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

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.
~♥

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

Pearls

Last week, I attended Camp Manatawny and had an amazing, mind-blowing, heart-opening experience!  I learned many things and I hope I am able to share them with many people, because these are lessons I never want to forget.

In my first Bible Class (girls only!), our teacher read us a beautiful story about a pearl necklace.  I love this story and it warms my heart every time I hear it!
The story was this: The Pearl Necklace

Well, this story has rung true with me many times in my life.  We all struggle with it!  There is something between us and God that we just don't want to give up.  It can be anything: possessions, decisions, pride, bad relationships, our old lives.

For me, it was my deepest-darkest sins. I had been impure, but I had refused to do anything more than just ask for forgiveness.  It was one of those sins that you wanted to handle alone because you were too ashamed to tell anyone about it (I still am ashamed even), but sin is impossible to conquer without God.  Finally one day, I gave up fighting.  Against everything inside of me, I surrendered to God and told my best friend about what I had been doing, and I asked her for help and prayers and forgiveness.  That was the best decision of my life.  The effect was immediate, and I stopped Satan right then and there.  He left me, and I never was unable to stand against those sins again.  Yet, a week later (although this was the last time), I gave into the sin and felt dreadful.  That's what Satan does to us; he will never leave us alone.  He never leaves me alone!  A wise grandmother in my church said it this way:
"You might be done with Satan, but sweetie, he isn't done with you."

But, as this story says, God takes away our sin.  He took it away, once and for all.  Can we keep sinning?  Yes, but why would we?  That would be stupid!  And I'm telling myself that, because it was stupid!  It's taken me a year to realize this since I quit that past way of life, but once we are baptized, we have the freedom to choose not to sin.  We can look it dead in the eye because of Christ and say "No."
After suffering for so long with the thoughts that surrounded my past, I became familiar with the signs of my heart fading into that temptation.  Immediately, when my heart started to fall two weeks ago, I sat up straight and told myself, "NO. Never again."

Guess what girls? It works, because of GOD.

Give your pearls to Him.


"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart,
lean not on your own understanding,
in all of your ways submit to him, 
and he will make your paths straight. 
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body, and nourishment to your bones."
-Proverbs 3:5-7

College (Part 2)

Prayer works!

After posting about my troubles with finding the right College, things became so much clearer to me!

I am pretty dead set on Graphic Design now. I absolutely love to do it, and I am figuring out what to do with it as well as what I'll want to learn about Graphic Design in order to do the things I see God planning for me. (:

I still am not sure which college to go to, but I have more hope knowing that I will go into Graphic Design. I almost want to get started right away!

As far as colleges go, I still would love to go to a Christian college, so I opened up my options a bit. I'm re-thinking going to my sister's college, because as long as she knows it was my own choice because of the college itself, I will survive seeing her every once in a while. After two years of college, I know she'll change enough to make her survivable around, and at some point, we need to grow together, right?

I'm also keeping open the other Christian college open as an option, since a couple of my friends are going there, and I am going to look for even more colleges to possibly attend. I'm not as afraid as I was before because I know that God is in charge of the world, not me!! If I go to a college that isn't Christian, I will still be on God's side.

I will keep praying and I hope you pray that wherever I go is where God leads me to go, and whatever I do is what God wants me to do.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside still waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23)

College

Being a Junior means one thing:

Planning for College.

Everything you do is focused on your future:

Preparing for SAT's, deciding what to major in, which college to go to, toughing through school to get the grades you need to get into your college of choice, etc...

It also includes some life-changing decisions too. Deciding what plans God has for your life, figuring out what you would like in a guy (for future marriage, if thinking about it), developing the skills you'll need in the business world--things such as leadership, working together, listening, debating, getting things done, persuading, etc.

All of this can easily pile up into a lot of stress on one person, and can be very hard to figure out! Some never do, some do and become extremely successful, where as most get through most of it and maybe miss a couple of things, but get out good.

Well, all of this weight has finally fallen on my shoulders, and so now I am trying to sort through it all.

It pains me to realize that I am not ready yet to move out and be on my own, but that is what these last years are for. (: Taking the time to figure out how things work and how to do things before you leave!

(I can't give advice yet on how to get through it; I can only talk about things that I'm going through, so I will not even attempt to go there.)

But for the past year or two, I have been thinking a lot about this question:

What do I want to go to college for?

Wow. Tough question when you haven't ever thought about it, right?

For some people it's obvious. Take my sister for example:

She has always loved arts & crafts. She loves working with kids. Her dream for life has always been to go to the college my mom went to. What is she doing now? Art education major at that same University.

Easy-peasy-lemon-squeasy.

But for someone like me? Not as easy.

I have sooo many different dreams, and so many different interests! There are things that I am good at (Math) and things that I don't believe I will ever be (History). Then there are the things that I do for fun (Art & Singing), but they are weighed against the things that make a good salary (Not art & singing). Of course you have my spiritual interests (Missionary, Start a Church, etc.), but they slightly rely on getting a job first, and getting married too (I want to start a church with a good husband, one or two kids, and a few other close families in the same spot).

So there are many different things for me to think about.

Finally, I came to a conclusion that I wanted to major in Graphic Design.

(Problem is, now I don't know if I really should.)

:/

It's so funny how one day you are so sure and set on what you are going to do, and the next you are back at the drawing board, trying to work things through again!

So now I've been debating again what I want to go to college for. Still looking. No news yet.

Maybe I'll come back and comment what I decide on after I go...

But now, the next step in the process?:

Where do you want to go?

Ahhhhh!!! Hardest question ever!

Why?? Well....

Raised as a Church of Christ Christian, I have only 'known the existence' of 3 colleges to choose from. Three's a good number right? Well, not really, but better than none, right?

Okay, so now that I'm looking through them, I marked off one, because it doesn't have Graphic Design (which now I'm unsure of), and I marked off (for the most part) the other, because my sister went there, and who wants to go to college with their sister? (I do love her, but we have our differences... (; )

So it came down to one college.

Great.

Then I looked around a little wider. I found two more colleges I might like; Christian, and had good Graphic Design programs... but then people told me the school had more of a title of "Christian", when it really wasn't any better than a State College.

Great.

So then there was one... or none, to be honest.

I honestly don't have any heartfelt choices in my list of colleges! Somewhere along the way, all the places I was encouraged to go to, have been turned off by someone who warned me not to go there, and so I really don't have a favorite choice! I fear that every college will seem great, then seem horrible, all based on individual experiences; yet the more negative comments I get, the less interested I am in those places!

Now I have about five places that "should" be my top choices, yet don't inspire or encourage me to go there at all, one place that I've heard of, but again, haven't been greatly encouraged to go there, and nothing else to do.

Here is when I turn to God and just say:

Help?

I'll be praying a lot for guidance on this topic. I'm even considering a non-Christian school that has maybe a Christian group thing in it, rather than Christian schools, just so that I can get more options...

Pray with me, please, that God shows me where to go, and what to do. I already see him working on me, so I know for sure that he has a plan for me, but I want to know His plan! I have to trust that he will provide for me, though. It's another struggle, and a good lesson to learn for later in life--but, again, a struggle.

" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.' "

-Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NIV)

~♥