Upward and Onward

I've had a lot of time to think the past couple of weeks. I wish I could say I was just overflowing with happy, joyous, warm fuzzies.
But that would not be honest  : )
Things haven't been bad, they haven't been super fantastic either....I'm just...kinda....meh...

How lame is that?

Because when I really sit down and think about my life, I know I've got it good.

I live in a country where I don't have to fear for my life because of my faith.

I have a family who I love and who loves me! (including a poodle)

Lissa's Graduation with Ty :) 

Winston

I have friends in all stages of life that I get to experience with them, and be an encouragement and support to, and who are there for me too.

Me and Mandjo

Em and Christi and I at Rache's wedding

I have a place to live and food to eat, a bed to sleep in and clothes to wear, all provided for me by a job which God provided for me.

So why can't I shake this feeling of discouragement? This feeling of despondency....

After going on a short mission trip to Chicago with a church group a few weeks ago, I struggled with figuring out how to best use my time.

Going on a mission trip is a great opportunity to serve, but many times it's a one-time opportunity, and then we go home and often times continue to live our lives with no change. I didn't want that to be the case with me. I wanted to make a change in my life, using my time to make a difference in my community, which is just as important as missions work away from home.

It took me a few days after I came home but I finally saw (aka God showed me) a way to use my time and make an impact in someone's life.

I don't want to just continue living my life with a horizontal view, I want a vertical perspective, I want to live in a way that makes a kingdom difference. It may not be street evangelism, it may not be feeding starving children in Africa, but that doesn't make it any less important. God works through big and small, and I am just grateful to be used by him at all.