Sometimes you just need to write a new book

You've heard it many times, the usual "don't close the book, just write a different chapter" quote. Although it is true to a certain extent, I wondered today why no one says "just write a different book".

When I think about reading a book, I know two things for sure: a) I know it's about a particular story and b) that it will eventually have an ending. But can you imagine reading a book that never ends? It's almost like these english soaps that never finish and have been going on air for years! yet the drama, the plots, the point is always the same. Now even worse...can you imagine living a life with a story that never changes?

Sometimes you just need to write a new book in life. If you're tired of the same story in your life, close that book! It's the true meaning of starting fresh. Change the plot, the characters, and the setting. Lately, I've been asking God to write a new book of me. One that doesn't have to be hidden, or put in a section for no one to read. I want my new book to be one that people can read and learn from, one that might teach someone something to carry on in their lives. Life doesn't have to be the "same story, just different chapters". If you need some changes in life, I encourage you to start today, and write a different book.

Lead the way

"Lead the way". Ive told God many times that He has my heart, that He's got full control, and countless times I've said "in You I trust".


But I failed.


I didn't understand how to trust God FULLY without having to ruin his plan with my genius plans, or how to give up my control over situations and let Him fight my battles. That is until I ran into some pictures of when I was younger. I realized that in those pictures my world, my security, my superhero, my safety, was my father. I would never question why we didn't have a house. I never question why our christmas tree was extremely small. I never questioned why I didn't have my own room, or why we lived in a bad neighborhood. To me, I had everything in the world. I didn't lack anything, so I thought. I had everything I needed because I had a father who I thought gave me the World.


So why couldn't I feel like that with the God who created me? Why did I always feel the need to tell him "but God, I need..."? Why couldn't I let him lead the way without having to pull his arms and tell him "You're going the wrong way"? Simply because I didn't understand that He IS my father, and I am His daughter. As a daughter I need to trust him. I need to know that while God is "away working" he is actually putting my life together and all he wants me to do is focus on the moment in front of me, and not worry. He wants me to be anxious in nothing.

If you dont understand why certain things are happening or have happened...you don't need to! God just wants you to trust him. Enjoy the dance of life. Let him lead the way.

Fragrant

hn 12:3 NKJV
"Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, annointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil."

This, out of all the stories in the Bible, has always been my favorite story. It's only 8 verses long and yet, to me, was the most impacting. When I was little, I used to think how lucky Mary was to have the privilege of annointing Jesus' feet. Now I see the story from a whole new perspective. See, Mary wasn't your typical "Proverbs 31" woman. She came with a lot of history. She came with a lot of pain. She came with a almost "stay away sign" that most people had put on her. To her, Jesus was truly a savior. She longed to please Him- not to be seen, but show her gratitude. She could not find enough words to show him, so she used the one thing she could think of that would honor him. And she made history. Her act has inspired many songs, many poems, and hymns. But her act has more importantly, inspired me. At many times I find myself at that point where I'm surrounded with people who look on and doubt, where I'm too scared to even come to Him because I fear rejection. It's hard to ignore those comments. "Here we go again". "What happened now?". "Who does she think she is?". Walking towards Jesus was Mary's first step. She had to ignore the comments. She had to get past the faces. She had to focus on Jesus. Presenting the oil was the second step. Present your oil to God. In worship. In prayer. In offering. In poems. Whatever it is, don't let anyone put a "standard" to your fragrant offering. It's from your heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Third, she poured the oil on his feet. No one has to understand, because it's between you and God. Mary blocked out everyone who was in the room and poured out the most expensive thing she had. You don't need expensive oil to please God. But what you do with your time- offer it to Him. Spend hours in His presence and He will give you songs, poems, even ideas! Present it to Him as a fragrant offering. 

Now comes my favorite part of verse 3. "And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the oil". Jesus wasn't the only one who received the sweet aroma of her offering. Others did too. They smelled what Jesus smelled. When you present your fragrant offer to God, it impacts others, whether you realize it or not.

I want my offering to be fragrant. Not only to God, but to those who surround me. That I may impact others by my actions. That I may fill the house with "fragrance of my oil" in everything that I do. In every song I sing. In every poem I write. In every child I work with. In everything that I do. I want to be like Mary and not care who surrounds me, but focus on Him. My savior, redeemer, and King. My Jesus.