The truth is that no matter what anybody says, money does make the world go round. We could all use more of it and we don't act like we couldn't. Everybody could use more comfort and more security. However, we don't really NEED more money in most cases we just need to prepare better for the tough times usually. We need to use our money more wisely and we don't NEED certain things.
Now this is not to say that people should not use their money the way they see fit. This is not to say people should not get some nice things that they desire. This is not to say that people need to give away ALL of their wordly possessions. This is just to say that people need to get a reality check sometimes and that can occasionally include me. There are some things that I want and some things I plan on getting, but wants are unlimited and you have to know where to draw the line.
"It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got." - Sheryl Crow
I never thought that Sheryl Crow would be quoted in this blog. However, that quote from the song Soak Up the Sun is perfect. Life is not about having every single thing that you want because that is impossible. Life is about wanting everything that you have. Life is about appreciating what you have. I believe that I have everything that I need and I am truly greatly for that. I would say that I am truly blessed because I have all these things and a little bit more, + a loving family. It is really a goal of mine to rarely complain about money or say other things that we need. We have a plan for how we will spend vs. save in the future and I believe that helps make our marriage stronger.
The #1 cause of divorce is finances.
It isn't falling out of love, it isn't an unfaithful spouse, the #1 cause of divorce is finances. We all need to communicate and we all need to be realistic. It is okay that you make only 50k, I won't make that for a while. I live fine and everything will be okay with me.
My first year teaching I made $31,500 teaching. That is a ridiculously low amount. During that first year teaching, I got married to the most amazing person in the world. The money cynic though would have said it is financial suicide to marry a girl that is still in school and not earning an income. That put me on raising two on that meager salary. I didn't panic though and I made it work. During that same first year, against the financial wisdom of most, my wife and I got pregnant with our first child. Most would panic at that moment, but we were ecstatic!
Now, we couldn't imagine life without the little guy. Imagine if we were more concerned about getting every single thing we wanted than growing our family. Had we put off kids, we wouldn't have the greatest thing in our life, which is a growing family. That child has brought so much more joy into our lives and made every single thing in life better. We put it up to the lord and let him guide us and it just works. The key is trusting in the lord and making sound financial decisions.
Noland Jr. was born in my second year teaching while I was still making a good deal less than 40k. While Jenna was still in school. I bring him up to say that there is no PERFECT time to start a family. There never will be a perfect time to start a family. There is also no time you will get everything you want. The timing and what you truly want is up to you. This decision just delayed some of our other achievements in life, which again is fine.
The amount of time it took us to buy a house was prolonged. We couldn't get a house until this year when I am 28. Through smart financial decisions, prioritization, and prayer though, we now are proud homeowners, Not only that, but we also have two kids to enjoy in our new home. Had we waited to have everything perfect, it wouldn't be as perfect as it is now. Life isn't perfect. Nothing is perfect. If you think this way and that you are waiting on such and such you will never get there and you will never be happy.
Everyone just needs to really think about what they truly want in life. We need to be able to prioritize what we want and stick to that plan. Wants are limitless, but we need to take care of those wants most important to us. There needs to be an effort to block out what others think and do what is best for us. We need to make sure what we want is something that we will still want once we have it. Having possessions is okay and they make life easier and more enjoyable for us. I enjoy being in our house that's ours and watching sports after a long day with my family. However, I realize that these are finite things that we cannot take with us. What is really important is our family, friends, and community.
If you put your love in finite things and all your energy goes towards procuring them, you will always be empty. One of the 10 commandments is though shall not covet thy neighbor's goods. Don't worry about what others have, worry about what you need. The only infinite in life is God. He is the only infinite. 3 persons in one God the Holy Trinity, that is infinite. The only way to fill our infinite desire is to put it to God. If you try to put your infinite desire into a finite item, life will get very long. When you love others, love yourself, and love God, you will obtain some amount of happiness.
"Love one another as I have loved you." - Jesus
Love one another and more importantly love Jesus. It is important to put those unlimited wants and desires into the only infinite and perfect being to walk this Earth.
-Noland
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Friday, August 7, 2015
Friday, April 3, 2015
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Last week I talked about reflections and how much we are all loved. Today, it is so easy to see how that love was put into place. It is Good Friday which is one of the holiest days of the year. On Good Friday, Jesus died for our sins so many years ago. For it is because of Good Friday that we might be given eternal life. Sin and death has been defeated and we should rejoice. However, it is a sad day at the same time as Jesus had to die for us in order that we might be saved.
As Christians we typically spend this day in prayer and fasting while thinking about the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. The true horrors that Jesus suffered as a way to save us are documented well in the bible and put into a visual aspect for us on the screen in movies such as The Passion of The Christ. These images allow us to see what Jesus really did for us and all he went through, but the big takeaway is that he died so that we might be saved. So let's make it mean as much as possible.
Jesus died to save us right?
He died to conquer sin and death. He died to give us eternal life. So since he made such a big sacrifice that we might be saved, we should make small sacrifices to help others. Live our lives everyday in order to lead people to his church. Lead by our actions and by doing the right thing as much as humanly possible. Try our best to give up our vices so that other people might see and be drawn to his message. Make our Christian identity our top identity. Make it so if they started throwing people in jail for Christianity that they would have enough evidence to convict all of us. Our primary goal must be to glorify God and to be drawn closer to him. We can glorify him and lead others to him if we try our best to do the right thing. If we do not judge others actions and if we support each other when we fail. To make the most of the ultimate sacrifice we must be the ultimate versions of ourselves. I know I fall far short of this on every occasion, but I am going to try to keep getting better and keep using HIS example as my own. It is my belief and my hope that anyone reading this will do the same and try to make this world a better place.
God's peace and love be with you,
Noland
As Christians we typically spend this day in prayer and fasting while thinking about the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. The true horrors that Jesus suffered as a way to save us are documented well in the bible and put into a visual aspect for us on the screen in movies such as The Passion of The Christ. These images allow us to see what Jesus really did for us and all he went through, but the big takeaway is that he died so that we might be saved. So let's make it mean as much as possible.
Jesus died to save us right?
He died to conquer sin and death. He died to give us eternal life. So since he made such a big sacrifice that we might be saved, we should make small sacrifices to help others. Live our lives everyday in order to lead people to his church. Lead by our actions and by doing the right thing as much as humanly possible. Try our best to give up our vices so that other people might see and be drawn to his message. Make our Christian identity our top identity. Make it so if they started throwing people in jail for Christianity that they would have enough evidence to convict all of us. Our primary goal must be to glorify God and to be drawn closer to him. We can glorify him and lead others to him if we try our best to do the right thing. If we do not judge others actions and if we support each other when we fail. To make the most of the ultimate sacrifice we must be the ultimate versions of ourselves. I know I fall far short of this on every occasion, but I am going to try to keep getting better and keep using HIS example as my own. It is my belief and my hope that anyone reading this will do the same and try to make this world a better place.
God's peace and love be with you,
Noland
Sunday, March 29, 2015
That Time We Had A Lazy Weekend...
Typically our family is go-go-go. We like to have fun and spend lots of family time at least every weekend. Whether it be a trip to the zoo, Disney, or something else, we like these crazy outings. However, this weekend we have just wanted time to ourselves, time to unwind, and time to RELAX. With my team's track season ending this seemed to be the weekend to do it and just lay around doing nothing just like the Bruno Mars song...Lazy Song
Now, we did not just do nothing all weekend and lay in our PJs. My family still went to church, still went to get groceries, and made a stop at the Catholic Store in Tampa. However, we didn't have some all day event and just chose to stay home for this one weekend. Sometimes, we all need these kinds of weekends. Sometimes, we just need to recharge our batteries and that is what my family has done this weekend. It is important to have these types of weekends from time to time especially with a lovely pregnant wife who can use the rest.
This weekend is also just another chance to reflect and realize how blessed we are. I am blessed. My family is blessed and you are blessed. We are blessed with life, with nature, with wonderful people. Sometimes it seems like some of us are more blessed than others. Circumstances dictate that we all have different challenges and obstacles, but it's how we embrace them that dictates how things will go. It is taking the time to recharge and reflect that we are able to really put things into perspective. These are the moments that allow us to be thankful. To appreciate the times and the people in our life that make them so great. I thank God for all the things that he has put in my life and embrace the challenges that the future brings. Judging by our past, the future for my family looks bright. Trusting in God and his plan will make it all the brighter.
In the future weekends, I will try my best to remember this reflection and try to embrace everything. It is important to stay on the positive train and look at opportunities for the potential happiness that they possess. One quote I remembered this weekend that I absolutely love is from the original first lady Martha Washington...
"The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not our circumstances." -Martha Washington
Of course sometimes its easy to keep a positive disposition especially with this little guy around....
Try to keep that positive disposition at all times. It is near impossible with the business of life, but just remember. There is someone somewhere that unconditionally loves you as well. Try to remember these people. If you cannot believe that, you can hopefully believe that Jesus is always there for you and will always love you no matter what. Happy Holy Week people!
-Noland
Now, we did not just do nothing all weekend and lay in our PJs. My family still went to church, still went to get groceries, and made a stop at the Catholic Store in Tampa. However, we didn't have some all day event and just chose to stay home for this one weekend. Sometimes, we all need these kinds of weekends. Sometimes, we just need to recharge our batteries and that is what my family has done this weekend. It is important to have these types of weekends from time to time especially with a lovely pregnant wife who can use the rest.
This weekend is also just another chance to reflect and realize how blessed we are. I am blessed. My family is blessed and you are blessed. We are blessed with life, with nature, with wonderful people. Sometimes it seems like some of us are more blessed than others. Circumstances dictate that we all have different challenges and obstacles, but it's how we embrace them that dictates how things will go. It is taking the time to recharge and reflect that we are able to really put things into perspective. These are the moments that allow us to be thankful. To appreciate the times and the people in our life that make them so great. I thank God for all the things that he has put in my life and embrace the challenges that the future brings. Judging by our past, the future for my family looks bright. Trusting in God and his plan will make it all the brighter.
In the future weekends, I will try my best to remember this reflection and try to embrace everything. It is important to stay on the positive train and look at opportunities for the potential happiness that they possess. One quote I remembered this weekend that I absolutely love is from the original first lady Martha Washington...
"The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not our circumstances." -Martha Washington
Of course sometimes its easy to keep a positive disposition especially with this little guy around....
Try to keep that positive disposition at all times. It is near impossible with the business of life, but just remember. There is someone somewhere that unconditionally loves you as well. Try to remember these people. If you cannot believe that, you can hopefully believe that Jesus is always there for you and will always love you no matter what. Happy Holy Week people!
-Noland
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