Faith Without Works is Dead - James 2:26

 What a journey..... You know, I'm about to do this thing. I've done it once before. I am embarking on a journey where I know little about how to get there or what I will find along the way. 

Hmm :). It has been quite the wrestle for me to get here. I've learned that Bucking Up! & doing something...creating something, will also lead to you finding the courage to Buck Up! & turn it loose....turn parts of it loose. Flow......

I'm not going to pretend that the last little bit of life hasn't been hard at moments....it was....REAL hard, but it has also been FULL and grEAT & enriching. 

Sometimes, I catch myself pondering if it actually had to be as hard as it has been at times, but....it makes it matter. It is truly like putting something in the fire, beating on it, and building and measuring it's strength. 

Gosh....there are things I know now....I've known (but doubted myself (SO much)) that people just can't take away.....and maybe.....may never really be able to understand. They are for me, because I've done it. I've walked it. I've built it. I've lived it. I've tweaked it and changed it and rebuilt it. I've tried new things. Had moments of failure and successes. I've helped a lot of people. I've taught a lot of people a variety of things. Yes....I have experienced: self doubt, lack of faith, wasted time, money, & energy, compromise, deceit, lies, verbal abuse, confusion, relationship tainting, miscommunication, disruption, abandonment, theft, info hoarding, mismanagement, disloyalty, repairing of relationships, regret, slander, confusion, uncertainty, doubt, betrayal, my time, talents, and energy squandered, let-down, full hope and empty hope....all leading me to the next adventure. 

Now....I start out different. I'm happy, BLESSED, and thankful for what I know now. The luggage I can bring with me this time......BUT ONLY WHAT I NEED. In all the traveling since my last adventure; I've learned that I prefer to travel light. 

You all might see some changes in me. There are things I will still HOPE for, but not much :). I'll hope in my plan because I know who I've consulted with. I'll hope in my family because I believe in them and us. I'll hope in Jesus, God, & The Holy Spirit because I KNOW what they are capable of. The journey has taught me a few things....and you can take this to the bank: "...faith without works is dead..." James 2:26. This verse may sum up the biggest lesson I NEEDED regarding self-worth, discerning who I am called to help and who I am not, how to actually care for and value myself and protect and reserve myself for those that He calls me to. 

The journey has also taught me to think bigger, with a bird's eye view.....or BIGGER. It's taught me to watch out for "limits" because there are none. It's taught me to REALLY pay attention to what brings me and others around me JOY.....real joy.....not joy from striving and trying.....relaxed, limitless, free-flowing joy. 

I am not going to spend my time HOPING with any of you. No offense, but life is short and I don't want to get caught up in your "I don't knows" and "I'm not sures," and your "I need help-but don't want to listen mentalities." I want to work with people that want the help and will do the work to get it. In EVERYTHING I do, it takes W - O - R - K to bring it to fruition.