I started a new blog with the hope of starting over. I wanted to have a new beginning, a fresh slate if you will. I went to my old account (this one) to delete it and got lost in reading some past posts. Looking back to what I’ve learned helps me put into perspective what I am currently learning.

I wrote this [part 1] a while back, and decided it was time to add to the list…hence, [part 2].

[part 1]

• if you’re looking for you and you find yourself, be sure to remember exactly how that moment makes you feel. i guarantee you will forget what you are here for from time to time.
• planning doesn’t always mean you’re trusting, and trusting rarely means you’re planning.
• live your life, seriously. don’t allow negative and ill-intended people to make you feel anything but free. if you feel stuck, quit. you are allowed to say no.
• never, ever, ever compromise being Christ-like.
• enjoy people and all of the weird, “”pop-culturally” unusual and random characteristics that make them who they are. don’t judge them, because you will turn into someone who is constantly worried about what people are thinking about you. defend and love the underdog, not because they need you, but because you can probably learn a lot about true friendship from them.
• learn to love yourself and learn to believe that no matter how much you don’t, God loves you in the exact way, and then some, that you want to love yourself.

[part 2]

• Quality times beats quantity of time every. single. day.
• You don’t have to be anything but yourself, ever. 
• God’s plan for your life is rarely a destination but rather a journey, a constant battle against yourself for getting in your own way when God has something big in store for you.
• $$$, cash, green, dollars, rain, etc. it doesn’t mean anything, it’s easily wasted, and it’s a hard beast to rein in. 
• Discipline provides nourishment. Nourishment provides health. Health provides life. 
• Sometimes it’s not about starting over, being fresh or beginning again. Most times it is about picking up where you have left off - with all the regrets, sin, worry, fear, mistakes, past memories/people - and just trying harder to be better.

One day my thoughts will become more educated, profound, meaningful, what have you - but for now I am content with these being my thoughts. I am content with this place online being a place where I can see how I’ve grown…a place where I can see how God has changed me.

What reason is there to start anew? Isn’t it how God brings us to a place of purpose, in spite of our past weaknesses, stuggles, and mistakes, that brings Him the most glory?Why then wouldn’t I want people to see that?

I don’t have a lot of value to say and most days I find myself repeating the same message. Know this…God is more compelling than anything man could say and we should live for the opportunity to share how we’ve been changed by Him.