Have you ever been in a shower, and the water is only half coming out of the shower head while the other half is still coming out of the head from the bathtub?  Sometimes I just don’t pull the lever up all the way so that the water isn’t coming out of the top of the shower all the way.  This recently happened to me, and I realized that this is in many ways similar to how I can act.  I am only half in.  I am like the water that is coming from the shower, when some of myself or the water is still coming out of the tub spigot.  When this is happening, you are not getting the best shower in because the water pressure isn’t as good.  Similarly, I am not being the best version of myself when I am not fully invested.  I sometimes struggle feeling like I am completely present or involved in the things that I am doing.  While I am physically present and even doing my job, I am finding that there are times when I am not emotionally or mentally present. 

 I think that the reason I have a struggle with this concept is because I can have low energy.  I can often want to be just more in my own zone, and I want to make sure that I focus on myself, rather than the Lord or the task that I am doing at hand.   I also have found that I am struggling with this more and more when I am on my phone.  I have found that I can easily feel as though I need to go to my phone as opposed to spending time doing other things.  I have become very selfish with my time and want to do things like be on Facebook, watch my youtube videos, or contact people via text messages.  I don’t like that I have started to focus more and more on my phone as opposed to looking around and appreciating those that are around me.  Because I have focused less and less on living in the present moment with letting myself get distracted by other things is stopping me from being full in or in this metaphor be the water that is fully on.  

This is something that I have also recently discovered in my training for a half marathon.  I have definitely learned in the past from doing my first half marathon to now that it is incredibly important to be fully invested. It is essential to eat healthy, drink water, and run a lot.  I am very good at the running portion.  I am very good about making sure I am getting my miles in every week, and if I am not running, I am making sure that I am doing other strengthening exercises.  However, I am sometimes really bad about making sure that I am hydrating and getting enough water.  I also sometimes don’t eat like a person who is about to run quite a few miles the next day.  My diet isn’t the worst, but it could definitely make some improvement. I can’t just do this halfway.  If I only do it halfway, there is no way that I will be able to run the half-marathon on the day of.  As I am a month out, I need to remember this.  

The Bible talks about being lukewarm as opposed to being fully involved or invested. For example, the Bible mentions this in the last book of the Bible in Revelation.  This is in Revelation 3:15-16, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot…So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”  God is very similar to us as humans.  When you are in a special relationship with someone, whether it is a great friend, a love relationship with a significant other, or a parent, you don’t want to have a half hearted relationship.  Relationships that are only half way there are not the ones that you trust and really go to when problems arise.  God is also described as jealous, so he wants to make sure that we are devoted to him fully. God does not desire those who are only half in whatever they are doing.  He is not very happy about those who are not ready to give their full hearts over to him. Therefore, if we are going to be a person that is a Christian and someone who really, truly, represents the Lord, then we need to be willing to fully represent the Lord in every situation we are in, in every conversation, in every relationship, and in everything that we are doing.  

All in all, my goal is to become more and more present wherever I am.  Jim Elliot has a simple quote that best represents this mindset and that is, “Wherever you are, be all there.” If I remember to give 100% to whatever situation I am in, then I believe that I will be a better representation of a person who is living like a water faucet fully on.  I know this is the only way to really do a good job.   I know that this is especially true with my Christian walk with the Lord.  I will only really be able to spread God’s word through being a water that is fully on. 

I have just finished my sixth summer at the Bridge of Storm Lake!! I have already mentioned this a few times throughout my last few blogs, but now I want to include my overall reflection from the summer.  This summer, I learned more and more about how to be a leader.  This was my second summer in the role of summer coordinator.  However, last summer I was hardly ever in charge of both the kids and the team, but this summer I was in charge of the 10 team members as well as usually 60 kids that came to our programs regularly.  That being said, I was in charge of roughly 70-80 people on a daily basis.  I am so very happy that I have been given the chance to grow the relationships that I have with the kids for the sixth summer in a row.  I know that a lot of them trust me a lot more now as well as see me as a mentor figure.  I have learned so much from them.  I have seen how well they take care of each other, especially brothers and sisters, and I know that I need to take care of the people in my life in a similar way.  I have seen them have so much joy to play outside and to run around, and I know that this is something that I need to continue to have in the future.  I need to remember that joy over the little things just like they do.   

I had two quotes that I looked at this summer for inspiration.  The first one was “a person who feels appreciated will always do more than expected.” I learned that in order to be a leader, you need to be willing to encourage the members on your team.  Those who are under you will be willing to work harder and do more tasks for you when you make sure they feel appreciated and loved for their job.  I tried my best to give love, support, and kindness to my workers, so they would know that I enjoyed having them there.  I had the opportunity to have young adults getting ready to grow into their leadership roles.  I am so hoping the Bridge overall gave them a lot more skills that they can take away in the future, no matter what they do.  

The second quote I looked at was, “Never say ‘That’s not my job.’ That oozes arrogance and laziness.  Chip in to help with what needs to be done, even if it’s not your responsibility.  Do what needs to be done or help someone find the solution. Even when nobody’s watching.”  I wrote a whole blog post about this called, “Leaders do the Dishes.”  But to summarize what I wrote in that blog, it is important that my team saw me set the expectation by actions so they know what they should also be doing.  Even though I was a “boss figure,”  I am not too important that I can’t do the tasks that I ask of them as well.  I do want to take this time to shout out to my wonderful summer team members.  Caitlyn, Alondra, Brady, Nathan, Isaac, Joshua, and Gracelin, thank you for working so hard and growing so much in your leadership.  I see so much great potential in you all.  I know that whatever you all choose to pursue, you will be great.  I am so happy that you all chose to spend the summer with us.  I hope that you think about coming back sometime, either for another working summer or at least to volunteer for a while.  

If I had to pick my favorite memory from this summer, it would have to be when we took a group of middle schoolers and a few elementary schoolers on a bike ride.  I absolutely love biking which is the reason why I enjoyed this event so much.  The kids who don’t often get the chance to bike had the opportunity to see and feel the enjoyment I so often do while biking.  Then on top of all of that we were able to give a few bikes away, and so I have been able to see those same kids biking throughout town.  They are becoming our independent middle schoolers who now have the ability to see and do more on their own.  We are helping empower those young people, and that is something that I am so blessed to be a part of.

I couldn’t have made it through without the wonderful crew that was around me.  To Jay and Shelly, thank you for being my leaders.  Thank you for being the best bosses and people that I can look to for advice and support.  Shelly, your compassion and gentleness is something that there needs to be more of in the world.  Jay, there are not many who can think of the ideas and creating of the opportunities for the youth like you can.  I am so glad that you developed the Bridge 11 years ago.  To Shaniese, Aimee, and Izzie, my summer queens, my best friends, and the best support that I could ever pray for, thank you for being you.  Thank you for being the people I could go to with any of my personal problems or my exciting news.  You three are some of the best people I have ever met and it is wonderful to see your love for the Bridge and the job that you have.  All of your passions, strength, and love for others is something that inspires me more and more every time I come back to see you and work with you. 

All in all, summer of 2021 was a summer I will not be forgetting any time soon.  I have felt so loved there, and I hope that I was able to give some of that same love back.  Until next time Storm Lake! 

I have mentioned this before, but I am in the process of finishing my sixth summer working at a nonprofit called, “The Bridge of Storm Lake.”  I talk very highly of this organization, and it has definitely changed a lot of my perspectives.  This summer, as well as last summer,  I was more of a staff member, and I was in charge of the summer team.  Therefore, I gave those on the summer team the jobs that they are supposed to be completing.  Because of the work we do and once we have fed children food, there often is a large number of dishes that need to be done. Because I am in charge, it can become easier and easier to get the members on my team to be in charge of the dishes as opposed to doing them myself.  

However, one weekend before I left, I noticed that there were some dishes in the sink, and there were already flies that were starting to pop up because of the food still lingering on them.  I knew that if I left the dishes out for longer, there would be more and more flies, and it would get grosser and grosser, so even though I wanted to just leave and get home, I knew that I needed to do those dishes.  I put on my headphones and picked a good playlist, and I made sure that those really gross dishes were done.  I even made sure that I did a little bit of sweeping and that the trash was closed, so the flies wouldn’t completely invade.  I knew that the reason was because I genuinely love this organization, and I want to make sure that it is taken care of.  However, I was a bit annoyed that I couldn’t be headed home yet, and I was upset that the team members hadn’t done the dishes. Then I was humbled with the thought that I haven’t done the dishes in a long time.  I realized that I have been avoiding the dishes because I can make the other members do it, and therefore it was about my time to finish them.    

Leaders should not be bossy in the sense that they just tell others what to do.  They should also show others what to do by setting an example.  If you really want to be a leader, then you need to be willing to set an example for your followers to follow through not just your words, but, rather, your actions.  For example, Jesus was and is a leader.  He has many followers to this day.  At the time of his living, though, he had 12 close followers called the disciples.  With those disciples, Jesus was great at setting examples for how he wanted them to act. He was an amazing man (God) who was doing big miracles that everyone wanted to see for themselves, and he would often have the disciples take part in those miracles.  For example, when he was feeding the 5000 with five loaves of bread and two fish, he made sure that the disciples had a job of handing out the food.  They were then seen as members of the miracle, and therefore they were also getting admired and loved throughout the community.  

One of the greatest examples, though, of Jesus was when he taught his followers how to serve.  On the night of the last supper, he washed the disciples’ feet which is a huge act of service, especially back in that day.  Because the disciples were always wearing sandals and all they did was walk on dusty roads, their feet were often very dirty.  Nobody wanted to wash their own feet, let alone someone else’s, so when Jesus started washing the disciples feet, they were shocked and a bit upset that Jesus felt he needed to do this.  Jesus never stopped cleaning their feet though, and taught them a very important lesson through his response.  “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”  (John 13:14-16).  Jesus taught his disciples how to be a leader within the community and achieve many miracles through faith, but then he also taught them that to be a leader that many will respect is through showing love to others through service and care.  

The point is that you are never too big of a person to do the dishes.  You are never too big of a person to take out the trash or do the laundry.  This is especially when you are at an organization or a place of work, and you may be a person that is higher up.  Even when, yes, you have the ability to tell someone else what to do, you should still find those moments to do the jobs that people just don’t want to do because followers will want to follow a leader that is willing to do those jobs. With that, willing to be a humble servant, even through being a person who is the leader, will come with a lot of respect from the followers and then, hopefully, they will follow your example.

This past week I went on a river boat cruise with my mom. This went up and down the Mississippi River. We left around the city of Davenport, IA to Dubuque, IA. This was really fun, and it was also very relaxing. The first day we went up the river from LeClaire, IA to Dubuque IA, and then the second day, we went back down.  This trip was definitely faster as we were going downstream as opposed to going upstream. As opposed to taking 10 to 11 hours, it only took us about 7. While also on the boat, we could feel just how much faster we were traveling. Just like in all things I write for this blog, this brought some different imagery to my mind in regard to the Christian walk. 

There are times that we as Christians get stuck in our comparisons. We are looking at others and we are seeing how much more successful they are, maybe how pretty/handsome they are, or that they have the characteristics that we would also like to have. What sailing on this river taught me though is that sometimes in life we are on a boat sailing upstream. We may be moving slower. We may have obstacles that are harder to get over and are fighting a current in our own lives like rivers face. The person next to us could be moving faster because they are headed down streams in their life and everything is going well. That in and of itself is one of the main reasons we should limit our comparisons. What others are going through is not what we are going through.  Another person’s journey isn’t our journey.  How can you fully know what others have faced or will face?  You can’t.  Not really.  You should really only focus on your own.  

The Bible does talk about comparisons including in Romans 8:6-8.  “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”  We are not to be the ones that look at others and hope that you could be like them.  There can be qualities that others have that we can admire and want to learn from, but essentially we should desire to be better for ourselves and have a desire to grow closer to the Lord for our own personal walks with him.  

I have an example from my personal life.  It isn’t entirely a religious or a spiritual example.  (But then again, if we are living our lives right, then we should have our center in Jesus Christ all the time.  Not just for the seemingly religious materials).  I have recently lost some weight.  I did not necessarily set out to lose weight within this last year.  I set fitness goals and then because of those goals, I also started to lose some weight and tone up.  While I am happy with this progress, and it is overall making me feel more confident, there are still sometimes when it can be hard for me not to compare myself to others.  This is especially true when I see some of my friends lose weight faster than I am or those who are naturally more fit/thin than myself.  In those instances, it can be easy to be lost in the comparisons.  It can be easy to think that it isn’t fair and that I am not as beautiful, when what I should be at that moment is happy for the progress I have made and celebrating the progress that my friends and others have made.  

We can also feel as though we are traveling upstream when we are going against what many others are doing. It can be easy in life to get swept in the current and follow what everyone is doing or what they are thinking.  However, that will most likely never feel right and will not be what you truly want to do.  For one example, it can be very easy to get lost in our love of the world and the things that are in the world.  Even though it can be very easy to love the world, we are taught throughout the Bible that we need to instead love the Father as opposed to the world. In 1 John 2:15-16 it says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes. And the pride of life comes not from the Father, but from the world.” 

In both of these examples, it can be so hard to fight against currents and travel upstream.  It is not the natural way that your body wants to go.  You want to be like everyone else.  You want to have a life that is easy all the time.  However, if we are going to have the wonderful experiences and the prizes that are awaiting us in heaven, there are going to have to be the moments where we are fighting to swim upstream.  I do want to offer encouragement that there will be times when we are traveling downstream. These will be the times when maybe you have more energy, you are feeling emotionally and spiritually well, and you are getting things accomplished. Relish in those moments. Use them up to the best of your ability.  Store up that good feeling and delight in it as long as you possibly can.  However, I do want to caution you that during those times of feeling good and being spiritually well that we don’t forget where the main source of our energy and good feeling comes from.  It is just as important that during the high times that we depend on the Lord and that will definitely help us through the times we are traveling upstream and through the harder stages of our life.  

The lessons of traveling upstream on a river is this: don’t go with the stream just because that is what everyone else seems to be doing and don’t compare your own personal journey to anyone else’s.  Regardless of the direction, remember to keep the Lord as your captain.  He is going to be steering your life in the right direction through upstream, downstream, hills, rocks, heavy currents, and other boats.  Depend on him and you will get to your destination which just so happens to be a life of eternity with God the Father.   

For many years I have worked at the Bridge of Storm Lake in Storm Lake, Iowa.  I love that organization, and I will often talk about it and it’s impact that it has made on my life.  (If you have read a lot of my past blogs-you know this to already be true).  I am excited that I get to help lead the summer team as this is my 6th summer and help to make leaders out of these young adults and college students. One thing about the Bridge is that they have a coffee enterprise called, Endless Sea Coffee.  They will have the young children participate and help roast and ground the coffee in order to start selling it to customers as well as those who buy monthly subscriptions.  (Like me!)  I get a 12 oz. bag of Endless Sea Coffee every month that I am able to enjoy.  Besides the fact that I love coffee, I love that the coffee enterprise is also helping young people prosper and learn how to roast, sort, and even sell something to the general public.  They are getting exposure to real life experiences.  

Another thing is the quote or main motto of the Endless Sea Coffee which is “Live Loved. Spread Joy.”  I think that this is pretty powerful, and it is an important reminder that when a person lives feeling loved, they can also more easily spread joy.  It is harder to be able to spread joy when one is feeling not very loved, and is not feeling very appreciated. It is then really hard to want to appreciate others and to share encouragement and love to others.  Towards the end of finishing my second year of teaching, it was becoming harder and harder for me to feel loved.  The school year has ended and while it was ending the students were more and more disrespectful and maybe even less appreciative of the work that goes into teaching. There were even some harder situations with some coworkers.   Therefore, I did notice that it was so much harder for me to show love to those who are around me.  When I was feeling down on myself and feeling that unloved feeling, I noticed that I was more impatient with my students and others around me. 

How can it be easy to feel loved even in the moments when people are crabby? The problem with only being kind and loving when you feel loved by those around you is that there are going to be times when others are not as loving or as kind, we should still be responsible for being loving and being kind.  Jeremiah 31:3 says this, “The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”  The Lord has an everlasting love for us, not just a love that lasts for a little while, not a love that lasts for our lifetime, but rather a love that lasts for our lives as well as beyond, so even when there are those times when people don’t show love, we can try to remember that God loves us and that is the love that we need to be spreading around.  

Now once you are filled with God’s love or there is that everlasting love that is present.  The Lord not only gives us unending love, but he also helps give us the joy that we then could spread to others.  The Bible says in John 15:11, “these things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”  I really enjoy this verse and the imagery it gives me.  I love the ending of this verse because it reminds me that really the best way to continually be filled with this joy is through spreading time with the Lord.  We can not fully understand how much the Lord loves us unless we really spend time with the Lord.  Therefore, spreading more and more time with the Lord will continually help us realize the joy and love and therefore, then we can spread that joy to others.  

The two ways that I believe a person can best show joy.  The first is through our lips and through the words that we speak.  It is important that we take the time to speak words that are truth filled, encouraging, loving, and kind.  Overall, the words that will be spoken will be joy-filled when we are praising the Lord.  For example, Psalm 71:23, “My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.”  When we are praising the Lord, we can’t help but sound joy-filled and loving.  Therefore, others will hear those words and even just an ounce of joy will fill the world with more joy and love.  

Besides our words, the main way to spread joy is through actions. Service and generosity are two of the biggest ways that one can show their actions.  One of the best ways I have tried to remember thinking about who I can spread joy to is to think about who I can show kindness to each day and who I can bless each week. Therefore, I am spending time thinking about how I can serve someone and what I can give to others.  Overall, this world can be so very hard, so it can be very hard to feel loved at times.  That is why it is very important that we have the reminders of feeling loved and spreading joy.  It can not always be easy to feel loved.  I want you to remember that you are loved and the Holy Spirit can provide you with the joy that will better help you to spread that joy then to the others in the world. 

This past Sunday was July 4th which is, of course, United States Independence day.  (It is also my birthday which I do feel is equally important if not more important!! 😉 Ok.  I’m definitely kidding.) I also live in Storm Lake which is a very small but diverse town in Iowa.  Every year as a part of my non-profit, I get the chance to be in the parade in Storm Lake, Iowa with my team as well as some of the youth members that we serve. Their parade is huge and includes a lot of different cultures and organizations.  Something I absolutely love is that all of the nations that live in Storm Lake are well represented and are celebrated.   There were floats with different flags of the countries that are represented in the area of Storm Lake, and there were traditional dresses and clothes walking amidst the parade.  Pictured below are traditional dresses from El Salvador, for example.  (Also, those are some girls that are a part of the program that I work at in the summer).  

This reminded me how beautiful the world that God created is.  God created it with a whole bunch of different peoples with different clothing, traditions, flags, etc.  The Lord was a great creator.  Sometimes we can live in our very separated lives and live only amongst those who look and act like us, when in reality we should be living in a world filled with diversity.  I believe it was so important that Storm Lake took time amidst the American Independent celebration to enjoy and celebrate cultures of many different races that are in the United States.  In the United States, we can often get focused on the “American way of life,”   when in reality, there is more than one way to live the American way of life.  The cultures and people groups that live in the United States have different ways to live in America, and that is what should make the United States unique and beautiful.  

This parade showed me what God is hoping to see when we are in heaven with a majority of different cultures and different nations.  This is mentioned in Revelation 7:9-10, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  The Lord is desiring the world to come together to praise him and love him.  This is because God loves everyone equally, and they are all his creation.  God wants us to love each other.  When we have moments where we see diversity and cultures coming together like they did in this parade, we see a bit of a glimpse of our lives praising God together in heaven.  

I believe that this is a good reminder that we need to take the time to get to know and love our neighbors.  This is a reminder that when the Lord was talking about loving our neighbors, he was not just talking about the person that live right next door.  Rather, he was talking about loving all nations, and spreading God’s word, so that way every single nation and tongue could be in heaven.  This was the final commandment of Jesus, and this should also be a main priority of ours.  This is what God’s word says in Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.” 

My best advice or suggestion when it comes to learning and loving about cultures is to take time to learn about other cultures and then actually take the time to get to know them.  I suggest making sure to read what is going on in the world. (I still struggle with this).  This way we can know what certain nations are struggling with and what is going on in order to better love them.  I do this more through reading books about history and culture about different countries.  Then when I am working with IJM, I am also learning about all the work that is going on in different countries.  When we take the time to understand and learn about others, then that is the only way we can really love them and if needed, teach them about God’s word.  

Another thing that has really helped me appreciate and respect other cultures is working in organizations that collaborate multiple cultures together.  The Bridge of Storm Lake in Storm Lake Iowa works to serve many different youth from different nations and cultures which gives us time to appreciate every single one of them as we love and serve the youth.   Then of course, I also volunteer with IJM or International Justice Mission that helps nations all over the world.  When you have a chance to actually work with cultures and get to know multiple members of said culture, you learn to appreciate their thoughts and opinions.  They can give a better insight to how to do things and how to best think.  Similarly it is important to make friendships with those who are from different backgrounds and cultures.  It is very important to have friendships with those who have had a different life-story, so you can continue to learn different ways to think and handle life. 

Recently I was listening a bit to the rapper, NF.  I love his music, and when I am in the mood for some deeper raps, his are usually the ones that I listen to.  He has this song that is called, “Therapy Session.”  One of the lyrics in that song goes, “If I wouldn’t say what I say to your face, Then I promise you I wouldn’t say it in private.”  This really is a powerful quote when you think about it.  Nate (the actual name of the rapper NF) is promising that he won’t say anything behind your back essentially.  He is saying that what he says and how he treats you in front of you is exactly how he feels about you, and it does not change once he is away from you.    

I feel as though it is not always easy to live this quote out.  As much as I hate to admit it, there are many times that I will say something behind someone’s back that I wouldn’t say to their faces.  I can be a lot more kind and a lot more loving in front of people’s faces, (which is an overall good thing), but I may not be completely as loving or compassionate behind those same people’s faces.  I am not saying that this means we should say mean or hurtful words to each other’s faces.   But if on a usual basis, we would be way too ashamed or scared to say certain words to people than we should never even think or dream about saying that behind the person’s back. 

This is always something that I need to keep in check.  If you are friends with me, it is not that I am talking bad about you behind your back all the time.  (I promise! If you are friends with me, then I really do love and care about you!)  I do have a few issues, though, with this as we all do.  If I am honest about my struggles with my tongue, the main issue would be venting for a long time behind people’s back.  When I am upset with someone else, I need to learn to find a way to better verbalize my thoughts and emotions or get it off my chest than sounding as though I am bad-mouthing or talking negatively about the person I am frustrated with. Another problem is when someone else starts to talk bad about a person I love, I may not always be the quickest to defend that person or every once in a while can join in on that person’s jokes.    

This is especially true with gossip.  It is not very easy to avoid gossiping, especially when others start to gossip.  It can be so easy to gossip and talk about others and their issues whilst not being in their presence and in the community of others.  This, of course, can include telling others about the rumors that are about someone else.   The Bible brings this up a few times as well including in Psalm 62.  In verse 4, there is a part of the verse that says, “With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.” I love this verse because it reminds me that even if we say kind things with our mouths, but we don’t actually mean it, then we are not really providing the great blessings and giving the good things that our mouths are saying.  It will not be good if we also spend our time giving out false promises or giving out false narratives to those around us.  When we are gossipping or slandering, we are also not giving out blessings.  

Overall, this is very important because we really need to care about the words that we say and specifically that we mean the words that we say.  We shouldn’t just give out false words and words that are filled with empty promises, blessings, and compliments.  At the end of the day, if we are saying something to someone in order to look good or sound good, then we are not really caring about the person.  If you don’t mean the words that you say or you speak behind someone’s back, then you are overall not being truthful or God-filled, but instead you are being fake and two-faced.  God ultimately wants us to care about being authentic and be who we are amidst everyone that we are with.  It is not useful to speak falsely or lie to those that we are with and think differently behind their back.  

The two other reminders I have is that it is important to be honest, and it is important to process emotions outside of those we are possibly upset with.  We need to be honest with those that are in our lives.  We don’t have to just be Yes people who tell people what they want to hear.  (Especially, if we don’t mean it and maybe tell someone else later what our real thoughts are).  There is a way that we can be honest and kind.  We can tell our true thoughts by showing love and care for those around us.  The other one is that it is important to process certain emotions sometimes in a separate place from the ones who may upset us.  I said earlier that I like to vent when I am upset with someone.  However, I do think that if I am talking to someone about how someone else hurt me in order to get advice and speak of that person in a loving manner with the hope that a relationship can be repaired then it should be done.  Then I believe that it is important to process those emotions out and then maybe speak to that person to their face if that is what you need to do to help repair the relationship or speak of the problems.  

 Overall, it is important that we care about being authentic and that we care about being the person we say that we are in front of others and behind their backs.  Can you be a person like the rapper NF says when he says, “If I wouldn’t say what I say to your face, Then I promise you I wouldn’t say it in private.”  I hope that we all can and learn to use this as our own mantra. 

One of my mom’s favorite quotes that she would really teach to me is “Be the change you want to see in the world,” said by Gandhi.  I do think that this is a powerful quote.  It is very important that we try to change the world in the best way that we can.  We need to be willing to go out and do the things that we want to see happen in the world for good.  There are many times we as people can be willing to talk about what we want to see changed, and then there are times that we can even spend a majority of time dreaming about the change, but we don’t actually go out and make those changes.  This quote is a reminder that we all, every single one of us, have the potential to go out in the world and make that change we want to see happen.  

However, I also thought about this quote recently in a new light and as a new quote.  Why can’t it be “Be the highlighted good you want to see in the world.” Even though there are a lot of bad things in the world, and there are many actions that should not be highlighted, I have seen so many wonderful things in the world including many wonderful actions done by individuals.  I have seen teachers spend hours after school in order to help their students.  I have seen some give a huge donation to fundraisers.  I have had friends who have been willing to come over just because they have heard how upset I am by the events happening in my life.  I have had so many people who are so good and doing so many good things in my life that it is hard to not think about it and not want to highlight those good things.  

I think that it can be very easy to focus on the negative items in our lives.  I know that I personally have done that a lot in my life.  I have focused on the wrong words said, the hurtful actions, the insensitivity and the unthoughtfulness.  However, this year I have started a joy journal which is when I write down something joyful from everyday.  This has really helped me focus on the good things that happened to me that day, or it can be something that I saw that brought me intense joy.  This can be watching a parent play a really good game of basketball to a student offering to help me clean my room.  This has been a positive thing for me to notice and since I have been watching these items, I am starting to notice more and more pieces that should be highlighted in our world.  

I think that these things are important to highlight because many of the times, we don’t actually have to reinvent the wheel.  We don’t have to think of a million positive things that we need to be doing in order to change the world.  We just need to be aware of the good things that are happening, and then try to add more of it.   Sure, creativity is great, and it is wonderful to spend time thinking about what we could do that would be good for the world that is different and creative, but at the same time, we should not be upset or discouraged if we feel as though we are not doing something different.  It would be more important to do something really kind that is similar to what someone else has done than not doing anything kind at all.  

My challenge for you is to also write down the positive or joyful things that you see in your life.  This can be like me when I write down one positive/joyful thing from everyday in a journal, or it can be just a list that you keep on your computer.  These can be the kind words that others give to the people around you or to big items like someone rescuing a kitten from a tree.  The point is to notice the kind and wonderful pieces of the world and then act it out in our daily lives.   Some of the main things that I have seen are my older Jr. boys (who sometimes can seem too cool for school) playing basketball with elementary students, a mother shooting hoops with her son, kids delivering May Day baskets, my friends donating to my fundraisers as a way to support me, teammates cheering each other on with their full heart, and a man making sure to greet everyone in the store with both a smile and a hearty hello.  These are maybe what some would consider small things, but they are also the things that would make my heart happy for at least a little part of the day.  So if this is something that brings me joy, I can only imagine that it would bring others great joy.  If I also did that, then I would hopefully make someone else joy-filled and happy.  There are, of course, even be bigger actions like when you hear someone donate thousands of dollars to a great cause, and those spending great time and effort in rescue operations against modern day slavery.  

The world can be rough, but it can also be wonderful.  Start to keep track of the wonderful things that are happening in the world in whatever way that works well for you, and then start to also do those very actions.  I assure you that if you start doing that, then you will be a part of the change that is in the world for the better. 

As I have been writing my blog, I have tried to be more and more focused on my personal relationship with Jesus and how I can continually work on following my favorite verse of Colossians 3:23.  Again, as a reminder, that verse says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”  This following of God can even apply to what we wear on a regular basis. As I have gotten older and I have grown more and more passionate about fighting against human trafficking/modern day slavery, I have fallen more and more in love with ethical fashion.  Sadly, there are many items that are being sold in our world where items are not necessarily made ethically and where the ones who are making the clothing, jewelry, many food items, etc. do not have the adequate working conditions/payment they should be receiving. I have realized that as I am growing closer and closer to God and have a desire to follow him in all ways, I have to care about the miniscule things, and this includes fashion that I am purchasing.

There are many people who don’t think a lot about what they are wearing.  Then there are others that love to take the time of what they wear and really enjoy putting outfits together.  I have always fallen into the second category.  I have always loved to put outfits together, even if some have been crazy.  (Some of my middle school outfits-it’s hard to look back on!)  Therefore taking this time to really think about the clothes that I am wearing and how that can actually impact others has now become a big passion of mine.  Because of this, I am going to take this time in this blog to make sure I talk about ethical fashion and how anyone reading this can also learn more.  The more everyone is aware, the more ethical fashion decisions that are made to create hopefully a world filled with more and more ethical fashion and better working conditions for everybody.    

Some places that I have chosen to shop in regards to Ethical fashion are Dressember’s collection.  Dressember is an organization that I do love with my whole heart and is also a fundraiser that I do yearly.  This is where I wear a dress all throughout the month of December to raise money to end human trafficking.  Not only is this organization a style challenge, but it does have it’s own collection of dresses and a few other items that is made ethically and even has the designer/creator sign their name as they made the dress.  The other great part about Dressember is that they have helped create the Ethical Fashion Directory that lists brands that are made ethically.  With that, they provide encouragement that people will take the time to contact a brand they care about and inquire if or not they have considered making their clothes more ethically or where they get their clothes from and how they are made. 

Another important thing to know about me is that I am a jewelry girl.  I have always loved and adored jewelry.  The best part is that I know about a lot of ethically made jewelry companies.  I, therefore, own a great deal of jewelry that has been made ethically.  These jewelry companies not only are made ethically, but many are also helping to combat modern day slavery.  Some of the things that I have used in the past that I absolutely love are the Starfish project, Bracha, Purpose Jewelry, Threads of Hope, and Anthem.  The cool thing about the last one, Anthem, is that they often write down the name of a woman who has been rescued from human trafficking on the back of either their necklaces or their bracelets.  These pieces of jewelry help raise awareness about the issue of human trafficking as well as raise funds to help end it.  

I do believe that it is very important that we as people of this planet take the time to learn about the issues that are plaguing our world, and one of those issues is then Modern Day slavery. Some of the places that I first went to in order to learn more about modern day slavery and sustainable fashion was a documentary called, “The true Cost.”  This discussed the true cost of fashion, specifically fast fashion, (also known as non-sustainable fashion) that plagues the world of different issues.  These things include chemicals that are plaguing the river and the area of where the clothes are made, the workers not having great working conditions that even created a major fire that people could not get out of, and that the workers would not get paid the money that they had earned.  The fast-fashion industry was at the time of making that documentary, growing and therefore creating a higher demand and even worse working conditions.  As consumers, it is very important to know that our decisions on what we buy has grave impacts on others in the world.  

The other book that I read in order to learn more about ethical fashion was “The Conscious Closet,” by Elizabeth L. Cline.  This book talked about how a person can create both a fashionable and unique closet that makes more conscious decisions and be more sustainable with their fashion that will not necessarily cost a million dollars.  It is very hard to think about spending money on nothing but ethical clothes.  Many of the times, they are not the cheapest finds, so this book helps give techniques to spending less money, and to just having an overall more sustainable and ethically based closet.  

I am so happy that I have taken the time to learn more about ethical fashion and have started the journey to make smarter, sustainable decisions, starting in my closet and then for the rest of the areas in my life.  I know that there are many things that I still need to learn, but I am excited for that opportunity.  My hope is to make a difference in the world and bring about change, especially in ending modern day slavery, even starting with my wardrobe. 

Recently I have seen some of my co-workers start to struggle with some things.  This is ranging from them making poor choices that maybe they are not aware will impact them in the future, and I am concerned about them.  Then there were some other co-workers that I have seen struggling with their health.  I have been struggling to know what I should do in order to help them.  Can I make them a meal, or should I spend time talking to them? What can I do?  What will make the biggest impact on their lives and truly help them? I’m not a doctor, and I am not a person who can make choices for other people.  However, then I had a realization that one of the biggest things that I can do is to go to the Lord in prayer.  I always have the ability to pray, and I need to become more aware of the impact that can make on a person’s life.  

If I am being honest, I am a doer, and so sometimes when I think that prayer is all I can do, I basically go to the thought that I am doing nothing.  I am not actually doing anything.  I am not serving, or giving, so therefore I might as well as be doing nothing.  However, I realized that it was such a wrong thought to have.  When we are praying, especially for someone, we are lifting that up to the maker of the universe and the most holy being there is.  There isn’t anything better that we can do.  Even if it doesn’t feel as though we are physically fixing the problem ourselves, we are going to the one who can truly fix it.  

There are many verses that are in the Bible that also highlight the importance of prayer.  One of those verses is James 5:16, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”  The first part of the verse highlights how important it is to have a community of believers.  It is important that we have the people to talk to and even confess our struggles with.  That is important.  When we can talk to someone about our struggles, even with our sins and doubts,  we have a bigger ability to grow and develop as both Chrsitians and people.  

Of course, the next thing is to pray for each other, so that we each can be healed.  I believe that this is healing that can take various forms.  This can be both physical healing, emotional healing, and spiritual healing.  This is important because again we as people can not fully heal someone.  While doctors have the ability to heal the body for as much as their expertise can give, it is truly the Lord that guides the hands and provides the main healing.  The same is true for those who are counselors and provide spiritual/emotional healing.  While again, they have expertise, and they have the ability to provide strength emotionally, they are still only allowed to heal those as much as the Lord provides.  

The last part of the verse is also very important.  “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”  This is a good reminder for me that even though it feels like I can do more for people, really at the end of the day, prayer for those is what is actually the most important.  The verse even uses words like powerful and effective.  The Lord has given us a strong spirit through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is also great at guiding us in our journey of wanting to pray for others.  The Holy Spirit helps lead our prayers when we are praying over others.  This is because the Lord and therefore, the Holy Spirit knows what the person needs more than we do.

One other verse that talks about the importance of prayer is Mark 11:22-24.  This says, “Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered. ‘I tell you the truth. If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”  Now, I won’t lie, I know that this verse has been used inappropriately in the past.  There are many that believe that this means they can get whatever they want from the Lord, and he is like a giving machine or a giving box.   This is not what the Lord is.  He is a Holy being who has a very sovereign plan for our lives.  Ultimately if the Lord truly does not want something to be done, then he will not plan it to happen, but he will also always listen to our prayers and our deepest desires.  

One other verse that I looked at that discussed the importance of prayer is 1 John 5:14, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”  Again, this is another reminder that the Lord hears us every single time we pray.  We can have full confidence in that. In the end, there are going to be times that we really want to have an impact on the people in our lives.  My challenge for you is to write down a few people that you want to be praying for on a regular basis, and then pray for them.   This can be written down on a notecard or wherever it works best and keep it in a place that you can fully remember to pray.  Then notice how that person’s life has hopefully been impacted by the only one that can change anything.  Also a reminder that prayer can also impact our relationships with people.  There have been many times where I have prayed over my relationships with either my students or others in my life, and it has made our relationships so much better than it was before.  I hope that whatever is laying on your heart for those around you that prayer will make it beneficial.