Recycled.

As many of you are aware, it was Thanksgiving last week, and due to the wonderful system we refer to as 

The Quarter System,
 I was blessed with quite a lovely break. 

So I headed down to south LA for some good ole family time. 

Babs and I enjoy the art of crafting given the right opportunity. 

Let's just say that opportunity was given. 

And boy did we craft!

I find that the best crafts are ones that are cheap and simple.

What could be cheaper than using things you already own?

I just thought I might share some of our crafts with you.

Our first endeavor was some super trendy scarves. 

(Yes, I got the idea from Pinterest.)

It's super simple. 

Old t-shirts...RECYCLED. 

Next, we made us some candles. 

Got some old glasses or jars? 

How about some old candles you can't burn anymore?

RECYCLE THEM. 

We decided to go with some rings next. 

We saw some like these in a store...they were going for $10 a pop! 

Well, we made 10 rings for $3. 

Old funky buttons....RECYCLED.

Take that 505 Imports! 

And we finished it all off with a wreath for Polly. 

It was all stuff I just found around the house!

I found the wreath at my grandpa's house, he's an 80 year old man...

what's he need a wreath for?

The ribbon and feathers were located somewhere in my mother's extensive collection of odds and ends.

And the "P" was from Polly and Andy's wedding invitations. 

Jack Johnson would be so proud of us Mom. 

Reduce. 

Reuse.

Recycle. 

That Pit in Your Stomach.

There's a pit in my stomach.

An aching in my heart.

A surging in my veins.

It's calling out.

It wants me to recognize it.

It wants me to do something about it.

It needs me to act.

It needs me to move.

It needs me to work.

It needs me.

Someone needs me. 

This pit.

This aching.

This surging. 

It's a calling.

It wants me. 

It needs me.

It needs me.

They need me. 

Until now the pit, 

the aching, 

the surging 

have gone undiagnosed.

But it's become clear.

It's love. 

It's a need for love.

To show it.

To live it.

To do it.

Someone out there needs love. 

Someone out there has a pit in their stomach.

An aching in their heart.

A surging in their veins.

It's a need to be loved.

It's a need to have someone care.

It's a need for someone to fill.

I've been made to fill it. 

I've been called to fill it.

I've been wanting to fill it.

Because I have been there. 

I know that pit.

I know that aching.

I know that surging. 

It's been filled for me.

By the only One who can. 

Someone showed Him to me.

Someone showed me what it looked like. 

Someone filled it for me. 

Now it's my turn to fill it for someone else. 

I know they need it.

I know they want it.

I know they're out there just waiting for me.

Now I just have to find them. 

Now I just have to show them.

Now I just have to fill it. 

What Now?

I would say that I've had my fair share of hard times in this short life of mine. 

A lot has happened in the past 20 years. 

Struggles.

Strife. 

Death in every form.

Disease.

Destruction.

Loneliness.

Dissension.

Bitterness.

Regret.

Resentment. 

Addiction.

Accidents.

Failures.

Pain.

You name it and I've probably been there. 

There's about an 85% chance that whatever it is you're going through,

 I've been there in some capacity. 

Don't get me wrong, I've also lead an extremely blessed life.

But unfortunately it's the hard times that always stick out the most. 

I don't know why life is so hard sometimes.

 I just know that it is.

And when it is the last thing you want to hear is how great things are going to be SOMEDAY.

Or how much better you'll be because of all this. 

I know this is true. 

I wholeheartedly believe it.

But when I feel like crap that's not what is going to make me feel any less crappy.

I know that the Lord uses tough situations to mold us and to bring Him ultimate glory.

I have witnessed this first hand. 

But that doesn't change the current situation. 

The promise of the future doesn't always wipe away the pains of the present.

So what NOW?

Where do I go from here?

What do I do NOW?

I know things will be better LATER, but what NOW?

How do I handle things right NOW?

I don't want to hear or think about the future.

I want to know how to make it through TODAY.

And tomorrow I'll want to know the same thing. 

So what now?

Thirsty.

Isn't it interesting that the things we typically find most difficult in life are the things we can't control.

Why do we have such a need for control?

What is it about humans that make this such an issue for us?

I guess it all goes back to the Garden.

Adam and Eve tried to control their fate instead of trusting that the Lord knew best.

Why?

Why was what the serpent was offering them so much more appealing than what the Lord was offering?

Didn't they realize the magnitude of what they already had?

They were in direct contact with the Lord.

They didn't just pray to Him. . .they spoke face to face.

They walked together.

They were WITH God. 

And they were going to stay with Him FOREVER.

But then things got out of control because Adam and Eve tried their hands at control.

It's just so ironic.

When we try to control things, nothing ever goes right.

Everything goes OUT OF CONTROL.

Fast. 

So our efforts to do things on our own ultimately ends in failure. 

So why do we keep trying?

I have such little faith in what the Lord is capable of.

Yes, I know the Lord is powerful.

I know He is the creator of all things. 

I know. 

But I don't truly believe it. 

Why?

Why is it so hard for me to believe what He says?

Why must I doubt?

He's never given me any reason to doubt Him.

He's never disappointed me in any way.

So what's the problem?

I let my fears get the better of me. 

I fear what could or might happen and instead of trusting that the Lord is going to take care of me,

I freak out and try to do it all on my own. 

But what happens when He gives me something that's too big for me?

What will I do then?

My greatest fears in life are:

1. To be diagnosed with cancer

2. To lose my loved ones

3. To never get married

All of the above are things far beyond my scope of control.

So what am I supposed to do IF/WHEN these things happen?

I know what I'm supposed to do, but I'm just worried about what I will actually do.

I desire to have that kind of faith. 

The kind of faith that people recognize.

The kind of faith with no doubts, no regrets, no hesitations. 

True. 

Genuine.

Faith. 

That is something I thirst for.