Beyond humbled-

Short quip here: I was at a stop light the other day and handed a few dollars (the least I could do) to a homeless man on the corner (again, the least I could do given what I have been given-definitely not a good samaritan). What he did made me cry. He took the money, looked up to heaven, and said, "Thank you, Jesus." I started balling right there in my car. You see, I have completely forgotten to thank Jesus for the little things that I have been given by the tons everyday of my life. When was the last time I thanked God for two dollars??? I don't know if I ever have...sooo humbling.

Breaking stigmas and celebrating...

So I dreaded the idea of going to Kansas City for two weeks for training. Exactly why I thought twice about it is the reason that you are thinking of right now: "what in the world is there?" Turns out, quite a lot! I took some great long runs each night and found myself surrounded by some of the most beautiful homes in the world! Enjoy my sneak preview of Missouri and Kansas! It just reiterated the reason why I love traveling so much...it gives us a chance to break stigmas and preconceived notions about places we have never been. (PS: These homes start at around $5million in Kansas which is much higher then expected!). Also, there are some additional pics from recent events---Paris is just around the corner (complete with St. Tropez and Monte Carlo)! So excited...

Forever in Awe

People often ask me why I rarely stress about anything and it has honestly taken me many years to give what I believe to be a perfectly accurate answer. You see, the world always tries to answer our own questions but the truth is that joy is not of the world just as peace is not of this world. To attempt to explain either with an attribute from this world is not only refutable, it is impossible.

My perfect peace in one word: God. For so many years I tried to give a worldly explanation as to if I myself had provided my own happiness in some way (how self-righteous we can be). There is nothing in this world that alludes to peace: war is often the only consistency and economy exists purely because it is often imperfect or, in our current case, in dire straights in comparison to other countries around the world. What this world offers is often at the cost of another. We could be the richest nation in the world (used to be true) and there can still be billions of people below the poverty line dying of perfectly preventable infectious diseases.

The world does not know peace and thus it cannot be given. The only peace I have ever experienced is by the grace of God. I know I have a Father in heaven who sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross so my sins were forgiven and so I could find His perfect peace that passes all understanding. I will never be good enough to earn my way to His glory: it is only by my acceptance of His forgiveness that I know the overwhelming beauty of real peace and joy.

This world consistently presents a picture that we can be our own gods. I will call it a multi-deistic presentation. They make it sound like we could actually be good enough to be a god that would actually forgive all of man-kind. I have known great people in my life and there is NOT one that I would want as my god. Forgiveness is learned and rarely consistent; mercy is often harbored when one is hurt emotionally/physically; and grace is something that this world will quite possibly never grasp (directly correlated to our self-indulgence and righteousness).

For these reasons, I will forever be in awe of my Saviour who captured my heart and has held it in perfect peace. He is THE love of my life and His love is directly associated with my ever-rising standards. To know unconditional love as incredible as what God gives is something that I hope every person is able to accept and understand. It brings tears of joy to my eyes everyday when I sit back and praise Him through prayer and worship. I am in awe that He could love me so deeply in spite of my millions of faults.

I thank Him for not letting us strive to be our own gods. It is what America has done for centuries and it has led us to our state today. When we answer to God and know that we will never be Him, there is an incredible respect and hopefully a deep reverence for His every being.

I hope that His overwhelming joy and unparalleled peace lets you rest in His arms each and every day. His mercy is new every morning and with that, I hope His perfect peace (and my anecdote for the stresses that this world has to “offer”) finds a way into His perfect life for you. Again, forever in awe...