present?

So I was using the restroom at a friend's house and they had this quote one the wall... "Everyday is a gift, that is why it is called the present." How profound those simple words are, and that we take advantage of the gift we are given every day. Life is hard, and I am sure one to know it...I have been tested beyond what I ever thought I could handle and yet God always brings the good out for me. I am so thankful, eventhough I am really bad about showing it. Things are starting to turn around for my family, and even for myself. I think I have a lead for a new job, let's hope all goes well! At this same house, I was there for a Bible study. Our main topic we were discussing was friendship. He asked us what we thought the definition of friendship is to us. My first answer that comes to mind is if the person is a person that I can trust. I am a very trusting person, so when it ever comes to the point of my trust being broken, eventually it is hard for me to trust that person ever again. The average person has about 5 truely reliable, trustworthy friends. He asked us how many each of us had...family counts...with my family I can count 9. Nine people in my life that I can go to with anything and I know that they will be there with me in my times of need. Four of those poeple are the four women who have been with me through the most of my life...my mom, my two sisters, and my stepmother)...four are some close friends that I have made over the last 4 years at college...and one is from elementary. The scripture he had us read was Proverbs 18:24 (New International Version 1984, ©1984) 24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. He asked us to tell what we thought on the scripture. I honestly didn't know how to answer the question, and I can't even remember the answer I gave. But the more I think on it, people think they need to have all these friends to feel whole, full, and not lonely. But I see that sometimes people with the most friends are the most lonely because they don't take the time to learn and trust on any specific friends. They are at a complete loss because true friendship is a present that is given everyday, but taken advantage of everyday just the same. "Open your eyes," I want to scream out!!! Then the closest friend you can always count on is Jesus, but if you don't take the time to get to know him, listen to Him, and to trust Him, then how do you expect to keep yourself from the loneliness that will engulf you? Loneliness is something that I struggle with, but it is something I am at war with in my life right now...HEAD ON! It is not a war that I intend on losing, I am going to kick it to the curb on day once and for all...I just don't know when I will get that last kick in, but I will succeed. I read another version of the scripture same version, I guess it was just another year though. It says, Proverbs 18:24 (New International Version, ©2011) 24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. This one gives me the sense that I am on the right track in my thinking with God. I think I might actually be understanding what he is trying to say to me and it makes me happy! The one thing I realize though is that I never even thought of Jesus as being one of the friends. That is one thing that I plan on changing...I want him to be the first friend that pops into my head when I am asked how many true, trustworthy friends I have in my life! By the end of my life, I want to have at least 10...Jesus as my first, my future husband as my second, and the rest as they are already!

FIRE!!!

So I had a revelation about Revelation 19:12. It says, "His eyes are like blazing fire." I have always had a fascination with watching fire do what it does best...burn! I have always thought that fire is majestic with how it moves, how hot it gets, and how it changes color with the hotter/cooler it gets. Now that I have a verse comparing fire to God's eyes, I feel like I have been staring into the eyes of God without ever realizing it, but still admiring it in a state of awe. How amazing is that? Then, on top of all that, I wonder if that's how my fascination with eyes got started. I love looking at eyes and seeing how different everyones are from everyone elses. They reveal so much. Pastor Aaron Allison from The Church at Indian Lake said, "The eyes reveal so much. It reveals who we are, and what we see in others. The eyes are the entry point to your life." THAT'S SO TRUE!!!!! It's different to see things so real in a new perspective. And when you realize something you've noted but didn't ever dwell on...God is so AMAZING!!!!!