Perseverance Vs. Waiting: I was going to say Vs. Procrastination, but waiting seemed nicer. Perseverance is pushing forward despite hardship, difficulty and delay. Perseverance grows our muscles; physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually we all need to learn the art of perseverance. Whenever i hear the word, i think of a football game. Friday nights in the Fall. Darkness pierced by the field lights. All ages huddled together under umbrellas. Cheering, moaning, screaming, silence. Victory. We all want our team to win, sometimes they do. Sometimes they don't, but i am sure they tried to. I see the sweat, I can almost feel the mud and grass between the fingers, i can see the clenched jaw and the tight muscles. They for sure tried. Perhaps the other guys were bigger, perhaps there was an injury, perhaps... but they tried. I don't know any football player that would admit to not trying. It's about the fight, the perseverance, that no matter what the circumstance and situation they tried. Some people don't try in life. They focus on the mud, grass, rain, injury, or the bigger guy and give up.
James 1:2-4 has always been a favorite:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
NOT LACKING ANYTHING! oh how my heart cries for more people with a heart that heads these verses. MATURE AND COMPLETE.Love Vs. Selfishness: If you have never read 1 Corinthians 13 you should, and if you have an know what i am talking about... read it again, but in the Love is_________ part instead of LOVE put your name and see if you match up. I get stuck on the first one "(Cassie) is patient". Anyone who knows me knows that me and patience have a battle everyday. (sometimes i win). I am pretty sure if you take the opposite of each attribute of love from that chapter you could boil it down to one word: Selfishness. I have said it many times on this blog, but i will say it again; can we just stinkin' love people? And when we have learned to truly love the people closest to us, let's show it off.... let's (please) love the world and show people Jesus.
Purity Vs. Immorality: Can we please STOP selling purity as abstinence? There is so much more to a life full of purity than saving sex for marriage. (more to come on this one)
Having a Family: I think one of God's greatest ideas was family. I just moved in with one. (yes i moved again) Mike, Ally, Sienna and baby(still in the oven) are wonderful. I love watching families. I love (and miss terribly) my family, but am so thankful that i have one, and not only have one, but having a family with Parents who started a new legacy and line is awesome! My parents understand the value of being humble for an hour. My parents understand that hard times will come and situations may be bleak, but perseverance is worth the pain. If you check out my "About Me" you will see that i consider my parents an incredible example of Selfless Love. I like to call my dad(mom too) the "Purity Nazi"... and am SO glad he is/was!!! They didn't come from "normal" or "wonderful" families, but they knew that it was possible, and for that i am eternally great full.
