Half a century. It’s hard to believe that I’m 25. Just now letting that number sink in. I used to think of being 25 as some far off age, where you are finally on your own and you can rent a car. I thought 25 was some mystical age, it’s a milestone really. But whatever I thought about 25 doesn’t matter as much as actually being 25. Living for 25. Can we take a moment and celebrate that I’ve actually made it this far?
Among those 25 years I have had countless memories and have done so many things, had so many opportunities that I am beyond thankful for…
breaking my arm
learning to drive a car before I was legal
cheering in high school
going to a great college
going to Germany and France
going to South Africa (twice, um hello gratitude)
learning to play and do countless sports
leaning to play the guitar, sort of
driving across the country
moving in with my sister
the list goes on, really....
But perhaps the greatest opportunity of all was the acceptance of myself as sinner, and Christ as Savior. Some of the previous opportunities mentioned wouldn’t have been made possible without this opportunity in the first place. (Hello, grace upon grace upon grace).
It has been a long winded journey to pass through this age, and never has there been a time such as this. And I find myself in disbelief. Disbelief that I’m actually this old. Disbelief that the best is yet to come. Disbelief that I am who God says I am. Disbelief that God is who He says He is. Disbelief that God is the Good Shepard.
Some of my new friends from Orlando (hey, Orlando friends), shared with me a few weeks ago their words for the year, that they chose on January 1. Words that they would choose to pray and seek the Lord about. Some examples of these words were love, wonder, and opportunity. And I felt like it wasn’t that bad of an idea. SO it is with great excitement that I publicly announce my word for the year (technically, a few months late).
believe
There is this deep longing inside of me to believe God. Not just to know who God is and what he does, but to really know, really believe these things. I want to believe God at his word, the way I believe the grass is green and that the sky is blue, and that the sun is bright and the ocean is deep. There’s a passage in the Bible and this man wants so badly to believe that Jesus can heal his son. And Jesus asks, “Do you believe?” The man’s answer has become and will continue to be my prayer, “Lord I do believe, but help my unbelief.”
Another instance, Jesus blesses those who have not seen and yet believe:
"I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
John 17: 15-21
In the spirit of believing God, I did something kind of crazy. I was inspired by this great book called “The Circle Maker” and (spoiler alert) at the end of the book the author shares his list of things that he prays circles around, that he continually lifts up in prayer. And he challenged us to do the same. So I did. Prayerfully I asked God to help me build this list and here it comes. This list is some what of a draft. All these things I hold with open hands and ask that if the Lord wills it, then so be it. I am a willing vessel. And with time I'm sure this list will change or more will be added to it. Some of these things are personal goals, that I know will take much prayer (hello running a half marathon, yeah right, can we start praying about that now?) Feel free to join me in prayer with these things, keep me accountable, or stop reading this and go make your own!
1. Make goals- check that one off my list ;)
2. Debt free by 32
3. Write a book
4. Speak to a crowd of 100+
5. Read all 66 books of the Bible- in a year
6. Paint a sunset live
7. Witness a alcoholic and/or drug abuser give their life to the Christ
8. Work a job where I can make my own hours
9. Own a home with an open door policy
10. Climb a mountain
11. Run a half marathon
12. Invest in The Native Poppy
13. Plant and grow a garden- fruit for me
14. Plant a garden for a future generation
15. Go to Ephesus
16. See Jerusalem
17. Go to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
18. Give away as much as I save
19. Donate my hair
20. Care for my parents, the way they did while I was in school
21. Get my masters
22. Open a rehab center for young adults in SLO
23. See a prayer team formed at Radiant Church
24. See 500 people go through ALPHA at Radiant
25. Go on a missions trip to China
Here’s to celebrating 25 years and all that God has done, and to prayerfully many more years to come, believing God to do immeasurably more than all I could think, ask or imagine.
