If you've ever hung out with me anywhere where I am surrounded by band kids or school friends (or anyone else who doesn't go to my church), you'll find out very soon that I have a zero-tolerance policy on cussing. Not only is it extremely unflattering, but it's also unnecessary and unprofessional. For anyone. And my buddy Jesus isn't very fond of it either. Multiple times in the Bible, it says how much God despises crude language. Since the word "profane" (like in "profanity") means "outside the temple," God wants it nowhere near Him or His people. Profanity includes cussing, sexual comments and jokes, using His Name in vain, gossiping, etc.
For example:
James 1: 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
James 3: 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness.10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
James 5: 12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple "Yes" or "No." Otherwise you will be condemned.
Ephesians 4: 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 5: 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Psalm 19: 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 141: 3 Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
4 Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies.
Colossians 3: 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Matthew 15: 10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand.11 What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them."
2 Timothy 2: 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
(all verses courtesy of YouVersion.com) For more verses, look up "Bible verses about using profanity" on Google. Proverbs is FULL of them!
So if you ever hear your friends - Christian or not! - cussing, tell them you don't want to hear that kind of language! I know I've been persecuted because I hate cussing and tell people to stop using language around me. It very well might happen to you, too, but be strong in your stand against all things not Christlike. You will be rewarded in Heaven. Trust me, all the things you go through on Earth will melt away when you stand before the Throne and God thanks you for your work in His Name. (:
Do you need help to stop cussing or using profanity in general? It's really hard, trust me. Start by praying about it and asking for God's help. Then find an accountability partner who will help you along the way. I don't "curse," but I do have words that keep me from cussing. Weird stuff like "frapperdoodles," "good golly goldfish!," and so many other strange things that have no meaning. I don't know if God thinks these are any more acceptable, but they keep me from conforming to the world (Romans 12:2).
A friend of mine found this video on what the Bible deems "bad language," and I think it really sums up all I'm trying to say. Heads up: the speaker uses several four-lettered words to make his case. Not suitable for anyone under the age of 13.
<3 Warrior
Monday, February 21, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
This has got to be the coolest thing ever!!
Background info: my devos consist of praying for God to open my eyes/heart/ears to Him and keep me focused, reading His word, and the meditation on what I read. I told you a couple posts ago I was reading Jeremiah, and now I am reading Isaiah.
So today I was reading my devo from Isaiah outside because it feels SO good outside (IT'S ALMOST SPRING! YAHOOTIE!) and for once, I was completely focused and in tune with God. Hmm maybe I should do my devo outside more so that I don't fall asleep... Anyway, while I was reading, I couldn't grasp what I was reading so I stopped and prayed for concentration. I started reading again, and about two lines into it, I got really really excited. Like sit-up and-squeal-with-excitement excited.
I was reading Isaiah 53. Now just for some background info, Isaiah was written by the prophet Isaiah between the years 701 and 681 BC. That's 700 years BEFORE CHRIST. Keep that in mind as you read what Isaiah 53 says:
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
(courtesy of YouVerison.com)
Doesn't that get you really excited?? I know it did for me! Just reading that, I kept thinking, "HOLY CRAP! HOLY CRAP! GOD THIS IS SO AWESOME! THIS IS SO COOL! OH MY GOLDFISH!"
It's a prediction of Christ's sacrifice for us 700 years before he is born! I get excited over his sacrifice for me anyway, but seeing it predicted just makes it so much cooler. Because God kept His promise. He always keeps His promises. Always. Christ was a perfect sacrifice that took away all of our sins for all eternity. Through Him, we can see eternal life and be with Him forever.
I just thought it was SO COOL that His sacrifice was predicted and that prediction came true.
When you get the chance, read Isaiah 40 and 49-59. I read the latter today and it was so amazing (:. And I just love Isaiah 40 :D
God bless y'all! I hope you can see Him everywhere (because that's where He is)!
<3 Warrior
So today I was reading my devo from Isaiah outside because it feels SO good outside (IT'S ALMOST SPRING! YAHOOTIE!) and for once, I was completely focused and in tune with God. Hmm maybe I should do my devo outside more so that I don't fall asleep... Anyway, while I was reading, I couldn't grasp what I was reading so I stopped and prayed for concentration. I started reading again, and about two lines into it, I got really really excited. Like sit-up and-squeal-with-excitement excited.
I was reading Isaiah 53. Now just for some background info, Isaiah was written by the prophet Isaiah between the years 701 and 681 BC. That's 700 years BEFORE CHRIST. Keep that in mind as you read what Isaiah 53 says:
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
(courtesy of YouVerison.com)
Doesn't that get you really excited?? I know it did for me! Just reading that, I kept thinking, "HOLY CRAP! HOLY CRAP! GOD THIS IS SO AWESOME! THIS IS SO COOL! OH MY GOLDFISH!"
It's a prediction of Christ's sacrifice for us 700 years before he is born! I get excited over his sacrifice for me anyway, but seeing it predicted just makes it so much cooler. Because God kept His promise. He always keeps His promises. Always. Christ was a perfect sacrifice that took away all of our sins for all eternity. Through Him, we can see eternal life and be with Him forever.
I just thought it was SO COOL that His sacrifice was predicted and that prediction came true.
When you get the chance, read Isaiah 40 and 49-59. I read the latter today and it was so amazing (:. And I just love Isaiah 40 :D
God bless y'all! I hope you can see Him everywhere (because that's where He is)!
<3 Warrior
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Truly Scrumptious
Last night, I watched for the first time a movie of FANTASMAGORICAL proportions. Or at least, that's what the trailer told me. The movie was called Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and it is now one of my most favorite movies everrrrrr. (And it's not even Disney! Gasp!)
As I watched the trailer, the announcer guy kept calling the movie "fantasmagorical." Not only is that my new favorite word, but it got me thinking. You guys hear me call God so many things. Well, not really. I have a very small vocabulary of synonyms for "awesome" or "amazing." But the fantasmical (ooh that's another one!) persons who wrote this book called the Bible definitely knew some better words. I get really bored of calling my Savior "God" all the time, and if you do too, then maybe you could spice up your vocabulary with some more names and adjectives that the Bible uses.
That's a lotttt of names... and I bet there are a ton more not listed (actually I know that for a fact). But I don't know if I could ever use any of them without sounding weird. So I use words like "frabjous," "scrumptious," "fantasmical," "fantabulous," and many others that are quite random and have no meaning, really. Except to me. They are all words that I use to describe my all-powerful, all-loving, ever-forgiving God. My Abba.
Truly Scrumptious is (legit) the name of one of the main characters of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Her father owns a candy business, so I guess it makes sense that his daughter is truly scrumptious. The children, Jemima and Jeremy sing Truly a song about her name and how well it fits her. Truly Scrumptious, you're truly truly scrumptious! After a while the word "truly" starts looking odd, I must admit.
That song reminds me of how all of God's names mean the same thing. That He's truly truly _________ (fill in the blank)! And we should never forget to tell Him that!
Here's my fave scene from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Enjoy!
<3 Warrior
As I watched the trailer, the announcer guy kept calling the movie "fantasmagorical." Not only is that my new favorite word, but it got me thinking. You guys hear me call God so many things. Well, not really. I have a very small vocabulary of synonyms for "awesome" or "amazing." But the fantasmical (ooh that's another one!) persons who wrote this book called the Bible definitely knew some better words. I get really bored of calling my Savior "God" all the time, and if you do too, then maybe you could spice up your vocabulary with some more names and adjectives that the Bible uses.
- ELOHIM......Genesis 1:1, Psalm 19:1
- meaning "God", a reference to God's power and might.
- ADONAI......Malachi 1:6
- meaning "Lord", a reference to the Lordship of God.
- JEHOVAH--YAHWEH.....Genesis 2:4
- a reference to God's divine salvation.
- JEHOVAH-MACCADDESHEM.......Exodus 31:13
- meaning "The Lord thy sanctifier"
- JEHOVAH-ROHI......Psalm 23:1
- meaning "The Lord my shepherd"
- JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH.......Ezekiel 48:35
- meaning "The Lord who is present"
- JEHOVAH-RAPHA.........Exodus 15:26
- meaning "The Lord our healer"
- JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU......Jeremiah 23:6
- meaning "The Lord our righteousness"
- JEHOVAH-JIREH.........Genesis 22:13-14
- meaning "The Lord will provide"
- JEHOVAH-NISSI.........Exodus 17:15
- meaning "The Lord our banner"
- JEHOVAH-SHALOM........Judges 6:24
- meaning "The Lord is peace"
- JEHOVAH-SABBAOTH......Isaiah 6:1-3
- meaning "The Lord of Hosts"
- JEHOVAH-GMOLAH........Jeremiah 51:6
- meaning "The God of Recompense"
- EL-ELYON..............Genesis 14:17-20,Isaiah 14:13-14
- meaning "The most high God
- EL-ROI................Genesis 16:13
- meaning "The strong one who sees"
- EL-SHADDAI............Genesis 17:1,Psalm 91:1
- meaning "The God of the mountains or God Almighty"
- EL-OLAM...............Isaiah 40:28-31
- meaning "The everlasting God"
- ABBA.............................Romans 8:15
- ADVOCATE.........................I John 2:1 (kjv)
- ALMIGHTY.........................Genesis 17:1
- ALPHA............................Revelation 22:13
- AMEN.............................Revelation 3:14
- ANCIENT OF DAYS..................Daniel 7:9
- ANOINTED ONE.....................Psalm 2:2
- APOSTLE..........................Hebrews 3:1
- ARM OF THE LORD..................Isaiah 53:1
- AUTHOR OF LIFE...................Acts 3:15
- AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH..............Hebrews 12:2
- BEGINNING.........................Revelation 21:6
- BLESSED & HOLY RULER..............1 Timothy 6:15
- BRANCH............................Jeremiah 33:15
- BREAD OF GOD......................John 6:33
- BREAD OF LIFE.....................John 6:35
- BRIDEGROOM........................Isaiah 62:56
- BRIGHT MORNING STAR...............Revelation 22:16
- CHIEF SHEPHERD.....................1 Peter 5:4
- CHOSEN ONE.........................Isaiah 42:1
- CHRIST.............................Matthew 22:42
- CHRIST OF GOD......................Luke 9:20
- CHRIST THE LORD....................Luke 2:11
- CHRIST, SON OF LIVING GOD..........Matthew 16:16
- COMFORTER..........................John 14:26(kjv)
- COMMANDER..........................Isaiah 55:4
- CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL...............Luke 2:25
- CONSUMING FIRE......................Deut. 4:24, Heb. 12:29
- CORNERSTONE.........................Isaiah 28:16
- COUNSELOR...........................Isaiah 9:6
- CREATOR.............................1 Peter 4:19
- DELIVERER..............................Romans 11:26
- DESIRED OF ALL NATIONS.................Haggai 2:7
- DOOR...................................John 10:7(kjv)
- END....................................Revelation 21:6
- ETERNAL GOD............................Deut. 33:27
- EVERLASTING FATHER.....................Isaiah 9:6
- FAITHFUL & TRUE........................Revelation 19:11
- FAITHFUL WITNESS.......................Revelation 1:5
- FATHER.................................Matthew 6:9
- FIRSTBORN (3)........................................Rom.8:29,Rev.1:5,Col.1:15
- FIRSTFRUITS............................1 Cor.15:20-23
- FOUNDATION.............................1 Cor. 3:11
- FRIEND OF TAX COLLECTORS & SINNERS.....Matthew 11:19
- GENTLE WHISPER.........................1 Kings 19:12
- GIFT OF GOD............................John 4:10
- GLORY OF THE LORD......................Isaiah 40:5
- GOD....................................Genesis 1:1
- GOD ALMIGHTY...........................Genesis 17:1
- GOD OVER ALL...........................Romans 9:5
- GOD WHO SEES ME........................Genesis 16:13
- GOOD SHEPHERD..........................John 10:11
- GREAT HIGH PRIEST......................Hebrews 4:14
- GREAT SHEPHERD.........................Hebrews 13:20
- GUIDE..................................Psalm 48:14
- HEAD OF THE BODY.......................Colossians 1:18
- HEAD OF THE CHURCH.....................Ephesians 5:23
- HEIR OF ALL THINGS.....................Hebrews 1:2
- HIGH PRIEST............................Hebrews 3:1
- HIGH PRIEST FOREVER....................Hebrews 6:20
- HOLY ONE...............................Acts 2:27
- HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.....................Isaiah 49:7
- HOLY SPIRIT............................John 15:26
- HOPE...................................Titus 2:13
- HORN OF SALVATION......................Luke 1:69
- I AM....................................Exodus 3:14, John 8:58
- IMAGE OF GOD............................2 Cor. 4:4
- IMAGE OF HIS PERSON.....................Hebrews 1:3 (kjv)
- IMMANUEL................................Isaiah 7:14
- JEALOUS..............................Exodus 34:14 (kjv)
- JEHOVAH..............................Psalm 83:18 (kjv)
- JESUS................................Matthew 1:21
- JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD................Romans 6:23
- JUDGE................................Isaiah 33:22, Acts 10:42
- KING.................................Zechariah 9:9
- KING ETERNAL.........................1 Timothy 1:17
- KING OF KINGS........................1 Timothy 6:15
- KING OF THE AGES.....................Revelation 15:3
- LAMB OF GOD...........................John 1:29
- LAST ADAM.............................1 Cor. 15:45
- LAWGIVER..............................Isaiah 33:22
- LEADER................................Isaiah 55:4
- LIFE..................................John 14:6
- LIGHT OF THE WORLD....................John 8:12
- LIKE AN EAGLE.........................Deut. 32:11
- LILY OF THE VALLEYS...................Song 2:1
- LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH............Revelation 5:5
- LIVING STONE..........................1 Peter 2:4
- LIVING WATER..........................John 4:10
- LORD..................................John 13:13
- LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.....................Revelation 15:3
- LORD JESUS CHRIST.....................1 Cor. 15:57
- LORD OF ALL...........................Acts 10:36
- LORD OF GLORY ........................1 Cor. 2:8
- LORD OF HOSTS.........................Haggai 1:5
- LORD OF LORDS.........................1 Tim. 6:15
- LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS..............Jeremiah 23:6
- LOVE.................................1 John 4:8
- MAN OF SORROWS.........................Isaiah 53:3
- MASTER..................................Luke 5:5
- MEDIATOR................................1 Timothy 2:5
- MERCIFUL GOD............................Jeremiah 3:12
- MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT................Malachi 3:1
- MESSIAH................................. John 4:25
- MIGHTY GOD...............................Isaiah 9:6
- MIGHTY ONE...............................Isaiah 60:16
- NAZARENE.................................Matthew 2:23
- OFFSPRING OF DAVID.......................Revelation 22:16
- OMEGA....................................Revelation 22:13
- ONLY BEGOTTEN SON........................John 1:18(kjv)
- OUR PASSOVER LAMB........................1 Cor. 5:7
- OUR PEACE................................Ephesians 2:14
- POTTER...................................Isaiah 64:8
- POWER OF GOD.............................1 Cor. 1:24
- PRINCE OF PEACE..........................Isaiah 9:6
- PROPHET..................................Acts 3:22
- PURIFIER.................................Malachi 3:3
- RABBONI (TEACHER)........................John 20:16
- RADIANCE OF GOD'S GLORY..................Heb.1:3
- REDEEMER.................................Job 19:25
- REFINER'S FIRE...........................Malachi 3:2
- RESURRECTION.............................John 11:25
- RIGHTEOUS ONE............................1 John 2:1
- ROCK.....................................1 Cor.10:4
- ROOT OF DAVID............................Rev. 22:16
- ROSE OF SHARON...........................Song 2:1
- RULER OF GOD'S CREATION..................Rev. 3:14
- RULER OVER KINGS OF EARTH................Rev 1:5
- RULER OVER ISRAEL........................Micah 5:2
- SAVIOR...................................Luke 2:11
- SCEPTER OUT OF ISRAEL....................Numbers 24:17
- SEED.....................................Genesis 3:15
- SERVANT..................................Isaiah 42:1
- SHEPHERD OF OUR SOULS....................1Peter 2:25
- SHIELD...................................Genesis 15:1
- SON OF DAVID.............................Matthew 1:1
- SON OF GOD...............................Matthew 27:54
- SON OF MAN...............................Matthew 8:20
- SON OF THE MOST HIGH.....................Luke 1:32
- SOURCE...................................Hebrews 5:9
- SPIRIT OF GOD............................Genesis 1:2
- STAR OUT OF JACOB........................Numbers 24:17
- STONE....................................1 Peter 2:8
- SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.....................Malachi 4:2
- TEACHER...................................John 13:13
- TRUE LIGHT................................John 1:9
- TRUE WITNESS..............................Revelation 3:14
- TRUTH.....................................John 14:6
- VINE......................................John 15:5
- WAY........................................John 14:6
- WISDOM OF GOD..............................1 Cor. 1:24
- WITNESS....................................Isaiah 55:4
- WONDERFUL..................................Isaiah 9:6
- WORD.......................................John 1:1
- WORD OF GOD................................Revelation 19:13
That's a lotttt of names... and I bet there are a ton more not listed (actually I know that for a fact). But I don't know if I could ever use any of them without sounding weird. So I use words like "frabjous," "scrumptious," "fantasmical," "fantabulous," and many others that are quite random and have no meaning, really. Except to me. They are all words that I use to describe my all-powerful, all-loving, ever-forgiving God. My Abba.
Truly Scrumptious is (legit) the name of one of the main characters of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Her father owns a candy business, so I guess it makes sense that his daughter is truly scrumptious. The children, Jemima and Jeremy sing Truly a song about her name and how well it fits her. Truly Scrumptious, you're truly truly scrumptious! After a while the word "truly" starts looking odd, I must admit.
That song reminds me of how all of God's names mean the same thing. That He's truly truly _________ (fill in the blank)! And we should never forget to tell Him that!
Here's my fave scene from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Enjoy!
<3 Warrior
Sunday, January 23, 2011
This Past Week
So I'm not going into this post with a topic in mind or anything like that. All this post is about is my life this past week. In a non-conceited way. It’s about me finding and doing God’s will. It’s about me making changes for the better. It’s about how AWESOME and AMAZING God is with actual proof (in case you ever doubted me the other gajillion times I’ve said it). And it’s about how giving God even 30 minutes of your time a day to just spend and be with Him really does change your life and really leaves you wanting so much more.
Last Wednesday at Elevate (youth group) we talked about fasting from the things that separate us from God or take away our time that we could be spending with Him. I honestly didn't know how to fast or what to fast from but after a couple days, on Sunday, I called up my gal Mollie and told her that I wanted fast from the computer and she helped me work out a schedule. I would stay off the computer save for homework and approximately 10 minutes or so to check emails. That meant no AIM, no solitaire, and no sitting in front of the computer wasting not only my time, but also the time I could be spending with God and probably thousands of brain cells that I might need later in life. I made my AIM status "I'm not going to be on the computer for a week or so but I still love y'all and you can always call me if you need me (:" or something like that (I'm not going to get on AIM to see what I actually said *pats self on head*). The plan also included the devotional I had already started every morning and reading 5 chapters of Jeremiah a day and lots of prayer and mediation time. I don't think I've ever been more excited to give up something that was important to me (talking to friends... and solitaire).
Monday, we didn't have school, so obviously I slept until 2 (that's PM for you people who forgot what it's like to be a high schooler) and then spent the rest of my day making a 10-layered Jello dessert and doing homework. I had completely forgotten about my yoga class at 7 so I totally ran out of time for my God time. Oh no! But when I got home at 8:30, I finished reading my chapters of Jeremiah and went to sleep. No computer ever felt so good!
Tuesday meant back to school time. Which was no big deal. I started setting my alarm for earlier so I would have enough time for my devo even if I ignored my alarms (which totally doesn't happen a lot, nooo). I don't remember what my devo was about (and the book is upstairs while I am downstairs and you know how much I hate having to run upstairs and grab things), but just having that time to literally wake up and the first thing to pop into my head was "GOOD MORNING GOD!!! IT'S TIME FOR MY DEVO!!!" (Literally, I screamed it in my head. I hope I didn't give God a headache.) just made my day. Legit. I was so joyful and perky and jumpy at school and a lot of people noticed and told me that I was really happy that morning. I actually told a bunch of people that I was one day sober from the internet and got some weird looks (:. When I got home from school, I immediately did all of my homework and I couldn't wait another second to start my devo. I got in bed and grabbed my Bible (I had to shut off the Disney music because I realized I couldn't concentrate with it on) and began to read. I fell asleep. Twice. Maybe even three times. I don't even remember. I woke up the last time to Mom asking if I could come watch the brownies in the oven so I moved my Godtime into the kitchen, where I found it much easier to concentrate and stay awake. As I was reading, I was filled with a fear of God. For those who don't know, Jeremiah is all about Jeremiah (whom I shall call Jerry to save my fingers some typing) the prophet who was called by God to go to all the tribes of Israel and tell them "This is what you're doing wrong and this is what God is going to do to you since you're seriously making Him very mad. Like mad in a way that words can't describe." Long story short, you don't want his job. God ranted to Jerry about all the things that His people were doing that disgusted Him and the terrible things He was going to do to them... and it scared me. I was sitting in the kitchen crying because God's anger was so ferocious that I could feel it in my soul. And it scared me. Like, a lot. That night, as I lay in bed, I started to pray. About everything, nothing, something, anything, everything, and things in general. I wasn't really timing myself, but as far as I know I was lying in bed for about 2 hours talking to someone who wasn't physically in the room (which makes me grateful my room isn't bugged). But it felt so GOOD! It was like an actual conversation, except I was doing all of the talking. So I tried to be silent. But I didn't know what I was listening for, so I told God that I would practice it and kept talking. All of a sudden, I wanted to write a note to my (ex-)friend Brad. All of a sudden, I felt full of conviction and I simply HAD to write him a 1 1/2 page note front and back about how much God loves him. I KNEW that he wouldn't take it well. I KNEW that he would hate me for it. I KNEW that he would say nasty things and tell all of his friends and get them to say nasty things. But I also knew that he needed to hear it. More than anything in the world it was something he needed to hear. I made a copy of the note, told God He is the coolest thing since sliced bread and way way cooler than unsliced bread. I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
Wednesday. Okay before I start, take a deep breath and crack your knuckles (is that how you spell it?) because after Tuesday, I definitely had to. Breathe in, breathe out, crackcrackcrackcrackcrack. Okay. Let's go. So I was really really tired Wednesday morning and my devo was read but it didn't really sink in very deeply. I still woke up with a smile from the awesome night I had spent with God (in a not-weird way). I showed the Bradnote to my Godpeep (aka Christian friend) Sher-bear and she approved. After English, I pass Brad in the hall. I dug the note out of my backpack and held it in my hand as I walked. My heart was beating so fast because I was so nervous about what I was about to do. I was about to give up a lot of friends and some trust by giving this "offensive" note to my gay, atheist, ex-friend. I prayed saying, "God if it is Your will for him to get this note, so be it. I'll do it. If it's not Your will for him to get this, have him not be here or me not able to get to him. If it is, let him be right in front of me and give me the courage to follow Your will this day and every day." As I scanned the crowd, I found him with a clear path right in front of him. I handed him the note and said, "Brad this is for you." and he took it. I rushed into my next class with my heart thumping as if I had just committed a crime, and worried over his reaction. I only saw a glance of him at lunch, but after that, I didn't see him until I walked on the bus and everything got awkwardly quiet. (I found out later he was going to prank call my youth pastor Jon, which he did later but Jon didn't pick up since they *67'd.) That afternoon, literally a minute after finishing my devo of Jerrybook (Jeremiah), my friend *** called me and asked me if I had seen Brad's AIM status. I told her that I already knew what it was going to say and that it wasn't a big deal and she told me it said "I have never been so pissed off in my entire life and you know who you are and if you ever speak to me again I swear I will rip out your heart." I have to admit, I laughed out loud. Because I can't imagine anyone else having a conversation like this:
someone: God loves you! And so do I!
someone else: I HATE YOU! I'M GOING TO RIP YOUR HEART OUT!
Anyway, she told me how he reacted (badly, as I had thought he would) and how he told a lot of people what it said (yay! they get to know God loves them too!) and she told me some of the things she didn't understand that I had wrote and somehow the conversation got turned so that we were talking about HER faith and how it crumbled to pieces after her mom died. I told her about my beliefs and what I believe about God having a plan for me and my life. Little did I know that my words meant more to her than me trying to explain why I wrote Brad that note. More on that later....
Before church, I talked to Molls on the phone about a ton of the stuff that had been bothering me over the past two days and about the Bradnote. I went to bed early so I would be well rested for Thursday AM Bible study! <3
Thursday, before the crack of dawn: I curled up under my blankets that weigh more than I do and read my devo then got up for Bible study <3. At Bible study Mollie mentioned how we might even get rid of what’s getting in between us and God for good instead of just fasting from it for a couple of days. I thought about it and I was stuck between giving up AIM for good and now having a balance and a plan for not spending too much time on the computer. Since I started spending those 30 or so minutes with God every day, I wanted to keep going since He had already spoken to me and was doing amazing things in my life. My day went on as usual with no awkward conversations about the Bradnote. HOWEVER, during last period, *** gave me a note that said,
Jessica, Thank you for sharing some of your views on faith with me yesterday. Last night I prayed for the first time in almost five years. Don’t get too excited. I’m not quite ready yet, but I feel like I’m getting closer. I don’t know what’s planned for me, or if I’ll ever be able to make the transition to live for God again – if I’ll ever completely want to – but a part of me hopes that I will one day. Thank you.
Holy frapperdoodles how could I NOT get excited about that!? THAT IS GOD MY FRIENDS! That note to Brad may have had his name on it, but ultimately it was the ones he showed it to that were impacted and changed the most by it! *** calling me to tell me Brad’s status was not a coincidence! I already knew what it was going to say. *** calling me was SUCH a God thing. Oh man. He’s awesome. You cannot read that note and tell me differently. I would refuse to believe you if you tried. I know her better than you do, so I can tell you that a week ago, I didn’t even know she had had a relationship with Jesus. I really am praying hard about what my next step is to help her take the next step. I’m thinking notes about God and His awesome Son, encoura-grams, and maybe even a Bible with verses highlighted in it. (: God has a plan, friends! AND IT IS SHA-WEET! The Lord says, “Forget what happened before, and do not thing about the past. Look at the new things I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it? I will make a road in the desert and rivers in the dry land.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NCV)
Friday was... not that exciting (compared to Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday). That morning I woke up suprah early without meaning to since my alarms was still set on 5 for Bible study the morning before. So I was in for a surprise when I was all psyched for school and then I realized that it was 5. Pooey. I was really groggy when I woke up but trooped on to school. Nothing life-changing happened except learning that one of my bestest friends is possibly getting kicked out of her house and sent to live in what she calls the “Boonies” of North Carolina with her biological father and lose pretty much everything she holds dear. I had no idea what to say to her, so I just comforted her as much as I could. When I got home that afternoon, I was just sitting in bed listening to Starfield and then I fell asleep until 3:48 (missing my devo), when I had to get ready for ballet really quickly. Nothing else really exciting happened until after dance when I went to a game party with a couple of marching band friends. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized I had totes violated my morals at the party. I’m too mad at myself to tell you what we were talking about, but I’ll tell you this: the idea of “among you there must be not even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be any obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:3-4) was definitely not going through my head when I was speaking. And afterward I felt terrible and unclean because I had violated that demand and made myself seem like a hypocrite (saying that I don’t like dirty jokes but making them and laughing at them anyway). I read that verse over and over again and prayed for forgiveness.
Saturday was also uneventful. I woke up, said “Good morning God!”, sat up, and reached for my devotional. It made me giggle when I saw that my devo for that day was “Pray early and often.” After reading, I finally knew where the “pray continually” verse is from. It’s from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I lurvee that verse. God’s will for us is to be joyful, pray nonstop, and give thanks in everything. Praying nonstop may sound intimidating, but really it’s not. I like to think of it as not just talking to God 24/7, but also thinking thoughts that are pleasing to Him. It’s really hard and I have to apologize to God for my thoughts a lot of the time. For instance. “Ugh look at what that girl is – OOPS SORRY GOD! SORRYSORRYSORRY!” Yeah, that’s what my brainwaves sound like usually. Not the judging part, but the random bursts of screaming/yelling at myself. Anyway, on Saturday I also went to a 4H meeting, did homework, and went to Sam Ash with daddy to get a new flute case and cleaning stuff. Yaaaaaaaaay! That night during my second devotional of the day (I had been reading Jerrybook in the car and wanted to keep reading so I read even more), I feel asleep for probably a minute or so, but when I woke up, I jolted and smacked myself in the face with my Bible. It was really funny. Well, to me anyway, since I was alone.
Sunday. Alas! My last day! As I’m writing this, I still don’t know if I want to still use AIM... I don’t know if I can trust myself not to get addicted to it again. Sunday was rough on me. I was very tired and moody and grouchy, and then my mom forgot me at church and dad had to take me home after I waited 30 or so minutes for him to be done with ushering. And he called me Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and bipolar since the day before I had been so cheerful and awake and I was way tired instead. I’m not very good at pretending I have energy when I actually don’t, so I wasn’t attempting much of anything emotion-wise that day. EXCEPT when I was singing. We sang on of my fave songs in church. The chorus goes “And we will dance on the streets that are golden / The glorious bride and the great Son of Man / And every tongue and tribe and nation will join / In the song of the Lamb” <333. The hope and excitement that everyone seems to glow with when we sing that just make me all warm and fuzzy inside. United Praise, our youth choir, sang JLM (Jesus Loves Me) and I put as much emotion into that as I could. I think it’s terrible when people are singing about God’s love and power and they look bored and tired and uninterested. It kind of defeats the purpose of praising Him if you’re not going to put your all into it. I dunno, that’s just my opinion.
Even though my week of fasting ended on a slow and tired note, just the thought of the amazing things God had done through me earlier in the week just got me all excited. Let me clear this up. I don’t take any credit for the things that happened this week. Because I’m definitely not to blame. My Lord Jesus is to blame for every good, no AMAZING, thing that happened this past week. I couldn’t have done any of it without Him. I can blame myself for all of the bad, but Jesus is the sole reason why all of the amazing things happened this week. He’s just so awesome like that.
I hope my (really really) long story has been inspiring to you in some way and has maybe gotten you thinking of how you can grow closer to God too. Because when you do, amazing things start happening. And it’s one of the very best things you could ever do for yourself and your Savior. Think about it. Then pray about it. Then do it. But be careful. It might change your life in ways you cannot imagine.
And it has never felt so good.
<3 Warrior
Last Wednesday at Elevate (youth group) we talked about fasting from the things that separate us from God or take away our time that we could be spending with Him. I honestly didn't know how to fast or what to fast from but after a couple days, on Sunday, I called up my gal Mollie and told her that I wanted fast from the computer and she helped me work out a schedule. I would stay off the computer save for homework and approximately 10 minutes or so to check emails. That meant no AIM, no solitaire, and no sitting in front of the computer wasting not only my time, but also the time I could be spending with God and probably thousands of brain cells that I might need later in life. I made my AIM status "I'm not going to be on the computer for a week or so but I still love y'all and you can always call me if you need me (:" or something like that (I'm not going to get on AIM to see what I actually said *pats self on head*). The plan also included the devotional I had already started every morning and reading 5 chapters of Jeremiah a day and lots of prayer and mediation time. I don't think I've ever been more excited to give up something that was important to me (talking to friends... and solitaire).
Monday, we didn't have school, so obviously I slept until 2 (that's PM for you people who forgot what it's like to be a high schooler) and then spent the rest of my day making a 10-layered Jello dessert and doing homework. I had completely forgotten about my yoga class at 7 so I totally ran out of time for my God time. Oh no! But when I got home at 8:30, I finished reading my chapters of Jeremiah and went to sleep. No computer ever felt so good!
Tuesday meant back to school time. Which was no big deal. I started setting my alarm for earlier so I would have enough time for my devo even if I ignored my alarms (which totally doesn't happen a lot, nooo). I don't remember what my devo was about (and the book is upstairs while I am downstairs and you know how much I hate having to run upstairs and grab things), but just having that time to literally wake up and the first thing to pop into my head was "GOOD MORNING GOD!!! IT'S TIME FOR MY DEVO!!!" (Literally, I screamed it in my head. I hope I didn't give God a headache.) just made my day. Legit. I was so joyful and perky and jumpy at school and a lot of people noticed and told me that I was really happy that morning. I actually told a bunch of people that I was one day sober from the internet and got some weird looks (:. When I got home from school, I immediately did all of my homework and I couldn't wait another second to start my devo. I got in bed and grabbed my Bible (I had to shut off the Disney music because I realized I couldn't concentrate with it on) and began to read. I fell asleep. Twice. Maybe even three times. I don't even remember. I woke up the last time to Mom asking if I could come watch the brownies in the oven so I moved my Godtime into the kitchen, where I found it much easier to concentrate and stay awake. As I was reading, I was filled with a fear of God. For those who don't know, Jeremiah is all about Jeremiah (whom I shall call Jerry to save my fingers some typing) the prophet who was called by God to go to all the tribes of Israel and tell them "This is what you're doing wrong and this is what God is going to do to you since you're seriously making Him very mad. Like mad in a way that words can't describe." Long story short, you don't want his job. God ranted to Jerry about all the things that His people were doing that disgusted Him and the terrible things He was going to do to them... and it scared me. I was sitting in the kitchen crying because God's anger was so ferocious that I could feel it in my soul. And it scared me. Like, a lot. That night, as I lay in bed, I started to pray. About everything, nothing, something, anything, everything, and things in general. I wasn't really timing myself, but as far as I know I was lying in bed for about 2 hours talking to someone who wasn't physically in the room (which makes me grateful my room isn't bugged). But it felt so GOOD! It was like an actual conversation, except I was doing all of the talking. So I tried to be silent. But I didn't know what I was listening for, so I told God that I would practice it and kept talking. All of a sudden, I wanted to write a note to my (ex-)friend Brad. All of a sudden, I felt full of conviction and I simply HAD to write him a 1 1/2 page note front and back about how much God loves him. I KNEW that he wouldn't take it well. I KNEW that he would hate me for it. I KNEW that he would say nasty things and tell all of his friends and get them to say nasty things. But I also knew that he needed to hear it. More than anything in the world it was something he needed to hear. I made a copy of the note, told God He is the coolest thing since sliced bread and way way cooler than unsliced bread. I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
Wednesday. Okay before I start, take a deep breath and crack your knuckles (is that how you spell it?) because after Tuesday, I definitely had to. Breathe in, breathe out, crackcrackcrackcrackcrack. Okay. Let's go. So I was really really tired Wednesday morning and my devo was read but it didn't really sink in very deeply. I still woke up with a smile from the awesome night I had spent with God (in a not-weird way). I showed the Bradnote to my Godpeep (aka Christian friend) Sher-bear and she approved. After English, I pass Brad in the hall. I dug the note out of my backpack and held it in my hand as I walked. My heart was beating so fast because I was so nervous about what I was about to do. I was about to give up a lot of friends and some trust by giving this "offensive" note to my gay, atheist, ex-friend. I prayed saying, "God if it is Your will for him to get this note, so be it. I'll do it. If it's not Your will for him to get this, have him not be here or me not able to get to him. If it is, let him be right in front of me and give me the courage to follow Your will this day and every day." As I scanned the crowd, I found him with a clear path right in front of him. I handed him the note and said, "Brad this is for you." and he took it. I rushed into my next class with my heart thumping as if I had just committed a crime, and worried over his reaction. I only saw a glance of him at lunch, but after that, I didn't see him until I walked on the bus and everything got awkwardly quiet. (I found out later he was going to prank call my youth pastor Jon, which he did later but Jon didn't pick up since they *67'd.) That afternoon, literally a minute after finishing my devo of Jerrybook (Jeremiah), my friend *** called me and asked me if I had seen Brad's AIM status. I told her that I already knew what it was going to say and that it wasn't a big deal and she told me it said "I have never been so pissed off in my entire life and you know who you are and if you ever speak to me again I swear I will rip out your heart." I have to admit, I laughed out loud. Because I can't imagine anyone else having a conversation like this:
someone: God loves you! And so do I!
someone else: I HATE YOU! I'M GOING TO RIP YOUR HEART OUT!
Anyway, she told me how he reacted (badly, as I had thought he would) and how he told a lot of people what it said (yay! they get to know God loves them too!) and she told me some of the things she didn't understand that I had wrote and somehow the conversation got turned so that we were talking about HER faith and how it crumbled to pieces after her mom died. I told her about my beliefs and what I believe about God having a plan for me and my life. Little did I know that my words meant more to her than me trying to explain why I wrote Brad that note. More on that later....
Before church, I talked to Molls on the phone about a ton of the stuff that had been bothering me over the past two days and about the Bradnote. I went to bed early so I would be well rested for Thursday AM Bible study! <3
Thursday, before the crack of dawn: I curled up under my blankets that weigh more than I do and read my devo then got up for Bible study <3. At Bible study Mollie mentioned how we might even get rid of what’s getting in between us and God for good instead of just fasting from it for a couple of days. I thought about it and I was stuck between giving up AIM for good and now having a balance and a plan for not spending too much time on the computer. Since I started spending those 30 or so minutes with God every day, I wanted to keep going since He had already spoken to me and was doing amazing things in my life. My day went on as usual with no awkward conversations about the Bradnote. HOWEVER, during last period, *** gave me a note that said,
Jessica, Thank you for sharing some of your views on faith with me yesterday. Last night I prayed for the first time in almost five years. Don’t get too excited. I’m not quite ready yet, but I feel like I’m getting closer. I don’t know what’s planned for me, or if I’ll ever be able to make the transition to live for God again – if I’ll ever completely want to – but a part of me hopes that I will one day. Thank you.
Holy frapperdoodles how could I NOT get excited about that!? THAT IS GOD MY FRIENDS! That note to Brad may have had his name on it, but ultimately it was the ones he showed it to that were impacted and changed the most by it! *** calling me to tell me Brad’s status was not a coincidence! I already knew what it was going to say. *** calling me was SUCH a God thing. Oh man. He’s awesome. You cannot read that note and tell me differently. I would refuse to believe you if you tried. I know her better than you do, so I can tell you that a week ago, I didn’t even know she had had a relationship with Jesus. I really am praying hard about what my next step is to help her take the next step. I’m thinking notes about God and His awesome Son, encoura-grams, and maybe even a Bible with verses highlighted in it. (: God has a plan, friends! AND IT IS SHA-WEET! The Lord says, “Forget what happened before, and do not thing about the past. Look at the new things I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it? I will make a road in the desert and rivers in the dry land.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NCV)
Friday was... not that exciting (compared to Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday). That morning I woke up suprah early without meaning to since my alarms was still set on 5 for Bible study the morning before. So I was in for a surprise when I was all psyched for school and then I realized that it was 5. Pooey. I was really groggy when I woke up but trooped on to school. Nothing life-changing happened except learning that one of my bestest friends is possibly getting kicked out of her house and sent to live in what she calls the “Boonies” of North Carolina with her biological father and lose pretty much everything she holds dear. I had no idea what to say to her, so I just comforted her as much as I could. When I got home that afternoon, I was just sitting in bed listening to Starfield and then I fell asleep until 3:48 (missing my devo), when I had to get ready for ballet really quickly. Nothing else really exciting happened until after dance when I went to a game party with a couple of marching band friends. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized I had totes violated my morals at the party. I’m too mad at myself to tell you what we were talking about, but I’ll tell you this: the idea of “among you there must be not even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be any obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:3-4) was definitely not going through my head when I was speaking. And afterward I felt terrible and unclean because I had violated that demand and made myself seem like a hypocrite (saying that I don’t like dirty jokes but making them and laughing at them anyway). I read that verse over and over again and prayed for forgiveness.
Saturday was also uneventful. I woke up, said “Good morning God!”, sat up, and reached for my devotional. It made me giggle when I saw that my devo for that day was “Pray early and often.” After reading, I finally knew where the “pray continually” verse is from. It’s from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I lurvee that verse. God’s will for us is to be joyful, pray nonstop, and give thanks in everything. Praying nonstop may sound intimidating, but really it’s not. I like to think of it as not just talking to God 24/7, but also thinking thoughts that are pleasing to Him. It’s really hard and I have to apologize to God for my thoughts a lot of the time. For instance. “Ugh look at what that girl is – OOPS SORRY GOD! SORRYSORRYSORRY!” Yeah, that’s what my brainwaves sound like usually. Not the judging part, but the random bursts of screaming/yelling at myself. Anyway, on Saturday I also went to a 4H meeting, did homework, and went to Sam Ash with daddy to get a new flute case and cleaning stuff. Yaaaaaaaaay! That night during my second devotional of the day (I had been reading Jerrybook in the car and wanted to keep reading so I read even more), I feel asleep for probably a minute or so, but when I woke up, I jolted and smacked myself in the face with my Bible. It was really funny. Well, to me anyway, since I was alone.
Sunday. Alas! My last day! As I’m writing this, I still don’t know if I want to still use AIM... I don’t know if I can trust myself not to get addicted to it again. Sunday was rough on me. I was very tired and moody and grouchy, and then my mom forgot me at church and dad had to take me home after I waited 30 or so minutes for him to be done with ushering. And he called me Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and bipolar since the day before I had been so cheerful and awake and I was way tired instead. I’m not very good at pretending I have energy when I actually don’t, so I wasn’t attempting much of anything emotion-wise that day. EXCEPT when I was singing. We sang on of my fave songs in church. The chorus goes “And we will dance on the streets that are golden / The glorious bride and the great Son of Man / And every tongue and tribe and nation will join / In the song of the Lamb” <333. The hope and excitement that everyone seems to glow with when we sing that just make me all warm and fuzzy inside. United Praise, our youth choir, sang JLM (Jesus Loves Me) and I put as much emotion into that as I could. I think it’s terrible when people are singing about God’s love and power and they look bored and tired and uninterested. It kind of defeats the purpose of praising Him if you’re not going to put your all into it. I dunno, that’s just my opinion.
Even though my week of fasting ended on a slow and tired note, just the thought of the amazing things God had done through me earlier in the week just got me all excited. Let me clear this up. I don’t take any credit for the things that happened this week. Because I’m definitely not to blame. My Lord Jesus is to blame for every good, no AMAZING, thing that happened this past week. I couldn’t have done any of it without Him. I can blame myself for all of the bad, but Jesus is the sole reason why all of the amazing things happened this week. He’s just so awesome like that.
I hope my (really really) long story has been inspiring to you in some way and has maybe gotten you thinking of how you can grow closer to God too. Because when you do, amazing things start happening. And it’s one of the very best things you could ever do for yourself and your Savior. Think about it. Then pray about it. Then do it. But be careful. It might change your life in ways you cannot imagine.
And it has never felt so good.
<3 Warrior
Monday, January 10, 2011
Crutches
I have always wanted to break my leg.
Which is really masochistic and morbid, but I really really want to break my leg.
And I can't really tell you why, because I don't know either. I'm a wuss and cry over stubbing my toe, but somehow I pretend that I'm pain-proof and that breaking my leg would be a cool experience. Goes to show you I can have some dumb moments. Often.
Aside from telling you I have mental issues, I do have a point. I was perusing (YAY! I spelled it right the first time!) my friend Mollie's blog (momconformist.com) and found a blog she wrote when she was pregnant with her second child. She said, "God has been faithful to me for as long as I can possibly remember. He has never once failed me. And He isn’t going to either. He provides for all of my needs (and the needs of my precious family). So, why do I have such issues with faith? I long for “faith like a child.” I long to rest comfortably in His promises."
I remember when I was a kid, growing up in church, I had a faith that never faltered because I didn’t have everything around me in my world working against me and my faith. Once I became a teenager, out of no where it seemed, I started doubting God’s existence and power and love. Why? No clue. All I know now is that I wish I could go back to that time when I believed it all without doubt and never doubted or distrusted God and His awesomeness. It’s a lot harder now, and I’m sure it’s going to get even harder, but I know that God will never leave me and He will help me every step of the way.
Kind of like when you break your leg, you can't go anywhere without crutches to carry the weight you can't carry yourself. God is like those crutches. We all have gimpy souls and spiritual lives that can't really do anything on their own. We all need God to wrap His loving arms around us and help us through our struggles. Even if we forget He's there or doubt that He can help us, He'll still be there for us. Like that Footprints thing! Where there are two sets of footprints, then when the terrain is harder and steeper, one set disappears and God says, "I was carrying you, my child!" I've always found that corny, but it's a good example, anyhow.
When I was 7-ish, I broke the 4th bone in my right foot, but I didn't get a legit cast or crutches. Instead, I got a thingymajigger that I don't know the name of and my daddy carried me around everywhere. When I couldn't do something (which was practically everything), he helped me with his big-strong-man-ness. God uses His... totally-freeking-awesomeness-and-love to help us when we can't do it alone.
One of my new favorite life quotes is, "Snuggle in God's arms. When you are hurting, when you are lonely or left out, let Him cradle you, comfort you, reassure you of His all-sufficient power and love." (Kay Arthur)
What a great Daddy (:
Do you have any awesome stories of broken bones and crutches or broken sprits and God-crutches?
<3 Warrior
Which is really masochistic and morbid, but I really really want to break my leg.
And I can't really tell you why, because I don't know either. I'm a wuss and cry over stubbing my toe, but somehow I pretend that I'm pain-proof and that breaking my leg would be a cool experience. Goes to show you I can have some dumb moments. Often.
Aside from telling you I have mental issues, I do have a point. I was perusing (YAY! I spelled it right the first time!) my friend Mollie's blog (momconformist.com) and found a blog she wrote when she was pregnant with her second child. She said, "God has been faithful to me for as long as I can possibly remember. He has never once failed me. And He isn’t going to either. He provides for all of my needs (and the needs of my precious family). So, why do I have such issues with faith? I long for “faith like a child.” I long to rest comfortably in His promises."
I remember when I was a kid, growing up in church, I had a faith that never faltered because I didn’t have everything around me in my world working against me and my faith. Once I became a teenager, out of no where it seemed, I started doubting God’s existence and power and love. Why? No clue. All I know now is that I wish I could go back to that time when I believed it all without doubt and never doubted or distrusted God and His awesomeness. It’s a lot harder now, and I’m sure it’s going to get even harder, but I know that God will never leave me and He will help me every step of the way.
Kind of like when you break your leg, you can't go anywhere without crutches to carry the weight you can't carry yourself. God is like those crutches. We all have gimpy souls and spiritual lives that can't really do anything on their own. We all need God to wrap His loving arms around us and help us through our struggles. Even if we forget He's there or doubt that He can help us, He'll still be there for us. Like that Footprints thing! Where there are two sets of footprints, then when the terrain is harder and steeper, one set disappears and God says, "I was carrying you, my child!" I've always found that corny, but it's a good example, anyhow.
When I was 7-ish, I broke the 4th bone in my right foot, but I didn't get a legit cast or crutches. Instead, I got a thingymajigger that I don't know the name of and my daddy carried me around everywhere. When I couldn't do something (which was practically everything), he helped me with his big-strong-man-ness. God uses His... totally-freeking-awesomeness-and-love to help us when we can't do it alone.
One of my new favorite life quotes is, "Snuggle in God's arms. When you are hurting, when you are lonely or left out, let Him cradle you, comfort you, reassure you of His all-sufficient power and love." (Kay Arthur)
What a great Daddy (:
Do you have any awesome stories of broken bones and crutches or broken sprits and God-crutches?
<3 Warrior
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