Celebration of Death or Celebration of Grace?

**Let me just point out first and foremost that you're most likely not going to appreciate what  I'm about to say, so please feel free to completely ignore me if you don't agree.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you..."-Matthew 5:43-44

This is a time of tragedy for our country after this past weekend's elementary school shooting. I am definitely not trying to defend the shooter; however, I am trying to defend my faith. I understand that there were a lot of mixed feelings going around and about as of Friday morning (rightfully so), which is unavoidable. Hate, however, should not be one of those. I believe that this situation and what happened was entirely unnecessary, but I also believe in justice and I believe in the untold story; behind the scenes.

I also believe this event is something to be mourned. It is heartbreaking that we are in this position in the first place. It is heartbreaking that there is so much hate, so much anger, so much bitterness, and so much evil. All of these are reasons that we experience these particular events. Humankind has been dealing with all of these since the fall, and it won't stop at the death of this man seemingly consumed with evil. For all we know, this man was at his final breaking point and had absolutely no idea what he was doing. (Again, I'm not defending him. Just viewing it all from a different perspective) We must continue to pray fiercely against all of the hate, anger, bitterness, etc., and diligently guard our hearts from them. 

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."-1 John 3:14-15

Do you really think that this man deserves his fate any more than the rest of us? No, because we are all evil. It's by the grace of God, and the grace of God alone, that not every single one of us should have the same destiny... The only thing that ought to be celebrated in this event, is that we each are given the chance for eternal splendor rather than eternal damnation. We shouldn't be celebrating this man's death.

With that being said...

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."- 1 John 3:16

A special thank you goes out to all of those who risked their lives for this cause. The cause of protection, freedom, innocence, a bright and exciting future for each and every one of these children . We still have a long haul ahead of us, but just know that we are grateful for all you have done and are amazed by the beautiful soul that you possess. And to the families and parents of lost precious loved ones as a result of this tragedy, no single man or woman or child has died in vain. My heart goes out to you all. 

Change Is Inevitable.

Shew! This has been the most insane semester of my college career thus far. I guess that's what I get for swearing multiple times that it was going to be my easiest. However, I have just turned in the last of my "big projects" (you know, because finals aren't just next week or anything...), squeezed in a bit of Christmas shopping therapy, and now I am resting in my humble abode, sipping on some hot tea while Ray LaMontagne speaks to my soul. All is as it should be. 

So, with that being said, a big decision has been made since the last you and I had a chat... A few of you know, a few of you won't care, but for those of you who don't know and do care: after this semester, I will be moving to Nashville to finish up my education at Trevecca Nazarene University. Knoxville has been so amazing. I definitely know why God miraculously opened up the doors for me to come back here. However, I now believe that He is leading me elsewhere... Why do I believe this, you ask? Because I simply don't have a choice; and I am thankful for that, because I cannot trust that-if I did have a choice-I would make the right one (and why after 15 years of school do I still not know or understand the proper use of a semicolon?). 

I have actually really struggled with this decision for about a year and a half now, which my family can attest to. I have had so many options of places I could go or schools I could go back to. This semester though, God just made it very clear to me that my time in Knoxville is coming to a close and I will not be returning to Johnson City. You know, I've had some of the best memories of my life in these two places, but I trust that it'll be the same no matter where I go. That is how it's always been. I'm sure that there will be trials to come, but He is my God and I am His child. In the past month or so, I have felt such a peace about this decision, and I am excited to see what He has in store.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts."-Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV

In other news, I am super blessed to have such amazing friends. I literally don't know what I would do without them. And I'm so glad that they are willing to always be there for me, no matter how difficult being friend's with a crazy person may or may not be.

Anyways, I hope you have a great December 3rd tomorrow! I've already been listening to my Christmas tunes (since September...judge me), but I have yet to finish my Christmas shopping, so don't be surprised if you get an empty box with "blame the Mayans, the world was supposed to end" written on it! Stay tuned for my holiday playlist for this season...