I just had another revelation this morning: Christ is my reflection of how to deal with life. He did it; He is my great example. Christ had a cheerful continence even though He probably felt entirely the opposite. He was happy for the sake of those around Him, and He was happy because He remembered His Father in all His dealings. It is perhaps why He spent so much time in prayer; to not despair. I was feeling down and now I realize (or my Father pointed it out) that Jesus had the same moment as me.

this week, we've been out of sync. I have no idea why. We're not jiving...it might be because at this particular time of month I'm more attracted to the opposite sex, or drawing unto myself during this time, but this week, I feel as though we're not connecting. It makes me moodie and contemplative...

I know I am being blessed but I don't see it as blessings; they are conversations between God and I; a question I have posed and He has answered. And blessings are framed within peaceful or troubling settings. Whatever the case, they are conversational topics I like to bring, share and discuss with my Father.  And to me that's beautiful.

The hardest thing to do in some situations is breathe. I get into a moment where I want to keep going and I forget to breathe. Stop, breathe and step away and for a space, let it be.

I use my relationship with Jesus as a measure stick for everything in my life. School, work, family, friends, situations, circumstances, consequences, everything that can be thought of under the sun and blue sky. What I discover in my relationship with this Wonderful Person I use to measure my interactions, understandings and reactions to the world around me. So, this morning I got into a disagreement with a well known author. She talks about the importance of patience. Actually, over several pages she talks about  Peter's passage of 2 Peter 1:7 where she looks at the importance of different characteristics in context to our relationship with God. Of course, she brings in other verses too, but what we disagreed with is the presentation of Patience in the life of a Christian. Here's what she wrote:

There is a necessity for the Christian adding patience to temperance. There will need to be a firm principle and fixedness of purpose not to offend in word or action either our own conscience or the feelings of others. There must be a rising above the customs of the world in order to bear reproach, disappointment, losses and crosses without one murmur, but with uncomplaining dignity....A petulant, ill-natured  man or woman really knows not what it is to be happy. Every cup which he puts to his lips seems to be bitter as wormwood and his path seems strewn with rough stones, with briars and thorns; but he must add to temperance patience and he will not see or feel slights.

There's nothing wrong with this paragraph except for one thing; people reading this will get the impression that they have to do this of their own strength. People will either get discouraged or go right on a head, missing the point.

And the point is, only in Christ can we accomplish anything of this magnitude. I'll be honest, we live in a society where patience is an unknown word. And more importantly having a relationship with Christ first and foremost will cause a person to naturally seek out the importance of patience and temperance in representing Christ. It's the whole buggy before the horse idea here that I am greatly uncomfortable with. People don't realize that all desired character change happens during that relationship with Christ, it doesn't happen before.

One of the best moments in life is when you connect with a person spiritually. Everything jives. You and that person arise to the moment to share heart-felt moments, speak soul to soul, and all of this is often on the first encounter. Finding a soul relative is one of the greatest aspects of the walk with Jesus. It's just -- beautiful!

Christ feels as I feel. In my happiness or sadness, He feels as I feel. In my disappointment and pain, He feels as I feel.

And I am called to hope. I am called to hope in the day when I will see Him and walk with Him and discuss with Him (even though He knows) every tear and smile that led me to Him.

I am called to hope, because of Him. And I hope, knowing I may be disappointed. I hope because I am willing to accept that pain; knowing I wasn't created for it but because of sin I have to live through it.

Now that I know, I am willing to hope in friendships and relationships that may stay or go another way. I am willing to hope, because He hoped in His pursuit of the people around Him, that they would turn and follow Him; turn, listen and believe; turn and fall in-love with Love. And He was scarred with disappointment, but He still hoped, pursued and loved them.

So I hope, knowing that I hope with Him, knowing He will fulfill this hope.

I am called to be obedient not only because He knows what is best but also because it creates a consistency that allows the relationship to grow, strengthen and prosper. Every "traditional" word that I grew up with is important but I want to resist because of the connotation the word use to bring. However, it is about reflecting on those words and truly studying them in the light of my own relationship with God along with references to the Bible. Intriguing...