I found this March 20th last year...

THE SPECTRUM
Dean Ornish M.D.
What Matters Most?
That simple question can play a powerful role in healing our lives.
Feb 27, 2008 | Updated: 6:25 p.m. ET Feb 27, 2008

An Exerpt from the article in Newsweek…

What matters most is love. And the things that matter are very simple—they're very old—and they're very, very important. These things that can't be measured are the foundation of our lives. There is meaning in everything we do. Most of us live far more meaningful lives than we know.

How so?

Recognizing that we are all connected and, because of that, we have the power to make a real difference in the life of a total stranger without even knowing their name. We often feel powerless in today's society--that you have to be wealthy, or educated or somehow more than you are in order to make any kind of significant difference in the world. And the reality is that we've already made a far greater difference than we know, we have changed the lives of many more people than we realize because there is a web of connection between us.

We have a culture that values celebrity over compassion; that values notoriety over caring. What can we learn from all of this? The entire advertising industry is based on the idea that if only you buy more, get more, do more—then you'll be happy.

Well, it's never enough because it will never fill the emptiness that only a sense of meaning can satisfy. At the end of life, when people look back to see what mattered for them and brought meaning, it's not about what they bought and what they owned. It's about what they did to help other people to live and how they related to other people and grew in wisdom. It's all about the love they gave and received, not anything else. One heart at a time.

Here's a link to the full article: http://www.newsweek.com/id/116684

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I don't remember finding this article, but I was checking an old email address today and I found that I had emailed it to myself with the subject line "blogworthy". How weird that I saved it and how weird that it directly applies to something I've been struggling with lately. I'm not sure why, but I've been feeling like I'm working and working and doing more and more, but I'm not making a difference anywhere. This article was just the reassurance that I need to remember that only God can see the whole picture of how we're all connected. My only job is to keep working to serve others and God will take care of making sure He uses me to make a difference "one heart at a time".

A Few Fun Pictures from the Family Reunion

I Am Second

I was watching a video on IAmSecond.com and at the end of his testimony, this guy said something about what Jesus means to him. I started thinking, "What does Jesus mean to me?" I haven't planned out this post. I'm writing as it comes to me and I'm searching my heart to see what Jesus really means to me. I hope you'll be encouraged to think about what Jesus really means to you.

Jesus is God's one and only Son. He is God born in human form to save mankind. He was born to the Virgin Mary and lived the perfect life. He travelled around with his disciples and performed miracle after miracle. He was the King foretold in the Old Testament, but he was so radically different from any human who ever walked the earth and so different from the king that everyone was expecting, that almost everyone questioned whether or not he was the Messiah. His teachings were those of love and forgiveness. He befriended those who society cast aside and threw out the rules of old and taught that the most important rules in life were to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself". He did miracles showing time and time again that he was God. He was ultimately brutally killed for claiming to be Lord, but no guards, no tomb, no stone could keep him from being resurrected. Jesus is Lord. Jesus is savior of my soul. He's the reason that I know I'm going to be in Heaven with God when I die. He was perfect, but he took on all the sin of the world and paid the penalty for every bad thing I've ever done and every wrong choice I'll ever make. He knows all the answers. No athlete, no celebrity, nobody who's ever lived or will ever live will be a better role model. He gave all he had for others, including giving his life. He loves with grace and truth, but just the right amount of both. He loves the unlovable. His love has changed the world. His love is still alive today in my heart and in the heart of every Christian. He is the living God. What Jesus means to me is love. He means that I don't have to be perfect, he loves me anyway. He means that I can love other people with all my heart because I am overflowing with His love. He means that I can love people I don't even know because He has given me enough. There is nothing that can't be done through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is first, I am Second. That's what Jesus means to me.

Somebody's Gotta Be the One to Step UP

My New Challenge

Last fall I started leading a small group bible study at my house. Our group has grown bigger and bigger since we started and we've moved from strangers who meet every Wednesday to watch a video and discuss Jesus to a group of friends who support each other and look forward to learning more and reaching out. Yesterday I was meeting with Wade, our pastor of small groups, and he offered me a new challenge. I will now be on the Small Group Leadership Team and my role will be to find service project opportunities in the community for our small groups to get connected with. It's a toss up whether I'm more excited to get out there and meet with non-profits and see what needs to be done or meeting with the group leaders and getting them to bond with their groups by going out and impacting the community. It all sounds like the perfect job to me! I'm so honored that God has given me this opportunity and I will pray and pray like crazy that through these small group service projects lives will be touched and changed. If anyone reading this knows of an organization or person that could use our help, please let me know!

Song of the Day: Jeremy Camp, "Take a Little Time"

Brad Paisley: Then

This is one of the sweetest songs I've ever heard. Enjoy!

Addison Road: This Could Be Our Day