What Are You Living For?

We all have something that makes us tick.  That thing that we long for or can't seem to loose grip of.
It may even be something that we don't know we're chasing.  For many, it's success or a feeling of completion.  Perhaps it's knowing that we have enough money or 'things' to keep us comfortable.  Or maybe instead of wanting to be comfortable, we want to be in control of everything around us...  if we're not manipulating, we aren't victorious.  And if we're not doing any of these things, we're most likely seeking to win over the hearts of many.  We want to be seen in a certain light.  Not black or white, but that perfect shade of light.  Either way, we are chasing something.  If you agree with my previous statements, you should also agree that something essentially has the potential to sway our actions, emotions and behaviors within everyday interaction.  These very things that rule over us like a king to his servant are called heart idols.  They can derail us and will control our lives if we aren't aware of them.  It has been quite the journey for my mind to sink deeper and deeper into this reality.
What makes you tick?  Because it may be dictating your life.

My Hope & Stay

Knowing that God is the sustainer and giver of all things

puts my life to rest and ceases all life's little worries.

"On Christ, the solid rock I stand,

all other ground is sinking sand.

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay."

The Slump

Where is the love?  Aside from this being one of my favorite songs... this subject matter has been on my mind for a little while.  I feel like we all have fallen in to a slump where we have this lack of generosity, affection, affirmation and tenderheartedness toward others on a daily or regular basis.  We've become so enthralled in our own selves that we have lost sight of others' well being.  It's a concern of mine that this slump in our culture is going to develop so much so that it will become second nature to our being!  I've found that there is a contentment I have in feeding my own comfort and selfishness. It's something I need to re-evaluate.

I'm reading through a book called, Sacred Marriage and I didn't find it coincidental that I happened to be at a chapter titled, Learning to Love.  It's a marriage book, but some of the content applies to everyone's love.  Somewhere it explained that, "while our society has become experts in self-care, we have lost the art of caring for others."  We're so concerned with being the best, having the best or fixing ourselves to be and have the best at the same time.  It's become an obsession!  There are thousands of books published every year on how to serve yourself.  I used to always want to write a self-help book actually.  It's something that I think could still really be beneficial, but it would have to be presented in the right way.

The point is that society has become all about itself.  I can admit that I've fallen into the slump as well.  We all have.  I'm praying that I would be more aware of how susceptible I am to this problem.

Believe it or not, this is the sun reflecting on a particular cloud that is surrounded by a perfect formation of darker clouds. Incredible.