Junk

A few weeks ago my friends came over to my house for a sleep over.  When one of them walked in to my room, she made the comment, "It's so small."  I knew that her comment had not been made to offend, and quite honestly it didn't offend me.  However I looked around my room with a different perspective than normal.  Is it really that small, or Is it just too full of stuff? 

How much stuff do I have in my room that I don't use?  My family has a storage compartment full of things that we don't use (afterall, it's in storage for a reason).  Why are messy rooms such a problem?  We can't park our cars in our garage because it's full of equipment.

I was amazed at the multitude of results when I searched for messy rooms on Google.

 

It's almost as if we think that by filling our houses and our cars and our lives up with stuff, we'll be happy.  We'll be full.  Honestly, this can go beyond the material things.  It can be activities.  How often are we busy?  How frequently are we on the go?  It can also be through relationships.  Family is important, but it will never fulfill you completely. Boyfriends and girlfriends are in the same category.   What about your job, your eating habits, or even your church?  

 

There are certain things that you do need to live. You have to work to make a living.  You have to eat to live.  Going to church is important, and is a great source of spiritual nourishment, christian fellowship, and worship time.  However, when we aren't making time for God because of work, when we eat because we're depressed, and when we are just going  to church to say that we went, then we're still trying to fill ourselves up with the wrong thing.

How do you fill yourself up?  What is the right thing?  Or rather, is there a right thing?  I believe that there is.  I believe that when you depend on Christ, He will fill you up.  I'm not saying that it is wrong to be busy, work, go to church, or have a house full of stuff, but I do think that it is wrong to try fill yourself up on the world.  God eagerly pursues you, and wants to fulfill you.  All you have to do is let Him do so.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

 

 Written in Reckless Abandonment para Jesucristo, Thanks for Reading!

Overwhelmed

Lately it occurred to me that I should start blogging again.  I don't know how often these will occur, but right now, I just need a break.

My senior year of high school has now started.  My summer was filled with work at a boy scout camp as a lifeguard. (Yes, I am a girl who worked at a boy scout camp.)  This was very enjoyable for me, but that isn't what I really want to tell you about right now.

Right now, I'm am feeling overwhelmed.  Last Tuesday I stayed up late doing homework.  Wednesday I woke up with a cold.  I'm not quite back up to 100% yet. 

As I came in the door after getting home from weights and conditioning today, I felt a surge of grief as my mom told me that my friend in Mexico had her visa application turned down by the U.S. embassy because she was too much of a "risk."  From their standpoint, I understand.  She doesn't have any communication with her biological family, and her adoptive family hasn't officially adopted her because her biological family won't let them!  From a technical standpoint, and on paper, she doesn't have anything that would keep her from overstaying her visa in the U.S.

From the standpoint of her friend she has a loving family and many friends in Mexico that she would go back to.  She would not deliberately try to do anything illegal, because that would defy God, and I know that she has made her purpose to honor God.

When I checked my e-mail, there was an e-mail from the same friend's mom.  Discussing prayer requests for their family, because they recently suffered the death of one of their little boys.  This is the same boy who is in my picture for this blog.  He died from complications to a necessary heart surgery.  Read more about that here.

Are you beginning to understand my feeling of being overwhelmed?  I feel like no matter what I do, it's going to suck(or have a vacuuming effect, if you prefer that terminology) , because I'm so overcome by grief for this little boy.  I miss everyone in Mexico, and sometimes it feels as if my heart will break because it hurts so bad.  I also see the purpose behind days such as these.  These are the days that I go through prayerfully.  These are the days that I come home, with eyes full of tears, and study my Bible while listening to praise music.  These are the days that I feel the Lord sustaining me.  These are the days that I have to remember the Lord. 

These are the days that I remember the Lord.  These are the days that enable to more fully enjoy and appreciate the good days.  These are the days that help me keep an eternal perspective, remembering that God is with me through it all, and, in the end, I'll see all of my friends who are followers of Christ again, for a much longer time than I could ever see them in this world.

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.
Psalm 54:4

One Chance

This will be my last blog post during the season of lent.  Blogging three times a week has been fun, but I'm ready to cut it back a little bit.  Just to let any readers know, although I said I'm going to blog on Fridays starting next week, I realized that I will be unable to do so.  Therefore, I will take next week off from the blogging world.  My next blog will be posted on April 12th. I hope you all don't mind too much.

I have noticed that there is a new slang term on the internet, "YOLO."  I'm relatively bad about keeping up on the most recent slang, so I had to ask around to find out what it meant.  I found that it means, "You only live once."

Many people use this simple phrase as an excuse to party, and do really crazy things.  I, on the other hand, like to thing of it with another perspective.  I'm only given one life.  I've only got one chance to prove that I belong to God.  If I don't do it right the first time, then it's over.  It's done.

Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.

Ecclesiastes 1:4

No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them.

Ecclesiastes

1:11

As much as I would like to dream that someday everyone is going to remember me when I die, I know that it is not true.  In fact, I don't want my family and friends to be stuck on what I did.  I want them to go about their lives, because they only have one chance to live.

You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Ecclesiastes 11:9

What is the point of it all:

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 

Thanks to Kayla for this picture:

'Little" Miracles

Lately I have noticed that some things in my life have been miraculous.  For example, one little thing was a cell phone.  If you don't know me, then I should probably tell you that I do not have a cell phone.  I would have to pay for one myself to have one.  My schoolwork keeps me busy enough during the school year that I do not have time for a job, so I do not have money to pay for credit for a cell phone.  As I told you on Monday, my college visit had been cancelled due to bad weather.  This means that I could reschedule it for Friday, but my parents needed me to have a cell phone so that in case something happened, I could call them.

Just as I decided that I wasn't going to be able to go to on the college visit, my friend called.  I had been taking care of her pets while she was on vacation, and she wanted to know if  her pets had been good.  She also wanted to know if I wanted to borrow her dad's cell phone, which would allow me to schedule the visit! :)

The other example that I have is a little boy named Daniel.  He was born missing the left-ventricle of his heart.  Most children that are born with this defect have to have a series of three surgeries before they can even leave the hospital.  Most of them can not walk, play, jump, and live a normal life until they have these surgeries.  Dani has been doing, and continues to do these things on a daily basis!  He is literally a living, breathing miracle.  Now, as he has gotten older and his adoptive family has begun to seek the medical attention he will need, they have done a few different tests.  In these tests they have discovered that his internal organs are not in the normal places.

The other thing you should know about Dani is he has many other heart/lung defects besides missing his left ventricle.  In the most recent test, they discovered an amazing miracle.  Dani should need to have three surgeries to be "healed."  These tests have revealed that Dani's other defects act as two of the surgeries!  He only needs one surgery!  Praise God!

I titled this little blog "Little" Miracles, but this doesn't seem so little!  Why did I call title this blog this way?  Well, God can do things that are immeasurably greater than this!  He can do things that I can't even fathom!  I think about everything that I can imagine, and God's Word tells me that He can do even more than that!  What a powerful God that we serve!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21

Indiana

I just came in from shoveling snow off of the driveway.  This fact wouldn't bother me, except that I wasn't supposed to be home today.  I was supposed to be visiting a college, because it's my Spring break and this was going to be a great opportunity to view campus life and not miss school.  Instead we decided that the weather was too icky and we were going to stay home.  I still can't wrap my head around the fact that it's my Spring break,(the first one I've had in three years) and it snowed. 

Right now you're probably thinking: Why in the world has it been three years since she has had a Spring Break??  Well, you see, this is my first year in public school since seventh grade.  I was home schooled in eighth, ninth, and tenth grade.  I was home schooled because I was living in Mexico with my family as missionaries and my parents still wanted me to get a good education. Plus, when I went down, I only knew a little bit of Spanish.  When I was home schooled, I didn't have snow days(I was in Mexico, so I really didn't have snow!), I didn't have thanksgiving break (my parents would let me have that Thursday off, but Thanksgiving is an American holiday), I didn't have a summer break (if people would come for a one week mission trip I would do half days and then I could work with them on whatever project they were trying to complete.  If  I needed more curriculum then I had to wait for someone to come from the U.S. with the books, because things are likely to get lost in the Mexican postal system), and I didn't have a spring break(The season of Spring doesn't exist.  Mexico has a wet season and a dry season due to the mountainous terrain and the latitude in which it is located.)  All of that being said, I did have breaks.  I would work ahead in my curriculum, doing double the work for about a week and then I would go on mission trips. (Learn more about the mission trips I would go on here) 

 

Now I'm in Indiana.  How did I wind up here again?  To be honest, I don't know.  It's freezing cold in the winter, and apparently freezing cold in Spring as well.  I guess the question I should ask myself isn't, "How did I end up here?"  The question I should ask myself is, "What am I going to do while I'm here?"  "How am I going to make a difference?"  "Am I going to love everyone, not just my friends?" "Are my actions holy?" "Do my actions look like everybody else's actions?"


The thing is, just because I'm no longer living in a different country doesn't make me less of a missionary.  I still want to change the world for the better.  Being in public school gives me a great opportunity to be different.  By not allowing the world to change me, I can be a witness.  When it all comes down to it though, I do have to let God transform me.  If I can't, or won't, let God change me, I am not a very effective witness.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

Just a note for your information:
The reason I am blogging three times a week is to spend the extra time I  have because I am giving up movies/video/television for lent.  In case you're unaware, this is the last week of lent.  I do not plan to continue blogging so often. However, I will continue to blog once a week on Fridays.

Here is a photo simply for your viewing pleasure :) 

 

Messy Bessy

Sorry I missed Wednesday's blog. How did your challenge from Monday go? Did you do a few simple tasks as favors?

My mom and dad recently gave me a book that I loved as a little girl.  Whenever we went to the library, that was the book that I wanted to check out. I don't know if it was the cute limericks, or the colorful pictures, but I loved it when my mom read Messy Bessey.  Basically in this story, the little girl had a very messy room with toys in her dresser, clothes on her floor, gum on the ceiling and jam on the door.  (okay, so the jam was actually on the window, but this way it rhymes.)  She has to clean her room and at the end her room is beautiful, just like her.

At the same time my parents gave me Messy Bessey, they also got me Kisses From Katie.  I have not read this book, but from what I have heard it is a true story about a girl who goes on a mission trip her senior year, and, upon returning, realizes that she has to go back.  After she graduates she does just that and lives there as a missionary.

As I think about my parents getting me both of these books I can't help but think about how my thought processes, emotions, and spiritual life have changed since I was a young child.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 

I Corinthians 13:11 

 Just as we grow older and mature physically and mentally, we should grow and mature spiritually as well.  If a child is malnourished, people become concerned.  If someone stops eating, and is starving themselves, people intervene.  Why do we not become concerned if our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ aren't eating?  What if they're malnourished?  The Bible tells us that it is spiritual food, so that we do not experience "spiritual malnutrition," or "stunted growth."

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 5:13-14

Did you know that when children are underfed and malnourished at a young age they do not know how to eat?  My theory on this is that they have always felt hungry (never satisfied) so they are not aware that they are hungry and that they need to eat.  If you don't read God's Word on a regular basis you probably don't miss it because you've never received the proper "nutrients."  At the beginning, you may have to force yourself to read God's Word, but as you become accustomed to it, you'll find that when you miss a Bible reading, you fill unfulfilled.

(it's now 11:53 and I should probably get this posted before it's Saturday)

Challenge

I'm going to challenge you this week.  Every single day perform a separate Random Act of Kindness.  Wash dishes when it's not your turn.  Help pick up someone's books when they drop them.  Help someone do their homework.  It doesn't have to be a hard task, just perform one task each day.  You'll probably even find that you enjoy doing them.

You may just start a ripple.

Nature? Nuture? Nah!

It's Friday night, and I'm doing homework.  I just realized that I should probably blog before I forget.  I was trying to come up with an idea to blog about and the first thing that popped into my head was psychology.  Why psychology?  Because I'm working on Psychology homework.

Nature Vs. Nurture is a classic debate in the psychological world.  Example: People on the nurture side of the debate say that I'm good at math because I've been surrounded by people who are good at math.  People on the nature side of the math say that I'm good at math because my parents are good at math and it is part of my genetic code.

Basically, people on the nurture side of the debate would say that if my father was a murderer I would be much more likely to be murderer, because of my DNA.  People on the Nature side of the debate would say that if my dad is a murderer I am more likely to be a murderer because I've been exposed to an environment where there is a murderer and you learn through observation of other people's behavior.

Which side am I on? If I had to choose one or the other I would probably choose nurture, but I believe that nature still has an affect.  Why?  I would choose nurture because I have seen children completely change when adopted by parents who truly loved them and took care of them.  The parents gave the child a better, more enriching environment, and the child changed.  I believe nature still has an affect.  Scientific evidence has proven that a child of an alcoholic is much more likely to be an alcoholic than a child who hasn't had alcoholic parents.

I think there is one very important aspect that psychologists leave out.  God!  When you accept Christ as your Savior you not only get a Savior, you get a new father!

 

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the

 right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor 

of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 1: 12-13

 

It doesn't matter what your parents are like, what your grandparents have done, or what you siblings are doing.  You're a child of God.(There goes the Nature side of the debate!)

 

The other thing that happens when you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior is the Holy Spirit entering you.  It doesn't matter what surrounds you, the Holy Spirit is still with you.  He is there to comfort and convict you, no matter the environment! (There goes the nurture side of the debate!)

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?

I Corinthians 3:16

 

I feel the need to say that this blog is purely hypothetical and my parents are great!  They are not murderers, nor alcoholics.  My mom is pretty good at math, though. :P

 

Actions

You can listen to the song "The Twenty-First Time" by Monk and Neagle here.

In this song, the lyrics speak volumes.  Am I too busy to help people in need?  Am I too stingy to give money to the poor.  How many times have I seen someone who needs help and turned the other way?  When I see a person in need do I lend a helping hand?

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, 

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited 

me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in 

prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we

 see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we 

see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see

 you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you,

 whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,

 you did for me.’

Matthew 25:35-40

Everything you do for others you do for Christ!  This may lead to people wanting to know why you're helping them, giving you an opportunity to witness.  Even if they do not ask you, your actions can oftentimes speak louder than just words: saying "Jesus loves you," or "I'll pray for you," will probably not have such a profound impact if they don't see Jesus' love.  Ask to pray with them.

Without actions, your words are meaningless.  People will be a lot be more willing to listen to you if you live out the gospel, THEN speak the gospel.

When the School Smells like Cat Pee

My Sunday school teacher told us a story yesterday.  It went something like this:

There was a set of twins, one was a pessimist and the other was an optimist.  A scientist took the pessimist and put him in a room full of toys.  A few hours later, the scientist came back and the pessimist said, "Why did you put me in this room??  That toy needed batteries, and this toy wasn't fun."  The scientist realized that no matter where the pessimist was, he would not be happy.
Then, they scientist put the optimist in a room full of manure.  I few hours later, the scientist came back to hear the hooping and hollering of the optimist who was digging through the manure, having a great time.  The scientist said, "What in the world are you doing???" To which the optimist replied, "With all this manure, there has got to be a pony somewhere!"

The idea of this story is to point out that you should look for the positive side of things.  When your school smells like cat pee,(like mine did, on this fine Monday morning) or you have too much homework, or you're stressed out, or going through other trials, look to the bright side.  After all, you may just end up with a free kitten, stronger faith, a higher intellectual level, or a closer relationship with God.

Note: I never did find out why my school smelled like cat pee, and I didn't get a free kitten.  However, the odor was the source of some very interesting conversations I had today.

The Best

"If a man is called to be a street sweeper...he should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause and say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'"

-Martin Luther King Jr.

If your cooking, cleaning, working, shoveling the driveway, studying for a test, doing homework, sewing, scrapbooking, or making a duct tape outfit, don't except something as "good enough" until you would be willing to present it to the Lord.  In doing so, people will notice that there is something different about you.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Colossians 3:23

Rest

Today I have a snow day from school.  I woke up, and my mom had made me french toast! (Yeah!!) :)  I then proceeded to begin shoveling the driveway.  After that we built a snowman that was going to be two-headed, but it turned into a frog.  As the day progresses I plan to work on my duct tape dress and tuxedo for prom this year.

I really don't have much more to say today.  Sometimes it's good to have a day where you can just chillax, and have fun.  Enjoy today, have some fun!  Build a snowman. Watch a movie.  Do something you enjoy.  Be a kid. :)

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." 

Mark 6:31

Even Jesus rested, because He knew it was important.

Thankfulness

It's Tuesday, I woke up this morning and realized that yesterday was Monday, which means that I totally forgot to blog.  I've been rather busy with school and such, but there is a good chance that we might have a delay or a cancellation tomorrow, so I feel that I have the liberty to procrastinate doing my homework later than I normally would.  Thus, this is your Monday blog.  On Tuesday. (Better late than never?)

 Today in Psychology class we were discussing how the environment can effect (affect?) your behavior.  Part of this subject was malnourishment, and the health problems that it can create. 

This discussion made me think of many of the children that I worked with in Mexico.  If you would like to know more about who I was involved with in Mexico you can find more out here.  Basically I worked in an adoptive home where they took in abandoned children, many of whom were malnourished upon arriving.

Their mother once told me that when one of the girls arrived at Refuge Ranch, she did not understand that there would be three meals a day, every single day.  At her first meal, the family bowed their head to say a quick prayer.  When the quick prayer was done, they looked up, and she had her cheeks stuffed full of food, and dripping down her face.  She had probably never had a meal that meal big.  As she continued to live at the Ranch, she realized that meals happened on a daily basis.  She learned to wait as the family prayed, and eat slowly, enjoying the food.  Time progressed, and as her hair grew out you could see a line from where she had begun to get proper nutrients.

Another child that lives at Refuge Ranch hates onions.  She cannot stand to eat them in anything.  One day I asked her why.  She told me that before she came to live there, she only had onions and tortillas to eat.  Onions and tortillas were the only thing that her biological family had money for!  She couldn't stand the taste of onions anymore, because it reminded her of her previous life.

As I was writing this I was thinking of two lessons that could go with it:

1.  Make sure you receive the proper spiritual nourishment, so that you can grow in Christ.  Read the Bible, go to Church, etc.

2.  Have an attitude of gratitude.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;

 for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Next time someone asks you to carry in groceries, smile and help them, and be thankful that you have groceries. 

Next time you step out of your how shower and the mirror is fogged up, be thankful you have hot, running water.

Next time you have to eat food that you don't like, smile, and eat it.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 

I Chronicles 16:34

 God Loves You!  Remember that when you're having trouble with your attitude of gratitude.

Love

I was watching a video by "blimey cow" on Youtube.  You can watch the video here.  In the video, a question is posed. "What is the opposite of love?"  This question really caught my attention while I was watching youtube videos.  The reason it caught my attention is because there are many different definitions of love.  In my mind, love is a lot of work.  I have to work hard to have all of the attributes of love that are stated in 1 Corinthians (what I have found to be the most complete definition of love)

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no

record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.  But where there are prophecies, they will cease;

 where there are tongues, they will be stilled;

 where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

I Corinthians 13:4-8

 

It is hard to be patient, and kind.  It is difficult to not envy, boast or be proud.  It's challenging to not be selfish, anger easily, or not hold things against people.  It's troublesome to always be truthful, protecting, trusting, hopeful, and perseverant.  How can one go about life without failing?

In my eyes, when you tell someone that you love them, it isn't an emotion you feel towards them, but it is making a promise that you will do your best to try to reach the standards set for you in 1 Corinthians.  Let me tell you something: You will fail.  You will fall so short that only the grace of God could help you!  But the good thing is this:  God will help you!  

We love because he first loved us. 

I John 4:19

Only once we realize and accept God's love for us can we fully love those around us.

Okay, that definition of love took me a little longer than I expected.  But now I will discuss the opposite of love.  No, it isn't hate.  (If you haven't watched the youtube video yet, do so now).  The opposite of love is fear.  

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

I John 4:18

 

The other day I was swimming with several families in a large high school pool.  One of the kid's moms asked me to watch one of her kids jump off of the diving board, because she couldn't watch both of her younger children at once.  I readily complied to her request and we walked over to her son.  

As soon as the mother told her young child that he could go off of the diving board, he was exuberant.  His mother sort of sighed and said, "I wish he had a little more fear."  But in my head I thought, "WOW!"  This child is so trusting in our love that he doesn't have to be afraid.  He trusts his mom's love completely and wholeheartedly.  In his mind, there was no reason to be afraid.  He knew that his floaties would keep him up, and if they didn't, I would be right there to help him get to the side of the pool.

 

Humbling thought: A little child can love better than most of the world.

I will leave you with these two verses to ponder:

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 

I Corinthians 13:13

 

 And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3

Proverbs

My schedule just keeps going and going and going and going and going....  I finish one assignment and there is another.  I finish a workout and I still need to do more.  But sometimes it's important to slow down, and take a break. 

That being said, today, rather than tell you a story about my life, or whatever, I'm going to tell you to read the 27th Proverb.  Why the 27th?  Because today is the 27th of February.  Most months if you read a proverb a day, you finish the book in one month.  It's packed full of wisdom.  Way more wisdom than I will ever be able to write here.

If you need me, I'll be in my hammock, reading Proverbs!

True or False?

Teachers oftentimes quiz us with true and false questions.   How do you tell if something is true or false?  Most often, you have to know the true statement in order to recognize that something is false. When I study for a test and I'm looking over true and false worksheets I don't spend very much time on the false ones. Why? Because it is the true statements that I need to know!  When a person is trained to find false money, they first count real money.  They sit in a room and count real money.  The person is then placed somewhere that false money is likely to appear.  When they are handed false money, they immediately know that it is fake! They might not know why, but they know that something about it is wrong.

In the same way we need to study God's Word, so that when something comes along that is incorrect, we know that something is wrong.  We should also memorize scripture.  Jesus responded with scripture when He was tempted by the devil.  The devil proceeded to leave him alone!  The importance of studying scripture is unmeasurable! Study scripture, learn scripture, memorize scripture!

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' 

Mathew 4:4 

Thanks to my friend Ashleigh for the metaphor about false money for this blog!

New Life

It's 11:15 on Friday night!  AAAHH!  It's Friday night!  I haven't blogged yet!  I will just give you a quick summary of today:  I woke up late because I had a two hour delay, gave blood for the first time, went to a family fun night, and I have another college visit scheduled for tomorrow

 The two hour delay was fantastic, because I had stayed up late last night studying for a Chemistry test.  The Family Fun Night was a blast, I played a little bit of volleyball and swam in the school's pool for a good amount of time.  I'm most definitely looking forward to the college visit to Indiana Wesleyan University.

Giving blood was a good experience, which I would highly recommend you do.  It's an easy, free way to help people.  In giving blood you give life to another, just as Jesus gave you new life through His blood.  He died for you, and in the spilling of His blood, it gave you the ability to have a new life!

I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

Revelation 7:14

Christ has given you new life through his blood.  You have been washed clean.  You're a new creation!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Don't let your old habits bog you down.  Don't hold on to them.  Give them up, so that the whole world can see that there is something different.  I've heard this illustrated in many different ways a couple of them are:

1.  Bugs: Some insects go through partial transformation while others go through complete transformation (metamorphosis?).  A cockroach goes through partial transformation, while a butterfly goes through complete transformation.  You want to be like a butterfly, going through complete transformation, not like a cockroach, only partly transforming.

2.  Vines:  Picture Tarzan swing through the jungle by grasping different vines.  Picture him trying to do this if he didn't let go of the previous one.  If you don't let go of the old vine, you can't go anywhere.  You're stuck.  You just hang there, no super obnoxious yells, and no hair flying in the wind.  You won't go anywhere if you don't let go of the old vines and trust in the new. 

It's now 11:30, and this blog doesn't flow as well as it should, but it's still Friday!

Plans

On Monday I went on my first college visit and it was pretty nice.  I was able to sit in on a class and eat lunch there.  It was a very good use of my day and will hopefully better enable me to choose where I would like to spend the next four years of my life after high school.  I come from a relatively small community, and would like to have smaller classes in college, so I'm trying to find a private school where I will be fully equipped to attend medical school after I graduate.

I'm not sure how it will all work out, but I know it will, because it is all in God's hands.  He has the power to take care of everything, to open doors that I can't open, and to prepare me for HUGE things.  I believe that He has huge plans for everyone.  He tells us this in Jeremiah 29:11. (I know I've already used this verse, but it is one of my favorites.)

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 hope and a future. 

Jeremiah 29:11

I think that this is a very important fact to remember as we all go through life.  At my age, it might be about college, or whatever you want to do with your life after high school.  It might have to do with whether of not you're going to start a family or get married.  This verse is applicable to everyone.  This verse is applicable at all times, for any storm or trial your going through.  God does not test you.  He let's you be tested, by the devil.  God knows that you can make it and He won't let you be tested more than you can handle.  He'll get you through it, and when the storm is over and you look at the debris and rebuild, you'll rebuild stronger.  You'll come out of the test stronger than when you went in, because God doesn't doesn't let you be tested for no reason, He let's you be tested so that you can praise Him in the storm.

I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;  indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand;  the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.  The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;  the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121:1-8 (NIV)

I had this written on Wednesday, but I forgot to post!  Sorry!  Here it is now!

Useless?

My dad is back from Alabama, and his birthday is this coming Saturday.  He is the youth pastor at the church that my family attends, and I wanted to have the youth group do something special for him.  At first I was going to have the kids fill his office with balloons, but then it occurred to me that more people than just him go in and out of the office, so I talked to my mom, and we decided that we would fill his Volkswagen bug instead. 

Last week, on Sunday I handed each of the kids a bag of balloons, with a sheet informing them about what was going on.  They all agreed that it would be a good surprise, and we would fill his car with balloons the next Sunday. (yesterday)

This means that yesterday, I got to youth group early and sat outside reading a book (I oftentimes sneak off before youth group starts to read, so my dad didn't suspect anything.).  As people arrived, I had them sign a birthday card for my dad, and insert their balloons into the car.  Everything went smoothly and the car was quite full of balloons by the time it was 6:00 and it was time for youth group to start.

When my dad saw the balloons he laughed and climbed in to get the promised surprise that was in the car underneath the balloons!  I think he was pretty happy when he saw the container of cupcakes and the gift that waited for him under all of the balloons.

This whole excursion got me thinking.  Balloons can be fun, but they're not good for much.  I mean, sure you can play some fun games with them, and decorate rooms quickly and cheaply with balloons, but afterwards you just have a piece of rubber filled with air.  In a week or two the balloons will no longer look pretty, they'll just be gross, damp pieces of rubber in a plastic bag.  This reminds me of many things.  You might enjoy shopping, but in the end, all you have is an overflowing closet.  You can watch a movie and get a good laugh or a good cry (yes, boys, good cries do exist), but in the end, all you've done is sit for an hour and a half.  You can go jogging and keep your body fit, but in the end, you're still going to die.  You can have hundreds of friends, but someday you'll have to say goodbye to them.  I'm not saying (or typing) all of this to be a huge depressing cloud of doom.  I'm not trying to be as negative as possible.  I'm not saying that everything in this world is pointless, because it's not.  What I would like to point out is, there is only 1 thing that has a purpose, one thing that really will last forever.  For an eternity.  God. God's Word.  When I do things to please Him, I'm storing treasures up in heaven.  If I go on a jog because my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, then I'm storing up treasures in heaven.  If I have friends to have Christian fellowship, or to teach people about Christ, than I'm storing up treasures in heaven.

I guess what I'm trying to say, is that it's not what you say that defines you.  It's not what you do that defines you.  It is why you do what you do that defines you.  What is the purpose behind your actions?  I try to do my best in school, not because I want to impress my teachers, or because I want to show off good grades, but because I want to become the best person possible so that I can glorify God.  If the purpose of what your trying to do isn't to glorify God, than why are you doing it?

I have found that when I do something because it's fun, or because I enjoy it, I still feel empty inside.  When I do things for God's glory, it takes on a whole new meaning.  It doesn't matter how well I do or how poorly I do, it matters that others see that there is something different.  I heard someone say something once and it really stuck with me.  He said, "If you're a follower of Christ, and you hang out with someone for a day and they don't notice a difference between you and the rest of the world, you're doing it wrong."  Wow!  Can people see a difference in the way I talk from a non-believer?  In the music that I listen to?  In the way I dress?  In my attitude towards others? Towards teachers? Towards coaches? Towards my parents?  I don't know, but I most definitely hope that they can!

The book of Ecclesiastes begins by saying, 

"The teacher says, 'Useless! Useless! Completely useless!  Everything is useless.'  What do people really gain from all the hard work they do here on earth?"

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3

By the end of the book the writer comes to this conclusion:

Now, everything has been heard, so I give my final advise: Honor God and obey his commands, because this is all people must do.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

I think that that is a pretty good advice.  Each day, I try to glorify God, and I hope you will too.

Kids

I love kids.  I enjoy working with them and playing with them.  At my school I am a peer tutor, which basically means that I help an elementary kid with his schoolwork once a day.  This past week has been rather rough in working with him.  I do my best to be patient, but these past couple of days he has just been very unfocused and uncaring.  There is only so much that I can do to help a child who does not want to learn.  You can point to the worksheet, you can talk to him, you can try to coax it out of him, but if he doesn't want to do his work, then there is absolutely nothing that I can do.  Personally, I find this aspect of peer tutoring very frustrating.  It's sad to me, to think about how much potential a child might have, but they waste it.   How can I make a child have a passion for learning?  How can I make a student care about his grades?

Honestly, I don't know the answer to that, but if I feel that disappointed with a student when he has given up, how does God feel when we give up? He tries to convict us, He points to things that should be fixed in our lives, and we just shrug our shoulders and say, "Whatever." 

I am in a constant battle to do what God desires for me, and sometimes that is painful.   Jeremiah 29:11 tells me that God has plans for me, and that his plans will not harm me.  This verse does not say it won't be hard.  The verse says that God will not harm me. 

I will trust God, even if that means I have to push through some pain.  In a physical sense, your muscles grow sore as you work out.  Eventually they grow, but there is pain involved.  I have to trust that the pain that I endure while I try to chisel things out of my life that are unholy, will build perseverance, and that perseverance will make me stronger and more complete. (James 1:2-4)

Stories

I told myself that I was going to blog 3 times a week.  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  I let Monday go because I posted on Sunday, but now it is Wednesday night, I have homework I need to do, and I really don't think I have time to say anything, but I will:
I will tell you a quick little story.  My dad is in Alabama this week, and tomorrow is Valentines day.  My dad told me to pick up a balloon that was at a friend's house and give it to my mom on Thursday. On Tuesday night,  I was going to do just that, until I walked out of the door of the friend's house and the balloon broke off of the string and flew into a tree across the street.  :(
I then proceeded to drive home in the monster of a truck that I had snuck out in(I had snuck out so that I could surprise my mom with the balloon that was now stuck in a tree). 
As I drove home I decided I could still buy her a balloon and surprise her, which meant the truck had to be parked the same way it had when I took it.  It had been backed in.  I began to back the truck in the driveway and heard a crunch.  That is when I realized that there was a mini light pole right next to our driveway.  It was now at a very acute angle with the ground.
A fedex driver had observed the whole thing and then came up to my truck and said, "Don't back up any  farther, you just hit a pole."  all I could think was, no dip Sherlock!  But I just nodded my head, trying not to bite his head off, because I try to avoid that sort of thing.  He then proceeded to tell me he had a package for a Tim.  I told him that Tim did not live on our street. Tim has never lived on this street.  Tim lives across town on a street whose name is very similar to this street's name.  (This is not the first time we have gotten Tim's mail.)  The fedex man asked if he could leave me the package to get to Tim.  I couldn't believe it!! I told the fedex man "no" and told him where I thought the other street was.  I then parked the truck to the best of my ability, which meant that it was still in the yard, and called my mom to explain the whole situation. 
My mom told me today that she has decided that God must not want her to have things, He must want her to have stories!

In this materialistic world I think that this is very good advice.  Stories can be tears.  Stories can bring smiles. Stories can bring laughter.  It is much more powerful to create stories than to have things.  Stories last much longer, and in my mind, they are much more valuable.

The Beginning

This is the beginning.  No, not the beginning of a life, but the beginning of a journey. My journey.  I'm not sure where this journey is taking me.  But I don't think it's about the destination.  I think it's about the experience.  This journey is the journey of a lifetime.  My lifetime.  I don't know if this blog will be interesting enough to catch anyone's attention.  I do know that even though I said that this is MY journey, it's not just about me.  It's about everyone I come in contact with, because everyone's journey is interwoven.  It's about God.  It's about my relationship with Him.  Right now, this late at night, on a Sunday I think that this is all I want to say.  After all, this is just the beginning.