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