As a young adult, I often get questions like:  “What are you doing with your life?”  “Are you going to school?”  “What are you interested in?”  And so on.  My response as of late tends to be “I’m interested in ministry and currently keep a devotional blog called So I Fix My Eyes…”  However, after a recent conversation with my mom about future life goals and passions, I began pondering what ministry actually means.

Since a very young age, I have always been fascinated by the stained glass windows found  within the states. The stories of Jesus show forth proudly as the new day sun shines through. Casting the dark reds, and deep blues upon the faces of the congregation as they eagerly listen to the words of their shepherd. Small children investigate the photos of Christ in His ministry on earth, remembering the tales of Christ that they so often hear from their parents: the feeding of the 5,000, Christ's birth, death and resurrection. Though it may seem childish, I still enjoy spending my time looking at stained glass windows and maybe the reason behind my love of them is knowing how much they show my own story. 

Life.  Death.  Fleeting days.  Unending eternity.  These are all topics that we’ve covered so far in our three-part mini-series on the brevity of life.  However, by this point you may be thinking, If life is so short why can’t we just enjoy it?  Or What sort of difference can I possibly make with my little life and why would it matter?  Why can’t we spend life loving the Lord and longing for heaven?​

​“It’s not the years in a life, but the life in those years.” So states this widely known and used maxim.  While its original author is unknown, this adage utters much wisdom and perspective on the priorities of life.  People from most walks of life, both Christian and non-Christian, have resonated with this concept, hence the quote’s popularity and broad usage.  However, while the latter clings to this as the one thing that matters, the last hope, and the end goal, the Christian recognizes a deeper truth and meaning.  

​Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations.  So reads the title of the book, the start of a Rebelution.  It’s challenging.  It’s exciting.  It’s world changing.  But for some of us, it’s not reality.  For some of us, doing hard things doesn’t always mean rebelling against low expectations but rather merely meeting them. 
 
Now before you stop reading in aghast, let me explain.  I agree that we are all called to do hard things.  However, for some of us, those hard things are not necessarily big things.  In fact, they might be ordinary, mundane, supposedly “normal” things, but they’re hard for us.  Now the “us” I’m referring to is not the typical, everyday teenager or young person, but the one navigating physical affliction and suffering whether it be cancer, Lyme’s disease, juvenile arthritis, autoimmune disease, or any other chronic illness.  Can you relate?

​As we move from the season of gratefulness and Thanksgiving, and into that of gifts, giving, and receiving, we must be careful that we do not slip into a hunger and desire for things, dissatisfaction for what we have and what God has given us, and a need to possess more.  I’ve always thought it rather paradoxical that immediately after our celebration and declaration of thanksgiving to God for what He’s done for us and given us, we turn to and start thinking about what we’ve got to have and will not be happy without.  So as we transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I believe that the Apostle Paul has a timely message for us.     

Author Unknown

​Singleness can be such a lonely, discontented period for many young women. However, it doesn’t have to be that way! An attitude of discontentment is an inward problem of the heart. Instead of looking outward for things that will change our circumstances, we must look inward and change the condition of our hearts. Our Heavenly Father wants us to rejoice always, in all circumstances, and through all trials that get thrown our way. We don’t have the “right” to pick and choose, we must rejoice in all things in order to follow in the footsteps of our Savior.