1. When our perspective is skewed we become more and more self-centered.  Whenever I let myself be a priority I end up unhappy.  I can never feel loved enough, never see my direction, never feel desired, supported, filled in the ways that I need to badly when all I can think of is how badly I need these things to fill up the big hole in my chest that is in all actuality filled with the H. Sizzle.  God made us for specific reasons and gave us a deposit as a guarantee of what is to come (2 Corinthians 5:5).  When I think of life in this way, removing my veil of selfishness, I see not only the things that I should be actively living out but also the blessings that are being poured into my life.
2. Having a childlike spirit can be a blessing and a curse.  You can develop maturity while having one, because it’s not about immaturity, it’s about dependence on God.  But sometimes it’s a really good excuse to act like a child to the Father, ornery and rebellious and throwing temper tantrums over how that’s not FAIR!  It also has a really interesting effect on memory, in that you can absolutely forget what you learned about Christ and his character after about a month and relearn it to your own embarrassment and his glory. 
3. There is no fear in love.  Even if its awkward at first, even if I don’t know what to say, I’d rather fail at love than let pride get in the way.
4. Poetry is the verbal illustration of a postcard that you have captured or created in your mind and want to reveal to others.
5. Being 25 years old doesn’t feel different.  Hindsight, though, does reveal the changes and seasons that have passed and stayed, the differences in my character that I am unable to witness.  And the best part is that God has done incredible things, and worst part is that in order to do so I am going to have to break apart over and over.  Then the other best part is that it’s worth every crack and splinter.  He doesn’t withhold his love, not even when I don’t deserve it.  That’s my Jesus, always the best thing ever.

1. The supreme happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved.  That is a quote from Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.  It’s true.  And one of the most amazing things in life is that no matter who on earth loves me or hates me or thinks I’m nice or thinks I’m an idiot, and irregardless as to whether or not they are correct, God loves me.  He sent is son to die in my place so that I can spend eternity with Him.  I should be happy all the time.  But let’s face it, I’m not.  Mostly that is because…
2. Being on earth sucks in comparison to what heaven will be like. 
3. When the H. Sizzle is telling you something you should listen.  Sometimes you get a kick in the face.  Sometimes you get a gut reaction to something.  Sometimes things rub you the wrong way.  Sometimes you look at someone and feel things for them you can’t explain.  There are many ways the Spirit speaks, and we need to figure out how we hear it.
4. Being a Christian is not generally highly entertaining.  It’s discipline.  It’s work.  It’s hard sometimes because it is BORING.  But pressing on, pushing through, forging across the river of depression, angst and boredom to reach the land of lighter feet is a form of suffering that is all its own.  It is perseverance in a way that not everyone experiences.  And it makes a point…
5. Some things, the better things, are worth investing in.  Time, money, grey matter, so many things in our lives can be invested in so many ways.  What you invest in is what you value.  What you value reflects where your heart is.

1. Pain produces more pain.  In this world the reaction to being hurt, the reaction to feeling slighted, insignificant, tormented, stupid, ugly, and broken is to become angry and to take it out on someone else.  Sometimes the someone else is the person that hurt you, sometimes they had nothing to do with it.  This is necessary to keep in mind when you experience pain in any way, shape or form.  As christians we are not called to do this.  We are called to be humble and to bear the burdens of others in our prayer lives. 
2. Sometimes it’s necessary to be sad.  One of my favorite quotes says as much:  ” Before we can see properly we must first shed our tears to clear the way.”  There are times that I forget as much.  And there are times that I can’t do anything but cry because I’m so very lost.
3. Superficial conversations are for cowards that are not brave enough to genuinely connect and know other people because they are afraid of being known and being found wanting.
4. No good deed goes unpunished.  That one is courtesy of my dad.  It’s the truth. 
5. There is a time and a place for everything.  Things seem wrong in one light and perfect in another.  A song sucks until you are able to fully understand what it means.  A friendship is forced until a certain season creates a bond.  An attraction is a whisper until a look, a conversation, a moment turns another person into the background music of your life.

1. God places us wherever he chooses, places people in our lives according to his plans, and lets us go through things that are difficult and pleasant, for our good. This is not for our happiness, for our comfort, for our enjoyment. It’s for our good. According to Hebrews it’s got everything to do with handling the discepline that a father would give his child in order to bring it up in the way that is correct, and according to Romans it has nothing to do with anything fuzzy.
   

   “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

2. If bass lines were men I would be a slut-bucket.
3. Be who you are without abrasive force upon others.
4. Let others be who they are, even when there is abrasive force.
5. Socks must be worn to bed unless it is 100 degrees in the room.

Hey kids and my mother!  It’s time to take a few minutes and learn some things!  I am making a list and checking it not at all of all the things I find to be truths in my life.  Some of them are biblical.  Some of them of logical.  Some of them are not.  I’m calling it The Belief System of 25-year-old Me in 5 Parts.  It is in honor of my birthday, which is on saturday, and starting to depress and scare the shit out of me.  So I figured, hey, why not make a list?  A list of things I know about life!  I’ll make it a list of 25 things, so it matches my age!  And there you have my thought process.  So here we go!

1. Using your cell phone while spending time with someone is pretty much offensive.  I’m pretty defensive of my quality time with people, and I’ve let some get away with this, but I find that when a person doesn’t bring out their phone I appreciate the time all the more.  Don’t get me wrong, I use my cell phone in front of people all the time, but I’m now attempting to put an end to that rubbish.
2. Saying that you hate drama generally coincides with a dramatic nature. 
3. If you don’t say something out loud it doesn’t exist.  No one knows what your thinking until its said out loud. Nothing is official until it is given a name. No matter how someone acts the feeling don’t exist unless they admit to them out loud. What is between 2 people that is left unspoken is potentially damaging when unsaid.  For example: Ron and Hermione.  Proof.  Pudding.
4. Happiness, joy and peace are all very different things.  You can have any or all, at the same time and at different times.
5. Saying things behind someone’s back that you would say to their face is still talking about them behind their back.  It’s gossip. I’m guilty of it, but that doesn’t make it right. It’s usually mean.  It’s time to end this stupid habit and behave like an adult.