John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
I love Jesus so much.
Let's set the scene. Jesus is having a last meal with his disciples and taking some time to give them some encouragement and teaching. We should pay attention, because these are Jesus' last words to his disciples before he is crucified, so, obviously, he thought it was important for him to know these things.
He tells his disciples that a time is coming when they will all be scattered when he is taken to be tried. He follows that statement up with the above verse.
The disciples surely did know trouble. John (the beloved) was the only one who didn't face a... well... violent end.
So what does that mean for us? It means that we will have trouble too. We aren't exempt. And Jordan and I are learning this important lesson right now.
Jesus also said in John 10:10 that the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. In other words, Satan hates you and he's going to take whatever joy he can from you. This is especially true if you are exactly where God wants you to be.
Along with a myriad of other situations, Jordan and I have been mourning the loss of a great great man this week, I have gotten a bad cold and lost my voice, I also had a terrible asthma attack, and all while trying to teach these kids about the AWESOME God that we serve. God knows that we can handle it, and by His grace we totally have gotten through it and these kids know about Jesus. So there, Satan.
We are in a war. A major war. But, the good news is: we win. And we can know that we win. Our earthly bodies will pass away, but we get to enjoy heaven eternally worshipping the God that loves us so much that he made a way for us to be joyful in Him through every single affliction!
I sure do love Him.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Oooooo.... Shiny
I thought I had given up blogging forever, but I have just realized that I simply had nothing of worth to talk about! Silly me. Now that I have something to say, I will now say it. And that explains my return to blogging.
Also, I have a shiny new backdrop. Everyone say, "Ooooooooooo!" That's right.
I am married now. I know, crazy! But I'm not going to get into that except to say that the wedding was rocking awesome with praise and worship and a salvation message to boot.
Now, three weeks of theater camp, one week of intense seminary/VBS preparation, one week of VBS and two days of youth camp later, here we are.
We are running crazy, which is awesome. I have a cold, which is not awesome and is actually causing me to lose my voice. I have never lost my voice. Hard to believe, I know, but true nonetheless. Luckily for me, the kids at camp really seem to adore me for some reason, so instead of using my failing voice to their advantage, they get quieter for me! Isn't that amazing?
That brings me to the real point of the blog, which is that God is so much mightier than the box we put Him in. I used to say, "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me," but I didn't really know what it means. I can definitely tell you now. It means that if you say you have no talent for working with children and that children don't like you and you don't like them... God is going to marry you off to a children's minister straight away. And not just an ordinary children's minister. No no no no no. A children's minister who is completely tireless and selfless and really freaking creative with his time. I have been teaching kids grades kindergarten through seniors in high school ever since the return from the honeymoon.
But if you want to know the really interesting part, read this: God has made me good at it. No kidding! I love these kids and... they love me! It's amazing and astounding and I don't deserve it because of my attitude, but God has given me the honor of working through me to see these kids really grasp the Bible. Actually, to be fair, some of them are helping me to grasp the Bible in ways that I had never ever thought of before.
My challenge to you? Don't limit God on what He can do in your life and the lives of others. Allow him to work and he will. Oh, and one more thing. If you get a chance to teach a bunch of little bitties- let them talk to you about the Bible for a while. You might be surprised at what you learn.
Also, I have a shiny new backdrop. Everyone say, "Ooooooooooo!" That's right.
I am married now. I know, crazy! But I'm not going to get into that except to say that the wedding was rocking awesome with praise and worship and a salvation message to boot.
Now, three weeks of theater camp, one week of intense seminary/VBS preparation, one week of VBS and two days of youth camp later, here we are.
We are running crazy, which is awesome. I have a cold, which is not awesome and is actually causing me to lose my voice. I have never lost my voice. Hard to believe, I know, but true nonetheless. Luckily for me, the kids at camp really seem to adore me for some reason, so instead of using my failing voice to their advantage, they get quieter for me! Isn't that amazing?
That brings me to the real point of the blog, which is that God is so much mightier than the box we put Him in. I used to say, "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me," but I didn't really know what it means. I can definitely tell you now. It means that if you say you have no talent for working with children and that children don't like you and you don't like them... God is going to marry you off to a children's minister straight away. And not just an ordinary children's minister. No no no no no. A children's minister who is completely tireless and selfless and really freaking creative with his time. I have been teaching kids grades kindergarten through seniors in high school ever since the return from the honeymoon.
But if you want to know the really interesting part, read this: God has made me good at it. No kidding! I love these kids and... they love me! It's amazing and astounding and I don't deserve it because of my attitude, but God has given me the honor of working through me to see these kids really grasp the Bible. Actually, to be fair, some of them are helping me to grasp the Bible in ways that I had never ever thought of before.
My challenge to you? Don't limit God on what He can do in your life and the lives of others. Allow him to work and he will. Oh, and one more thing. If you get a chance to teach a bunch of little bitties- let them talk to you about the Bible for a while. You might be surprised at what you learn.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Failure
I rely on other human beings way too much. I expect to much out of other people. I get my self worth from the praise and attention of others.
And this is my biggest failing.
The majority of my life has been spent around fellow Christians who have always looked out for me. Being the daughter of a preacher and someone who was heavily involved in the church definitely had its perks. For the first eight years of my life I was doted on by a youth group at Victory Outreach in Iuka, and then for another nine years I was safe at Orchardville. In those situations, it's so easy to get the positive feedback you're looking for from human beings.
When I moved to St. Louis I quickly learned something very important:
Human beings? Yeah, they fail.
It's true, right? We're all just failures that God has redeemed. I know that this is true in me, so why would I not realize that it's true in others as well?
I'm in the process (and maybe always will be in the process) of trusting in Jesus for my self worth. I think it's an important lesson that everyone needs to learn.
I see this a lot with girls and the opposite sex. We are so consumed with the image that we put off to them that we forget: Jesus thought so much of us that he died for us. That he, literally, loves to talk to us. Can't wait to hear what we have to say. He thinks we're beautiful when we wake up in the morning and the makeup that we spent twenty minutes applying last night is smeared across our face, the hair spray that once held perfect curls now holds matted up tangles, and the remnants of last night's perfect dinner date now lingers on our breath like last week's garbage.
After that mental picture, how can we help but wonder at the love of our saviour?
And this is my biggest failing.
The majority of my life has been spent around fellow Christians who have always looked out for me. Being the daughter of a preacher and someone who was heavily involved in the church definitely had its perks. For the first eight years of my life I was doted on by a youth group at Victory Outreach in Iuka, and then for another nine years I was safe at Orchardville. In those situations, it's so easy to get the positive feedback you're looking for from human beings.
When I moved to St. Louis I quickly learned something very important:
Human beings? Yeah, they fail.
It's true, right? We're all just failures that God has redeemed. I know that this is true in me, so why would I not realize that it's true in others as well?
I'm in the process (and maybe always will be in the process) of trusting in Jesus for my self worth. I think it's an important lesson that everyone needs to learn.
I see this a lot with girls and the opposite sex. We are so consumed with the image that we put off to them that we forget: Jesus thought so much of us that he died for us. That he, literally, loves to talk to us. Can't wait to hear what we have to say. He thinks we're beautiful when we wake up in the morning and the makeup that we spent twenty minutes applying last night is smeared across our face, the hair spray that once held perfect curls now holds matted up tangles, and the remnants of last night's perfect dinner date now lingers on our breath like last week's garbage.
After that mental picture, how can we help but wonder at the love of our saviour?
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Loopholes
I am a terrible blogger, but I wanted to share something that I wrote, actually, two years ago. I have several new friends on here now that I thought would find this interesting. :)
From Saturday, September 15, 2007:
A couple months ago I received a letter from the Secretary of State telling me that since I had two tickets and I was under 21, my license was suspended for three months. I thought about how unfair this was since, compared to other people, I had done little to nothing wrong. I mean, I have knows sixteen year olds who drink and drive, get in wrecks and are still on the roads today.
My family and I tried every loophole we and others around us could begin to imagine. We called the DMV's in both Illinois and Missouri, we tried to change my residency, we called our senators- all to no avail.
The whole situation just seemed so hopeless, I finally just gave in and decided to stop fighting it. It was a losing battle. Illinois Vehicle Code 11-601(b) clearly states, "No person may drive a vehicle upon any highway of this State at a speed which is greater than the applicable statutory maximum speed limit." I mean, I definitely went 15 miles per hour over the speed limit both times I was pulled over, even though the second time was a definite and unfortunate mistake. That didn't really matter to the state. There isn't a clause called Illinois Vehicle Code 11-601(b.1) that says that this law is only applicable if the person was malicious in their actions. No doubt about it, I was caught and I was hopelessly stranded in my apartment without my license.
At that moment, my friends seemed to just come out of the woodwork. For over a month I never had to worry about how I would get to work or whether or not I would be able to get groceries. I only needed to call someone and they would be there.
Finally, when a close friend came to pick me up from work one day, I sat down in their car and began to cry. I told him that I had finally completely realized that I can't get anywhere on my own. If they didn't come get me, I would be stuck in the same place. But worse than that, I realized that I would never be able to pay them back. They had not only sacrificed gas to take me places, but their time and their energy that could be used in ways that would be much more productive to them. I could never give that back to them.
Once, I received a letter that told me that I was going to die. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the law, deceived me, and through the law, put me to death (Romans 7:11). This, I believed, was completely unfair. I had, after all, done few things really wrong in my entire life. Compared to others, I was a saint. All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away (Isaiah 64:6). Starting this year, I tried every single loophole, even trying to deny God's existence, just to get away from the fact that I would have to answer for breaking this law. Unfortunately for me, denying that God exists doesn't mean that he disappears, and the law still stands. ...but you must not eat from the tree of the knowlege of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die (Genesis 2:17). There's no clause in the Garden of Eden. God offered no statement to comfort those of us who would use our own intentions as a crutch to limp into heaven. I was caught in a hopeless spiral of my sin and I couldn't pull myself out.
Funny thing about Jesus: he has no need to find a loophole in the law. I'm reminded of the movie "The Passion of the Christ" when Jesus is laying on the ground, the cross only a few feet away from Him, when He, with what little strength He can muster, crawls to it and lays Himself down on it. I also see Aslan, climbing the staircase to the Great Stone Table, where a witch with a dagger stands waiting for him. Jesus doens't find a loophole, but lays Himself down on the cross to pay the price for my sin.
If Jesus hadn't crawled those few feet, if He hadn't walked that staircase, I wouldn't be able to get anywhere. I would be stuck in the same place, trying to drag myself out of a blackhole of sin that would lead me straight back to death. And I can't ever pay him back. And, yet, he doesn't expect me to. He died knowing that I would fail and I would fall. He died knowing that I was much like Gomer, Hosea's wife, and that I would not only cheat on Him, but despise the price that He paid because I would always be indebted to Him. He died knowing that this summer I would deny him many more times than three. Even today, he calls out, "Kasey Bartley, daughter of Eve, do you love me?"
Yes, Lord. You know that I love you.
I will declare it from every rooftop. My Lord redeems. My Lord is my hope, salvation, love, peace, brother, father, lover, friend.
From Saturday, September 15, 2007:
A couple months ago I received a letter from the Secretary of State telling me that since I had two tickets and I was under 21, my license was suspended for three months. I thought about how unfair this was since, compared to other people, I had done little to nothing wrong. I mean, I have knows sixteen year olds who drink and drive, get in wrecks and are still on the roads today.
My family and I tried every loophole we and others around us could begin to imagine. We called the DMV's in both Illinois and Missouri, we tried to change my residency, we called our senators- all to no avail.
The whole situation just seemed so hopeless, I finally just gave in and decided to stop fighting it. It was a losing battle. Illinois Vehicle Code 11-601(b) clearly states, "No person may drive a vehicle upon any highway of this State at a speed which is greater than the applicable statutory maximum speed limit." I mean, I definitely went 15 miles per hour over the speed limit both times I was pulled over, even though the second time was a definite and unfortunate mistake. That didn't really matter to the state. There isn't a clause called Illinois Vehicle Code 11-601(b.1) that says that this law is only applicable if the person was malicious in their actions. No doubt about it, I was caught and I was hopelessly stranded in my apartment without my license.
At that moment, my friends seemed to just come out of the woodwork. For over a month I never had to worry about how I would get to work or whether or not I would be able to get groceries. I only needed to call someone and they would be there.
Finally, when a close friend came to pick me up from work one day, I sat down in their car and began to cry. I told him that I had finally completely realized that I can't get anywhere on my own. If they didn't come get me, I would be stuck in the same place. But worse than that, I realized that I would never be able to pay them back. They had not only sacrificed gas to take me places, but their time and their energy that could be used in ways that would be much more productive to them. I could never give that back to them.
Once, I received a letter that told me that I was going to die. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the law, deceived me, and through the law, put me to death (Romans 7:11). This, I believed, was completely unfair. I had, after all, done few things really wrong in my entire life. Compared to others, I was a saint. All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away (Isaiah 64:6). Starting this year, I tried every single loophole, even trying to deny God's existence, just to get away from the fact that I would have to answer for breaking this law. Unfortunately for me, denying that God exists doesn't mean that he disappears, and the law still stands. ...but you must not eat from the tree of the knowlege of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die (Genesis 2:17). There's no clause in the Garden of Eden. God offered no statement to comfort those of us who would use our own intentions as a crutch to limp into heaven. I was caught in a hopeless spiral of my sin and I couldn't pull myself out.
Funny thing about Jesus: he has no need to find a loophole in the law. I'm reminded of the movie "The Passion of the Christ" when Jesus is laying on the ground, the cross only a few feet away from Him, when He, with what little strength He can muster, crawls to it and lays Himself down on it. I also see Aslan, climbing the staircase to the Great Stone Table, where a witch with a dagger stands waiting for him. Jesus doens't find a loophole, but lays Himself down on the cross to pay the price for my sin.
If Jesus hadn't crawled those few feet, if He hadn't walked that staircase, I wouldn't be able to get anywhere. I would be stuck in the same place, trying to drag myself out of a blackhole of sin that would lead me straight back to death. And I can't ever pay him back. And, yet, he doesn't expect me to. He died knowing that I would fail and I would fall. He died knowing that I was much like Gomer, Hosea's wife, and that I would not only cheat on Him, but despise the price that He paid because I would always be indebted to Him. He died knowing that this summer I would deny him many more times than three. Even today, he calls out, "Kasey Bartley, daughter of Eve, do you love me?"
Yes, Lord. You know that I love you.
I will declare it from every rooftop. My Lord redeems. My Lord is my hope, salvation, love, peace, brother, father, lover, friend.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The Drowsy Chaperone
Sometimes I get incredibly tired of working in theater. You know, worn out from rejection or wondering if I'll ever really be good enough to make a living and, really, is it worth the effort to even try?
That's when I see a show like this one.
The show begins with a three minute blackout. Out of the darkness you hear a voice say, "I hate the theater." Aha! My recent sentiments exactly!
When the lights come up, you see a single man, sitting in a somewhat dreary apartment. Something I think that most of us can identify with- because at some point in our lives most of us have been poor. Especially now.
"Man in chair (as he is affectionately known)," played by the marvelous David Schmittou, plays a record from the fictitious 1928 musical, "The Drowsy Chaperone." Immediately the stage is transformed before us into the set of the musical, using clever set pieces that still match or are actually a part of the apartment.
The characters in "The Drowsy Chaperone" are stupendous, albeit one-dimensional (which is purposeful and one of the running gags throughout the show).
We have a European lover (self-proclaimed "King of Romance"), Aldolpho
(Edward Juvier).
Who is hired to seduce the bride, but instead stumbles upon the Chaperone
(Christianne Tisdale).
The bride, Janet (Tari Kelly), is leaving a life on the stage to get married, but two gangsters (Ben Nordstrom and Michael Baxter) are hired to make sure she doesn't.
Then there's the groom, Robert (David Elder) and his best man, George (Brian Ogilvie)- who just wants to make sure the wedding runs as planned.
The show really does what a musical "should do." For two hours you take an amazing journey with Man in chair, not only seeing the musical unfold, but getting bits of back story and witty quirps from our charming host.
I love this story because I connect with Man in Chair in so many ways throughout the show, as I think most people do. As Jack Lane, our producer, articulated, "We all have something that takes us away." For Man in Chair and for me, that happens to be a great musical. Which is exactly what this cast and crew has brought to Stages.
Go see this show. If you've never been to Stages, I can guarantee that you will leave wondering how you've lived without this place your whole theater life. And, as Man in Chair so aptly says as he closes the show:
"...it gives you a little tun to carry with in your head, you know? A little something to help you escape from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something... for when you're feeling blue. You know?"
Stages Box Office: 314-821-2407
That's when I see a show like this one.
The show begins with a three minute blackout. Out of the darkness you hear a voice say, "I hate the theater." Aha! My recent sentiments exactly!
When the lights come up, you see a single man, sitting in a somewhat dreary apartment. Something I think that most of us can identify with- because at some point in our lives most of us have been poor. Especially now.
"Man in chair (as he is affectionately known)," played by the marvelous David Schmittou, plays a record from the fictitious 1928 musical, "The Drowsy Chaperone." Immediately the stage is transformed before us into the set of the musical, using clever set pieces that still match or are actually a part of the apartment.
The characters in "The Drowsy Chaperone" are stupendous, albeit one-dimensional (which is purposeful and one of the running gags throughout the show).
We have a European lover (self-proclaimed "King of Romance"), Aldolpho
(Edward Juvier).
Who is hired to seduce the bride, but instead stumbles upon the Chaperone
(Christianne Tisdale).
The bride, Janet (Tari Kelly), is leaving a life on the stage to get married, but two gangsters (Ben Nordstrom and Michael Baxter) are hired to make sure she doesn't.
Then there's the groom, Robert (David Elder) and his best man, George (Brian Ogilvie)- who just wants to make sure the wedding runs as planned.
There are many many more amazing performers, but not many many more hours for me to write about them.
I love this story because I connect with Man in Chair in so many ways throughout the show, as I think most people do. As Jack Lane, our producer, articulated, "We all have something that takes us away." For Man in Chair and for me, that happens to be a great musical. Which is exactly what this cast and crew has brought to Stages.
Go see this show. If you've never been to Stages, I can guarantee that you will leave wondering how you've lived without this place your whole theater life. And, as Man in Chair so aptly says as he closes the show:
"...it gives you a little tun to carry with in your head, you know? A little something to help you escape from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something... for when you're feeling blue. You know?"
Stages Box Office: 314-821-2407
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Something just for fun
All my blogs are so serious! It's time for something fun and mindless. And I'm at work- so deep blog thinking is discouraged. I stole this from Renee
i am: at work.
i think: about the future too much.
i am: at work.
i think: about the future too much.
i know: what I would like for that future.
i want: to not do the things that I preach against!
i have: everything I could ever need. Along with some things that I just want. God is good.
i wish: I could express feelings in a way that didn't seem clingy or awkward.
i hate: mood swings. Namely, my own.
i want: to not do the things that I preach against!
i have: everything I could ever need. Along with some things that I just want. God is good.
i wish: I could express feelings in a way that didn't seem clingy or awkward.
i hate: mood swings. Namely, my own.
i miss: ...you know who you are.
i fear: being too overwhelming for people.
i feel: strongly. About everything, almost.
i hear: Little Shop of Horrors.
i crave: something.
i search: consistently, for everything.
i wonder: what I will be when I grow up.
i regret: past relationships.
i feel: strongly. About everything, almost.
i hear: Little Shop of Horrors.
i crave: something.
i search: consistently, for everything.
i wonder: what I will be when I grow up.
i regret: past relationships.
i love: my friends. Seriously.
i ache: when I don't understand things.
i care: about what certain people think of me... way too much.
i always: take a shower before I go somewhere. Sometimes I will take another shower if I'm going somewhere else.
i care: about what certain people think of me... way too much.
i always: take a shower before I go somewhere. Sometimes I will take another shower if I'm going somewhere else.
i am not: scatterbrained. I just have a lot on my plate. So there.
i believe: that even if the Bible was a myth, it would be the best way to live. No doubt.
i sing: praises. Now more than I have in a long time.
i don’t always: trust God like I should.
i believe: that even if the Bible was a myth, it would be the best way to live. No doubt.
i sing: praises. Now more than I have in a long time.
i don’t always: trust God like I should.
i fight: with myself.
i lose: to myself.
i never: mean to be annoying.
i can usually be found: agonizing over something new instead of turning it over to Him.
i lose: to myself.
i never: mean to be annoying.
i can usually be found: agonizing over something new instead of turning it over to Him.
i need: a savior.
i am happy about: the blessings I have that I don't deserve in any way. The way that God's plan just keeps unfolding. How He doesn't remember my past. Can I keep going?
I fear snakes too, Renee. Just thought I would throw that in there. Sometimes when I think about them I get woozy.
i am happy about: the blessings I have that I don't deserve in any way. The way that God's plan just keeps unfolding. How He doesn't remember my past. Can I keep going?
I fear snakes too, Renee. Just thought I would throw that in there. Sometimes when I think about them I get woozy.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Experiences
I think it's time to broach the subject of the past. I try to keep my outlook pretty positive on this blog, but sometimes some deep soul searching and some hard truths are just necessary for learning.
I really like experiences. I like trying new things- daring things. Stupid things, sometimes. My general response is, "I just wanted to say that I have done it." As a result, I've been places and done things that, frankly, I regret.
I think experience is an idol of mine. I feel like my life has just got to be exciting or I'll just blow up inside. So I went searching for an exciting life experience on my own. "I'll just dip my hand in this, so I can say I've done it." "I'll go to this place by myself- because I can." In the past couple years, I've exercised a lot of free will.
The real kicker is that it just didn't fill me up. I thought that I could live an adventure on my own, and it really just made me depressed.
Sometimes I speak words of wisdom that I quickly forget and just don't use them in my own life. Once, I was talking to a good friend about celebrities and all the good things they like to do with their money. I mentioned Brangelina and how they consistently take trips to third world countries- that they are passionate about it. That's fantastic. I'm glad that people like them exist in the world. But what I said then I should have taken into deeper consideration and applied in my own life: What they're doing, it's all mortal. They're feeding, clothing, housing their bodies. I'm sure it's exciting to get to do that for those who cannot do it for themselves. How much more exciting is it to do good things in the name of God? We can feed, clothe, and house their bodies, yes; but what we do is immortal. Because when we serve their mortal bodies, we should also be feeding their spirits. What we do for them will extend beyond this life and reach into eternity.
How exciting can you get? Everything we do leaves a mark in heaven (or it should, at any rate). It makes everything else that we try to do for excitement pale in comparison.
I wish I would have taken my own words to heart a little sooner, but I know that He has amazing things ahead for me that I'm not even imagining. And I'm learning that the more I let go of the experiences I had planned for myself, the more He heaps on new opportunities to serve, lead, and fight for Him.
I really like experiences. I like trying new things- daring things. Stupid things, sometimes. My general response is, "I just wanted to say that I have done it." As a result, I've been places and done things that, frankly, I regret.
I think experience is an idol of mine. I feel like my life has just got to be exciting or I'll just blow up inside. So I went searching for an exciting life experience on my own. "I'll just dip my hand in this, so I can say I've done it." "I'll go to this place by myself- because I can." In the past couple years, I've exercised a lot of free will.
The real kicker is that it just didn't fill me up. I thought that I could live an adventure on my own, and it really just made me depressed.
Sometimes I speak words of wisdom that I quickly forget and just don't use them in my own life. Once, I was talking to a good friend about celebrities and all the good things they like to do with their money. I mentioned Brangelina and how they consistently take trips to third world countries- that they are passionate about it. That's fantastic. I'm glad that people like them exist in the world. But what I said then I should have taken into deeper consideration and applied in my own life: What they're doing, it's all mortal. They're feeding, clothing, housing their bodies. I'm sure it's exciting to get to do that for those who cannot do it for themselves. How much more exciting is it to do good things in the name of God? We can feed, clothe, and house their bodies, yes; but what we do is immortal. Because when we serve their mortal bodies, we should also be feeding their spirits. What we do for them will extend beyond this life and reach into eternity.
How exciting can you get? Everything we do leaves a mark in heaven (or it should, at any rate). It makes everything else that we try to do for excitement pale in comparison.
I wish I would have taken my own words to heart a little sooner, but I know that He has amazing things ahead for me that I'm not even imagining. And I'm learning that the more I let go of the experiences I had planned for myself, the more He heaps on new opportunities to serve, lead, and fight for Him.
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