A Reflection in Latin

After 12 years of school, I've graduated! In the past 12 years, I've learned many things in which I'll go into detail below in Latin.

Dancing: As of now, I've been dancing for 15 years! Dancing has become an important part of me as I use it for ministry. I'm thankful for a talent I can use to glorify God! On my email signature, I have the saying:

Semper Saltantem! Always Dancing!

Perseverance: I've learned to keep working at things, and to not give up. Countless times, I gave up on math or some other hard assignment. But when I picked it up again, if I kept at it, I was able to conquer it!

Vene vidi vici! I came; I saw; I conquered!

Thinking: I learned how to think outside the box. Whether with schoolwork, dancing, or teaching, I've learned that there isn't just one way to do things. So why not be creative?! 

Creativum cogitandi magnam habet remunerationem! Creative thinking has a great reward!

Life: It will have many roads, many choices, and many opportunities. God's way, is obviously the best one to take, but quite often it isn't the most popular or a well-worn route. Nevertheless, it's the way to go!

Ambulate in via iter minus! Walk on the road less traveled!

And finally:

Non scholae sed vitae discimus! We learn not for school but for life!

Even though I'm done, I won't stop learning! There are still adventures, and things to learn in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead!

Carpe diem! Seize the day!

Join me in this adventure ahead!!!

Guess who graduated??

Phew! I have graduated!! 

12 years in our house and 12 years of school!! I started this blog at the beginning of my high-school "career". It seems impossible that it was 4 years ago this August. I digress....

So now what?? Well, I plan on working for at least the next year! After that we will see where God takes me. No plans for college for now, which is alright with me. :~) I also plan to continue my letter ministry now that I have more time. I'm really excited about that!

All in all, God is good! The fact that school is behind me took a cloud off my head. Now I am finding time that was there before that I am now aware of for spending time growing closer to God, reading again, and anything else that comes my way!

*parties* ;~)

Dandelion Christianity

A Dandelion:

A flower pesky, hard to remove, and constantly spreading it's seeds. It is not a pretty flower, like a rose is. Yet compared to a rose, a dandelion is much hardier. A dandelion can be found anywhere, from gardens, to palaces, to a meadow, or a sidewalk crack in a city. Anywhere and everywhere their seeds can grow, they do so.

Dandelion Christianity?

Jesus says in Matthew 28:19-20a, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

Dandelions do the finest job in my opinion. They are firmly planted, whether in areas of fertile land or literally between a rock & a hard place. They just need the sun (or Son as the case may be) to grow. They spread their seeds the same way we are called to spread the gospel.

Today I want to challenge you to be a dandelion.

Stand firm where you are right now (1 Corinthians 16:13)! Be a light to those around you, even if you're not the best at sharing the gospel, because your actions will speak louder than your words (Matthew 5:13-16). Don't let the trials of life crumple you just because you're a rose that can't take the stress of life, but let God use you to spread love and grace to those around you.

Show others that you're not afraid of the life on this world, for Jesus says in John 16:33, "I have said these things to you, that you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Dandelions aren't the prettiest, the fanciest, or the greatest flowers on this earth. But they are practical in the fact they know their job and do it well. Lastly, I ask you to remember this: some flowers last after they have been picked, and they keep the appearance of being alive inside, but on the inside they are dead. If you pick a dandelion, they wither within the hour. If you leave God, or give up when times get tough, you will wither just like the dandelion.

Be a dandelion in a world of roses.