I was pondering the motivation behind why we do things, yesterday. There are so many things we do that we just kind of take for granted. Why do we do all these things? What makes us get up in the morning and work hard and things? What makes us want to keep going? There are so many reasons people come up with for things. So many excuses people give for the lives they choose to pursue.
The only reason it ever can solidly come down to is Jesus. He can be our only motivation. It is evident from the decline of the culture. People have no motivation for anything anymore. The suicide rates are so high. It is because without Jesus, nothing makes sense. There really is no reason for anything without Him. Think about it. There really isn't.
So, when things get tough, when we wonder if this all is meaningless, when we want to give up, when we're faced with unparalleled opposition, just remember that we're doing it all for Jesus. And He's worth living and dying for.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
A Deadly Weapon
Oh, how we underestimate the power of prayer! I’ve grown to realize that in the past couple weeks, especially yesterday.
Now, as a normal human, I have many problems. I have problems with friends, my health, how I spend my time, getting along with my family, my mood and all sorts of other things. I’m always trying to solve them too. I talk about them with my mom, read books about how to deal with them, and write out plans with how to conquer them.
Joy of all joys, though, there is a King who can settle my problems for me if only I ask Him. For the last couple weeks, the first thing I’ve done as soon as I wake up is pray for God to control my mood and direct my emotions. He amazingly has done just that, and I have been so happy. Not that fake kind of happy you get only when you’re at a party or an amusement park or something, but the lasting joy that you have when you know that everything has a good purpose. I know go to work with a new willingness to serve and now can be perfectly calm in situations that used to stress me out.
No, I’m not perfect. No, I never will be on earth. But things are a lot better for me now that I’m not trying to control my own life, but asking my Maker to do it for me, because only He truly knows what I need.
What would happen if God’s people prayed for the unsaved in this way? What could happen if all the Christians were praying over every area of their lives like this?
What if the armies of the Lord picked up and dusted off their swords,
Vowed to set the captives free and not let Satan have one more?
What if the church, for heaven's sake, finally stepped up to the plate,
Took and stand upon God's promise, and stormed hell's rusty gates?
What if His people prayed and those who bear His name
Would humbly seek His face and turn from their own way?
And what would happen if we prayed for those raised up to lead the way?
Then maybe kids in school could pray and unborn children see light of day
What if the life that we pursue came from a hunger for the truth?
What if the family turned to Jesus and stopped asking Oprah what to do?
He said that they would hear; His promise has been made
He’s answered loud and clear. If only we would pray.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
A Much Needed Post (According to Evan)
What excuse do I have to offer for the delay? Well, this computer keyboard makes me mad since the right shift button and the 'e' key are both missing, which makes this a little difficult.
Moving on...
I've given much thought to my own life in the past few days. There were a couple things with people that needed to be worked out in my mind. The thoughts just kind of roll around for a while and I forget about blogging. But it isn't all bad. I figured some good things out.
Now that the explanation is over, I have nothing else to say.
Well, I suppose I can come up with something. Pi is 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939...
So, I was thinking over some of my friendships today and it just occurred to me that I almost stopped going to this one place for events right before I became really good friends with someone there. Things like that really make me see the power of God. I really wonder at all the things I almost missed out on, but turned out so perfect. Someone is watching me and making my life good and that makes me happy.
Moving on...
I've given much thought to my own life in the past few days. There were a couple things with people that needed to be worked out in my mind. The thoughts just kind of roll around for a while and I forget about blogging. But it isn't all bad. I figured some good things out.
Now that the explanation is over, I have nothing else to say.
Well, I suppose I can come up with something. Pi is 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939...
So, I was thinking over some of my friendships today and it just occurred to me that I almost stopped going to this one place for events right before I became really good friends with someone there. Things like that really make me see the power of God. I really wonder at all the things I almost missed out on, but turned out so perfect. Someone is watching me and making my life good and that makes me happy.
Friday, March 21, 2008
A Long Story
It was a beautiful spring-like day in early March. She was celebrating her 15th birthday with five of her girl friends with a walk to the park. It was a nice day, but this was not the high point of her life. She and her family were about to move and they had already switched churches. Her parents had divorced two and a half years earlier and her mom remarried a year and a half later. Things were not very peaceful for her. She longed for the day when God would call her home to heaven and could not hope anymore. As far as she could see, the good life for her was coming to an end and she could not help think of all the past friends she had lost that should have been at the party.
(Two weeks later)
She woke up before church feeling a bit odd, so she skipped breakfast. After the service, she stayed sitting and didn't talk to anyone because of the pain in her stomach. As soon as she got home she threw up. She tried eating something then, but couldn't keep anything down, not even water. She wasn't too concerned though, since her mom told her that her friend she had gone rollerskating with on Saturday night had the same sickness.
Now, usually she complained whenever she was sick, a trait which caused her family much anxiety. This time she decided it would be different. She didn't want to cause any more worry. So, she just rested and waited it out.
Monday was no better. She couldn't eat or drink anything. She stayed in bed almost all day, alternately sleeping and listening to Switchfoot's Nothing Is Sound.
Tuesday night after another day of losing everything she tried to eat, she felt miserable. It was the worst she had ever felt. She tried to sleep, but could not because of the severe pain in her stomach. She went downstairs to the couch and lay there writhing in pain. Her mom half kidding, half joking asked "Are you dying?"
"Mom, I'm really not sure." she replied.
The next day she thought she felt better. She still couldn't keep down anything, but the pain subsided a little. Her friend was all better by then. She hoped it wouldn't be long for her. She still slept almost all day, though, as well as the night. Her fever was high.
Thursday morning was a beautiful day, with the sun shining bright through her skylights. She got up out of the bed feeling better, like she was going to be well that day. [gross part] While she was in the bathroom though, she threw up again...and it was green. "Mom, I haven't even eaten anything green!" [/end gross part]
"You haven't eaten anything! Honey, look at your stomach, it's all swollen." She hadn't noticed the swelling. She thought she was just fat, like she always though.
They made plans to go to the doctor on the way to the library. She'd been sick for four days and it was getting a little scary. They were even more scared after the doctor's. After checking her, he cheerfully told her in his Scottish accent "Well, Luv, I think you have appendicitis. You need to go to the emergency room right away."
On the way to the hospital her mom called all their friends to find someone to watch her younger siblings. It seemed like everyone was out though, since it was one in the 60's and only March. No one was missing out on the good weather. Except her, she sat in the car in a sweatshirt and sweatpants, extremely chilled, trying not to be jostled too much on the bumpy road.
Her grandmother met them at the hospital to watch her younger sisters. The emergency room wait was as terrible as everyone says. Her mother said something to her grandmother about how ridiculous it, because her appendix could burst right then while waiting at the hospital. There was no one else around anyway. None of this scared her though; her over tired mind could barely process it. Having her appendix burst and dying didn't seem to bad at the moment though. Anything that would stop the pain was fine with her. After at least two hours of waiting, they finally went into the doctor. After examining her, he told her that he thought it was just the flu and said she could go home. Her mom wouldn't allow that though, so he sent her to the other building to have her checked out by the surgeon.
The surgeon was concerned. Very concerned. The surgeon told her she needed a CAT scan right away. They made her drink this nasty drink to make her insides more visible. It came right back up while she was in the waiting room though. She could barely care, though. She was slipping away.
The CAT scan results were not good. "We can't even find her appendix, her intestines are so swollen," the surgeon told her mom. "It might be Chron's disease. We need to bring her in for exploratory surgery right away." So, she was admitted into the hospital and hooked up to an IV.
While she was lying there in the top floor of the hospital, waiting for them to be ready for her, she thought she was about to die. Really, the pain had taken over so much, that death was a wonderful thought to her. She felt bad for her family though. She didn't want to leave them without her. Her life hadn't been lived the best it could be. She thought of all the times she complained and was ungrateful. If only she could just be alive without the pain now, she'd have no reason to complain.
Most of all though, she thought of God. She closed her eyes and thought of Jesus, her Savior. She was overwhelmed by the fact that she might meet Him that night. The thought filled her with fear. Not fear that she wasn't saved, but just the fear of coming face to face with God. She looked forward to it though and thought it was very appropriate since her life seemed to be winding down.
A couple men came in and wheeled her in her bed down to the surgery room. They gave her something in the IV. She was so exhausted anyway. They were telling her something about what they were doing and what would happen. They asked if she understood. She didn't. She couldn't. She faded away quite peacefully. There was no time to say goodbye to her mom, who was there with her. It was the end, so she thought.
She woke up in a room with bright lights. She could hear voices, talking about her, she thought. Where was she? Why would people be talking about her in her bedroom? How did they all get there? She couldn't remember where she was last night, what she was doing last. She shifted slightly and the pain shot through her stomach and it all came back to her. She was in the hospital with something wrong with her. She thought she was dying. Why was she here then? Her mom rushed in as so as she was fully conscious again. "You're going to be okay. Your appendix has been burst for four days. You'll be alright now."
It was only about ten o'clock when she was settled in her room. They gave her morphine for a pain killer. She tried to sleep, but couldn't stop talking to her mom about it all. She was so relieved. She knew what was wrong with her and she was going to be okay. Her mom told her to sleep, but the adrenalin rushed through her too much. Finally, just before sunrise she drifted off for a couple hours.
That day her siblings and many other people visited. Everyone brought gifts, cards or flowers. Her room was filled with beautiful things. She was thirsty, but they wouldn't give her water. She was still on the IV and had an oxygen tube in her nose as well as a variety of other tubes and chords connecting to her. She felt a little silly, but she was alive. God had saved her. That much was certain. He had a wonderful plan for her now; she had no doubt about that. He saved her life for a great reason, a plan He had for her to still be alive.
There were many complications in the next couple days. She had a bad reaction to the painkillers. She tried to eat after three days, but still couldn't keep it down. The IV irritated her arm when they switched the position. It didn't really matter to her though. She didn't realize anything was wrong, but her mom was concerned. She wasn't healing well. Every day she had to get up and walk around the floor. She could barely walk down the hall. She hugged a hard pillow to her stomach. The nurse told her that the pain was so bad because they had to cut through her stomach muscles. They wheeled her down to the garden one day for her to walk out there, but it exhausted her too much and made the pain worse. Her sisters brought her books in from home, but to her dismay, she couldn't read. Her brain wouldn't focus. She was too tired and the pain killers distorted her mind. One day the doctor came in and, without warning, tore the bandage off her stomach. To her utter horror, her stomach was doubled over and stapled together with fifteen little metal staples. "I didn't know they used STAPLES!" she cried later. The hospital was dull. They brought a TV in and she watched some movies, but after six hours of that, it got boring. She was just happy to be alive. So happy.
Tuesday, she finally was released. Her cousins brought her home in their comfortable car, so she wouldn't be banged around too much. She was happy to be home and hoped to return back to normal. But it couldn't be normal anymore. Her life was a miracle, she now could fully see. When she was lying in the hospital bed that night before the surgery she was dying. She's sure of that. Her life was about to end and with all that happened, she should have. But, God saved her life and that gave her a reason to rejoice everyday of the rest of her life.
Her recovery the next few months was very difficult. She lost fifteen pounds in the week of not eating, which took over six months to gain back. Her stomach was so swollen for at least three months that all she could wear were sweatpants. She missed out on spring because she was too cold to stay outside much. Her stomach still swells sometimes, even two years later, when she's under stress or eats certain foods. She developed intolerance to gluten. All in all though, she wouldn't trade her experience. It changed her whole outlook on life. She can sit now, outside, just watching the birds and the grass swaying in the wind. She loves everything about life now. When before, she felt this drive to succeed at everything and couldn't rest without feeling guilt, she now can be at peace with resting and just enjoying the life her Lord gave her.
Less than a year later she was involved in an online project that brought 10,000 people to its site in the first hour of it's launch. She made friends in the new church and was invited to several graduation parties the next spring. Her next birthday, there were a hundred people with her to celebrate the end of her highschool graduation. She's learning to play guitar and has made even more friends of all ages. She does not mention any of these things to people in order to brag. She says this all as a testimony to God and the wonderful things He has done for her and how He has blessed her by using her for great things.
How do I know so much about this girl? I am her.
Soli Deo gloria,
Katrina
(Two weeks later)
She woke up before church feeling a bit odd, so she skipped breakfast. After the service, she stayed sitting and didn't talk to anyone because of the pain in her stomach. As soon as she got home she threw up. She tried eating something then, but couldn't keep anything down, not even water. She wasn't too concerned though, since her mom told her that her friend she had gone rollerskating with on Saturday night had the same sickness.
Now, usually she complained whenever she was sick, a trait which caused her family much anxiety. This time she decided it would be different. She didn't want to cause any more worry. So, she just rested and waited it out.
Monday was no better. She couldn't eat or drink anything. She stayed in bed almost all day, alternately sleeping and listening to Switchfoot's Nothing Is Sound.
Tuesday night after another day of losing everything she tried to eat, she felt miserable. It was the worst she had ever felt. She tried to sleep, but could not because of the severe pain in her stomach. She went downstairs to the couch and lay there writhing in pain. Her mom half kidding, half joking asked "Are you dying?"
"Mom, I'm really not sure." she replied.
The next day she thought she felt better. She still couldn't keep down anything, but the pain subsided a little. Her friend was all better by then. She hoped it wouldn't be long for her. She still slept almost all day, though, as well as the night. Her fever was high.
Thursday morning was a beautiful day, with the sun shining bright through her skylights. She got up out of the bed feeling better, like she was going to be well that day. [gross part] While she was in the bathroom though, she threw up again...and it was green. "Mom, I haven't even eaten anything green!" [/end gross part]
"You haven't eaten anything! Honey, look at your stomach, it's all swollen." She hadn't noticed the swelling. She thought she was just fat, like she always though.
They made plans to go to the doctor on the way to the library. She'd been sick for four days and it was getting a little scary. They were even more scared after the doctor's. After checking her, he cheerfully told her in his Scottish accent "Well, Luv, I think you have appendicitis. You need to go to the emergency room right away."
On the way to the hospital her mom called all their friends to find someone to watch her younger siblings. It seemed like everyone was out though, since it was one in the 60's and only March. No one was missing out on the good weather. Except her, she sat in the car in a sweatshirt and sweatpants, extremely chilled, trying not to be jostled too much on the bumpy road.
Her grandmother met them at the hospital to watch her younger sisters. The emergency room wait was as terrible as everyone says. Her mother said something to her grandmother about how ridiculous it, because her appendix could burst right then while waiting at the hospital. There was no one else around anyway. None of this scared her though; her over tired mind could barely process it. Having her appendix burst and dying didn't seem to bad at the moment though. Anything that would stop the pain was fine with her. After at least two hours of waiting, they finally went into the doctor. After examining her, he told her that he thought it was just the flu and said she could go home. Her mom wouldn't allow that though, so he sent her to the other building to have her checked out by the surgeon.
The surgeon was concerned. Very concerned. The surgeon told her she needed a CAT scan right away. They made her drink this nasty drink to make her insides more visible. It came right back up while she was in the waiting room though. She could barely care, though. She was slipping away.
The CAT scan results were not good. "We can't even find her appendix, her intestines are so swollen," the surgeon told her mom. "It might be Chron's disease. We need to bring her in for exploratory surgery right away." So, she was admitted into the hospital and hooked up to an IV.
While she was lying there in the top floor of the hospital, waiting for them to be ready for her, she thought she was about to die. Really, the pain had taken over so much, that death was a wonderful thought to her. She felt bad for her family though. She didn't want to leave them without her. Her life hadn't been lived the best it could be. She thought of all the times she complained and was ungrateful. If only she could just be alive without the pain now, she'd have no reason to complain.
Most of all though, she thought of God. She closed her eyes and thought of Jesus, her Savior. She was overwhelmed by the fact that she might meet Him that night. The thought filled her with fear. Not fear that she wasn't saved, but just the fear of coming face to face with God. She looked forward to it though and thought it was very appropriate since her life seemed to be winding down.
A couple men came in and wheeled her in her bed down to the surgery room. They gave her something in the IV. She was so exhausted anyway. They were telling her something about what they were doing and what would happen. They asked if she understood. She didn't. She couldn't. She faded away quite peacefully. There was no time to say goodbye to her mom, who was there with her. It was the end, so she thought.
She woke up in a room with bright lights. She could hear voices, talking about her, she thought. Where was she? Why would people be talking about her in her bedroom? How did they all get there? She couldn't remember where she was last night, what she was doing last. She shifted slightly and the pain shot through her stomach and it all came back to her. She was in the hospital with something wrong with her. She thought she was dying. Why was she here then? Her mom rushed in as so as she was fully conscious again. "You're going to be okay. Your appendix has been burst for four days. You'll be alright now."
It was only about ten o'clock when she was settled in her room. They gave her morphine for a pain killer. She tried to sleep, but couldn't stop talking to her mom about it all. She was so relieved. She knew what was wrong with her and she was going to be okay. Her mom told her to sleep, but the adrenalin rushed through her too much. Finally, just before sunrise she drifted off for a couple hours.
That day her siblings and many other people visited. Everyone brought gifts, cards or flowers. Her room was filled with beautiful things. She was thirsty, but they wouldn't give her water. She was still on the IV and had an oxygen tube in her nose as well as a variety of other tubes and chords connecting to her. She felt a little silly, but she was alive. God had saved her. That much was certain. He had a wonderful plan for her now; she had no doubt about that. He saved her life for a great reason, a plan He had for her to still be alive.
There were many complications in the next couple days. She had a bad reaction to the painkillers. She tried to eat after three days, but still couldn't keep it down. The IV irritated her arm when they switched the position. It didn't really matter to her though. She didn't realize anything was wrong, but her mom was concerned. She wasn't healing well. Every day she had to get up and walk around the floor. She could barely walk down the hall. She hugged a hard pillow to her stomach. The nurse told her that the pain was so bad because they had to cut through her stomach muscles. They wheeled her down to the garden one day for her to walk out there, but it exhausted her too much and made the pain worse. Her sisters brought her books in from home, but to her dismay, she couldn't read. Her brain wouldn't focus. She was too tired and the pain killers distorted her mind. One day the doctor came in and, without warning, tore the bandage off her stomach. To her utter horror, her stomach was doubled over and stapled together with fifteen little metal staples. "I didn't know they used STAPLES!" she cried later. The hospital was dull. They brought a TV in and she watched some movies, but after six hours of that, it got boring. She was just happy to be alive. So happy.
Tuesday, she finally was released. Her cousins brought her home in their comfortable car, so she wouldn't be banged around too much. She was happy to be home and hoped to return back to normal. But it couldn't be normal anymore. Her life was a miracle, she now could fully see. When she was lying in the hospital bed that night before the surgery she was dying. She's sure of that. Her life was about to end and with all that happened, she should have. But, God saved her life and that gave her a reason to rejoice everyday of the rest of her life.
Her recovery the next few months was very difficult. She lost fifteen pounds in the week of not eating, which took over six months to gain back. Her stomach was so swollen for at least three months that all she could wear were sweatpants. She missed out on spring because she was too cold to stay outside much. Her stomach still swells sometimes, even two years later, when she's under stress or eats certain foods. She developed intolerance to gluten. All in all though, she wouldn't trade her experience. It changed her whole outlook on life. She can sit now, outside, just watching the birds and the grass swaying in the wind. She loves everything about life now. When before, she felt this drive to succeed at everything and couldn't rest without feeling guilt, she now can be at peace with resting and just enjoying the life her Lord gave her.
Less than a year later she was involved in an online project that brought 10,000 people to its site in the first hour of it's launch. She made friends in the new church and was invited to several graduation parties the next spring. Her next birthday, there were a hundred people with her to celebrate the end of her highschool graduation. She's learning to play guitar and has made even more friends of all ages. She does not mention any of these things to people in order to brag. She says this all as a testimony to God and the wonderful things He has done for her and how He has blessed her by using her for great things.
How do I know so much about this girl? I am her.
Soli Deo gloria,
Katrina
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Wow
My life is so good.
I have a wonderful mom, caring dad, and three amazing siblings. I have so much fun with my family, working with them, playing with them and living for God with them. They are my best friends.
God has changed my heart lately and I feel so much of a greater hunger to be closer to Him and follow Him more. It hardly seems like I can read the Bible enough these days and I often find myself turning off the music, so I can pray without distractions. I just love the Lord so much, I don't think I can ever get enough of Him.
I have the most amazing friends ever. Everyone was so good to me for m birthday. Someone called my in the car, during their busy day, while the had a cold, just to wish me a happy birthday and to pray with me. Someone else asked to stay the night so they could come to my party. My cousins gave me tons of flowers (and a ridiculous lamp :P). My family made delicious food on my birthday. Another great friend surprised me by coming forty-five minutes to my party. One family that came to my party brought their infant baby out to it, the first place he ever went to. And two friends from Canada sent me very nice personal cards to me. This is just to name a few things. Everyone is just so good to me, and I'm so glad God has brought them all into my life.
Life is just so amazing for me. God has blessed me so much. I love having all the joys of life. Listening to music, getting fresh air and sunshine, being able to play instruments, having people that care about me, living in a wonderful family, being blessed with a lovely home, and most of all, getting to serve God and tell other people about Him.
Right now I'm so happy to be blessed. The worldly voice in my head tells me this time will end, that I'll have tough times again and not handle them well, but there's some small voice in me that tells me that God would have me this happy all the time, even when things are difficult and things go wrong. With God's strength, the memory of the good times and the hope of Christ will carry me through all the time and I can keep this joy in me always.
I have a wonderful mom, caring dad, and three amazing siblings. I have so much fun with my family, working with them, playing with them and living for God with them. They are my best friends.
God has changed my heart lately and I feel so much of a greater hunger to be closer to Him and follow Him more. It hardly seems like I can read the Bible enough these days and I often find myself turning off the music, so I can pray without distractions. I just love the Lord so much, I don't think I can ever get enough of Him.
I have the most amazing friends ever. Everyone was so good to me for m birthday. Someone called my in the car, during their busy day, while the had a cold, just to wish me a happy birthday and to pray with me. Someone else asked to stay the night so they could come to my party. My cousins gave me tons of flowers (and a ridiculous lamp :P). My family made delicious food on my birthday. Another great friend surprised me by coming forty-five minutes to my party. One family that came to my party brought their infant baby out to it, the first place he ever went to. And two friends from Canada sent me very nice personal cards to me. This is just to name a few things. Everyone is just so good to me, and I'm so glad God has brought them all into my life.
Life is just so amazing for me. God has blessed me so much. I love having all the joys of life. Listening to music, getting fresh air and sunshine, being able to play instruments, having people that care about me, living in a wonderful family, being blessed with a lovely home, and most of all, getting to serve God and tell other people about Him.
Right now I'm so happy to be blessed. The worldly voice in my head tells me this time will end, that I'll have tough times again and not handle them well, but there's some small voice in me that tells me that God would have me this happy all the time, even when things are difficult and things go wrong. With God's strength, the memory of the good times and the hope of Christ will carry me through all the time and I can keep this joy in me always.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Well, I had a really amazing time with a bunch of friends yesterday. I suppose you could call it a party. We hung out and sang songs and cool stuff like that the whole evening. It was a really fun time and made me really really happy. I wish it could be like that all the time. I wish I was always with my friends that are passionate about God, living for Him, and praising Him like I am. Then it dawned on my this afternoon that it'll be like that in heaven. ALL my very best friends will be there all the time and we'll have a giant choir. That makes me even happier.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Perfect Book
I happen to think the Bible is the most perfect book. Now, that's kind of obvious, but I think a lot of people say that, but don't really believe it. Lots of people think it's boring, that the chronologies and Old Testament law is tedious to read, but I don't think so at all.
The Bible contains the most beautiful poetry, most dramatic battles, depressing lamentations, intriguing mysteries, heartless betrayals, inspiring exhortations, and incomparable romances. I don't know what I'm trying to say anymore. The other day, I was reading the Bible and I told my mom that it's just so perfect and I read a chapter out loud to her to demonstrate. It wasn't a very significant chapter. It was somewhere in Leviticus, I think, but just speaking the words, knowing that it was God's words. Any time I'm feeling depressed (or way too over-excited), when I read the Bible, I feel so much better and relaxed and at peace. It really is amazing.
The Bible contains the most beautiful poetry, most dramatic battles, depressing lamentations, intriguing mysteries, heartless betrayals, inspiring exhortations, and incomparable romances. I don't know what I'm trying to say anymore. The other day, I was reading the Bible and I told my mom that it's just so perfect and I read a chapter out loud to her to demonstrate. It wasn't a very significant chapter. It was somewhere in Leviticus, I think, but just speaking the words, knowing that it was God's words. Any time I'm feeling depressed (or way too over-excited), when I read the Bible, I feel so much better and relaxed and at peace. It really is amazing.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Birthday Resolutions
So, I turned 17 today. Happy day. Reaching the marking of another year makes me very pensive about my life, what I've done and what I'll continue to do. Will I continue on with the same bad habits or really try to change and grow into who God wants me to be. Well, I'm hoping and praying for the latter. So, this is my list of resolutions, short as it may be.
- I want to make the most of my time at home with my family and really make sure that my family members are my best friends.
- I'm determined to put other first and really try to think of myself less.
- God will be first in my life. I must pray to Him first every day and read His Word before any other thing.
- I greatly desire to spread the Gospel more and stand up for God more.
- Lastly, unimportant as it may seem compared to other things, I'm going to journal and blog more, so as to have a record of my lessons, to hopefully help other people avoid the same mistakes I make.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Lessons of A Girl That's Allergic To Paint
Being sick always teaches me so much about God and life how messed up my priorities are. Add that on top of me being away from home, realizing how much I miss my family.
When everything is going on smoothly with life, when I'm healthy, getting along well with people, going everywhere that I want to, it's easy to just get lost in the normalness of things. Then my unsastified side comes out and just wants more, to be healthier and more productive.
When I get sick though, I think things are always put into much better perspective. Instead of wanting to read novels and facebook wall posts, I'm desperate to read the Bible. Instead of wanting to go on the computer to IM, I have a deep desire to talk to my family. Instead of day dreaming, I pray. Instead of listening the music that talks about the world and it's problems, I am drawn the worship music, that declares the glory of God. In these times, when my health is so fragile, when it really feels like death could happen upon me at any time, I truly see what life is all about, what the God-given deep desires of my soul are.
I spent the night away from home last night. It was a very fun time. But it brought me to see how much I really love my family and that I should really spend more time with them. Sadly, I still did the same things and that there wasn't much missing from my normal routine, which reall showed me how too indivualistic I am. This has to end.
Priorities are easy to see sometimes, but I can never seem to live them out. God, help me to take the lessons I learned while sick in bed and away from home, and really put them into practice and live each day with joy overflowing, doing what's truly important, as if today was the last day I had.
When everything is going on smoothly with life, when I'm healthy, getting along well with people, going everywhere that I want to, it's easy to just get lost in the normalness of things. Then my unsastified side comes out and just wants more, to be healthier and more productive.
When I get sick though, I think things are always put into much better perspective. Instead of wanting to read novels and facebook wall posts, I'm desperate to read the Bible. Instead of wanting to go on the computer to IM, I have a deep desire to talk to my family. Instead of day dreaming, I pray. Instead of listening the music that talks about the world and it's problems, I am drawn the worship music, that declares the glory of God. In these times, when my health is so fragile, when it really feels like death could happen upon me at any time, I truly see what life is all about, what the God-given deep desires of my soul are.
I spent the night away from home last night. It was a very fun time. But it brought me to see how much I really love my family and that I should really spend more time with them. Sadly, I still did the same things and that there wasn't much missing from my normal routine, which reall showed me how too indivualistic I am. This has to end.
Priorities are easy to see sometimes, but I can never seem to live them out. God, help me to take the lessons I learned while sick in bed and away from home, and really put them into practice and live each day with joy overflowing, doing what's truly important, as if today was the last day I had.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Live
I came across the most amazing song lyrics last night by Nichole Nordeman.
This song expresses my feelings so well. I have always wondered at the people who say that we have to come down from our mountain top experiences. I've always thought that to be my own sin that causes me to make life feel monotonous again, not the natural way that God made things. Granted, we will have trials, but we can face them with the strength of God. So often we just wear the "old dress" of this world, when we really don't have to. Life with Christ is just so beautiful that I really want to savor every minute of it and walk with the Lord and truly live.
Did You come that we might just survive?
Did You come so we could just get by?
Did You walk among us so we might merely limp along beside?
I was bound, I have been set free
But I have settled for apathy
Did You come to make new
And know I'd crawl right back into the skin You found me in?
It's where I am, not where I've been
You make me want to live
You make me want to live
You came to shake us
And to wake us up to something more
Than we'd always settled for
And You make me want to live
We've all been up on the mountain top
A golden glow that's bound to soon wear off
Then it's back to the mundane, telling tales of glory days
When we were hopeful that this change was here to stay
So why would a young man live in a waste land
When the castle of his dreams is standing by?
Why would a princess put on an old dress
To dance with her beloved and a chance to catch his eye?
This song expresses my feelings so well. I have always wondered at the people who say that we have to come down from our mountain top experiences. I've always thought that to be my own sin that causes me to make life feel monotonous again, not the natural way that God made things. Granted, we will have trials, but we can face them with the strength of God. So often we just wear the "old dress" of this world, when we really don't have to. Life with Christ is just so beautiful that I really want to savor every minute of it and walk with the Lord and truly live.
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