Philippians 1: 3-8 "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right nor me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus."
How many friends do you have who are Christians?
How many friends do you have who are Christians and actually talk with you about faith, encourage you, go with you on missions and pray with you?
The book of Acts (The Acts of the Apostles) is a record of some of the most successful Gospel outreach in history. If you are wanting to go into ministry, or be able to share the Truth of Jesus with the people around you, I would highly recommend reading it through beginning to end. Even if you DON'T want to do either of those things, keep reading, maybe you'll be inspired.
Most of the Christians mentioned in Acts are the guys who received the Great Commission directly from Jesus, and boy did they take it to heart. We can learn a lot by looking at how they lived their lives, effectively spread the gospel and led the way for Christianity to become the biggest "religion" in the world.
Right now I want to focus on one aspect of the lives of the apostles, one that is often overlooked:
Community.
Jesus called the 12 disciples to follow him, right? Which they did. For the entirety of Jesus' adult ministry on Earth (3 years I think), they went everywhere together. If you spent just about every minute of every day with 12 other people for THREE YEARS, don't you think you'd get to know them pretty well? Maybe get sorta attached, become friends even? Just a little. So, even after Jesus gave them their mission and went up to heaven, they stuck together. Not always physically, but even before cell phones, email, and facebook, they managed to keep in touch. They prayed for each other, met to worship and teach, and often traveled in pairs. As their community of believers grew, they had people in almost every city whom they could go to for help or rest if they were passing through. They kept each other accountable but still trusted each other. When Saul was converted and began his ministry, he tried to meet with the apostles, but they were afraid of him. Then Barnabas stepped in and basically said "He's for real, God called him." From then on he was accepted and allowed to stay with the other believers.
The first Christians really understood the power of prayer- of asking God to do something that humans never could. A big reason for this may be that they had actually met Jesus and seen Him perform miracles, so to them, praying was just like talking to Jesus, asking Him to do what He does best. Which is what prayer still is today. Anyways, they prayed SO MUCH! And it paid off. After Herod killed James, the brother of John, he captured Peter also because the citizens liked it when he killed Christians. So Peter was thrown in jail before his trial. He had SIXTEEN guards in charge of him, and was literally chained down within his cell. His trial is the next day. That's pretty much the most hopeless situation I can imagine. Still, he had his close friends, and all their close friends, and so on praying for him. Acts 12:5 says, "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." Can you guess what happened? While Peter was praying, an angel woke him up, Peters chains fell off, and Peter walked behind the angel right out of the prison, past the guards, and outside the city gate. Peter didn't even know what was happening, he thought he was dreaming! He was freed by the grace of God and through the many prayers that the church said on his behalf.
The first thing Peter did once he was out was go to Mary's house, where there was a prayer session going on. He encouraged them with the story of his rescue, and made sure they would tell "the brothers" about it as well. It was important that the church hear Peter's good news.
Okay, so I don't know how clear those stories were to you in regard to our lives today. What I'm trying to get across here is that it's important to stick together. When the disciples gathered together to preach at Pentecost, THREE THOUSAND people came to faith in Christ. That's amazing. The church made it a priority to meet together and pray for each other. The result was an extremely effective ministry that was the foundation for the Christian church we have today. A lot of people that I talk to who don't have a home church say that they feel they don't need a church. You can still believe in God without going to church, right? That is true, but as the stories in Acts show, the benefits of having a group of believers who will pray for you and help you out far outweigh the sacrifice of having to get up early on Sunday. If you don't connect well with "church people" or have another reason why you can't go to a regular church, please consider finding a TEC (teens encounter Christ, www.southerntec.org) or Young Life (www.younglife.org) near you.
If you already know a good group of Christians- consider yourself very blessed!! I speak from past personal experience that many Christians feel alone, even if they've grown up in the church. Make an effort to connect with those Christians and do something as simple as let them know you'll be praying for them. We are stronger together than alone. Blogging is a good way to share your thoughts with other Christians, teach each other, encourage each other, find out who you can be praying for specifically, and share any prayer requests you might have.
Basically, I can't emphasize enough how amazing it is to have believers who will go through life with you. We are closer than brothers and sisters. God brings people together to work for His good, and it can be stronger than any earthly friendship. The love and fellowship between followers of Christ is absolutely amazing and truly rewarding.
Acts 18:27 "When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed."
Acts 15:32-35 "Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord."
1 Thessalonians 5:11-15 "Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else."
Philippians 1: 3-8 "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right nor me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus."
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Twenty-first Century Holocaust
Holocaust. [hol-uh-kawst] -noun
1. a great or complete devastation, especially by fire.
2. a sacrifice completely consumed by fire; burnt offering.
3. (usually initial capital letter) the systematic mass slaughter of European Jews in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. (usually preceded by "the")
4. Any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life.
Some of you might have already guessed this, but yes, I'm referring to the abortion holocaust that goes on today all over the world. And yes, I realize that "holocaust" is a powerful word to describe what many people view as a "medical procedure." Everyone knows what The Holocaust was, we learn about it in school, we read about it and even hear a few first hand accounts of how damaging it was- to families, to its victims, to the entire world. I remember in the middle of my freshman year, we were reading "Night" by Elie Wiesel and for an in-class assignment we had to look at pictures of holocaust victims online. It was horrifying. Similarly, I've looked at photographs of abortion victims on standtrue.com (go there- click "Educate Yourself"- click the "Abortion" link under "The Issues"- scroll down and click "Pictures of Aborted Babies.") and been totally shocked. They're babies. Premature and tiny, but babies nonetheless. Babies that have been pulled from the womb or drowned or chemically murdered.
It seems to me that the biggest debate relating to abortion is the exact moment that human life begins. The most convincing proof that I've seen that supports the idea that life begins at conception is this:
Psalm 51:5 "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me."
This psalmist states that he was conceived in sin. Think about that for a second. Sin. Does sin affect your physical body? No, it hurts your soul. Therefore, since the psalmist, and all of us for that matter, were sinful from the moment of conception, we must have had a soul from the moment of conception. From a biblical standpoint (and in my opinion, that's the truest standpoint there is) abortion is murder. I think everyone will agree that murder is wrong, yes?
Well, it's happening in unfathomable amounts. 4,000 babies a day are aborted. Murdered. 50 MILLION have been killed in the United States since the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973. Can you picture 50 million people? I have trouble imagining any amount above 25 thousand (because that's how many there were in the superdome during the NYG). Anyway, I firmly believe those 50 million aborted human beings are now with Jesus in heaven. Which is certainly a better place to be, but it's devastating to think of the lives they could have led here on Earth, the people they could have touched, and the ideas they could have contributed to society. COULD HAVE, but never will.
Now, you might still disagree with me. If you choose to discredit the bible, which is definitely a popular standpoint, then talk to women who have had abortions. Many women have reported having terrible nightmares about their unborn children crying out to them. The psychological effects are extensive and unsettling. Some polls show that 19% of the women surveyed regretted their decision, other polls came up with results as high as 50% who wish they had chosen to have their baby.
Post-abortion syndrome is an untreatable, often long-term condition that many women suffer from after having an abortion. While they do feel relieved immediately after, feelings of guilt and loneliness often surface on the anniversary of an abortion or during any kind of counseling. There are many symptoms of PAS, including: desire to "replace the baby", eating disorders, shame, substance abuse, bitterness, unexplained depression, removal from anything that would remind the woman of her abortion, broken relationships, nightmares, resentment, and suicide.
Many doctors would tell you that PAS does not exist or is extremely rare, but they usually conduct their studies soon after the abortion takes place, before the negative feelings begin.
Okay. I'm not a doctor, and if you don't believe me, by all means research it yourself. Some sites that have been helpful to me:
About the effects abortion has on women-
http://www.realchoicespcc.org/pastness.html
http://www.abortionfacts.com/reardon/after_effects_of_abortion.asp
Some statistics and information on Pro-life Silent Day of Solidarity-
http://silentday.org/
http://standtrue.com/ ("Educate Yourself" has some very good answers for skeptics and anyone wanting to learn more)
By reading what I've written up until this point, you have a choice: Reconcile this sinful behavior and make excuses, or take a stand for life. There is forgiveness to be found in Jesus, and we should certainly be reaching out to these women who are broken and hurting, but we cannot let this sin continue to plague our nation and our world. You are no longer ignorant, now please don't choose to be apathetic. Write letters to thank politicians who are fighting to stop abortion or write to them sharing your views on why they should start working to end abortion, participate in national events such as Pro-Life day of Silent Solidarity or 40 Days for Life, or simply know what you believe and be willing to speak up and defend the lives of unborn children who can't speak for themselves.
Please know that this post isn't meant to accuse or blame, but to inform and defend. Thank you.
Psalm 22:9-10
Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.
Jeremiah 1:4-5
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations"
1. a great or complete devastation, especially by fire.
2. a sacrifice completely consumed by fire; burnt offering.
3. (usually initial capital letter) the systematic mass slaughter of European Jews in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. (usually preceded by "the")
4. Any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life.
Some of you might have already guessed this, but yes, I'm referring to the abortion holocaust that goes on today all over the world. And yes, I realize that "holocaust" is a powerful word to describe what many people view as a "medical procedure." Everyone knows what The Holocaust was, we learn about it in school, we read about it and even hear a few first hand accounts of how damaging it was- to families, to its victims, to the entire world. I remember in the middle of my freshman year, we were reading "Night" by Elie Wiesel and for an in-class assignment we had to look at pictures of holocaust victims online. It was horrifying. Similarly, I've looked at photographs of abortion victims on standtrue.com (go there- click "Educate Yourself"- click the "Abortion" link under "The Issues"- scroll down and click "Pictures of Aborted Babies.") and been totally shocked. They're babies. Premature and tiny, but babies nonetheless. Babies that have been pulled from the womb or drowned or chemically murdered.
It seems to me that the biggest debate relating to abortion is the exact moment that human life begins. The most convincing proof that I've seen that supports the idea that life begins at conception is this:
Psalm 51:5 "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me."
This psalmist states that he was conceived in sin. Think about that for a second. Sin. Does sin affect your physical body? No, it hurts your soul. Therefore, since the psalmist, and all of us for that matter, were sinful from the moment of conception, we must have had a soul from the moment of conception. From a biblical standpoint (and in my opinion, that's the truest standpoint there is) abortion is murder. I think everyone will agree that murder is wrong, yes?
Well, it's happening in unfathomable amounts. 4,000 babies a day are aborted. Murdered. 50 MILLION have been killed in the United States since the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973. Can you picture 50 million people? I have trouble imagining any amount above 25 thousand (because that's how many there were in the superdome during the NYG). Anyway, I firmly believe those 50 million aborted human beings are now with Jesus in heaven. Which is certainly a better place to be, but it's devastating to think of the lives they could have led here on Earth, the people they could have touched, and the ideas they could have contributed to society. COULD HAVE, but never will.
Now, you might still disagree with me. If you choose to discredit the bible, which is definitely a popular standpoint, then talk to women who have had abortions. Many women have reported having terrible nightmares about their unborn children crying out to them. The psychological effects are extensive and unsettling. Some polls show that 19% of the women surveyed regretted their decision, other polls came up with results as high as 50% who wish they had chosen to have their baby.
Post-abortion syndrome is an untreatable, often long-term condition that many women suffer from after having an abortion. While they do feel relieved immediately after, feelings of guilt and loneliness often surface on the anniversary of an abortion or during any kind of counseling. There are many symptoms of PAS, including: desire to "replace the baby", eating disorders, shame, substance abuse, bitterness, unexplained depression, removal from anything that would remind the woman of her abortion, broken relationships, nightmares, resentment, and suicide.
Many doctors would tell you that PAS does not exist or is extremely rare, but they usually conduct their studies soon after the abortion takes place, before the negative feelings begin.
Okay. I'm not a doctor, and if you don't believe me, by all means research it yourself. Some sites that have been helpful to me:
About the effects abortion has on women-
http://www.realchoicespcc.org/pastness.html
http://www.abortionfacts.com/reardon/after_effects_of_abortion.asp
Some statistics and information on Pro-life Silent Day of Solidarity-
http://silentday.org/
http://standtrue.com/ ("Educate Yourself" has some very good answers for skeptics and anyone wanting to learn more)
By reading what I've written up until this point, you have a choice: Reconcile this sinful behavior and make excuses, or take a stand for life. There is forgiveness to be found in Jesus, and we should certainly be reaching out to these women who are broken and hurting, but we cannot let this sin continue to plague our nation and our world. You are no longer ignorant, now please don't choose to be apathetic. Write letters to thank politicians who are fighting to stop abortion or write to them sharing your views on why they should start working to end abortion, participate in national events such as Pro-Life day of Silent Solidarity or 40 Days for Life, or simply know what you believe and be willing to speak up and defend the lives of unborn children who can't speak for themselves.
Please know that this post isn't meant to accuse or blame, but to inform and defend. Thank you.
Psalm 22:9-10
Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.
Jeremiah 1:4-5
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations"
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Conflicting Theories
Hullo.
First off, can I just say what a gorgeous day it is?? Perfect weather- sunny but not too hot, a slight breeze, clear air. I took the boys outside for a picnic lunch :) God is such a fantastic artist. wow.
Now, getting to what I actually want to talk about right now:
When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a singer. Oh, sometimes I had a long list and sometimes it was just two things, but one of them was always "Singer." I have a musical family- my dad is now a saxophone/trumpet teacher and a professional musician, my mom leads worship at my church, my brother is honestly the best nonprofessional drummer I know, my oldest brother is an amazing saxophone player and participates in jazz band at his college, my aunt has sung opera for many years and plays oboe and English horn, and my grandparents were both band directors. I'm not saying that I feel pressured into a musical career, but it runs in the family. I've had a lot of exposure to music and my family has taught me a lot about it. Singing is my passion, I love it. Even better is singing not just to be heard, but to worship. So even after other kids gave up their dreams of being rock stars or movie stars or the president, I held on. I felt like singing was the natural place for me to be.
Over the past months I've been motivated to actually do something about my dreams. I've been writing songs since I was 11 or 12, and I've continued doing that with renewed interest and bigger intentions. I want to use the amazing gifts that God has given me to worship Him and lead many people to worship him as well. That makes sense, doesn't it?
Here's where it gets... problematic.
Problem number one is my pride. I want to be someone that others look up to and admire. I think that if I ever ended up being a well-known Christian musician, I would put too much focus on myself and on my music. I do honestly want to worship and praise God with my music, but I want to do it on a big stage. I just don't know if that's just because I think I could change people's lives (there i go with that "I" again) or because I'm selfish and conceited. I think that I'm a great singer. I think I have what it takes to get a record deal and go on tour and all that. That's where problem number two comes in.
Problem number two= I have what it takes. At least I'm pretty confident that I do. I have talent, no fear of public speaking, and a message (or several messages) that I want the world to hear. However, it's known by many Christians that God uses unlikely people to get his biggest work done. Noah couldn't speak well, Esther was young and had no desire for power, Saul wasn't even a believer until God called him to do big things. God tends to skip over those people who 1. don't have pure motives or 2. are the people everyone would expect to do big things. So, since both of those apply to me, I'm confused. Why would God give me this passion if I wasn't meant to lead thousands of people in worship and to encourage them as well?
So as I've pondered all this today, a few things came to mind.
-Music has always been my identity. Maybe I'm supposed to give it up so I can find my identity in Christ.
-I read a devotion this morning that said "success is never God's plan for us." He wants me to grow in Him and serve Him in every little way possible, and I agree.
-Now I'm trying to humble myself and commit the little, everyday things I do to Him. But even with that, am I being selfish? Do I just want to be faithful and humble so God will put me in a position of great leadership? I don't know.
-If God doesn't choose me to do anything big, He still loves me just as much. He will never love me less because of what I do or don't do with my life. Even if I totally screw it up and end up spending the majority of my life in jail or as a drug addict, His love for me will be stronger than I can imagine.
-It seems like I'm qualified do this job by the world's standards, but if God uses people who are unqualified, then I would literally be unqualified. Or maybe there are no qualifications, because maybe God really does use anyone, regardless of their strengths or weaknesses.
-Maybe all this is just doubt given to me by the devil to discourage me.
-I'm not supposed to know what's going to happen tomorrow. Only God knows, and he will work everything out. Does that mean I shouldn't plan ahead? Should I just sit around waiting for God to smack me in the head with an opportunity? I don't think so. But if I'm SUPPOSED to act now, how do I know that I'm not wasting my time, because God has something different planned for me? (Okay, this last bullet point is probably best answered by my big brother's blog, www.theroc1217.blogspot.com . I just forget things too easily I guess.)
Psalm 100
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Also, listen to Forgiven by Sanctus Real.
Verse 2 says:
My mistakes are running through my mind
And I’ll relive my days, in the middle of the night
When I struggle with my pain, wrestle with my pride
Sometimes I feel alone, and I cry
In this life
I know what I’ve been
But here in your arms
I know what I am
I'm forgiven.
That song just kinda spoke to my heart so I thought I'd share it. <3
First off, can I just say what a gorgeous day it is?? Perfect weather- sunny but not too hot, a slight breeze, clear air. I took the boys outside for a picnic lunch :) God is such a fantastic artist. wow.
Now, getting to what I actually want to talk about right now:
When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a singer. Oh, sometimes I had a long list and sometimes it was just two things, but one of them was always "Singer." I have a musical family- my dad is now a saxophone/trumpet teacher and a professional musician, my mom leads worship at my church, my brother is honestly the best nonprofessional drummer I know, my oldest brother is an amazing saxophone player and participates in jazz band at his college, my aunt has sung opera for many years and plays oboe and English horn, and my grandparents were both band directors. I'm not saying that I feel pressured into a musical career, but it runs in the family. I've had a lot of exposure to music and my family has taught me a lot about it. Singing is my passion, I love it. Even better is singing not just to be heard, but to worship. So even after other kids gave up their dreams of being rock stars or movie stars or the president, I held on. I felt like singing was the natural place for me to be.
Over the past months I've been motivated to actually do something about my dreams. I've been writing songs since I was 11 or 12, and I've continued doing that with renewed interest and bigger intentions. I want to use the amazing gifts that God has given me to worship Him and lead many people to worship him as well. That makes sense, doesn't it?
Here's where it gets... problematic.
Problem number one is my pride. I want to be someone that others look up to and admire. I think that if I ever ended up being a well-known Christian musician, I would put too much focus on myself and on my music. I do honestly want to worship and praise God with my music, but I want to do it on a big stage. I just don't know if that's just because I think I could change people's lives (there i go with that "I" again) or because I'm selfish and conceited. I think that I'm a great singer. I think I have what it takes to get a record deal and go on tour and all that. That's where problem number two comes in.
Problem number two= I have what it takes. At least I'm pretty confident that I do. I have talent, no fear of public speaking, and a message (or several messages) that I want the world to hear. However, it's known by many Christians that God uses unlikely people to get his biggest work done. Noah couldn't speak well, Esther was young and had no desire for power, Saul wasn't even a believer until God called him to do big things. God tends to skip over those people who 1. don't have pure motives or 2. are the people everyone would expect to do big things. So, since both of those apply to me, I'm confused. Why would God give me this passion if I wasn't meant to lead thousands of people in worship and to encourage them as well?
So as I've pondered all this today, a few things came to mind.
-Music has always been my identity. Maybe I'm supposed to give it up so I can find my identity in Christ.
-I read a devotion this morning that said "success is never God's plan for us." He wants me to grow in Him and serve Him in every little way possible, and I agree.
-Now I'm trying to humble myself and commit the little, everyday things I do to Him. But even with that, am I being selfish? Do I just want to be faithful and humble so God will put me in a position of great leadership? I don't know.
-If God doesn't choose me to do anything big, He still loves me just as much. He will never love me less because of what I do or don't do with my life. Even if I totally screw it up and end up spending the majority of my life in jail or as a drug addict, His love for me will be stronger than I can imagine.
-It seems like I'm qualified do this job by the world's standards, but if God uses people who are unqualified, then I would literally be unqualified. Or maybe there are no qualifications, because maybe God really does use anyone, regardless of their strengths or weaknesses.
-Maybe all this is just doubt given to me by the devil to discourage me.
-I'm not supposed to know what's going to happen tomorrow. Only God knows, and he will work everything out. Does that mean I shouldn't plan ahead? Should I just sit around waiting for God to smack me in the head with an opportunity? I don't think so. But if I'm SUPPOSED to act now, how do I know that I'm not wasting my time, because God has something different planned for me? (Okay, this last bullet point is probably best answered by my big brother's blog, www.theroc1217.blogspot.com . I just forget things too easily I guess.)
Psalm 100
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Also, listen to Forgiven by Sanctus Real.
Verse 2 says:
My mistakes are running through my mind
And I’ll relive my days, in the middle of the night
When I struggle with my pain, wrestle with my pride
Sometimes I feel alone, and I cry
In this life
I know what I’ve been
But here in your arms
I know what I am
I'm forgiven.
That song just kinda spoke to my heart so I thought I'd share it. <3
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Expectations
I'm not expected to keep my room clean.
I'm not expected to dress modestly.
I'm not expected to help out around the house.
I'm not expected to learn during the summer.
Last night I started reading the book "Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris. It was sorta sad actually, because I've been waiting to go buy this book for at least two weeks, and then I went with my mom to get it and she's like "Oh, your brother has this book!" Sooo I went back home, grabbed it from his room, and FINALLY started reading it.
I'm about halfway done, and the thing that hit me the hardest out of all the interesting points I've read, is the idea of low expectations. Have you ever thought about what the world expects of you as a teenager? Your parents might expect more of you than your English teacher, or the other way around. Hopefully you expect something of yourself. I started cleaning my room last night, and while throwing away trash and listening to Anberlin on my iphone, I thought about what people DON'T expect from me. The three statements listed above are just some of the things that no one really expects me to do, but I think they should.
Well, I take that back. No PERSON expects me to do those things, but God does. All of God's commandments and guidelines for living a pure, godly life apply to youth as well. God expects us to obey our parents, listen to our teachers and follow their instructions, grow in our faith and in our earthly knowledge, and treat everyone with love and respect. We are to stay away from things that could harm us, like drinking, drugs, smoking, excess junk food, laziness, selfishness, and sexual immorality. We're supposed to give ten percent of what we get to the church! How many teenagers forget all these things or just blow them off thinking "I'll get around to following God when I'm older?" Here's the thing: If you don't start now, the chances that you'll magically start when you graduate high school or college, or get a job are much lower.
So, if you're on fire for God but don't know how to show people, this is it. Rise above expectations. You will absolutely blow people away. They will be shocked and confused as to why you're trying harder than you have to! And don't just rise above the below-the-floor expectations of our society, because most of us have already done that. Rise above all else to meet God's expectations. You'll never do it, but He still wants you to try. The expectations of the Lord are insanely high for a reason- so we will never stop growing, trusting Him, and learning to be more like Jesus. WWJD? He wouldn't sit around eating chips and watching sitcoms while people are dying outside. He wouldn't wait until the last minute to do in His homework, because He'll probably get a B even with minimum work. My sixth grade English teacher used to say "I run on an M4M system. Maximum effort for maximum results, and minimum effort for minimum results." That's just like life. You can definitely get some results from doing the bare minimum, but most of us have aspirations that are higher than that. Do you want to succeed and grow and make a difference? Then stop sinking to meet the expectations of this world, and start growing to get closer to God's. Every area of your life, no matter how little you care about it, could benefit you if you work hard in it. Don't strive to be the best. Instead, strive to grow- every day, every minute, to grow a little more. You'll meet your goal right away, and yet it's never truly finished. There's always more space to climb when God is the top of the ladder.
2 Timothy 4:12
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity."
2 Timothy 2:22
"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
Monday, July 26, 2010
Making Time
Hello Again! It's been too long since I posted on my blog, so here you go :)
I was in New Orleans for the past two weeks which is why I wasn't able to write much. Actually, I believe I wrote a post or two while I was at the hotel, but once the actual National Youth Gathering began, I've busy every second of every day until right about now. So sorry for the break, but it's good to be back!
I haven't thought this post through like I normally do before I begin, so it might be a bit jumbled, but bear with me.
Have you ever made a To-Do list? I make them all the time. Especially when my life gets insane like it has lately. I actually make a To-Do list last night, and here are just a few of the things it included:
- Blog about ____,____, and ____
-Write out piano parts for songs
-CLEAN ROOM!
-Go shopping
-Read "Do Hard Things"
-Give old clothes and stuff away
As I was writing this, I got a little freaked out that I wouldn't be able to do all these things. I have to babysit a lot this week, and I usually don't have much free time while I'm watching the boys (although obviously I have some, because I'm writing this while babysitting. Zeke is to my left reading, and Silas is in front of me using up his videogame time). My life always gets like this and I feel like I'm hanging off a cliff. With each thing I check off my list, I pull myself a little closer to safety. Now I know there's got to be something wrong with being stressed out. Suresh, a missionary from India who visited our church recently, made a comment about how "everyone is in such a big hurry!" and I was basically thinking "well yeah we have tons of stuff to do!" But now that I think about it, doesn't he have lots to do as well? He's a missionary for goodness sakes! Talk about a stressful job- he has to be on the lookout for Hindus who want to kill him, always running from town to town to check up on the Christians there and preach the gospel in places where's it's not always known or accepted. It's a huge task to try to tell an entire country about God, but Suresh is confident that it will be done. Why?
I'm sure it has to do with trusting God, accepting God's peace, and making time for Him even when there's no time to spare. As far as my list goes, if I ask God to help me get everything done, it'll happen. I probably won't turn into a supermultitasker for a day and be able to accomplish everything as fast as my impatient self wants to, but I will get it done someday with God's help. I don't have to rush through life, worried that I won't be able to do all the things I want/need to, and then die. Honestly, some of the things that I stress out about doing aren't even that important. God will lead me through.
And if there's anything I learned this past winter when I had mono, it's the importance of rest. A well rested person can accomplish twice as much as someone who is tired and overworked, plus they will feel better. I haven't been good about this lately, but I'm going to try hard to get a good amount of sleep in the future. Sleep is a time for our body to heal and grow, and our minds to recharge and calm down.
Spiritual rest is just as necessary as physical rest, though sadly it's often looked on as a waste of time or just "something extra" that you can do. That's not true. Reading the bible on your own, doing devotions, and having quiet prayer time are some of the most important things you will ever do in life. We are supposed to remain in God, study the holy scriptures, pray in every circumstance about everything. The bible is the living, active Word of God, and it will help you in an enormous way, no matter how many times you've already read it. It's hard to live like Jesus if you don't know how Jesus lived. Pour your heart out to God, study his Words, and He will give you spiritual growth and healing.
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yolk on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yolk is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
I was in New Orleans for the past two weeks which is why I wasn't able to write much. Actually, I believe I wrote a post or two while I was at the hotel, but once the actual National Youth Gathering began, I've busy every second of every day until right about now. So sorry for the break, but it's good to be back!
I haven't thought this post through like I normally do before I begin, so it might be a bit jumbled, but bear with me.
Have you ever made a To-Do list? I make them all the time. Especially when my life gets insane like it has lately. I actually make a To-Do list last night, and here are just a few of the things it included:
- Blog about ____,____, and ____
-Write out piano parts for songs
-CLEAN ROOM!
-Go shopping
-Read "Do Hard Things"
-Give old clothes and stuff away
As I was writing this, I got a little freaked out that I wouldn't be able to do all these things. I have to babysit a lot this week, and I usually don't have much free time while I'm watching the boys (although obviously I have some, because I'm writing this while babysitting. Zeke is to my left reading, and Silas is in front of me using up his videogame time). My life always gets like this and I feel like I'm hanging off a cliff. With each thing I check off my list, I pull myself a little closer to safety. Now I know there's got to be something wrong with being stressed out. Suresh, a missionary from India who visited our church recently, made a comment about how "everyone is in such a big hurry!" and I was basically thinking "well yeah we have tons of stuff to do!" But now that I think about it, doesn't he have lots to do as well? He's a missionary for goodness sakes! Talk about a stressful job- he has to be on the lookout for Hindus who want to kill him, always running from town to town to check up on the Christians there and preach the gospel in places where's it's not always known or accepted. It's a huge task to try to tell an entire country about God, but Suresh is confident that it will be done. Why?
I'm sure it has to do with trusting God, accepting God's peace, and making time for Him even when there's no time to spare. As far as my list goes, if I ask God to help me get everything done, it'll happen. I probably won't turn into a supermultitasker for a day and be able to accomplish everything as fast as my impatient self wants to, but I will get it done someday with God's help. I don't have to rush through life, worried that I won't be able to do all the things I want/need to, and then die. Honestly, some of the things that I stress out about doing aren't even that important. God will lead me through.
And if there's anything I learned this past winter when I had mono, it's the importance of rest. A well rested person can accomplish twice as much as someone who is tired and overworked, plus they will feel better. I haven't been good about this lately, but I'm going to try hard to get a good amount of sleep in the future. Sleep is a time for our body to heal and grow, and our minds to recharge and calm down.
Spiritual rest is just as necessary as physical rest, though sadly it's often looked on as a waste of time or just "something extra" that you can do. That's not true. Reading the bible on your own, doing devotions, and having quiet prayer time are some of the most important things you will ever do in life. We are supposed to remain in God, study the holy scriptures, pray in every circumstance about everything. The bible is the living, active Word of God, and it will help you in an enormous way, no matter how many times you've already read it. It's hard to live like Jesus if you don't know how Jesus lived. Pour your heart out to God, study his Words, and He will give you spiritual growth and healing.
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yolk on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yolk is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Humbled
God has a funny way of humbling us sometimes.
Like when you get all psyched up to lead worship for a couple thousand people, then, as it turns out, you only play for fifteen? It's not the best feeling in the world.
BUT, in the midst of disappointment, we can remember that it makes no difference how many people are worshipping with us, because it's not a show.
God will humble those who exalt themselves, and exalt those who are humbled, in His time. We are all servants of the same Lord, no one person more important than the other. The body of Christ exists when all the parts work together and encourage everyone.
So, when things aren't going my way, it helps me to meditate on the words of the song "Blessed Be Your Name."
You give and take away,
You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say,
Lord, blessed be your name.
No matter what happens to us in life, whether it changes for better or worse, God stays the same. He has always been and will always be a loving, fair but compassionate, glorious Father. I trust that He is not going to desert me today or ever, and He has an ultimate plan of hope for each of His followers.
To keep us from becoming conceited, sometimes we have to be humbled by God. Paul wrote about a "thorn in his flesh" that kept him from boasting. Because honestly, what do we have to boast about? Time and time again we prove that we are nothing without our Savior. Only by his unbelievable grace did Jesus white out our sins so we could have a personal relationship with Him. Then, as that relationship grows, God's plan for our lives is revealed, and we can do great things for the Kingdom. So really, it's got nothing to do with who we are or our successes, and everything to do with who Jesus is and what he's done.
Christianity is the only religion (or one of the only ones) that doesn't focus on good deeds for salvation. Plus, thankfully, it's the truth! We recognize that we do nothing but fail on our own. God never fails, which makes Him just what we need. F.R.O.G. Fully Rely On God, not yourself, and you will receive your reward in Heaven.
Ephesians 2:8-10
"For it by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Like when you get all psyched up to lead worship for a couple thousand people, then, as it turns out, you only play for fifteen? It's not the best feeling in the world.
BUT, in the midst of disappointment, we can remember that it makes no difference how many people are worshipping with us, because it's not a show.
God will humble those who exalt themselves, and exalt those who are humbled, in His time. We are all servants of the same Lord, no one person more important than the other. The body of Christ exists when all the parts work together and encourage everyone.
So, when things aren't going my way, it helps me to meditate on the words of the song "Blessed Be Your Name."
You give and take away,
You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say,
Lord, blessed be your name.
No matter what happens to us in life, whether it changes for better or worse, God stays the same. He has always been and will always be a loving, fair but compassionate, glorious Father. I trust that He is not going to desert me today or ever, and He has an ultimate plan of hope for each of His followers.
To keep us from becoming conceited, sometimes we have to be humbled by God. Paul wrote about a "thorn in his flesh" that kept him from boasting. Because honestly, what do we have to boast about? Time and time again we prove that we are nothing without our Savior. Only by his unbelievable grace did Jesus white out our sins so we could have a personal relationship with Him. Then, as that relationship grows, God's plan for our lives is revealed, and we can do great things for the Kingdom. So really, it's got nothing to do with who we are or our successes, and everything to do with who Jesus is and what he's done.
Christianity is the only religion (or one of the only ones) that doesn't focus on good deeds for salvation. Plus, thankfully, it's the truth! We recognize that we do nothing but fail on our own. God never fails, which makes Him just what we need. F.R.O.G. Fully Rely On God, not yourself, and you will receive your reward in Heaven.
Ephesians 2:8-10
"For it by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Be Quiet.
I am not naturally a quiet person. I love to tell stories, sing alllll the time, and make jokes. I want to be heard. Because of this, I sorta freak out when my voice is drowned out by something louder. Earlier tonight I was sitting in a stadium with 30 thousand teenagers all cheering and screaming. In an effort to not lose my voice, because I have to lead worship every night, I wasn't yelling very loudly. It was extremely difficult to keep my voice under control. I wanted to be the loudest one in there! To make the people around me turn and look, and make sure God can hear me loud and clear.
Thinking about how much I dislike being quiet made me think about how great it is to be silent sometimes. It's when we stop making noise that God will make the biggest impact on us. If we never take a moment to listen to God, He has to yell to get our attention. In other words, something in another area of life will cause you to eventually figure out what God wants you to know. Don't make Him yell. Be still and know that God is your God, the mighty counselor, your Father.
As far as physically being quiet, God still hears us when we have no voice of our own. My HEART cries out to Him, and he will hear that more clearly than any words I say. The Holy Spirit is not far from us. Even when we don't have the strength to cry, He hears us. Every whisper and breath is understood by our Father who loves us. He will never fail to hear us. Pray that the broken and lost people in this world will find peace in the knowledge that God hears them, even if no one else does.
It's okay to be crazy sometimes, but don't be foolish. Speak out and be zealous for the right things. Things that are pleasing to God and point people toward Jesus. Always take time to settle down and just listen. I promise God will reveal himself to you if you ask it of Him.
1 Peter 3:4
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfolding beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
The Father desires for us to have a quiet and gentle spirit. A spirit that seeks and trusts Him. He delights in us when we are silent, when we give Him a chance to speak.
Thinking about how much I dislike being quiet made me think about how great it is to be silent sometimes. It's when we stop making noise that God will make the biggest impact on us. If we never take a moment to listen to God, He has to yell to get our attention. In other words, something in another area of life will cause you to eventually figure out what God wants you to know. Don't make Him yell. Be still and know that God is your God, the mighty counselor, your Father.
As far as physically being quiet, God still hears us when we have no voice of our own. My HEART cries out to Him, and he will hear that more clearly than any words I say. The Holy Spirit is not far from us. Even when we don't have the strength to cry, He hears us. Every whisper and breath is understood by our Father who loves us. He will never fail to hear us. Pray that the broken and lost people in this world will find peace in the knowledge that God hears them, even if no one else does.
It's okay to be crazy sometimes, but don't be foolish. Speak out and be zealous for the right things. Things that are pleasing to God and point people toward Jesus. Always take time to settle down and just listen. I promise God will reveal himself to you if you ask it of Him.
1 Peter 3:4
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfolding beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
The Father desires for us to have a quiet and gentle spirit. A spirit that seeks and trusts Him. He delights in us when we are silent, when we give Him a chance to speak.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Drama!
This is actually a post that I typed a few weeks ago on my phone, but then I thought it was deleted. I just found it in my list of posts saved as a draft. Praise God for autosave :)
I'm going to talk about drama today. I feel that as a teenage girl, I am fully qualified to discuss this topic. I've had my share of drama, but I'm very happy to say most of it occurred when I was younger, like 10-13 years old. These days I stay out of most drama because I know how pointless it is.
Honestly, drama is just what the word describes- people being dramatic, or in other words- overreacting about something. The bible says we should be slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to anger. "Drama" is what results when we fail to follow any of these. If only we were empathetic and gracious with each other all the time, there would be far fewer broken friendships.
Think about it this way. When someone is rude to you, does that make it fair to be rude back? Of course it does. Seriously, that would be the "just" thing to do. But as Christians, we're supposed to forgive over and over again, no matter what the offense. Grace isn't fair, which is what's so amazing about it. Let's show the world that we are different by rising above the blame game and revenge.
Gossip is one of those things that I would respond to with the verse, "Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial." Nothing good can come out of gossip. It might pass some time, but it's certainly not going to strengthen any relationships (even the friends you're gossiping with may not trust you anymore), and you could end up starting fights or nasty rumors. It's also a sin. We're not supposed to slander, which is basically saying bad things about a person. Don't hurt someone's reputation with or without them knowing. It won't make you look any better.
All I'm really trying to say is this. Drama revolves around immaturity and cruelty. It's the easy way out. Don't take that road, please. Do hard things. Stand up for a friend in a way that isn't judgmental, but uses kindness to put a stop to unkindness. Oh, and as you try to resolve conflicts in a mature way, make sure you're actually resolving them and not simply ignoring them. There's a find line between resolving conflict and simply confronting someone and expecting them to change and apologize. Be the change you want to see. Try to influence people with godly actions, and if you must talk with them, show all the low and forgivness of Jesus, because He really does love them.
I'm going to talk about drama today. I feel that as a teenage girl, I am fully qualified to discuss this topic. I've had my share of drama, but I'm very happy to say most of it occurred when I was younger, like 10-13 years old. These days I stay out of most drama because I know how pointless it is.
Honestly, drama is just what the word describes- people being dramatic, or in other words- overreacting about something. The bible says we should be slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to anger. "Drama" is what results when we fail to follow any of these. If only we were empathetic and gracious with each other all the time, there would be far fewer broken friendships.
Think about it this way. When someone is rude to you, does that make it fair to be rude back? Of course it does. Seriously, that would be the "just" thing to do. But as Christians, we're supposed to forgive over and over again, no matter what the offense. Grace isn't fair, which is what's so amazing about it. Let's show the world that we are different by rising above the blame game and revenge.
Gossip is one of those things that I would respond to with the verse, "Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial." Nothing good can come out of gossip. It might pass some time, but it's certainly not going to strengthen any relationships (even the friends you're gossiping with may not trust you anymore), and you could end up starting fights or nasty rumors. It's also a sin. We're not supposed to slander, which is basically saying bad things about a person. Don't hurt someone's reputation with or without them knowing. It won't make you look any better.
All I'm really trying to say is this. Drama revolves around immaturity and cruelty. It's the easy way out. Don't take that road, please. Do hard things. Stand up for a friend in a way that isn't judgmental, but uses kindness to put a stop to unkindness. Oh, and as you try to resolve conflicts in a mature way, make sure you're actually resolving them and not simply ignoring them. There's a find line between resolving conflict and simply confronting someone and expecting them to change and apologize. Be the change you want to see. Try to influence people with godly actions, and if you must talk with them, show all the low and forgivness of Jesus, because He really does love them.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wherever I Fall
I REALLY hate decisions. When deciding what classes to take, what to spend my money on, if I should even spend my money, what sports I should be a part of, if I should even be a part of any sports... yeah. I'm terrible. It tends to take me weeks or even months to make decisions like that, and I change my mind like, a million times every day. Plus, I stress myself out about every little thing like it could change my entire life when really, it's not even a huge deal most of the time.
Well, I had a long and difficult conversation with a few friends last night about decisions that two of us were facing. For me, the specific decision was regarding whether to do TEC (teens encounter Christ, if you don't know what that is already, you should definitely ask me about it sometime) or a powerful women's choir called Bella Voce. My friends really made me think about who I'm doing these things for, where I could make a bigger impact, and which would be more rewarding for me.
I ended the conversation feeling pretty crappy. I didn't know how on earth I was going to choose. Even though technically I'd already chosen the choir, I felt like I would regret not choosing tec... I just felt hopeless and defeated. So, after praying about it, I did what I usually do when I'm feeling upset, sad, happy, stressed, thankful, or whatever- I listened to music.
As I was lying there on my bed, the song "By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue North came on. It begins- "Why are you striving these days?" I heard this and teared up. Why was I striving so much? When had the decision become too much for me to entrust God with? Then I caught the words in the chorus,"I'll be by your side, wherever you fall." At these words I literally gasped out loud and then started sobbing (which is normal for me when I realize something new about God. I gasp every time. weird? I think so.).
Anyways, before, whenever I heard the "wherever you fall" part, I always thought about how God will pick us up at any point in life. Whatever bad situation I've gotten into, he'll pick me up. But, in light of my current circumstances, I took the words to have a different meaning. "Wherever you fall." As in, wherever I end up in this decision. Whatever I choose to plop myself down in, Bella or TEC, God will be with me every step of the way. For some reason, I had been extremely concerned that one option would bring me closer to God, and one would pull me away from Him. I finally realized that all the pressure I had been putting myself was unnecessary, because God isn't going to leave me. I won't be making Him angry if I choose the "wrong" one. There isn't even really a wrong decision in this case, because my ultimate goal is to glorify God, and He knows that.
Another thing about last night- I asked God in my prayer journal, "Why do you keep giving me these tough decisions when you know I hate them so much?" This is similar to the common "Why does God let bad things happen?" question. And I learned the answer. God gave me this decision because He knew that through my struggle, I would grow that much more in my faith. In every hard decision I face, I find myself drawing nearer to God for comfort and guidance. So, basically, He knows what He's doing in my life. He will never let me fall.
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a HOPE and a future."
Well, I had a long and difficult conversation with a few friends last night about decisions that two of us were facing. For me, the specific decision was regarding whether to do TEC (teens encounter Christ, if you don't know what that is already, you should definitely ask me about it sometime) or a powerful women's choir called Bella Voce. My friends really made me think about who I'm doing these things for, where I could make a bigger impact, and which would be more rewarding for me.
I ended the conversation feeling pretty crappy. I didn't know how on earth I was going to choose. Even though technically I'd already chosen the choir, I felt like I would regret not choosing tec... I just felt hopeless and defeated. So, after praying about it, I did what I usually do when I'm feeling upset, sad, happy, stressed, thankful, or whatever- I listened to music.
As I was lying there on my bed, the song "By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue North came on. It begins- "Why are you striving these days?" I heard this and teared up. Why was I striving so much? When had the decision become too much for me to entrust God with? Then I caught the words in the chorus,"I'll be by your side, wherever you fall." At these words I literally gasped out loud and then started sobbing (which is normal for me when I realize something new about God. I gasp every time. weird? I think so.).
Anyways, before, whenever I heard the "wherever you fall" part, I always thought about how God will pick us up at any point in life. Whatever bad situation I've gotten into, he'll pick me up. But, in light of my current circumstances, I took the words to have a different meaning. "Wherever you fall." As in, wherever I end up in this decision. Whatever I choose to plop myself down in, Bella or TEC, God will be with me every step of the way. For some reason, I had been extremely concerned that one option would bring me closer to God, and one would pull me away from Him. I finally realized that all the pressure I had been putting myself was unnecessary, because God isn't going to leave me. I won't be making Him angry if I choose the "wrong" one. There isn't even really a wrong decision in this case, because my ultimate goal is to glorify God, and He knows that.
Another thing about last night- I asked God in my prayer journal, "Why do you keep giving me these tough decisions when you know I hate them so much?" This is similar to the common "Why does God let bad things happen?" question. And I learned the answer. God gave me this decision because He knew that through my struggle, I would grow that much more in my faith. In every hard decision I face, I find myself drawing nearer to God for comfort and guidance. So, basically, He knows what He's doing in my life. He will never let me fall.
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a HOPE and a future."
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
All the Time
You know that song that you hear on the radio, or in concert or wherever, and it just gives you goosebumps every time?? Some songs (ahem, basically anything by Casting Crowns) even move me to tears whenever the singing begins, like clockwork. Well, it's definitely my dream to write songs like that. I was looking at my little "lyrics" notebook last night and I read some songs that I'd forgotten about ever having written. I actually got those goosebumps a few times, mostly because I remembered the circumstances that prompted the composing of each song, and some of the aforementioned circumstances were pretty extraordinary :) I would highly recommend keeping a journal, or a lyrics book if you're like me and enjoy poetry. Even a prayer journal is great, because when you write from your heart, someday you can look back and see God's hand in every point of your life. You'll read something that you wrote when you were utterly devastated, and then remember how the Holy Spirit comforted you, or a friend came to your aid as if sent by God. And when you wrote something out of longing, you can see that God gave you what you asked for. Or how he didn't give it to you, but you were blessed with something better instead. God is always in our life, whether we realize it at that moment or not.
There's a song, my favorite song actually, that talks about what I just went over- the whole God always being there thing- AND, coincidentally, it's also one of those amazing songs that always gives me goosebumps (hmm, probably why it's a favorite). I'll post the lyrics here, but I recommend looking up the song on youtube so you can actually hear it, it's more meaningful that way. Times, by Tenth Avenue North
I know I need you.
I need to love you,
I love to see you, it's been so long.
I long to feel you,
I feel this need for you,
I need to hear you, is that so wrong?
Oh, oh (x6ish)
Now you pull me near you.
When we're close I fear you.
Still I'm afraid to tell you all that I've done.
Are you done forgiving?
Or can you look past my pretending?
I'm so tired of defending what I've become.
What have I become?
Oh, oh (x12)
I hear you say:
My love is over,
it's underneath,
it's inside, it's in between.
The times you doubt me, when you can't feel.
The times that you question, "Is this for real?"
The times you've broken, the times that you mend.
The times you hate me and the times that you bend.
Well my love is over,
it's underneath,
it's inside,
it's in between.
These times you're healing,
and when your heart breaks.
The times that you feel like you've fallen from grace.
The times you're hurting,
the times that you heal.
The times you go hungry and are tempted to steal.
The times of confusion, and chaos and pain.
I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame.
I don't care where you've fallen, or where you've been,
I'll never forsake you, my love never ends.
It never ends.
Mmm, mmm
Oh, oh (x6)
That's a big list- a huge list. Would you be there for someone during the times that they HATED you? How about if the person didn't believe that you loved them at all? I've had people express that I was lying when I said I loved them, and let me tell you I was pretty upset. I've had friends not want anything to do with me, even after I've done nothing but love and help them. My first reaction is always anger. I want to forget about them, refuse to love them like they did to me. Jesus is different. It's impossible to know how He feels when He sees the love of His existence (which is each and every one of us, by the way, even those who aren't Christian) deny, insult, and reject Him a million times a day. Still, when we tell Him of our wrongs, his first reaction isn't anger, it's forgiveness. He tenderly takes us into His arms and whispers, "I love you, you are mine."
John 3:16
"For God SO LOVED the world that He sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. "
Monday, July 12, 2010
Trust God.
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
I know that verse by heart. It's the verse that is most often found running through my head, possibly because it's inscribed on the ring that I wear every day. I find a lot of comfort in this verse, because it reminds me daily to surrender to God and let Him work through me. Still, there are some things I can't seem to give up.
I have some really big trust issues. I never really thought of them in those terms, but that's what they are I suppose. The first one is that I don't tell people the truth about myself. I doubt I'm the only one who, when asked how you are, automatically responds "good" every time. And if I'm having trouble with something, I very rarely ask for help. Relying on other people is not something that I consider necessary, or even helpful. I think in my head I know it's a good thing to do, but maybe I just don't like to take the time. It's too difficult. But as sung by Sanctus Real-
Oh, Oh, We need each other through all the highs and lows.
Oh, Oh, We need each other, 'cause no one's meant to be alone.
We were made in such a way that we can help and comfort each other. God definitely didn't create us to be independent beings. Relationships play a big part in life, growth, and faith. I need to learn to lean on people sometimes, and occasionally ask people to help me, rather than only helping others.
The second thing, because of what the first was, is really hard to talk about. But I'm just gonna go for it- I'm afraid of forever. Like, paralyzing, consuming fear. Not heaven, and not dying, but the whole concept of forever. I don't understand it in the least, which is why I struggle so much. Most things are easy to trust God with because I know how they can work out, and what to expect, but when it comes to this- COMPLETE trusting, because there's no way I can possibly understand it- I fail. Usually this fear hits me worst at night. Not every night, but when I'm thinking about heaven and Jesus being with me and all that. Then the fear of eternity comes in, and it keeps me awake until I distract myself with something else. All I can think of with the word "forever" or "eternity" is myself (my consciousness) never ending. Going on and on and on... I feel trapped. And I wish I could get rid of this feeling, and just leave it to God like I do with so many things, but I can't seem to do it. It's like being in big, pitch black room, standing on the edge of a cliff, with God telling me to jump. But how could he possibly catch me? He's not even there, it's all just darkness! That's sort of a depressing metaphor, and I know God IS always there, but it doesn't always feel like it. I also feel like I'm insulting him by not trusting that he's more powerful than time. My brain knows that, because obviously God is all powerful, but I don't understand, and my heart certainly doesn't have a lot of faith in this area. Well, that's about all I have to say about that.
The bible however, says a lot more about trust. I think a verse that would describe me is Job 8:14- "What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider's web." I'm trusting in myself, which will never work. I can't find hope and healing inside me, it must come from God.
Psalm 9:10
"Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."
God does not desert us, he will never leave or let me fall out of his reach. We can't imagine a world without limits, but God CREATED limits. He is boundless and all-powerful. He's got the whole universe in his hands!
Psalm 37:4-6
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord, TRUST in Him and He will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
God repeatedly says not to worry. That's where trust comes in. We need to depend on Him, look to Him for comfort, and rest in God's peace- peace that doesn't depend on understanding anything- especially things that our minds simply cannot understand.
John 14:1 (Jesus speaking)
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me."
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Shouldn't We Be Different?
Hello again :)
I was just reading my friends' blogs, and I realized that someone (cough cough, James!) stole my idea for tonight's post. I have with me the bulletin from this morning's church service, and I was going to review some of the things that I wrote during the sermon. Even though it's not so original anymore, I'm sure the thoughts are different than James' and so I will press on with the original plan!
First off, on the front of my bulletin (or "worship folder" as my church often calls it) I wrote in big capital letters- SHOULDN'T WE BE DIFFERENT? Think about the people you interact with every day. How do you act towards them? Are you the peacemaker in your group of friends, or the one who everyone knows they can go to for help? OR are you the one who always blends in and goes along with whatever someone else does? When compared to people who have different beliefs than you, do you shine as one who has the greatest truth in the world on his heart? I honestly don't know if I have ever been or seen someone like that, and it's sad. We are different, so we should act that way! If your faith in Jesus doesn't set you apart from the rest of the world so that everyone knows it, how do you expect to lead people to Him? Remember that you are to be a light for Christ the next time you speak out in anger against a parent, or freak out because someone was unkind to you. Seriously people, WWJD?
Another big thing I got out of today's service is- It's not about me! It's ironic that this is just hitting home for me now, because the mission trip I went on a few weeks ago touched on the idea of shifting our focus away from ourselves. Well, better late than never, so here goes. We were created for a purpose. Simply put, we're made to love God above all else, and point others to the way that leads to life- trusting in the Almighty God, accepting salvation through Jesus Christ, other basic Christian principles. Hold up now, read that last sentence again. Where did I mention getting people to like you? Or what about having fun all the time? Stocking up on as much money and possessions as you can in one lifetime? (all to show the blessings God gives to His children, of course) No, I didn't forget about those. The fact is, those things shouldn't be the center of your life. They shouldn't even be a side goal, really. Sure, people will like us, we might even be rich at some point, but in that case, God just thought those blessings could be used to help accomplish His will for our lives. As for having fun all the time- don't even think about it, it's not going to happen. It seems to me that American culture revolves around fun a lot more than it ought to. God NEVER said "have fun in every circumstance." You will have some fun times in life when you accomplish a great thing or are celebrating, but don't seek it with your whole heart, or even a fraction of it. Fun is not deeply rewarding or lasting, therefore not something to be sought after.
Philippians 2:15-16
Do EVERYTHING without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you SHINE like STARS in the universe as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
p.s. Sorry it was a shorter post tonight, I'm extremely tired :P
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Are You Truly Confident?
Are you confident?
What is confidence really?
One dictionary definition is "freedom from doubt." I really like this definition because of the use of the word freedom. To be confident is to be free of second guessing. Can you imagine? How many times a day do you timidly go into something, or make a decision then go back on it? I think that our generation is extremely reserved and cautious.
Right now you might be going "What??! All my friends are crazy! We act like lunatics when we're together."
While this may be true, it's not the type of cautiousness I'm talking about. It's great to let your guard down around friends, but there's very little risk involved. What I mean by cautious is that we are afraid to do uncomfortable things. We have a fear of rejection that's been branded on our minds. Maybe it started when you were very young, and people asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up. If you're like me, you probably responded "a famous singer!" or "the president!" (or if you're REALLY like me you would have said "I want to be able to reach the lightswitch! but that's another story). Well, the inquirers might have gone along with you when you were still a little kid, but as you got older they wanted more serious answers. Past the age of 8, you're rarely told that you're special anymore. You know that you're expected to go to college, become a computer programmer, teacher, or if you're extremely ambitious, a scientist at mayo, and even if nobody says "You can't be the president," you know it's true. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with being doctors, lawyers, and teachers, but what happened to your passions and big dreams? You settled for what you know you'll succeed at, because of society implying that you won't make it if you try to do extraordinary things. But that's completely false. Someone obviously made it, why not you? No one is significantly closer to perfection than anyone else, so why could one person achieve any more than you can? Also, you have someone backing you up that not every celebrity, politician, and CEO has, THE ALMIGHTY GOD!! Nothing, I repeat, not a single thing, cannot be accomplished when it's put up to God. If He wants it to happen, it'll happen. YOU and I need to try in order for HIM to succeed. You're a part of His plan, live confidently.
Another note under the definition of confidence says this-
"Confidence may imply trust in oneself or arrogant self-conceit. Assurance implies even more sureness of oneself; this may be shown as undisturbed calm or as offensive boastfulness."
Think about how many people you know who seem conceited. Do you think you seem conceited? Now here's a different question- how many do you think are TRULY conceited? They honestly think they're better than everyone else. It's a rare thing to find anyone who is so confident that it actually goes over the top and makes them boastful. Usually, people who appear stuck-up are simply trying to draw attention away from what they think of as their biggest flaws. By putting up a mask of overconfidence, they think they're hiding any insecurities. I was having a conversation with a few friends tonight, after I started writing a post about confidence, when the topic of confidence in teenagers came up. Here's how the conversation went:
G (Who is a dude) - Trina, do you think you're fat?
Me- Hmm, I mean, uh... I know that I lost a bunch of weight last year, but then I gained a lot of it back, so I'm obviously not as skinny as I could be.
G- See? All girls think they're fat!
H (Who is a chick) - Well, not exactly. Some girls think they're fat, and others have some other problem that they try to fix, like not being toned enough, or needing to gain weight.
Me- I agree, almost all girls have some big problem with their appearance.
G- I don't freak out about being too skinny. Sometimes I wish I had more upper body strength and stuff, but I don't really need it... so... I don't really do anything about it. B, I bet you're totally fine with your appearance.
B (Also a dude)- Uhhh...
Look at that! I was with three other teenagers, secretly wishing that I was as thin as the other girl, who was wishing she was thinner. And the guys- I think they both look great, I would never suggest that either of them change their looks in any way, yet they both had issues with appearance as well. EVERYONE thinks they need to change themselves. Everyone, especially teens, spends a lot of time and energy trying to better themselves and become socially acceptable. I think there's something wrong with that. Why should we be so unsatisfied with who God made us to be? We don't even deserve to live, why should we deserve to be the most attractive human in the world? And yet, to God we are all beautiful. He sees past our sin and shame because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. We were created in God's image, so when He looks at us it's like mini-versions of Himself. Definitely not God, not nearly perfect, but still modeled after Him. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, we are made holy and pure. Why should we lack confidence when the God of the universe sees us as beautiful?
Basically, we can be confident in our actions because God is behind us, beside us, working through us, and leading us.
AND we can be confident in ourselves because God created us in his image, took away our sin, and thinks we are beautiful.
So now I hope you can go in the assurance that you can accomplish great things, and not hold back because of flaws that may have seemed crippling at one time or another. I pray that the peace of the Lord will stay in your hearts as you fight for His divine purpose.
Psalm 27:1-3
The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, I will not fear. Though war break out against me, even then I WILL BE CONFIDENT.
What is confidence really?
One dictionary definition is "freedom from doubt." I really like this definition because of the use of the word freedom. To be confident is to be free of second guessing. Can you imagine? How many times a day do you timidly go into something, or make a decision then go back on it? I think that our generation is extremely reserved and cautious.
Right now you might be going "What??! All my friends are crazy! We act like lunatics when we're together."
While this may be true, it's not the type of cautiousness I'm talking about. It's great to let your guard down around friends, but there's very little risk involved. What I mean by cautious is that we are afraid to do uncomfortable things. We have a fear of rejection that's been branded on our minds. Maybe it started when you were very young, and people asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up. If you're like me, you probably responded "a famous singer!" or "the president!" (or if you're REALLY like me you would have said "I want to be able to reach the lightswitch! but that's another story). Well, the inquirers might have gone along with you when you were still a little kid, but as you got older they wanted more serious answers. Past the age of 8, you're rarely told that you're special anymore. You know that you're expected to go to college, become a computer programmer, teacher, or if you're extremely ambitious, a scientist at mayo, and even if nobody says "You can't be the president," you know it's true. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with being doctors, lawyers, and teachers, but what happened to your passions and big dreams? You settled for what you know you'll succeed at, because of society implying that you won't make it if you try to do extraordinary things. But that's completely false. Someone obviously made it, why not you? No one is significantly closer to perfection than anyone else, so why could one person achieve any more than you can? Also, you have someone backing you up that not every celebrity, politician, and CEO has, THE ALMIGHTY GOD!! Nothing, I repeat, not a single thing, cannot be accomplished when it's put up to God. If He wants it to happen, it'll happen. YOU and I need to try in order for HIM to succeed. You're a part of His plan, live confidently.
Another note under the definition of confidence says this-
"Confidence may imply trust in oneself or arrogant self-conceit. Assurance implies even more sureness of oneself; this may be shown as undisturbed calm or as offensive boastfulness."
Think about how many people you know who seem conceited. Do you think you seem conceited? Now here's a different question- how many do you think are TRULY conceited? They honestly think they're better than everyone else. It's a rare thing to find anyone who is so confident that it actually goes over the top and makes them boastful. Usually, people who appear stuck-up are simply trying to draw attention away from what they think of as their biggest flaws. By putting up a mask of overconfidence, they think they're hiding any insecurities. I was having a conversation with a few friends tonight, after I started writing a post about confidence, when the topic of confidence in teenagers came up. Here's how the conversation went:
G (Who is a dude) - Trina, do you think you're fat?
Me- Hmm, I mean, uh... I know that I lost a bunch of weight last year, but then I gained a lot of it back, so I'm obviously not as skinny as I could be.
G- See? All girls think they're fat!
H (Who is a chick) - Well, not exactly. Some girls think they're fat, and others have some other problem that they try to fix, like not being toned enough, or needing to gain weight.
Me- I agree, almost all girls have some big problem with their appearance.
G- I don't freak out about being too skinny. Sometimes I wish I had more upper body strength and stuff, but I don't really need it... so... I don't really do anything about it. B, I bet you're totally fine with your appearance.
B (Also a dude)- Uhhh...
Look at that! I was with three other teenagers, secretly wishing that I was as thin as the other girl, who was wishing she was thinner. And the guys- I think they both look great, I would never suggest that either of them change their looks in any way, yet they both had issues with appearance as well. EVERYONE thinks they need to change themselves. Everyone, especially teens, spends a lot of time and energy trying to better themselves and become socially acceptable. I think there's something wrong with that. Why should we be so unsatisfied with who God made us to be? We don't even deserve to live, why should we deserve to be the most attractive human in the world? And yet, to God we are all beautiful. He sees past our sin and shame because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. We were created in God's image, so when He looks at us it's like mini-versions of Himself. Definitely not God, not nearly perfect, but still modeled after Him. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, we are made holy and pure. Why should we lack confidence when the God of the universe sees us as beautiful?
Basically, we can be confident in our actions because God is behind us, beside us, working through us, and leading us.
AND we can be confident in ourselves because God created us in his image, took away our sin, and thinks we are beautiful.
So now I hope you can go in the assurance that you can accomplish great things, and not hold back because of flaws that may have seemed crippling at one time or another. I pray that the peace of the Lord will stay in your hearts as you fight for His divine purpose.
Psalm 27:1-3
The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, I will not fear. Though war break out against me, even then I WILL BE CONFIDENT.
Friday, July 9, 2010
It's About Time We Changed The World
My head is spinning right now. I just figured out something beyond amazing. It definitely changed my day and my way of thinking. It's probably too early to tell, but I think it changed my life. I just hope and pray that I can hold on to this idea and it doesn't just fall to the back of my head like the information I've obtained from so many other sermons and devotions and bible studies. But here, I'll start at the beginning.
I biked to the Christian Book Store with my mom today! Yay! I was looking for a replacement for a P.U.S.H. bracelet that I lost while whitewater rafting a few weeks ago (P.U.S.H. stands for Pray Until Something Happens). Well, they didn't have any in stock. Actually they may have quit making them! Sad face! :( But that's irrelevant, because after I had given up looking at bracelets and stickers, I went over to the teen books and began browsing. On the third shelf down, wedged between a stack of devotionals and something about Christian dating, was a book that really caught my attention. It was called "Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris. Such a random title. Simple in theory, but it drew me in because I struggle with just that- doing difficult things, finding motivation, wanting to reach people but not knowing how. I read a little of the authors' bios and the back cover, and was shocked to see that Alex and Brett were only 18 years old when they wrote this book! I've never heard of a couple of teenagers being published (and getting Chuck Norris to write the forward for their book!!!). Basically, I had to leave without buying the book because I didn't bring along enough money-grrr-but it said in the bio that these guys had a blog and I had written down the website, so I figured I'd check it out at home. This is what I discovered:
Alex and Brett figured out something that's been hidden by our society for years. Young people, also called teenagers, are truly adults. We're capable of making an impact, working, coming up with new ideas, and fufilling responsibility. Their whole ministry- The Rebelution- is centered around rising above the low expectations that our communities have set for us. Breaking free of the typical behavior of a teen, getting out there, and doing something with what you've been given! So now here's what this means for me:
I can quit feeling like I need to take advantage of summer by sleeping until 3, watching reruns for 5 hours, then relaxing with friends. Every. Single. Day. Until now, my view was that if I wasn't as lazy and unproductive as possible during this time, I'd be wasting my summer and my teenage years. I thought that I should be avoiding responsibility as much as possible while I still can, until the moment when I'm forced to be an adult. That's what I told myself, but it wasn't really working for me. I mean, we all need a break sometimes, but that's why God created night, isn't it?? I have this desire to do more with my time that doesn't correspond with the lifestyle of the American teenager. I now know that there's really nothing that can stop me from impacting the world, TODAY. God's big plan for me doesn't have to wait until I'm an adult, and it doesn't have to involve me being an average teenager. So now I am psyched to start living my life! No more waiting around to turn 18 or 21 or whatever the age is when "young people" turn into "real people." I am mature enough, I am blessed, and I won't be missing anything by skipping out on some couch time this summer :) God didn't put us on this Earth to relax until we graduate from college. "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." That is our calling, and there's no age restriction. In fact, Paul told Timothy, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." So let's get out there and be different, RISE ABOVE EXPECTATIONS and be a light to the world!
Um... There may be more posts on this topic after I've actually read Alex and Brett's book ;) tehehe.
Check out www.therebelution.com and Alex and Brett's video series, "The Fabulous Life of a Teenager" which is available on the website. Their books include "Do Hard Things" and "Start Here."
Oh, and I just looked at their site again and saw that one of the verses I just quoted is their "theme verse" if you want to call it that. So I will retype it for emphasis :D
1 Timothy 4:12
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.
I biked to the Christian Book Store with my mom today! Yay! I was looking for a replacement for a P.U.S.H. bracelet that I lost while whitewater rafting a few weeks ago (P.U.S.H. stands for Pray Until Something Happens). Well, they didn't have any in stock. Actually they may have quit making them! Sad face! :( But that's irrelevant, because after I had given up looking at bracelets and stickers, I went over to the teen books and began browsing. On the third shelf down, wedged between a stack of devotionals and something about Christian dating, was a book that really caught my attention. It was called "Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris. Such a random title. Simple in theory, but it drew me in because I struggle with just that- doing difficult things, finding motivation, wanting to reach people but not knowing how. I read a little of the authors' bios and the back cover, and was shocked to see that Alex and Brett were only 18 years old when they wrote this book! I've never heard of a couple of teenagers being published (and getting Chuck Norris to write the forward for their book!!!). Basically, I had to leave without buying the book because I didn't bring along enough money-grrr-but it said in the bio that these guys had a blog and I had written down the website, so I figured I'd check it out at home. This is what I discovered:
Alex and Brett figured out something that's been hidden by our society for years. Young people, also called teenagers, are truly adults. We're capable of making an impact, working, coming up with new ideas, and fufilling responsibility. Their whole ministry- The Rebelution- is centered around rising above the low expectations that our communities have set for us. Breaking free of the typical behavior of a teen, getting out there, and doing something with what you've been given! So now here's what this means for me:
I can quit feeling like I need to take advantage of summer by sleeping until 3, watching reruns for 5 hours, then relaxing with friends. Every. Single. Day. Until now, my view was that if I wasn't as lazy and unproductive as possible during this time, I'd be wasting my summer and my teenage years. I thought that I should be avoiding responsibility as much as possible while I still can, until the moment when I'm forced to be an adult. That's what I told myself, but it wasn't really working for me. I mean, we all need a break sometimes, but that's why God created night, isn't it?? I have this desire to do more with my time that doesn't correspond with the lifestyle of the American teenager. I now know that there's really nothing that can stop me from impacting the world, TODAY. God's big plan for me doesn't have to wait until I'm an adult, and it doesn't have to involve me being an average teenager. So now I am psyched to start living my life! No more waiting around to turn 18 or 21 or whatever the age is when "young people" turn into "real people." I am mature enough, I am blessed, and I won't be missing anything by skipping out on some couch time this summer :) God didn't put us on this Earth to relax until we graduate from college. "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." That is our calling, and there's no age restriction. In fact, Paul told Timothy, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." So let's get out there and be different, RISE ABOVE EXPECTATIONS and be a light to the world!
Um... There may be more posts on this topic after I've actually read Alex and Brett's book ;) tehehe.
Check out www.therebelution.com and Alex and Brett's video series, "The Fabulous Life of a Teenager" which is available on the website. Their books include "Do Hard Things" and "Start Here."
Oh, and I just looked at their site again and saw that one of the verses I just quoted is their "theme verse" if you want to call it that. So I will retype it for emphasis :D
1 Timothy 4:12
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Goals
Today I wanna talk about goals.
But I'm DEFINITELY too exhausted to write anything coherent.
Oh well, I'll give it a try.
Who's got goals? Some people can't live without them, others think they're a waste of time. I don't really know what I think. I'd like to be the type of girl who can set a long-term goal, spend time working towards it, and then enjoy a little success when I reach it. Sounds great, right? But for some dumb reason, that doesn't work for me.
I can think of only ONE time when I set a goal and actually followed through on it. It was after my seventh grade basketball season. Basically, I wasn't a very big asset to the team that year. I got maybe 5 or 6 baskets the whole season, but I really, really wanted to be a starter my 8th grade year, so I worked hard at it all summer. I worked out and went to skills camps and all that. Then, when the season started, I worked my butt off every day and listened to the coach all the time. I tried my best to make sure I got noticed (and scored lots of points). Well, it paid off. I was one of the high scorers for my team that season! It felt great. :) yay. Then, I started a summer team with tougher competition. If I had kept up the trend of setting a goal and working hard to get there, maybe we would've done well. I could have improved my basketball skills and been able to present a challenge to the other teams by the end of that season. For some reason though, I just didn't. I don't know why, but I was sick of it. Sooo I went back to scoring a few points here and there, and that plan just sort of... went away...
Hm... I forgot where I was going with that. Umm, goals. I guess I still have goals, I'm just not putting my all into them. I'd rather have fun with life when I can, and go where God takes me. I don't know if that's an "acceptable" mindset or anything, but that's my attitude. I want to graduate with a 4.0, that's something I'm actually working kinda hard for. I want to have a decent chair placement in band, so I'll practice a few times during the summer. But those are things that come easily to me. 2 Corinthians 12: 9:
9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
So, what I take that to mean is, don't spend your life stressing out about improving yourself. Somewhere in the message bible (no clue where, Jeremiah maybe?) it says "Self help is no help at all." If I'm just setting goals to improve my basketball playing, singing, or grades, and all I'm doing all the time is giving 100% to that goal, then what am I giving to God? Instead, we should be keeping goals in mind and watching for opportunities that God might bless us with, while praying about where he wants to take us and giving our best to him. hmm... hopefully that made a little sense.
Another little thing that I like to do is pray that God will make my will His plan. So, I ask Him to help me grow in such a way that what I want is the same as what He wants for me. That way, by working towards the things that I want, I'm also glorifying God and living my life for Him. That's a win-win situation. :)
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