Priorities

Lately I've been thinking about time.  There are only 24 hours in a day, 1,440 minutes and 86,400 seconds.  Twenty-four hours is all you get.  Time is something that all of us have equally.  You can't buy more time or sell it.  We all have the same amount of time and, regardless of how we spend it, time keeps on ticking.

That made me stop and think.  Are we spending our time in a way that glorifies God?  Just think, God has given us precious little time on this earth.  We ought to put our whole lives into honoring, glorifying him and furthering his kingdom. 

Instead of saying "I don't have time" try saying, "It's not a priority," and see how that feels.  Often, that's a perfectly adequate explanation.  I have time to iron my sheets, I just don't want to.  But other things are harder.  Try it: "I'm not going to edit your resume, sweetie, cause it's not a priority."  "I don't go to the doctor because my health is not a priority."  If these phrases don't sit well, that's the point.  Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice.  If we don't like how we're spending an hour, we can choose differently. -Laura Vanderkam

I tried changing this for me.  "I could make time to read my Bible, but it's not a priority."  "I choose to get on Facebook, so it must be a priority over spending one-on-one time with my family."  It doesn't sound very good, does it?  I'm guilty of these very things... I think I'm going to work on my priorities. :)

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. ~Proverbs 31:27

If By Grace

If by grace... Salvation.  The gift of God's only begotten Son to us, so we can reign forever with Him.  Salvation is a hard thing to grasp.  It is so simple, and yet to our human minds it is more than complex.  Do you mean to tell me that God gave His only son to cover my sins, and all I have to do is believe him?   I don't have to work?  Surely God wouldn't just want me to believe him... that is much to simple!  Many of us protest..  and yet it is what God requires.  Simply believe.

Grace: the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.  How true this is!  Grace is the free, unmerited love and favor of God.  God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to be the blood sacrifice for our sins.  Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, was crucified so that we could be with God eternally.  How unmerited is that love!

 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.~ Ephesians 2:1-10

Joy in Contentment

 I have been thinking a lot about thankfulness lately.  People that are thankful are such a joy and a blessing to be around.  If you are helping a thankful person, and serving them, no matter how hard the task... a thankful person makes you feel really special.  Thankful people are just a joy to be around!  So that made me start thinking... What causes thankfulness and joy?

I think I boiled it down to contentement.  It's one word packed with meaning.  I think it's a little bit like trust.  Content means: rest or quietness of the mind in the present condition; satisfaction which holds the mind in peace, restraining complaint, opposition, or further desire, and often implying a moderate degree of happiness.  Paul said, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

If you are content where you are then doesn't thankfulness and joy follow?  Paul said, in whatsoever state I am.  He didn't say.. "once you reach the place where you have everything you desire and are truly happy you can be content."  He said, whatsoever state.  

It doesn't come naturally..  Paul said "for I have learned"  I think contentement is like a state of mind.  It's like putting God's best above the way you think things should be and going on with life, putting all your energy into it.  Some people call it "blooming where you're planted."

After you have accepted the state you are, I believe joy and thankfulness follow.  If we're not always looking ahead...  Oh, when I get out of highschool, when I get a better job, if I just had a guy after me, when I get married... And the list goes on.  Why can't we just be content in the state God has placed us?  Why are we always looking to something we think would be better?

For so many young ladies the time of waiting inbetween highschool and marriage is the hardest time of their lives.  Why is that so?  God has instilled in us the desire to marry and have a family, but while we're waiting why don't we do something with our lives? 

I believe this time of life for us is the most precious of all.  We don't have a husband or children to take care of.  We have more time than we will probably ever have.  We will never get this time back.  Let's use it to serve God and further his kingdom!  Instead of looking at the time we have and pining for the day when we will marry, let us be content.  These years of waiting are God's gift to us to do something for him.  Let's use them!

To love God is to love His will. It is to wait quietly for life to be measured by One who knows us through and through. It is to be content with His timing and His wise appointment. ~Elisabeth Elliot

About my Car... ;)

So, I'm pretty sure that God has been teaching me about trust..  Recently I wrecked my car.  I didn't understand why God allowed it to happen, and yes, I shed a few tears.  Yet, as I watched the towing guy load my car up onto his tow truck (yes, I totaled it :P), there was a peace within me.  I thought, "Lord, I know you are trying to teach me to trust you, but what am I going to do?!  Help me to trust you!"  I do have a job, and college classes so I pretty much relied on my car for everything.  The insurance I had on my car was just liability, so it only covered the other vehicle in the accident.  I was pretty much on my own to buy a new car.

Through the accident, no one was injured and it was pretty much the best of what could have possibly happened.  God is faithful.  The night before the accident my friend and I were discussing how God lets us do stupid things, but he protects us.  He allows us to learn and grow through all the foolish things we get ourselves into.  How true that statement proved to be the following day!

When I got home that day I was pretty much still in shock from everything.  I praised the Lord for protecting us, and asked him to help me trust him.  I didn't really ask for a car, though.  I just prayed that God would work everything out according to his will.

The next day I started searching Craigslist for a car.  I had bought my previous car off of Craigslist in April.  So I was pretty short on money now, since I had just bought a car 5 months ago.  I was looking for a car that was $2000 or less.  I don't know if you know this or not, but cars that cheap are rather hard to come by.  I didn't come up with any cars that day.  That evening I prayed for a car.  I prayed that I would find a car soon; it would be under $2000; it would be blue; it would have lowish miles; it would be an automatic; it would be cute. ;)

The following day was a Sunday, so I didn't get on Craigslist until the afternoon.  I found a few cars that were cheap enough and quickly ruled them all out but two.  One of them was a 2002 Dodge Neon.  They didn't have any pictures up of it or anything, but they said they could text pics, so I asked her to send me some.

The car looked good and everything.  I had to go to work, so I told the lady that I would ask my dad what he thought of it, and get back with her.  Later I asked my dad and he said it looked good if I liked it.  We happened to be going into town the next day, so I texted the lady back and asked her if I could see it the next morning.

That evening I prayed that God would make it clear if it was his will that I buy that car.  I prayed that if he wanted me to have the car, I would get it for $1600. (They were asking $2000.)  The next morning my mom and I went to see the car.  It was everything I'd prayed for.  When it came time to buy it I asked if she would take any less on it.  She said yes and to make an offer.  So, I held my breath and offered $1600.  She took it.  God obviously wanted me to buy the car, so I did.

The people I bought the car from were so nice and helpful.  I was only out a car for three days.  I praise God for his faithfulness!!  I still don't understand why God allowed me to wreck my previous car, but I pray that he would be glorified through everything that happens concerning it.  I love my new car.  I think it's cute. ;) God is so good. <3   

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Those who Threaten It :)

Yes... I know it's a strange blog title.  I get my strangeness from my family. :P  That phrase came from my older brother several years ago.  I use it to title things when I can't think of what else to put. lol  Anyways... I figured I should tell you something about what I'm up to since... I haven't really written much about that.  It's easy to write about!  Some of these posts take a lot of brain power!! :)

I got a job at Subway about a month ago. :)  I was so excited to get hired there!  It was the one place in the entire town that I actually wanted to work.  I would have worked other places, but I didn't really want to.  I have the most amazing boss in the whole world I'm pretty sure.  She is really nice.  Also, the girls I work with... (yes I work with all girls), are just incredible.  I thank God for letting me get hired there all the time.  I seriously love my job.  Which... If you talk to me much you would know that. :)

I am also taking dual-enrollment classes this fall.  I am taking drawing, desktop applications and photoshop.  I have the same professor for all three classes (coincidence?), which happens to be a good thing. :)  He is a nice guy.  I am learning quite a bit so far. :)

Music... I am not taking orchestra this semester.  I have started taking voice lessons, however, and I am also still taking flute lessons.  I am loving my voice lessons!!  I've always wanted to take them, but I never took the time.  Since I'm not doing orchestra I decided I was going to take them.  I'm learning a lot! :)

That pretty much sums up my life at the moment..  Work, school and music. :)  Along with memorizing scripture with my friend and going to church. :)  God is good!

Through the Faith of Christ

A friend of mine and I are memorizing part of Philippians 3.  Well the other day we were on verses 7-9 and my friend asked me.. "what do you think this means?" ...that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  I thought about it for a while. (I was making lunch at the time ;))  Then all of the sudden it clicked.  I was so excited that I had to tell you all. :)

The key is in the beginning of the verse.  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,  Whenever we see someone that we view as godly or righteous we see it through their works.  By following the law we are working righteousness.  (If that makes any sense.)  Our best day.. that day when we did everything right.  The day that we were serving, helping and loving people even when they weren't appreciative..  God says "...all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.."  Just think, though.  Compared to the righteousness and glory of God... What is our righteousness?  It's as filthy rags.

Paul understood that, so he said "...not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"  As Christians, when we get saved we are born again.  God imputes his righteousness unto us, by faith.  What is faith?  Faith is believing.  So when we believe on Jesus he imputes his righteousness to us.

As a Christian, when God looks at us he doesn't see our failed attempts of serving him...  he sees Christ.  He sees Jesus.  A sinless perfect man.  The righteousness which is of God by faith.  Hallelujah!  What a Savior we have. <3

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: ~Philippians 3:7-9

Don't Look Back!

Moving on... It's easy to dwell on past things that you've done.  Things that have happened, words spoken, things you wish you could change...  But it's all in the past.  You can't change what has already been.  Time, once gone, is gone forever.  To regret and have sorrow over things you've done in the past is only normal, but we should get over it.  It's time to move on and do great things for God with our lives.

To repent means to stop, turn and don't go back.  If you have repented, and you're not going back... why dwell on things in the past?  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

Let's just think about Paul for a minute.  Paul wrote many books of the Bible, including Philippians.  What was Paul before God converted him?  He was a Pharisee.  He persecuted the Christians!  He had the coats of the men stoning Stephen at his feet as he looked on.  Could you imagine having to live with that?  Living with having Stephen, the great martyr, stoned?  While you looked on and approved.  What shame.  What reproach.  It wasn't just Stephen either... he had many Christians put to death or thrown into prison.  And yet, it is Paul that says "...forgetting those things with are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before."

What if Paul hadn't forgotten?  What if he let the wickedness of his past deeds eat on him and prevent him from moving on in his life?  What good would that have done him?  I'm sure he wouldn't have written the many books that he did.  I'm sure he wouldn't have led all those people to the Lord.  Yet Paul did not sit around and wonder why it was him.  Why it had to be him that was raised a Pharisee.  Why it had to be him that had Christians imprisoned...  Why do we do this to ourselves?

Bless God for the time he's given us to allow us to grow, and then move on.  God has a better plan for our life than we can even imagine.  Let him have his will.  Follow him, and don't look back. 

Just... Trust Me

Trust... Have you ever thought about that word.  That one little word that has so much meaning packed into it.  That one word that means so much.  God has been teaching me a lot about trust this summer.  He's been showing me how much I really don't know about lots of things, but mainly about myself.  I've done things this summer that I never thought I'd do.  Not in a million years.  God has shown me how much of a sinner I really am, and how much I need him.

To trust means to have confidence; a reliance or resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship or other sound principle of another person.  So to trust someone is basically to give them your confidence.  To believe that they are worthy of your trust and you aren't going to abuse it or harm them in any way.  In doing so they would break your trust and it would take time for them to believe you were trustworthy again.

Proverbs 3:5 says, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.   When we truly are trusting God we are saying, God I believe that you have better control of my life than I do I'm just going to sit back and let you take care of things.  I think after trust comes waiting.  If we are really trusting him then we will be content to wait for his timing.  As said Elisabeth Elliot, If my life is surrendered to God, all is well. Let me not grab it back, as though it were in peril in His hand but would be safer in mine!  
Really, think about it.  God created us, put us where we are, loves us and he already knows the plan for our life.  Why do we think we can run our life better than he can?  Why is it so hard to just say, "Okay God, you're in control." when he tells us no?  If we trusted him, we would.  Sometimes I wonder how God must view us when we try to run things our way.  Is he hurt?  Does he laugh and say... okay you try that?  God is so good, and yet he doesn't try to protect us from our own stupidity.  He does let us learn from it though!

Over the summer I have learned so much.  I think I've learned more this summer than I have my entire life.  Let me tell you one thing... Trying to run things your own way doesn't pay well, and just digs you into a deeper mess.  Trust God, and let him run your life.  He loves you, and knows what is best for your life.  He wants to bless you, you just have to let him.     

This one time at camp... :)

I was blessed to be able to help out at Camp JOY this year.  The first week of July was when the younger kids (ages 7-9) went.  I was in the kitchen then, working with some of the most amazing women ever! :)  I slept a lot that week, because I wanted to be prepared for the next week when I counseled.  It was a lot of fun, though, and I enjoyed being able to talk to some of the kids. :)

The second week of July I co-counseled with another lady.  The age of the kids that week was 10-12, although, most of the girls in my cabin were younger.  It was such a blessing to be able to minister to the girls and just get to know them.  There were eleven girls in my cabin, and they were all so fun. :)

The third week of July I went as a camper.  It was such an amazing blessing; and I can honestly say, the best week of camp I've ever had! :)  I was in a cabin with 19 other girls.  There were a lot of us, but we made it work! :)  The theme for camp this year was Forward with Christ.  It was the most convicting week of camp I've ever had.  I knew when I got there the first day that there was going to be some things I was going to have to give up if I was going to go forward with Christ.  It took me a few days, but God got me to the point of surrender.  He is so good!!  I praise his holy name for everything that he did at camp this year.

Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses; let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us:  looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2

Has it really been?!

So.. yes.  It's almost been a year since I last posted.  A lot has happened in the past year!  I am looking forward to writing more posts! :)  Every once and a while I would think... I should really write a blog post... but I could never think of what to write about! :P  I have some ideas now, though, so you should be getting some more posts. :)  Au revouire for now! ;)