If you click on the picture you can get a bigger view of it.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Love
This Sunday I went to a church in Cartersville, GA. While I was there a conversation with a friend ended up with me doing this on the way home. This was the bulletin from the church I went to. Now, it is a journal. I hope God speaks to you through it.
If you click on the picture you can get a bigger view of it.
If you click on the picture you can get a bigger view of it.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Beauty
My roommate and I made this. You are beautiful just the way you are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a-a41LKjYU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a-a41LKjYU
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Priorities
Well, I've finished out this semester with a 3.8 GPA. That's pretty darn good. Successful semester right? From an academic standpoint, yes.
One thing I've learned from my first semester of college is that you learn so much more than just academics in college. One of the things I've learned is truly how much I need the relationship I have with Jesus Christ.
Throughout the semester he has continued to provide for me and take care of my needs especially when I broke my wrist. He provided people at just the right time to help me and get to doctors to make sure everything healed properly. However, I was not quite as faithful to Him as he was to me. Not that any human ever has been or can truly be as faithful as God is, but I did not even come close.
Long story short, I learned that singing in the choir and going to occasional Bible studies is NOT what helps you maintain a relationship with Jesus Christ. They are certainly helpful, but I must be willing to put forth the effort to seek spiritual nourishment and keep up quiet times. I've learned that without that, no matter how much fun you are having, life feels empty. I knew I needed to read my Bible more often and go to Bible studies that I can offer something to and likewise receive spiritual nourishment from but I did not. I offered the excuse of being busy and having no time, but I knew that was not true.
At the beginning of Christmas break I went on a trip to visit some friends and family in Florida one of which is my cousin Christie. Being with her was like walking with Jesus. I don't know if this was intentional, but she reminded that Jesus just wants to spend time with me and of how much He loves me. To a certain degree it tore me apart because I knew I had neglected Him, but on an incredible level I felt contentment and joy. Even though I had failed to maintain a relationship with Him this semester, He still loves me. Now, all I really want to do is honor Him. I want to live for Him like I never have before.
Even as a Christian, if you have ever felt empty at the end of the day or week or really just the end of anything, I know what you feel like. You try to fill the emptiness with more fun, more friends, and more things in general and in the short term it does relieves the emptiness. But what you truly need is time with Jesus Christ. I've been a Christian for years, but now I more understand what it means to be a Christian. I now love Jesus because of what he did for me and I want everyone to be able to know too! From my background I have a lot of head knowledge about the Bible, but now I have the heart to apply it. I pray that you can too.
I wish I had not strayed, but I pray God can use this testimony for good because I believe he CAN make all things work together for good. My priorities are straight now. God is at the top of my list - right where He needs to be and right where I want Him to be.
One thing I've learned from my first semester of college is that you learn so much more than just academics in college. One of the things I've learned is truly how much I need the relationship I have with Jesus Christ.
Throughout the semester he has continued to provide for me and take care of my needs especially when I broke my wrist. He provided people at just the right time to help me and get to doctors to make sure everything healed properly. However, I was not quite as faithful to Him as he was to me. Not that any human ever has been or can truly be as faithful as God is, but I did not even come close.
Long story short, I learned that singing in the choir and going to occasional Bible studies is NOT what helps you maintain a relationship with Jesus Christ. They are certainly helpful, but I must be willing to put forth the effort to seek spiritual nourishment and keep up quiet times. I've learned that without that, no matter how much fun you are having, life feels empty. I knew I needed to read my Bible more often and go to Bible studies that I can offer something to and likewise receive spiritual nourishment from but I did not. I offered the excuse of being busy and having no time, but I knew that was not true.
At the beginning of Christmas break I went on a trip to visit some friends and family in Florida one of which is my cousin Christie. Being with her was like walking with Jesus. I don't know if this was intentional, but she reminded that Jesus just wants to spend time with me and of how much He loves me. To a certain degree it tore me apart because I knew I had neglected Him, but on an incredible level I felt contentment and joy. Even though I had failed to maintain a relationship with Him this semester, He still loves me. Now, all I really want to do is honor Him. I want to live for Him like I never have before.
Even as a Christian, if you have ever felt empty at the end of the day or week or really just the end of anything, I know what you feel like. You try to fill the emptiness with more fun, more friends, and more things in general and in the short term it does relieves the emptiness. But what you truly need is time with Jesus Christ. I've been a Christian for years, but now I more understand what it means to be a Christian. I now love Jesus because of what he did for me and I want everyone to be able to know too! From my background I have a lot of head knowledge about the Bible, but now I have the heart to apply it. I pray that you can too.
I wish I had not strayed, but I pray God can use this testimony for good because I believe he CAN make all things work together for good. My priorities are straight now. God is at the top of my list - right where He needs to be and right where I want Him to be.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Change
*cringe*
Don't you hate that word? CHANGE. I do. Or at least I used to.
CHANGE. It can be such a nasty thing. It can pull you out of your comfort zone. Force you to do something hard. Or even just slightly alter what is familiar.
CHANGE. It can be such a wonderful thing. It can show you what could be if you would just take a chance and trust God. It teaches you to have endurance. And even alters our perspective on things.
For me on a normal day if you ask me what I think of CHANGE, I'll probably point you to the first definition. I'll say it's a nasty thing. However, maybe it's not. CHANGE is hard, but I'm learning it can be wonderful.
Here's a silly little example: Anyone that knows me well knows that I am not athletic by any means whatsoever. Do you know what I just did? I ran. At 6:00AM. About a mile and a half. Have I gone crazy? Yes. I absolutely have. This is a huge CHANGE for me. Although that's a silly example, stuff like that is happening a lot to me. I realize there are ways to better myself, my relationship with others and my relationship with God. I've also learned that if you trust God to take care of things, the change won't be too bad even if it's hard. Just knowing that God's got a plan for whatever CHANGE is going on is a wonderful thing.
Therefore, stay walking in God's path and rest assured that whatever CHANGE comes your way, God will bring you through. There will be a lesson to learn. And in the end you will be stronger. Yes, CHANGE can be so good.
Don't you hate that word? CHANGE. I do. Or at least I used to.
CHANGE. It can be such a nasty thing. It can pull you out of your comfort zone. Force you to do something hard. Or even just slightly alter what is familiar.
CHANGE. It can be such a wonderful thing. It can show you what could be if you would just take a chance and trust God. It teaches you to have endurance. And even alters our perspective on things.
For me on a normal day if you ask me what I think of CHANGE, I'll probably point you to the first definition. I'll say it's a nasty thing. However, maybe it's not. CHANGE is hard, but I'm learning it can be wonderful.
Here's a silly little example: Anyone that knows me well knows that I am not athletic by any means whatsoever. Do you know what I just did? I ran. At 6:00AM. About a mile and a half. Have I gone crazy? Yes. I absolutely have. This is a huge CHANGE for me. Although that's a silly example, stuff like that is happening a lot to me. I realize there are ways to better myself, my relationship with others and my relationship with God. I've also learned that if you trust God to take care of things, the change won't be too bad even if it's hard. Just knowing that God's got a plan for whatever CHANGE is going on is a wonderful thing.
Therefore, stay walking in God's path and rest assured that whatever CHANGE comes your way, God will bring you through. There will be a lesson to learn. And in the end you will be stronger. Yes, CHANGE can be so good.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Awakenings
Have you ever found yourself in a hole? You may not have actually realized you were there until after someone helped you out or you were forced out. In there, things may have seemed dark and terrifying. Maybe you wanted to get out but could not.
However, you may have decided its quite cosy in there and even though there is so much waiting for you outside, you don't care. You deny the outside's existence. You are perfectly content to be comfy. But what happens when a storm comes? Little by little you are beginning to find yourself in a flood. You know you need to get to higher ground but you don't know how because you have not left this place in a very long time. The flood waters are rising. You're half covered in water. Lost. There is no way to escape. Not to mention you don't really want to leave, but you're drowning. There are no options but to leave or die. You don't want to recognize your own helplessness to the outside world, but there are no other options. You reach up your hand and suddenly another one meets yours. All of a sudden you are being pulled out. The water is at your thighs now. Ankles. Feet. You are out! You are free. Your rescuer is no where to be seen. You look around. It's nice out here. The stars are shining bright above you. But you miss the cosiness of your old home. You begin to walk around. The sky begins to lighten. Suddenly the sun starts to appear over the trees. You see the glorious rays shining down on you. You feel the heat pierce your skin. You look down. Grass. Beautiful green grass everywhere! Suddenly, your old quaint little home doesn't seem like much of a home anymore, but a prison.
Although you cursed it at first, you are now thankful for the storm. If there had been no storm, you'd still be stuck in that hole. So bless the storm. Now, you are free. Where to go now? Search. Explore. Find your rescuer and thank Him. See what else may be out there. Maybe somebody else is stuck and needs a rescuer. Or maybe you find somebody else to join you in your new adventure.
All you know for sure is you will never go back to the life you had before. If you can call it a life. Now, you can finally LIVE!
However, you may have decided its quite cosy in there and even though there is so much waiting for you outside, you don't care. You deny the outside's existence. You are perfectly content to be comfy. But what happens when a storm comes? Little by little you are beginning to find yourself in a flood. You know you need to get to higher ground but you don't know how because you have not left this place in a very long time. The flood waters are rising. You're half covered in water. Lost. There is no way to escape. Not to mention you don't really want to leave, but you're drowning. There are no options but to leave or die. You don't want to recognize your own helplessness to the outside world, but there are no other options. You reach up your hand and suddenly another one meets yours. All of a sudden you are being pulled out. The water is at your thighs now. Ankles. Feet. You are out! You are free. Your rescuer is no where to be seen. You look around. It's nice out here. The stars are shining bright above you. But you miss the cosiness of your old home. You begin to walk around. The sky begins to lighten. Suddenly the sun starts to appear over the trees. You see the glorious rays shining down on you. You feel the heat pierce your skin. You look down. Grass. Beautiful green grass everywhere! Suddenly, your old quaint little home doesn't seem like much of a home anymore, but a prison.
Although you cursed it at first, you are now thankful for the storm. If there had been no storm, you'd still be stuck in that hole. So bless the storm. Now, you are free. Where to go now? Search. Explore. Find your rescuer and thank Him. See what else may be out there. Maybe somebody else is stuck and needs a rescuer. Or maybe you find somebody else to join you in your new adventure.
All you know for sure is you will never go back to the life you had before. If you can call it a life. Now, you can finally LIVE!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Mere Mortals
Psalm 9:20 "Strike them with terror, LORD;
let the nations know they are only mortal."
let the nations know they are only mortal."
I was reading through the Psalms this morning when I came across this verse. In context, it is about King David singing to the Lord for Him to be victorious over his enemies because He is God and is far above any mere mortal humans.
Sometimes we need to be reminded of that too. In one way, maybe we're getting too big of a head and need to cool down a bit. However, I find that more often for me I get so busy that I need a good reminder that I am only human - I can't do everything. Fortunately, I have not found myself in this spot recently, but it does happen. Sometimes I (and I'm sure I'm not the only one) I get so overwhelmed with everything going on that I feel stuck "with terror". In the long run I am glad because it brings me back to the Lord and remember that God is bigger than our business and problems. He can handle what us "mortals" can't.
So trust in the Lord. Don't be overwhelmed by life so that you have to be reminded of your weakness. Instead, trust God to handle it and take you through it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)