Life and Love

Having lived life now for almost 21 years, I find it to be utterly and inconveniently confusing. Quite honestly I'm extremely perplexed by it all- every bit of it. It seems like everything is so uncertain. As a woman it is instinct to desire security. Sadly, life doesn't offer security. Really terrible things can happen. You can lose someone you love, people you love can choose to walk away, you can be physically injured, people can hate you, you can lose your job, wars can go on for years.... and so on and so on. What is my response to this? LOVE. I thoroughly believe as Christians it is a duty to give everything we have for the glory of God while living this life- every ounce of our being. My dad once said that he wanted to be all used up when he left this world. We have the armor of the Lord to guard us through this inconsistent life. By golly I'm going to strive to love with all of my heart without expecting anything in return. Oh the boundaries that could be broken with the courage to love with all of your being knowing full well that you can be heartbroken at any moment. Brave is the woman who loves with everything she has with nothing in return. What would life be like if I, Audrie Cirlot, gave up my life for the Lord? I would strive for the betterment of those around me. Would my world be a better place? I think so. You'd think by now I've learn that life isn't about me. As humans we feel as though we need everything to be equal, especially when it comes to relationships. Jesus Christ was far from striving for equality when he died for us. Just as humans and life are inconsistent, they are unequal. This life is dirty and sometimes painful but all together it's beautiful. Through pain comes strength.

Freedom

Freedom...What is it, and how do we acheive it? Maybe freedom is the ability to try something or be soemthing without the fear of failure or rejection. Who would I be without fear?
Freedom is a mighty powerful thing. It can cause pain and at the same time it can bring great success and joy. The freedom I'm talking about is the freedom that sends peace throughout your body because you're not afraid. It's confidence. It's contentment.
Where can I find this freedom? That's the amazing part...Christ. Christ gives you the freedom to be yourself, and yet he loves you anyway. My freedom is with me everywhere I go, if I could just take hold of it. I'm free to love and be loved. I'm free to take risks. I'm free to be beautiful and powerful. I'm free to be ugly. I'm free to fail. I'm free to cry. I'm free to laugh. Christ is my freedom.