Tavern or Crackers?

Sooo. This blog thing hasn't been working out too well... obviously. I did a good job for 3 months and then I kinda just quit. I've been so super busy, but things have settled down some, so hopefully I'll get back into updating more frequently : )

Yesterday was our first Mission Training session for the Hale County Mission Trip this summer. (We go to Hale County, AL and serve for a week. Our team works on/with different churches in the mornings... anywhere from construction to landscaping to tutoring kids... and we have a day camp at a local part for the kids from the area in the afternoons. Last year it was my favorite thing I did the whole entire year! Such an amazing way to give back some of what the Lord has blessed me with, develop relationships, share the Word, and draw closer to God!) The reminder text Mark sent out said "dinner provided". Turns out, that wasn't exactly the case. For most of us, "dinner provided" meant saltine crackers with peanut butter and water. When we walked in and sat down Troy passed around a hat filled with pieces of paper. Every one had either and A, B, or C on it. (And, thanks to Mark, most of the C's looked like J's :P) Most people had C's, but two people had A's and four had B's. We had no idea what they were for, so anyone who had an A or B was nervous. Then Mark called up the two A's and gave them food from the Tavern, gave a pizza to the four B's and told everybody else to dig into the saltine crackers, peanut butter, and cups of water. Of course I got the crackers. Awesome. After we ate, or snacked... Mark talked about how people aren't always given the option of being rich or poor. Certainly if you re lazy you're going to have less money, and if you're a hard worker you're generally going to have more, but a lot of times people can't help their social status. If someone in Africa is born into a dirt poor family that lives in a shack and becomes determined to work hard and move to America, they might never get that opportunity. Not because of their work ethic, but because there is no money to be had and they started out poorer than most. But if that same person was born into a middle class family, they would likely have the opportunity to become one of the richest people in America if they continued their same work ethic. All that goes to say is when we go on mission trips, wherever they are, we shouldn't look down on the people that we're serving. Often, they work harder than anybody on the mission team, but still don't have a lot of money. I think that is an amazing reminder to think about people's lives before we judge them! We are given a perfect example in James 2:1-6, 8-9. "My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor... If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers."

Clearly, we are NOT to show favoritism, but to love everyone equally just as the Lord has loved us.


"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver..." ~Isaiah 33:22

"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 7:2

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." ~Luke 6:37

"And [Jesus] has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man." ~John 5:27

"You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat." ~Romans 14:10


My challenge to y'all this week is to LOVE like you have never loved before. Do as Jesus commanded and "do not discriminate among yourselves or become judges with evil thoughts". Remember that it isn't a person's "fault" if they eat at the Tavern or eat crackers. Bring a lunch to someone less fortunate than you. Next time you go on a mission trip, talk to the people you are serving on the same level and let them be independent. Help them if they need help, but remember that we were ALL created equally in GOD's image. God doesn't make mistakes. We are each designed by him to be our own unique person, no matter what our social status is!

Love.

Ohmygosh. It has been FOREVER since I've posted! I've been so so busy lately! Between ice skating, school, church, friends, and everything else I've had NO time whatsoever! So, I'm finally updating :)

So, today I was supposed to leave for BreakThru, a church retreat in Pulaski, Mississippi, but because of snow, it was canceled. Yes, I know... its crazy for something in Alabama to be canceled because of snow!! We never ever ever get snow. Never. But today we got a good inch, probably closer to 2! I'll attach some pictures :) Anyways, I was really really disappointed at first, because the weekend of BT is one of my favorites of the entire year and I've been looking foward to it for a long time. So, when I got the text from Julia, I was not happy. Hannah-Katherine ended up coming over, though, and we have had such a fun day! I mean, for real, you gotta take advantage of snow when you live down South!! We took pictures, made so much snow cream that its not even funny, walked to the park, and just hung out! Although I am still disappointed that BreakThru is having to be rescheduled, I had an amazing day and realized a lot. Its not where you are that brings you closer to God. You can spend time with him anywhere! Sure, its fun to be on a retreat with a band and a speaker, and you certainly learn a lot, but sitting at home you can also spend time in the Word and learn a lot too!

I'm going through the book of James, and today I read more about faith and deeds. Think that maybe God's trying to tell me something? I think thats such an awesome reminder to each one of us not to just act like Christians. Ghandi said "I like your Christ, but not your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Maybe, if we would all live out our faith and be who we say we are, then the world would be a better place, with more apostles of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As you go through the week, strive to live sold out fully to the Lord! Be salt and light for him!

With Valentines coming up on Sunday, here's a familiar love verse to think about. I'm sure most of you have heard it before, but try to truly soak in the meaning. Think about Christ's perfect example and how you can follow him and live out this verse every day. In your relationships with friends, family, classmates, even your enemies!

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

I am so incredibly thankful for all my friends! As Hannah-Katherine is sitting across the room, I can't stop thinking about what an amazing friend she is! So full of Christ, such an example to me! She teaches me something literally every time I'm with her. And I'm pretty sure if she turned around and saw me typing this right now, she would say she loves me most, but I can tell you thats not true! I love her to infinity and beyond :) I am so blessed to have her as a friend and I thank my Lord for her!!

Happy Valentines to all of y'all!! Love y'all!!

Hungry, I run to you.

Okay, so if you haven't already picked up on it, I write a lot of songs in my blogs. Thats because I think worship through music is such an amazing way to show the Lord our love for him. I'm not an amazing singer... actually, most of the time I'm quite the opposite :P... but I always feel so close to the Lord when I am singing praises to him. I guess you could say that songs put my feelings into words, except for I don't have to write them :)

Anyways, yesterday at Switch, Mark talked about starving for God. For a relationship with him. The mindset of him. Being his hands and feet. The Lord is the only one who can satisfy us. Not relationships, not material things, not activities, only the Lord.

Hungry, I come to you
For I know you satisfy
I am empty, but I know
Your love does not run dry

Broken, I run to you
For your arms are open wide
I am weary, but I know
Your arms are open wide

God alone. He truly is all that can satisfy us. I don't know why we turn to people or things before the Lord. Like for real. I mean I do it to, but its stupid!! God is always there for us. Always. Just as he is starving for us, we should be starving for him.

Romans 7:18-19
I want to do what is right, but I can't.
I want to do what is good, but I don't.
I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.

That pretty much sums up my life :P Starving for God means trying as hard as we can to do what is right and good and not to do what is wrong. Another verse that Mark shared with us described what we should be like if we truly love the Lord with all our hearts.

Jerimiah 20:9
But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,"
his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

Oh, Lord. Precious Savior. God, this is who I long to be. Sometimes its easy to share your fire with the world. But, Oh, Lord. It's not always easy. And, Jesus, you know that. You came down to earth as a humble baby and you were mocked and tortured way worse than I am. You are such an amazing example. I long to be like you, Lord. Give me your eyes, so that I will see the world from your perspective. Make me your hands and feet, God. I'll go where you send me. I love you. Amen.

So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all

So I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours

Back to the starving thing, and also just along with giving ourselves completely to the Lord, Mark also talked about literally starving ourselves. Okay, maybe not literally starving... but fasting. By fasting, you show the Lord that he matters more than food. Its also a symbolic thing of saying, "God, you are all that can satisfy me. I don't live on bread alone, but on your word." How amazing to think of putting God ahead of even food! He is all that matters; without him, my life is pointless. Church of the Highlands is going on a fasting retreat this weekend called Saturate. I really wanted to go, but I talked to my mom, and for several reasons, she decided it would be better for me to stay home this weekend. I was really frustrated at first, but when I was praying about it at Switch last night, I was thinking "Why do I want to go on this retreat?". I know that those going to Saturate will have amazing speakers and great worship, but I can spend my own quiet time with the Lord from my very own bedroom! I pray that God would teach me, as I also pray for everyone going to Saturate. For those that don't know the Lord, that their lives would be dramatically changed. And for those, who are followers of Christ, that they would learn amazing things. God, you are all that can satisfy us. So, I run to you, hungry. God, teach me to be more and more like you. Amen.

Enough.

Wow. I haven't updated in a while and I have a ton to write. So, get prepared, cause this is gonna be long :P

First of all, this morning in City Gates (our Sunday morning youth stuff at MBCC), Mark talked about encouragement. This week has been crazy and I've hurt a lot of people's feelings, just as they've hurt mine. Encouragement. Okay, for real, this whole week, I don't think I thought ONCE about how I could encourage someone. Just one person. It shouldn't have been that hard. But, I was frustrated and I chose to get angry and because of my anger, I sinned. God says its okay to get angry as long as we don't sin. As long as we still encourage one another. As long as we are still doing the best we can do to benefit HIS kingdom. But, I totally did not do that this week. I am so sorry to the Lord and to the people I have hurt and I hope they forgive me.

Second of all, my huddle group is going to be going through Acts in the second semester which I'm really really excited about!! We read chapters one and two today, and I already learned so much! One neat fact I learned is the difference in the meaning of disciple and apostle. Disciple means someone who is learning, like a follower or an apprentice. Apostle means a messenger or a missionary. Jesus calls us to be his witnesses "even to the ends of the earth". What a challenge to be such an example for him. His followers certainly were! They brought about 3000 people to Christ in ONE DAY. The Bible says there were about 120 Christians there at the time, which Alison told us, makes each person to have brought 25 people to Christ in one day!! Amazing. The Holy Spirit can use us in such amazing ways, if we just allow him to work in us. They were gathered together constantly in prayer (1:14). What an amazing example. I pray that I will be more like that.

Also, tonight, we talked about being "in the world and not of it" (John 17:3). Mark talked several verses relating to this one. The first one is 1 John 2:15.

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

This verse doesn't mean you can't love people on earth, friends or family, or you can't like where you live. Nothing like that. It just means that God should still be most important. We can't be under the influence of the world. God is our everlasting Father and we should follow his ways, walk in his footsteps, and daily try to be more and more Christ-like. The next verse reminds us that our true home is not on this earth, but in heaven with the Lord. (Philippians 3:20) It encourages us to store up our treasures in heaven, because "where your treasure is, there will be your heart also (Luke 12:34)." 1 Peter 1:1, reminds us that we are aliens or strangers in this world. Once again, our true home is in heaven. Mark told us three things to do to keep the mindset of looking forward to heaven:

1. Pray regularly for Jesus to come back. (1 Corinthians 16:22)
2. Keep watch over your accumulation. (Matthew 6:20)
3. Accept suffering and hardship as God's way of separating you from the earth.

So, all of this goes to say, this has been a hard week, but today the Lord has shown me so so much and I am ready to humble myself before him. I love you, Jesus, with all my heart.

All of you is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

Faith.

Wow. It's been awhile. Merry Christmas!! Happy 2010! Did any of y'all make new year's resolutions? I never have before, but this year, Hannah-Katherine and I decided to both make one. HK decided to read through the Bible in a year and I decided to finish my memorization of the book of James. (I started it 2 or 3 years ago and then I just kinda quit when I got to chapter 2ish... So I decided to finish it. :)) We also made a goal to text each other every day to hold each other accountable. We are told that "When two or three are gathered in my name, there I am with them". I had memorized this part before, but going back over it and reviewing it, it totally took on a new meaning. Before, I was just reading it to get through it, but this time, I've been really soaking it in and trying to understand and relate it to my life.

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily good. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do." You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered hi son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ~James 2:15-22

This passage was a great reminder to me about WHY we do the things we do. Sometimes, I for sure feel like I do things for the right reason. But then, I'll get bored, or think of other things I have to do, and I get a bad attitude and I'm just serving to look good or get it over with. I pray that I would have a Christ-like attitude more often. I know I'm not perfect, but I am saved. I am saved by Jesus Christ. He died a terrible death to rescue me from my selfish sins. Thank you, Lord. When I think about it, I am overwhelmed with an peace I can't even describe. I can relax in his presence without stressing out about school or drama or relationships. God, fill my life with youre peace. Let me be a light for you and shine for the world. God, thank you, thank you, thank you!! Its all I can do but be thankful for the amazing life you've given me. I take it for granted so often, Lord, but it is a gift from you. Use me as a tool to spread your word. Help be to truly be your humble servant. God, let my actions prove my faith. Thank you. I love you. God, I love you, because you first loved me.

Priorities.

What are your top 5 priorities in order? Is God at the top of that list like he should be? Truly and honestly, is he? This question was in my Bible study today and it challenged me so much! I honestly don't know what my top priority is right now. I was doing so well in my walk with Christ, but this past week, I haven't opened my Bible. I've been busy Christmas shopping, babysitting, packing, hanging out with friends, etc. Here is the exact question from my devo:

My Current Priority: God's Priority:
___ School/Job... accomplishing goals; working hard ___
___ God... loving Him; being His disciple and child ___
___ Family... siblings and parents ___
___ Ministry... worship; telling others about Christ ___
___ Other... hanging out with friends; sports; movies; hobbies ___

I challenge y'all over the week of Christmas to think about whats important to you in your life compared to whats important to GOD in your life. God's opinion is much more important.

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity... Do not be foolish; but understand what the Lord's will is... Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." ~Ephesians 5:15-21

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful... Be wise in the way your act toward outsiders, making the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." ~Colossians 4:2, 5-6

This two verses always remind me of what should be important in my life. Diligent prayer. Praising and glorifying God. Graciousness. Wise actions. Graceful conversation. With siblings, graceful conversation is not always easy. I have such a hard time being encouraging and sweet to my family all the time. It's just hard. Over this Christmas season, I pray that I will be kinder and that I will spend more time with the Lord and making him my first priority. Merry Christmas! I love y'all!

One Night With the King :)

Okay, I just wrote a whole long post, but this didn't have anything to do with it, so I made a new one. :)

So, today I was watching One Night With the King... and if you haven't seen it, its AMAZING!... but anyways, there were two amazing quotes that I thought I'd share with y'all. I've seen the movie like a million times, but these two quotes really struck me today.

"Instead of asking questions of our trials, are our trials not meant to ask questions of ourselves?"

"When David was fighting Goliath, he won the battle not because he fought well, but because he believed well."

The first one brings up such a good point about questioning God's plan. I think during hard times, we tend to ask God "Why?" instead of "What are you trying to teach me through this situation?". It is my prayer that when the Lord tries me, I will try to learn from the situation instead of asking "Why?" over and over again. The second quote also struck me. I had never really thought about it before. I don't know if I just wasn't paying attention during that part in the movie or what, but this time I was just like "Wow." Its all about belief and faith. In the song 'Come ye, Sinners', there is a line that says "True belief and true repentance; Every grace that brings you nigh". Its so simple. Belief draws you the the Lord. If we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move mountains. My prayer for all of us is to be faithful to the Lord and believe in him. So, haha that kinda did have to do with the other post, but whatever :) Y'all should totally go watch that movie!!