Going to Put the World Away for a Minute

            The more I get away from reality the better life is. Sound about right? The less I have to worry about and can just put the world away for a minute the better it seems.
As teenagers, we are finding who we are, filling our schedules to the max, and focusing on our future. That gets very old and tired-some real fast. 
            The more people I encountered this summer the more they inspired me to just get away from phones, computers, and all other distractions. By getting away from all these things made me focus on my relationships with people and most of all God. 
            Have you ever just been? Like sat outside and just took in the world around you with no inside world connection? 
            This past week I had a chance to travel to Alaska. I found myself at one point with no phone or iPod and I just was. I sat outside and looked around at all the world’s beauty. I am amazed and bless to just be apart of it. Isn't that the attitude we should always have? 
           We all have those days where we think nothing is going right and the worlds out to get us. The days where the glass is half empty. I challenge you on those days to go and just be. Take in your surroundings. My attitude certainly changed by just doing that. 
            We as people are just a small part of the world. We are miracles all by ourselves. That's a blessing in itself. With God watching over us and a savior who died for everyone who keeps us safe and renewed our glass should always be half full for those silly things that don't go right don't really matter anyway. Do they? 
            With God by your side what else really seems to matter? The world is full of distractions of what doesn't really matter so why let them get to us. Just be still and know that he is God. Be still and know.

Remain

               Last week I got the chance to do something different. Step out of my comfort zone... Well in a few ways, away. I went on a work camp. Yes, that isn't different. I've done that every summer for five years now, but who I was with is the different.  My church had decided to not go on a work camp this summer and it left me in tears, literally. Luckily, I have these pretty amazing friends from another state that were willing to adopt me. I went with a group of folks from Minnesota. I went in knowing about four of them and came out with a family of Minnesotan's as a new friend pointed out it. :)

               This work camp wasn't like any I had been on before, either. There were defiantly way more tears because of heartache but in the end it was really God moving in me taking away my hurt and anger. He's up to something in my life and I can't wait to find out what it is. 

               Tuesday night of work camp we did this exercise on labeling people and how other people label you. That really got me thinking and it even brought me to tears along with a few other things on my mind. Labels... Not a very nice word or actions. We as Christians shouldn't put labels on others but here I sat in the school gym with 350 other people with a label along with everyone else. It just blows my mind how we label people as being stupid because they don't necessarily get good grades in school or by the clothes we wear as to if we are rich or poor maybe even popular. That doesn't mean we are any of those things. We are all children of God, but we as humans put labels on everything.

               The next night rolls around and we talk about remaining in the Lord. Many thoughts went rolling through my head with that too leaving me in tears once again. Lately me and the big man mainly I have been in a war. I've been mad at God due to the things in my life that are happening. I have been mad because I just don't understand how he can let these bad things can happen. As a wise friend of mine put it.... He (God) gives us free will. That's what makes us human. He lets us chose. No matter what comes our way even if we are mad with God he will be there to help us and to see it through. He lets us go through these hard times to show us how powerful he is and so we can help others who have the same problem.

               As my wise and lovely friend were sitting there talking to me about this issue, as I was upset, they asked me over and over the same few questions. One of which being does God love you. Answer being yes. Hearing myself say that out loud numerous times made me be less angry with God. He does love us and he does care. Next question being who I was angry with. I raddled off a few people and then kind of pointed up indicating I was mad with God instead of admitting or saying I was. That wasn't acceptable and I knew it and eventually said I was mad with him. As we continued to talk about this here issuse I began to think. Just by admitting I was mad with God and repeatedly saying that God loves me made me feel less angry with him. On a scale of one to ten as we put it my angriness had dropped 3 points. 

               As the week processed on I had been pondering what my friend and I had talked about on Wednesday. I am amazed how God puts people into your life right in your time of need, and No matter how mad you are with God he still LOVES us and if we REMAIN in him we will do great things, for he is the vine and we are the branches. Apart from him we can do nothing.

Attitudes

            Attitudes go a long ways.

            Have you ever had one of those days where you can’t seem to do anything at all right? Everyone’s yelling at you? You get behind the slowest person on your way to somewhere? Everything is falling apart? Sounds about right.

            Today I got behind some lady on my way home from school going 40 in a 55. I prayed she wouldn’t take the next turn so I wouldn’t have to follow her all my way home. But then she signals and turned on to the next street where I need to turn to and goes 30 in a 45. Most days I’d be happy that I had an extra few minutes singing to the radio with the windows down. Today not so much. I was angry that I got behind the slowest possible person ever.

            It hadn’t already been the best day at school. I had gotten yelled at by several people for doing what I was asked. I suppose it just wasn’t in the way they pictured it to be. Then no one in my team showed up where we were suppose to plan something for next week. You get the idea.

            Isn’t weird how everything happens all at once it seems? I blame our attitudes for that. If you already have a bad one then nothing else is going to seem good. If you go in with a good attitude then everything seems just peachy most of the time that is.

            In the hallway at school there are these signs that lead down to the locker rooms for Gym. The one sign I can’t help but notice every time I am down that way is one that reads, “Attitudes are contagious is yours worth catching?”

            The first time I saw that sign I ponder it for a long while, and the more I thought about it the more I agreed with it. If one person is in a bad mood and says something off color or yells at you then you turn to that bad mood too.

            Here lately I haven’t really been the most positive person with all the stress of school ending, SOL testing, and the list goes on. That however doesn’t excuse me from my actions. I should get to act rude or what have you just because I’m stressed. That’s not your fault so I shouldn’t be taking it out on others.

            I have gotten away from finding the positive in everything I do. It’s time to start that again. With 9 more school days, 4 Finals and summer right around the corner I think I can do it. Will you join with me in FINDING the positives in everything you do?

            Just remember this little quote in the back of your mind... “Attitudes are contagious is yours worth catching?” 

Leave the rest to God.

            Have you ever regretted something you have ever told someone, or the way you acted towards them? Well I find myself doing just that. I fall into bad habits just like anyone else who lives in this here world. Nobody’s perfect. We all make mistakes. Life goes on. However in the back of your mind you are still stuck with forgiving yourself for the action you did that you aren't rather fond of.

            It’s easier to forgive then forget, so I’ve been told. It amazes me the love of others that it takes to forgive someone just like God forgives us. God also doesn’t think about it anymore once you ask for forgiveness. So why do we as humans? To make the world right? To make everything seem like it’s okay?

            I found this quote today:

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

            If we as humans watch our thoughts before they become habits and actions then there will be a lot less regretting or wishing you could rewind time and not say that. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone. In the end all that’s going to matter is the love from the big man upstairs. So forgive and FORGET. Life moves on. Don’t get caught up in the little things. Life’s to big for that.

            It’s time to leave it all up to God and do some letting go. The baggage is weighing us down to making closer relationships with those around us because there is someone for everyone. Most of all a closer relationship with God.

“Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.”

A jar, some pecans, and cup of rice

            This morning at FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) I saw something done I had never seen before that struck me. Putting God first!

            When we get up in the morning we tend to hit the ground running, correct?

            I know I do. From the finding of the outfit of the day, brushing my hair and teeth, putting my contacts in and the list goes on and on. I am thinking I have to get this done in 30 minutes or I’m going to get stuck behind the bus and be late for school. I hit this ground running. All this I have to, I need to mess runs through my head.

            The demonstration I saw today was with a jar, a quart zip lock baggy of pecans and cup of rice. Some of you are probably clueing in if you have seen this before. Well the jar represents life. The rice represents what we have to get done, and the pecans represent God in our lives.

            When we hit the ground running we will the jar a fourth of the way up with the entire amount of rice. Then next you fill the cup with the things God wants us to do. For example, pray, read our bibles, not engage in illegal things, you know the list continues here too. Will with the cup of rice all of the pecans won’t fit in my jar. You have about a handful of pecans left.

            Therefore, we begin again this time a little different. We begin with the things God wants us to do. We fill the jar with all the pecans. Those pretty much fill the whole jar themselves, but the rice still has to go in. What do you think will happen? Over flow? Well, the rice fills in the cracks between the pecans… With God first he can make room for all the “me” things in life.

            Its crazy how just that one analogy can bring about a whole new perspective. I am a visual person so it was right up my ally. Ever since about 8:15 this morning I have thought about what in my life do I put God first in. I came up with about two or three things. That’s not a lot after I started thinking about the endless things I do and just shove God to the side. I think oh, he’ll still be there in a little while I have to get this done now.

            After this morning I will be improving my God first actions. God will make room for the “me” things if you just let him. He’s just super amazing like that. With God first everything else seem to fall into place. The question is... Is God first in your life?

Farmers

            Let me start out my saying how amazing God is. He puts these certain people in your life that help you grow as a person and who pick you up when you’re down. Here lately I am convinced that one of my friends and I are living parallel lives. It’s crazy, but in a good way. Here these past few weeks I haven’t really been myself with issues uprising in my life. I know I always have this said friend to turn to because we are going through the similar things or have been through the similar things. It’s amazing how eleven months ago he knows who should be in your life today to help you through. God works in some amazing ways.

            “When I am weak thou art strong.” I am finding that more and more. Even through all this stress called life at the moment. God works in ways so unseen at times it blows me away. He puts you in places where he wants you to stay planted and grow. He’s not finished with you yet.

 I once heard this story about two farmers who really needed rain and prayed for rain, but only ONE went out and prepared his fields for that rain. Which one do you think trusted God to send that rain?

            With these struggles in life I have remembered that story and have been thinking about it a lot. I pray to help strength me and show me what path to take to resolve this problem, but haven’t prepared my heart to receive the strength and guidance.

            We as humans think we can do everything on our own but we need help. We just have to accept that fact. We have to accept that fact AND prepare our hearts and minds to receive that help.

            Sorry, I think this is all over the place but my brain is running a zillion different directions at the moment and I wanted to share all my thoughts, so it doesn’t really flow.

            I leave you with this… Out of those two framers which one are you? The one who prays and waits or the one who prays, prepares, and waits?

I Serve a Risen Savior

            “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6

            Happy Easter! He has risen indeed. You have been set free from your sins. Praise God!

            This morning at the sunrise service we sang “He Lives”. This part has stuck with me… "I serve a risen Savior, he's in the world today; I hear his voice of cheer, and just the time I need him, he's always near. He lives, he lives”

            That’s just it HE LIVES and he’s always near when we need him. He died for you and I and we can’t be thankful enough that our sins are washed away. God is good, all the time.

            How much does Jesus love us? He stretched out his arms on the cross and said this much he hung and died for ordinary people like you and like I. I find myself thinking about that a lot here lately. How could he die for someone as crazy as me? Why would he do that? Because he loves us that’s why, even though we are so undeserved of his love. I look down everyday at the ring I got on a Workcamp this past summer. I have never taken it off my toe (it’s too little to fit my finger). The ring just simply says undeserved for that was the theme of the Workcamp.  I am reminded EVERYDAY how much I am so undeserved, but I am saved because of his undeserved love.

            I leave you on this note… Today in Sunday school we were put to the task of creating an Easter rap, if you could had seen us, oh goodness. In the end though it turned out pretty descent I thought. It isn’t complete I just thought it was neat and thought I’d share it. J

Jesus and his bros were chillin’ in the room,

Thinking how he could overcome the tomb.

Along cam Judas he gave a kiss,

Then he delivered the ultimate dis.

To jail he went events came to pass,

He went to trial in front of Caiaphas.

He wore a crown sticky to the touch,

They called him King but they didn’t think such.

He carried a cross from a gnarly old tree,

Where he hung to die for you and me.

They put him in a tomb wrapped in white,

When they found it empty it gave them a fright.

Three days later fresh as can be,

He told his bros to go to Galilee.

Now death is a sucka sin has no claim,

You can read about it in your worn King James.

Outside Of the Box!

            This past weekend I went on a youth retreat and I learned so many things that I will share one with you now! :)

            I want you to get out a pen and paper draw 9 dots, 3 rows of 3.

●          ●           ●

●          ●           ●

●          ●           ●

            Now connect those dots with OUT picking up your pen, retracing a line, and here’s the catch you can ONLY use FOUR STRAIGHT lines. All 9 dots must be connected in some way shape or form. Ready? Go!

            You are sitting there puzzled, right? That’s if you are really doing it because you love me. :) I know I was sitting there thinking there’s no way with just four lines. That math brain of mine went to work logically trying to figure it out. Nope, no possible solution I thought.

            I was wrong. I wasn't thinking outside the box literally and figuratively. I saw for walls that I could not go out of those boundaries. You probably saw the same. That was the speakers point. She never said I couldn’t go out side the box. Want to see the answer? Well, here you go. :)

(The dotted blue is the box I saw and the brown is the answer. Sorry the corners got cut. They just come to a point.)

            Guess what? Tear down those walls. With God all things our possible. Nothing can restrict us if we have him. Our age, gender, or race can’t stop us. Ever heard you are too young to do that? Or you can’t do that because you are a girl or a boy? Yeah, show them whose boss and kick those boundaries to the curve.

            We have to work outside the box to make the best of the best things happen. We have to work outside the box to make our relationship with God grow. Go out of our way to make things happen. We can no longer think inside the lines if we want to get some where in life.

            Tear down those boundaries to make things happen. God will be helping you along the way if you let him. 

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Standing up!

            Have you ever wished you could go back and restart things in life? Well here lately I have been thinking that exact thing. Today was a prime example for me. The bible teaches that we shouldn’t judge people.

             Today, I was with a group of people who were judging on this topic we were talking about. We heard a story about someone not doing something based on their religious views. The question was did we think that was right of that person to back out because of that?

            We have the right to our opinion, yes, but on the other hand I think we shouldn’t be able to answer that. Here’s why that said person has the right to follow their beliefs and I applaud them of standing up for that. We should be able to judge them for that backing out or be calling them names. Really when it’s all said and done we will be the ones getting judged for being the judger (is that even a word? I hope so if not oh well, sorry). In the in all that matters is between you and the big G.

            Then why do we judge? To seem cool in the setting we are in perhaps. When you judge word travels fast. What you said either joking or not most of the time doesn’t just stay in your little group it gets around, and then eventually it will get back to the person you were judging. When the person hears what you have said and then nothing bad comes out of that.    

            Back to what I was saying earlier about restarting something’s… With all the stress of feeling like you have to pretend to be someone you are not so you won’t be judged or just want to fit in isn’t something anyone should have to go through. Recently a few people that I know of have been rudely judging others. Then in return it works people up and stresses them out. Is it really worth all that? No! People wish they could go back and start again so that they wouldn't have been judged and get rid of the unnecessary stress. The judgers will get their punishment one day for being so rude to others.  Many people don’t even know the whole story behind things when they begin to judge. I’m not going to lie, I’ve done it.

            Rachel’s Challenge came to my high school early in this school year if you don’t know what that is you should Google it. It’s a great message. Anyway, Rachel died from being judged for just believing in Jesus. I admire Rachel for standing up for her beliefs. It takes a strong person to do that. 

            In all what I am trying to say is why judge because all it does is hurt you and the person or group of people you are judging.  If you believe in something stand up for it. You will feel good as a person wither you get rude comments about it. If it’s what you truly believe in then go for it. We are humans we make mistakes but that doesn’t mean we should be judged with our actions good or bad.

^“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31 

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2

I hope this makes some sense because I'm not sure how I feel about this... It's just been heavy on my heart here lately.

The Passenger Seat

     Isn't kind of strange how we as humans "call" things? For example, "I call the passenger seat." Or "I call the computer." There's a point here I promise. :) Shouldn't we be the ones "calling" the passenger seat on our life and letting God be the driver? Here as of late I have found myself driving and if that's not bad enough I found that I put God in the back seat with school, homework, and all my other activates in the passenger seat.

        The mind set I've been having lately isn't good. I've been thinking I have to get this work done. I'll read my bible and blog later. Some how I always find away to get on facebook and text with my friends, but not read the bible or blog about how great our God is. I should have the mind set were I put God FIRST and worry about facebook LAST. Do you put God first EVERYDAY?

        I was taking this quiz thingy for a class today online and one of the questions was when the last time you were TRULY happy? Where that should have been on of the easier questions on there it wasn't. I had to sit back and think about it. Sure, I've been happy but the last time I was TRULY happy was probably this past summer. I was on top of the world with God as my best friend nothing could have stopped me. SO what's changed? My attitude. That's what. Life has been reflecting that. How can one be truly happy with out the person who molded you and shaped you and knows exactly what's in store for your life? I have pondered this question for a while now. 

        I heard this from a meeting I was sitting in the other day. Do you wake up in the morning wishing to go back to sleep because of all the things you have to get done, OR do you wake up and say what's up today God? What ever it is help me to be apart of it. That just has stuck with me. What's up today God? What ever it is help me to be apart of it.

         With out God it seems as those life just crumbles before you. There are so many examples of this in my life at the moment. I've had this feeling lately that I just want to break down and let it all out. I am truly unhappy with a lot of things in life right now. With me driving and running my life isn't working out so well. It's time for me to pull over and let God back in the drivers seat and see what great things are in store for me instead of trying to do it my way and watching myself crash and burn. If God's on your side who can be against you? Is God in the driver’s seat of your life? If not, what's keeping him from being?

     "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10

Mindset

   As the Christmas decorations are being put away and presents are being put in there new homes brings back memories from years past. When I was little my brother, Joel, and I would always have this "contest" to see who would get more presents under the tree. It didn't matter to us that Momma and Daddy spent the same amount on the both of us just who got more. Christmas isn't about the presents. It's about the birth of Jesus and the time you spend with you family rejoicing that wonderful birth.

  This year I took on the task of making some of my friends and most of my family's Christmas gifts this year. A smile means so much more to something you've made yourself than something you went out a bought. Sure it was more work, more time and thought but it was worth it.

   As we went back to school yesterday many asked what was my favorite gift I got. I had to think for awhile but then I told them the time with my family and a best friend. Their first reaction was you enjoyed your family time that much? Yes, I did. Christmas night we went to my uncle’s house, my Dad's brothers. We sat around and told stories about anything and everything. At one point everyone was listening to my aunt tell her story and then she got to the point and everyone, I mean EVERYONE, had a smile on their face of were laughing. My aunt was even having trouble finishing her story she was laughing so hard. Isn't that how it’s supposed to be?

   Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them." Psalm 126:2

   Then my friends second reaction to my answer was you got a best friend? What's that suppose to mean? Once I explained what I meant by the birth of Jesus and he being my best friend they like that. I over heard them asking someone else and when the other person ended and asked my friend how about you? I heard my friend repeat my best friend answer. That was kind of neat. :)

   Then of course came the questions of, what did you do for new years and what resolutions did you make? My new year’s resolution this year is... To have closer relationships and kinder actions. Growing and becoming more confident in both myself and my faith. Not being attached to mistakes, choices, forgiving and letting go things of the past. Loving, cherishing, and making the most of anything and everything this New Year.

   Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

   Most people who make resolutions do really well for the first few weeks’ maybe even months, but they are soon broken and forgotten. I'm guilty of it. This year I'm going to work at that not being true. I put my resolution on my mirror in my room in which I look at, at least twice a day.

   Will you be one to join me in not getting caught up in the presents of Christmas but the real reason and the time with family?

   Will you also join me in going threw with the resolutions made this 2011 year?

Little People!

      Last weekend my church put on a Christmas play that we do every other year called "Why the Star?" Each time it rolls around the oldest girl in our youth group gets to be Mary. I had the privilege; it defiantly was a privilege, to be Mary this year. Oh boy was I scared, nervous, excited and ready to touch the lives of all those to came and so much more. I got to thinking and that's probably exactly how Mary felt. Scared because she didn't quite understand how all of this could be. Nervous because she actually is having a child and she had really no say in having this baby boy. She didn't do anything to become pregnant other than be a pure and faithful servant of God. Aren't we all supposed to be, though? Then I also think that she was excited because God has chose HER to bring his one and only son, and she knows he'll do great things.
       As that weekend processed along I be came less nervous and ready for the next show. Which also makes me think Mary came to realization that I'm just going to have to roll with it and make the best of it. Sure, no ones perfect. I know for sure I'm not, and neither is any journey but with Gods help he'll lead you where you need to be. The census came out and threw a hiccup in Mary and Joseph’s plans, but with Gods help they made it just fine. Maybe in a stable is where they were supposed to be originally. God has a purpose to everything he throws at us in life. I can't tell you enough how pretty that stable scene was. With the Angles singing, the lights upon the Christ child. I sat right next to the manger just in aw of the whole thing. Oh just the wonders of Gods his love amaze me.
       After, every night I'd take my baby Jesus inside (since it was a live naivety outside) which was a baby doll I've had ever since I was really little and I didn't want it to get cold. See the mother in me already. ;) Anyway, I'd carry it around at the last shows as I greeted with all the folks there. Invariably, every night a little one would come up to me and want to see baby Jesus. Which was really neat. Just a regular old baby doll could bring so much to one little person. The one that took me by surprise, and I'm so glad it did, was some little boy that walked up to me and said, "Mary, can I please see you're baby Jesus?" I replied, "Of course you may." I squatted down to his level. He proceeds to just gaze upon the baby doll. I told him, "You know he's going to change the world one miracle at a time." The little boy say, "How do you know that Miss. Mary? He's only a baby." By the time he asks that the man who played Joseph walks near and just smiles and talks to the little boys parents and said the usual thank you for coming and all that good stuff. I turned my attention back to this little boy and replied, "Well the bible teaches us about it." The little boy replied, "Wow, but he's just small like me." I said, "Yes, small people like you and him change people’s lives. Did you know that?" He said, "I do now. Thank you Miss. Mary for teaching me and letting me see your baby." I smiled and said, "Oh no little buddy, you're worth it. :) Just remember you too change people’s lives."
       The faith of children can be so touching to those around. This little boy made my night, and touch my life that's for sure. It's amazing how one little person and one little conversation can your whole out look on life. Little people see things in a different light then "older" folks.
       Later, after most of our guests were leaving and I was walking to the car to go home. A man, one of our guest, stopped me and said, "Girl, what part of that conversation I over-heard with you and that little boy touched me too. It's amazing how you live life through your faith. Thank you for just being you." I smiled and thanked the man back and continued about my way to the car.
        I pondered those words that the man had said as I went home and changed out of the many layers of clothes and costume I had on. How could a person who I've never seen before thank me for being me? He doesn’t know me. A thought that came to my mind though was doesn't God command us to share our faith with others? Then why should I be thanked for doing something we all should be doing? Shouldn't we be thanking God instead for sending his son so we should spread his good news because with out him nothing would be? Shouldn't we ALL live our lives through our faith? 
       Our God is an amazing God. He can open doors he wants to open and close doors he wants to close. I am thankful that he presented me with that opened that door bring peace, joy, love and hope to that little boy and me. Isn't that what advent is all about?