Love.

I’m not really sure how often Katye reads this but…whatever. I’m going to write about her anyway. Tomorrow we’ll have been together for 21 months. For those of you who have been in longer relationships, Kudos.  I just want to say how completely an utterly in Love I am with Katye. She is the most selfless, kind, wonderful, beautiful, caring, funny, smart, and altogether most lovely woman I have ever had the privilege of knowing. She has shown me things that I could have never expected to know by myself. I don’t really believe in soul mates. I think you find someone that you Love enough to just make it work, day in and day out. She is my best friend and my muse. I Love Her.

Encouragement.

I’m writing this post for anyone who feels as if they are stuck. The particular “stuck” that I am referring to is that feeling you get when you just don’t know if you are doing things that God wants you to do. I run into so many people who spend so much time trying to figure out what their gifts are and how they should use them to serve God and others. I too struggled with this for a couple of years. I am not sure what it is about us that takes someone else telling us that we are gifted but that just seems to be what it takes. So if you are wondering what your gifts are, just ask those that are closest to you. I am sure that they have witnessed your gifts even if you haven’t.

Something that we don’t seem to understand on our own is that God has gifted us with strengths and abilities that will allow us to serve him and others anytime and anywhere. Don’t get me wrong. Foreign missions are great ministries and they are absolutely essential but I find that we waste a lot of time planning things to come when we could be serving those around us immediately. I guess what I am trying to say is that once we have determined our gifts we are responsible for using them as much as possible.

I still struggle with wanting to do more. But it’s the little recognition from others that make it worth while: to know that people are blessed by God through the things that he has gifted me with.

So, here’s the encouragement. You do not have to go halfway around the world to do God’s work. God has given you everything you need to be faithful in service where ever you are. However, if, in your service, you do feel called to go halfway around the world, you should go. But do not ignore the work at hand. God does not make mistakes which mean he made no mistake in creating you. You are capable of great things. You just have to start.

God Bless

I Love Christmas.

I might have done a post about this before but I just feel like every year warrants a reminder. I am the biggest Christmas nerd on the planet. I have never really nailed down what it is about this season that makes me love it. I mean, yes, I know the true meaning of Christmas and that is the biggest reason why I love it but I also love all the other things  too. I think it is because when my sister and I were growing up my dad always made sure that Christmas was always special/magical. Example: There used to be a huge Christmas parade in Hoover every year that ended at the municipal building where my dad worked (he is a recently retired Hoover Police Officer). Well, at the end of the parade Santa would climb out of his sleigh and get in a car to go home for some reason. Why he didn’t just use his sleigh I could never quite figure out. Anyway, we were able to tell santa what we wanted for Christmas before any other kids because he and my dad were buddies. It was so awesome. That is just one of many things that my dad did that made the holidays special for us. I also love time spent with family and friends. I don’t really know where I’m going with all of this. I guess I just want to remind everyone that this is a season of joy and celebration. Please try and remember  that and make it special for everyone around you…friend, family, or stranger.

God Bless Us Everyone.

JT

Saturday

Yesterday was quite a triumph for me. I turned in my last paper of the semester and participated in a group presentation. Which is quite a relief. The presentations are always really stressful. The faculty come in and grill us on a particular topic. you can never fully prepare for what questions they might ask. Overall, it is a success.

Today I plan on just laying around. I need the rest. I might look over some material for finals. I really don’t freak out about tests like i do papers or projects.

Tomorrow we are doing a new song in Contact. hope it goes well. My mom and dad are having me, Katye, my sister, and her boyfriend over for a Christmas get together tomorrow night. It is the only time that all of us will be able to get together. Hopefully it will be fun.

Anyway, not really in the mood to write anymore.

Peace

Titles are for chumps…

I’m attempting to update more. I’ll admit my life is not very exciting and i don’t plan on putting anything flashy on here to make i seem more interesting. Just know that I will try to keep you informed on the things that I think are appropriate. Don’t expect me to chronicle every last detail. I just want friends to be able to experience a little bit of me.

Today was a pretty typical thursday. I had class this morning then went home and relaxed before work at After-School Care. Work was pretty normal. Later on, however, one of the parents walked in and sat some weird box on my desk. She is first generation italian. So try and imagine her accent as she says,” I hab sumsing for you.” It was pretty funny, but very sweet. In the box was some kind of italian cake. She said she wanted us to have it because we were so nice. I really needed for that to happen today. I don’t know why but I just did. I think I have just been down on people lately. Having been treated for deep depression, the winter can still be a rough time for me. This woman made my day. Nothing big. Just her thoughtfulness.

Anyway, Have to go finish a paper now.

Peace.

Mourning

A local police officer was shot and killed on Thursday night of last week. My heart is deeply troubled and my prayers go out to his family in their time of need. I only hope that their hearts will be healed in time. Having been raised by a father who was a police officer (in my eyes will always be) I know the pride that comes in knowing that this man made the ultimate sacrifice to provide for his family and community. What I feel in my heart at the moment is anger and rage. It is so hard to see the good that will come out of this. But I have faith that the Lord will provide. I am a twenty five year old man and I can’t imagine the thought of losing my father right now, much less when I was a young boy. I just don’t understand what makes a person kill…especially someone who is just trying to protect those around him. I hope that God finds this man in the jail cell that he is in. I hope he speaks to him. I hope he comforts him. I hope the man realizes what he has done. I hope he repents.

Please, where ever you are. Remember your local law enforcement and their families today. We hurt even when only one is lost.

God Bless

Hight Tech Redneck

After living in my Apartment for almost 6 months now, i finally have wireless internet. Which is nice because both my room mate and I were sharing internet. Moving the modem around the place was getting pretty old. Anyway, along with the internet I have also gotten a netflix subscription and having an xbox makes it al the more sweet. Let’s just say I’m really going to have to focus this semester with all these new little distractions in the Apt. I really don’t have much else to say. Life is good. If you want more frequent updates you might just want to make a twitter and follow me there. My username is jtothet.

peace out.

Schooly

I started school back today. I feel like I am so close to graduating. Just 3 tiny semesters left. I am taking 3 Bible classes and two other required classes that I have just been putting off. One of which is General Psychology. I’m not too sure how this class is going to play out. But as of right now it seems as though the professor thinks the class is way more important than it should be. The course load seems to be a bit heavy for an introductory class. I just don’t need this class to distract me from what I am really trying to learn. I mean, if i end up enjoying it, I’m sure I’ll be singing a different tune but I just don’t see that happening. Anyway, enough about school. The diet is going good. I’m just not so sure i have lost any weight yet. With my back being hurt I just find it hard o do anything physical, even after I got my bike set up and ready. 

This Friday some friends of mine are having a barbeque and it will be the first time in awhile that Katye will be able to accompany me. Needless to say, I am pretty excited.

All for now.

jt-out

Motivation

Man, things are really getting interesting. Life is so good. Last night I rode with my dad while he did his delivery thing and i got to thinking and talking. I realized something. I am truly blessed. For a long time I have felt regret about the things I have done, but after awhile I realized that there is no way I would be where I am today if i had not done the things I did in the past. As much as those things may seem like mistakes, (a lot of which were) they  really have made me who I am. For that, I am not ashamed and wouldn’t change it for the world. I look back and remember times, really desperate times, and I love them. You really see people for who they are when they are at rock bottom.

As the title is concerned, all this reflection has made me realize that life is always worth living and there is no reason that we should no try our best in everything that we do. I guess I’m just growing up. I’m learning to love life and all the little subtleties that come with it. I love work, school, church, friends, food, family, you, me, God…you get the idea.

JT-out

Time to diet.

So, I’m going to start a diet pretty soon. Inhave come to the concluion that that is my problem. I’ve maintained my weight for a while doing absolutley nothing. So, the next time I go to buy groceries I will be buying for my diet. It will be low carb and I am also going to try and cut out red meats. So from here on out it will be salads, yogurt, and alot of soy and turkey. Here goes nothing.