​I met a man yesterday who was very good at his job. He was knowledgeable, friendly and could answer all my questions that I had when I came to get service from their business. I love when people do their job well, whatever job it is, glamorous or not. I know on several occasions places like McDonalds get a bad wrap, but when I have gone there and people do their job well I am always pleased. 

But yesterday, this worker seemed to want to let me and several other people know that he wasn't JUST a front office worker, he felt the need to let me know that he had multiple houses, lots of stuff to put in said houses, several Mac computers and how much he paid for them, 4 iPhones...and the list went on. Honestly, I don't know how we even got there!

I'm not sure if it was to impress me and his new co-workers, but it was very clear that he wanted to boast about all his "stuff." But here is the thing, the more he boasted, the more distracted I was, the more unimpressed I became, the more I couldn't wait till the job I came in for was done and I could go home. 

Too often, we (I'm putting myself in this category) feel the need to list the things we have, the accomplishments we have attained, how hectic our lives are all in an attempt to maybe make ourselves feel better as we compare our lives to those around us. What the heck-it's crazy, right? Or we think our jobs aren't as great as others, we think everyone else is looking down at us and judging what we don't have, so we puff up our chests creating an environment where it's hard to breath... do we dare exhale and let people see us as we are?

People, I am so over it. I'm not impressed. The fancy job titles, the exstensive list of "ministries" one is a part of, the perfect house, the latest phone... It doesn't impress me. Does it impress you? Don't get me wrong, there is NOTHING wrong with these things, but when we allow them to dictate our worth as humans, it's nauseating. 

I have been stuck in 1 Corinthians to the point of tears. I tried to turn the page and God just said, "Sit here, with me." So I did. 

"Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.'” 1 Corinthians 1:26-30

The only boasting that is of any value is boasting in the Lord. It's not about our titles, where we drive off to each day, how much money we bring home, it's about being willing to speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ, dare I say the Gospel of Love to those around us. There is no need for lights, no need for a microphone, just a surrendered heart that is willing to know NOTHING except Jesus Christ and Him crucified and is willing to speak that truth even if one speaks it with trembling and fear because they are enabled to do so by the power of God.

"And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power." - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

If you want to add a ministry to your "job title" how about this? Add the ministry of simply loving people. My friends, I love you in the Lord! And more importantly, He Loves You and sent His son, Jesus, to die so that you could live in Love eternally.

It's difficult for me to fall asleep. I can't drink caffein or consume sugar after noon if I want to go to bed before 1am and I'm super sensitive to noise.

My husband, well, he doesn't have that problem. The other day when we settled in for the night, he turned off the lights and went to sleep. I wasn't even close to being tired so I did some work on my computer with my headphones on. About 10 minutes later, he pops out of bed turns the lights on and proclaims that he can't fall asleep. 

Oh Bob! If my sleep battles were 10 minutes long, I would count that a victory. Instead it takes hours of staring at the ceiling sometimes before my body finally wants to shut down. Some of you may know this struggle.

Thankfully for my husband, after he put on his headphones to listen to some music, he was knocked out within the next 5 minutes. Victory!! 

Because of my sleeping pattern, I have sadly cut my coffee intake to 6oz of coffee that I drink early in the morning. 6 OUNCES!! - It breaks my heart, and honestly I'm a bit ashamed as it feels like a coffee betrayal, but it had to be done. Know this, I will NEVER cut it out completely, even if I have to go to 3oz, 2oz, 1oz... NEVER!!

What I have learned though is this: each morning I sit with my 6oz and I savor each sip like it's my last day on earth (literally lol). I enjoy every moment and treasure the time we have together as I hold this sweet warm cup of black, bold and a little bit sweet (just like me) cup of heaven in my hands.

Reality Check… it’s only coffee, I know this, but man oh man, do I love it! Today in the stillness of this morning, it’s a reminder to me to hold those I love close, to treasure moments, to embrace the inconveniences, and appreciate any bit of time that I have with the ones I love. Moments… I will take whatever scraps that my people want to give. Moments. I love them.