my darling friends :)
i know it's been completely & totally way too long, but i really haven't had anything to say for a while. it's weird because i, all of the sudden, know what to talk about now. but, i'm excited to talk about this.. broken, but excited.
while hanging out at home due to my dad's recent amputation surgery (thanks to all who have been praying, by the way) my sister & i watched the movie Cyberbully. it's a movie that ABC Family put out not too long ago. the movie is about, obviously, the things that people put on the internet & how to handle them. i know, i know.. it sounds lame, but it really wasn't.
this girl had to deal with people saying how she was a slut, a whore, a skank, & look at all these lies that her entire school was telling. well, i know i've never had to deal with cyber bullying, but i have done things that could get me in trouble & have seen & heard others doing the same. so, i kinda want to go on that. the unwholesome talk and the hateful things we do.
Ephesians 4:29 says "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." if you're saying something about someone that's untrue or even gossip, it still rips someone apart. God made speaking only for lifting up others and for glorifying His name. if we are constantly slandering others with our words, our emotions, our texts, our emails, our profiles, or our tweets, we are tearing what God had conversations and words for.
Proverbs 24:28 says "Do not testify against your neighbor without cause—would you use your lips to mislead?" even telling a small lie about what happened one night or who was there or what may or may not have happened is still going to cause a problem. i've been in the situations where you tell one lie & you have to remember the others to keep up. it's painful, sickening, & hurtful for not only you, but the person you're spreading lies about.. even if they don't know you're doing it. man (or woman) up. stop the lies. go back to the root & tell the truth. you may not have people trust you the same way, but you'll know if your heart that honesty is flowing from your tongue. not slander, lies, or deceit.
i'm truly calling myself out with this. i just feel like everyone needs to hear about all this, especially if we find our words to be minor to the way we live our life. i pray that we become honest & sincere with our words, but they be encouraging & uplifting for everyone to hear & see. God intended for us, as brothers & sisters, to do these things for His glory. if we're being ugly & saying hateful things, there is no way we are benefitting others to see the Kingdom. i hope & pray that we can all live this out, especially me. things are about to change drastically & this is how it can all begin.
until next time.. because we are all a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers:)
Friday, October 21, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
How Did We Miss It?
Good Morning, friends!
I know, I know. It's been a while. The Lord has taught me SO much this summer that I just couldn't post a thousand times. (actually, i just couldn't decide on what to talk about, so i waited for things to come together)
I hope you all have had a wonderful summer & are ready for school to start back! :) I could not be more excited to start back next week. I've missed my dear friends SO much, but I know leaving home & my church again will be difficult, but not nearly as difficult. This summer was definitely meant to stay home with the family and hang out with the youth. Needless to say, I've had one amazing summer.
So, while I've been home, I've learned a lot about.. well, a lot. I've learned that the Lord is faithful & good (which, honestly, isn't anything new.. I just needed to state it) & He is more powerful than anything we could ever imagine. Also, the power of prayer, in my life, is seemed to be overlooked so many times. He, also, mends the broken in powerful, powerful ways. I'm so excited to explain myself.
The part about the Lord being faithful & good started earlier in the Spring when I applied for a summer job. Although I did not get the job, the Lord was faithful in bringing along another. I have been babysitting a girl here in Crossett all summer. I've learned that even though my plans seemed better, He is always in control & always has my good into consideration. Lainey has been a joy & such a good kid to learn from. I couldn't have been more blessed.
The part about Him being more powerful & mending the broken is really with my family. It's always amazing to see how God works through..years at a time. You see, my brother used to have some serious issues. Issues that only the Lord could heal. He doesn't understand it, but I know that it's taken a long time for him to be the man he is today. I'm blessed beyond compare with an amazing friendship with both of my siblings. We get irritated at times, but we love each other. Before, you couldn't have seen it, but now, you can when we are all calm. ;) Another way is with my dad. Recently, he had to have another surgery, which doesn't seem to be anything new. For as long as I can remember, my dad has always had to be in and out of the "horse pistol" as he calls it for some reason or another. Even though we are used to it, it can get painful. I know it hurts him more than we see, but the Lord is good in comforting us when we need it the most. Papa is an amazing & strong guy that has gotten through it all. Hopefully, the surgeries & junk will cease, for a little while, at least.
& last, but not least, the power of prayer. Friends, it's amazing what prayer can do if we just did it like the Lord asked us to do it.
"Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." --1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
See what I mean? Life is THAT simple. Be cheerful, pray continually, & thank God in everything you do. How did we miss that?
The reason on my prayer deal is because when I went to Siloam this summer with the youth from my home church, I was a part of the leader meetings we had in the afternoon. We were able to lift up our lost kids we knew were at camp & pray for their salvation or for healing for our hurt kids or whatever was there. It was phenomenal to come in day after day hearing about the kids that the Lord had called out. I was grinning from ear to ear. Like I said, the Lord is faithful & good.
Like I began, I've had a wonderful summer. It's been frustrating at times & exhausting at others, but it's been one of the coolest learning experiences ever. I love sharing with you guys, so hopefully you see through this that the Lord is bigger than you or I could ever imagine. :)
until next time.. because we are all a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers:)
I know, I know. It's been a while. The Lord has taught me SO much this summer that I just couldn't post a thousand times. (actually, i just couldn't decide on what to talk about, so i waited for things to come together)
I hope you all have had a wonderful summer & are ready for school to start back! :) I could not be more excited to start back next week. I've missed my dear friends SO much, but I know leaving home & my church again will be difficult, but not nearly as difficult. This summer was definitely meant to stay home with the family and hang out with the youth. Needless to say, I've had one amazing summer.
So, while I've been home, I've learned a lot about.. well, a lot. I've learned that the Lord is faithful & good (which, honestly, isn't anything new.. I just needed to state it) & He is more powerful than anything we could ever imagine. Also, the power of prayer, in my life, is seemed to be overlooked so many times. He, also, mends the broken in powerful, powerful ways. I'm so excited to explain myself.
The part about the Lord being faithful & good started earlier in the Spring when I applied for a summer job. Although I did not get the job, the Lord was faithful in bringing along another. I have been babysitting a girl here in Crossett all summer. I've learned that even though my plans seemed better, He is always in control & always has my good into consideration. Lainey has been a joy & such a good kid to learn from. I couldn't have been more blessed.
The part about Him being more powerful & mending the broken is really with my family. It's always amazing to see how God works through..years at a time. You see, my brother used to have some serious issues. Issues that only the Lord could heal. He doesn't understand it, but I know that it's taken a long time for him to be the man he is today. I'm blessed beyond compare with an amazing friendship with both of my siblings. We get irritated at times, but we love each other. Before, you couldn't have seen it, but now, you can when we are all calm. ;) Another way is with my dad. Recently, he had to have another surgery, which doesn't seem to be anything new. For as long as I can remember, my dad has always had to be in and out of the "horse pistol" as he calls it for some reason or another. Even though we are used to it, it can get painful. I know it hurts him more than we see, but the Lord is good in comforting us when we need it the most. Papa is an amazing & strong guy that has gotten through it all. Hopefully, the surgeries & junk will cease, for a little while, at least.
& last, but not least, the power of prayer. Friends, it's amazing what prayer can do if we just did it like the Lord asked us to do it.
"Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." --1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
See what I mean? Life is THAT simple. Be cheerful, pray continually, & thank God in everything you do. How did we miss that?
The reason on my prayer deal is because when I went to Siloam this summer with the youth from my home church, I was a part of the leader meetings we had in the afternoon. We were able to lift up our lost kids we knew were at camp & pray for their salvation or for healing for our hurt kids or whatever was there. It was phenomenal to come in day after day hearing about the kids that the Lord had called out. I was grinning from ear to ear. Like I said, the Lord is faithful & good.
Like I began, I've had a wonderful summer. It's been frustrating at times & exhausting at others, but it's been one of the coolest learning experiences ever. I love sharing with you guys, so hopefully you see through this that the Lord is bigger than you or I could ever imagine. :)
until next time.. because we are all a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers:)
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Sharing the Burden
whadup?!
as you can tell, it has been another month since i've updated this thing. i question myself so so SO many times on what to write about that it almost seems impossible to write, but i digress. ;)
do you ever realize that when you make a horrid decision or do something you know is wrong, how other people around you are affected? or is it just another "oh well, you shouldn't be in my business anyway?" kinda crap?
take any situation that you choose your way above the Lord's. when you choose to live your life for you, you are basically telling Jesus, who died on a cross.. not just died, but was murdered, and tormented.. & so many others things, "look, Jesus. when i get finished living for me, i'll let You do your thing. until then, i can take care of myself. k,thanks."
NO Christ-follower, in their right mind, would tell Jesus that. not one. so, why do we do it continuously? every day, we want to take care of a few things.. but it's so much more simple to just give it ALL.
also, i have severely dealt with people in the past month. more than i ever intended to when i came home for the summer. i've seen people grow, stumble, fall on their face (in good ways & bad), but i feel like a huge part of me feels involved.
"Carry each others burdens, and in the way you will fulfill the law of Christ." --Galatians 6:2
i don't think people realize how involved Christians should be in each others lives. i think we love to see what our brother or sister is doing and not fulfill what Scripture says. i want to see people, including myself, fulfill the accountability that we are called to have with each other, & remain that way.
also, discipleship & leadership within the church is a major burden of my heart. understand that when i say "church", i mean the body of Christ. brothers and sisters. God has blessed me with amazing people to disciple me, but has also equipped me to disciple others. we, as a body of Christ, are called to DISCIPLE OTHERS!! not sit on our butts & not dig into each others lives and teach.
i'm so guilty of this whole blog. so very guilty of not holding others accountable, not discipling, & not leading. so, when i say these things, please don't think i'm any better, because i'm not. i'm a selfish sinner who is prayerfully asking for a servant's heart. to serve the Lord in all the ways Scripture calls us too, & i only pray & hope that the people reading this will continue to do the same in their own lives too.
normally, when i leave blogs, i'm a pretty happy person, but even after writing this, i'm still burdened. Christ loves everyone, which means we should too. if we want to love like Christ, which means unconditionally, don't you think teaching & being accountable is a way of love?
until next time.. because we are all a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers :)
as you can tell, it has been another month since i've updated this thing. i question myself so so SO many times on what to write about that it almost seems impossible to write, but i digress. ;)
do you ever realize that when you make a horrid decision or do something you know is wrong, how other people around you are affected? or is it just another "oh well, you shouldn't be in my business anyway?" kinda crap?
take any situation that you choose your way above the Lord's. when you choose to live your life for you, you are basically telling Jesus, who died on a cross.. not just died, but was murdered, and tormented.. & so many others things, "look, Jesus. when i get finished living for me, i'll let You do your thing. until then, i can take care of myself. k,thanks."
NO Christ-follower, in their right mind, would tell Jesus that. not one. so, why do we do it continuously? every day, we want to take care of a few things.. but it's so much more simple to just give it ALL.
also, i have severely dealt with people in the past month. more than i ever intended to when i came home for the summer. i've seen people grow, stumble, fall on their face (in good ways & bad), but i feel like a huge part of me feels involved.
"Carry each others burdens, and in the way you will fulfill the law of Christ." --Galatians 6:2
i don't think people realize how involved Christians should be in each others lives. i think we love to see what our brother or sister is doing and not fulfill what Scripture says. i want to see people, including myself, fulfill the accountability that we are called to have with each other, & remain that way.
also, discipleship & leadership within the church is a major burden of my heart. understand that when i say "church", i mean the body of Christ. brothers and sisters. God has blessed me with amazing people to disciple me, but has also equipped me to disciple others. we, as a body of Christ, are called to DISCIPLE OTHERS!! not sit on our butts & not dig into each others lives and teach.
i'm so guilty of this whole blog. so very guilty of not holding others accountable, not discipling, & not leading. so, when i say these things, please don't think i'm any better, because i'm not. i'm a selfish sinner who is prayerfully asking for a servant's heart. to serve the Lord in all the ways Scripture calls us too, & i only pray & hope that the people reading this will continue to do the same in their own lives too.
normally, when i leave blogs, i'm a pretty happy person, but even after writing this, i'm still burdened. Christ loves everyone, which means we should too. if we want to love like Christ, which means unconditionally, don't you think teaching & being accountable is a way of love?
until next time.. because we are all a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers :)
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Won't You Be My Love?
friends!
so, it's been WAY too long, i know. but, to be completely honest, i have started this blog about 100 different times, but continuously don't know what to say. but, i remembered that whenever i started this thing, i told myself that God was gonna take care of it. He was gonna be in charge of my life & whatever came from my life would go to this. so, instead of making it sound more complicated, this has been my life as of late.
summer has begun. it's in a full swing & guess what? i already miss Jonesboro. i don't mean that in the "i hate home, send me back" way. i just mean that i miss a lot of the people who made up the past nine months of my life. something i notice when i come back home is how lazy my walk with Christ can get. i steadily find myself doing stupid things or saying awful things that i never would have said if i was around other people. it's become a struggle now. not even something that i can snap out of. it's a struggle to be peaceful & deal with situations the way i should.
my best friend, Katie, and i were discussing life last night after a Youth Rally that we had attended. we both have been discussing how we let the reactions of the people around us choose our life. i can definitely say that i care most about what people think of me and how they perceive me. to see people that i care for most not understand why my heart breaks for the lives they live hurts. i want people to know that my life is not the example of Christ that it should be. & instead of looking at me & saying "Nicole, look. you've had some serious issues with [insert issue here] and i wanna not only pray for you, but encourage you & keep you accountable for this mess.", they look & say "girl, you got some issues. you need to fix them so you can get back on your feet again."
while at the Make Your Move rally last night, a girl came to me discussing how her life had been radically changed by someone who invited her to a conference, where she gave her life to Christ. & now, she strives to tell her messed-up family about the love & forgiveness that Christ extends to us on a every day basis. she discussed how she felt dry. just completely empty from God & that no one understood her. i told her quickly that any Christian that is pouring into someone's life with encouragement & love is hurting. they so desperately need the love & encouragement that they are handing out.
so, saying this, i encourage everyone reading this to find an accountability partner. someone to pour into their life, to pray for, to be encouraged by, to love on, & to love. i am blessed to say that Bryanna McClanahan & Katie Sims are the best accountability partners i could ever ask for. God has blessed me with these two & it's been an amazing journey with both of these beautiful women.
i'm definitely praying for the friends at ASU that i have that i know are suffering from home lives, issues with friends, or just life in general. i pray that you know God is trying to use you through all your mishaps and hurting struggles. i love you all & i hope you know that if ever you need someone, i'm here to help.
until next time.. because we are all a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers :)
so, it's been WAY too long, i know. but, to be completely honest, i have started this blog about 100 different times, but continuously don't know what to say. but, i remembered that whenever i started this thing, i told myself that God was gonna take care of it. He was gonna be in charge of my life & whatever came from my life would go to this. so, instead of making it sound more complicated, this has been my life as of late.
summer has begun. it's in a full swing & guess what? i already miss Jonesboro. i don't mean that in the "i hate home, send me back" way. i just mean that i miss a lot of the people who made up the past nine months of my life. something i notice when i come back home is how lazy my walk with Christ can get. i steadily find myself doing stupid things or saying awful things that i never would have said if i was around other people. it's become a struggle now. not even something that i can snap out of. it's a struggle to be peaceful & deal with situations the way i should.
my best friend, Katie, and i were discussing life last night after a Youth Rally that we had attended. we both have been discussing how we let the reactions of the people around us choose our life. i can definitely say that i care most about what people think of me and how they perceive me. to see people that i care for most not understand why my heart breaks for the lives they live hurts. i want people to know that my life is not the example of Christ that it should be. & instead of looking at me & saying "Nicole, look. you've had some serious issues with [insert issue here] and i wanna not only pray for you, but encourage you & keep you accountable for this mess.", they look & say "girl, you got some issues. you need to fix them so you can get back on your feet again."
while at the Make Your Move rally last night, a girl came to me discussing how her life had been radically changed by someone who invited her to a conference, where she gave her life to Christ. & now, she strives to tell her messed-up family about the love & forgiveness that Christ extends to us on a every day basis. she discussed how she felt dry. just completely empty from God & that no one understood her. i told her quickly that any Christian that is pouring into someone's life with encouragement & love is hurting. they so desperately need the love & encouragement that they are handing out.
so, saying this, i encourage everyone reading this to find an accountability partner. someone to pour into their life, to pray for, to be encouraged by, to love on, & to love. i am blessed to say that Bryanna McClanahan & Katie Sims are the best accountability partners i could ever ask for. God has blessed me with these two & it's been an amazing journey with both of these beautiful women.
i'm definitely praying for the friends at ASU that i have that i know are suffering from home lives, issues with friends, or just life in general. i pray that you know God is trying to use you through all your mishaps and hurting struggles. i love you all & i hope you know that if ever you need someone, i'm here to help.
until next time.. because we are all a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers :)
Thursday, April 21, 2011
ASA [a disease all of my own]
what it do darling friends? :)
life has come to a whirlwind of "hurry! move! let's get this show on the road" for the past few weeks, so i haven't been loyal to my writing. i know no one really reads this, so it's like i'm apologizing to myself, but it's all good. :)
so, finals have arrived. my freshman year of classes will officially end on Monday and i find that to be absolutely ridiculous. it only feels like yesterday was August 21 & i didn't know which way was up or down. i'm not gonna lie.. this year has been the most legit thing i've ever been through.. spiritually & physically!
God has really been working on me this year. i prayed allllll summer long last year that He would turn my world upside down.. & He did like i asked. it's a blessing to know the people who are now in my life & for my life to be the way it is now.
"hey Nicole, what are your summer plans?!" well, i'm so glad you asked! ;) i will be returning to my home of Crossett where i will be doing whatever God asks me to. right now, i'm just excited to go back home to be with my beautiful church & hang out with the youth & hear about what's going on in their lives since i haven't been around this year.
it's definitely not what i had planned, but God seems to have a better view of my life :) this semester has been a struggle in itself & i'm definitely ready for some away time with the quietness of my small town & the love of everyone there. visits will be made to some amazing people, but for the most part, i'll be within the southeastern part of the 870 :)
oh! so, back to my life.. uhm, this past Monday (the 18th), i was thrown a surprise party. it definitely wasn't my birthday or anything special. it was just a "we love Nicole" party. the people that thew the party for me will never understand my love and heart after that day. it's amazing to know that answered prayers are inside us all. i prayed for MONTHS to find people at ASU who love me and will be walking in the Lord with me.. & i can honestly say that i've found some amazing people to do that with me. i'm even more excited for what is to come next semester with THE NEWBIES! :D
while dealing with all that love, God is also showing me the true meaning of worship. He has allowed me to be a part of the worship band that leads worship on Thursday nights at the BCM here on campus. it's an exciting time, with a learning experience included. He is showing me how to worship Him, not stress about the sound coming from the keyboard under my fingertips, not the sounds of harmony out of my voice, but the words coming from my lips offering praise to HIM.
::I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.:: --Romans 12:1
::Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.:: --1 Chronicles 16:29
if we live our lives like those two verses, our hearts will be pure in motive and we will worship our Father the way we need/should for all of eternity. isn't that freaking amazing?!
so, with what God's laid on my heart & with the disease of ASA [awaiting summer anxiety], it's all up in the air of where i will be when i write again. i do plan to blog during the summer, but i'm ready for God to show me a light of what i should be doing in my life this summer. once i know, you all will be one of the first to know :)
until next time.. because we are all a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers:)
life has come to a whirlwind of "hurry! move! let's get this show on the road" for the past few weeks, so i haven't been loyal to my writing. i know no one really reads this, so it's like i'm apologizing to myself, but it's all good. :)
so, finals have arrived. my freshman year of classes will officially end on Monday and i find that to be absolutely ridiculous. it only feels like yesterday was August 21 & i didn't know which way was up or down. i'm not gonna lie.. this year has been the most legit thing i've ever been through.. spiritually & physically!
God has really been working on me this year. i prayed allllll summer long last year that He would turn my world upside down.. & He did like i asked. it's a blessing to know the people who are now in my life & for my life to be the way it is now.
"hey Nicole, what are your summer plans?!" well, i'm so glad you asked! ;) i will be returning to my home of Crossett where i will be doing whatever God asks me to. right now, i'm just excited to go back home to be with my beautiful church & hang out with the youth & hear about what's going on in their lives since i haven't been around this year.
it's definitely not what i had planned, but God seems to have a better view of my life :) this semester has been a struggle in itself & i'm definitely ready for some away time with the quietness of my small town & the love of everyone there. visits will be made to some amazing people, but for the most part, i'll be within the southeastern part of the 870 :)
oh! so, back to my life.. uhm, this past Monday (the 18th), i was thrown a surprise party. it definitely wasn't my birthday or anything special. it was just a "we love Nicole" party. the people that thew the party for me will never understand my love and heart after that day. it's amazing to know that answered prayers are inside us all. i prayed for MONTHS to find people at ASU who love me and will be walking in the Lord with me.. & i can honestly say that i've found some amazing people to do that with me. i'm even more excited for what is to come next semester with THE NEWBIES! :D
while dealing with all that love, God is also showing me the true meaning of worship. He has allowed me to be a part of the worship band that leads worship on Thursday nights at the BCM here on campus. it's an exciting time, with a learning experience included. He is showing me how to worship Him, not stress about the sound coming from the keyboard under my fingertips, not the sounds of harmony out of my voice, but the words coming from my lips offering praise to HIM.
::I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.:: --Romans 12:1
::Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.:: --1 Chronicles 16:29
if we live our lives like those two verses, our hearts will be pure in motive and we will worship our Father the way we need/should for all of eternity. isn't that freaking amazing?!
so, with what God's laid on my heart & with the disease of ASA [awaiting summer anxiety], it's all up in the air of where i will be when i write again. i do plan to blog during the summer, but i'm ready for God to show me a light of what i should be doing in my life this summer. once i know, you all will be one of the first to know :)
until next time.. because we are all a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers:)
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
i do not need comfort
hiya friends :)
i didn't plan on posting today, but something in my class this morning made my heart hurt, so i decided to share with you. it's a definite "in your face" moment of how lazy we are and how we take the easy way out.
in a class of mine this morning, we discussed how college kids rarely go to church on Sunday mornings. i heard so many different excuses. i'll list my "favorites".
"i work so much that i don't have for church on Sundays."
-do you work on Sunday morning?
"well, no. but, it's my time to sleep & catch up on me time."
"i know all the Bible stories. why do i need to hear the same thing again?"
"i had too much fun Saturday night that Sunday just didn't work out."
"i hate going to church because it makes me feel crappy. i want a church that makes me feel good about myself."
needless to say, when i heard that last one, my heart broke. when did church become about making people feel good about themselves? we are filthy, disgusting sinners that don't deserve a thing. we don't deserve the grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness that we receive on a daily basis. so, what makes you want to "feel good about yourself" when you have nothing to feel good about?
i'm not ranting. i'm saying this to myself. so many times, i go to church and learn something that convicts me of something i'm wrong about, and wish that conviction never came. i take for granted that Jesus went through so many awful things when He was blameless that i have no right to want the easy way out. it's a beautiful blessing to grow from where you began. if you aren't convicted, you won't change. if you don't change, you're stuck for the rest of your life. i'd hate to have the same relationship with Christ that i did when i was first saved. i wouldn't know His beautiful love and mercy as well as i do. that would be a tragedy in itself.
i'm praying for the people who have excuses, including myself, to step up and not complain. going to church is a fellowship experience that tons of people would kill for around the world that don't get that opportunity. it's a beautiful thing to come together, worship our Almighty, share each others burdens, and pray together for each other. it's not a torture session. it's a lesson of discipline.
until next time.. because we all are a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers :)
i didn't plan on posting today, but something in my class this morning made my heart hurt, so i decided to share with you. it's a definite "in your face" moment of how lazy we are and how we take the easy way out.
in a class of mine this morning, we discussed how college kids rarely go to church on Sunday mornings. i heard so many different excuses. i'll list my "favorites".
"i work so much that i don't have for church on Sundays."
-do you work on Sunday morning?
"well, no. but, it's my time to sleep & catch up on me time."
"i know all the Bible stories. why do i need to hear the same thing again?"
"i had too much fun Saturday night that Sunday just didn't work out."
"i hate going to church because it makes me feel crappy. i want a church that makes me feel good about myself."
needless to say, when i heard that last one, my heart broke. when did church become about making people feel good about themselves? we are filthy, disgusting sinners that don't deserve a thing. we don't deserve the grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness that we receive on a daily basis. so, what makes you want to "feel good about yourself" when you have nothing to feel good about?
i'm not ranting. i'm saying this to myself. so many times, i go to church and learn something that convicts me of something i'm wrong about, and wish that conviction never came. i take for granted that Jesus went through so many awful things when He was blameless that i have no right to want the easy way out. it's a beautiful blessing to grow from where you began. if you aren't convicted, you won't change. if you don't change, you're stuck for the rest of your life. i'd hate to have the same relationship with Christ that i did when i was first saved. i wouldn't know His beautiful love and mercy as well as i do. that would be a tragedy in itself.
i'm praying for the people who have excuses, including myself, to step up and not complain. going to church is a fellowship experience that tons of people would kill for around the world that don't get that opportunity. it's a beautiful thing to come together, worship our Almighty, share each others burdens, and pray together for each other. it's not a torture session. it's a lesson of discipline.
until next time.. because we all are a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers :)
Monday, April 4, 2011
a new creation
hey guys :)
well, blogs seem to be an important part of my major here lately, especially since i'm taking news writing this semester, so it only seemed fit to actually put up a blog. i'm excited to be able to encourage, learn, teach, and listen to what's going down in the rest of the world.. as messed up as it is.
while i attempted to figure this mess out, for about the one hundredth time, there were a few people running through my mind. specifically, some people who are making major decisions in their life. while making the decision for a college or the major that God led me to, i could only think of the one decision that changed my life completely (that and i read Miss Haley White's blog before i started working on mine.. Happy 2nd RE-BiRTH, Ma'am.) so, here's a little info on what you don't know about me.
i grew up in a Christian home with the most amazing family in the world. i'm not gonna lie, we're not normal in any sense, but it was definitely apparent that we weren't crazy :) i went to church every Sunday, AWANA every Wednesday, and all the crazy kid trips & church camps possible. needless to say, i knew who Jesus was. around the second grade, all these kids were "getting saved" and i didn't understand. all i was told was that if you prayed this prayer & were a good kid, you'd get to be in heaven one day. it wasn't really until the year before 9th grade where i got it.
Siloam Springs Church Camp, the best place in the entire universe, is where i surrendered my life to Christ. Elliott Andrews and a bunch of guys with him were leading worship & he said something that kinda struck me. "you being saved doesn't mean that you pray some prayer & life is peachy. loving Christ is a full time thing. i hope you guys understand that." i kept thinking about that all through service. i, honestly, had no idea what the speaker said. i just know that my heart was broken. i didn't love Jesus. i knew the exterior of Him. i knew He loved me, but i didn't understand that sacrifice. later, after talking to some amazing people, Jesus had my heart.
& Elliott wasn't lying, friends. loving Christ is a full time thing. being a Christian is more than just saying "hey! i love Jesus. you should too," and thinking that everything you do and say is great. you have to strive to live for Him. there's a change. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come!" (2 Cor. 5:17) it's a heart change, not just a outer appearance change.
if ever you need encouragement or hope, look toward Christ. if you don't know how to do that, i'd love to be there for you & help out. it's a continuous blessing to help out other brothers & sisters.
until next time.. because we all are a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers :)
well, blogs seem to be an important part of my major here lately, especially since i'm taking news writing this semester, so it only seemed fit to actually put up a blog. i'm excited to be able to encourage, learn, teach, and listen to what's going down in the rest of the world.. as messed up as it is.
while i attempted to figure this mess out, for about the one hundredth time, there were a few people running through my mind. specifically, some people who are making major decisions in their life. while making the decision for a college or the major that God led me to, i could only think of the one decision that changed my life completely (that and i read Miss Haley White's blog before i started working on mine.. Happy 2nd RE-BiRTH, Ma'am.) so, here's a little info on what you don't know about me.
i grew up in a Christian home with the most amazing family in the world. i'm not gonna lie, we're not normal in any sense, but it was definitely apparent that we weren't crazy :) i went to church every Sunday, AWANA every Wednesday, and all the crazy kid trips & church camps possible. needless to say, i knew who Jesus was. around the second grade, all these kids were "getting saved" and i didn't understand. all i was told was that if you prayed this prayer & were a good kid, you'd get to be in heaven one day. it wasn't really until the year before 9th grade where i got it.
Siloam Springs Church Camp, the best place in the entire universe, is where i surrendered my life to Christ. Elliott Andrews and a bunch of guys with him were leading worship & he said something that kinda struck me. "you being saved doesn't mean that you pray some prayer & life is peachy. loving Christ is a full time thing. i hope you guys understand that." i kept thinking about that all through service. i, honestly, had no idea what the speaker said. i just know that my heart was broken. i didn't love Jesus. i knew the exterior of Him. i knew He loved me, but i didn't understand that sacrifice. later, after talking to some amazing people, Jesus had my heart.
& Elliott wasn't lying, friends. loving Christ is a full time thing. being a Christian is more than just saying "hey! i love Jesus. you should too," and thinking that everything you do and say is great. you have to strive to live for Him. there's a change. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come!" (2 Cor. 5:17) it's a heart change, not just a outer appearance change.
if ever you need encouragement or hope, look toward Christ. if you don't know how to do that, i'd love to be there for you & help out. it's a continuous blessing to help out other brothers & sisters.
until next time.. because we all are a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers :)
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