Don't take the little things for granted!

I remember the day Greg proposed. He got down on one knee and pulled that ring out of his pocket. WOW!!! I was SHOCKED!! And let me tell you....He picked out a gorgeous ring. I was SO proud to show it off. To me, that ring really meant something. I was HIS. It was a beautiful display of our amazing relationship. And every single person that I met got to see it.

Well, it has been 3 1/2 years. And I still do that. But really, how often do we let the wonder of those amazing things fade in our lives? These two rings mean the same thing now that they did then. Honestly, they mean more. We have been through more as a couple. Our relationship is stronger. I can't tell you how many time a day I look at my left hand and smile. I almost still cannot believe that I am lucky enough to call myself Mrs. Hall!

But I am going to admit that there are time that I allow life to creep in. I allow myself to get frustrated. And instead of looking at all the amazing things that about my husband and our life together, I gripe about little things that do not matter. I overlook the one that do matter.

I am really trying to refocus. Because that is where the problem is. What you think about. Are you thinking about the negative in your spouse or the positive? Because whatever you are thinking about is what WILL come out of you mouth and how you will behave.

Greg makes thinking about the positive really easy. And you know, I really hope I never lose that amazement I get at hearing myself referred to as Mrs. Hall. Or seeing my wedding rings. Or seeing him smile. Or cuddling up with him as we drift off to sleep. Because God has truly blessed me with such a wonderful man. And I am so blessed to be able to share this life with him. I pray I never take all these little things, or him, for granted.

My Story

For those of you not familiar with my favorite story here it is, the story of how I got saved :)

I was 16 and working at a local radio station on Sundays. All days Sundays. I was quite far from God. My friends weren't Christian, I smoked, I drank, I cussed. And I thought all these things were cool. At least, I was trying to. It wasn't how I really was. I never was a "bad" girl. It just isn't me. I can try as hard as I want, but it just isn't natural! I guess for that, I am lucky.

Anyways, for the most, most of the people that came in the radio station paid me no attention, or were rude to me. I was young. And didn't act right. I was polite. But still, not up to there standards. But there were a few that really reached out to me. And I must say it made a HUGE impact on my life. Apart from the people there, I had this one friend in my life, Stephanie, that was really trying to steer me in the right direction. I will NEVER forget all these people and the role the played in my life.

There was this one song. I have tried and tried, but can't remember the name of it. But the song talked about Jesus dying on the cross, stealing the keys to the grave, and leading a victory march. Something in that song touched me.

And one day, all by myself in that radio station I heard the Lord speak to me. I knew I was living in sin. And I was so incredibly sorry for it. The fact that He was SO HOLY and I was so sinful overwhelmed me. I can't really remember anyone "talking" to me about salvation. But I KNEW. I knew I needed a Savior. I knew I needed saving. I was in trouble. I was headed down a path that I didn't want to be on. And I WANTED God. I wanted want He had to offer. I wanted to change. So there in that little booth I knelt. Yes, I felt so awkward. But it didn't matter. I had no clue what exactly to say. But I trusted God to fill in the blanks. He knew what I meant. I knew He did. And I have NO CLUE how I knew it. I knelt down there and asked Him to forgive Him of my sins. I told Him I needed Him. I asked Him to be MY Savior. To be my Life.

Let me tell you. EVERYTHING changed. I quit smoking, cussing, and drinking that day. No one had to tell me to. It was just what I needed to do. After a few rough starts, I found an awesome church family. I "quit" all the friends that had held me down and really hurt me for a long time. Let me tell you, that was HARD. But I knew for me to really give my all to God, I had to dump my baggage.

I fell in love. But that sure didn't mean I didn't make mistakes. That love made sure I kept getting back up and serving Him. And that love will keep moving me forward no matter what I face. Because I only love Him because He first loved me. :)

Breaking Our Box

I heard an incredibly moving sermon Sunday. The scripture is Mark 26:1-13

1When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2“As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man^a will be handed over to be crucified.”

3At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 5“But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

6Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. 7While he was eating,^b a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.

8The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. 9“It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”

10But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

Now, many of us have heard this preached. This preacher took a different angle. A more personal angle. 

He compared our lives to the fragrance inside that jar. Until the jar was broken, you couldn't smell it. You couldn't appreciate the beauty and the depth that was there. 

How often at church do we say hi. Ask how we are doing. But how often do we TRULY mean it? We compliment each other. Nice dress, pretty hair, powerful suit. But do anything of those things matter? So many times we don't want to make OURSELVES uncomfortable and truly reach out to others. Break ourselves for the sake of another person. Even if it is just as simple as telling another you are praying for them. Sitting quietly by in your little comfort zone while you fellow brothers and sisters in Christ are hurting wrong. It is being lukewarm. It is not allowing yourself to truly be broken for the cause of Christ. And it is not just for our brethren. But unbelievers. We are to show love. And this is a first step. 

Next time you ask how someone is doing, don't do so while walking away. Look them in the eye. Mean it. You may be the only person that does. 

We never know the battle that another person may be facing. And NEVER assume other people have reached out. I found out that a lot of people were praying for me. And I mean a lot. I was stunned. I had no idea. No one had told me. I mean I had family member and some friends and people that are going through similar circumstances. I have actually felt quite alone. But now I see I wasn't. And that REALLY matters.

ANY kind of battle, whether physical, mental, spiritual, marital, family, etc has a habit of making you feel isolated and alone. So there is a need for others to reach out. And yes, that can require a sacrifice on our part at times. But it is really worth it. 

Breaking ourselves before God can a lasting legacy. Look at the story of Mary.