New Year's Resolution

Wow, I can't believe its been an entire semester since I last blogged. I can't believe how quickly the semester has flown by. But, I was talking to a friend yesterday and he said that he checked my blog the other day..which means that something still rings within the blogger world. I also realized that this is one of the easiest ways for everyone to know what I'm up to in Miami instead of having to tell the same story a hundred times. So this is one of my New Year's Resolutions: I am going to try to blog more about the amazing things that God is doing in my life. He has definitely been so good to me, especially recently. This has been a difficult Christmas break to see the least, but I have been constantly reminded of His grace and goodness this entire month.

I have recently fallen in love with Max Lucado's writing. I bought Scooter's Christmas present and decided it wasn't very proper to give someone a book for Christmas that you yourself have never read, so I decided to read it, too. I guess if he somehow stumbles across this, the element of surprise for his gift will be ruined, but I doubt he'll read this since he "hates technology." Anyway, I'm reading Its Not About Me and its proven, in the first few chapters that I have read, to be exactly what God wanted me to hear. Its NOT about me; its not about how much I want to hold onto Tallahassee; its not about watching people grow up from a distance and wishing I could be there with them; instead, its all about His glory and His majesty. Y'all all know that I have struggled every time I come home to regain the zealous desire to return to Miami that I had at the beginning of this chapter in my life. This Christmas break has been different. God has broken the tight grasp I held on my life in Tallahassee telling me to wake up and smell is glory. My life is for His glory, not for mine. Surprisingly, Max Lucado actually talks about pain in this book...something we all try to avoid. He says very blatantly:

If we are the marquee event, how do we explain flat-earth challenges
like death, disease, slumping economies, or rumbling earthquakes?
If God exists to please us, then shouldn't we always be please?

If I live in a world where I want to be the central focus, there is no way for me to explain what happens to me; no way to explain the hurt, the frustration, the heart-ache. BUT, if I live in a world that is focused on God, then I can explain the hurt, the frustration, the heart-ache. Everything that happens to me happens because God wants to be pleased. God uses the situations in my life to please Him, even though I may not always be pleased. He brings glory from pain. We sing all the time:

He brings beauty from ashes

Strength from fear

Gladness from mourning

Peace from despair.

If I was really able to step outside of myself, I would see that my life revolves around being part of His glorious plan. Part of a plan that He set up long before time began and will carry out until the end of time. This leaves the question, what do I want to do? Do I want to sit by and focus on a world where I think I should be number one, or do I want to be a reflection of the One who is Number One?


The moon models our role. She generates no light. Contrary to the lyrics of the song, this harvest moon cannot shine on. Apart from the sun, the moon is nothing more than a pitch-black, pockmarked rock. But, properly position, the moon beams let her do what she was made to do, and a clod of dirt becomes a source of inspiration, yea, verily, romance. The moon reflects the greater light. And she's happy to do so!...The moon is at peace in her place. And because she is, soft light touches a dark earth. What would happen if we accepted our place as Son reflectors?