Today is Good Friday, in which many people, all around the globe recognize the death of Jesus Christ. Though not all believe, this is a truth I hold close to my heart.

When I reflect upon the sacrifice Jesus made for mankind, I cannot help but ponder on what true sacrifice really means. Our culture is slowly becoming void of responsibility and self sacrifice in many areas. We have become the I want it, and I want it now generation. That way of thinking can easily entangle us in an attitude of entitlement. To achieve something great, much sacrifice is required. To get respect, you must earn it. To obtain a reward, responsibility needs to be taken in order to deserve it.

Making sacrifices is not easy. It takes perseverance, patience, and guts to do something you don’t always want to do. There are times you have to bite your tongue and put your hand on the plough, to get the job done. Jesus got the job done! It doesn’t mean that he liked what he had to do, but he had to do it to bridge the gap between man and God. Jesus made the most true sacrifice of all, by giving his life, because that is how vast his love is for each of us.

Remember that there are times in our journey that we have to make sacrifices. Making sacrifices is what it means to not take the easy way out of a situation. Making sacrifices means taking responsibility for what choices you make in your life. Making sacrifices means putting others before yourself, it means speaking truth, it means living a life of integrity, and it means walking in humility.

So the next time we see a symbol of a cross, remember the true sacrifice Jesus made for us. In turn, reflect on what it means to make sacrifices in our own lives, to uphold a journey of truth.

∼live your journey true ∼

There is a time for everything in life.

There is a time for sorrow, a time for joy. A time for rest and a time to work. There is a time for love with another and time to be in solitude with yourself.

There are times for robust laughter and times for sobbing tears. There are times to birth dreams and times to chase them into existence.

There are times to lift others up and times to lean on others to carry you through.

There is a time to wait patiently, and a time to soar on wings like eagles.

At times it feels that life cannot happen fast enough, or slow down in time to catch our breath. Knowing that there is a time and a season for everything and everyone along each of our journeys, brings peace that it is all part of a bigger picture yet to unfold.

We may not be able to see what is ahead, but know that the time that you are in is where you need to be, to become who you were created to be. The season you are walking in this very moment will guide you to what you need to do, at the exact time you need to in life. Be at peace knowing that there is a much grander picture to the puzzle pieces of your life that take time, take curating and maturing, to come to fruition.

There is a time to see the millions of little pieces of your life, all come together to make beautiful sense. All the tears, the times of joy, the victories and defeats, the lessons learned and those you pass on to others, the friends you have made and those you have lost- it all works together in the end to create the masterpiece of your journey.

∼live your journey true ∼

I am not perfect! I do not know it all. That’s right, I said it. I don’t have it all figured out. I am a work in progress!

There are ways and principles I live by, that some do not agree with. There are times that I make mistakes and times I thought I had it all figured out, only to learn of a new perspective that challenges my way of thinking.

We all experience life from a different lens and at a different pace. We may think what we have figured out is how life should be, yet others may oppose our view based on the experiences they have walked through. It goes to show that we are all a work in progress. Time is a valuable gift that if we choose to use wisely, can assist us in learning through the ebb and flow of life. Taking time to grow and hear where and what God is leading us through, versus the mindset that we have the path figured out, will give us the life fulfillment he desires for us.

1 Corinthians 8:2

Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.

Proverbs 3:5-10

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over.

We currently live in an age of information, at our fingertips we can find all sorts of answers to an array of questions. I have to remind myself that those answers do not automatically make us experts on a topic. God holds the answers. God is all knowing. We in our humanity, do not know it all, and we will all be a work in progress till the end.

∼live your journey true∼

As time is traveling forward, the reality of being a grown up continues to sink in. Not only do we ourselves journey through the tough stuff, so do our friends and families. The messiness of life can all too quickly turn into a thick jungle before our eyes. Soon we can become entangled in not only our trials, but the burdens of others as well.

There are times when we may feel like running away. Ditching the effort of relationships because their problems seem too heavy for us to be empathetic toward.

In Galatians 6:2, we are encouraged to “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” When times get tough for those around us, it is not time for us to run away. It is time for us to stand up for them through prayer, support, and yes- a little sacrifice of our own time, money, energy- whatever it may be.

Understanding that for some, burdens of others are overwhelming, scripture gives us another instruction to help us navigate these times. Psalm 55:22 says,
“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

The human race was made to care for each other and love each other. After the death of our daughter, without God placing some burden carriers in my life, I would not have been able to get through the darkest journey of my life. You may live a quiet, and drama free type of life. There is inherent value in the steadiness of your life to help bring refuge to those around you voyaging a rocky storm.

We must always try our best to carry the burdens of others and in turn cast those cares at the feet of Jesus. Carrying another’s burden can look like many different actions. It can be praying with someone, sending some flowers, babysitting for them, cooking some freezer meals, going with them to a support group- the list goes on and on.

The part where we have a heart for others is where we lay down our tendencies of letting others carry their burdens by themselves- we pick up that weight for them for awhile to help them overcome that chapter of their lives. And that weight that we are so afraid to carry for them, will be sustained by strength that comes from Jesus- the greatest burden carrier of all.

∼live your journey true∼

You just don’t know what is around the corner. You are on a path that may seem so dark and desperate. Desperate for answers, desperate for relief from pain. It can be so difficult to see that your heart can heal, you can be full of light and joy again. Your journey does not have to end. It can begin all over again from here, that is what grace and mercy provide for us. Grace and mercy are a gift for us to receive a new start. One day you will be able to wake up and feel the freshness of life and hope again. Do not give up. Look up with your eyes that have been emptied of their tears, and reach for grace, mercy, and hope. It is there! It does exist!

Do not give up your journey, at any moment there is a corner you will turn. You can be free! You just don’t know what is around that corner, so don’t give up. I cannot promise that the corner will turn immediately, but I can promise that if you reach for grace that corner will eventually turn to joy and fulfilment. The corner will turn to hope and purpose.

There are points in our life that our journey gets dim, dark, and desolate. With perseverance and tenacious determination, keep walking the path with faith that there is a corner ahead. No matter how long it takes, that path will turn into light and life again.

∼live your journey true∼

As I am getting ‘older,’ I am witnessing a change taking place in relationships that I have held for many years. Perhaps we all start to set in our ways more as we age. Through different experiences and influences we gain over time, we shape our ideologies and really set our feet into them as time carries on. There is nothing wrong with knowing what you believe about social justice, politics, and so forth. The part that is not so comforting, is how to keep love for one another and not allow those different ways of thinking divide us. I really believe the mantra of agreeing to disagree needs to be practised more the older we get. If we allow our differences to segregate us and leave a chip on our shoulder towards people we grew up loving, what does that really say about our character. It takes a lot of guts to be able to walk away from a discussion with someone you thought you knew, and still have love for them when they disagree with you. When these differences in ideologies occur, it may mean that your relationship will change to a degree, and that is okay. Yet, it is not an excuse to hold a grudge against someone, just because they do not see things they way you see it. I hope to learn and discover as I mature, a way to convey my beliefs and ideologies without making others feel that their opinions do not count against mine. None of us really know where someone is coming from until we have walked many miles in their shoes. Is it natural for us to want to convert everyone into the same ideological motivations our minds hold- of course, it is only human of us. If we can grow in our maturity of how to discuss politics, social justice, even religion, perhaps there would be a little more peace and love in our world than war. At the end of it all, it takes effort from everyone on all ends of the spectrum to be able to sit down and discuss issues, then walk away with mutual love and respect for others when they disagree with you. Maybe if we leave an intense discussion with a hand shake or a hug, versus a scowl on our faces and roll of our eyes, we would learn that it is an act of humility and maturity to say here is what I believe, now I want to hear what you believe- lets see where we can meet in the middle. Humility, selflessness, admitting you may be wrong at times, and listening to others experiences versus making a judgment call from one comment will eventually breed love, peace, and just perhaps some solutions to the many issues our culture and world face. So the next time we find ourselves in a heated discussion with a friend, relative, or colleague- just ask yourself where is the love in all of this? How can I gain understanding of this persons views and share mine in a peaceful way with an understanding heart and attitude. We won’t be able to solve all the worlds problems, but we can still be friends after we share our convictions.

∼live your journey true∼

There are days that the world encounters an event that makes time stand still. Everything that eludes to a normal day in our lives suddenly feels worthless compared to tragedy and the loss of life. Not only do acts of violence and hatred make us outraged, they put into perspective the importance of peace, love, and the true gift that life is. The recent attacks in Europe remind me that no matter where we live, in all the four corners of this earth, we are affected by this impediment on living a free, peaceful life. It can be easy for humankind to only think about these tragedies for a moment then get on with their lives. Yet, where does our empathy go on further, to say we have a responsibility as the human race to protect each other, and fight to keep our freedoms and liberties. If we can take a moment to really open our eyes and notice what is going on beyond our borders, it does not take much time to see that there are many in-humane acts taking place. To be honest, life is not good for so many people in the world and what are we going to do to help people. What are we going to do to be the voice for the voiceless, and bring justice to those in need of justice. We have a responsibility to the human race to stand up for good for each other. If terror strikes you or your loved ones, would you not want your fellow citizens to stand up for you and yours?

It can feel depressing and overwhelming when the negative sides of life invade our news feeds. It can feel as tho we are helpless. Yet the smallest acts of love can make a difference in this world. When more light penetrates the darkness, darkness has no chance to overtake that light. Saying a simple prayer daily for the those in need in this world is doing much more that you can ever fathom. Giving donations to responsible organizations that are tangibly helping the helpless makes bounds of a difference. Furthermore, if you are able to go and help through organizations, your hands and feet extended to the suffering will make lasting impacts of light where darkness has oppressed so many lives. What we do daily as the human race affects the world immediately around you, which then trickles out to the extended world around you. You can choose to sit around and do nothing, you can choose to add to the darkness, or you can get out of your protected bubble and stand up to be light in this world. The choice is yours! I can only encourage you to be a light, to stand for good, for peace, for freedom, and for love.

So when time stands still in our world, as in recent days during the attacks in Paris. Remember that you have a choice to stand up, speak up, even say a little prayer to make a difference for those who are being attacked. There may be a day that you are being attacked and will covet the same from others to stand in the gap for you. Let us be light unto this world. Though a cliche, Paris is referenced as the city of lights. So for the families and citizens of the city of lights, we pray for your hearts to be filled with light, love and peace as you journey through these difficult times that have come upon you.

∼live your journey true∼

Yesterday I was listening to a man speak about sacrifice. He was detailing the areas of our lives we can sacrifice to be a follower of Christ and walk in faith. As I sat through his presentation, my mind was clouded over with a thought. What if we lived life with a certain goal in place when we encounter people. People meaning, friends, family and strangers. The goal – to be a light, a positive light. Leaving our conversations, outings, moments together and first encounters with people positively. That the person we have been given a fraction of time with, whether great or small, may they leave feeling uplifted and encouraged. What ever journey they may be on with God, or in their own life circumstances and relationships. Let us be a positive light in their moments with us. We may be able to bring clarity in a time of confusion, give them encouragement when they are down, or bring peace to what is a moment of despair. There might be times that we speak truth into their life, which may be hard to hear, yet ultimately directs them on the path that is best for them. What would our lives, relationships, and world look like, if we as humankind could approach the people all around us in this attitude!

Is it a sacrifice to walk through our lives with this attitude in place, definitely. It is far too simple to look at people and situations as if something or someone is out to get us. If we can turn that around and breathe encouragement and kindness to others, just think of how many conflicts would not arise.

I do not enjoy being around negativity. Tho it can draw me in at times to lay out some of my frustrations, when it is all laid to rest, I feel awful about it. If people do not feel encouraged or positive after they have a conversation with me, what is the point of me influencing anyone at all. I want to uplift people and shed God’s glorious light into a dark world. If I am going to tell the world that I am a follower of Christ, than my main priority is to shine His light to all those around me, close and far. It all comes down to a calling, a calling that is not always easy yet reaps great rewards. The calling to be a light, in what can be a dark world.

∼live your journey true∼