What do you find beautiful? The people you love? Your house? Nature? Think of all that this world claims to be 'beautiful.' Muscular physiques. Rail thin figures. Flawless skin. How did we, as humans, come to know what beauty really is? Did our parents tell us when we came out of the womb? I don't think so. Did the media do it to us? Possibly. Did our own minds conjure up the idea of how we perceive beauty? Of course! What if we all looked at beauty with innocent eyes? Tried to see something beautiful in everyone and everything? Look around, right now. What do you see? Pick out one thing and think of how you could perceive it as beautiful. It's all in our perspective.
Do you think that Christ had some image layed in His mind of what 'beautiful' really was? Do you think He looked at people and said, "she's overweight, he's too skinny, her hair isn't straight enough, his shoes are too old"? No. Of course He didn't. He sees all as beautiful. The ugly duck, the 3-legged dog, the grasshopper with no leg. The girl who wears the glasses, the boy whose pants are too short. All are perfect and gorgeous in His eyes.
Look at all of the smiles, bright eyes, and pep in people today. Find beauty in nature. The clouds, the rain, the hot (or cold) temperature. When people are rude and mean, see the beauty, kill them with kindness if you must. If that doesn't soften their hearts, pray for them. Pray that they may come to know true beauty. See people with eyes like Jesus has. This life is a beautiful one, full of beautiful people.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
The comforter
The Comforter. No, not the big, cozy, fluffy thing that covers you and keeps you warm when you sleep at night. The Comforter. The One who is the only thing in the universe that can bring you true comfort. Not just comfort - everything. Peace, joy, love, happiness.
I know I've been slacking a little --- okay --- a lot --- when it comes to writing my blogs, but that's because I've been getting situated in a familiar and new place. Aggieland. Anyway, since I've been here, I've had a lot of time to think, pray, and be with beautiful friends. The past couple of weeks have been pretty mellow. Not a lot of school work or tests. But it's finally starting to pick up. I always get nervous when it comes to tests and quizzes. But I always find my comfort in our Lord Jesus.
It hit me yesterday after a short prayer time at church. "Cast all of your cares upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 Have you ever thought about that verse? Really thought about it? Who else in this world will tell you "cast all of your cares upon me?" No one! No one loves and cares for you as much as sweet Jesus. How beautiful it is to know that He cares for us so incredibly much that we can lay all of our burdens, worries, stress, and daily struggles on His Mighty shoulders! How comforting. If you are having a stressful day or just have a lot to think about at once, think of 1 Peter 5:7. Enjoy having the weight of the world lifted off of your shoulders and placed in the loving hands of our Magnificent Creator. He died and rose again for US --- for YOU. He created you to be a light in this dark world. He loves you more than anything. He will always protect, care, and comfort. He will always be here for YOU - even when no one else is around.
What a beautiful life this is - being able to always have our King sitting by our side, writing love songs on our hearts, and making an eternal pathway for us to walk along. Enjoy today and remember the comfort that God brings to you. Try to share the comfort that our Lord freely gives with someone else today!
"For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our suffering, so also you share in our comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:5-7
I know I've been slacking a little --- okay --- a lot --- when it comes to writing my blogs, but that's because I've been getting situated in a familiar and new place. Aggieland. Anyway, since I've been here, I've had a lot of time to think, pray, and be with beautiful friends. The past couple of weeks have been pretty mellow. Not a lot of school work or tests. But it's finally starting to pick up. I always get nervous when it comes to tests and quizzes. But I always find my comfort in our Lord Jesus.
It hit me yesterday after a short prayer time at church. "Cast all of your cares upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 Have you ever thought about that verse? Really thought about it? Who else in this world will tell you "cast all of your cares upon me?" No one! No one loves and cares for you as much as sweet Jesus. How beautiful it is to know that He cares for us so incredibly much that we can lay all of our burdens, worries, stress, and daily struggles on His Mighty shoulders! How comforting. If you are having a stressful day or just have a lot to think about at once, think of 1 Peter 5:7. Enjoy having the weight of the world lifted off of your shoulders and placed in the loving hands of our Magnificent Creator. He died and rose again for US --- for YOU. He created you to be a light in this dark world. He loves you more than anything. He will always protect, care, and comfort. He will always be here for YOU - even when no one else is around.
What a beautiful life this is - being able to always have our King sitting by our side, writing love songs on our hearts, and making an eternal pathway for us to walk along. Enjoy today and remember the comfort that God brings to you. Try to share the comfort that our Lord freely gives with someone else today!
"For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our suffering, so also you share in our comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:5-7
Thursday, August 13, 2009
The home
What do you consider to be your home? Being with loved ones? Vacationing in your favorite spot? The place you grew up? The place that you have raised your children and have your own family? Being at 'home' is one of the most comforting things in this life. That place where you can completely relax and let every worry of the day pass away. The place that you long for when you are away from it.
What about our true home? How often do you think about that? Your eternal home in heaven. The place of no crying, shame, or war. The place of forever happiness, freedom from sin, and peace for all of eternity. What if we reminded ourselves of our true home more? Would your attitude change throughout the day? Try it. If you are down about life on earth, think of the place that brings everlasting joy. Let it be your motivation - a life forever with our Heavenly Father. Think of things above. Nothing on this earth matters. Why do we worry so much about the little things? About what someone says or does - what 'unlucky' things happen to us. What does it matter? It seems so important right now and that it will affect us for a long time - but will it really? How many people (including yourself) will remember the situation in 1 year, 6 months, or even a week? Do you think that our King wants us to worry about the petty things in this life?
Give all your worries to Him. Enjoy today - live for today. Who knows if tomorrow will be here. Find joy in thinking of what Heaven will be like. Try to think about it more than usual. I know I will. It's very inspiring and encouraging to think of something so pure and beautiful. To know, by faith, that my Father takes care of my every need and worry. To know that He has a place save just for me and you that is unimaginable and unexplainable.
Think about what a beautiful life this one is - and try to compare it to the one after this. Impossible to compare? I think, yes. Thankfully, yes. Joyfully, yes. We have no idea how wonderful it will be! Another marvelous mystery that we have to look forward to - all because of our Savior.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The offering
of-fer-ing
1. something offered in worship or devotion, as to a deity; an oblation or sacrifice
2. a contribution giving to or through the church for a particular purpose, as at a religious service
3. anything offered as a gift
4. something presented for inspection or sale
5. the act of one who offers
What if we all offered ourselves more? What if we sacrificed more? (offered and sacrificed for Christ-like things - not earthly) What a better place this world would be if people, Christians or not, simply gave things up for others? A seat on the bus, lended a few dollars, offered to help with children, or even just send a beautiful/handsome smile someones way.
Think of how our King, Jesus Christ, sacrificed and offered everything for us. EVERYTHING! What immense love? Why can't we learn to love like that? Why do some of our fellow 'Christians' act as if nothing goes their way, they hate the world, their lives, the people around them? What kind of example is that? Non-christians see the way those 'Christians' act and they themselves form an idea of what God is like. A Christian who portrays the image of Christ with love, purity, selflessness, and humility will then set a marvelous example for non-christians. A 'Christian' who portrays Christ with anger, impurity, selfishness, and arrogance will set a terrible example for non-christians. What if you are the only example that person ever sees of Christ? Will you be a good or bad one? Will they want to know God deeper or just move on with their empty lives?
I encourage all of you to look at how you act, no matter where you are or what you are doing. Is it pleasing to our Savior? Is it helpful or harmful to the person beside you? Are you sacrificing your selfish ways because Jesus Christ sacrificed His everything for YOU? Are you offering yourself to others - making their day a little better just because of a simple action?
Make this life be a beautiful one for someone else today. Make today be a beautiful day for all you come into contact with. Don't complain - encourage. Don't fight - be peaceful. Don't look down - look up. Don't make others feel less important - treat all as they are more important than you. Try to be more Christ-like. Strive for that everyday and naturally, your life will become a more beautiful one.
1. something offered in worship or devotion, as to a deity; an oblation or sacrifice
2. a contribution giving to or through the church for a particular purpose, as at a religious service
3. anything offered as a gift
4. something presented for inspection or sale
5. the act of one who offers
What if we all offered ourselves more? What if we sacrificed more? (offered and sacrificed for Christ-like things - not earthly) What a better place this world would be if people, Christians or not, simply gave things up for others? A seat on the bus, lended a few dollars, offered to help with children, or even just send a beautiful/handsome smile someones way.
Think of how our King, Jesus Christ, sacrificed and offered everything for us. EVERYTHING! What immense love? Why can't we learn to love like that? Why do some of our fellow 'Christians' act as if nothing goes their way, they hate the world, their lives, the people around them? What kind of example is that? Non-christians see the way those 'Christians' act and they themselves form an idea of what God is like. A Christian who portrays the image of Christ with love, purity, selflessness, and humility will then set a marvelous example for non-christians. A 'Christian' who portrays Christ with anger, impurity, selfishness, and arrogance will set a terrible example for non-christians. What if you are the only example that person ever sees of Christ? Will you be a good or bad one? Will they want to know God deeper or just move on with their empty lives?
I encourage all of you to look at how you act, no matter where you are or what you are doing. Is it pleasing to our Savior? Is it helpful or harmful to the person beside you? Are you sacrificing your selfish ways because Jesus Christ sacrificed His everything for YOU? Are you offering yourself to others - making their day a little better just because of a simple action?
Make this life be a beautiful one for someone else today. Make today be a beautiful day for all you come into contact with. Don't complain - encourage. Don't fight - be peaceful. Don't look down - look up. Don't make others feel less important - treat all as they are more important than you. Try to be more Christ-like. Strive for that everyday and naturally, your life will become a more beautiful one.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
The beginning
So honestly, I have no idea what I am doing. I was inspired to do this by a movie that I saw today. Julie Powell, blogging about her food experience while cooking her way through Julia Childs cookbook. I thought it looked pretty fun. Why not try it? I don't have one particular thing to blog about, but you've got to start somewhere, right?
I was surrounded by elderly people for most of the afternoon today. The movie theater I was in was full of them. Being around people who are older than me really makes me think about life. There is something about their spirit that is so innocent, so wise, so simple. They have lived through so much more than I have! Comparing our generation to the older generation - we seem so shallow, so selfish, so high maintenance. You can argue with me saying, "I'm sure they were just the same when they were young..." But were they? Did they get everything they asked for, right then and there? No. They didn't have computers, tv, cell phones, texting, fast cars, or snazzy clothes. Most of them had family, nature, and simple things. What is wrong with our generation? Why can't we slow down and enjoy? Why must we be texting all of the time? Why can't we just sit and enjoy life? Why do we have to go to the mall and 'hang out?' And the sad thing is, it's not just young people. Our parents have fallen into the trap of the speedyness. Going and going. Never stopping!
If God grants you the years to live until you are 80, will you be disappointed that you didn't spend more quality time with people? That you spent your life texting and never had any deep relationships with anyone?
Okay, just something to ponder. Try to enjoy the simple, sweet things that we are so blessed with. Don't look past the things that truly matter - the things that make this life so beautiful.
I was surrounded by elderly people for most of the afternoon today. The movie theater I was in was full of them. Being around people who are older than me really makes me think about life. There is something about their spirit that is so innocent, so wise, so simple. They have lived through so much more than I have! Comparing our generation to the older generation - we seem so shallow, so selfish, so high maintenance. You can argue with me saying, "I'm sure they were just the same when they were young..." But were they? Did they get everything they asked for, right then and there? No. They didn't have computers, tv, cell phones, texting, fast cars, or snazzy clothes. Most of them had family, nature, and simple things. What is wrong with our generation? Why can't we slow down and enjoy? Why must we be texting all of the time? Why can't we just sit and enjoy life? Why do we have to go to the mall and 'hang out?' And the sad thing is, it's not just young people. Our parents have fallen into the trap of the speedyness. Going and going. Never stopping!
If God grants you the years to live until you are 80, will you be disappointed that you didn't spend more quality time with people? That you spent your life texting and never had any deep relationships with anyone?
Okay, just something to ponder. Try to enjoy the simple, sweet things that we are so blessed with. Don't look past the things that truly matter - the things that make this life so beautiful.
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