Wandering

"Prone to wander, Lord I feel it... Prone to leave the God I love!"

Lately I've been wandering. These words from the song written by Robert Robinson always ring true in me when ever I hear them.
Here in America, we can be bombarded by distractions simply by walking into a room.  It's never hard to turn on the TV in my home or use my laptop, or play some music.  No, maybe everything isn't bad; we are so blessed to have all of this!! But the more and more it takes up space in my life, the worse it is for me.

Recently I was looking at a web site that explained why you get pimples in certain places on your face.  As I read through the spots where I had frequently seen zits, I found that most spots seemed to suggest that I drink more water, and go outside more often.  Then I realized that the longest I ever spend outside every day is only a couple minutes going from here to there.  I really love the outdoors, but when I decide to take a rest, I tend to snuggle up on the couch watching TV or browsing the internet. Who would've guessed that this was becoming a problem for my appearance?

It got me thinking, what do I do with my time?

At Winterfest, a youth rally in Gatlinberg, TN, they played a video about how much time we spend doing certain activities throughout our lifetime. We all laughed when it said that we spend about three years of our life just sitting on the toilet; but when it took an average of how much time we spend reading our Bible?  It was less than any other activity listed.  Not so funny anymore, now is it?  How is it possible that we spend so little time in the most important book of our lives? Is the Bible not food for your soul, and do you not feed your body at least three times a day?

So I took a look at my daily routine, and I realized, the most I every normally focus on God is an occasional prayer right when I wake up, a chapel talk on Mondays and Fridays, and a maybe 30 minute reading/praying session with God about my day (unless I'm too tired and just fall asleep). How sad is that?! Not to mention, total time outside: less than 5 minutes. (I want recess back!)

If you asked me, "Do you ever get distracted from God?" My answer would be, "YES. A lot."

So I'm challenging myself this week to take at least a half-an-hour break when I get home from school to go sit out in my lovely lawn or on my front porch and pray to God.  Bible required. And I challenge you too to do the same!  Open up and admit that you wander often, but that you want to start focusing; then pray this to Him:
"Here's my heart, O take and seal it; seal it for Thy courts above."

So here goes hoping, and trusting, and praying,

"Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
    may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
For troubles without number surround me;
    my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
    and my heart fails within me.
Be pleased to save me, Lord;
    come quickly, Lord, to help me."
- Psalm 40:11-13

Relax

I've been in a wonderful mood lately, and it's no wonder!  It is beautiful outside today!!  After sweating for hours while cleaning and taking a bike ride, I took a relaxing shower, and now I'm constantly thanking God for the wonderful day he has made.

It is on days like today when I get to see God in nearly everything.  So it's interesting that I opened to Matthew 4:10-11.  It says,
Jesus said to him, "Away from me Satan!  For it is written: 'Worship the Lord, your God, and serve him only.' "  Then the devil left him, and angels attended him.

 If you've followed my Twitter or read my last posts, I've struggled with my faith a lot.  Today has been like a break through for me:  finally, loving God is easy!
Immediately when I read this verse, I read, "Then the devil left him, and angels attended him."  So it is possible for Satan to leave us, I thought.  But what caused him to leave?  Both in my life and in Jesus', the answer is found in the verse before it:
  "Worship the Lord, and serve him only."  

 When you are only reading it, this passage seems to say that when Jesus spoke scripture against Satan--specifically saying "I won't serve you, I'll serve God only"--he went away; but that is only half of it.  The other half is what is first mentioned: Worship the Lord.  It doesn't give a specific time nor a specific way, it just says worship him.  All the time, constantly, in everything you do, worship God.  For forty days and nights, Jesus was learning how to worship God with his life, while he fasted.  I'm sure all of that time he spent with God is the real reason behind Satan's departing.  Once Jesus said those words, Satan could tell that he was tied to God, and so he left him.

I think this is a wonderful example of what loving God looks like when the devil attacks us.  He can come with our worries, like Jesus' upcoming death, and try to promise the world as an escape; yet, because we trust God's plan, we say, "Away from me Satan!" and cling to our Lord.

How is your love story?  If you're like me, maybe you need to relax and let God.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Reminders

I must admit, I am scared of who I am. A lot of times when I look at the girl I've grown to be, I become terrified that who I am is not who I want to be, and I can't do anything to fix it. That is the one thing that I find hardest about being a Christian:

I can't fix myself, and I know it.

All of us have to trust in God's plan and do as He wants and constantly move toward Him. It's a great thing knowing that He can heal us and take care of us perfectly, but it is also equally as painful.

I like to think of it a bit like a video game. You know those boss challenges that you just love battling through, but no matter how hard you try, you can't get past the big guy. And so your older sibling offers to help you pass it so that you can get onto the next level.

What do you do? Give the controller over to them t help you proceed, or do you selfishly, and hopelessly, try and try again without success?

Most of us are unwilling to admit defeat, just like we are unwilling to pass up our problems to God. It's more logical to give it to God, but part of all humans tells us that we've got to try to do things on our own first.

It's an amazing thing when I come across someone who is able to give themselves up to God. Usually, those are the people I respect and admire. But even then, those people tell me it's no walk in the park.

If there's anything I've learned in the past year, it would be how easy it is to fall into the lukewarm-Christian trap. God gets you out of a rut, and you say, "Okay, I'll leave it all to You, then," but as time draws on and nothing is really happening, you slowly say, "I can do this!" and you slip back into the controller seat. As a result, when trouble starts piling back onto your life, you start to bend and break under the weight, forgetting to give your life to God until it's almost too late. It is a tough and painful cycle, but we all get caught in it so easily!

Last Friday for Chapel at our school, we did a lesson on a man named Patch Adams, who wanted to be a doctor that actually cared for his patients. He had 10 Daily Actions that he would follow, and so my Co-chaplain and I challenged ourselves to follow it. For the whole week, we tried to obey his list as best as we could, and it actually makes a difference in the way your day goes!

(If you'd like to see his list, it is here: http://www.patchadams.org/Patchs_prescription_10_everyday_actions)

During the week, I tried to smile all the time in the hallways, sing out loud with my friends, and I even gave someone a shoulder rub once. For a while, I have been experiencing some back pains, that I think were actually muscle spasms. They hadn't ever been anything too bad, so I never worried about them, but on Friday, the last day of doing the list, it intensified so much that it hurt when I simply walked somewhere. But even though I was in pain, I kept smiling, because I had said I would. I was determined not to give into my own feelings so that by smiling I might give someone else a good day (smiles are contagious you know!).

It was surprisingly humbling to do that. Normally, I will give in to my emotion and just frown, simply passing by everyone in the hallways; but to put aside all of my own feelings that were natural, physical, bodily emotions and responses, and to give my all to God and others--just amazing!

I cannot promise anything, but to live by a set of guidelines like these could help improve your everyday life and keep God in your driver's seat. I suggest creating a personal list, and putting it somewhere you'll look at at least once or twice every day.

Here's my short list that I will have up in my locker:

Emily's 5 Reminders

1. Never stop smiling. Ever.

2. Make someone else's day. Ask them how they are doing, or simply say, "Hello!".

3. Give someone a hug who looks like they need it; don't say a word about it.

4. Always have a song to sing, and sing it everywhere.

5. Pick a random person and pray for them.

So create your own list. Start with something short and sweet, and then if you think of other things, add onto it. Make your list have to do with serving others, and it will help bring you to God.

Do you have a list? I'd love to hear what it is!

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." (Ephesians 3:10)

Baptizo

Baptism was made for people,
so that they could be sure of God's people.
It holds you accountable;
It proves to the world
that you're trying;
And it reassures you
that you are saved.
Is it necessary?
Absolutely!
For the sake of Unity
and Peace among God's people,
It is necessary.
Is it everything?
No,
It's only a commitment;
You must be the one to obey it.
Can it ever be broken?
Only God knows.
But will he ever stop loving you?
Not even once. ♥