Anyone that reads my blog should know by now that I talk about people I know all the time. Recently I have been writing a lot more about my loved ones like my family, friends, and girlfriend. Well the other day my girlfriend and I were talking and she said something to me that really hit deep. Three simple words, "Lets be Saints." Now, at this point your probably thinking, Jake you have been in Alaska way too long and you are starting to lose it. False. Anyone that doesn't see beauty in that statement is a fool and I will explain why.
Are we not called to be Saints? Are we not made to live our lives with God's purpose on the forefront of our minds, always striving for excellence? We are called to live as saints. God did not make us to waste our lives away with meaningless tasks, but to live a life dedicated to Him and with a purpose. My most favorite verse in the bible speaks to the idea that we are made for excellence and to be the examples of saints.
1 Timothy 4:12 "Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe through speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity."
That verse right there is God's way of calling you out and telling you that you are made for more. Through your actions and everything you do you should be a shining example of the Lord. This verse is God's way of telling us to be saints. The way we need to live our lives every single day never wavering from the truth about His purpose for us all. We don't only need to show example through our actions, but above all else we can not become saints without the guidance of God. We must surrender ourselves at the foot of the cross and ask God to take control of our life. Allow him to do his work through you and make choices with God in mind.
As we get closer to All Saints Day, we should all begin to look at the saints lives and see how they sacrificed their life for. May it be St. Peter who is the rock of our church living his life the way God asked him to do or as St. Lawrence while being flayed alive he still refuse to denounce his faith. Even people like St. Augustine who struggled with sins all throughout his life, but finally recognizing that God had a purpose for him. All of these dedicated their lives to God as we are called to do. God forgave each of them for their past sins and those are the holy people that I want to hang out with when I go to heaven.
On this day we should reflect. Are we choosing to live as Saints or are we sliding by hoping to reach heaven? After my girlfriend said "lets be saints", without missing a beat I responded "sounds good to me, lets do it."
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Dating = Discernment
This past weekend I was blessed to have my girl friend come up and visit me. She is wonderful woman who is completely passionate about her faith and truly lives her faith in everything she does. For any of you that don't know anything about my relationship it is quite a unique. I met my girlfriend while we were in college but we didn't start dating until I moved to Alaska a year after I graduated. I have seen her three times since we started dating and one of those times we hung out for a few hours while I was passing through Charlotte on my way back from World Youth Days. The reason I tell you this is to show you that being able to just be with her is very special to me. Not because we need a physical side to our relationship to strive because we are very pure in our relationship, but the fact that I get to see her face to face while we talk about faith and get to go to mass together means the world to me. The most interesting conversation we have is our views on dating and the discernment process.
Technically, me and her are "girlfriend" and "boyfriend", but in the vocation aspect we are both considered single. Now, this does not mean that I can go on dates with any woman or kiss any girl I see. I still am committed to her as being my potential spouse. There are major differences though, between being in a relationship with a woman and actually marrying her. Here, are three major points that show that dating is still a discernment process compared to a vocation.
1. Relationships can end at anytime while marriages are a life long commitment. When you begin to date someone there is normally some form of an attraction to the other person that sparks your interest. You beginning dating them because you want to get to know someone and this relationship has the potential to grow into something more. Dating someone for the first time doesn't mean you are going to spend the rest of your life with them. Marriage is a sacrament that calls for each person to spend the rest of their lives with each other.
2. Prayer. Praying in a relationship compared to praying in a marriage are vastly different. While it is important to pray for your counterpart in a relationship it is ultimately more important to pray that God will continue to guide you towards you and your counterparts vocation. May that vocation be marriage or some religious order, you should put that decision into God's hand. In marriage you not only are praying for yourself or spouse, but also for the success of your relationship. Though in both a relationship and marriage you should pray that God remains the center, in a relationship for God to be center you must be open to his ultimate plan for you even if that is not marriage.
3. Purity vs. Pro creation. Now this last point may seem a little strange, but I find this one is to be the most important. This last point incorporates the last two and is one of the hardest for people in relationships today. Purity in a relationship is simple. Like I stated before a relationship can end at any time even if you think that you are going to "marry" this person. If you take away the purity of a woman you are not only hurting her, but you are taking that away from her future spouse. Sex is made for marriage and to pro create. Sex is not made for our enjoyment but to be a beautiful act that we share with one person in marriage. We are called to protect the purity of every person and wait until marriage to participate in an act such as procreation.
These reasons show that dating is not something we do, but a part of our discernment process that God puts us through. It is put on us to choose how to enter in this discernment process. I am thankful to know that currently in my discernment process I am supported by a wonderful woman. I pray that everyone that reads this recognizes the call to continue to discernment until the day you are married or ordained. God should be in the center of all things that we do and we must surrender ourselves at the foot of the cross to recognize that. Galatians 2:20 "So that it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by Faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me."
Technically, me and her are "girlfriend" and "boyfriend", but in the vocation aspect we are both considered single. Now, this does not mean that I can go on dates with any woman or kiss any girl I see. I still am committed to her as being my potential spouse. There are major differences though, between being in a relationship with a woman and actually marrying her. Here, are three major points that show that dating is still a discernment process compared to a vocation.
1. Relationships can end at anytime while marriages are a life long commitment. When you begin to date someone there is normally some form of an attraction to the other person that sparks your interest. You beginning dating them because you want to get to know someone and this relationship has the potential to grow into something more. Dating someone for the first time doesn't mean you are going to spend the rest of your life with them. Marriage is a sacrament that calls for each person to spend the rest of their lives with each other.
2. Prayer. Praying in a relationship compared to praying in a marriage are vastly different. While it is important to pray for your counterpart in a relationship it is ultimately more important to pray that God will continue to guide you towards you and your counterparts vocation. May that vocation be marriage or some religious order, you should put that decision into God's hand. In marriage you not only are praying for yourself or spouse, but also for the success of your relationship. Though in both a relationship and marriage you should pray that God remains the center, in a relationship for God to be center you must be open to his ultimate plan for you even if that is not marriage.
3. Purity vs. Pro creation. Now this last point may seem a little strange, but I find this one is to be the most important. This last point incorporates the last two and is one of the hardest for people in relationships today. Purity in a relationship is simple. Like I stated before a relationship can end at any time even if you think that you are going to "marry" this person. If you take away the purity of a woman you are not only hurting her, but you are taking that away from her future spouse. Sex is made for marriage and to pro create. Sex is not made for our enjoyment but to be a beautiful act that we share with one person in marriage. We are called to protect the purity of every person and wait until marriage to participate in an act such as procreation.
These reasons show that dating is not something we do, but a part of our discernment process that God puts us through. It is put on us to choose how to enter in this discernment process. I am thankful to know that currently in my discernment process I am supported by a wonderful woman. I pray that everyone that reads this recognizes the call to continue to discernment until the day you are married or ordained. God should be in the center of all things that we do and we must surrender ourselves at the foot of the cross to recognize that. Galatians 2:20 "So that it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by Faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me."
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Calling You Out
Men today are missing out on something very important. They walk through each day failing to notice the beauty that is right in front of them. They go around failing to be the Christian men God calls them to be, but boys who simply look after themselves. Most of you can guess the thing men are missing out on is the beauty of woman. Not just the beauty we physically see, but the beauty that Mary shows us by being the Mother of God. The beauty that men fail to recognize and protect the beauty in every woman. I am writing this blog not only to tell the men what they are missing out, but to call all men out. Call men out on their failure to recognize and protect this beauty.
First, guys have lost the importance of protecting the purity of a woman. One of the most beautiful parts of Mary is her purity. The fact that Joseph her husband protected it and understood the importance of her purity is an example that all men should follow. A woman that keeps her purity is not only showing respect for herself but shows to her future spouse. It is a mans duty to not only recognize the beauty in purity, but to protect and strive to be more like Joseph in all their relationships with a woman.
Second, this is probably one of the easiest things a man can do but fails to do. Men fail to tell women how truly beautiful they are. Today, it seems for a man to simply tell a woman she looks beautiful or gorgeous is difficult. Men feel that terms such as hot and fine are good enough terms to use for a woman. I hope the women who read this will agree with me, but the terms fine and hot seem to only address a woman's physical appearance. When a man tells a woman that she is beautiful and gorgeous it encompasses so much more. It encompasses the way a woman holds herself, her purity, and the way she lives her life for God. Men these are two simple terms that every woman wants to hear from us.
Finally, every man can admit that the greatest struggle for a man is lust. I mean God created women to be beautiful. The problem with this struggle of lust is that we give into it too much. Guys we are weak and feel that giving into lust is the only answer. We fail to recognize that every time we give into this temptation we are disrespecting the dignity of women more and more. We are called to be the protectors of the beauty and dignity of a woman, but rather care for ourselves and our personal pleasures. Guys this is not only cowardly but the worst thing we can do. We were made for greater and every woman should challenge a man to be greater than he is today.
Jesus did not sacrifice himself on the cross to look out for our own pleasures and desire. Jesus was crucified so that we were freed from our sins. We are called to support each other in all the struggles in the world. Recognizing that God has created beauty all around us and purity is the greatest beauty that any of us could obtain. Men I challenge you right now to stop looking out for your own pleasures, but begin to recognize and protect the greatest beauty God ever created and that is the woman that surround everyday. Women I challenge to call out those men who stand around constantly being boys and challenge them to be the men that God has called them to be.
First, guys have lost the importance of protecting the purity of a woman. One of the most beautiful parts of Mary is her purity. The fact that Joseph her husband protected it and understood the importance of her purity is an example that all men should follow. A woman that keeps her purity is not only showing respect for herself but shows to her future spouse. It is a mans duty to not only recognize the beauty in purity, but to protect and strive to be more like Joseph in all their relationships with a woman.
Second, this is probably one of the easiest things a man can do but fails to do. Men fail to tell women how truly beautiful they are. Today, it seems for a man to simply tell a woman she looks beautiful or gorgeous is difficult. Men feel that terms such as hot and fine are good enough terms to use for a woman. I hope the women who read this will agree with me, but the terms fine and hot seem to only address a woman's physical appearance. When a man tells a woman that she is beautiful and gorgeous it encompasses so much more. It encompasses the way a woman holds herself, her purity, and the way she lives her life for God. Men these are two simple terms that every woman wants to hear from us.
Finally, every man can admit that the greatest struggle for a man is lust. I mean God created women to be beautiful. The problem with this struggle of lust is that we give into it too much. Guys we are weak and feel that giving into lust is the only answer. We fail to recognize that every time we give into this temptation we are disrespecting the dignity of women more and more. We are called to be the protectors of the beauty and dignity of a woman, but rather care for ourselves and our personal pleasures. Guys this is not only cowardly but the worst thing we can do. We were made for greater and every woman should challenge a man to be greater than he is today.
Jesus did not sacrifice himself on the cross to look out for our own pleasures and desire. Jesus was crucified so that we were freed from our sins. We are called to support each other in all the struggles in the world. Recognizing that God has created beauty all around us and purity is the greatest beauty that any of us could obtain. Men I challenge you right now to stop looking out for your own pleasures, but begin to recognize and protect the greatest beauty God ever created and that is the woman that surround everyday. Women I challenge to call out those men who stand around constantly being boys and challenge them to be the men that God has called them to be.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Feast of Guardian Angels
Standing atop a waterfall looking down thinking that I could die and my only option at this point is to jump. My legs are quivering and my body not allowing me to jump off I stop an say a little prayer. Not just any ordinary prayer, but a prayer directly focused on my guardian angel. Praying that not only will my guardian angel grant me protection, but catch me or something so that I don't hit that water too hard. Obviously I survived that jump because I am writing this right now.
Looking back at that moment I now picture as I jump my guardian angel catches me like the angels do in the movie "Angels in the Outfield." In reality I never know how my guardian angel helped me on that day. To be honest we know very little about Angels all together. But here are a few things I can tell you about my guardian angel.
1. I am pretty sure my guardian angel is one of those angels that everyone in heaven knows about. I have been in moments where I am so raptured in fear that I can't move. The feeling of not succeeding or being scared to death overtake me so much that I begin quiver and can't speak and anyone that knows me knows that I always have something to say. I can guarantee you that in those moments I stop and say a little prayer to my guardian angel and the feeling of warmth fills me.
2. What is more awesome than knowing that an angel is right there with you fighting off all the evil that encompasses this world around you. I picture this huge being standing over me with chains in one hand and a sword in the opposite hand. Every day he is battling off anything that tries to face me and grants me an opportunity to do my ministry and live my life with sheer joy.
3. I never would have gotten through this past year without my guardian angel. Guardian angels help you in those vulnerable times. Times like this past year when I am without my friends, my family, and most importantly those people who constantly supported me in my faith; my guardian angel was right there next to me. Never wavering and always supporting me.
Now I am not failing to recognize that God was truly present in these moments. God is always present in my life. He is my rock to my faith. I strongly believe and take this day the feast of guardian angels to recognize another part of my faith. A part of my faith that God blessed us with to be our protection and guidance. Today is the day to give respect and life up everyone's guardian angels. I ask that everyone step back and think of your guardian think. Think of those times that you sit in fear and recognize your not. You no longer have to do it alone, but are protected and guided. Today I pray that my guardian angel will continue to be with me in all my ministries as I move forward and I pray that everyone does the same.
Looking back at that moment I now picture as I jump my guardian angel catches me like the angels do in the movie "Angels in the Outfield." In reality I never know how my guardian angel helped me on that day. To be honest we know very little about Angels all together. But here are a few things I can tell you about my guardian angel.
1. I am pretty sure my guardian angel is one of those angels that everyone in heaven knows about. I have been in moments where I am so raptured in fear that I can't move. The feeling of not succeeding or being scared to death overtake me so much that I begin quiver and can't speak and anyone that knows me knows that I always have something to say. I can guarantee you that in those moments I stop and say a little prayer to my guardian angel and the feeling of warmth fills me.
2. What is more awesome than knowing that an angel is right there with you fighting off all the evil that encompasses this world around you. I picture this huge being standing over me with chains in one hand and a sword in the opposite hand. Every day he is battling off anything that tries to face me and grants me an opportunity to do my ministry and live my life with sheer joy.
3. I never would have gotten through this past year without my guardian angel. Guardian angels help you in those vulnerable times. Times like this past year when I am without my friends, my family, and most importantly those people who constantly supported me in my faith; my guardian angel was right there next to me. Never wavering and always supporting me.
Now I am not failing to recognize that God was truly present in these moments. God is always present in my life. He is my rock to my faith. I strongly believe and take this day the feast of guardian angels to recognize another part of my faith. A part of my faith that God blessed us with to be our protection and guidance. Today is the day to give respect and life up everyone's guardian angels. I ask that everyone step back and think of your guardian think. Think of those times that you sit in fear and recognize your not. You no longer have to do it alone, but are protected and guided. Today I pray that my guardian angel will continue to be with me in all my ministries as I move forward and I pray that everyone does the same.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Nourishment
Have you ever wondered why things that are pleasurable for a moment are considered sinful? I have. When I was in high school I would sit in my room on a Saturday night and wonder why I choose not to go to a party. Why not going and smoke weed with my classmates? Why did I never go out and get drunk on the weekends? Back then I had no idea what to do. I would be overwhelmed with feelings of being an outsider and not being wanted by others. I soon realized that I was completely wrong.
The world we live in today is simply a world of pleasure. Everything that is being promoted in the society around us is based off our need for happiness. For instance, when you drink alcohol you begin to lessen your senses. Your body begins to lose feeling and you get a slight sense of happiness for a moment. People drink more and more just for the moment to have that feeling. That happiness never lasts though. For instance, if you drink too much you wake up the next morning feeling like garbage and sometimes not even knowing what happen the night before. The world fails to recognize another way of fulfilling that happiness needed for people to live a successful life.
People constantly fail to realize every single day that they are loved. Even those that have nobody and never found a place. There is one place that we are always welcomed and loved and that is in the arms of our Father. The Love of another is the greatest nourishment that we need. We don't need those false pleasures that give us a moment of happiness. We need that nourishment that will last forever and never wears off. God is the only nourishment that we ever need. Every Sunday I go to mass knowing that I will receive that nourishment. Knowing that once I consume the Eucharist God will fully take over and will fill me with love and compassion. Now, just consuming the Eucharist is not enough. You must recognize that in that Eucharist it is Jesus Christ and he is fully present there. The key word to this whole understanding is recognizing. If you never fully recognize that God is present then you will never obtain this nourishment. If you never recognize that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Jesus Christ then you will not fully receive this nourishment. God does not make us to live a life of depression, but to be truly happy in everything we do.
The world we live in today is simply a world of pleasure. Everything that is being promoted in the society around us is based off our need for happiness. For instance, when you drink alcohol you begin to lessen your senses. Your body begins to lose feeling and you get a slight sense of happiness for a moment. People drink more and more just for the moment to have that feeling. That happiness never lasts though. For instance, if you drink too much you wake up the next morning feeling like garbage and sometimes not even knowing what happen the night before. The world fails to recognize another way of fulfilling that happiness needed for people to live a successful life.
People constantly fail to realize every single day that they are loved. Even those that have nobody and never found a place. There is one place that we are always welcomed and loved and that is in the arms of our Father. The Love of another is the greatest nourishment that we need. We don't need those false pleasures that give us a moment of happiness. We need that nourishment that will last forever and never wears off. God is the only nourishment that we ever need. Every Sunday I go to mass knowing that I will receive that nourishment. Knowing that once I consume the Eucharist God will fully take over and will fill me with love and compassion. Now, just consuming the Eucharist is not enough. You must recognize that in that Eucharist it is Jesus Christ and he is fully present there. The key word to this whole understanding is recognizing. If you never fully recognize that God is present then you will never obtain this nourishment. If you never recognize that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Jesus Christ then you will not fully receive this nourishment. God does not make us to live a life of depression, but to be truly happy in everything we do.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
What it Means to Be Catholic
Working for the church I feel like I am constantly told how wrong I am to be Catholic. That Catholics hate homsexuals, disrespect a woman's right to choose what to do about their body, and worship saints and Mary. I am here to state that is all wrong for many reasons. First, all those assumptions are wrong. I love homosexuals and those who say I don't you can ask one of my friends from college if I truly hate him. Marriage is a sacrament that is held between a man and a woman and does not say that I hate homosexuals. Secondly, I have the highest respect for woman, but I have a higher respect for everyone's God given right to live. Almost everyone would agree that killing is the taking of another persons life. If you believe the previous statement, then not allowing a child to live his or her life is killing. Thirdly, I don't worship saints or Mary. I always love having the most holy people I know pray for me. When I pray to the saints I am asking for their prayers because those are the people that have the closest relationship to God. Now, that we have all the issues out of the way we can get into what it really means to be Catholic.
I get tired of people constantly telling me that I am Catholic because of all the issues. To be Catholic goes beyond all the issues that the Catholic Church addresses. Catholicism is based on the relationship between God and the person. What does this mean? Well this is how I look at it. I know that every Sunday when I go to mass that I will be one with God when I accept the Body of Christ. Once the host is consecrated in Mass it is the truly the body of Christ. By accepting the Body of Christ I truly experience and feel the love of Jesus Christ. The basis of the Catholic religion starts from that initial relationship with the Man of Jesus Christ. Knowing that Jesus gave his life not only for a few people, but for the eternal Salvation of every person on Earth. If we never recognize the great sacrifice that God made for all of us, then our faith has no basis. This sign of sacrifice is our ultimate example of love. God calls each of us to love every single person in our lives. No matter the things they have done or the way they live. Our ultimate call is to show everyone the love with Jesus Christ and it all starts with our own personal experience of that love.
To sum this up in a very short blog this is what it means. I must recognize that God and me walk hand and hand together through every part of my day. The most important part of my faith is that he is always present in everything that I do. God then calls each of us to follow his word and his guidance. This is where the so called "issues" come into our life. Those issues do not involve the hatred and the condemning of others, but call to show those people the love God calls us to.
Galatian 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
I get tired of people constantly telling me that I am Catholic because of all the issues. To be Catholic goes beyond all the issues that the Catholic Church addresses. Catholicism is based on the relationship between God and the person. What does this mean? Well this is how I look at it. I know that every Sunday when I go to mass that I will be one with God when I accept the Body of Christ. Once the host is consecrated in Mass it is the truly the body of Christ. By accepting the Body of Christ I truly experience and feel the love of Jesus Christ. The basis of the Catholic religion starts from that initial relationship with the Man of Jesus Christ. Knowing that Jesus gave his life not only for a few people, but for the eternal Salvation of every person on Earth. If we never recognize the great sacrifice that God made for all of us, then our faith has no basis. This sign of sacrifice is our ultimate example of love. God calls each of us to love every single person in our lives. No matter the things they have done or the way they live. Our ultimate call is to show everyone the love with Jesus Christ and it all starts with our own personal experience of that love.
To sum this up in a very short blog this is what it means. I must recognize that God and me walk hand and hand together through every part of my day. The most important part of my faith is that he is always present in everything that I do. God then calls each of us to follow his word and his guidance. This is where the so called "issues" come into our life. Those issues do not involve the hatred and the condemning of others, but call to show those people the love God calls us to.
Galatian 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Sunday, May 5, 2013
More than Whats in the Mirror
Today I sit and prepare for youth group on self image. I personally have always struggled with self image. I come from a family of beautiful people who are all incredibly intelligent. No one in my family has put that pressure on me but I have put the pressure on myself. I constantly compare myself to my brothers and even my sister. So for me the best help I can find is from God directly in the Bible. As I look through Bible verses there is one that sticks out to me.
Ephesians 2:10 "God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do."
Now there are many reasons why this bible verse stuck out from the rest for me, but there are two main reasons that separate themselves from the rest. First, the very first part of the verse tells you everything you really need to know about self image. GOD has made us. God has never created junk, but creates things with a purpose and beauty. While living in Juneau you experience a ton of rainy days. Constantly searching for beauty in all the muck. Then comes about what we call a sucker hole. Where that little bit of sunshine breaks through the clouds and for a moment we see the beauty. The funny part about the sucker hole is that we focus solely on that moment. While God is constantly looking through the clouds knowing that God had created everything for beauty and greatness. This example relates directly to our own self image problems. Though we look in a mirror and see all that muck and darkness, there is always a sucker hole. We may not see that beauty and the sucker hole may take forever to come around, but God is constantly looking the clouds to see that beauty in us every single day.
Now, that only looks at the first half of that verse. The part that really hits me in the heart is "which he has already prepared us to do." So recently I have had this sudden urge to do these random "courageous" acts. I mean I just moved 5000 miles away from home knowing no one. I worked at a summer camp in the Blue Ridge mountains where for fun we went and jumped off 50 ft waterfalls. I am dying to go running with the bulls and plan to do it one day. So the other day my friend asked me "Jake, why do you do these things?" In my heart only one thing felt right. God does not create us to sit and watch the world pass us by, but he calls us for greatness. Now, I am not telling anyone to have the same mindset I do because I would have to say some of the things I do are just plain stupid. But in all things we do we should know that God has created us for this. We should do it to the best of our ability and not look back. God will empower us to break through any wall and give us the abilities to do his work.
"God does not create us for normality, but to be courageous and change the lives of those people around."
Ephesians 2:10 "God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do."
Now there are many reasons why this bible verse stuck out from the rest for me, but there are two main reasons that separate themselves from the rest. First, the very first part of the verse tells you everything you really need to know about self image. GOD has made us. God has never created junk, but creates things with a purpose and beauty. While living in Juneau you experience a ton of rainy days. Constantly searching for beauty in all the muck. Then comes about what we call a sucker hole. Where that little bit of sunshine breaks through the clouds and for a moment we see the beauty. The funny part about the sucker hole is that we focus solely on that moment. While God is constantly looking through the clouds knowing that God had created everything for beauty and greatness. This example relates directly to our own self image problems. Though we look in a mirror and see all that muck and darkness, there is always a sucker hole. We may not see that beauty and the sucker hole may take forever to come around, but God is constantly looking the clouds to see that beauty in us every single day.
Now, that only looks at the first half of that verse. The part that really hits me in the heart is "which he has already prepared us to do." So recently I have had this sudden urge to do these random "courageous" acts. I mean I just moved 5000 miles away from home knowing no one. I worked at a summer camp in the Blue Ridge mountains where for fun we went and jumped off 50 ft waterfalls. I am dying to go running with the bulls and plan to do it one day. So the other day my friend asked me "Jake, why do you do these things?" In my heart only one thing felt right. God does not create us to sit and watch the world pass us by, but he calls us for greatness. Now, I am not telling anyone to have the same mindset I do because I would have to say some of the things I do are just plain stupid. But in all things we do we should know that God has created us for this. We should do it to the best of our ability and not look back. God will empower us to break through any wall and give us the abilities to do his work.
"God does not create us for normality, but to be courageous and change the lives of those people around."
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