Shared Comfort

Hello everyone. I think this is going to be a tough post so sit down, buckle in, and get ready for some movement in this place. So, for those of you who do not know, I love the bachelor and the bachelorette. Like really  love these two shows. They sometimes feel like my Christmas given that I usually have a countdown to each new season and I keep a close eye on social media for any spoilers. I have an opinion on almost every contestant and if you were to ask me after the first episode, I'd probably have my guess of who I thought was going to win. (As a side note, in every season I have watched, my episode one pick has been in the top three...not to brag or anything...I just thought you should know). What I especially love about this show is how each new bachelor and bachelorette has such a different personality from the previous ones. But for some reason, this season's bachelorette--Hannah--has stolen my heart. She is the definition of a strong woman who is well-spoken and s...

I woke up this morning thinking a lot about the disciples and how they probably felt on this day during their ministry with Jesus. I truly have an insane amount of respect for them. Today is the day between the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ and I could imagine how much sleep those men lost over what was expected to happen tomorrow. Every word exchanged in the upper room two nights before and all of the allusive parables told over the three years of ministry probably felt like their only source of oxygen as they waited. The hope felt life-giving, I'm sure. If I had coffee with one of the disciples today, I would ask them how they did it. How they coped with the idea that the prophecy could quite possibly be a lie and the man they had grown to know was an imposter. I mean, this day was the true testament of faith for these eleven men (given that Judas took his life after the betrayal. And...I'm sure he would have been rooting against  the prophecy if he had lived p...

Hello! I've been thinking a lot lately about my future husband. And by lately, I mean like for the past ten years he has been on my mind. Truthfully, I should say that he has been on my mind since I was a little girl. See, I've always been infatuated with the idea of marriage and finding a life-long companion and I think I have my mom and grandma to thank for this. They both have been praying for my future husband since literally the day I was born and growing up, they made this very well known. I remember being as young as ten years old and sitting with my grandma in her kitchen when she told me that she was praying for my future hubby. I can tell you with full confidence that ten year old Sydney thought this was the strangest thing in the world. I took one quick look at the boys in my fifth grade class and told my grandma that she could wait a few years before praying for my husband again. However, once I reached high school, I began to feel comfort in knowing that the Lo...

I've been feeling rather convicted of something recently so I thought: what better place to hash out my jumbled thoughts than the blog. So here I am. Hi. I should probably preface with a few things before we get started. First, you should know that I don't  always  know what I'm talking about (shocker, right?). And you aren't  always  going to agree with me (and that's okay!!). But please know that this post comes from the most sincere part of my heart to challenge and love you in ways that might make you feel uncomfortable. With that, I'd like to also point out that we are  called  to be uncomfortable. I had a friend of mine tell me the other day that I need to be speaking to more people I disagree with because my theological views aren't being challenged enough. So...this post might upset some of you. Truthfully--not to be rude--I couldn't care less. I stand by these opinions as much as I stand by my belief that Bigfoot does exist and that Biggie Sma...

I've been a bit heartbroken lately. I, like most (if not all) people, go through seasons of joy and seasons of sorrow. This season has clearly taken a sorrowful tone and I can't put words to exactly why. My heart aches for many things and this heartbrokenness--almost on a daily basis--leaves me in tears and leaves me exhausted. The sadness I feel is heavy and it shows itself in odd ways. I find myself crying over small things like the rain and feeling no motivation whatsoever to get out of bed in the morning. Now, before I continue, I'd like to mention that I do know what some of you are thinking. Yes, this sadness is a bit deeper than what most people feel but that is okay.  Before you diagnose me with anything, continue reading. This isn't actually about me. See, back to the good stuff, it seems like in this time, I know my battle. I wake up in the morning and pray hard against my enemy and prepare to fight the good fight. I wake up and clothe myself with the armor ...

Hello everyone. Yes, it has been an excessive amount of time since I last posted and yes, I am sorry. Not that many of you probably cared about my absence or even noticed but the polite thing to do is bring it up rather than ignore it. So here goes: I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I have no excuses. Simply, an apology. I guess I should probably catch you up on my life. I am finally  back home in Cruces and I have been for awhile. As much as I would like to say that my semester in Spain flew and I can't believe where the time went, I'd rather just be honest. The semester went by at a fairly normal (if not slower than usual) rate and I know exactly where the time went. I could probably give you a play-by-play of my day if you gave me a specific date to walk you through. In any case, last semester was a wonderful experience but being home is even more wonderful. And now that I am back in Cruces, I've been able to jump back into the church and build those rel...

Hello, hello! I truly am terrible at introductions. A part of me hopes that one day I will get better and the other part of me has come to terms with my terrible introductions. Anyways, I guess I could start off by saying that this post has been a few weeks in the making. It began as a single sentence in the notes section of my phone and was added to/made sense of as time went on. The beginning sentence was typed up in the middle of the night when my mind wouldn't let me rest. I was wide awake and thinking of home when I pulled out my phone and typed up "the Lord has changed the game." Now, before I explain this sentence, I should give some background on myself. I am a planner. Not so much a day-by-day planner but I am very much a "big picture" planner. I have a very detailed idea of what my next five years will look like and any deviation from this idea makes me nervous. My five year plan involves ministry, peace corps work, and many other things--most of...

Hello, Things are better than my last post. I felt the need to start this post off by easing any minds that were worried about me and my homesickness. I am doing better. Thank you for the concern, thank you for the prayers, and thank you for the encouragement. Everyday I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the community that surrounds and grounds me. But it's when I am feeling particularly sad that people send love and encouragement from all directions and my heart swells. Grateful just doesn't seem to communicate how I truly feel but for a lack of better words, I will say that I am grateful. Grateful for community, encouragement, and Christ's attributes found in people. Anyways, now that we are done with my sappy note, I have things to share!! As always, I want to start this post with a story or some background information--the rising action as some may say. So, when I was deciding where to study abroad last year, I chose Spain specifically for the language. As most of y...

Day two of my semester abroad: I just made a countdown to when I can see my parents. Day two of my semester abroad: I almost feel like I am ready to go home. Day two of my semester abroad: maybe I'm just not cut out for this. I have a few stories to tell you all. Let's begin. Homesick story #1: I remember when I was eight years old and at camp for the first time ever, my homesickness hit me so hard that I sat under the waterslide and cried until my counselor came to get me. I couldn't sing the worship songs because I heard too much of my mom in them and I couldn't do activities because all I wanted to do was experience them with my dad. Homesick story #2: about ten years later, when I worked at this camp as a counselor, I was away from home for a three month period but would visit home once every month. My visit home would be no longer than 24 hours and each visit felt more and more painful. At about week 8, I remember very vividly sitting on my bed during the w...

Hello, my name is Sydney and I am undeniably dramatic. Those of you who personally know me will read this, laugh, and probably recall an instance where I have been exceptionally dramatic and emotional. As I have mentioned many times before, I am moved to tears almost everyday over the smallest things like hearing an old Maroon 5 song or getting a good discount on clothes. This is just who I am. I've always been this way. I can think of a million times where I have been made fun of for the way I handle my emotions. When I was younger, I used to get extensively hurt when someone would call me dramatic. In high school, it would anger me to the point of my face turning red and it would lead me to scream in my car when I was alone. I felt like people would discredit my opinion because of how dramatic I was and it made me feel small and unappreciated. To this day, people still call me dramatic but as of about two years ago, it doesn't affect me as much as it used to. Here's wha...

Hello, everyone. This post is being written out of spite for the papers I have due in the morning that have not even been started yet. Please, enjoy my procrastination as I pour out my "heavy thoughts" to you. Entonces, let us begin. I'd like to start by giving you a small glimpse into my odd mind. I believe that in Heaven, there is a book titled with my name and in that book, there is everything I've ever experienced written down and divided into chapters. I'd imagine that each chapter has a clever name with a funny pun in it--given my sense of humor--or the chapters are named with some random book reference that nobody would understand but me and the person who created my heart. I can think of the many chapters of my life but I think of the most recent one that came to a close. It should be titled "the Great Perhaps." This is the chapter of my summer. The chapter that I spent exploring the North American Continent, exploring who I was, and explorin...

And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and waves, the people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  And then they will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:25-28. ESV This morning I woke up and checked social media to see record of the largest mass shooting in USA, to date. I don't know what overcame me but tears instantly began running down my face. Anyone can attest to how emotional I am. If I am overcome with any emotion that isn't my neutral emotion, I cry. I cry hard. However, these recent disasters haven't led me to tears until today. Today, I found myself sobbing as I was having one of those "you've got to be kidding me" conve...

I didn't want to write this post. As a matter of fact, it was an "avoid at all costs" topic and I would get hot and shaky when someone would ask me when my last post about Costa Rica was going to be up. I had a friend in high school who told me that she never watched the last episode of any TV series so she never had to face the end of it. Similarly, it seemed as though my heart was doing the same exact thing with my mission trip to Costa Rica-- if I don't talk about the end then it doesn't really have to be over. During a car ride today, my mother asked me why I hadn't posted my last blog about Costa Rica and suddenly felt guilty (thank you--no thank you--spirit of conviction). How incredibly rude of me to bottle up what the Lord had done during the last week of my trip in Costa Rica. The Lord didn't send me all the way to Costa Rica for me to sit in my room and avoid telling people about what He did. In fact, He sent me there for quite the opposite. ...

This past week flew by. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was typing up my previous blogpost and questioning if I'd actually be able to make it through the week (surprise: I lived). The days here in the Rich Coast blend together and it makes it easy to lose track of time. As of today I officially have nine days left in San Pedro and my heart isn't ready for the separation. I've said it before and I'll say it a million times over: I am in love with Costa Rica and I dread the day that I have to say goodbye. Costa Rica is unique in many different ways but specifically in the way that the land is structured. Near San Pedro are two massive volcanoes that seem to dominate the land. Because of this, the majority of the land is either up or downhill and hardly anything is flat. The roads wind up and down through residential areas and coffee farms and it seems that if you drive any further up, you'll eventually reach the sky. (The clouds also have a way of resting...

Week one is officially over. It's a little bitter sweet to say that I can check that off of my list but I'm grateful for the work of the Lord in such a short amount of time. The country of Costa Rica is truly one of the most incredible places I have ever been. The people here are so genuine and the nature is next-level beautiful (you can literally see a volcano smoking from our backyard). I've fallen in love with this country and it might be a little difficult to get me back to the states. On the ministry side of things, I can tell you that the Lord surprised me with how I would be serving this country. I don't want to lie to you, I expected to be preaching to the little kiddos and leading massive worship sessions in the park while random people joined along. However, when I got here, I quickly noticed that our ministry revolved around everyday things like painting  a recycling  center and cleaning up the backyard of a boys home. I guess the best way to put it is th...

Goodness gracious. The Lord is so sweet and His presence in my team so far has been incredible. The past four days we have been at training camp: sleeping in tents, showering with buckets, spending an endless amount of time in worship, and listening to different people teach. The whole purpose of this time was to build relationships in our teams and dive deeper into the vast love of the Lord that we are going out to share in Costa Rica. I've learned so many things in these past few days. I've learned some life tips like how sometimes baby wipes will have to suffice as a cleaning device, also how rainflies on tents only work to certain extent but sometimes the rain just gets in, and lastly how chocolate tastes one million times sweeter after you've craved it for four days and finally get it at the airport at 1:00AM. Most importantly, though, I've learned some kingdom tips. I've learned that the Lord actually talks to me (whatttt) and most of the time, I just have...

I guess I would like to begin by welcoming everyone to my blog! Whether you are checking in for my mission or simply hoping to read my jumbled thoughts, I hope that you find the Lord here. This is my first post ever so I wanted to explain my url "shared comfort." When I finally got myself to sit down and create this blog for my mission (that I leave for in three days by the way) I was trying to come up with creative blog titles that would instantly notify someone that this blog was a christian blog. However, it seemed as though all of the titles I wanted were taken and, for the life of me, I couldn't come up with anything that worked. I then began to look through the verses I have bookmarked on the app on my phone and stumbled across 2 Corinthians 1:5&7 which say: 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 7 Our hope for you in unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will al...