Just Friends

Photo: Nicole & I with the group at Nicky Blaine’s for Valentine’s Day

Nicole and I have been hanging out a lot more, which has been awesome. Considering it has been a real blessing to talk to another girl about… well… just girl stuff! Plus having great girlfriends like Nicole have made me forget about not really having anyone special over the V-day holiday. I’m happy to know I’m not alone in the way I feel about guys right now, it has helped a lot to hear your thoughts. I’m thankful for everyone’s encouragement to keep going.

Looking on the past holiday weekend… I’m a little confused on what happened. When Mr. Mansion came to hang out at my apartment earlier on Saturday, it went well. We just sat around, ate lunch and talked. Later on that night, when we were out at Nicky Blaine’s he seemed a little distant but I figured it was because his brother was there in the group. However ever since Saturday I have not heard nor talked with Mr. Mansion. So I’m pretty sure that whatever feeling made him grab my hand is long gone. Oh well it was a nice thought but really short lived.

Things with Mr. Pepperdine and I have been up and down over the past couple months but on Monday we talked on skype for the first time together. It has been neat how much I’ve been using skype to communicate with different people. It is like a whole new world to keeping up with people. We hadn’t seen each other in over 6 months, so mainly we just caught up on what has been going on in our lives. It was awesome to be able to talk with him face to face (kind of). Still, I find it interesting after all this time one smile from him makes my heart melt. I don’t know what it is but I know where I stand and I know what roads not to go down again. Which leaves us to where we are now… just being friends.

As far as Mr. Seattle goes, we talked last night on skype for a little. But right off the bat I could tell he was a little a frustrated with just life in general. So the conversation wasn’t the best, but hopefully whatever he is going through it works itself out. It is a bummer we live so far apart, I think it is one of the biggest reasons things have just kind of crumbed. But I’ve been told if he wants to be with you he will move mountains to do so. I can’t worry about it now, besides I think it might not be the best time to start anything anyway.

These past couple months God has taught me a lot about what He wants for me in a relationship. I’ve learned not to settle for anything less and even though it would be nice to have a relationship to work out right now. I understand it probably isn’t His timing for it… I just have to wait, be patient and content until He shows me otherwise. I’m glad God has given me such a heart for His will and a passion for the friendships He has blessed me with. It is hard sometimes to understand the reasons why God lets things happen the way they do but in the end He will bless us for staying on His path.

“My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped.” -Psalm 17:5

Through Our Suffering

Suffering… there has been so much of it lately. Have you ever wondered why certain things happen to you? Maybe it is with your job, the economy, your family, relationships or your friends… suffering has likely touched you or someone else you know. I know for myself this past year has been full of unpleasant experiences. When I sit back and look at all that have happened, it is beyond overwhelming. But in the mist of our dysfunctional lives isn’t that when we should be praising God the most? Even in the Bible it tells us, in all our sufferings He will never leave nor forsake us. Over lunch I had this discussion with my girlfriend Siobhan, we talked about how Job from the Bible is a perfect example of this. Job lost everything he ever held dear to him and yet left with nothing he still humbled himself before God. God never gave Job more than he could handle. You see God has a perfect plan for your life, He is just waiting for you to depend on Him with all that you have. Isn’t that so beautiful that God would bless our lives like that? Even through all our sufferings, He never abandons us and is continually showing us His love. I can’t help but think of how blessed I am, through all my trials God has done some incredible things. I want to encourage you as you are looking to a New Year. Just remember… God is right beside you, He is there to lift you up when you can’t go any farther. He loves you and will never abandon you. Just trust Him with your life, He will take care of the rest. Even as Christians we have to be reminded of this. So don’t look at your sufferings in the wrong way, take joy in the fact you have them. God has something so wonderful planned for our lives, we don’t even know. It is through our sufferings, that He will give it to us. Let me leave you with these two scriptures I found…

“Then Job replied to the LORD : “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” – Job 42:1-6

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” -1 Corinthians 10:13

We Deliver Smiles

I went out during lunch today to do a little bit of community service for meals on wheels. I think I am starting to realize it isn’t about what you have that gets you through life it’s the people that get you there. Serving others can be such a blessing, our hearts can be touched without even knowing it, I know mine was today.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” -1 Peter 4:10