Welcome to my life

Hey everyone!

My name is Arica.  I'm married to the most wonderful, brilliant, talented man in the world, Randall, and we have an adorable, mischievous, hilarious Golden Retriever named Felix Mendelssohn (after the composer, of course). We call Louisville, KY "home" for now, and we do love it here.  We're music, art, coffee, dog, people, and Jesus lovers.

I'm sitting here in my leather arm chair, creating this blog, with my Golden pup sitting on my feet.  It's a grey day in Louisville, but really, this is my favorite kind of day.  Fall brings out the best in me.  Born and raised in Colorado, I have a strong inclination to all things related to Fall and Winter.  The leaves, the smells, the clothes (all heart eyes), the foods, the cold weather, the holidays; it all brings a smile to my face and makes my heart happy.

Everything changes in the Fall.  There are many who think it's depressing--the "dying" plant life, the hidden sun, and piling on the layers to keep warm.  Most people think I'm crazy for loving it...and that's okay.  Bring on the scarves!

I've noticed lately that people tend to put a lot of focus on the Spring time...signs of newness, all green and clean.  I think a lot of people tend to forget that the newness can't happen without shedding the old life.  I've been thinking about that lately...

I'm a Christian.  Completely and totally unashamed to say so.  This blog will be about...well, everything.  But I cannot separate the "rest" of my life from being a child of God, because that's who I am.  So everything this blog is about will be sprinkled with who I am in Christ.  Fashion, food, my dog, travel...

Being a Christian has little to do with following rules and regulations, and has everything to do with being eternally grateful to our Creator who gave His life for us...the very least I can do is give my life, completely surrendered, back to Him.

Completely surrendered.  What does that even mean?  I will be bold enough to say that many Christians often live a watered down version of complete surrender, INCLUDING myself.  I owe everything I have and everything I am to the goodness and grace of God.  Everything.  And who am I to attempt to live two separate lives (the "church" Arica and the "normal" Arica)?  There's a whole lot of "me" to get rid of in order to be completely surrendered.

Selfishness. Pride. Greed. Envy. Fear. Hurt. Guilt. Boredom. Emotional pain. Bitterness.

And the most amazing part of it all?

Jesus still loves me...He sees every flaw, and He still loves me.

His plan is redemption and freedom.  And He's already done His part.

So what's my response?

Hanging on to every nasty, dirty, shameful part of my life?  Lord, help me.

The new, redeemed life cannot show its face until the old leaves have fallen off of the tree.

New, healthy fruit can't grow until the tree has been picked, pruned, and basically stripped down to nothing.

And that's what the harvest is for.  There are major benefits to harvest season.  Tasty Fall treats, for one (I have a serious sweet tooth, guys).  A lot of emphasis is placed on WHAT was harvested.  But the reality is that there would not be a successful harvest without thoroughly being cleaned out the year before.  The end of one harvest season is a direct preparation for the next planting season.

I'm DEFINITELY not a gardener (my husband thinks all plants in my care are doomed to death...for the record, I have a very successful aloe plant on my patio at the moment!!!), but I do know that gardens must be kept free of weeds and pests in order to bring forth the healthiest fruit.

Our spiritual (and physical...and emotional...) health is very much like this.

"To everything there is a season...a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, NKJV)

The act of sowing and reaping.

It's the same in relationships.  You will only get out of it what you put into it.

And it's the same with our relationship with God.

Expecting miracles and blessings, and not giving a single piece of ourselves to Him.

We don't give to Him to be blessed...we give to Him because He's blessed us.  He is good and kind.  The least we can give is ourselves.

The upkeep and the harvest, by the way, don't always "feel" great.  It's hard work.  Blood + sweat + tears kind of work.  The nasty weeds (bad attitudes, poisonous relationships, and well, sin) being plucked out, and the healthy fruit (our talents, accomplishments, promotions) being picked and turned around for the Kingdom's use...we can choose to see it as "dead" life falling from the tree, holes in the ground where roots once resided, and bare branches...OR we can see it as the biggest opportunity yet for further growth and success.  

So, today, I just wanted to "plant" this simple thought in your heads and hearts.  Allow Jesus to harvest what's there...even if it's not the "perfect" crop right now.  He'll take every hurt, every flaw, all the bitterness, and trade it for seeds of goodness, love, and blessings.  Let Him prepare you for the most fruitful season of your life.  He will do it, if you allow it.  Letting go of every weight and dead thing of the past.  We serve the God of redemption.

"That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth" (Ephesians 4:22-24, NASB).

Thanks for reading my heart today.  I tend to think I have nothing to say, and then when I sit down and type it out, I'm suddenly long-winded.

Be encouraged today.  Love someone.

So long for now from me and Felix.

| Arica |