a beautiful way

   This morning as my sister and I were out running errands, a song came came on the radio that I had heard quite a few times before called "A Beautiful Way" by All Star United.  I never really listened to the words though until today.  In the song it talks about two people who are going through some hard things in life, something we can all relate to; but the thing that makes these two people different is the way they carry themselves through it.  When looking at their lives there's something different, something real.
   This morning for some reason this song had a different meaning.  I was thinking about how cool it would be for someone to look at my life and say, you have such a beautiful way about you.  To live a life that stood out from the others in some way, some way contrary to how our culture defines how we should live.  So often we get brought down so much by the struggles we face that we question God, at times losing sight of Him, and stunting our spiritual growth and our maturity because our hearts become calloused to what God may have for us in those times that we cannot see.  In chapel last week our campus pastor referenced the well-known verse that we must "take up our cross daily," going along with Easter which is coming up and the sacrifice Christ made for us on that day.  Following this however, he said that there are times when all of us believe we love the cross of Christ, yet we hate the cross in our own lives. 
   Especially recently there have been several times where that is where I've been; and now as feel myself coming out on the other side, I can see how God was present and working the whole time.  He was refining me only the way He can, challenging me knowing that it's exactly what I need to see the broken areas of my life that I have just pushed aside, but that are so in need of healing and refinement.  Today as I continued to work through it and try to look at each moment of uncertainty as a way to learn, I realized that I want this to be a time where how I live out and pursue my faith stops being just mediocre and average (aka--lukewarm, which Christ notes in Revelation that one who lives a life such as this will be chewed up and spat out--definitely placing some emphasis on the changes that were needing to be made).  Each day is a step forward, and I've come to realize that along with Christ, I am the biggest influence, yet also the biggest obstacle in my own life. 
   A beautiful way isn't achieving perfection, having lots of friends, finding a great job, having money, etc.  What good is it to gain the world but lose our souls??  Because trials will still come and we will be tested. When judgment day comes what will God, our creator, have to say about my life and the trials I faced, the opportunities I was given?  Did I at the very least show love??
    For the last question, I want to be able to be able to answer yes without a single doubt in my mind.  For the former, I want God to look at my life and say "well done, good and faithful servant, in you I am well-pleased--what a beautiful way you have about you."  How great of a day will that be?!?!  :) 
    Now as I turn the corner, with a heart and mind ready to be molded by the One who made it all, I start by just making simple changes.  What am I listening to, what am I seeing, what am I saying?  What is my mind being filled with?  Does it glorify God?  In all situations, to all people, am I showing compassion, love, and grace?  Seeing that I've failed in all these areas numerous times, I figured that's an excellent place to start. :)  So now it's just time to put complete trust and faith in Him, knowing that He is full of grace for when I fail, patience for when I stumble, faithfulness for when I'm lost and confused, and love for every moment :)
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♥ C