Live

The first round of the NFL Draft was yesterday. I was excited about it but I couldn’t watch because of the college service I go to on Thursdays. I was driving home from the service and I get a call from my brother at 10:08. “Are you watching?” “No” “Number 25, Denver Broncos.” Immediately I knew who he was talking about. I love football, more than most girls and am crazy passionate about it, especially Florida football. Seriously, watch a game with me and you will see. I have never admitted it, but most likely the reason I love the Gators and football so much, or even sports in general, is because of my brother. There is no one in the world I look up to more than him. I think he’s been my hero since the day before I was born. I love him so very much, I want to be like him. And a huge way I connect with him is through sports. Not that he wouldn’t love me or we wouldn’t be close if I didn’t love sports, he loves me and we are close, regardless of my interests. He pushes me to be a better Christian. I always listen when he speaks. You could easily compare me to the young, small 6 year-old boy who looks up with reverence and awe to the 6 foot 3 beast of a Christian and football player, Tim Tebow (It only took me 3 blogs to mention him! Haha). One thing I respect so much about Timmy is he knows little (and big) eyes are watching at all times. He knows that he is a role model. And the best part, he takes it seriously. He lives! I mean really lives, going abroad to tell people about Jesus, going to prisons, going to inmates on death row, etc. At least from where I’m standing, I’d say he lives.
We often say I would die for [insert name here]. I have said that many a time. It is a valiant thing to say, but more often than not, we will never have to follow through on that statement. Here’s a statement though that we could live out everyday. I would live for [insert name here]. I’m not talking about eating, sleeping, breathing, mundane living. I am talking about denying yourself, picking up your cross daily, living for the Creator, Author of the world, Romancer, Glorious Master, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Trinity. Legit. Hardcore. Living.
). I am head over heels, over the moon, crazy about these kiddos. I often say that I probably love them too much, but that’s a total lie. I don’t think that’s possible. And they aren’t complaining about it and neither am I. They have forced me to live. Before you get ahead of me, slow your roll and read. I became an aunt two days before my tenth birthday and ever since that day I have become greatly aware of my actions, words, and thoughts. In high school, (and still in college) I was careful about what I did. I watched the way I dressed. I didn’t drink or do drugs. I never went a high school party. I guarded my purity, etc. I never wanted them to use me as an excuse for doing something. “Well Aunt Katie did it so…” No, in a world of selfishness and instant gratification, twisted pleasures and outrageous lifestyles, I wanted to try and live a life that couldn’t be a crutch. Through all of this, I would never, ever say I stopped living. I’ve had my days and weeks where I haven’t live for Christ, but I’ve had a blast for the most part. I had and have great, amazing friends, do fun things, laugh often, etc. I’ve tried to show them what it’s like to follow Christ, to be an example. Granted, I’ve failed more times than I’d care to remember and more times than I’ve succeeded at living. I have sinned often and fallen hard. I am not the perfect example, so please don’t take this in that way but this is the most real example to me.JIf you have ever had a conversation with me, even just one, I have probably talked about my nieces and nephew (No joke, I have friends that roll their eyes or groan when I mention them because I talk about them so much. They do this out of love though
What if we all choose to live everyday? Would the ones we love be unaffected, untouched by our living? Absolutely not! “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly,” John 10:10. How different would our lives be if we lived out Mark 8:34 and John 10:10? What would we do for the needy of the world, the poor, and unloved? Could it change the world? I certainly think so. So today let’s think about those who we look up to like a small child and admire greatly. Think of the immeasurable impact they’ve had on our lives, like my brother has had on mine. Let us go out into the world with them in mind and the fact that someone out there is watching us. Let’s deny our ugly, disgusting selves, pick up our beautiful, forgiving, challenging crosses, and live abundantly. Live for those you love.

To be naive or not.

I remember the morning after I created this. I was getting ready and I began to wonder if anyone would actually read this. I mean, of course besides my amazing, supportive family. Then I got a facebook message from my dear friend Kathryn, talking to me about it. I went to my blog and I had 3 followers already! (Granted, I only have 4 right now and no family members are in that group *cough cough*) I could have done a happy dance. That was such an encouragement. Thank you for supporting me friends!

Questions and thoughts fly into my mind everyday as I think about TOLL. I’m dreaming big for this organization, I mean huge. I’m talking documentaries, CDs, mission trips starting next summer I feel like the sky is the limit. Even as I type this, I get chills and my hearts flutters. At the same time, I can’t help but think am I so naïve to think that all these things can be done in a summer or am I just naïve enough to make it happen? And then a verse from 1 Timothy comes to mind. And I have no choice but to laugh at myself. If you were a part of a youth group, I guarantee you heard this verse. 1 Timothy 4:12 “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” Now why am I laughing at myself? See, in December, I was asked to help edit/write camp and D-NOW material and devotionals. I wrote a devotional on that verse challenging the students. In fact, I told them, “Don’t let your young age be an excuse not to do mighty and powerful things.” Am I so thick as to not follow my own challenge? I do not consider myself above it, that is for certain. But maybe, the Lord not only had me write the devotional for teenagers, but so that I can look back and remember as well. If I do not even listen to my own words, they are nothing but wasted breaths. So maybe I cannot do it all in one summer, maybe the organization will not spread like I dream it will, but those are unknowns, uncertainties that are in all aspects of life. In Matthew 6, during the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus begins to talk about worry, an illness that plagues us all. In verse 27, He asks, “who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Lord, I know the answer is none. So for this summer, for this time, I will look past what dictates what is the possible and what is the impossible. I will ignore those things that tell me I can’t. Because even if, all my hopes, aspirations, and dreams do not happen this summer, I will know it was not because I didn’t believe. Today, I chose to believe that I am JUST naïve enough to make it happen. "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" Matthew 19:26