Why do we basically portray to others a life different from the one we are living?

Why have some people done this so frequently that the truth becomes forgotten, and the entire life lived is just one big lie?

Imagine if everyone just said what is on their mind, no holding back and no lying. I'm not talking saying mean stuff to people... I'm talking if you have a feeling, an emotion, a need, something you want to say- you say it. Let it out there. Imagine if everyone did this. Wouldn't it stop all the wondering? The second guessing? The lack of closure or need for explanation? The worrying and stressing what the other person is thinking or doing? 

Now imagine if we guided our thoughts to those which were positive hence all we said was mainly positive, aside from occasional venting about things we cannot control. We would build each other up. We would both give and receive encouragement and support. We would be filled with the blessing of love. 

I believe it spreads in the way that a pay it forward would. So pay it forward with kindness, with truth, with love.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Originally Posted: Idols

***When I returned to Chicago 3.5 years ago for my surgery, I started a blog as one place all family and friends could go to read updates on my health. I then realized it was also a way of promoting awareness. Shortly after that, I started a second blog, for the purpose of sharing my faith. As time went on, I became convicted about something.

It was wrong of me to separate the two, as my faith, Jesus, is the absolute reason for my strength in getting through this. I could not exclude Him from my health blog even if others suggested to do so. Thus, I started talking more about my faith on my main blog. Now, many times, it's more about Him than me, which is where I came up with the current title 'About Me, Not About Me'. This story may be about me, but really it's not about me, it's about Him. That old blog still sits out there no longer being used. So I decided over time I will begin to move those posts from there to here to have everything in one place.

In just beginning to read some of my first posts, I've realized the amount of work God has truly done in me. A lot of times we hate the journey and want to get to our next destination, but it is in that very journey that God molds you into who He created you to be.***

Originally Posted: March 27, 2014
Idols

Reality TV- American Idol...A show almost everyone used to watch, nearly no one does anymore. But there is still Dancing with the Stars, the Bachelor and many other reality shows. We HAVE to see it, can't miss it, must talk about it, enamored by it.

Sports- Oh don't get me started on football. I do like football, but it's become a religion of sorts to some. Sunday is football day. Nothing gets in the way of a game, no person, no thing, no illness, nothing. Football, basketball, baseball, soccer, golf, etc. Sports in general are loved by many.

People- boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, wives. Actors, actresses, musicians, pop stars, models. Even political figures. Everyone has someone they look up to in a way that can almost border on obsessive. We hang them on the wall in adolescence, scream at the top of our lungs when we see them in concert, nearly faint if we can touch the hand of someone or catch their used tshirt. We think so much of someone we may know nothing of.

Things- material things. Items. Clothing, shoes, purses, accessories, sunglasses, hats. More things- tv, stereo, car, decor, art, big houses, more more more. We always need more, but it's not a need it's a want that got mistaken as a need and it becomes an addiction.

Idols.

At first thought, none of those are idols. Maybe movie stars or something like that, but none of those other things are idols, right? They can all be idols. An idol is anything that comes in the way of putting God first. We idolize so many people and so many things and we typically don't even realize it.

Don't even stop there. We often idolize money, power and pleasure too.
Furthermore, we must remember, though there are images of Jesus and representation of Him, those images are not the real thing. We must not idolize an image but remain strong in a relationship with Him.

Idolatry is a sin.

I'm not saying take away football or stop enjoying your favorite actor. I'm not saying sell all your things and never again watch tv. But those things must not come before God. They must never replace God. And we must not look to them in such a way that places them at the same level or higher than God.

We are instructed to put God first, before anyone or anything else. We can't do all these other things, nearly worshiping them or placing others on a pedestal, then cry out to God when we need help, only visit God on Sundays, when it's convenient. We must put God first, always, no matter what show is on tv, no matter what game we will miss by going to church, no matter who is doing what in Hollywood, no matter how much we love our significant other, no matter how much we desire something.

Do not love the world, love the One who created it.

“You shall have no other gods before me.

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 

Exodus 20:3-6

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 1 John 2:15