Silent Night

Merry Christmas! May the wonder and joy that filled the hearts of those on the first Christmas, fill your heart this season and always.  Remember Jesus this Christmas.  He loves you so much.  :)

Enjoy the song!

"Silent Night" by Franz Gruber and Joseph Mohr. Arranged, played and sung by me.

Pin It

Shoes. You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes.  They can tell a lot about  a person's story.  In fact, we wear shoes just about everywhere we go!  If someone has on cowboy boots, well, they might be a cowboy.  If someone has on Converse, they are probably young, and kinda "hip".  If someone is wearing cleats, they probably play a sport.  If someone is wearing pointe shoes (or, if it was me, ghillies), they are probably a dancer.

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be a pioneer on the Oregon Trail?  Think about what their shoes must have looked like!  They walked miles across the prairie - which can be very dusty and rocky, by the way - day after day.  Their shoes might have told a lot about their story.

The pioneers left everything they knew, and embarked on a journey to a land they had never been.  They left their homes, family, and lifestyle behind.  They had to say good-bye to dear friends and family, knowing they may never see each other again.  They knew the journey would be difficult, and sometimes it was more difficult than they had expected, but they kept pressing onward.  Most of them had never seen this land, but had only heard good things.  Some wanted a fresh start, a new lifestyle, or maybe an adventure.   They had a hope that the life they faced - somewhere in the far distance - would be better than what they left behind.  

Not everyone made it to the West.  Some turned back, some died along the way, and some simply said "this is far enough" and settled right where they were.  

In someways, our walk with God is like this.  We have to leave our comfort zones, and our fleshly self behind.  This is not easy, but we must keep pressing onward. We are going to a place we have never been to.  We've never seen a photograph of Heaven, and we haven't driven through, but we have a hope that it will be far better than the life we leave behind.  We know at the end of the long, dusty road stands a beautiful kingdom called Heaven.

Many times, the journey will get hard.  We wonder if we will even make it, but Jesus is always there.  He will help us get through the desert, and over the snowy mountains. As long as we don't give up, He will not give up on us.  

When we reach Heaven, we will realize the journey was more than worth it.  We will approach those pearly gates, and take off our old, dusty shoes.  We won't need them anymore - we won't be going anywhere.  We will be in Heaven to stay.

Pin It

First Love

A friend gave this to me for my 16th birthday.  Someone had given it to her when she was 16.  I thought it was good, and wanted to post it here.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone, to have a deep soul relationship with another -- to be loved thoroughly and exclusively.  But God, to a Christian, says "No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled, and content with being loved by Me alone -- with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me -- to have an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone, discovering that only in Me is your human relationship that I have planned for you.   You will never be united with another until you are united with Me -- exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longings.  I want you to stop planning, stip wishing, and allow me to bring it to you.  You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things -- Keep listening and learning the things I tell you.  You just wait.

Don't be anxious.  Don't worry.  Don't look around at the things others have gotten or that I've given them.  Don't look at the things you think you want.  You just keep looking off and away up at Me, or you'll miss what I want to show you. 

And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would ever dream of.  You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready (I am working even at this moment to have you both ready at the same time) -- until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I have prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and is this perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love.  I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me, and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection, and love that I offer you with myself.  Know that I love you utterly.  Believe it and be satisfied." 

Based on Matthew 6:33,  Philippians 4:11, Ephesians 5

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

God has a plan for all of us.  He has a good plan.  Sometimes, it's hard to see what is going on, but God is always there.  I think marriage should be a "bonus" to life, not the ultimate goal.  It is great to have the desire to be married (as long as it doesn't consume your thoughts), but I believe we can be truly happy in God alone.  

This can be very difficult sometimes (sadly).  However, I know it can happen!

Now, don't get me wrong.  I'm not trying to say that staying single is the way to go.  God was the one who created marriage! :)  I'm just saying it should not be the ultimate goal - like "I'll die if I never get married" type stuff.

What do you think?  Do you really believe that God has a special plan for you, and that you can truly be happy in Him?  Do you think you can find all you need in God?  Do you really believe that God loves you more than anyone else in the world loves you?  Do you think that we can truly love a person without loving God wholeheartedly first?

I'd like to hear what you think!  If you'd like, let me know in a comment or e-mail.  :)  

Pray. Read the Bible. Listen. Be patient.

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deepest gladness and the world's deepest hunger meet." - Frederick Buechner.

I love that quote! :)  Isn't it powerful?  This quote shows that following God is not boring.  In fact, it can be pretty exciting.

Since we are young, we have this deep passion and excitement to do something.  However, sometimes, it is hard to know what to do with that desire.  Too many teenagers have wasted their teenage years on things that don't really matter.

That needs to change.  That needs to change - now!

In their book "Do Hard Things", Alex and Brett Harris encourage teenagers to "rebel against low expectations" (if you haven't read the book, I would recommend it).  Teenagers are not expected to do much, so they simply don't.  The problem is that most of them have a great potential, but they are not pushed hard enough to fulfill it.

What about you?  What is your passion? 

Maybe you don't know.  Well, sometimes it takes a very long time before we know where to even start.  Nevertheless, do not give up.  Pray.  Read the Bible.  Listen.  Be patient.   

Maybe you have some idea of a passion, but you have no idea what you can do about it.  Well, first pray.  Read the Bible.  Listen.  Be patient.  Then, see if you've come up with something you might be able to do with your passion.  If your passion is something you think God has called you to do in the future, pray about it and see what you can do to prepare for that now.

Maybe you already know and are doing something!  Way to go!  :)  Maybe you know, and aren't doing anything about it.  Well, what is keeping you from doing something?  Does God want you to wait?  If so, wait.  If you aren't sure where to start pray.  Read the Bible.  Listen.  Be patient.  

Your teenage/young adult years are very important.  You are likely still at home, so you have parents and family to help you.  However, you are not grown up all the way so you don't have as much responsibility.  These years are a special gift!  Do not waste them!  Use them to glorify God.  Maybe that means waiting.  Maybe it means preparing.  Maybe it means doing.  Maybe you are called to do something that seems big, or something that seems small.  (They are all very important.  Big is not necessarily more important than small.  God uses both in great ways.)  

Don't wait to serve God (even if that means waiting to see what He wants).  Serve Him every day.  Submit to Him and His will.  He loves you, and has an amazing plan.  We just have to be watching and willing.   

Braids or Curls: What REALLY Matters

Every girl wants to feel beautiful. At least, most girls do.  We spin around in little tutus when we're little, or maybe wear Mama's high-heel shoes.  We paint our nails, wear lipstick, and we dream of being a princess.  We dream of being beautiful.

Then, we grow a little older.  We still have a desire to be beautiful, we just express it differently.  We spend time doing our hair, and we like ti shop for cute clothes.  We do our nails, some wear make-up, and spend money on all sorts of items that are guaranteed to make us more beautiful - but sometimes even that doesn't seem to be enough.

So, what should we do?  Buy more clothes, work out more, and keep comparing ourselves to others??? Um, not really.  Let me tell you something. *Whispers*: God loves you just the way you are.  Did you hear that?  God loves you (yes, YOU) just the way you are!

The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:3-4, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

What God really cares about is your character.

You might be thinking, "Well, that's good, but guys like beautiful girls right?" Sure, but guess what? There's something else, too.  "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." (Proverbs 31:30).  And, "a wife of noble character is her husband's crown." (Proverbs 12:4a).  So, character does count everywhere!

What is good character?  Well, it is doing the right thing.  And doing the right thing - no matter what. The Bible says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." (Philippians 4:8).  If we think about good things, our actions should mirror them.

So, what matters? Braids? Curls?  Not really.  Having good character and loving God with all your heart is what counts.