... "You are being purified through these flames. You are being tested as coal, the pressure will either break you, or make you a diamond. If you rely on your own strength, you will be broken, if you depend on Me, I will make you a diamond. For a little while, you have been tested, 'grieved by various trials' so that the 'tested genuineness' of your faith can be 'found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ'.
You are designed by me for a purpose, and all you have gone through will contribute to my purpose in your life. You are set apart, you cannot be like everyone else, because your calling is different. I have a unique plan for your life that requires you to be bold and stand strong, no matter what you are facing.
You only see the tip of the iceberg of my plan in your life. Be bold, stand courageous and strong. Be ready to fight the battle. I have equipped you. I am always with you. I will not test you with something you cannot overcome. When it seems like the end is near, when all of your strength fails, when you have been exhausted beyond what you thought you could bear, turn to Me. I am your defense. I am your refuge. I am your strength. I am your rock and your fortress. More than anything, I am your hope, your Redeemer, your Friend, your Comforter, your Father. I am the Alpha and the Omega. There is none like Me. Trust in Me, lay down your burdens. Leave them with Me. Believe in Me, hope in Me, and I will guide your steps. I will give you rest. I will lead you beside still waters, for only I can restore your soul.
10 July, 2008
22 June, 2008
WOW!
I learned to ride *drive* a dirt bike today! It was sweet! That was one of the coolest things I've ever done. :D More tomorrow.
Goodnight.
Goodnight.
20 June, 2008
Of bees and snakes and cell phones
Some strange, random things...
Okay, first of all, I HATE BEES. They scare me, and we have three lilac bushes that they love. GAH!
Second, don't like snakes... found a snake skin last night in the backyard, gratefully, no snake, but still, EW!
Third, doing yard work = no fun, mostly because of the bees that inhabit the yard, and are known to make hives in our shed; and the snakes, who have been haunting our house despite our best efforts for several years now.
Fourth, cell phones are stupid! I have been trying to get in touch with/catch up with/talk to one of my friends for the last few weeks. We have played phone tag back and forth about 50 times. We talked for a couple of minutes on Sunday, until his phone died, played phone tag some more, and finally connected last night... and then.... of course, my phone died. Man!
Anyway, that's all my random thoughts for right now.
Okay, first of all, I HATE BEES. They scare me, and we have three lilac bushes that they love. GAH!
Second, don't like snakes... found a snake skin last night in the backyard, gratefully, no snake, but still, EW!
Third, doing yard work = no fun, mostly because of the bees that inhabit the yard, and are known to make hives in our shed; and the snakes, who have been haunting our house despite our best efforts for several years now.
Fourth, cell phones are stupid! I have been trying to get in touch with/catch up with/talk to one of my friends for the last few weeks. We have played phone tag back and forth about 50 times. We talked for a couple of minutes on Sunday, until his phone died, played phone tag some more, and finally connected last night... and then.... of course, my phone died. Man!
Anyway, that's all my random thoughts for right now.
18 June, 2008
Why in the world?
Okay, so this is not a deep post, but here it is.
Why is it that when there is a police officer on the side of the road, people slow way more than is necessary? I understand not wanting to get a ticket, but, there are a couple of problems with this way of thinking.
A: Your speed has already shown up on his/her radar screen, probably before you even saw him/her.
B: If the speed limit is 40mph, go 40mph. The police officer is not going to pull you over for going the speed limit. Why? WHY does everyone feel the need to slow down to 25mph?
I could not tell you how many times I have seen traffic backed up for one reason: because people slow down to 20mph because of a police officer on the side of the road.
Don't do this! It is irritating! Just drive the speed limit, and you don't have to worry about it.
Why is it that when there is a police officer on the side of the road, people slow way more than is necessary? I understand not wanting to get a ticket, but, there are a couple of problems with this way of thinking.
A: Your speed has already shown up on his/her radar screen, probably before you even saw him/her.
B: If the speed limit is 40mph, go 40mph. The police officer is not going to pull you over for going the speed limit. Why? WHY does everyone feel the need to slow down to 25mph?
I could not tell you how many times I have seen traffic backed up for one reason: because people slow down to 20mph because of a police officer on the side of the road.
Don't do this! It is irritating! Just drive the speed limit, and you don't have to worry about it.
12 June, 2008
Emotions and people
My mom and I have a habit of only having deep discussions late at night. That seems to just be how things go. It's not like I plan it that way, but that's what happens. Last night, we had such a discussion. The gist?
Basically, I changed so much throughout this last school year. That's no surprise to anyone, and I have posted about it before. The difference is, it feels like no one gets that. I mean, everyone understands I've changed, but not how I've changed. I'm a quieter, more serious person now than I was a year ago. I don't think this is a bad thing, I still know how to laugh, I still giggle with my friends. I'm just not the same. I think a lot more, process things more internally now. It's part of growing up, I think. A lot of people expect me to be the same joyful, carefree person I was a year ago, and I don't have it in me anymore. For years, it was fake anyway, it was a mask. That's not really who I was. I gave up the mask, and that person, for better or worse, is gone. My mom said that the joy will return, and I believe her.
I don't think it will look the same though. I lost a part of me that I can never get back, the part that wants to trust people, no matter what the evidence says. I still like to think the best of people, but now, I re-examine and question things a lot more. I know that that is a good thing in some ways, in the world we live in now. I can accept that, but it comes with accepting that the carefree, optimistic-about-everyone-girl, she's gone.
I am content with life. I do have questions about why certain things this last year happened the way they did. That said, I believe that God has wonderful plans for me, and even the things I don't understand His reasons behind, He is using those in my life for good. I realized something the other night.
Abandoning something to God, or trusting Him with it, is not just throwing you're hands up in the air and saying "OK God, you do whatever you want." *My pastor told me that part, the next part is my own.* Abandonment is saying, "God, I don't get what You're doing, but I know You have my best interest in mind, so I will keep walking the way You've shown me unless You tell me something different." That is what I am doing now. I may seem different, but this is me... and God has given me peace.
Basically, I changed so much throughout this last school year. That's no surprise to anyone, and I have posted about it before. The difference is, it feels like no one gets that. I mean, everyone understands I've changed, but not how I've changed. I'm a quieter, more serious person now than I was a year ago. I don't think this is a bad thing, I still know how to laugh, I still giggle with my friends. I'm just not the same. I think a lot more, process things more internally now. It's part of growing up, I think. A lot of people expect me to be the same joyful, carefree person I was a year ago, and I don't have it in me anymore. For years, it was fake anyway, it was a mask. That's not really who I was. I gave up the mask, and that person, for better or worse, is gone. My mom said that the joy will return, and I believe her.
I don't think it will look the same though. I lost a part of me that I can never get back, the part that wants to trust people, no matter what the evidence says. I still like to think the best of people, but now, I re-examine and question things a lot more. I know that that is a good thing in some ways, in the world we live in now. I can accept that, but it comes with accepting that the carefree, optimistic-about-everyone-girl, she's gone.
I am content with life. I do have questions about why certain things this last year happened the way they did. That said, I believe that God has wonderful plans for me, and even the things I don't understand His reasons behind, He is using those in my life for good. I realized something the other night.
Abandoning something to God, or trusting Him with it, is not just throwing you're hands up in the air and saying "OK God, you do whatever you want." *My pastor told me that part, the next part is my own.* Abandonment is saying, "God, I don't get what You're doing, but I know You have my best interest in mind, so I will keep walking the way You've shown me unless You tell me something different." That is what I am doing now. I may seem different, but this is me... and God has given me peace.
07 June, 2008
Of sunshine, lilacs, and butterflies
This time of year is my favorite.
The time when the flowers bloom.
The sun shines, the lilacs waft their fragrant smell.
The butterflies flit across the grass.
They remind us what is important in life.
One of my favorite quotes says, "Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it is the amount of moments that take your breath away." Today, I had one of those moments. Sitting in the backyard, reading my book while eating breakfast, I was enjoying the sun. I stopped reading when movement caught my eye, and I was delighted. I got to watch a butterfly dance around the backyard. The coloring was vibrant, and for one brief second, it landed on the lilac bush. The perfect contrast of colors. The brilliant yellow and black against magenta.
It was gorgeous.
It was perfect.
It was a tremendous blessing.
The time when the flowers bloom.
The sun shines, the lilacs waft their fragrant smell.
The butterflies flit across the grass.
They remind us what is important in life.
One of my favorite quotes says, "Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it is the amount of moments that take your breath away." Today, I had one of those moments. Sitting in the backyard, reading my book while eating breakfast, I was enjoying the sun. I stopped reading when movement caught my eye, and I was delighted. I got to watch a butterfly dance around the backyard. The coloring was vibrant, and for one brief second, it landed on the lilac bush. The perfect contrast of colors. The brilliant yellow and black against magenta.
It was gorgeous.
It was perfect.
It was a tremendous blessing.
Life is a treasure
Life is a treasure
Every day we see
A world seeking pleasure
And demanding what it wants to be
Some people live
But never learn
There's more to life than living
They simply pursue the pleasure of a moment
No one seems to realize
Our actions affect more than ourselves
Other people live with
The results of the choices we make
One day a reckoning comes
Then everyone will know
There is more to life than being
Life must be lived, for others.
Every day we see
A world seeking pleasure
And demanding what it wants to be
Some people live
But never learn
There's more to life than living
They simply pursue the pleasure of a moment
No one seems to realize
Our actions affect more than ourselves
Other people live with
The results of the choices we make
One day a reckoning comes
Then everyone will know
There is more to life than being
Life must be lived, for others.
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