We do not walk alone.

I love to read. I love it, but I'm a picky reader. I tend to only like certain types of stories, and I have a rather narrow window of what I like, in the fiction genre, anyway. My favorite type of story is one that follows either a person, or a couple, or friends, or a family over a number of years. There is something so precious about that to me, to see how the people change and how certain events effect them, and how they're still together for all those years. That's why I love my family, because they've been the constants over my short number of years. That's why my best friends are those that I have been blessed to have in my life the longest; they know me better than anyone else if only because they have been there through many years. And that's why I love love so much. I love the though of finding that one person to be with me for the rest of my years, no matter what comes. And because I enjoy those relationships in my life, I love to read about them.

At the beginning of the movie Up, it traces the story of a little boy as he meets the girl who will become his wife and it follows them through their life together, in a series of memories. There is something just so absolutely sweet about that to me. Relationships are formed over time, and the little things that happen every day make up the story of a life over the years. And it is amazing to find people to share that with you. I have been personally blessed with the ones the Lord has allowed in my life this far, and I am expectantly awaiting others who will come along and join the story.

As much as I can't wait to have someone of my own to share the story with, my spirit reminds me that I already have someone very special. Someone who has been there with me since the very beginning of my existence, and Someone who has not left, and will never leave me. He has been there for every step, every fall, every accomplishment, every heartache, and every song He has brought to my heart. And even if I never find someone who is physically there with me every day, I will not have lost out on sharing my life with someone. Because He has been there not only beside me, but many times, carrying me through to the next day. And that is so special.

I know that at times I tend to lean towards loneliness, especially when I'm away from home and my family. I know that many do. But it is a wonderful thing to have the blessed assurance that Jesus is mine. He will never leave me, and He will continue to walk with me for all of my days. I am so blessed to have Him in my life, and to experience these adventures with Him as they come. And I hope for you as well that if you don't already have Him leading the way, that you would allow Him in to share your life with you. Because only He can make it all that it is meant to be. It is a special thing to have people to be there for you, but it is a miraculous thing to walk with Jesus and see what He can do through you, and in you.

We do not walk alone, my friends.

Overcoming independence.

Many times, especially in the phase of life that I'm in, independence is constantly pushed on you.

Ready or not, it's time to do it on your own. That's the way it goes. And most of us rise to meet it and do just fine.

Even though I'm a person who has never really liked to be on their own for too long, I've adjusted quite well to life on my own. But in some areas of my life, I've become a little too independent.

So many times, I'm in this mindset of getting things done on my own. And sometimes, asking God for help becomes a thought in the back of my mind rather than my main concern.

But the truth of it is, I can't do anything on my own. I wouldn't even be able to take my next breath if He didn't allow it. So what makes me think I can handle things that come up in my life all on my own? I mean it's not like I never ask for help. I do. But many times I'm so busy checking things off on my "things to deal with" list that I don't realize how silly I'm being by trying to deal with it on my own.

Instead of letting Him lead the way, I try and take the lead and make my plans and hope that He can work through them in the way He wants. But I shouldn't expect Him to have to work from my blueprints and get the same result that He's after. If someone were to have a plan for a house and wanted it to turn out a certain way, you couldn't take them your blueprint and expect them to put work into that and still come out with what they were originally trying to accomplish. And the truth of it is, it's not about what I'm after anyways. Because as many times as I fail to remember it, my life is not about me, but rather it is about bringing glory to the one who gave it to me in every way possible.

So now comes the hard part. Stepping back and releasing my control. Letting Him take the lead, and submitting my will for His. Only by doing that can I experience the fullness of things to come through surrendering my world to His control.

I have always been a planner. I am a list maker, and I am easily focused on things that need to be accomplished. But rather than plan out all the details in a way that makes sense to me, I have to start letting Him make the plans, and then jump in to get involved in whatever ways He allows me to.

I read in a blog a few weeks ago that "We lose so much of life's adventure in the planning." And for this spirit that's been feeling more than a little restless these days, some adventure sounds great. Especially by a God who can create a life for me that is infinitely better than one I could ever imagine.

Even as I focus on relenting my stronghold on control tonight, I know that this is not the only time I will have to do so. As humans we love to control things around us, and I am sure that at some points, I will try and regain control when I don't understand the way things are going. But I know that God will lead me in the way that He wants me to go, and my main thing to focus on, rather than writing the plans, is following the plans of the Writer, Redeemer, and Savior of my soul.

Keep my heart open as You lead me, Lord.