Words to Live By

a friend gave a copy of this list to me and I thought I'd share. I put in blue the ones that especially hit home for me right now:

1) Life isn't fair, but it's still good
2) When in doubt, just take the next small step
3) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone
4) A job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will, stay in touch
5) Pay off your credit cards every month
6) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7) Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8) It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9) Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck
10) When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile
11) Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12) It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13) Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14) If a relationship has to be secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15) Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16) Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17) Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18) Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19) It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20) When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21) Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22) Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23) Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24) The most important sex organ is the brain.
25) No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26) Frame every so-called disaster with these words "in five years, will this matter?"
27) Always choose life
28) Forgive everyone for everything.
29) What other people think of you is none of your business.
30) Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31) However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33) Believe in miracles.
34) God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do
35) Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36) Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37) Your children get only one childhood.
38) All that truly matters in the end is that you are loved.
39) Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40) If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41) Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42) The best is yet to come.
43) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44) Yield
45) Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

I'm restless till I rest in You

Bind up these broken bones
Mercy bend and breathe me back to life
But not before You show me how to die

Day 27

Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge

I did this because I think deep down everyone who does surveys or things of this nature have a deep core desire to be discovered and known by others. It's a desire we all are born with. So simply put, I desire to be known in my entirety.

Day 26

Day 26- What you think about your friends

I have so many different levels of friends.

I have a few friends that are life long friends - you know who you are. You know just about everything there is to know about me and love me through it. We can go without talking for weeks, even months, and we are completely secure in our friendship and can pick up where we left off. This group of friends are my brothers and sisters...

Then there are friends that seem to be for a season... sometimes not by my choice, sometimes by my choice, and sometimes because of just... life changes. There is a lot of pain associated with this group because I didn't want many of them to change... But we grew apart, or couldn't resolve differences, or didn't try hard enough. But God mends. God heals, God restores. and there's always hope.

And there are circumstantial friends, those that are solely dependent on surroundings. And when those surroundings change, the friendship unfortunately does as well. Whether it's friends from school, work, etc... another word would be acquaintances.

whatever the group, I love all my friends. I love their diversity. I try to keep a connection with everyone as long as they'll have me.. I'm sorry if I have ever failed you or represented my God in a way that is less than admirable. I have made many mistakes.. Thank you to those who have uplifted me and made me a better person. I pray that you all find what you're looking for and fulfill your calling and you destiny. If you knew who you really were in Christ, it would forever change you. I love you all

Day 25

Day 25- What I would find in your bag

hmm let's look shall we?

pens... reciepts... papers I'm too lazy to file... gum... money, debit card, insurance cards, etc (cause my wallet is stolen and haven't bought a new one yet), my personal and work phones, my church business cards, check book, keys to the office and my apartment and car, and if I can tell it's going to be an emotional day I bring back up mascara and eye liner cause waterproof is too hard to take off

Day 24

Day 24- A letter to your parents

oh wow.. I'll spare everyone the novel I could write on this

We've been through so much. The enemy has def done a number on us... but we're still a unit. We're still together. And God is sifting us and allowing us to walk through fire to prepare us for what's ahead.

Dad, you are my refuge, my best friend. You love me without condition. Ever since I was a little girl you showed me an example of God's love for me. Because of you, I don't have a problem trusting the opposite sex, even I have been hurt many times by them. I can trust because I know that men like you are out there. That there are still men of God with pure intentions. I admire you and love you with all my heart. Thank you for everything you've ever done. You sacrifice so much for me. And I'm proud to say I'm a Daddy's girl :)

Mom, we have had our ups and downs. but at the end of the day we love each other. We have our differences, but at the end of the day you're my mom and I'm your daughter, and that will never change. I'm flattered when people tell me I look like you or that I have many of your mannerisms. I'm proud when people tell me how outgoing, loving, youthful, funny, charming, etc. you are. I have inherited so many wonderful qualities of yours. You are a woman of God and you lift me up in prayer every day. There are even times where I'm going through a dark night or I'm terribly sick and too proud to call for help. And without me even having to say anything, the Holy Spirit already tells you and you make sure I'm ok. And maybe part of that is a mother's bond to her child. She just knows. I am my mother's daughter. :).... and I will always love you

I'm here

Because Christ died for me, I gave my life back to Him. Therefore I go where He calls me even if it means laying down my will or having to wait for my inner most desires to be fulfilled. And because I'm called I will not give up or take the easy way out. I would rather go through hardships now and see the fruit later than to do my own thing now and have to pay for it sorely later. But I'm also walking through fire now so I'm ready for the greater trials that are to come and so that I can better help others get through their own fire. I'm not here to be happy all the time, for happiness is fleeting. I'm here to be in His will and be sustained by His joy and grace and to grow through this amazing experience.

God is the only one who brought me here.

God is the only one who kept me here.

and now, God is the only one who can get me to leave.

I love this church. I love these kids. I love this community. And my work is cut out for me, but I'm never alone.

I'm here for the long haul.

Day 23

Day 23- Something you crave for a lot

my guilty pleasures:

it's a thing of beauty.... this craving is strongest one time out of the month... lol

not proud of it, but I crave soda, especially coke, a LOT. I know that if I just would cut out soda I would lose weight but it's so good lol

I absolutely LOVE these chips. If I don't pay attention the bag will be gone in a matter of minutes. I love these and doritos and any cheese flavored chip. *sigh*

ok don't puke people. if I had a tub that big of caviar I think I would be in heaven. It would be complete with a bottle of martinellis and crackers. My mom would always surprise me with black caviar, crackers, a bottle of martinellis, and a chick flick :)

Day 22

Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else

there are a lot of things. Good and bad things. Everyone is so unique from everyone else... Our thoughts are different, our outlooks are different...

Yet, on the flip side of the coin, if I were to list out my quirks, fears, insecurities, passions, dreams, etc., all the things I feel separate me from others, there would be one person on the planet for every item who would be able to say the exact same thing. So am I really that different? I dunno something to ponder.

We are so diverse. yet we all love, we all experience pain, we all ache, we all desire, we all hope, we all fail, we all dream... there are things that bond us all together.

so hmm....

I'm maria

I'm in process

I love hard

I cry hard
I love my God

I love my family

I love people

I love risks and challenges

I have fears

I fail

But I get up again

this list can go on forever, just like yours does

Day 21

Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy

DAY 19

Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them

well I have pretty obvious nicknames like Mar and Ria

The most endearing one is Ria. Only a few intimate friends and family call me that. And even more intimately is just Ri.

Also, you might see my screen name for certain things as Ria Jewel. My mom started calling me that cause my name is Maria Juliana, so Ria Jewel for short.

Other than that no other nickname really stuck...

A funny tid bit, my brother used to be called Peaches by his football team (long story on that one lol). So as his sister, they all would call me Little Peaches. That stuck all through junior high and high school, but no one has called me that in years.

aaannnnddd that's it!

things that make me wonder

really people? don't bring your screaming, fussing babies to the movie theaters. And especially a scary movie...

Also? don't arrive belligerently drunk, chugging a huge bottle of whiskey the whole entire movie paired with an obnoxious running commentary

please and thank you

DAY 18

Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have

we can make plans all we want but truth be told, life just happens in spite of them. And even deeper than that, if your life is surrendered to God, His plans are much better than yours anyway. We are often just given the next step ahead of us, that way we are utterly relying on God and trusting Him to guide us. We just gotta keep our focus on Him.

Within that, He gives direction as to our calling and how to prepare. I have already graduated from Bethany University with my BA in Music Ministries Leadership, which was a huge goal for me. I also got my minister's licence with the Assemblies of God, which was another goal.

It was never my plan to be a youth pastor, but here I am. I have gotten many confirmations that this is God's will for my life, so I am learning as much from this experience as I can. My plan is to continue to serve at Lakeport Christian Center as long as the Lord will allow. I have big ideas and dreams especially for the youth group. So I'm hoping to develop that in due time and see those dreams come to pass one day.

I have many dreams for my life... dreams for ministry, a family one day, etc. But it's in His timing, not mine. And as long as my will is aligned with His, my desires will align with His desires for my life. So I'm covered... He's got me. And I'm takin this adventure one day at a time

DAY 17

Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

hmmm well maybe a few years ago I would have chosen a celebrity or sports star... just to know what it's like. but that doesn't interest me much anymore..

Then I thought about people I know in my life who have gotten things, experiences, etc. that I have yet to. And I thought it would be interesting to live a day in their shoes just to know how it feels. But just because the desires of their heart were given to them before mine, doesn't mean my "turn" isn't coming. So to switch a day with one of them would be like having a day that will already come in my own life, only early.

I think I would want to spend one day in utter poverty. Now bear with me, this isn't me trying to be uber spiritual or a super human. If i could spend one day in someone's shoes who is in poverty in a 3rd world country as the ethnicity of the country, I think it would be life changing. No, I wouldn't have a full understanding of what it would be like to live like that. But it would give me a big enough glimpse to change me and impact me in a new way. So often I find myself wrapped up in my standard of living and "the american way". Experiencing what it's like to be without first hand would be a worth-it experience in my eyes

DAY 16

Day 16- Another picture of yourself

DAY 15

Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play

1)Muse - Hysteria

2) Iron and Wine - Promising Light

3)The Classic Crime - Medisin

4)Secondhand Serenade - Fall For You

5)Muse - Starlight

6)Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism

7) The Killers - Bones

8) The Red Kid Theory - Angel

9) Hawk Nelson - Everything You Ever Wanted

10) If Trees Could Talk - The Sun is in the North

.... wasn't very impressed with that? me neither lol

DAY 14

Day 14- A picture of you and your family

don't have very many pictures of just the four of us in digital form but here's a couple old ones

my brother, nathaniel and his wife, stephanie

cousin picture (from Dad's side)- years ago

I have so much more family but I'm too wiped out to post them!

DAY 13

Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently

normally a response you would expect to read would be something to the effect of "I can't believe you did that. I'll never forgive you." followed by expletives and wishes against their well being. But I'm not going to do that. I've experienced first hand how holding a grudge or unforgiveness can poison your whole life. You ultimately don't forgive someone for their sake but for your own (especially when they do not even desire nor care about your forgiveness).

So I will proceed with my letter:

I've said all I needed to say about how you've hurt me. I've cried my tears. I've gone through my own stages of grief. Shock...Disbelief... Pain... Shame... and for a while utter anger... then grief for losing you as a friend... but finally... finally after a long battle I let go of you. I released you into God's hands. I couldn't have done it without Him helping me. But vengeance is ultimately God's. He can avenge me better than I ever could. The truth is known. I stand before God forgiven for my part. I wouldn't take back one thing for all the shallow threats in the world because by doing so I would be lying and compromising my own integrity. You can run away from everything, but to enter into your calling you must first humble yourself. If you don't do that fundamental thing, God will do it for you. I pray for you.. I wish you no harm. I know who you are made to be in Christ. And I sincerely pray God convicts you and transforms you. Know that I have forgiven you even after everything you put me through. The world would say I have every right to seek retribution and to hate you. But the world... just look at the world... I will end with this. I love you. I forgive you with all of my heart. And I have let you go.