A friend shared this with me some time ago--he said he didn't come up with it, but since I don't know the source he'll get the credit here:

Something that God has shared with me is that I'm just a little leaky vessel, and that despite His constantly filling me up, I leak; even if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to hold all of Him anyway. It's kinda like trying to put the whole ocean into a dixie cup and cryin' because it won't fit.

Through that He has also taught me to value the relationships I have with other people. I know this sounds kinda selfihs but hear me out before making a judgment. See, if we're all little leaky vessels being filled with God, then the more of us that get together, the more of God we all have, because I can leak into another person and they can share with another while another shares with me all the while the whole group benefits from each other because we all leak into one another and we all have a different piece of God.

My main focus is to get as much of God as possible, to understand who He is and how He sees things; to develop my relationship with Him. I know this is what He wants because Jesus Himself said that that is what eternal life is, "that we know the one true God and Him who He has sent."

The more I share and the more others share with me the more we all get to know God, that's why I value friendships so much, because it is one way that God reveals Himself to us. And that's truly the only thing I have worth sharing, what God has done in me and who He is to me.
~Daniel

To quote a friend (loosely): "attitude can make the most unbearable things a walk in the park."

I muchly appreciate that comment, yes I do.

Defeat

This life is so full of frustration, heartache and pain, no I know that's not news to you who read this, but don't quit reading just yet...

Sins and hindrances
So church last sunday... we had a different type of service in which at the end, to symbolize those things which have been in our way of a closer relationship with God were given up to him. This was done by writing on a simple 3x5 card whatever that person/event/recurring problem might be and throwing it away--wouldn't you know, the one and ONLY thing I wrote down jumped out and attacked me this week. I though a part of this "problem" was solved a few years ago (or maybe I had just hoped it had faded away). What frustrates me most is that it's not MY problem, it's someone else's, which clearly means I should be able to get past it, but no, that is not the case.

I felt totally deflated Thursday just before 12:30pm. The sadness related to this person had come back, but my first thoughts were of that little card I threw in the trashcan at church. But I realized, it isn't my problem, it may make me sad and rightly so, but it does not have to control any other aspect of my life. My decisions have been made. I choose only how I live and I will not live that person's life.

Choose not to be defeated. God doesn't tell us to give him our burdens for nothing. No, that's not easy--certainly not, CHOOSE to have joy so inexpressible in words that it bursts forth in all other aspects of your life. Then surround yourself with whatever people and reading and preaching and WHATEVER that will help you live that life of inexpressible, irrepressible JOY.

(hmmm... I'm not totally sure, but that might have been a soap box moment, take it as you like.)