I never thought I’d ever get to this point, but I legitly think I hate everyone right now.

I’m so tired of hanging out with people who only want me around just to “fill the void”.

Why should I have to waste my time being around people who don’t give a damn about me? Piss off. Seriously.

Shining light in the darkness (Different perspective)

From a less worldly perspective of the original post: “Shining light in the darkness”

Maybe I’m just reading this situation all wrong. I think all that it is, is that I may just be too focused on seeking the pleasures of this world. Lately, all of my attention has been going into ‘getting the attention of others’. But, lately, have I been trying to get God’s attention?

I think I’m starting to lose my sense of appreciation for everything that God’s given me - for everything He’s done for me. I guess I’ve become so comfortable with my faith, and with my relationship with God that I figured:

God already pays attention to me 24/7. Why would I need to try to get His attention? What I really want is someone NEW to notice me. A fresh face to recognize all of my accomplishments, so I can be praised.

But the thing is: if I have God, why would I ever need anything/anyone else? Why would I need the attention, and the glory, and the honor of this world, if the attention, glory, and honor that God offers is so much more?

I really don’t need the attention of others to store up the treasures that are being held for me in Heaven (If I ever make it there).

God’s been giving me His full attention my whole life, whether I wanted it or not.

Our God - the same God who turned broken pieces into masterpieces - has always been there for me. And in my brokenness, through His grace, I can also be a part of His masterpiece. I just have to seek appreciation in the attention He gives me, above my emptiness in the lack of attention I get from others.

Note to self:

Stop seeking the hollow “prizes” of this world. There’s a reason they’re hollow. The emptiness you feel in getting those “prizes” is God’s way of telling you that you’re not meant to gain them. It’s God’s way of telling you that He has more to offer you than what this world can give. Appreciate God. Praise God. Love God.

The positive spin: Romans 8:38-39 ““For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God’s love will remain.

1 Corinthians 13

By far, my most favorite chapter of all chapters of all books in the Bible.

In this chapter, Paul focuses, heavily, on the aspect of love - what it is and what it is not - as well as the importance of it, and the nothingness we have, if we don’t have love.

1 If I speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing symbol.

2 And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.

3 If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated,

5 it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,

6 it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.

9 For we know partially and we prophesy partially,

10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

11 When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things.

12 At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.

13 So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Listen to what this chapter is telling you - it’s God’s personal message. You and I may read this chapter completely opposite from each other, but the main message of the Bible has always been “Love”. This chapter simply emphasizes why we must have it.

You are more.

You are more than:

-The choices that you’ve made

-The sum of your past mistakes

-The problems you’ve created

There are days when we feel the weight of our failures creeping up on us; days when we feel like we’ve never done anything right. Everyone has probably experienced something similar to this, at one point in their lives, and some people even take it to the extremes.

But no matter what, don’t you dare, for a second, ever think that your mistakes define all that you are. You are not a mistake.

You are so much more than what the rest of the world sees sometimes. Just because the world doesn’t see your worth, it doesn’t mean that your worth doesn’t exist. You are so much more than that… Please, stop running away from that truth.

When the world refuses to see all the good that you’ve done, I’ll be here holding signs of every good deed you’ve ever been a part of, in your life, and put them on full-blast for the whole world to see. If we have to, we’ll go against what the world says about you. We’ll prove that you truly are, so much more. And we’ll do it together.

“Welcome to Support”

Chilled a little, with some of the young adults after Taize tonight.

Finally realized how amazingly weird our group leaders are.

Hah.

To say that it’ll be an adventure is an understatement. 

But, for lack of a better term, it’ll definitely be an adventure to be a part of everything that they stand for, and all of the blessings that they give to others.

I can’t wait. :)

It was truly both an honor and a blessing to be with them tonight. It might just be me, getting all overly-sentimental about this, but I really cannot get over the fact that I can help them, now. I can finally help instill faith into people in much the same way that they’ve all instilled faith into me.

What’s the point in talking, anymore, if no one’s gonna bother to listen

Fuck. Can someone just please talk to me right now. Sometimes, it’s better to listen to advice from a perspective you’re not exactly familiar with.

Now is one of those times.

Shining light in the darkness

I’ve been downing for the past couple days because I realized that I’m always the one who has to start the conversations with other people. Nobody ever really takes the initiative to talk to me. It’s like no one wants to talk to me. I assume it’s because I’m boring… So, naturally, I’ve been feeling a little alone and unwanted these days.

I’ve been doubting whether or not I even really have friends… Ha…

But the positive spin on this, is that when I feel like starting up a conversation with someone, at least everyone I talk to has the decency to keep up the conversation… Instead of leaving me hanging :) So, it’s better than nothing. #BeggarsCan’tBeChoosers

I know it’s not much, but it’s my way of bringing a little light to the situation.

My face

Left picture: Sunflower field near Monastery. (Last November)

Top right picture: Babysitting little bro on a weekday during summer. (10 months ago)

Bottom right picture: Feeling all spiffy before church. (Last year)

I need to change myself.

… For the better.

Just because the situation can’t change, doesn’t mean my attitude towards it can’t.

There are always two sides to the same token.

I can either grieve over how hopeless things may seem, or I can take it in like a real man of Christ, and accept these trials as blessings.

Lead me - Sanctus Real

This title actually has nothing to do with the contents of this post… That’s just the song that’s currently playing on K-Love.

I never post anything happy on here, anymore.

Sooo… Here it goes, I guess?

This year, I was blessed enough to witness the growth of each and every individual student in Confirmation 1… Even though I’ve only been there for them for about half a year. (My first class with them was on October 10, 2011). Their last class was today. (May 21, 2012).

Although it’s been a REALLY short time-period, I can honestly say that they grew on me. I appreciate all of them, and the potential that they hold. They’re all destined for great things, and it’s an amazing honor to be a part of their spiritual journey. Even though I’m one of their teachers, you’d be surprised at how much I’ve learned from all of them.

It’s definitely a humbling experience.

I’m excited for God’s plans for them in their futures. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for them. Right now, they’re all still trying to find their sponsors. That’s just the beginning of all of the decisions they have to make during Confirmation 2.

I can’t wait to be there for them in every decision they make. Whether they look to me for advice, or they’re just happy to tell me that they’ve already made a decision, I will forever be there for them - ALL of them.

And it’s those little things, that will make me remember all of them, and how they’re the first class I’ve ever had the honor of teaching.

Not a single day passes by where I don’t think about them and their faith journey. I only pray I’m leading them to where they need to be. :)

Everyone on Facebook: Thank you guys, SO MUCH, for coming out to support me at my Graduation. LOLILOVEMYFAMILYRAINBOWSANDUNICORNS.

Me: Where the fuck was everybody?