I Can See Clearly Now...

Good day!

As spring proceeds in full effect, I notice dormant tree branches sprouting healthy leaves, while grass and flowers bloom in places that were once barren. I love the springtime (despite disgusting allergies!) and the fresh beginnings. Rain is peaceful, often solemn, yet we need it to thrive. It grows our crops, provides fresh water for rivers to flow, and many other benefits. There has to be a downpour before there is an overflow of harvests, figuratively. (Of course if there's too much, the crops will be ruined, but you get my drift! (I'm no farmer.)

We are such a fast-paced society in America that we hardly take the time to enjoy nature's wonders and ponder God's goodness. When you think about it, most people don't like rain unless they can stay indoors and read a book, sleep, just relax- so do they really like the rain? No one wants to walk around in drenched clothes and muddy shoes, but as soon as the rain is over and the sun shines- we all dry our clothes, wipe off our shoes, and cherish the beautiful sky.

Life trials and triumphs are very similar to this phenomenon. Imagine your ideal life is a picnic to which you invited friends. You all have planned what you're going to bring, the menu and venue are perfect, and the weather report expects sunshine. However, when you and your friends finally get together, the weather is torrential rainfall. The continuous rain ruins your tablecloth, hair, and entire plan. Instead of canceling, you have to roll with the punches because you're already out with your friends having a good time, and the food is already prepared. You all decide to move under a covering. Once the rain finally lets up, you and your friends notice a rainbow over the pavilion you took shelter under, so you get a beautiful photo of the group to keep as a reminder of your pleasurable time.

Sometimes, God throws us many obstacles to see our reactions when things don't go our way. A negative person would easily give up on the picnic at the sight of rain, and therefore miss out on the memories with beloved people. On the contrary, a positive person takes what he has and edifies God by using it to his advantage (not letting it go to waste). Going under the pavilion was unplanned, yet God set it there because He knew it would rain and that you would not want to be caught in the rain. You also did not have to sit on the dirty, uncovered picnic tables- for the win! God provides us an escape for our troubles because He is still our comforter. So when plans go awry, don't blame God- ask Him what greater plan He has in store for you instead!

God doesn't enjoy seeing us struggle; He just wants us to understand that He's in charge and we need to subject our plans to His. We may plan for sunshine, but if we only have rain- we have to be content with that and continue living because really there's nothing we can do about it. God does as He pleases.

Proverbs 20:24 "A person's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way?"

Enjoy the rain because you know that it is giving way to something you didn't even expect. Be encouraged in your struggles and be content with God's way. After all, He created us so He knows what He's doing!

Love ya and be blessed!

I'm Not Cool or Normal

Greetings, lovelies!

I'm very excited to write to you guys today!! This marks the anniversary of my birth. Yep- yours truly is 21 years young. Gosh, it's refreshing because I realize I am still young, hip, fresh, "in my prime" and all that (right?), but I'm also maturing mentally and spiritually.

I mean, yes, now I can legally purchase alcohol, get into lounges/clubs, and whatever else young adults do in freedom. That's not what I'm ecstatic about though. I'm looking forward to being able to show people that yes- I am a 21-year-old college student, and no I am not wild.

Becoming an adult is not just about freedom. It is a chance to be responsible when you have the freedom not to be...Just remember that the consequences you so willfully accept in order to "be free" will directly follow.

As I recall in 1 Cor 7:22, Christians are free to do as they will, while also being a slave to Christ. Basically, claiming to be a follower of Christ means that you deliberately uphold to certain moral codes, just as a licensed driver who passed the driving test will adhere to the rules of the road because he willingly signed up after seeing the benefits. He can travel, he will save time by not walking or riding a bike, and he can take loads with him in his car. We accept Christ when we see the benefits of living for Him and we generally agree with the terms aka the Bible. Christ is protection, everlasting love, and everlasting life- why wouldn't you want those things?!

My point is this: I'm one of a high population of young adults/college students; however, I am also one of a small population (see Matt 7:13) who are living for the King. I can't say I'll never drink alcohol or go to a party, but I am accountable to represent a positive light in any given situation (And I really do!). Therefore, please don't judge my character based off of what you think- get to know me! I definitely have turned away many bad fruits from my reckless past, and I do not appreciate my peers and myself being categorized with the world as being an "out of control generation." I pray for my generation often because I'm not oblivious to the reckless behavior that goes on, but I am hopeful that there are young Christians worldwide who are just as wise as "old heads"- some are even wiser.

As you read this, I pray that you've been informed, encouraged, and overwhelmed by the love that comes from my words and my God. Enjoy your week! :)

Trying To Get Right

Hello lovely readers!

   I hope that you are persevering in your righteous pursuits, as am I (trying my best...Lord knows!) Have you ever been cut off by another car while turning at a street light? Have you ever been deeply offended by someone's words? Have you ever withheld information from someone because you didn't want to hurt them? Then you can identify with the struggle of "which route should I take?" In any of those situations, you had to decide whether to make a positive gesture or make a fool of yourself- to be proactive or reactive.

   You're not alone! Every sane person on Earth has to make rational decisions and has some form of moral standards that they try to abide by, whether they worship God, inanimate objects, multiple beings, or etc. (I worship the ONE TRUE GOD.) We know the world without rules would be an absolute catastrophe, yet we continue to disobey them all the time; silly society!

   So what makes humans naturally disobey? Why don't we do good without having to think twice about it?

   Romans 3:10-12 states:

"as it is written, 'THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.'"

   I know, you're probably thinking that sucks and you'd rather go to some other religion that doesn't tell you how awful you are. Though deep down, you know it's true because even babies don't have to be taught to disobey. However, there's good news to follow:

Psalm 86:5 "For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy to all them that call on you."

   God wants to save us from the dirty pit of sin that we've been drowning in since birth and give us REDEMPTION. All we have to do is repent or "turn away" from our immoral ways. Trust GOD. Of course, you still have to work on that "living up to standards" thing, but having God the Creator with you is a lot more comforting than doing it on your own while not knowing that you're failing. Hey, no one said righteous life is easy!

   Next time you feel angry at someone for their lack of driving skills or common sense, instead of cursing them out (in your head or aloud), talk to God: thank Him that you are alive and well. This will relax your mind, allowing you to focus on more important things and save you from a nasty fight. Whew!

   Life is rewarding when you can shrug off your problems because you know God has a great purpose for every troubling situation in your life. His work in you continues, so be grateful you're becoming an awesome Christ-like person, one baby step at a time:)

Tick

A poem about healing...

written by myself

"LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them" Psalm 10:17

They say time heals

but my clock must be broken.

Because I feel the minutes pass,

Yet my heart's stuck in the moment.

A constant 'tick' without a 'tock' to follow

I stare at my watch and anticipatively swallow

But every uncounted minute

leaves my head spinning

Trying to calculate the seconds

Until I can rip off the bandage.

Politically Speaking...

Good day!

     The political buzz across social media and the internet has soared this week surrounding the Republican National Convention as people voice their opinions on candidates, speeches, and issues. However, I can't say that I've given much attention to the campaigns this year because 1) I get the jist of what each candidate is about and 2) it doesn't interest me.
    
     Many people do not pay attention to politics simply out of ignorance (I do not mean that condescendingly), and I get that. It's inevitable that people will always hate or fear what they do not understand. Contrarily, I understand what politics is all about based on the definition, the historical patterns, and observation of its participants, which is why I often avoid the dizzying semantics. Don't let society and politicians fool you- politics is simple. Knowing this will help you make wise decisions concerning who and what you support, and you can rest assured that the world is not being taken over by aliens.
    
     In short, politics is the science of using intrigue or strategy to obtain any position of power or control (dictionary.com). It has nothing to do with good leadership or morality; it is simply the cunning of candidates used to convince prospects that they deserve power. Now that you know, consider what the underlying message is there. Politicians practice the art of persuasion, so anything they say is going to appeal to a certain group of people whose support they are after- whether it is truth or not. There is no rule book that says politicians cannot make false promises. Even if there was, they would blame unforeseen circumstances for being obstacles; after all, "no one can predict the future."

     Because I value biblical virtues, I cannot whole-heartedly support men who don't follow biblical principle. One must be led by godly wisdom to obtain success in life. I don't doubt that good Christian government leaders do exist, and I'm sure they do well in their calling. But no matter who is Head of the State, my allegiance goes to what is edifying. So if God doesn't approve of it, I don't need to approve it either. We all know that everyone isn't perfect and no one will have all the right answers, so save me that argument. We also know that "everything that glitters isn't gold" and I cannot lie to you- many good things politicians promise are fool's gold.

     Concluding, I just want to say that if you don't feel comfortable supporting someone who has different beliefs, then don't do it! (Proverbs 4:14-16) "Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble." It's simple. No one has the power to ruin your life unless you give it to them. Satan has his workers here to help him steal, kill, and destroy, so beware because they're sneaky! As long as you put more stock in God than in men, you are WINNING!

If you would like to ask a question, add on to what I said, or civilly tell me why you disagree- comment below or email! Look forward to hearing from you;)

    


    
    

Only God Knows

Hello readers!

     I've missed writing. I realize that I could have made more time for it, but I also realize that I always think I "could have" done something to change the outcome of undesirable plans. My assumption couldn't be farther from the truth. If it was that easy, I could have been married, wealthy, and permanently vacationing by now if I had played my cards right. But things happen because God makes them happen; I'm just the vessel.
   
     The last week of July, I had been planning on discharging my dad from the hospice where he was staying. He had been receiving radiation treatment at a hospital about an hour from where I live with my mother and stepfather, so the hospital conveniently transported him from a nearby nursing home to the hospital daily. Every day I called and checked on him to make sure he was in high spirits and getting whatever he needed, but it had been on my heart to take care of him myself once his treatment period ended. (I'm his only child and nearby family member). Long story short, my family and I made preparations so that my dad would be able to leave the nursing home. Then on the day before he was scheduled to arrive, an unexpected call came.
    
     My dad passed away that morning.......my heart was shattered... A million thoughts raced through my mind, but I repeated in my head and aloud, he was supposed to come home. Key words: supposed to.
    
     I had made phone calls, I had gone to check on him, I had cleaned up the room he would stay in. I kept thinking there's no way he could just die like that. I had seen him days before. He was excited about his new home. Never had I seen this coming.
    
     It's funny how we, humans, think that when we arrange something it is supposed to happen. But in reality, there is no way everything can go according to plan. For that to happen, everyone on earth would have to have the same plans so that no one contradicts another- that's definitely impossible. Even beyond that, God tells and shows us that He is in control. A well known Proverb (16:9) says,

"The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps."

     Whether one believes in Christ or not, everyone knows that nothing always goes according to planned. However, it is important to believe in His truth. It's evident that God is ALWAYS in control. We cannot interrupt or alter His plan, even if our intentions are good and we may think it's what God wants. I certainly thought that God gave me the green light to take my dad in and care for him, and though there was nothing morally wrong about that- God had other intentions. Another significant verse on this topic is 1 Corinthians 2:11.

"For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God."

Basically, no man is meant to fully comprehend the ways of God. Our little bit of insight can still be insignificant in the grand scheme of God's will. We are the created; He is the Creator, so we need to remember that everything is up to Him.
    
     My point is, we take our freedom to make plans for granted. Just because we think and then act on our thoughts does not mean we are independent of divine intervention. God will always have the final say, not that He wants to ruin our dreams, but God's infinite wisdom qualifies Him to make better things happen than we can even imagine. No one can ever go wrong trusting God with their life. That is a fact.
    
     As I come to a conclusion, I want you to remember that everything has a divine purpose- not just an earthly purpose. Both celebratory and unfortunate events happen for a purpose beyond what we see on earth. It has a spiritual impact on us, those who witnessed it, and even those who didn't, who may hear about it or experience the divine aftermath. How amazing is that?! God is good! He knows exactly what we need. Right now you may feel pain, but that pain may be molding you into a conqueror. (I tell myself this as well.) I fully entrust God with my life. Do you?

My Heart's On My Sleeve

Hello readers!

I am returning from a long hiatus to just talk and to give you what I hope is sound wisdom, advice, and encouragement. Lately I've been burdened emotionally and physically by life's turns. I won't go into unnecessarily great detail, but my father could use prayer for his recovery from cancer. For a while, I did not know that he was feeling sick (I don't live with him or see him daily), and I had been going through personal problems as well that he nor anyone else was aware of. As of late, God has been lifting us up with His word and His vessels. So I've been thinking, is it a common misconception that smiling and acting like everything is ok will make everything ok? Looking in retrospect, I'm convinced that it is.

"When life gives you lemons..." the saying starts. There are many ending variations, but when life throws you "lemons" (sour or undesirable situations)- what do you do? Most people try to encourage and say when you're going through hard times to just smile and tell yourself you'll be fine. The problem is, you can't receive encouragement when no one knows you need it! Don't be prideful and naive to think that you can make it on your own.

"Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory." Proverbs 11:14

There is no way that you can succeed in anything without some type of help- verbal, spiritual, or physical. Now I'm not saying that one should have a "woe is me!" attitude, for through it all you are still blessed; however, if you need a positive word or helping hand then do NOT be afraid to reach out to like-minded peers. You never know what good may come out of a simple conversation with someone who cares. Anyone who is a good counselor will not judge you for your situation- you may be your worst critic. They may have gone through your situation or something similar and have specific advice for you, which is convenient and perfect in God's eyes. He loves it when the body works together!

So I encourage you to "wear your heart on your sleeve" and say what's on your mind. It is human nature to worry, but it is unfaithful not to hope and pray for reassurance from God the father. He already knows your problem and He first wants you to call on Him. Then He uses those around you, close or not (you never know!), to be a blessing. And you should know that blessings in the form of people are contagious. Someone's kind words to you may be passed along from you to someone else, and so on. Remember that no one is perfect and that you must always look to the Creator before seeking godly advice from anyone else. Be of good courage and know that you can depend on God and His church body to be at your service. If you unfortunately do not have sound counsel around you, then you should 1) consider getting new friends, 2) email me or comment below and I will definitely speak with you, and 3) talk to GOD!

Love and blessings!