Are you really any better?

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. -Romans 12:3

What do you think of yourself? Do you think you're a pretty "good" Christian? Maybe you think you're a really "good" Christian? Maybe you think you are better than most? Are you really?

Do you think you are better than other people? Maybe you think you are better because you've chosen to live a set-apart life!? Maybe you think you are better because you haven't made the same mistakes as other people?

Are you really any better?

The Lord has really been working on my heart about this and my dad has cautioned me many times about this too.

Pride. Its a constant struggle of mine!

I hate pride in other people. I mean I HATE it! I rant about it.

I hate it when people are prideful! I hate it when people bash and tear down their "friends" with their words whether its from the pulpit or in an email, or its in the use of too many words or none at all.

But I have to be so so careful that my hate for pride doesn't become pride in my own heart!

***I need to hate the pride in my own life just as much as I hate it in other people.

Its all pride. Anytime we think we are better than someone else its just plain old pride.

Pride is in the tone of voice, its in actual choice words, its in actions. Its in silence too. Its in looking down so much on someone that you refuse to speak to them. Its in avoiding people.

Just because someone has made a mistake, whether big or little, that you haven't, doesn't mean you are any better.

No-one is any better. Not one soul!

I'm no better than anyone else because I have chosen to live differently! And I'm no worse than someone because I've chosen a less traveled path.

I'm a sinner, and me thinking I'm better than anyone else would be me completely forgetting what God has saved me from!

I've made mistakes. But having made those mistakes is a continual reminder that I AM NOT worthy of Christs forgiveness! I don't deserve it!

Sins- wether its pride or immorality or murder are all sins. One is no worse than the others!

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

-Proverbs 6:16-19

In fact, have you ever noticed that God hates pride more than murder? And God hates pride more than a wicked heart?

Watch out for pride! Make sure their is no trace of it in your life! Be careful with your words + actions + especially your tone of voice!

Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me. Psalms 36:11

Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Psalm 31:20

Dear Lord, please help me to stay humble! Help me to not be prideful in my thoughts and words! Lord, help me to not be prideful even in my tone of voice!

the courage to do what is right...

A few months ago, one of my very good friends did something that I really appreciate and admire. He chose to do what was right even though it wasn’t always supported and appreciated. What he did took a lot of courage!

He did the right thing{even though maybe not always the right way}, even though most people don’t agree with it. In fact, some people have even chosen to voice their disgust and opposition of what he did. But he has chosen to stick with his decision and follow through with it!

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good,

 and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

James 4:17

This verse is very clear. There is nothing to question. It plainly says that if someone doesn’t do what God is telling them to do, then they are sinning.

My friend did what the Lord led him to do.

Even through much opposition.

Most people were too cowardly to do what he did. Or they were deliberately blind.

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it,

 it is folly and shame unto him.

Proverbs 18:13

The funny thing is, that every single person who has voiced their disagreement doesn’t know all the details like he does. In fact, most of them have refused to accept the facts that were presented to them. Shame on people who try to meddle in other people’s situations, especially when they don’t know everything!

My friend chose to do something that others refused to do.

Are you standing up for what is right? Are you standing even in the face of opposition? Are you doing right when you know you should? Or are you staying back, being a coward?

My friend made a difference in someone’s life. Are you doing things to make a difference? Are you willing to stand up when you see something wrong?

Having a vibrant relationship with Jesus{Part 2}

Remember the synonyms of vibrant from Wednesdays post?

Vibrant means lively, vivacious, animated, exciting, energetic, alive, bubbly etc.

Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that our relationship with Jesus is a daily thing. We pray for our food{sometimes}, go to church, say “Praise the LORD”, and read the Bible when we have time. What we don’t realize is when we aren’t getting refreshed daily, we become weak and discouraged.

What happens when we don’t eat daily? We get sick and some people even pass out. The Bible tells us that eating real food isn’t enough! {Matthew 4:4} To stay strong we must be in God’s word (daily)!

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish,

yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16

>Do your devotions{DAILY}

I know for some people this goes without saying. But a lot of people struggle with this{the finger is pointed back at myself!}!

There is no one right and perfect way to do your devotions. Figure out what is right for you, and stick with it!

Some people read their Bibles through in a year, so they just read a portion every day. I did this for several years, but found that it really became a chore, and I wasn’t getting much out of it. {I mean seriously- what do you find in books like Chronicles?} {If this is something that works for you, check out this schedule!}

Others find daily devotional books very helpful. This has worked really well for me! {Like I said, its different for everyone! There is no rule about what way is right.} I am currently going through Jesus Calling{Sarah Young}. {another good one is From My Heart to Yours by Glorianne Gibbs or sign up for a year-long subscription to GLOW(that’s one thing I did for most of last year)}

I really like the devotional book because whatever I read that day sticks in my mind! I actually think about it throughout the day, and usually try to put it in to practice!

>Pray

Prayer is so important! When we pray we acknowledge that God is really there. We are saying that we realize that we need Him. Don’t just pray in hard situations. Pray every single day! Set aside a certain amount of time{I started out with 5 minutes} and get rid of all distractions if you have to. I usually try to do this in the morning, but seriously, do it whenever you have the time- on your lunch break, at night before you go to bed, between classes, etc.

I have used a prayer list before{Here is a good one!} as well as a notebook. Both work really well, but make sure you don’t just read down through it. Pray something specific for each person{and "help them to have a good day" isn’t really gonna work}, pray that they would be more patient, or they would accomplish one of their goals, or that God would really work on their heart about something!

//

Make sure you are spending time with God daily! If you have to reorganize your schedule, simplify your life, get up earlier, or give up something, then do it! Believe me, it is entirely worth it!

When you make an effort in your relationship with Jesus, you will see a difference in your everyday life! Not only will you have a better attitude and a more positive outlook on life, but you will also be a LOT Happier! =) Your mindset will be completely different! J

Your Relationship with God {Part 1}

A few weeks ago I shared a little{although I'm told it was long} devotional with a small group of my friends. Ever since then I have really been trying to focus on putting what I shared into practice. I’ve decided to share a little bit of that what I have been thinking on for the last few weeks!

This series is going to focus on our relationship with Jesus, and it will probably span over the next month, since I have a few different posts on the subject already in the works. =) Make sure you check back to read the rest of the series!

I'm ashamed to say that if you had asked me that a month ago I would have ducked my head and tried to avoid the question. It wasn’t going good, not. at. all.

I had lost my focus, and I couldn’t seem to get myself out of the hole I felt like I was in. The Lord really used that time to help me see that I really cant do anything in my own strength! I can do NOTHING. NOT ONE THING!

It was during that time that I read a devotional that is really the whole inspiration for this series of posts. This quote is what really really stuck out to me! 

Vibrant means lively, vivacious, animated, exciting, energetic, alive, bubbly etc.

Our relationship with Jesus isn’t supposed to be a chore, or an obligation.

*think about your relationship with your best friend- 

what is it like?

Usually you have a lot of fun with your best friend. You can be crazy and they don’t care because they are just as crazy! You can talk about almost anything. They know your mistakes, and they don’t hold them against you. And usually, you and your best friend are almost inseparable!

That pretty close to what your best friendship looks like right?

Well, since Jesus is our Best Friend{I mean really, He is!}, shouldn’t our relationship with Him be similar to that?

*Contrary to what some people say our relationship with Jesus can be fun! 

Serving God is fun because it is the only thing that brings true happiness! =)

*God loves you just the way you are. He made you that way, didn’t he? 

He made you different from everyone else, and he loves you that way! =)

*You can talk to God about anything and EVERYTHING. 

He wants you to talk to him because in doing so you are acknowledging that he really is God. 

By talking to Him you are also telling him He is important to you!

*God knows every single mistake you've made- every bad thought thats gone through your head, 

every bad word you've said when no one else was around. 

He knows every single sin, yet he still loves you!

 He loved you so much that He died for you!

*God never ever leaves us! He walks right beside us through every single moment! He is ALWAYS there!

We can have a very personal relationship with Jesus, just like we can with our friends. He like important people who dont have time for us. He is our best friend, and He wants us to make the time to get to know Him better so that he can help and comfort us!

{a little bit of brightness to cheer you up!}

We are complete in Jesus!

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Colossians 2:9-10 

We have access to the throne of God!

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 

We know that God will work everything out!

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 

We know that God is for us!

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 

We are conquerors THROUGH Jesus!

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37 

We know that NOTHING can separate us from the love of GOD!

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39 

We can be confident that God will never give up on us!

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians 1:6 

We know that we have been given a spirit of love and power and sound mind!

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 

filled with Joy and Peace...

v  God gives us joy!

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received the atonement.

Romans 5:11 

v  God gives us peace!

Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Romans 5:1 

We cant have peace and joy unless we run to God. We can only have true joy and peace THROUGH Jesus Christ. If you look for it anywhere else, you wont find it!

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:13

Life...

These past few months have been literally a whirlwind. Time has flown, in both good ways and bad. Facing each day head on has been difficult, but as a dear lady keeps reminding us- God gives the strength to face each day as it comes.

I have been seriously unmotivated for a long time (too long), and this week was a killer. But I finally got some inspiration {probably from all my friends “pep talks” ;-P} to do something…  I have a lot to get accomplished in a very little time, but I am slowly but surely crossing things off my lists.

Through everything that has gone on we somehow got 2 weeks behind. Our goal was to finish our 1^st semester before we took our Christmas break. The normal schedule for our curriculum has us doing our Semester Finals 2 weeks after break, which makes no sense. So we are pushing to get them done by the end of this next week! Its going to be a long haul though.

We finally started working on our bathroom… Or mom repainted it rather! We have the flooring all ready to go, when we get the time. Mom has been doing some painting again, and I'm trying to talk her into doing some for me! ;-D I'm proud of my super creative Mama… she seriously has some talent that she’s been hiding for way too long! <3

My super cute little brother finally started saying my name!!!! J He is so funny sometimes, laughing randomly and giving his mischievous little grin. He learned to climb up on the table, and is obsessed with bread, anything electronic, “cookies” (animal crackers), vacuums, spoons, and his little friend Dee… J

/////

~listening to my favorite song a million times a day…

“Wow… after hitting back everytime my favorite song ended… I just found the repeat button on my ipod! Yay!” {My facebook status a couple days ago…}

~shopping for + wrapping Christmas presents- I tried to have fun this year, and not wait until the week before to buy them, and Christmas Eve to wrap them all! :-P I am, thankfully, almost done! J

~Drinking lots of water and taking my antibiodic + cold medicine + vitamins in an attempt to ward off another cold, or get rid of my first one … After being sick for 3 months, it gets old!

~looking forward to Suzy’s Christmas break… {we are gonna squeeze in a ton of time together!}

~trying to decide what cookies to make for the Cookie Exchange! {I got a cookie book from the library, but cant decide what kind to make…}                    

~laughing with friends always lifts my spirits! J

~reading my devotional book and Bible Study has been something that I have neglected, but this week I started doing it again. Both have really challenged me to have a different attitude when it comes to living life! <3

~enjoying… Christmas music, hot chocolate, red and green, the snow, warm boots, comfy sweaters, watching movies, texting one of my best friends, my Government class {I was never much into politics or anything like that, but its very interesting!}, egg nog shakes,

Trust...

{somewhere in Canada}

 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Sometimes trust is hard. really hard. 

But. trust is totally necessary. If we don't trust that GOD IS IN CONTROL of every single situation, then we aren't doing right.

Trust- no matter what happens.

This is who I want to be...

Aspiration

2. A breathing after; an ardent wish or desire, chiefly of spiritual blessings.

3. The act of aspiring or of ardently desiring what is noble or spiritual.

Aspire

1. To desire with eagerness; to pant after an object, great, noble or spiritual; followed by to or after; as to aspire to a crown or after immortality.

2. To aim at something elevated; to rise or tower with desire.

 {for some reason these words have been floating around in my head a lot lately...}

What do I wish for? What is my desire? What is my aim, my end goal?

to be…

||an obedient daughter || a kind sister || an encouraging friend || 

a loving wife {someday}

 ||a gentle mother {after someday} ||

I’ve been thinking about that a lot. I’m 17 and life seems to be moving faster than ever. I mean- it seems like just yesterday I was looking forward to being 16. Now I am almost 17 ½. In a year I will {Lordwilling} graduate. Sooner or later {hopefully sooner than the later} I will be an adult making my own decision, living “my” life.  

I’m not a little kid anymore. What am I going to do with my life? How do I want to live?

I’m not talking about whether or not I am going to go to college, or what I’m going to do about a career or anything like that. {my career- wife and mother}

I am talking about me as a person. What is my goal, my desire for life? Do I want to be a selfish person, or someone who lives for Jesus?

I want to live for God. completely. no matter what. always. in everything.

My goal is to live a life that God would wholeheartedly approve of.

It won’t be easy, but I am okay with that- it will be totally worth it.

After I wrote about my responsibilities I’ve been thinking a lot more.

I want to be a daughter who honors and obeys her parents, not just on the outside, but in my heart too. That doesn’t mean that I always agree. It does mean it is my responsibility to respect the authority God has placed in my life.

I want to be a sister that my siblings can look up to. I want to be an example that they can follow. My siblings {all 3-11} of them watch me like hawks {even when I don’t realize it}- they see everything. I want to be someone who encourages, and treats them like they are important.

I want to be a friend who “provoke(s) unto love and to good works:”{Hebrews 10:24}. I don’t just want to be a person my friends like to “hang out” with. I want to be able to help them when they are struggling. I want to be there for them no matter what. I want to be able to be friends with them just for who they are, and not expect them to change. I want to encourage them to love Jesus with their whole heart.

I want to learn how to be a respectful, honoring, loving wife. I want to learn how to be a mother who is gentle and can train her children the right way.

This is the person I want to be.

I want to be someone who lives for Jesus no matter what. I want to be prepared to stand no matter what.

I have big goals. Some people would say they aren’t, but to me this is what I want my life to be. Its going to be hard, its going to take time. I am not going to be perfect.

This is what I aspire to be.

I will remember...

Some people have a tendency to forget things.

Like me. I forget. I forget what I’m supposed to be doing. I forget which track of a cd one of my brothers asked me to listen to. I forget when my best friend’s birthday is. I forget what verse I was trying to memorize yesterday.

Sometimes I forget about what God did for me. I mean seriously- that’s something important, and I forget about it.

Jesus was perfect, sinless, pure. He had lived in heaven, He had been with God since before time. But, for you and for me, he came to earth. Dirty, dusty, filthy, too hot, or too cold, sinfilled earth.

FOR ME!

man. HE did that for me! Wow!

but I forget about it. I forget about it when something doesn’t go my way.

When one of my brothers is being rude, and interrupting, or when one of them is telling me what to do, or when one of them won’t listen.

When one of my sisters is grumpy at me, or when one of them won’t stop talking about something I don’t want to talk about, or when one of them tells my best friend something I didn’t want anyone to know.

I forget, and I get upset. Sure, a lot of the time I just keep it inside, but I still get mad. Sometimes thought, I actually let it all out.

Do you know what Jesus did for me? He was ridiculed, spit on, accused of being a worker of the devil, and worst of all, He was murdered. He had to hang on a wooden cross with nails in his hands and feet. They gave him vinegar to drink{you know how revolting that stuff is?}.

He did all that for me.

And yet, I still forget. A lot of times I don’t want to think about that type of thing. When a teacher taught about it in our Bible class last year, he went into so much detail that I basically “zoned out”. It was nasty, and I didn’t want to listen to it because I was afraid I would get more sick than I was.

It should actually make us sick to think about what Jesus went through, just so that you and I could go to heaven.

Me. the girl who is constantly battling with discouragement, jealousy, bitterness, anger, etc.

but, He died for me anyway, so I can go to heaven to live with HIM for eternity.