Thursday, January 26, 2012

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP

I have so much to say.

I have a lot going on in my brain.

Yet, I have no words.

Just, that God is good.

He always was.

He always is.

He's pretty much gonna be forever.

I am tired,

but God is sustaining me.

I need not fear,

or worry,

or anger.

I am safe, and well.

I may be weak,

but

God's spirit is strong IN me.

Acts 1:7

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Gulp...Hitting The Big Issues.

In regards to 'Gay Rights':

    • "Right on! All of us count or none of us do. For those who see this as a religious issue, then so be it; leave the judging to God and follow your own moral compass without assuming that those whose views vary from yours possess a compass that's somehow broken or inferior."
I found this quite interesting. I, personally, believe that everyone is a child of God and that all are loved by Him so in turn we (the followers of Christ) are to love them just as Jesus loved every sinner on earth (which, we all are of course).

Like this guy said, though, I do see it as a religious issue. And at the same time, I agree with him. Because of my religious beliefs, I don't think that being gay is okay (a sin equal to any other), but it is also a sin to show partiality to any particular person or group of people, which makes discriminating against them a sin as well.

We also can't judge them. Like I've already said, twice, all of us sin. I've sinned, so why shouldn't someone else judge me? Well, for the same reason I shouldn't judge them: IT'S NOT OUR JOB. God will do it. It's fine. You don't have to worry about it. All you have to worry about doing is loving people.

Anyway, that's still really vague, and probably missed a lot of points, but I just found what that guy said really interesting, and wanted to share!

Love Come to Life by Big Daddy Weave - I like this video for the most part, except for the fact that it uses 'love' to represent the relationship between a man and woman probably a little too much, but a lot of it is really powerful. Oh, plus I like this song. (:

Friday, January 20, 2012

S t i l l

"Be still and know that I AM God."

Psalm 46:10

I had to turn off my music so I wouldn't get distracted. This tends to happen.

When is the last time any of us (I) sat down and completed an entire task - one of great importance, of course - without trying to multi-task or get distracted or think about other things, or decide that it could be put off until later?

I am familiar with those of this great diligence, and I revere them. I, however, am not one of these people.

This is a bad thing.

God calls us to be wholeheartedly devoted to everything that we do, and that especially means Him - reading his Word, talking to Him, obeying Him, worshipping Him with our lives rather than just our words. Of course, there are ways that we can practice this kind of discipline in our "non-spiritual" lives as well. For me, it's homework, schoolwork, practicing my instruments, keeping up with people, putting others before myself in such a way that it becomes natural and I become more dedicated to them and less dedicated to myself.

My phone just notified me that I had a text message. It was from Twitter. I stopped writing to read it.

What's it going to take to cut out the distractions? The noise? The clatter, the busyness, the ways in which the world (Satan) is trying to throw us off course and keep us from doing what we know we should be doing?

If we are truly still, and meditating on God's love and His person - with the phones turned off, the computers closed, the music off, the TV unplugged - I suspect we will find that He IS, in fact, the One who really matters when it comes to what's important in life. Even our thoughts get in the way, sometimes. When they do, let them venture to God, forming into prayer and supplication; petitioning to God for the thoughts in your head, and the things going on in your life.

Don't avoid what's happening.

Take a step back, sit in the silence (maybe even the dark), and just talk to God. He will listen. He always listens. He is listening. He is.

For me, it's going to start with turning off the music and the phone when I do my homework. When I finish my homework, I will have forgotten all about the music and the fact that I haven't gotten a text message in about an hour. I will pray. Sit and talk to God. Ask for forgiveness for all the times I've screwed up and forgotten to give Him praise. All the times I've blamed Him for the wrong in my life. All the times I've forgotten Him during the good in my life.

I will be still

I will listen

I will be silent

And I will know

That HE

IS GOD.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Love, According to Paul

I am currently studying love, as it is written in the Bible. More specifically, I'm studying 1 Corinthians 13. It's actually really interesting what I've gotten out of it so far, and the connections I've made to other things that wouldn't have necessarily seemed relevant.

Just wanted to get it out there that I was starting on this endeavor, and I'll try to track my progress and share anything I find super profound.

#1: Verse 1 is referenced in the Rocket Summer song called Of Men and Angels which I happen to LOVE.

Farewell!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

I've Got Friends In Low Places

These are the best kinds of friends. Plus I like this song. Even though it talks about drowning your sorrows in alcohol. That's not why I like it. But it's fine. It's fun to sing along to!

The best kinds of friends: the ones you have in the lowest of places.

I think most people listen to the song and construe this differently than I do. Or perhaps I chose the different perspective, but I suppose that really doesn't matter all too much.

Point is, you know you've got a true friend when they are there for you when you are at your lowest points in life. When you fall, they are there to pick you up. And if they're not strong enough, they will stay there with you until you find the strength to get back up. The thing is about friends like this is that they have a great deal of compassion, for you, for the world, for people. They know what to say, how to act, and they know how to avoid fake sympathy. You know the kind I mean. It's "Oh, I know how you feel," and, "Gosh that really sucks," and "Man I'm sorry, I'm here in you need anything," and the list goes on. If you have THAT friend who is there no matter what, during your bad times, they will say these things with complete sincerity.

BUT, the best part about having a friend in the low places is that, if they are real and if they are true, they will be able to say to you that they can sympathize, but that they can't empathize because they have no idea how you feel. They will say that they don't really understand what you're going through, but that they are there to help you and be there for you in any way that they can be.

I think this is something to really keep in mind, or to at least think about. Who are your friends that will go with you to the low places? Who, in your life, will be there for you no matter what? Do you possess compassion for people that pushes you to inquire about their life, and to make a commitment to not leave them when things get tough? Are you that kind of person? If not, do you want to be? Can you be that person for someone?

I've got a lot of reevaluating of my life to do, so this is going on the list of things I'm working.

So, for an interesting twist, I'm leaving  you with a different type of song than I normally do, because I heard it on the radio and I really like it. (: It's called You by Chris Young