Grasping for the Wind

"Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: 

And look! The tears of the oppressed, 

But they have no comforter--

On the side of their oppressors there is power, 

But they have no comforter.

Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, 

More than the living who are still alive. 

Yet, better than both is he who has never existed,

Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun." 

--Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

This speaks so clearly of hopelessness. In the book of Ecclesiastes, the underlying theme is that life without God is "vanity and grasping for the wind." 

We live in a painful, hopeless, empty world. Everyone is broken, breaking, or has been that way. How many people cry themselves to sleep every night? How many people struggle each day just to get out of bed because the reality is they do not want to be alive? How many people wish they never existed? 

Too many. 

And it will stay that way unless we do something. Unless we help them. 

Yes, the way to help the broken is to speak life, joy, and love into their lives, but I believe we must first enter their pain with them. We must go to the hopeless, empty hole of life without Christ before we can truly share the glory of a heart filled with His Spirit. 

And we must share in the endless struggles, deepening pain, and consuming depression of this life to let people know they are not alone. We must relate to them on this level, let them know we've been there, and even dwell with them in that moment. But then we must leave them with a message of hope. The hope of our Saviour, who is the reason we can live a life that is not in vain. 

Have You Opened That Gift?

In my last post, I spoke briefly of those  "lull" modes where we really don't want to do anything. I believe it's okay to be in those places for a time, yet I don't think it's healthy to stay there for a long period. Nevertheless, sometimes we honestly just need a break from the busyness of life. 

 Especially with Christmas quickly approaching,  make sure you are taking the time to enjoy the season and not continually rush about everyday. Sometimes we get too caught up in what makes this time of year special, we forget who truly makes it "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year." 

Do not neglect to focus your mind on the Light of the World, who is the reason for all the lights, and  the prefect tree (the cross), which is the real reason we may celebrate with joy. 

We give  each other gifts because we received the greatest gift possible in the form of a baby boy. The question is, have you opened that gift? It's addressed to you. And it is from the Maker of All Things. 

Yes, the Creator of the universe has a present for you. 

It's wrapped in blood-red paper. To open it, you must deny your flesh and acknowledge your sin. But He says that if you simply "confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Saved. Saved from sin and death. Saved from eternal separation from God. Saved from pain and loneliness. Will the journey be easy? No. Will you still stumble and fall? Yes. Will you be persecuted? Yes. But God promises to walk with you; He never ever leaves your side. When you fall, He can pick you up. 

When you call on Him, He will answer you. He will overwhelm you with unfailing love, unchanging grace, and unrelenting mercy. 

And you don't have to wait until Christmas morning to open this gift.  

I Wanna Change the World

I believe I have not posted recently because nothing prominent has been on my mind lately--nothing just jumping out of my soul onto the page. I've been feeling in a "lull" mode just recently, and I guess when I get in that mode I have a hard time sharing my thoughts and ideas. I wrote this poem last January, and my thoughts right now match what I felt then: 


Emotions are a stormy sea in my head,
Salty waves confuse me. 
I feel lost in the noise
I just want silence 
But people need to hear my voice. 


What do I do? 
What do I choose? 
Sometimes I just want to be a normal girl, 
I wanna be a normal girl. 


Somewhere out of nowhere,
Friendship found its way to me. 
Sounds so much better--
But it's getting hard to see. 
Laughter, memories, for a girl to crave,
But is fun what I really want carved on my grave? 


I want to change the world. 
I'm gonna change the world. 

This poem describes my constant inward battle. I want to be a voice and shout the truth to the whole world. I want to make a difference. I want to change the world. At the same time, I often just want to be a normal girl. Sometimes, like I've been feeling just recently, I don't have anything eager to share. And yet every fiber within me cries to be a part of something bigger--something great. 

I know God created me with purpose, just as He created you with a specific purpose and plan. Therefore, I know that just by being me, I have already, and will continue to, change the world. With every breath. Every smile. And every word. One step at a time.