Life | Jason Vana

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You Complete Me (and my gift)

October 24, 2011 in Life, Your Dream with 20 Appreciated Comments

Photo Credit: Andy Hay (Creative Commons)

I’m a visionary.

I like to come up with new ideas. I thrive on imagining what the future could be. It’s easy for me to take an idea, business structure, organization or just a passion and come up with ways to make it bigger, better. I’m constantly challenging others to think bigger, pushing their ideas beyond what they can imagine.

I like to dream.
And vision.
And imagine.

It’s almost second nature for me.

And right now, that gift seems to be the most important one a person could have.

The Seasons of Life

September 30, 2011 in Life with 21 Appreciated Comments

Photo Credit: Don LaVange (Creative Commons)

Seasons are a natural part of life.

It’s something we learn at an early age.

Winter comes, bringing with it death and decay and hibernation. Trees are bare, flowers are non existent, and everything is covered in a layer of white. Unless you live in a tropical paradise that doesn’t get the curse of snow.

Winter’s barrenness then gives away to spring, with the return of new life. Flowers. Tree buds. Birds. Squirrels. As the days go on, the temperatures rise and we find ourselves in summer, with its heat, humidity, long sunny days and (hopefully) cooler nights. But just as quickly as summer comes, it fades into the cooler temperatures of fall, where leaves die, plants go dormant and nature prepares for winter.

How you live in one season, the activities in which you partake, the clothes you wear, even how you spend your time is different than in another season.

We know this.

Expect it, even.

Consider it Pure Joy

September 21, 2011 in Life with 27 Appreciated Comments

Photo credit: kelvinc82.blogspot.com (Creative Commons)

Sometimes, I think the apostle James was on crack.

Bold statement, I know. Who am I to accuse one of the original apostles, a man who helped shape and mold the early church, of doing drugs? But every time I read the book of James, every time my eyes try to stroll pass that second verse without taking it in, every time I’m in a trial and trying to find comfort, I can’t help but think he was a little crazy. Or high on drugs. Or maybe just completely off his rocker.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” — James 1:2

Consider. It. Pure. Joy.

I Can Do All Things…

September 19, 2011 in Life with 26 Appreciated Comments

There’s an often mis-quoted verse that God has been dropping in my heart lately:

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:13

I’m sure you know the verse. No matter what you are going through, no matter what situation, hardship, or obstacle, God will give you the strength to endure. He will help you achieve any dream, impact any life, or start any ministry.

We can do all things.

It’s a great reassurance.

And while our typical interpretations of this verse are true, while God really does give us strength to face obstacles and fears and do amazing and mighty things for Him, that’s not really what Paul was talking about.

That’s Just Who I Am…

September 16, 2011 in Life with 13 Appreciated Comments

“That’s just who I am.”

Those words came at me at a defense for the way a friend was acting. No apology for the blow up. No “pardon my language” for the string of cuss words that came spilling out. No making amends, no trying to maintain the relationship, no recognition that we are responsible for our attitudes and our actions.

Just an excuse.
A “you’ll just have to deal with it, because this is who I am and I’m not changing at all” excuse.

Nothing more.

Do Not Be Afraid

September 14, 2011 in Life with 14 Appreciated Comments

Photo credit: Alexandre Dulaunoy (Creative Commons)

The past few days, I’ve done a lot of reflecting on fear.

I’d like to tell you that I don’t struggle with fear at all. I’d like to say that I’ve conquered fear and never let it dictate what happens in my life. I’d like to tell you that I step out in faith and courage in every circumstance. I’d love to be able to say that I lean more towards faith than fear, hope than discouragement, moving forward than standing still.

I’d like to, but I can’t.
Because at some level, I still allow fear to influence what I do.

I still hesitate to make the phone call, ask for missions support, move forward with decisions, and commit fully to what God has for me. I still question if I’ve made the right decisions, wonder what will come of the ministry and business I’ve started, and have that nagging feeling that I’m just one step away from failing at it all. I’m anxious about committing to one church, getting involved, and then have it ripped away. Again.

I still deal with fear.
We all do.