Listen, don't assume.

There are always two sides to every story, maybe even more. But most of the time no one gets to hear all of them and when they don’t they just assume things. I am going to admit; I do this. I assume things without knowing all of the details. Knowing how it feels to not be listened to because people don’t care they just want to hear one side and that only is probably one of the most frustrating things in the world. So here is my challenge for you! Listen to people. Don't judge and/or assume things based on such little knowledge you have. Everyone deserves to be heard. Don’t single someone out because you might not necessarily like them. And above all of this it’s not even your place to judge or say when something is or is not true or right. Yes, there is a fine line between knowing the truth of something and knowing when someone is telling the truth. Overall though it’s not your place to be the final judge, so just step back get some other view points and then do the right thing. Don’t be hasty because you think something is going differently than you think it should. None of us can control everything and we never will be able to. So let go of all of that control you think you have because in all honesty you don’t have it you just think you do. Life is going to go on with or without you so just listen to people and understand them and what they’re going through. It might just help you out in the end too, who knows? :)

Christmas Time!!!

Wow, Christmas is upon us already! That is so crazy to think about! Time honestly just flies by. To be honest, I used to hate Christmas. That's probably crazy to you all reading this because it’s kind of hard for anyone to hate Christmas but I did. Not because I didn’t get good things because I did, lots and lots of very good things. But even though I did get all of those things, I wasn’t happy deep down. I was lonely. I wanted to just have traditional things like opening one gift on Christmas Eve or wearing all matching pajamas on Christmas Day and I wanted to do that with my family all together. I suppose I wanted that because that’s what "normal" people have and it’s just a consistent thing to have in life. I was tired of being with someone different every year and being at different places. Looking back now though that was so selfish of me, people were opening up their homes to me and letting me be a part of their family even if it was just for the day or those few hours. I realize now that even though I wasn’t with my family and the people I would have rather been with I was with people and not alone by myself. I realize now how amazing I have it. There are hundreds of thousands of millions of people who don’t get presents, loving people to be with, a warm house to stay in and I have the audacity to be depressed because I wasn’t with more loving people. Today, I am living in a wonderful, beautiful warm house with the most loving people in the world. Thinking back now that was an answer to a prayer I never even had the brains to pray for. God works in such miraculous ways! We are so undeserving of the reason of Christmas- Jesus being born of a virgin to save the entire world from an eternity in Hell. If you have never heard the true story of Christmas then I encourage you to read it for yourself in Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-39; Matthew 2:1-23. It's a live changing story and it might just change yours for the better. Don’t forget the Reason for the season. Jesus loves you and that is why He came to this wretched world.

Have you prayed about it as much as you have talked about it?

Prayer: the act or practice of praying to God. A supplication or expression addressed to God. An earnest request or wish. A religious service consisting chiefly of prayer. One that prays.

That right there is the dictionary definition of prayer. So mainly all of these words can be summed up to talking to God about your problems. It sounds fairly easy for the most part, right? Well not really because if it was then more people would be doing it, including myself. I would assume the most common of excuses is: "It's hard to pray to someone you can't see or some who doesn't talk back to you immediately." So the funny thing to me is that’s the perfect Person to be talking to! When you go to your friends or family about your problems they can misguide or mislead you or they can cripple you in a way by not telling you the truth. We all look for comfort more than instruction and correction and that’s fine. But why not get both so both needs are met? Prayer is so overlooked. If we as people of God and a nation founded on Godly principles would just pray for Gods guidance and wisdom in our lives we would probably be in better situations. Our lack of faith in God is so low though so we can’t even imagine how great prayer can be if one would use it. So I challenge you to take time out of your busy day or you’re not so busy day and give God the attention He deserves. Prayer works miracles and maybe one we all can witness one if we would but pray.

Philippians 4:6: "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."