In Spite Of

Starting off the year - And trying to start off the blog...Again!

I've tried to start blogs and posts in the past, but tend to trail off after just a couple of entries. So, I'm trying again here in 2018. So, let's get to it!

It seems nowadays I hear of more and more people having a "word" or "theme" for their year. I honestly think the first person I read about doing that was Debbie Macomber, the author that's given Hallmark plenty of show and movie material. Her word for the year was bouquet. If I remember correctly she talked about how each kind thing we do is like presenting a bouquet to the recipient. Even the things we do for the Lord are the same way. I liked the idea of having a theme for the year so I thought I'd try to find my own. I think it's been 4 years ago now since I starting trying to find a word for every year that I would keep in mind. I asked the Lord what theme or topic He'd like me have at the forefront of my mind for the upcoming year. One year my word was hope. One year it was 2 words - No fear. It seemed like this year, before I even really had given it much thought, the Lord laid on my heart a simple phrase - In spite of. I felt as though He is leading me in this new year to live life to the fullest IN SPITE OF the things I feel like aren't working out. He wants me to worship and praise Him IN SPITE OF the prayers that I haven't seen answered yet. He wants me to be happy and to laugh IN SPITE OF the circumstances that leave me less than joyful.

Smile, praise, laugh, worship live IN SPITE OF what you feel you don't have.

I feel like the Lord is almost chastising me, in the most loving way, for all the time I've spent complaining and holding off on pursuing dreams He has placed in my life because I've been focused on what I don't have. I've allowed the few things that aren't the way I'd like them to be overshadow so many blessings in my life.

Have you ever noticed that complaining about one thing often drives you to complain about something else? There's some weird gratification to this human mind that comes from voicing our complaints out loud. And many times, we're just looking for someone to lend an ear and say, "Wow, I know that must be really hard for you to go through." It seems if just ONE person would show us a little bit of concern about our situation, it would somehow make us feel better. Now, don't get me wrong. I fully believe we should bear each others burdens and always be willing to listen and speak words of encouragement when someone is struggling. But, you know the attitude I'm talking about. The one we get all too often because all we can think about is how unfair life has been to us. I'm sitting here typing on my computer that actually works without shutting down, wearing a new vest I got from Christmas from my mom, my husband and his cousin are playing a video game in the background. I'm warm, full, and healthy. So exactly why should I complain that life has been unfair? For the past 26 years God has been faithful to me and because that's Who He is, He always will be. So the list we have of wishes, dreams and unanswered prayers might still be there. Some of the things on that list might be there for a while to come, or they may be crossed off the list tomorrow. But, I have to learn to enjoy this wonderful life, embrace the love around me, laugh til I can't breathe, worship even when it hurts, and praise to the top of my lungs IN SPITE OF what my eyes can see. Why? Number 1, because God deserves that. He's worthy just because He's God. Number 2, He inhabits my praise and I need Him as close as He's willing to be. Number 3, Isn't it more likely that He'd want to bless a child who's thankful for what they already have? And chances are, the more grateful we are for what we have, the more we'll realize we actually have. So, today, praise, smile, worship, live, laugh, rejoice and be happy IN SPITE OF it all.