The Multi-tool Community

***This post requires participation and input.***

This is my multi-tool. I've had it for years, and carry it with me almost every single day, whatever I'm going, and I end up using it almost every day for something or another. Pliers, wire cutters, screwdriver, can opener, knife, saw, I've found myself in situations needing each and every one of these tools, and they were there, at my disposal. I love having a multi-tool and highly recommend that everyone carry one.

A Time For Everything

Experienced this a lot this past week: a time to die, a time to heal, a time to break down, a time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, a time to embrace, a time to refrain from embracing, a time to speak, a time to love, a time for war.

Life is not a simple thing. It is messy and complicated and intertwined, but that's the point. It's intertwined. There are times of incredible pain and grief and hardship and confusion, but those can, and almost always are, intermixed with times of love and laughter and friendship and joy.  It's not an either or situation. It's both.

If things are hard, look for the good, and if you can't see it, know it's there or will be there.

If things are good, enjoy them and savor them for what they are, and also use them to recharge and buoy yourself for either the rough times that will come or to help lift up others who are currently going through them.

Harder To Say I'm Undefeated

This afternoon I found myself asking the question, "Why?" Why does death even exist? Why does it hurt so bad? Why must it? Why do we love and risk such incredible pain? Why does God allow us to go through so much? Why?

If you know me, you know I hate death. I hate everything about it, and I hate the pain and brokenness it inflicts on those I love. I know that for those in Christ, death is just a doorway to paradise, and there is immense hope in that, but hope doesn't take away pain, and it is painful.

Right about the time I was thinking about all this and asking God "why" this song came on: Refuge by Skillet. 

I'll just let you read the lyrics, or watch the video.

Almost Science

When I was a kid, my youth pastor had us do this activity where we went out into the woods and found something that symbolized our life and relationship with God. That activity has stayed with me. I found a branch covered in moss. 

***The following symbolism is not scientifically accurate. I know that, but it's what my teenage brain saw, and the idea behind it works, so just go with it.***

Everything Rides On Hope Now

How easy it is to forget that God has never left us and will never leave us. When we feel broken, over and over again, when those we love are broken, when life doesn't let up, when you don't feel as if you can be strong anymore ... it's easy to forget.

God doesn't leave, though. He hasn't, and He won't, and His promises are sure. He has promised that His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness.

He is with us, and He empowers us to be with each other. We hold each other. We laugh together. We cry together. Sometimes we are the strong ones, who help lift others up. Sometimes we are the weak and broken who need to be lifted.

We don't do it alone. He is with us. We are with each other.

Never Even Think of Failing

A word that God has really placed on my heart ever since my uncle died in November is "Hope."

I've been thinking about that word a lot over the past couple of months. 

Hope in unthinkably difficult times.

Hope as it relates to Christmas.

Hope for the future.

Hope in something.

I started this year hopeful. Hopeful that it would be a far better year than the previous several have been. It may turn out to be, but it's also started pretty hard, which can make hope difficult.