The Greater Things In Life

Hello My Cyber Blog Readers...

So, I have really been pondering the whole idea of the Blog. Yes, I admit that as some of you have ntoed I have not spent much time lately updating my Blog and I do appoligize. I was also thinking about what the purpose of a Blog is. Some people use it to post pictures, others note events while they are traveling on road trips or even internationally away from home, and some do it post random thoughts on specific topics within the media or top reason about a certain subject. For me a Blog is some of those but really not one in particular. My Blog is away for me to update my friends on my life because I don't always make the time for a one-on-one call or e-mail. But more importantly my Blog is a way for me to express my thoughts and feelings on what is going on in my life. God blessed me with a new friend this week that just so happened to find my Blog via it linked on my profile through my church. Now we are dialoging via e-mail and it has been a great experience.

So, with that said I am going to move into the Greater Things In Life. I have really been thinking this week and looking at so many aspects of my life and the lives of others around me. I have realized how amazenly blessed I am in so many areas, how God has provided for me. Looking around I realize that really I should have nothing, I deserve nothing in life, yet I have so very much. I have a great job, a place to live, a car to drive, food to eat, clothes to wear, and most importantly amazing people in my life; Friends that I could not imagine living without. I am a sinner and I deserve nothing jet my l ife is so full and rich.

Often I focus on the negative. I focus on what I could do better. I focus on what I should achieve. I focus on what I did wrong, and beat myself up at times. I think of how people treat me and let it impact me negatively. Yet, I don't often focus enough on all the good that is happening in my life and all the good I could do if I tried and applied myself even more to serving and loving others. I was driving homw and heard the words of a song "More of you and less of me". How truse that is, how we should focus more on God and more on other people and less on ourselves. This life that we are given is to be to used to focus on ourselves and think about me, me, me yet that is how it is so much, living so much in the moment and in materialisticness.

Often on my Blog I post things that stress me out or are troubling me. Tonight as I review a little of my week I am only going to focus on the postive and how much God truely worked in my life. Highlights of the week...
-Two of my friends came home from being out of the country! Lisa was gone for three months to Norway and is back! I had a great time welcoming her back at the airport. Becky is back from a month of backpacking in Europe. It was great to see her these past two days!
-I have had an amazing week communicating with one of my really good friends, Brad. We are both working through issues together and keeping eachother accountable which is awesome. I need someone to ask me the hard questions and he has done that and I am so blessed. God has provided me with an awesome brother and I am so grateful!
-My job is going great. I l ove all that I am doing. I am learning so much about myself and about others. I am remembering that God is in control of my career and the company I work for and I need to focus on asking Him for the strenth in everything that I do with my work. I also heard a testimony of one of our vendors yesterday that really touched my heart.
-School is almost out. I have 4 more days, which is finals, then I get all of July off! I am so excited to finish. I had a good week spending time with friends at school!
-My condo is sold. It should close escrow in the next 1-2 weeks. I am so blessed that I don't have to find somewhere else to move to. And I get to keep living under the same roof with my awesome roommate, Oren. An answer to prayers! I owe a big thanks to Will for all his help with selling the place!
-As I mentioned earlier, I met a new friend, Mario, who found my Blog and posted on it. He seems like an awesome guy and has been an encouragement in e-mails. I am looking forward to meeting him in person.
-Today I was able to spend time with a bunch of friends and it was great. I spent time with my ex-girlfriend Jen. She is an amazing girl. God has really shown me how fantastic she is after we seperated. I am blessed that we are able to be friends and I am learning how truely gifted and beautiful she is and I thank God for showing this to me and allowing us to remain friends through all of this. I also spent time with the gang...Bec, Neen, Scott, Jason, Jen, Mark, etc. I really love all of these people. I really thought that I would be losing my friendship with them because of my break-up with Jen, but God has shown me that my friends are my friends and they are going to stick by my side. It warmed my heart to see all of them after some weeks.
-My family. I am realzing how much I love my family. Even though I don't see them often I love them so much. It is nice to talk to my mom, dad, and sister on the phone and see them from time to time. I am starting to move past some of ths issues I have with the past and see that my parents are proud of me and love me for who I am as their son and I should love them for who they are regardless of the past. I also talked to my grandma on the phone yesterday and it made me sad and happy all at once. Sad that I have not made the effort to see my extended family more, but happy because she expressed how proud of me she was and how much she loves me.
-Friends. I have such a diverse group of friends that all have such a huge impact on my life. I am blessed every day for each and every one of them! Thank you for sticking by my side always....Brad, Oren, Jen, Bec, Neen, Scott, Jason, Megan, Jen D., Brett, Liz, Cece, Bethany, Ronson, Will, Stan, Matt, Mario, Lisa, Jesse, Stacey, Luke, Allen, Steve, Kristina, Traci, Linda, Morgan, Dave, Adam...the list could go on and on for miles.

Well, It is getting late so I should post and go to bed. Before I go, I must appligize. I am sorry to whoever posted on my blog as "Annomous". I posted harsh works back to you and I was not showing the love and compassion that I should have. You have every right to post your comments and not list your name. So, if you are reading this I hope you will forgive me and know that I value your words. Good night and God Bless.

In Him,
Derek