Recently, I have been reading two books by Max Lucado, Everyday Deserves a Chance and Come Thirsty. In both books, it talks about worrying. I think this is a topic that is relevant to most peoples lives, mine especially. I tend to worry a little too much. I worry about my grades in my college classes, the health of family members, and about the salvation of those that I love. But should we really worry?
According to Max Lucado, "Worry is an option, not an assignment" (Come Thirsty, 2004, pg. 106). Matthew 6 states that God cares even for the lilies so why would he not care about us. We should instead trust in his power and trust in the fact that He cares about us deeply. We should cast all our cares on Him as it says in 1 Peter 5:7. According to 1 Timothy 6:15, God is the controller of all things. He has control over your life; He will take care of you and everything that you are worried about.
Worry never solves problems. Worry just makes things worse. It effects your health, your attitude in life, and your relationship with God. If you worry all the time, you have no time to be thankful for all that God has given you. Max Lucado suggests that instead of worrying you should look into the past and look at what God has already done for you. Once you do that, there is no way that you can worry that He will not do what is best for you today (Come Thirsty, pg. 104-105).
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Things I Have Learned Recently
I have learned many things about faith and about God while I have been at Texas A&M. First off, I have learned that it is harder to remember to worship and to get into God's word when those around you do not encourage you and participate with you in the worship. At my home university, I have a group of friends who really love to worship God and to get into God's word. Here, it is hard to find people like that, so I am thankful for those friends that I do have at my home university. I am learning though how to be stronger in my faith so that when others around me are not practicing their faith or do not know Jesus, I can still praise and worship Him openly.
I have also learned the how amazing and complex all the things that God creates are. I have been working with blowflies (flies whose larval form can often be found on dead things) this summer. Specifically, I have been working with the Genus Lucilia. Anyways, I have learned that it is not hard work, but definitely complex work, taking care of flies. The larval form eat on some kind of meat (I feed them cow liver) and the adults feed on some sort of sugar (I feed them honey). I have just realized that everything that God creates is very complex and has a reason for being made. These flies help to decompose organisms. Imagine the world if we did not have decomposers; it would be a very stinky place to live.
I have also been reminded that humans, in their nature, are sinful. I have learned this not only from seeing the people around me, but also from reading the Bible. I have been reading in Leviticus with my boyfriend as we work through a chronological reading of the Bible. In Leviticus, there are a bunch of laws that God gave Moses to tell His people to follow. If they did not follow these laws, there are different types of offerings they could give in order to be forgiven of their sins. God told them to partake in these offerings, because He knew we would sin. I am just thankful that Jesus forgives me of my sins and was the ultimate sacrifice so that we do not have to make sacrifices anymore. I am also thankful that God knew before He created Adam and Eve that humans would sin. He knew that He would have to sacrifice His son, but He created man anyways. I just think that is amazing love and I praise Him for this.
I hope to continue to learn things about God and become ever closer to Him as I continue my walk with Him. As an ending note, I saw this heart in the sand on a sidewalk after it had rained this week and I thought that it was really cool.
Also, I saw these clouds and thought that they were gorgeous so I thought that I would post that picture also just to show the beauty of God's creations.
"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39 NKJV).
I have also learned the how amazing and complex all the things that God creates are. I have been working with blowflies (flies whose larval form can often be found on dead things) this summer. Specifically, I have been working with the Genus Lucilia. Anyways, I have learned that it is not hard work, but definitely complex work, taking care of flies. The larval form eat on some kind of meat (I feed them cow liver) and the adults feed on some sort of sugar (I feed them honey). I have just realized that everything that God creates is very complex and has a reason for being made. These flies help to decompose organisms. Imagine the world if we did not have decomposers; it would be a very stinky place to live.
I have also been reminded that humans, in their nature, are sinful. I have learned this not only from seeing the people around me, but also from reading the Bible. I have been reading in Leviticus with my boyfriend as we work through a chronological reading of the Bible. In Leviticus, there are a bunch of laws that God gave Moses to tell His people to follow. If they did not follow these laws, there are different types of offerings they could give in order to be forgiven of their sins. God told them to partake in these offerings, because He knew we would sin. I am just thankful that Jesus forgives me of my sins and was the ultimate sacrifice so that we do not have to make sacrifices anymore. I am also thankful that God knew before He created Adam and Eve that humans would sin. He knew that He would have to sacrifice His son, but He created man anyways. I just think that is amazing love and I praise Him for this.
Also, I saw these clouds and thought that they were gorgeous so I thought that I would post that picture also just to show the beauty of God's creations.
"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39 NKJV).
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Fanatic
This summer, I am at Texas A&M university to do research. It is hard to be here because I miss everyone back home in GA and NC. I have friends here too, but it is not the same. They are not Jesus fanatics like I am. I miss those that are part of my church family at school. Those that follow the Lord fully and do not worry what others think. Although, I did see this shirt (to the left) that showed that there have to be some Aggies (Texas A&M students of past and present) that do love the Lord.
It is hard to be a fanatic when others around you do not understand. It is hard, but I have stood strong on my believes. Some of those around me drink alcohol, and I do not believe in consuming it even if it is in small amounts. I know how easily small amounts can turn into large amounts and I know how that changes people.
It is also hard that I cannot find a church here where they are also fanatics (that is within walking distance). I have looked up several churches online, but I do not see any that really appeal to me. I also have went to one and it seems like a good church, but they do not seem to be as fanatic in their worshiping as I have come to know at my church back at my home college. I think that I have decided to listen to sermons online and also on iTunes on Sundays instead of going to a church. I really like Brian Houston's sermons (from Hillsong Sydney).
Several songs that I have been listening to lately talk about being a Jesus fanatic and this leads me to keep looking for that church (or online sermons) where I can really find God's presence in the teachings. Some of the songs that I have heard that have talked about this are Lecrae's Fanatic and Neysboys's Jesus Freak.
I have learned lately that I really need to stick to my beliefs even when those around me do not follow what I believe. I love God and I am not afraid to tell the world about that. I believe that I am a Jesus Freak.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Encouraging Words from God
The name of my blog was inspired by something that happened to me this week. I am a college student. As I was going around campus this week, I kept getting discouraged, kept getting upset. I saw a flier that I was originally excited about. It said "God" in large words at the top. "God" had a question mark behind it which should have given me some clue that this flier was not what I originally thought it was. Under this, I saw "we don't think so either". It was a flier for a secular group around campus. A group for atheists and agnostics and others "without a religion" around campus. Later in the week, I saw another flier that I was excited about. It said "cause the Bible tells me so" on the top. I was drawn towards the flier and was happy that God's word was being talked about on campus. Then, I saw the rest of the flier. It talked about what the bible says about homosexual relationships. This did not discourage me until I saw what group was running this "teaching". A group on campus for homosexuals and bisexuals that bash Christianity all the time. My heart sank. This was not a program that was going to teach others of God's word. This was a program that was going to misinterpret God's word, because without God in your life, it is difficult to really understand what God has for you in His word. How can you understand what God says without first knowing God exists? Without God whispering in your ear, whispering to your heart, you cannot even begin to understand His promises for you.
As I was standing there flabbergasted and about to cry, I did not realize that God was speaking to me; He was speaking to MY heart.
Last night, before going to bed, I went on GodTube. I saw a song by Newsboys that I had not heard before and I was immediately drawn to it. This song was "God's Not Dead." The lyrics touched me, but the real power, the real fire, came from the video itself. In the beginning of the video, you see these people who are looking at blogs, newspapers, and other forms of media. The people see articles like, "God is a myth" and "Man is just another animal". As I watch this video, I remember all that has happened to me this week. I remember that in my anthropology class, my professor teaches evolution of man, not as a theory, but as truth. I remember how she has bashed views of God creating this marvelous world and all the creatures in it. My mind goes to all those who have tried to convince me that I am crazy for thinking that something supernatural created all that we feel, see, smell, hear, touch and taste around us. I remember all those that have warned me of those "crazy people" that I am friends with.
As the video continues, I see those people that were in the beginning of the video (those that were seeing all the untruthful things). They then start telling the truth. One blogs about how we are made in the image of God. Another tweets (or seems to tweet) about how everything came from SOMETHING. This video really spoke to my heart. It showed me that although we may be bogged down with all the ideas and concepts of the world, God does exist and he shows this everyday. He speaks to me in ways others cannot understand unless you know the Father yourself. It showed me that I need to be bold and speak up and show others the truth so that I can plant a seed in their hearts. They may reject what I have to say. They may reject Jesus, but at least I have planted that seed. At least they have heard the truth.
So, this is what this blog is going to be about. It is going to be what God has shown me, and what I feel God wants me to share. This week, he sent me words of encouragement and told me to be bold. Next week, who knows what he will tell me, but I want to share all that God has done for me. All that he has spoke to me. All that I believe that may bring encouragement to you, the reader. I want to encourage all of you to be bold in God. I am a shy person, but I love to share and speak what God has shown me. I love to speak about what is on God's heart.
With this said, I leave you with this, a link to the video that touched my heart in hopes that it will also touch yours.
As I was standing there flabbergasted and about to cry, I did not realize that God was speaking to me; He was speaking to MY heart.
Last night, before going to bed, I went on GodTube. I saw a song by Newsboys that I had not heard before and I was immediately drawn to it. This song was "God's Not Dead." The lyrics touched me, but the real power, the real fire, came from the video itself. In the beginning of the video, you see these people who are looking at blogs, newspapers, and other forms of media. The people see articles like, "God is a myth" and "Man is just another animal". As I watch this video, I remember all that has happened to me this week. I remember that in my anthropology class, my professor teaches evolution of man, not as a theory, but as truth. I remember how she has bashed views of God creating this marvelous world and all the creatures in it. My mind goes to all those who have tried to convince me that I am crazy for thinking that something supernatural created all that we feel, see, smell, hear, touch and taste around us. I remember all those that have warned me of those "crazy people" that I am friends with.
As the video continues, I see those people that were in the beginning of the video (those that were seeing all the untruthful things). They then start telling the truth. One blogs about how we are made in the image of God. Another tweets (or seems to tweet) about how everything came from SOMETHING. This video really spoke to my heart. It showed me that although we may be bogged down with all the ideas and concepts of the world, God does exist and he shows this everyday. He speaks to me in ways others cannot understand unless you know the Father yourself. It showed me that I need to be bold and speak up and show others the truth so that I can plant a seed in their hearts. They may reject what I have to say. They may reject Jesus, but at least I have planted that seed. At least they have heard the truth.
So, this is what this blog is going to be about. It is going to be what God has shown me, and what I feel God wants me to share. This week, he sent me words of encouragement and told me to be bold. Next week, who knows what he will tell me, but I want to share all that God has done for me. All that he has spoke to me. All that I believe that may bring encouragement to you, the reader. I want to encourage all of you to be bold in God. I am a shy person, but I love to share and speak what God has shown me. I love to speak about what is on God's heart.
With this said, I leave you with this, a link to the video that touched my heart in hopes that it will also touch yours.
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