I have found the following things to make me have a good day when I do them...you should try them sometime...
1. Drink 2 glasses of your favorite drink
2. Watch at least 1 rerun episode of Friends
3. Read a part of your Bible
4. Listen to one of your favorite songs 4 times in a row.
5. Color a picture.
6. Do the macarena/cha cha slide/electric slide when no one is watching
7. Eat a piece of fruit
8. Read one online page from lovegivesmehope.com
9. Smile at random strangers
10. Hula hoop
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Prove It
"We judge others by their behavior. We judge ourselves by our intentions." -Ian Percy
So recently I've found myself being judgmental, for lack of a better word. I am quick to judge other people's walk with God. I feel like I have a really good sense of discernment when it comes to reading people in general, and this often spews over into trying to discern other peoples intentions when it comes to their spiritual life. I know that it is wrong to judge others; however, if you are true in your intentions, there should be no doubt in others minds that you are the real deal.
So sometimes I find myself thinking that another person is just "playing church" and wearing a mask of a Christian. Now I know I should not judge others intentions; however, you may wonder why I find myself able to pick out certain people that are faking it. This is because I too "played church" for a good six years or so. I am a pro at it. If you have ever been in this situation where you claimed to be a Christian and were actually not, I'm sure you can back me up on this one. I'm almost positive that there was someone out there who was critical of my claim to be a Christian before I actually became one.
So you may find yourself thinking, I have good intentions and I am genuine, so why could anyone be critical of my relationship with Christ? While this may be true, here's the truth...no one knows your intentions or sincerity except you. All that anyone else has to go on is your actions. The quote at the beginning of this blog helped me to understand why I find myself judgmental of others. I'm one of those "I'll believe it when I see it" people. Kinda like the apostle Thomas in John 20:25. He said about Jesus, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." So unless I can see your actions, I have nothing to go on but your words. And in this day and age, words mean little.
So if you are a Christian, how do you stop people like myself from wrongly looking at you in a sly manner and questioning your walk with God? Its rather simple actually...live it out. If you are a Christian, there should be no doubt in other peoples' minds that such a claim is true. So here's the challenge, if you say you love God...prove it.
In addition...I will be working a lot harder from now on to be less judgmental of others because from writing this blog I have realized that I am at great fault. :)
So recently I've found myself being judgmental, for lack of a better word. I am quick to judge other people's walk with God. I feel like I have a really good sense of discernment when it comes to reading people in general, and this often spews over into trying to discern other peoples intentions when it comes to their spiritual life. I know that it is wrong to judge others; however, if you are true in your intentions, there should be no doubt in others minds that you are the real deal.
So sometimes I find myself thinking that another person is just "playing church" and wearing a mask of a Christian. Now I know I should not judge others intentions; however, you may wonder why I find myself able to pick out certain people that are faking it. This is because I too "played church" for a good six years or so. I am a pro at it. If you have ever been in this situation where you claimed to be a Christian and were actually not, I'm sure you can back me up on this one. I'm almost positive that there was someone out there who was critical of my claim to be a Christian before I actually became one.
So you may find yourself thinking, I have good intentions and I am genuine, so why could anyone be critical of my relationship with Christ? While this may be true, here's the truth...no one knows your intentions or sincerity except you. All that anyone else has to go on is your actions. The quote at the beginning of this blog helped me to understand why I find myself judgmental of others. I'm one of those "I'll believe it when I see it" people. Kinda like the apostle Thomas in John 20:25. He said about Jesus, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." So unless I can see your actions, I have nothing to go on but your words. And in this day and age, words mean little.
So if you are a Christian, how do you stop people like myself from wrongly looking at you in a sly manner and questioning your walk with God? Its rather simple actually...live it out. If you are a Christian, there should be no doubt in other peoples' minds that such a claim is true. So here's the challenge, if you say you love God...prove it.
In addition...I will be working a lot harder from now on to be less judgmental of others because from writing this blog I have realized that I am at great fault. :)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Let's Make a Deal
♪And the arms that gripped me felt like grace, and I realized in their embrace to be held so tight I've never felt so free. Also known as the day that You found me♫ -Big Daddy Weave "You Found Me"
Freedom-a state of liberty without restraint in choice or action. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word "freedom?" Our Founding Fathers and the national anthem? Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights? How about Jesus and sin? The latter is often overlooked. People may see Jesus as a friend or a king but few can grasp the idea that He is a Savior. We hear Him called that, but do you actually understand what that means? He saves us and frees us. I am a lifeguard, so my job is to save people when they are in trouble and drowning in the water. So what is the difference between me and Jesus? We're both saving lives right? Wrong...I save people who are are in obvious distress and who are screaming for my help. If you were in the water desperate for help, wouldn't you cry our for someone to jump in and help you? Jesus however, often does not have people crying out for His saving grace. If we are desperate for Him to jump in and save us, we may call out and ask Him to do so, but here's the catch...we don't always know that we are in trouble. We think that we can handle situations on our own and only call on Him when all else fails.
Now what would be the difference if we began every situation by calling out to Him and realizing we need His grace? In his book Crazy Love, Francis Chan says "If life were stable, I'd never need God's help. Since it's not, I reach out for Him regularly. I am thankful for the unknowns and that I don't have control, because it makes me run to God." I myself have trouble relating to this. I do not like the unknown, and I like to be in control. But the way Chan puts it, he points out that God gives us a much better deal. He will take control of everything and do it better than we could if we just surrender it to Him in the beginning. He wraps his arms around us, constrains us, and pulls us away from the actual constraint causing us to be in bondage. This song quoted above made me realize that God holds onto us so tightly, yet, in His embrace, we are more free than we could ever imagine. To be free from sin is to be embraced and saved by God. He will take care of anything and everything if we just get out of the way and allow Him to do so.
Freedom-a state of liberty without restraint in choice or action. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word "freedom?" Our Founding Fathers and the national anthem? Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights? How about Jesus and sin? The latter is often overlooked. People may see Jesus as a friend or a king but few can grasp the idea that He is a Savior. We hear Him called that, but do you actually understand what that means? He saves us and frees us. I am a lifeguard, so my job is to save people when they are in trouble and drowning in the water. So what is the difference between me and Jesus? We're both saving lives right? Wrong...I save people who are are in obvious distress and who are screaming for my help. If you were in the water desperate for help, wouldn't you cry our for someone to jump in and help you? Jesus however, often does not have people crying out for His saving grace. If we are desperate for Him to jump in and save us, we may call out and ask Him to do so, but here's the catch...we don't always know that we are in trouble. We think that we can handle situations on our own and only call on Him when all else fails.
Now what would be the difference if we began every situation by calling out to Him and realizing we need His grace? In his book Crazy Love, Francis Chan says "If life were stable, I'd never need God's help. Since it's not, I reach out for Him regularly. I am thankful for the unknowns and that I don't have control, because it makes me run to God." I myself have trouble relating to this. I do not like the unknown, and I like to be in control. But the way Chan puts it, he points out that God gives us a much better deal. He will take control of everything and do it better than we could if we just surrender it to Him in the beginning. He wraps his arms around us, constrains us, and pulls us away from the actual constraint causing us to be in bondage. This song quoted above made me realize that God holds onto us so tightly, yet, in His embrace, we are more free than we could ever imagine. To be free from sin is to be embraced and saved by God. He will take care of anything and everything if we just get out of the way and allow Him to do so.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Enough is Enough
♪When peace like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul.♫
How many of us know this song by heart? How many of us grew up singing this song often in church? Now, how many of us sing this song and have no idea what we are really singing?
I came home and put this lyric as my status on facebook. Soon after, a friend of mine (the fabulous and amazing Amy King) commented and said that the writer of the song had quite a story to go along with the song. She told me the general details of his life and then I proceeded to do a little more research. Horatio Spafford wrote this song after he had lost everything he had in the Great Chicago Fire, losing a son at the age of 4 and then losing four daughters in a tragic ship accident. This man found himself literally with nothing but his grieving wife and God. Luckily God tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Look at that again, His power is made perfect in our weakness. Spafford's situation was less than perfect, but I am sure that he realized that he served a gracious and loving God. I once heard it put very simply..."God is sufficient, Jesus is enough." If we have nothing but God himself to cling to, we have enough.
We sang this song this morning at Town Creek Baptist. I have known this song for years and it has always had meaning to me, but this morning, the meaning just hit me a little harder. My church graciously took up a love offering for me and my best friend as we are preparing to go to Alaska in March on a mission trip. We are going to serve those who are "less fortunate." After I read the story of Spafford and I thought about the people we will be serving in Alaska, I looked at my life. I have never lost a close relative or friend, live in a wealthy country, in a middle class neighborhood, I am intelligent, can afford college, have a car (and can afford the gas to fill it), I have a phenomenal and supportive family, opportunities that some people would kill for, a great boyfriend, and I could just go on and on. To say that I am blessed is an understatement. But here's where I got caught...If I did not have all of these things...If I lost everyone I loved, lived in poverty, could not get into college, walked everywhere, had no family, was single, and looked as if I was going no where with my life, would I still be able to honestly sing these lyrics? I do not know the answer to this question without being in the situation, but I would hope it would be yes. You see, it does not matter how unfortunate our circumstances may seem. God is still God, He is still on His throne, and He alone will always be enough. So despite your circumstances I challenge you to wake up every morning with the attitude of "God is sufficient, Jesus is enough." I think you may come to find that your "bad days" are not so bad after all.
How many of us know this song by heart? How many of us grew up singing this song often in church? Now, how many of us sing this song and have no idea what we are really singing?
I came home and put this lyric as my status on facebook. Soon after, a friend of mine (the fabulous and amazing Amy King) commented and said that the writer of the song had quite a story to go along with the song. She told me the general details of his life and then I proceeded to do a little more research. Horatio Spafford wrote this song after he had lost everything he had in the Great Chicago Fire, losing a son at the age of 4 and then losing four daughters in a tragic ship accident. This man found himself literally with nothing but his grieving wife and God. Luckily God tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Look at that again, His power is made perfect in our weakness. Spafford's situation was less than perfect, but I am sure that he realized that he served a gracious and loving God. I once heard it put very simply..."God is sufficient, Jesus is enough." If we have nothing but God himself to cling to, we have enough.
We sang this song this morning at Town Creek Baptist. I have known this song for years and it has always had meaning to me, but this morning, the meaning just hit me a little harder. My church graciously took up a love offering for me and my best friend as we are preparing to go to Alaska in March on a mission trip. We are going to serve those who are "less fortunate." After I read the story of Spafford and I thought about the people we will be serving in Alaska, I looked at my life. I have never lost a close relative or friend, live in a wealthy country, in a middle class neighborhood, I am intelligent, can afford college, have a car (and can afford the gas to fill it), I have a phenomenal and supportive family, opportunities that some people would kill for, a great boyfriend, and I could just go on and on. To say that I am blessed is an understatement. But here's where I got caught...If I did not have all of these things...If I lost everyone I loved, lived in poverty, could not get into college, walked everywhere, had no family, was single, and looked as if I was going no where with my life, would I still be able to honestly sing these lyrics? I do not know the answer to this question without being in the situation, but I would hope it would be yes. You see, it does not matter how unfortunate our circumstances may seem. God is still God, He is still on His throne, and He alone will always be enough. So despite your circumstances I challenge you to wake up every morning with the attitude of "God is sufficient, Jesus is enough." I think you may come to find that your "bad days" are not so bad after all.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Where am I going with all of this?
♪The world's so big it can break your heart and you just want to help, not sure where to start. So you close your eyes and send up a prayer into the dark♫ -Carrie Underwood "Change"
Missions. Just the word can make some people cringe. Some others are called to it. But in reality aren't we all called to participate in missions? According to David Platt in his book Radical, "I'm not called to do missions" is a common excuse. Here's the truth though, Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations." It's called the great commission, however many consider it to be an option or a suggestion. Take this as a command and a challenge and take it head on.
Another common excuse is "There's plenty to do right here, I don't need to go elsewhere." This statement has so much truth to it, but if you choose this excuse, you better have action behind it. You better be spreading the love and story of Jesus Christ where you are. Once you've finished on your own turf, move on. Go wherever the Lord is calling you and go with the security that you will not be going alone. "God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"-Hebrews 13:5
So where am I going with all of this?...Alaska...that's where I'm going (more to come about that). All the way across the U.S. to carry out the Great Commission that my Lord and Savior has put in front of me. Where are you going with all of this?
Missions. Just the word can make some people cringe. Some others are called to it. But in reality aren't we all called to participate in missions? According to David Platt in his book Radical, "I'm not called to do missions" is a common excuse. Here's the truth though, Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations." It's called the great commission, however many consider it to be an option or a suggestion. Take this as a command and a challenge and take it head on.
Another common excuse is "There's plenty to do right here, I don't need to go elsewhere." This statement has so much truth to it, but if you choose this excuse, you better have action behind it. You better be spreading the love and story of Jesus Christ where you are. Once you've finished on your own turf, move on. Go wherever the Lord is calling you and go with the security that you will not be going alone. "God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"-Hebrews 13:5
So where am I going with all of this?...Alaska...that's where I'm going (more to come about that). All the way across the U.S. to carry out the Great Commission that my Lord and Savior has put in front of me. Where are you going with all of this?
Saturday, January 8, 2011
"What in the world is a birddog?!?!"
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved." -Victor Hugo
The annual Camp Longridge retreat to Gatlinburg got canceled this week. So what else is there to do but make our own fun in the precious town of Anderson, South Carolina. Those who were supposed to attend Gatlinburg as well as a few extras that were within driving distance made a weekend of memories to last a while.
Being in college, I've see the whole party scene. I can honestly say that it has never really appealed to me at all. Those who party seem to enjoy themselves and especially in high school I felt like maybe I was missing out on the "fun." But what they have is just that..."Fun." Who wants to wake up in the morning with a new disease or not knowing whether you actually had fun last night or not or with someone you love in critical condition because of an accident? All I know is that this weekend I was reminded what real fun is. It is sitting around a table (or 3 tables) with some of your best friends talking about old memories and preparing yourself for new and better ones. It is laying on the floor with a bunch of girls discussing life, boys, memories, the future, and maybe a little theology and philosophy! It is roadtrips with friends and jamming to tunes that you would be embarrassed for "normal" people to know that you knew. It is walking though a sketch flea market where you can buy a puppy AND a taser. Here's what really hit me hard this weekend, it is not what you are doing that makes the fun, it is the people you are with. We managed to have a blast doing almost absolutely nothing and going almost nowhere. But yet, we had the best kind of entertainment...each other. I laughed so hard that breathing became difficult at times, and I am certain that I have the best friends a girl could ask for. I will take good clean fun over partying any day of my life.
So even though this weekend we were supposed to enjoying fun in Gatlinburg, we found so much more. Despite the fact that we did not do much at all, we found joy, laughter, and love. (This whole blog has sounded like a Hallmark card or a cheesy graduation speech) Either way, here is a shoutout to the best friends a girl could ask for!...Amy King, Bri Meeler, Betsy McCarty, Jason Hadden, Jimmy Ridgeway, Justin Hadden, Nate James, Nicole Bailey, Evan Poore, and Will Godfrey!!!
The annual Camp Longridge retreat to Gatlinburg got canceled this week. So what else is there to do but make our own fun in the precious town of Anderson, South Carolina. Those who were supposed to attend Gatlinburg as well as a few extras that were within driving distance made a weekend of memories to last a while.
Being in college, I've see the whole party scene. I can honestly say that it has never really appealed to me at all. Those who party seem to enjoy themselves and especially in high school I felt like maybe I was missing out on the "fun." But what they have is just that..."Fun." Who wants to wake up in the morning with a new disease or not knowing whether you actually had fun last night or not or with someone you love in critical condition because of an accident? All I know is that this weekend I was reminded what real fun is. It is sitting around a table (or 3 tables) with some of your best friends talking about old memories and preparing yourself for new and better ones. It is laying on the floor with a bunch of girls discussing life, boys, memories, the future, and maybe a little theology and philosophy! It is roadtrips with friends and jamming to tunes that you would be embarrassed for "normal" people to know that you knew. It is walking though a sketch flea market where you can buy a puppy AND a taser. Here's what really hit me hard this weekend, it is not what you are doing that makes the fun, it is the people you are with. We managed to have a blast doing almost absolutely nothing and going almost nowhere. But yet, we had the best kind of entertainment...each other. I laughed so hard that breathing became difficult at times, and I am certain that I have the best friends a girl could ask for. I will take good clean fun over partying any day of my life.
So even though this weekend we were supposed to enjoying fun in Gatlinburg, we found so much more. Despite the fact that we did not do much at all, we found joy, laughter, and love. (This whole blog has sounded like a Hallmark card or a cheesy graduation speech) Either way, here is a shoutout to the best friends a girl could ask for!...Amy King, Bri Meeler, Betsy McCarty, Jason Hadden, Jimmy Ridgeway, Justin Hadden, Nate James, Nicole Bailey, Evan Poore, and Will Godfrey!!!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Ten Guilty Pleasures
My first 4 blogs were rather heavy and heartfelt so I figured I'd make this blog a bit more on the lighter side (and a bit shorter). I thought maybe everyone would like to learn a little more about me. So here are my 10 Guilty Pleasures...
1. Reality TV shows-Fear Factor is my favorite!
2. Watching the University of Florida lose at anything-I hate this team, nuff said.
3. Diet Coke-Just give it to me in an IV!
4. Rollercoasters-...what can I say? ...I love a good adrenaline high. :)
5. Proving people wrong-Sad but true...I like to be right.
6. Fixing/putting things together without instructions
7. Winning anything-I have a very intense competitive side. I may not rub it in your face, but trust me, I want to.
8. Nutella
9. Mario Kart-I know...lame, but SOOOO much fun! :)
10. Jewelery-You can never have too much of it!
1. Reality TV shows-Fear Factor is my favorite!
2. Watching the University of Florida lose at anything-I hate this team, nuff said.
3. Diet Coke-Just give it to me in an IV!
4. Rollercoasters-...what can I say? ...I love a good adrenaline high. :)
5. Proving people wrong-Sad but true...I like to be right.
6. Fixing/putting things together without instructions
7. Winning anything-I have a very intense competitive side. I may not rub it in your face, but trust me, I want to.
8. Nutella
9. Mario Kart-I know...lame, but SOOOO much fun! :)
10. Jewelery-You can never have too much of it!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Makin' Me Fall in Love Again...
♪Then You come crashing in, like the realest thing. Trying my best to understand all that Your love can bring♫ -John Mayer "Half of My Heart"
Okay, so in this blog I was going to cover one of everyone’s favorite topics, Music; but specifically secular vs. Christian music. I came across the above article as I was looking for some sort of affirmation of an idea that has been brewing in my mind. This article is the furthest thing I could find from affirming. I was appalled. What is it that makes a song a “Christian song” or worship music? Does it have to mention God? Must it have part of a scripture in it? Maybe if its made by a “Christian” band it is automatically Jesus music…who knows? Here’s the idea that I am entertaining; most genres can be worship music even if it is not categorized as such.
Now I’m not saying that just any song can be transformed into a worship song because there are some raunchy and worldly ones that are definitely best left separate from God. But I see no problem with relating secular songs to your life on a spiritual level. I had an pretty in depth conversation one night with my boyfriend, Jason, about his favorite band, Switchfoot. According to Wikipedia (yes, I am using this as a valid source so all of the English teachers out there can just deal with it), Switchfoot is primarily characterized as an Alternative Rock band. However, many of their songs are considered to be spiritual and some are even played on Christian radio stations. So why not consider Switchfoot and other similar bands "Christian" bands? When you put the title "Christian" on a band, limits are put on what type of audience they are trying to reach. Who mainly is Christian music reaching?...Christians. It's like preaching to the choir. In Mark 2:17 Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." There you have it, Jesus himself reached out past the Christian crowd and, in fact, preferred them over the religious leaders of the day. Who's to say that some "secular" music is not doing the same? It is not the Christians that need to hear worship music, it is those who are lost.
The first time I heard the song “Makin’ Me Fall in Love Again,” by Kellie Pickler, it struck me as such an interesting song. It was written and recorded to reflect the joy in either a dating or marital relationship; however, since I had neither at the time, I found myself applying the lyrics to my relationship with Christ. These lyrics can be taken in a couple different ways, so if I express them with a worshipful attitude, why cant it be considered a worship song in my book? So even though Kellie Pickler is a country artist, this specific song I feel can gloryifying to God as long as my view, attitude, and heart are in the right place.
The following are just a few of the many songs that I find could be worship songs if expressed in a reverent and worshipful attitude. I challenge you to look at your own favorite secular songs and see if any of them can apply to or reflect your spiritual life.
Makin’ Me Fall in Love Again-Kellie Pickler
Smile-Uncle Kracker
Half of My Heart-John Mayer
So Small-Carrie Underwood
I Look at You-Miley Cyrus
You Save Me-Kenny Chesney
Forever and Ever, Amen-Randy Travis
Everywhere-Michelle Branch
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