Colossians 1:17

"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

I can't go a single day without recognizing the significance of this statement. People have known it for years upon years, and it still rings true today. If you take a look at the rest of this passage in the Bible, it talks about Jesus being the image of God, who created everything and has power over everything seen and unseen. But this verse stood out to me above the rest.

In everything, I can find God. I don't mean he DWELLS in trees or cups of coffee, but I DO mean that in every life circumstance, I can see the hand of God. Once you are aware of this, you tend to see it more. In a quiet moment by myself before the sun rises, I can hear His quiet whisper telling me to enjoy the moment. As I drink my coffee, I know He's there with me like a coach, getting me ready for whatever lies ahead in my day.

As long as you acknowledge His presence in your life, I truly believe He will bless you. That obviously doesn't mean life will be better, perfect, or pretty. But, it DOES mean His hand will be your hand. His voice will be your voice. You'll know what God expects from you, and He will guide you in HIS path. I guess that does mean you have to care more what He wants than about your own dreams, but I guess that is a sacrifice I am willing to take. Its a sacrifice I have to commit myself to on a daily basis, or I just start to get greedy, selfish, stubborn, and self-focused.

If in Christ all things hold together, then out of Christ they simply fall apart.

Childhood Friends...

My friend Melissa has known me her whole life. I have known her since I was one year old. That would obviously make her the longest-running friend I have, and she visited me in Blaine today! It has been so fun growing in our friendship as the years have gone on, and discovering the many ways we're alike, not only between the two of us, but also between our kids! It was a great day catching up, playing at the park, eating DELICIOUS homemade flatbread chicken salad sandwiches, and just enjoying a beautiful sunny day. I love how she and I always fall into a natural conversation, despite how long its been since we've seen each other... this time 9 months since we last saw each other. I think its been overall just a fun experience for both of us (ok I can only speak for myself here) to see each other grow up, get married, raise a family, and follow Christ the whole way through it. What a fun adventure, and way to share life with someone. :)