in the garden.

I desire to be back in the garden. Literally, I love gardening (yes, especially weeding), but also figuratively speaking: the Garden of Eden where all things flourished and there was no sin. 

Although I have the hope of Christ that allows me to see a future where all things will flourish, I am not naive to the reality that this world sucks sometimes. Broken promises. Food deserts. Inequalities. Weeds. Natural disasters. Fatherless homes. Death. Suicides. Hatred. Selfishness. Economic gap spreads. Caste systems. Sex slavery.

I could go on, but I'll spare you. I pray the Lord quickens His coming, but I trust that He knows what is best for His kingdom.  He alone waters the soil; he alone prepares the soil; he alone causes the earth to spring forth life. We are simply called to spread the message (or the  seed). 

"Be fruitful and multiply. Subdue the earth." This is one of the first commands the Lord tells man. Literally meaning: "Make babies and take care of the earth that I created." However, I also love thinking of it in terms of "kingdom growth." 

God has put specific people in our lives at very specific times. It is up to us to make the most of that time to spread His good news of great joy. As we spread His truth, some of it falls on "hardened soil," some falls on the "rocky soil," some lands in the "thistles and weeds," and some falls on the "rich soil." It the Lord who prepares their soil (aka their hearts); it is the Lord who waters the seed and makes it grow into fruit. However, that does not remove our responsibility to make sure that we spread the seeds where the Lord has placed us. 

As far as subduing the earth: we are called to take care of the earth. Literally, we need to be good stewards of the earth through supporting local farmers and organic farming and thinking about the environment as the Lord's. Figuratively, we need to take care of the people in the area of the world that the Lord has placed us to tend to their soil and make sure their is plenty nutrient-rich soil for them to grow fruit. 

He is the Vine and we are His branches. May we bare good fruit.

Love you all!

Cancer is a B, but my God is Bigger.

Cancer.

It has become one of the most daunting words to hear. 

Ten year ago, I started what was supposed to be the best year of my high school career. Senior year. However, by October, it became one of the most challenging years of high school. October. The month we found out one of my best friends since 6th grade had Hodgkins Lymphoma. It was the first time someone close to me had been diagnosed with something so serious. 

Our friends banded together to surround her with love and encouragement and (most importantly) laughter. By our Senior summer trip, she had beat it. (Take that Cancer!) 

Now, ten years later, I have been forced to face the fact: Cancer is still a bitch. 

This past June my mom went in to see the doctor for some stomach pain she had been having. After a month and a half of testing and doctor's appointments and operations, we were finally given some clear news. It was malignant cancer in her lymph nodes. 

The moment on hearing the news (much like that of ten years prior) I couldn't breathe. If it had not been for my friends and family and all their prayers for me and my family, I'm not sure we would have made it through the last 3 months. 

I now know what "peace that passes all understanding" is. I should not have been able to handle it. Truthfully, I wasn't. (I'm still not.) However, I know that my family and I serve a good God. A God who promises to prosper us not to harm us. So I am resting in the belief and the knowledge that this disease has not won. 

The battle is the Lord's now and forevermore. Of this I am certain.  Not to say that I don't have bad days (especially on those days that it hits me I cannot be with my family as much as I would like to), but I have peace knowing God is the same God who loved me enough to send His son.  This painful season will not last forever and it will not be in vain. My God is good and His mercies are new every morning.  

Sorry for the cursing, but to be frank, cancer sucks but my God is good even still.

Thankful for you all.

Love you all.