I Firmly Believe That...

Breakfast food tastes best after dark.

A good haircut changes everything.

Bright colors are the best colors.

If you give a girl a good cup of coffee and some sequins, she can change the world.

Most problems seem significantly smaller after a long bubble bath.

There's something in every day worth celebrating.

If there is an opportunity to wear flowers in your hair, you should.

Puppies make life approximately 12 million times better.

You should go out of your way to be kind at least once a day.

No one should be judged on how they act before coffee.

What little things do you firmly believe? 

Be sure to check out my girl Jordyn looking insanely gorgeous in some Pretty Lovely Little goodies.   In honor of her, take 22% off any order with the code TAYLORSWIFT.

w h i l e   y o u ' r e   h e r e :

Why I won't stop tweeting about Jesus.

Recently a friend of mine posted a status that had to do with her personal belief in God.  Because nothing can stir up unneeded controversy between people who don't know each other quite like a Christian Facebook status, it soon had many comments that all said some variation of "you're an idiot." However, one really stuck out to me: 

"You go ahead and tell all those starving kids in Africa how your God is so great, yet chooses to do nothing.  I'm sure they'll understand." 

I have a better idea.  How about we tell those starving kids in Africa about the stuck up dude sitting in his air conditioned house on his fancy computer who chooses to blame their circumstance on God rather than doing something about it...I'm sure they'll understand. 

I do not make my beliefs a secret.  They are a huge part of who I am. However, I do not (and will never) put down and berate others simply because they do not share my faith.  Considering the God I believe in says the greatest thing is love, that seems slightly counterproductive. 

It makes me incredibly upset how, when a Christian posts something about their faith that not everyone agrees with, they are:
trying to shove their beliefs down people's necks
being close minded
being a bully
being weak and idiotic.

But when someone openly shares their disagreement with that belief (which is also a belief) by being condescending, bullying the person publicly, and denouncing everything that person believes in, they are:
having an opinion.

What? 

It hurts my heart when people feel the need to lash out at someone simply because they have chosen to put their faith in something greater than themselves. It infuriates me when someone judges me and my ability to do certain things because of my beliefs.  I mean, obviously, because I believe in God, in being faithful to just my husband, in reading the Bible, and in not frying my brain with drugs, I am probably zero fun to hang out with.

Cool. 

I have plenty of friends who don't share my belief. And do you know what I do about it?

I love them.  We hang out.  We have fun.  And we respect each other.  Why does that seem so rare?  It shouldn't. 

The Internet gives people a sense of courage, but rarely ever in a good way. It gives them privacy to say things that should never be said, especially about other people's faith. 

It is easier to blame the things that are wrong in this world on a God that you don't believe in than it is to actually get up and do something about it.  It is easier to pretend that everything that comes out of someone's mouth is total crap than it is to respect it, because to respect it you must actually think about it.  And dang, that can be hard when you like being right all the time.  So yeah, it's easier to be a self righteous, all knowing, condescending being hiding behind a computer screen (I'm looking at you, Facebook commenter.  Rude.) than it is to be a real life thinker who actually listens to things they may not agree with and thinks before they respond.  It's easier to sit at home and talk about what you disagree with than it is to get up and change what you don't like about the world.  But that doesn't mean it's right. 

I will always respect the freedom of religion, no matter what you believe. I will always respect the freedom of being able to think and say whatever you want, even though so many people abuse it. 

 I will continue to talk about my faith because when things are important to you, you talk about them.  You write about them and put them on Instagram and twitter. So I tweet about Jesus. 

To the lovely commenter who suggested that I would have more followers if I didnt come off as so religious on social media: I also tweet about macaroni and cheese and Netflix and other wonderful things. Hey, I like to talk about the good things in life. 

On Halloween.

Usually when an issue has strong sides, I like to write about it.  There's just a little bit of a rush knowing you have an opinion that so many other people either share or vehemently disagree with.  I don't know, it's a writer thing.  But I really hate controversy so please be nice to me. 

If you've read my blog before, you probably know I am a Christian--I haven't tried to hide that at all.  That doesn't mean that I only write about church and it doesn't mean that I only read blogs written by other Christians and it doesn't mean that I only hang out with people who share the same beliefs that I do.

It also doesn't mean that I don't celebrate Halloween.

I've seen several articles and blogs posted this week about how Halloween is evil.  It was evil, it is evil, and it will always be evil.  If you are going to be participating in Halloween, by golly, you are participating in evil whether you think so or not.

That makes me really sad.

I love Halloween traditions.  I love carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating and dressing up and celebrating with family and friends.  I am no stranger to the controversy it brings--growing up I had friends that weren't allowed to participate in Halloween because, by their understanding, it was evil and walking around with a bucket of candy while dressed as your favorite character was basically worshiping satan.  Freaky stuff for a seven year old.

{I will insert here that it drives me crazy when people say they "do not believe in Halloween."  No, you don't agree with Halloween, not you don't believe in it.  Halloween is a date on the calendar.  It exists.  I don't believe in Mondays, yet we seem to meet every week.  So I have yet to see that logic work.}

I do not argue that Halloween started with some dark stuff and that some terrible things have gone down on Halloween in the history of Octobers.  But that doesn't mean it still has to be like that.

It started out as some evil day.  So what?  Did you know that some Easter traditions started out as sacrifices to some crazy god of fertility?  And that Jesus wasn't actually born on December 25th?

SAY IT AIN'T SO.

Yet I still celebrate those days because they have turned into days that are so important to be because they are days that celebrate things important to my faith.

Whether you agree with Halloween or not, it exists.  And it is fantastic. And it has turned into something good.

It is a day full of fun.  It is a chance for parents to spend time with their kids.  It is a chance to get to know your neighbors.  It is a chance to do really fun fall things and hang out with your friends.  It is a chance to experience life. 

When I was thinking about this, I tried to think about what I think Jesus would do if he was around.  And I just can't picture Jesus locking the doors to His house and shutting the porch light off and closing the blinds, condemning everyone because Star Wars costumes and carving pumpkins are evil.  I can't imagine Him teaching others to pray that their unsaved friends would come to them and start a conversation with them, and then lock the door on them when they did.  My friend Jesus, He wouldn't do that.

So please don't do that.

I understand that you may feel it is best for your family to not celebrate Halloween, and I respect that.  But please, please do not use it as an excuse to condemn others.  Please do not parade around and tell others that carving pumpkins and dressing up is evil.  Because it's not.  If I had to make a list of evil things, hands down being condescending, condemning others and blaming it on Jesus would be way above a jack-o-lantern.

Jesus came so that we could experience abundant life.  Not stiff, boring, fearful life.  Full, overflowing, abundant life.  You get to choose what kind of life you have 365 days of the year, and Halloween is just one of them.  Why not choose to make it full of life and family and friends and loving your neighbors--who will be out and talkative more than they will be most of the other year--rather than fearing death?  If you don't make that choice, then you are the one making Halloween evil for yourself.  If you yourself can be redeemed, don't you think a day can be redeemed?

I sure do.

Happy Halloween, friends.

Whatever you do.

"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

Whatever you do. 

Whatever. 

I read Colossians 3:17 in the She Reads Truth thankfulness plan I'm going through right now, and those three words spoke volumes to me.

I wrote this blog a few weeks ago about how my life can feel pretty ordinary sometimes.  Right now, I don't have anything extravagant going on.  Anyone could do my job.  Nothing spectacular has happened with my writing career yet.  The biggest part of my day is spent typing numbers into a computer.  And honestly, that can make me feel really unimportant at times.

Whatever you do. 

I don't know about you, but I consider something done as a representative of Jesus extremely important.

Whatever you do. 

So if we're going to take this verse as truth, that means even the smallest, most minuscule tasks--they are important.  Not because of what they are, but because of how we are supposed to do them: as a representative of Jesus.

Anything and everything, including doing laundry and inputting numbers into a computer, is suddenly important.

That gives me passion for my day.  It gives me motivation to do the best that I can do in every area of my life because of who I'm doing it for.  And it definitely makes me feel important.

Happy Wednesday, friends.  Whatever you do today, do it well.




Check out this month's featured sponsor:

Today I believe.

{Thank you so much to everyone who entered the giveaway!  The winner has been notified.  If you would like to participate in the next giveaway, click here}

Today I believe in being thankful.

It is truly amazing how much your perspective (and sometimes even life) can change with just a tiny bit of effort to start being thankful.

I made a reverse bucket list this week, and it was incredible how much my attitude changed just from looking at pictures and trying to remember all the exciting things I've done in my life.  I wasn't having a bad attitude about life before, but as I looked at those pictures and sifted through my memories, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed at just how full my life really was--and is.

I had such a good day after doing that, I decided from now on, I am going to make a real effort to be thankful.  Overly, annoyingly, utterly thankful about everything.

Fall is here.  {I know that most of you think that fall doesn't actually start until October.  I'm sorry.  You are wrong.}  For me, fall always brings about a feeling of thankfulness.  It starts my favorite time of  the year--September 3rd-January 1st.  It means pumpkin spiced everything, baking, decorating, turkey, Christmas music, and feeling incredibly grateful for my life.

This year, I'm going to be crazy thankful everyday.  I am thankful for my pumpkin spice lattes, obviously.  But I'm also going to be thankful for the small things.  For the moments in the morning where I can sit with my coffee and it's just me and Jesus.  For the books I read.  For the fact that I live in a state where I can drink a pumpkin spice coffee in the morning and lay out in the afternoon.  For good movies.  For sweet texts.  I'm going to be thankful for all of it.  And if writing that reverse bucket list was any indication, my days are about to get a whole lot happier.

Care to join me?

Who do you think Jesus is?

Or, more aptly, what do you think Jesus is like?

I think so many people have a perception of God, big and angry, sitting on a throne in heaven just waiting for the opportunity to strike us down with lighting bolts of wrath whenever we mess up.

Why?

I’ll admit that I sometimes catch myself thinking of Jesus in same terms I would think of a mythical creature: distant, unattainable, and far away.  But that’s just not true.

Last week was a rough week for me.  My husband went back to medical school, which was a drastic change to the amazing summer we just spent together.  I was feeling lonely and a little sorry for myself, and two of my best friends from college came to visit me. 

It was such a great feeling to see them.  To know that when I was feeling sad and bummed out on life, I had people who were there for me that I could talk to.

So we talked.  We talked about life and our dreams and our heartache.  We laughed and vented and told sad stories over bacon dip and the wine that costs four dollars at publix.

And do you know what that is?  That is love.  Friends that band together and just experience life for a minute.  Are sad for a minute.  Are happy for a minute.  Just live for a minute.  That is friendship, and that is love.

Jesus?  He is my friend.

And in moments like this weekend, I remember it even more. 

He’s always here, of course.  But in moments where I experience such a pure form of friendship, I am reminded of how that is exactly who Jesus is.  He loves me relentlessly.  He is not sitting around, waiting on me to mess up.  He is waiting on me to accept His friendship.  He beckons me into a relationship with Him, but not one of rules and punishments, as we so often think.  But rather, one of life.  One of discussion.  One of late night talks about dreams and heartache, lost chances and hopes for the future.  I may not know a lot, but I can confidently say I truly believe that is the kind of friend Jesus is. 

And if he was here in person, I think He would have been at my girl’s night.  He wouldn't have been sitting in the corner, scowling and waiting on us to mess up.  Instead, I think He would have laughed along and had a glass of wine with us.  He would have listened to our sad stories and given us advice on life, telling us not to worry.  He would have hurt along with us as we hurt, and rejoiced over our small victories with us.  Because that's just the kind of God that He is.  

Jesus is a friend, you guys.  I'm sorry if that's not the version of Jesus you were introduced to, but let me tell you from first-hand experience:  He is the best friend you could ever have. 

Check out this month's featured sponsor:

Today, I believe..

Today, I believe in laughter. 

{especially with your best friend}

I believe in things that make your heart happy.

{just hanging out on the dining room table.  No big.}

I believe that crafting makes your life better.

I believe in giving away free things, just because it's Wednesday.
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What do you believe in today?

Things I believe in this week.

I believe in a second cup of coffee. and sometimes a third.

I believe in having a marriage that is an epic adventure of two best friends, even if sometimes the only adventure is sitting next to each other getting work done.

I believe in making crafts and being girly.

I believe in standing up for the things you believe in, no matter how unpopular or controversial they may be, because those are the things that make you who you are.

I believe in dreaming out loud to your very best friends.

I believe in writing and writing and writing some more.

I believe in chasing after your dreams.  Every single one of them, no matter how big or small they may be.

Today, I believe. 

What about you?