It is what it is.

I saw an old friend today and we were talking about really terrible catch phrases. We both have separately come up with the phrase "It is what it is" as the most frustrating one ever. What does that even mean?

• It is what it is. I can't change it.
• It is what it is. I'll never change.
• It is what it is. No one cares enough to change it.
• It is what it is. The problem is too big and I am too small.

What a bummer. Whatever we are doing...whatever you are doing today or tonight or tomorrow, don't say "It is what it is." Trust me, it's the worst. Don't give up hope, especially in yourself. There have been some critical moments in my life where I have given up on myself, and it is a dark, dark place to be. I don't recommend it.

And if you don't believe me, check in with the Michael Scott school of management. "Somehow, I manage."

-Liz

10 Simple Ways to Change the World

I have had an unbelievable summer with the most unbelievable friend here. I will think about it and learn from it for the rest of my life. At the beginning of the summer, three of us (me, Dee, and Hannah) scratched out a list. We dubbed it "10 Simple Ways to Change the World." We came up with more than ten. The idea is this...there are SIMPLE ways...that today...we can change the world.

The only thing that I've ever seen change my world, is me. The way I love. The way I love God, the way I love others, the way I love me. So, here are some ideas for you. For you to change your world.

1. Befriend an enemy.
2. Buy your coworker coffee.
3. Take somebody to lunch.
4. Ask somebody how they're doing, how they're really doing.
5. Babysit for free.
6. Believe in yourself.
7. Paint someone's nails.
8. Don't be afraid to take the road less traveled.
9. Write a love note to someone.
10. Think before you speak.
11. Say yes.
12. Be authentic.
13. Volunteer on your day off.
14. Give without expecting anything in return.
15. Spend time with someone without looking at your phone.
16. Hold the door for someone.
17. Start conversation in an elevator.
18. Look a person in the eyes.
19. Have confidence in yourself.
20. Embarrass yourself.
21. Make someone a mixed cd of feel-good songs.
22. Have conversation face to face.
23. Offer someone a ride.
24. Buy an extra item and give it to the cashier.
25. Buy a loaf of bread and make sandwiches for the homeless.
26. Use your Starbucks money for something good.
27. Cook a meal for someone in need or struggling.
28. Tell someone you love them.

And if you would like a cheat sheet that I have come to live by...

1. Love God. FULLY.
2. Love others. FULLY.
3. Love yourself. FULLY.

Feedback. What # do you start with? And what will happen? Feed me back.

-Liz

The Most Dramatic Rose Ceremony Ever

Did you watch the season finale last night? I did. And I don't think there was ever a doubt that JP would be the one that Ashley chose. Even though her Kat Von D sister didn't approve. I'm sure they've become friends now that abc isn't around to film the drama.


But here's the thing: the Bachelorette is, to me, adult entertainment for women. That's the nicest way I can put it. Men would choose something else that is equally toxic to them. We choose - the Bachelorette. It emotionally arouses us in ways that are altogether unhealthy and ultimately, make us wonder why we are not good enough to land someone like JP. Or, to get dumped by the previous Bachelor just so we can become the next Bachelorette!


I gotta hand it to abc though. What a sweeping picture of romance. In case you missed it, here are some classic moments designed to make us believe that it was a fairy tale come true:

1. Fiji. Oceanside. Rose petals. Sunset. Prop plane. Tuxedo. Gown. Music.
2. Video montage of their history together. All 3 weeks of it. And every single kiss. Don't forget to show how much they kissed.
3. Holding hands and running into the ocean together.
4. REO Speedwagon's "I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore" playing dutifully in the background.
5. Much talk of I love you's, of journeys together, of crazy about you's, of you complete me's.
6. Lots of picking up and spinning. Really. A lot of spinning.

I'll stop before I sound bitter. It would be great if JP and Ashley end up together. I hope that they do! I guess for me, it's a bummer that we are fed a fairy tale that true love is found in paradise amongst 30 other contenders, and that can sustain us and complete us through the rest of our lives.

The only thing I know for sure, FOR SURE, about love is that - God is love. Romance? Not love. Sex? Not love. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." - 1st Corinthians 13

Want to know if you are a loving person? In that scripture above, substitute the word "love" with your name. Liz is patient, Liz is kind. Liz does not envy, Liz does not boast, Liz is not proud. Liz does not dishonor others, Liz is not self-seeking, Liz is not easily angered. Liz keeps no record of wrongs. Liz does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Liz always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

See our challenge? Oof. I think tomorrow, I'll just work on the patient part so I don't get overwhelmed.

-Liz

With Open Hands: Since the beginning of the summer I’ve frequently ...

With Open Hands: Since the beginning of the summer I’ve frequently ...: "Since the beginning of the summer I’ve frequently had these “I can’t believe I’m really in Africa” pinch me moments. While I’ve been here in..."

Jamaican me think. A lot.

So I just got off the phone with Penie in Jamaica. 15 years ago, she and her husband Jim left their lives as foster parents in the states to start a home in Whitehouse, Jamaica called "My Father's House."

Dozens of kids later they find themselves wondering how to keep the lights on. How to keep the water running. How to minister to families that call them and say "Papa Jim, we need food. We need clothes. Can you help?"

I've been to Jamaica. I've seen the poverty right outside of the Sandals resorts. I've seen the loneliness and the broken families and the need. And I had the chance (twice now, and soon to be three times) to walk alongside Mama Penie and Papa Jim and see their impact on the community there. They are not the big bad Americans that come in for an experience and give out material things and leave. They are the Jamaican citizens that work alongside families to build houses, to give out food, to hug kids, to carry water. And I got to do that too. For a week.

Soon, when God says so, we are going to start a campaign to help keep My Father's House open and keep those communities cared for. Soon, I hope you will take five minutes out of your day and contribute financially. It's awful that, when I say that, most of us think...I can't afford it. But think again. $5 in Jamaica goes so much farther than it does where we live. We can afford to give. Let's skip Starbucks. Skip the movies. Skip the fast food run. And give.

I'll be hollering at you soon. And I hope you holler back.


-Liz

Becca's back! Now where are YOU going?

Today we greeted Becca and welcomed her back to America. She flew into RDU from Uganda. Not a quick journey. Planes and busses and all things in between. Becca has been gone for 2 1/2 months with Embrace Uganda. She lived with the fatherless and was loved by them all. I am SURE her blog will blow up with what she learned, how she was changed, what she is going to do next.

So check that out. And think about, today, what are your next steps? How will you go, change, or move? We can all take the first steps today. For some of us, it might mean working out. Maybe it means finally forgiving the person that has hurt you so many years ago. Does it mean you sponsor a child with World Vision? $35 a month will save a child's life. I spent $35 on dinner last night. What in the world?

I'm just saying...we all need to make a change that is LONG overdue. So what is it for you? What is it for me? Let's all make a pact to focus on the daily. Don't think about next year, or even tomorrow. Let's take a first step today. And that step will lead us somewhere crazy. Maybe even Uganda.

-Liz

"Mo Money Mo Problems"

I have always had a struggle with money. What to spend it on, how to save it, and how to get more of it. If I’m being honest with myself, it has taken control of my life at times.

My friend once said that if you want to know what you care about the most, look at where you spend your money. As Americans, we have ALL given in to spending our time and money on luxuries, big or small. The majority of us have jobs that we don’t even enjoy, and our FB statuses dread the morn of Mondays. I don’t know about you, but the idea of spending 5 out of 7 days dragging my feet bums me out hardcore. It doesn’t have to be that way. The truth is, we have allowed money to run our lives and on top of that, ruin our lives.

We live in a messed up world where your value comes from your job and your salary. “The Myth of Measure: a person’s opinion of you + your performance = your self-worth.” While the wealthy businessman is respected and admired because of his company that only feeds money back into itself, another man is trying to change the world, making barely any money at all, and is looked down upon. Does anyone else see how screwed up that is?! Your identity will never be found by the logo on your shirt or by the size of your house.

Want the truth? It’s not my money, and it’s not your money. It’s all God’s money.

I know that might seem ridiculous, but is it really that outrageous? When you recognize your money as belonging to God, it changes EVERYTHING. Not only does it change the way you spend your money, but it changes the way you WANT to spend it. I have never felt freer in my life than to be supporting the things I believe in with the little money I make. Trust me, I am a person that checks my bank account like its nobody’s business. I look at the puny little number and start to freak out. But when I worry about my finances, I am not trusting God, and that is a HUGE problem. He says that he will provide everything I need. The reality is, we lose sight of what we need and focus on what we WANT. We have let go of simplicity and have overcomplicated our lives with stuff. And that stuff we invest all our money in won’t last. When we put all our faith in our belongings, we are only setting ourselves up for disappointment. Chances are that that jacket will go missing, that phone will get stolen, and that car won’t last forever.

I had to recognize certain luxuries in my life that I needed to cut down and even cut out. It’s comforting to invest your money into a life of security, but those comforts will never satisfy. Let’s be real; we could go crazy everyday until we achieve the American Dream or obtain a certain status, but then what? Once we get it, are we really going to be content with what we have and how we portray ourselves? I think you know the answer.

It may seem radical, but while we are repeatedly throwing away our money on thrills, we are in reality throwing away our lives. I know it’s hard to see outside of the American bubble, but millions of people around the world can’t comprehend why we have “houses” for our cars, “rooms” just for our clothes, and these things called refrigerators that can store all the food we want for weeks on end. By no means is this a guilt-trip, but I think it’s safe to say that when you put things into perspective, we are crazy blessed to have the everyday things we have.

I’ll be honest: I am barely getting by this summer. My paychecks have literally been cut in half from a year ago. But the thing is, I am absolutely crazy about my job. Up until now, I have never felt such purpose in the work place. My bank account may not be getting bigger, but I thank God everyday that my heart is. God gave you specific talents and gifts to change lives, so don’t waste them! When you make your work your passionate about your life work, you’ve made it big.

So what’s my point? I have met people who have worked their whole lives for a plaque on the wall. I have met people who have slaved away at jobs they hate to buy a loved one a nice gift to please them for the time being. The fact is that none of those things will ever be enough. Whatever you do or wherever you go, let love be your lead. Here is the start to the rest of your life to bless people like crazy, whether in the workplace or out. Love is the only thing that makes this life worthwhile, and no money in the world could ever put a price on that.

I guess Notorious B.I.G. knew what he was talking about.

-Dee