Life Noted, Noted Life

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion… love actually is all around.

-Prime Minister (played by Hugh Grant) in “Love Actually”

I’m at the airport now and I just think of this quote everytime. I feel like the rest of the world should appreciate this thought. That is all :).

I’ve been thinking a lot these past few weeks. A couple weeks ago on Saturday morning at bible study with some pretty amazing people.

I’ve been really exhausted all semester, I felt like I was running on empty (like that extra 50 miles you get once ‘low gas’ light comes on). Yeah I was there. I had fallen victim. But it wasn’t due to overworking myself, the real cause being I was/am tired of doing everything on my own. Pause: Fast Forward: Bible study Saturday morning.

Jake pulls out his bible and said, “Guys, we’re going to talk about temptation today.” I’m thinking, Oh hey no big deal, that’s not really my issue. I’m pretty okay when it comes to temptation.

We started talking about temptation and more and more it kept tugging at my heart. I do suffer from temptation, I do. We all do, Jesus did.

Temptation does not specifically fall under the categories: sex, drugs, rock and roll. Temptation does not have a giant blinking neon sign. Temptation is what can subtly draw us away from God. May it be pride, may it be distrust, may it be jealousy, may it be anything. There is not only one way to sin. We all know this to be too true. Back to the bible study…

We read Matthew 4 (v. 1-12), in this story Satan tempts Jesus in the desert but he is not successful. Jesus, in the end, defeats Satan. Jesus deflects Satan’s attempts with the Word of God. He ultimately tells Satan “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” Satan fled.

There is power in the name of God. God is our strength and sustains us through any temptation we face. We were given the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God that abides in humanity through the death of Jesus Christ. We were given hope and transfigured from a fallen creation prone to sin to a holy beautiful creation prone to life, life abundantly. A creation hopeful, a creation surrendered. God will not only put us together when we fall apart, He will be there to hold us together.

So many times I find myself exhausted. I just try to barrel through all my work and life situations, hope it turns out well. I just trust God to be standing on the sidelines watching everything happen, just present enough to help me when I’m injured. Maybe God wants to be where we are, maybe we need Him right beside us fighting the good fight.

What if in everything, we gave it to God? Not only gave but included God? Hey, God let’s work together towards (fill in the blank)?

Maybe life would be more livable, breath more breathable and peace more peaceful.

Hi World!

So I’ve been looking for direction in my blog because it feels like I’m just throwing stuff to the wall and seeing what sticks. Well here it goes, I’ve realized that my whole life I’ve taken notes. I love notes, I love remembering good things and reflecting on all things. I like taking them, passing them, receiving them.

This theme gives me direction and still gives me the breathing room to post whatever I define as noteworthy. This is quite a lovely win-win.

Somethings should be noted and the blog is the perfect place for that.