There are a lot of things in this life that I am realizing I am afraid of. I think it's easy to put on the tough persona and stick the smile on in situations where I am really afraid. I want to seem strong, I want to seem like the person that has her life under control and all figured out. But you know what I have been realizing? No one has their life under control and all figured out. So why should I act like mine is? I have flaws and struggles and trials in my life just the same as anyone else. Lets get real here!
Yesterday as I was leaving work, the mom of the kids I babysit for mentioned in conversation that I'm afraid of growing up. It's funny, but I had actually never thought of that before. I realized in that very moment that she was right! I've been in college for so long, that I've gotten comfortable in Lynchburg. I've gotten comfortable with the fact that being a college students means less responsibilities, and less stress. It's not the real world in this college bubble. It's that halfway point where you have responsibilities but if you mess up, you still have your parents to fall back on.. The "college student" title makes everything a learning experience. It makes it okay to mess up because your still a "college student". But hey, guess what world? I'm not a college student anymore. Now I'm realizing that this life isn't all fun and games. It's hard work, I tell ya!
But after pondering over this realization the last couple days, I realized that I'm ready to grow up. I'm seriously ready to get out on the road, go somewhere new, and enjoy the hard, unfamiliar, uncomfortable, road. I want to be challenged by God and grow in Him in a way that I couldn't even imagine. I want to be molded and bent into a better person for Christ. I want to be broken every single day, repeated times. I want a constant reminder that God is in control and that He is the Lord my God. I think that by growing up I will definitely get all of these things that I pray for. I already feel my heart changing in a positive way for Him. I'm just excited and nervous at the same time because when you finally admit something to God, He doesn't just ignore it...
So here we go... :]
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Dust
This morning as I was spending time with God in His Word, I came across this passage:
The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:47-49
The word dust stood out to me as I was reading this. We were created from dust. In Genesis 1 we see an account of God's creating something out of nothing. It says in verse 2 that "the earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep." It's crazy for me to think about how as humans we were created completely from the dust of the earth. This passage talks about how we are earthly creatures. We were created from dust, and we will return to the earth as dust.
This life is meaningless without Christ. When we die our earthly bodies become like the dust but our souls transcend to heaven with Christ where we enjoy life eternal with Him. We have no promise of this eternal life until we become one with Christ and once we accept Him, we can be sure that we will return to heaven with Him at the end of life. This is why it is so important for Christians to focus on Him while we have this opportunity to live for Him on this earth.
James 4:14 says it perfectly: "yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." We need to take advantage of this life we've been given. We need to focus on what is important: God, family, friends, and remember that we were made of dust. We are like a mist that is here for now, but when we're gone, we're gone. We only get one chance. Isaiah 64:6 says this: "We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away." Call it depressing, but it's reality. One day we will fade like a leaf, the memories that people have of us will slowly vanish, and sooner or later our bodies will turn back to dust.
So my question to everyone is this: Are you living as if you were invincible and made out of something more brilliant than dust? Lets humble ourselves each morning and start each day off focused on what is of the most importance.
The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:47-49
The word dust stood out to me as I was reading this. We were created from dust. In Genesis 1 we see an account of God's creating something out of nothing. It says in verse 2 that "the earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep." It's crazy for me to think about how as humans we were created completely from the dust of the earth. This passage talks about how we are earthly creatures. We were created from dust, and we will return to the earth as dust.
This life is meaningless without Christ. When we die our earthly bodies become like the dust but our souls transcend to heaven with Christ where we enjoy life eternal with Him. We have no promise of this eternal life until we become one with Christ and once we accept Him, we can be sure that we will return to heaven with Him at the end of life. This is why it is so important for Christians to focus on Him while we have this opportunity to live for Him on this earth.
James 4:14 says it perfectly: "yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." We need to take advantage of this life we've been given. We need to focus on what is important: God, family, friends, and remember that we were made of dust. We are like a mist that is here for now, but when we're gone, we're gone. We only get one chance. Isaiah 64:6 says this: "We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away." Call it depressing, but it's reality. One day we will fade like a leaf, the memories that people have of us will slowly vanish, and sooner or later our bodies will turn back to dust.
So my question to everyone is this: Are you living as if you were invincible and made out of something more brilliant than dust? Lets humble ourselves each morning and start each day off focused on what is of the most importance.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
the battle of the standards
I live in a constant battle with myself. Some days I wake up happy and loving life, enthusiastic for the day ahead of me, while others I wake up and all I want to do is lay back in God's lap in complete silence. Lately I've been so stressed and worried about what exactly it is that I am battling. Today I think I finally figured it out.
I'm just sitting on my bed thinking about my life and what is in front of me. Thinking about my amazing roommates, and friends, and boyfriend, and family, and the amazing church I go to, with the amazing role models God has put in my life. I'm asking God why exactly I'm having this problem with contentment where I am in life and with what I am doing for Him. Oh, and God answered me almost immediately. It's like He was waiting for me to ask Him. His answer? Well, I found out that this constant battle that I've been fighting is all about Him.
God's standards are not the same as the world's standards (or other people's standards either).
I've been living this life with the intentions of pleasing the Lord, but in the process I've realized that I'm not really paying any attention to what pleases Him. I'm trying to live up to all the standards that are set before by the various people that are in my life. You know what I realized?
Living up to everyone's standards is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE.
I tell you, no one can do it. Everyone's standards are so different. God's standards are always the same. They don't change and they are consistent in every circumstance. And that's only a part of the beauty of who He is. Blows my mind.
Now I just have to figure out how to refocus my life on the right standards. How do I pay more attention to pleasing God and not others? So many people in my life push their standards on me and pollute my mind with their opinions and view points. How can I put all of this aside and focus on what God has for me and wants me to accomplish for Him? I haven't been able to figure it out yet. There are so many paradigms that I have been struggling to live within, when I really just want to focus on God's. How do I know which standards are what God has set in my life, and which are just myths that others have pushed in my direction?
So this battle I'm facing, it's about my focus. It's about what God wants for MY life. It's about putting my efforts into pleasing HIM.
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God... And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." ~ Colossians 3:1-3 & 17
I'm just sitting on my bed thinking about my life and what is in front of me. Thinking about my amazing roommates, and friends, and boyfriend, and family, and the amazing church I go to, with the amazing role models God has put in my life. I'm asking God why exactly I'm having this problem with contentment where I am in life and with what I am doing for Him. Oh, and God answered me almost immediately. It's like He was waiting for me to ask Him. His answer? Well, I found out that this constant battle that I've been fighting is all about Him.
God's standards are not the same as the world's standards (or other people's standards either).
I've been living this life with the intentions of pleasing the Lord, but in the process I've realized that I'm not really paying any attention to what pleases Him. I'm trying to live up to all the standards that are set before by the various people that are in my life. You know what I realized?
Living up to everyone's standards is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE.
I tell you, no one can do it. Everyone's standards are so different. God's standards are always the same. They don't change and they are consistent in every circumstance. And that's only a part of the beauty of who He is. Blows my mind.
Now I just have to figure out how to refocus my life on the right standards. How do I pay more attention to pleasing God and not others? So many people in my life push their standards on me and pollute my mind with their opinions and view points. How can I put all of this aside and focus on what God has for me and wants me to accomplish for Him? I haven't been able to figure it out yet. There are so many paradigms that I have been struggling to live within, when I really just want to focus on God's. How do I know which standards are what God has set in my life, and which are just myths that others have pushed in my direction?
So this battle I'm facing, it's about my focus. It's about what God wants for MY life. It's about putting my efforts into pleasing HIM.
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God... And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." ~ Colossians 3:1-3 & 17
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