Important Things

Today I saw a post on Facebook that read, "Put prayer back in schools!"  The person was claiming that if people were only allowed to pray as a part of school that our schools would be better. First of all, you can pray in school.  You can pray anywhere really; saying it out loud makes no difference to whether God hears you or not.  I have many Christian friends who pray for tests and friends and troubles throughout their school days and don't get in trouble at public school.

Secondly, I don't believe that adding prayer will change anything in school.  The most it may do is allow some teachers to preach to students, but it will not guarantee that the students will suddenly become great, amazing, rule-following people.  We have to face it: we live in a fallen world.  It will never be perfect; there is no 'one-step solution' to this page.

Before you ask how could I not want prayer in schools, I want you to see the bigger picture.  Parents are no longer forcing their kids to come with them to church.  That was a big thing in freshman year; all of these modern worldviews talking about how cruel it is to force a religion on some kid before they are old enough to decide what they want to follow.  I found it convincing at first, but I realized that the reason why parents do push their kids out of bed every Sunday is because they are learning a religion either way.  If you don't take them, you are teaching them that it isn't as important as sleep, or not even real.  I don't know too many people who had gone to church service every Sunday up 'till graduation and turned away completely in college.  Even if that person couldn't make it to worship services on Sundays, they probably would still at least pray before an exam.

It is also true though that a person whose parents never went to church or forced them to go with them would be far less likely to pray in school either.  I attend a Christian school and we pray every morning after the pledge.  Even though everyone gets quiet, not everyone prays.  The people who say the prayer on the announcements don't always care either.  I heard a prayer once said in a very dejected voice, "Dear God, thank you for this day, amen."  Everyone in the room laughed, the teachers were upset that he didn't put more into it, and you probably would have been too.

So how are we going to get kids who have never even heard of God to pray in public schools to him?  To them it will be like the pledge: "We do this because the government makes us. I hate America."

What makes my school different than public schools then?  The real Christians who are working there.

I have to say, we have so many teachers who care about their kids.  They don't even talk to us about Jesus all the time or pray over us everyday in class; not many of us actually care about that stuff.  No, we have teachers who are honest with us, share with our conversations more than the topics in the plan; and then we have talks with them about problems in our lives.  They sit down and work out problems between two students, judging the truth from the lies.  We learn to trust our authorities because they are reliable, knowledgeable  and don't fall for 'teacher's pets'.  Their opportunity to speak about Christ is during chapel, but their opportunity to show Christ is in the classroom, and they do it well here!

We need to stop losing sight of the important things in life.  Small stuff will get you no where; we all know that.  So why focus on praying in school? Why not focus on being the example you want kids to see and respect?  Even if it's hard, that's what Jesus calls "loving our enemies" and "praying for those who persecute you".  We have to do the action even if we ain't feelin' it.

I realize this is a lot longer than I had planned, and I applaud you for reading this far, but I have one last thing to share: not too long ago, I watched this video which got me thinking.  It talks about focusing on the bigger picture rather than the little things.  It is inspiring and thought-provoking, and I encourage you to watch it.

In fact, do more than watch it; share it with your friends, your church, your local school.  Maybe if we Christians change like Christ asks us to, then others will see his light where it wasn't before.

The "Unforgivable" Sin

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
 - Matthew 22:36-40

Confessions

Me: "God, I've missed you so much! I'm so sorry for ever leaving... I love you."
God: "I love you too."

I haven't been myself lately, mostly because I've lost my Bible, (I think I left it at church; the other one is at school. Internet Bibles just aren't the same) and with Thanksgiving, I've been indulging a lot in me.

I've been so excited to eat food, and sleep, and play with my cousins, and relax.  That's all good, and perfectly healthy, but I forgot about God.  Yeah, I thanked him and everything, but then I got to eat a ton of food, and I took a nap, and I spent a lot of time on the computer... I just forgot what this break was all about.

But I'm turning around, right now, and maybe that's why God let me leave my Bible at school.
A lot of the time, I forget how crucial reading the Bible is to life.  This was kind of a wake-up call for me to start spending more time with God.

So, I'm sorry God for not caring, for ignoring you, and for being selfish..
Please help me love you more! I'm not that great at reading, but I am going to do my best now.
Help me want to read; please, Lord, be with me.
I love you.
~♥

"Come near to God, and he will come near to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
- James 4:8

Young Promises

When you make a promise to someone, a promise that you probably shouldn't have made, it makes it harder to let go... especially when you made the promise before you were old enough to know what you were saying.

It's hard for me to see little kids run after each other, having 'boyfriends" and "girlfriends" and telling each other they "love them".  It's got to be important to us to teach our kids and our younger peers in school that things like this aren't important--that it's more important to become a better person for God.  I don't like young relationships, mostly because I was in one that's been affecting the rest of my life, and I don't want some of their innocence to be ruined by a pitiful, easily avoided mistake.

But to keep this brief, I will admit, maybe it's good for them to learn young.  Not that they should have relationships in elementary, but that when they are a teen, they can learn somehow what is truly important to them and to life, somehow, someway, by God's plans.

I guess I wouldn't be writing this blog if it weren't for those times when I found myself crying out to God for help because of what I'd done.. but I still can't help but wish I hadn't said some of the things I had, like "I promise to always love you" when I was only fourteen years old.  But I do believe in God's promises--that he will use everything for our good (Rom. 8:28)--and so I just hope that he turns this into a good thing.

But what do you think?  What part should we play in young people's lives?

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will."
- Romans 12:2

My Lover

I find myself often longing for a lover.

I sit here and think,

"If only there was someone 

who would be there for me all the time, 

and listen to all my problems, 

and help me get through them.

Someone who already knows what I've done,

and understands my heart, 

yet continues to love me all the time.

Someone who I can actually rely on for help, 

and trust with my secrets."

Then I look up and realize, 

  I have him already.

He knows everything I've done, but still loves me

 and he can help me in every situation.

I realize that he's been here all along, 

and I've loved him already too;

and then I realize that he's been waiting to hear me speak:

So I turn to my Lord, and say,

"Thank You."

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."

- Jeremiah 31:3

Continued Post 9/30/12 

At the end of his talk today in church, my preacher talking about how the Holy Spirit worked, brought up how at a young age, a man told him to pray for his future, especially for who he would marry.  He dated a lot of good girls, and they all could have been fine, but he said one day in High School, he was asked to lead a devotional for a group of college kids.  He did it, and was completely scared, and even says he still does not remember what he said, but at the end of it, when everyone was leaving, this really thin girl came up to him, bright eyed, and said, "Wow! I liked what you said! What's your name?"  Even though she was in college, and he was in High School, they began a friendship, and he knew that there was something special about her.  Now they have been married for years, with four great kids, two of them married with kids of their own.

This reminded me of how often I've prayed the same thing, that God would work on me so that I would be a good wife, and work on whoever "he" is so that he would be a good husband, and that together we could serve God more fully.  It gives me a great amount of hope to know that he (someone I truly respect and admire for their relationship and walk with Christ) prayed what I am praying, and that God did answer that prayer fully.
I want to encourage you then to do the same if you are looking for love; but also I want you to remember that God loved you first, and that his love is better than any man's.
Be strong, pray, have faith.
~♥

Endless Faces

This is a song that I wrote today, while thinking about the past and now.  I don't have a good tune to it, but if someone likes to make nice tunes and makes this a song, please share with me!  I'd love to put this to music.

All these endless faces
Are rolling past my mind
What once gave me a broken heart
Now I'm leaving it all behind

Oh, you know
I've been rescued from my hole
Oh, it shows
I'm finding my way back home

A tear fell on my shoulder
But now my cheeks are dry
It once gave me a broken heart
Now I know I won't ever cry

Oh, you know
I've been rescued from my hole
Oh, it shows
I'm finding a place to go

"What happened to what we had?
Why'd we ever let go?"
All those lies were just stuck in my mind...
I'm leaving that all behind

Oh, you know
I'm rescued from my hole
Oh, it shows
I'm finding a place to go

Oh, you know
I'm rescued from my hole
Oh, and it shows
I'm on my way back home

~♥

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 3:13-14

Have You Seen?

"Have you ever stood in the family with the Lord there in your midst; seen the face of Christ in your brother?

Then I say you've seen Jesus my Lord."

A lot has happened in my life lately:

On the 25th, my Mom-Mom Pat passed away.

  She was loved by our whole family, and always spoke and did nice things for us. She spent a lot of time with my younger cousins, but that's okay; I still got to see her at least twice a year, and on occasion, she and Pop-Pop would take my sisters and I out to eat.  Last time I saw her, I realized that I loved getting to see her.  Little did I know that I would never get to again.

That Sunday, my Pop-Pop went to the hospital.

  Saturday, after the funeral, he left early from lunch because he didn't feel well. The next morning he had a horrible fever, and they had to take him to the hospital.  His appendix was removed, and he did return home Thursday.  The thought of losing him or another tears at me inside.

Saturday, after the funeral, I spent a week at Camp.

  We came home, changed, and threw everything into the car to work as Staff.  I had a wonderful cabin of girls who received many awards during the week.  The first three days, we had Girl's Cleanest Cabin, with scores of 100, 101, and 103.  One of them had a heart that totally understood God's message in almost everything.  She was uplifting to hear speak during devotionals.

Then, my older sister got engaged.

  He showed me the ring Friday before camp, and told me throughout the week when he asked my Dad and then my Mom for permission.  I helped plan the "circle prayer" leading up to it, but nothing compared to the words he said to her when he asked her to marry him.  I love my sister so much, and I can tell that they love each other just as much and more.  

All of this, my dad announced today in front of the church.  As he said it one by one, just as I have done now, it all hit me hard, like a long storm after a drought.  I sat with my head in my hands, and quietly began to cry, for once not worried that anyone would see, because my tears were between me and God.

And as I silently prayed, and began to control my tears, wiping my face with a tissue, I looked up just barely to see my friend up front looking back with a smile that wasn't his own. 

In a glance, in his face, I saw the love of one who realized that I have loved much; I saw Jesus.

Everything that I heard this morning changed me.  So many people visited today.  A young boy was baptized.  A family moved and was leaving our church.  A family who left visited with their son whom was just baptized last week.  I got to be with people whom I haven't seen in months, and I got to give hugs to many people who I won't see again for months.  And I couldn't help but feel the Holy Spirit inside of me when we prayed and when we looked into the Scripture; so I thank God for today, and for everything he has done for me. "I love you, O Lord, my strength." -Psalm 18:1

Today, I've seen Jesus my Lord.♥

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

Fine Clothes

 It seems to be true that at night time, the dark things of this world start to play out in the open.  Thieves steal at night.  Murders take place in dark alley ways.  But that darkness comes out in ourselves too.  When you're up late at night, and you're by yourself, you can see some of your deepest temptations come out into the open.

When it gets late, one of the things I often find myself turning to is the fashion industry.  I am a person who does not wear makeup, except for special occasions, and who does not put a whole lot of time into my look.  On the other hand, I am also an artist, a graphic designer to be specific, and so things of that nature delight me.  So I find shows like Project Runway and America's Next Top Model to be interesting, although not totally my field.

I found out two years ago that my self esteem is easy to mess with.  I never thought I was beautiful in the eyes of my friends, because no guys took interest in me, but I was determined inside that I really was prettier than the girls who got the attention.  One day, a nice young guy took interest in me, and we became a "thing".  If we had focused our friendship on God, it might have lasted, but it ended in the wrong place, since my mind was so focused on that someone found me attractive.

Many girls I know have similar problems: they doubt that they are pretty, and they think that by wearing makeup, or finding the right guy, they could fix that problem.  Sometimes, people doubt that anyone could like a girl with pimples, or who has a little chubbiness around their tummy.  Maybe if I'm wearing clothes that are in style, or cute shoes, or short shorts.  But, no! What your missing isn't smooth skin, fine clothing, or a beautiful body; what your missing is a kind spirit that loves God.

When I see those girls on the runway shows, I do get jealous.  I have acne all over my shoulders, so although I am skinnier than most girls, I still feel imperfect sometimes.  But when I see those girls, I also see girls--whom may have achieved perfection in my eyes--still fighting for 1st place.  There is no such thing as perfection; it's a myth.

But what is real is that guys all the time fall in love with girls and marry them for life.  Maybe you have seen an old married couple, maybe you haven't; but I know quite a few, and I can promise you, he's not still with her just because she is so beautiful at this age. 
He knows she is worth spending a lifetime with because of her pure life and her respect for God.  He chose her, because he would not be ashamed to tell others who she is; because she could raise their children to be respectful and hardworking; because she would do all that she can to keep him in good health for the years to come.

That is why a man truly loves a woman: because of her spirit.
And that is the same reason why God loves us.  Although, yes, he loves us unconditionally, he can only form a relationship with us when our spirit is humble, caring, and loving towards him and others.  That is why when a woman has this kind of spirit inside of her, she is so desirable!  Are you not worth more to someone when you return love to them?  Don't they just rejoice being around you because you bring and give them joy from within?

So work on the spirit within you.  Be patient with others, kind to them.  Don't be jealous, and don't boast.  Try to be a little less arrogant, and avoid saying or doing anything rude.  Stop insisting on having everything your own way.  If you're irritating someone, don't; and keep in your mind not to be resentful.  Don't smile when something bad happens, but rather be happy when something is right.  Bear with others.  Believe in them.  Have hope in every situation, and endure the tough times.  Never let your love end.

"It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful.  No, your beauty should come from within you--the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.  This beauty will never disappear, and it is worth very much to God."
-1 Peter 3:3-4

Washed

John 13:1-17

 Many people refer to this passage to talk about serving others. We all know the story: Jesus did the job of a servant and washed his disciples feet, then told us all to do likewise.  It is a very powerful story when it comes to how a leader should act, but there is a deeper message here that John shows us.

When John introduces this foot-washing scene, he says, "Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love."
Washing their feet was Jesus' way of showing the full extent of his love?  Really? That is a pretty small act for such a big statement.
But the next two verses have three very important details:
1. Judas was already prompted to betray Jesus
2. Jesus knew he came from God and had power over everything
3. Jesus knew he was leaving
Jesus had to consider all of these things.  He knew that one person here truly did not deserve to be served, and he knew that he had the power to control anything--he could wipe Judas of the face of the earth!
But, because this is his last chance to show God's love to them, he decides instead to take off his outer clothing, wrap a towel around his waist, and wash their feet.

When you walk around for days in flip flops, it is easy to see how dirty our feet can get, especially if you are walking on dirt roads.  Add a month or two or three onto that, and your feet can get really disgusting!  Dirt piles up on our feet wherever we go, naturally, because we are humans.
  The same thing happens with our sins.
Every day, everywhere we go, we mess up.  We could be at a friends house, at church even, maybe just up late at night, and our hearts, our minds lose focus on God.  It is so easy to be distracted! Especially now that we have TV, the internet, cell phones, etc.  'Everything we need' is right at our fingertips and it keeps us so busy, we forget to spend our time with God.

Why do you think that Jesus said, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me"?  He knew all people sin, and he knew God cannot be with sin.  He wanted us to realize that we must accept his sacrifice or else we can't be with him.

When Jesus washed their feet, he was showing them what he was about to do on the cross.
This was the full extent of his love: that in his death, he would clean them, even though they did not deserve it, so that they could be with him forever.  Jesus wrapped the towel around his own waist; he carried our sins on his side.

Look at verses 11-17.
Jesus knew.
He knew Judas, although he was just washed, was going to betray him.
He knew that many, like Judas, claim to accept his gift, yet ignore it and choose to sin anyways. 

"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

This is the challenge of Jesus.
You should love one another--even those who kill and murder--just as I have loved Judas.


What a powerful love Christ had to willingly wash the feet of the one who would lead him to die!


"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."
-John 13:17

Praise the Lord

Today, I am really tired, but I opened my Bible in the semi-quietness of my living room, and here's what I found:

Psalm 146

"Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, O my soul.
I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them--
the Lord, who remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the alien
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

The Lord reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord."

Praise the Lord, with all of me, and for all of my life! How awesome is it to think of that? Praising God not just now, not just yesterday, but for your whole life?!
Look at this scale and find where you are in life now:


How long do you have still to praise Him? How many opportunities do you think you'll still get to praise Him? How many triumphs will he bring you to? How many joys, sorrows, and lessons will you be able to thank Him for still?
Be joyful always. :)

Do not trust princes and mortal men, who can't actually save. --Listen up girls!!!
How many times will we all fall into this trap that guys are all we need in life and are our heros???
I was watching a movie last night called Mighty Macs, and in it, a man was flirting with a lady and her friend who was a nun(but not dressed as one in this scene). When he asked if the nun was taken, she said, "Well, sort of." He asked what the special guy does and she responded, "He's a carpenter." To this the man replied, "Oh, so he's good with his hands?" and she threw out with a smile, "He works miracles." Haha, I hope you laughed at that! But how awesome is it to think that way! That Jesus is "The One", our Hero, the love of our lives, who fascinates us more than any other man!
What man can work miracles? What man knows what you need at every second of every minute and is there to provide exactly that for you as long as you're willing to accept it?
If you haven't noticed yet, no guy can do that for you, ladies. Yes, you may find a good faithful husband one day(if you aren't married yet), but remember always that no one is like Jesus.
No, Jesus is the only man who can fulfill your life.

Jesus upholds the cause of the oppressed.
Jesus gives food to the hungry.
Jesus sets prisoners free.
Jesus gives sight to the blind. (Amazing!)
Jesus lifts up those who are bowed down.
Jesus loves the righteous.
Jesus watches the alien, sustains the orphan, and the widow...

Don't you see? Jesus cares for all of us more than any man ever will, AND he CAN fulfill his word!

Imagine being married to a King, but not just a King: a humble King. A humble guy who was given power to be ruler over the World not because of the wealth or what people wanted, but because he outright deserved it from his character and his life.

If your younger, imagine being the daughter of this King. Imagine running around with a little tiara on your head, having the ability to show yourself to others as a princess and earn respect. Imagine as a child, running into his throne room and jumping up on his lap to give him a bigg hug, shouting "Daddy!" ("Abba!") Now imagine having that same relationship as you got older, as you started being hurt by friends, meeting boys and them not acting the way Daddy says they should treat you, and finding yourself crying looking for somewhere to go where there is love; now, this time when you enter Daddy's throne room, you're embarrassed, hurt, sad, lonely, in pain. This time, you walk slowly in, trying to hide the look on your face as you walk towards the throne. This time, when you shakily say, "Dad, can I talk to you?" he tells the others in the room to go while you come forward, unsure of where to start. He sees your face, and says, " Come here" and pulls you up onto his lap, where you curl up and start crying.

God loves you.

He makes a promise to you that day. He says, "I don't want you to be hurt anymore. There is a guy who won't hurt you. He's kind, humble, gentle, and strong, and I think you'll like him a lot. But you need to make me a promise. You've got to stop doing what you are doing. Act like my princess; show the world that you are MINE, not theirs. Listen to me: you are beautiful and lovely and worth more than the most precious thing the world has to offer. Do not forget that! Don't forget that I love you, and that I am always here for you. It doesn't matter how far you've fallen off the beaten path; if you come to me, I will be here for you."


God won't let them win. Wickedness is a matter of a person's heart; they can choose to reject God. You might not see it, but those who are oppressing others won't always win. In the Old Testament, even when God raised up an nation against Israel to punish them, later he would punish that same nation for not following His ways (usually because they were oppressing others).

God will always reign. He will always be on that throne. Jesus is at his right hand, waiting for us. His bride is the church, and we are the church. He died because he loves us, because we are worth this. We are worth waiting for. He already paid the price; live a life 'pleasing to God'. Life a life that says, "I'm HIS." because, he's already done everything for you. (:

"Praise the Lord."

Fearful and Wonderful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhiPIFzqF7A&feature=relmfu
"I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

When I see creation, as an artist, I am jealous on a daily basis. God is SO amazing, and He only needs to breathe a word and His art comes into existence!
What He does and creates amazes me; I know there is no way anything I could ever make would ever come close to comparing to His glorious works of art.

I think about this regularly, especially when I see the colors of the sky just after the sun goes down. Yet, one thing I neglect to remember is how wonderfully made He made me. And how wonderful is that!

One thing I can't ever forget is that God created laughter. Of all things, He decided He wanted us to have a physical way to express our happiness to each other. Not only that, but He created in us so that when one person laughs, it makes others laugh too. Now lets take it a step further to say that we laugh at things that bring us joy, science has now shown that laughter produces "endorphins" in our brains, giving us more joy!
Isn't our God amazing? He created us to that when we are happy, we automatically do stuff that just makes us happier. How cool is that?! :)

You see, God loves us.
I think Christians forget that, that God loves us. He created us so that we could enjoy life, and He created us so that we would enjoy life. I mean from the very start, God wanted us to live the best life that we can live.
We just don't choose it sometimes.

God is not a lawmaker.
He doesn't lay down rules and simply sit and judge you as you line up trying to get into Heaven.
God is a father--"Abba"="Daddy".
He's a lover, with the church as His bride.
God wants to know you and wants us to know Him, intimately!

Here's where the cool part begins, especially as God's daughters:
When God created us, we were the epitome of Creation.
If you follow the path of what was Created, things just got more complex and amazing and beautiful as they were created, and the last to be formed was woman from Adam's rib.
We are God's Masterpiece.

I don't know how much you may know about art, but let me tell you about what I know about being an artist:
When I draw something good, I want to show EVERYONE.
The problem is, this world is full of people who don't always care enough for art, so if I showed everyone, they wouldn't appreciate it fully. The art isn't any less beautiful, but the people's lack of care makes the art seem less amazing. (Not to mention, it hurts to hear people casually say, "Oh, that's cool." to something you spent hours and days on.)
No, when I create my best works, I save them somewhere special, where they won't get bent or ruined accidentally. Then, I only pull it out and share it with people who show genuine appreciation for it, and in that appreciation I find my utmost joy. :)

Now replace myself with God, and replace that beautiful masterpiece with you.

God loves you. He is amazed at how beautiful you turned out, and extremely proud that He created you. He loves you.
God knows that you will be the happiest only with those who truly appreciate you and how He created you. He wants to protect you from all the "Eh, it's alright."s and the "Oh, sweet."s in life!
He wants you to hear every "Wow, that's amazing!" and "So beautiful!!" that you deserve to hear from everyone!

This is why He says to us to save ourselves for the right someone.

God's not some fun-sucker, trying to make our lives boring; He's a majestic God who wants you to have the best life you can have.

And He knows what's best for you; He's the Creator after all, isn't He?

Faded Vision

It's been a while since I've written something for here, and I think I know the problem.
I've been losing sight of Jesus.

At the end of last summer, I had fallen heads over heels for His love and for Jesus, my amazing Savior who loved me even though I was a sinner. Now, that love has faded slowly away into maybe a liking of some sort that is by no means what God wants from me...

I can see everyday how I try slightly to worship God and be good, but I've been lukewarm and I simply don't live up to his standards. I wonder if it is because I don't suffer, or because I haven't fallen into sin recently, but I know that Paul says we should never sin just to receive grace more.

I've taken a closer look at my prayer life with God, and it's not very strong, I must sadly say.
I think maybe a couple times a week, when I'm noticing the distance between me and God, I'll pray to Him before I go to sleep, and if I'm awake enough and my Bible is close at hand, I'll read a random passage, think about it for a minute, pray, then sleep.
I seriously wonder how I got this way, when I used to fall asleep with the Bible in my hands or under my head every night because I was reading and fell asleep, and when I used to read chapters and books at a time rather than verses and sections.


Today in Chapel, my wonderful friend, Kristian, spoke on God's love for us.
He spoke from the heart about how we don't consider what love God has for us often enough. How Jesus, someone God truly treasured, came down and was torn apart, beaten, spat on, nailed to a cross, and murdered, so that we, the murderers and criminals, could walk free.
How crazy is that?!
He also said that sometimes we think of God and Jesus as separate, with different loves--Jesus's seemingly more caring and compassionate--when in reality, Jesus came to show God's love for us. The love that we see Jesus give, THAT is God's love he has for us!
Kristian pointed out that all Jesus did was show people love. He showed love to people whom in our day would be the emo kids and goths... but all we did was try to kill him for it!



Then he referred to this video that the school watched back in November on God's love.
I have only gotten the chance to see this once(with bad quality--I could hardly see or hear it!), so I'm posting it here and watching it again to try to renew my faith in Christ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjSio8jur2Y

We are the ones on this train, going by, living our short lives, and most of us never even realizing what God did for us, to save us, to keep us alive.

"For God So Loved the World that He Gave His One and Only Son, that Whoever Believes in Him Shall Not Perish, but have Eternal Life."
- John 3:16 (NIV)

♥♥♥

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. ♥

Good Enough

For every girl who has ever judged herself for how she looks.♥:

Late one night, a young girl laid out on her bed one night, crying. She had a magazine in one hand and a camera in the other.

"I'm just not good enough," she cried.

Her father knocked on the door. Wiping at her tears, she hid the camera and threw the magazine under her bed. "Come in," she called quietly, while she crawled underneath her covers.

Opening the door, he said, "I just wanted to say goodnight." When he heard her sniffling, he asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Goodnight, dad," she replied, turning away from him. He walked in, sat on her bed, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing.. I'm fine," she insisted, avoiding his eyes. After a few moments though, he asked again, softer, "Tell me, what is it?"

She sighed. "Dad... do you think I'm pretty? All my friends say how beautiful those girls are in magazines, but when I try taking pictures like that, I don't look like them at all."...she began crying.

"Sweetheart," he hugged her, "No picture could ever compare to the way you look. No camera could ever capture your beauty! It's not what is on the outside that makes you look so beautiful; it is what is on the inside that shines out! Your wonderful spirit radiates through your smiling face, making your image so captivating that no one would even think to call you ugly!" He looked her in the eye; "not for a second could they dare say it."

The girl stopped crying.

"I love you, daddy."

"I love you too, my princess. Don't ever forget that."

~♥~

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

(1 John 3:1a)

Whispers

Sitting among the Pharisees
Whispers flow all around me
Speaking of this child's heart
Her never ending suffering

Her life displayed so all could see
Her hopeless heart beats wildly
Sitting very quietly
She wonders, "Who would help me?"

"Now listen very carefully,"
They all try to say to me.
"She'll trick you into obeying;
And on top of that, she's unclean.

"Look at her sin, hear what she's done,
Her life by Satan has been won;
She could never be saved by the death of His Son.
Go try a different one."

I heard what they said
I see her life hanging by a thread
The darkest gloom looms over her head
But her spirit is not simply dead.

She doesn't know what to do because she isn't seeing
Any love or care at all for her being;
Her heart for love is constantly beating
Still searching everywhere for some meaning.

She is lost and doesn't know how to be found
Looking for love when no love is around
Falling in sin and hitting the ground
Crying out for help, while to sin she is bound

How can you stand while she's falling apart?
Life is not all about trying to make it on the chart
This fallen child is God's own work of art
Reach out to her with the fullness of your heart!

It's never too late to start again
To change your life and live without sin
There is one way for you to begin
And it leads to a place where love always wins

His arms are open wider than mine
His love is deeper than the ocean is wide
He wants to love you and be your guide
Don't be afraid, let him lead your life