Does money really buy happiness?

I read a devotional this morning and it mentioned a family from Ecuador.  The devotional was talking about the difference for people in impoverished situations and those in circumstances of wealth.  And it just struck such a cord with me.  Some people, living on less than $2 a day are more happy than most of the people living in America.  They don't care that their roof is leaking or that their floors are made of dirt.  They are thankful having their family surrounding them and knowing that Christ loves them.  Talk about true faith.  These kids living in situations like that aren't jealous of what their neighbors have or aren't angry that they didn't get a new computer or a DS for Christmas.  These kids really understand something that most adults in America don't understand. 

What if one day all of your possessions would be taken away form you, would you still love and lean on the Lord as much as you do today?  Would you really give up all you had to follow Jesus as the disciples did? That's such a tough question to answer.  As much as I want to say without a shadow of a doubt that I would give it all up it would be hard.  I would really have to completely rely and lean on the Lord in a situation like that.  This year I am falling in love with Jesus all over again, and it feels great.  I can sit here knowing how much He loves each of us and how He has such a desire for us to know Him and to seek Him.  I look forward to continually seeking and understand God and His Word.

"One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth." Proverbs 13:7 (NIV)

I Heart Faces Weekly Challenge - "Family"

This weeks I Heart Faces theme is family. Family is definitely one of the most important things to me, and this picture is capturing such a moment of realization for me.  I was 18 at the time, and just weeks before I had accepted Christ into my life.  Here we were celebrating my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary (Grandmom is in the white dress, of course).  This is a picture showing complete joy and fellowship between mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and nieces.  This is a moment of complete joy.  That weekend I flew up to Delaware to celebrate this occasion with my family. And that was the first weekend that I understood what loving a family as a follower of Christ feels like.  Wow, talk about love! :)  And now, everytime I hear "We are Family" I think of this special memory.  And I look forward to us joining together again one day soon to share another memory as such.

Be sure to check out the rest of the I Heart Faces entries here.

My heart hurts..

You know...I've been at work today and I am just in complete shock of what is going on in Haiti right now.  This is a country where the majority of the citizens live off of $2 a day (sometimes that's per family).  And my heart is just hurting for them.  My heart is especially hurting for those who don't know the Lord or for those who are searching for Him.  It's times during tragedy that people begin to doubt our Heavenly Father and I have to rest in the fact that all things, good and bad, work out for the glory of the Lord.  Sometimes it's hard to remember that God is close by when tragedy strikes, but what does the word say?  Look back to Psalms where David talks about how no matter where he goes the Lord is also there.  The Lord is also with us even in our darkest days and He is waiting and hoping that we turn and run into His arms.

So what are you deciding to do?  My advice...run to our Heavenly Father for love and comfort especially times of darkness.  There is no darkness to our Father. 

It's days like today that I remember to count my blessings.  I will sit and pray tonight for those who are hurting and for those who are far from the Lord.

 

I Heart Faces Weekly Challenge - "Best Faces"

Here's my entry for this week's I Heart Faces Challenge. This picture is of baby Ava totally destroying a cupcake and loving it! She was quite focused.

Figured this picture was perfect for celebrating the I Heart Faces birthday celebration!  Excited to enter the next challenge. :)