20 Things I'm Thankful For This Year

1. The Gathering. I'm thankful for how loved and welcomed I've felt from the moment I walked in the door; for how challenged, encouraged, and inspired I continue to be each week; for the wonderful people I've met and have begun to form relationships with; for how God's presence fills the room during incredible moments of worship; for how passionate the church is about Jesus and about being and making disciples; and for how much they truly love people. What God is doing in and through this church is real, powerful, and beautiful. I'm so honored and excited to be a part of it, and I'm beyond thankful to have found this church home.
   
   
2. My family. I'm thankful for my brother; for the incredible person he's turning out to be, for the ways I see God working in and through his life, for his musical talents, for our meaningful conversations, for his wit and sarcasm, and for his humility and his quiet confidence. I'm thankful for my sister; for her passion for life, for her advice, for her (often blunt) honesty, for her bold and quirky personality, for her incredible friendship, and for the unlimited amount of laughs that conversations and time spent with her provide. I'm thankful for my mom; for how she loves and cares for people with her whole heart, for her passion for God, for how I can talk to her about anything, for her gentle and genuine spirit, and for all of the ways that she is such an incredible role model. I'm thankful for my dad; for his encouragements, for how he has helped me and provided for me during this season (and all throughout my life), for his forgiveness, for his love of all things sports and Jayhawks, and for his unique sense of humor.
   
                        
   
3. All of the ways God has used this difficult season to grow and challenge me in my faith, as a person, and in my relationship with Him. I truly believe that this is and has been a season of preparation, even though I can't see or understand the full picture of that yet. I'm continuously amazed by how I can feel God working and sense His hand in all of it.
   
   
4. The entire team at Prairie Health and Wellness. Since my first appointment there, Dr. Jeff Davis and Dr. Kristen Marvin have made me feel seen, valued, heard, and encouraged. Even in the difficult moments, I've never once doubted their commitment to finding the root cause of my health problems. If you live in the Wichita area and are looking or a doctor who will truly care about you as a patient and a person, I couldn't recommend them more highly. I honestly don't know where I'd be without them.
   
   
5. Random acts of kindness. Whether I'm on the giving end, the receiving end, or a witness, it warms my heart when people are kind to one another for no reason other than to genuinely pass on a little more love and happiness. I've seen how much even the smallest of things can have an impact on someone's day. We need more of that in the world.
   
   
6. God's unconditional, everlasting, indescribable love and grace, of which I am so undeserving.
   
   
7. Nature. There's just something about going for a walk on a cool, breezy day that can instantly relax my mind and brighten my mood. I'd give about anything for a stroll on Sunset Beach in Cape Town right now, but the arboretum in town does pretty well too. :)
   
   
   
   
   
8. Hillsong music. If you haven't listened to Hillsong Worship's new "Let There Be Light" album yet, you need to. It'll lift your spirit and refresh your soul. I've had it on repeat for the last month, and I still can't get enough. I've found there's almost no better way to start off my day than with a little yoga, Hillsong music, and time with Jesus. I look forward to the day I'll be able to visit my Hillsong South Africa family and sing those songs with them in church.
   
   
9. The freelance writing and editing opportunities I've had during this season. Not being able to work a "normal" job during this time hasn't always been easy. Each freelance project has been an answer to prayer in more ways than one. I'm so thankful for the people I've worked with and for how I've been able to play a part in helping them share their stories.
   
   
10. Freedom and safety. I'm thankful that I get to choose how to live my life; that I can freely express my opinions and values; that I have easy access to education, health care, and everything that I want or need to survive; and that I can go to sleep at night feeling safe in my own home. I'm thankful for those who work and sacrifice to make that possible. It can be easy for me to start taking all of that for granted and to forget that so many people around the world are fighting daily for those things.
    
    
11. Genuine, Christ-centered friendships. I've realized this year, more than ever before, how having people in your life you can trust, count on, be accountable to, pray with, grow together with, laugh with, and be your full self with can make all the difference in the world.
    
    
12. Books that can sweep you up into an incredible story, that provide an escape from reality for a little while, that challenge you to think outside of the box, that teach valuable lessons, and that inspire. A few great ones I've read recently are "Midnight Jesus," "The Same Kind of Different As Me," and "Rooted."
    
    
13. That God has a plan and purpose for my life. For some reason, in the midst of all my mess, He wants to have a relationship with me and use me to further His kingdom. The weight and significance of that is overwhelming and incredible.
    
    
14. Photographs. I could spend hours looking through boxes of old pictures. Some of my favorite memories are stored in photographs and, as cheesy as it may sound, I'm thankful for the ability we have to capture those moments and keep them alive.
    
    
15. Netflix. Yes. Truly. There are moments that I have been so thankful for Netflix this year. Haha. On days where my body is just too tired to do much of anything, sometimes there's nothing I look forward to more than binge watching a few episodes of one of my favorite shows.
    
    
16. 86 Cold Press. If you haven't been to this wonderful little juice and smoothie bar in downtown Wichita, wait no longer. I have found no better cure for when my stomach is upset than their Root Down juice. It's like magic. Check them out next time you're in the area!
    
                    
    
    
17. Summit Church. I've been following along with their "The Whole Story" sermon series and reading plan since the beginning of the year. It's incredible how God has used some of JD's words to speak to me at just the right time. Two of his books, "Gospel" and "Jesus Continued" have also been an integral part of my faith journey.
    
    
18. Technology.  Although it can also drive me crazy at times, I'm thankful for how easy technology makes it to communicate. Many of my closest friends live across the country or halfway around the world, and I can't imagine not being able to maintain and build those friendships through Skype dates, iMessages, phone calls, and random voice notes.
    
    
19. How God sometimes answers prayers in the most beautiful, unexpected, and miraculous of ways.
    
    
20. Every person who has been praying for me, encouraging me, and supporting me throughout this season. Some of you have sacrificed and compromised a lot to walk with me on this journey. Some of you have been by my side each and every day, including the most frustrating and challenging ones. Some of you have been my prayer warriors. Some of you have been there to talk to me when I was feeling lost and confused. Some of you have dealt with me on days I've been a little more grumpy and unpleasant than I'd like to admit. Sometimes it has been the smallest things, like an unexpected hug or an encouraging text at just the right time, that have gotten me through difficult moments. For all those things and more, thank you. I know I don't say that enough. All of it has meant so much to me, and I appreciate it more than you know. I'm truly thankful for each and every one of you.

More Like Love

About a month ago, while full of excited and nervous anticipation, I got a tattoo on my right inner wrist that says “more like love.” The 20 minutes of fairly solid pain I endured ended up being more than worth it for something that holds such great meaning. To me, it’s a reminder of four things: God’s greatest commandment to us (Matthew 22:37, 1 Corinthians 13:13), His incredible love for us (John 3:16), the kind of person I hope to be, and what I want my life to look like. (It also happens to be the title of one of my favorite songs. You should give it a listen if you have a minute. )

Since getting the tattoo, I’ve felt God challenging me to dig further into what it represents and how I can apply that to my life. What, according to scripture, does love look like? What does it mean to love like Jesus loves? How can I start looking more like love on a daily basis?


1 Corinthians 13 gives us a great definition of love: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (4-7). 

Jesus’ entire life was a picture of that kind of love. He demonstrated this not only with his own friends and family, but also with every person he came in contact with. He ministered to, healed, ate with, reached, and did life with those who many people during that time thought He had no business going anywhere near. Those who, if we’re honest with ourselves, we might tend to avoid more than we seek to serve. 

When He took our place on the cross and died so that we could be given new life in Him, He showed us the ultimate expression of love. The message of the gospel is the greatest and most beautiful love story that has ever been and ever will be told. 

Love is serving without an agenda (Luke 6:35). Love is helping those who cannot do the same for us in return (Matthew 25:40). Love is showing humility and grace (Philippians 2:3). Love is caring for others the same way you would care for yourself (Matthew 22:39). Love is allowing God to work in and through us (Matthew 5:14-16, Philippians 2:13). Love is being the hands and feet of Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:27, 1 Peter 4:10-11). 

I think sometimes we assume that we don’t have the time, resources, or ability to devote to this definition of love. But this is far from limited to the big things – such as overseas mission trips, for example. Love can be shown and worked into our lives in many “smaller” ways too. Here’s a list of 10 simple yet meaningful ways that we can look more like love to those around us on a daily basis.

1. When you ask someone how they are, actually listen to their answer. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve had a conversation that goes something like this: “Hey, how are you?” “Good, thanks. How are you?” “I’m great!” “Awesome!” And that’s that. I’ve found myself wondering how often we truly want to hear the answer to that question when we ask. Do we just ask it because we don’t know what else to say, or because it’s the easiest way to have a quick conversation while on our way to the next thing? And when someone asks us how we are, how often do we really feel safe enough to give them an honest answer?
   
   Of course, sometimes we are in a rush and don’t have time for a full conversation. But next time, if you have a few minutes, dig a little deeper. Maybe that person has had a rough day. Maybe they’re excited about something happening in their life. Maybe they’ve been needing someone to talk to. You don’t need to have the perfect response or advice. Sometimes genuinely listening and being there for someone can make all the difference. Aim to be the kind of person people can trust, confide in, and be their true selves with.
   
   
2. Pray for someone. Building off of the above, having more meaningful conversations with others can lead to knowing how you can be praying for them. Prayer is a powerful form of ministry. God hears our prayers (Jeremiah 29:12, 1 Peter 3:12). He tells us to pray and communicate with Him consistently (Romans 12:12). He encourages us to pray with and for one another (Matthew 18:19-20, James 5:14-16).
   
   
   Jentezen Franklin, senior pastor of Free Chapel Worship Center in Georgia, recently gave a message in which he spoke about five prayer essentials we learn from Jesus’ prayer life and how we can apply those to our own – “Make Up Your Mind To Pray.” It really encouraged me to start being more genuine and intentional in how I pray for others. Give it a listen!
   
   
3. Fulfill a need. If you find yourself with an opportunity to be of assistance to someone else, do so! This doesn’t mean that we neglect our own needs, but that we make a point also to be aware of the needs of others (Philippians 2:4, Galatians 6:10). Help a stranger carry their groceries. Buy someone a meal. Offer to watch someone’s kids for an evening. Ask your church, local homeless shelter, or local food bank how you can best assist them in serving the community. Find a cause you’re passionate about and get involved. Open your home. Give someone a ride. Take some cough drops and soup to a sick friend. The possibilities are endless. If you yourself can’t help them, direct them someone who can. You never know how something seemingly small to you could actually make a huge difference in someone else’s day.
   
   
4. Encourage someone. Our words hold an incredible amount of power, and we should use them to speak life to each other and build one another up (Proverbs 18:21, Ephesians 4:29). If someone is focused on their weaknesses, tell them about the strengths you see in them. Wish someone luck for a big event they have coming up. Compliment someone. Explain to someone how you see God working through them. Let someone know how much they mean to you or how they’ve made a difference in your life. Tell someone you believe in them. If you’re inspired by something a person does, don’t be shy about sharing that. There’s almost nothing better than hearing the right words at the right time, especially when you least expect it.
   
   
5. Let go of little pet peeves. We all have those things that annoy us. For example, it tends to bother me when dirty dishes get piled up in the sink or on the counter instead of getting rinsed and placed in the dishwasher. I’ve actually allowed it to ruin my mood when I wake up to a sink full of dishes. Sometimes this also leads to a negative attitude toward the “responsible party.” When I step back from it, I see how silly that is. It’s nothing to get upset over, and I could easily take a few minutes to do the dishes myself. So whatever that looks like for you, I encourage you to shake it off. Don’t make a big deal about it. Laugh about it. Show grace.
   
   
   “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone” - Romans 12:18. (I’m sure Paul probably wasn’t thinking about dirty dishes while writing this letter to the early church but, hey, it kinda works.)
   
   
6. Seek to understand someone else's point of view. Think about how much it could positively change the way we communicate if we all first sought to understand where others were coming from instead of attempting to push our own ideas on them or trying to convince them that we’re right. There’d be more real conversations and less arguments. This doesn’t mean that we have to agree with them. It simply means that we value and respect them enough to genuinely listen to and consider what they have to say (Proverbs 18:2).
   
   “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen to reply.” – Stephen R. Covey
   
   
7. Trust someone with an important task. I was that person in college who had to put together the group PowerPoint or be the last one to read over a group paper. I needed it to be done right, and I was the only one I trusted to make sure that it was. I probably still am that person in a number of ways. I can have a hard time letting of go of things if the end result could potentially impact me in a negative way. I think trusting someone with something of importance to you definitely is a way of expressing that you value and believe in them. Having been on the receiving end of this before, I can tell you that it feels really good. (Practice good judgment here, of course, because there certainly are circumstances where it would not be wise to hand something over to just anyone.)
   
   
8. Forgive someone. This one is often much easier said than done, depending on the circumstance. It’s not always easy to let go when we feel someone has wronged us. Scripture makes it very clear in many ways that we are called to forgive others. “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” - Matthew 18:21-22
   
   
   We are called to forgive others just as we have been forgiven (Ephesians 4:32). As we see demonstrated to us at the cross, forgiveness has the power to set us free. Sometimes I have to remind myself that if Christ offered me complete and unconditional forgiveness, I simply have no place in denying that to someone else.
   
   
9. Smile. Look up from your phone when you’re walking down the street. Look up from your phone more in general. Smile at those you pass. Say hi to them. Be aware of and attentive to those around you. Give someone a hug or a high five if it feels appropriate. Say thank you. Spread a little happiness. Perform a random act of kindness. Sometimes it’s the simplest things, like a genuine smile at just the right time, that can turn someone's day around.
   
   
   “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22
   
   
10. Share Jesus. There is no better or more important way to love someone than to share with them the only love that can truly rescue their soul and set them free.  “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’” - Mark 16:15
    
    
    Admittedly, there have been occasions where I’ve shied away from talking about God with unbelievers because I worry that I won’t know what to say or that I won’t have the right answers to their questions. But I’ve come to realize how selfish this really is. It makes it all about me, it shows a lack of trust in God, and it leaves Him no room to work. Knowing Jesus has changed my life. Am I really going to let my own silly insecurities be what could keep someone from hearing about Him?
    
    Many passages in scripture show that God will intercede through the Holy Spirit when we are in situations of sharing or defending our faith. (Luke 12:11-12, 21:14-15, John 14:16-17, 15:26-27, 1 Corinthians 2:4, 2 Corinthians 3:5-6). We shouldn’t underestimate what He can do through His power within us (Acts 1:8, Ephesians 3:16-20). He promises to Guide us and that He is always with us (Matthew 28:20, Deuteronomy 31:6). So don’t overthink it. Take a leap of faith, and give the rest to Him. Sometimes it’s just about showing up and sitting with Jesus.

It can be pretty easy to get caught up in the distractions and business of the world, which can then cause us to develop a selfish mindset of, “I don’t have time for that. I’m too busy taking care of my own problems.” I’m guilty of feeling that way myself at times.

Whenever you find yourself in that place, take it back to the cross. Spend some time with Jesus. Remind yourself of His love for you. Rest in and find peace in that. Remind yourself of the kind of life He called you to live. A relationship with God, an understanding of your identity in Him, and a sense of His deep love for you is the source from which everything else flows. It’s impossible to have truly tasted the love of Jesus and not have a desire to bring that same love to other people. We should be craving that. We should be seeking that. We should be praying for those opportunities. It’s incredible that God wants us to be a part of it.

We are here to love God, love each other, and build His Kingdom here on earth. When you keep that as your main focus, you, and those around you, will experience the incredible joy, peace, grace, blessings, and freedom that come from living life with Jesus.

That’s looking more like love. That’s being a disciple. That’s making Jesus real to the world. And that, my friends, is what it’s all about.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35