Fresh blooms

I sat outside on the deck and had breakfast this morning- the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the trees are in bloom! After church yesterday I realized how much everything is really starting to come to life and when I was coming home from the gym this morning, it seemed like they were even more alive.

It's ironic how the timing of that works- how the timing of life all works out in the end. Easter service this year really hit me right with the feels. 2017 has already been a year in itself. There's been changes on top of changes, but what I was reminded yesterday is the consistency and completeness of God's love for us.

No matter what we're going through, no matter what we're struggling with.. all of the good, bad, and ugly inside of us- we're loved infinitely. When you feel like the world is all walking out on you, there's One that will never ever leave. 

And you know the cool thing about Him? He knew long before we were ever an idea in our parents head, that we were going to mess up. He knew we were going to be sinners on a daily basis. He knew we'd struggle with lying, lust, temptations, envy, hate.. all of the ugly stuff, and that's just a short list.

​He KNEW we were going to get caught up in it. He knew there'd be days when we take our bodies for granted, that we'd take our friendships and marriages and jobs and health as something that we deserve and think we should have. He knew we'd lie, cheat, steal, cover up this, cover up that, compare our lives to others and not be grateful for what's right in front of us,  and that we'd do what we have to to get to the top. He knew we were going to all struggle with things like this and so much more. 

That didn't stop Him. He was faced with all of the same temptations as us. Yet, He didn't sin. He lived a perfect life, and then He was nailed to a cross and died for OUR sins. What kind of love is that? It's a love that is perfect, never-ending, pure, and strong. If He knew what all of our shortcomings were going to be, but still died for us, how can we go through life thinking we can hold grudges and be envious and rude to other people? How can we do that when we're all in the same boat. We're all a bunch of sinners in need of  a Savior. Shouldn't we be trying to practice the grace that Jesus showed us?

Shouldn't we want to love one another, our family and our friends, the same way? Shouldn't we try to forget what happened 10 years ago, a few months ago, yesterday, that's keeping us caught in the past and holding on to something that's only causing everyone pain and contempt? Sure everyone isn't always going to agree with one another on everything, but that doesn't mean we need to hold grudges for years upon years, or months upon months because someone hurt us in the past. It's really a much more freeing feeling to just forgive and move past it. What good is it to hold on to something that makes you so so unhappy? No good at all. Forgive, forget, love, smile, wrap people up in hugs and positive vibes, send words of encouragement.
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With the blooming trees and spring upon us, it's a good time to start fresh. Let go of the pain, heartbreak, unforgiveness, hate, struggles that you've been dealing with and hand it to the One who loves you regardless of what you've said or done. He died so we could experience life and live again. Let go of all the negativity and things that are holding you back from living a life well lived and well loved that you are completely and utterly passionate about. 

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