In my relatively short lifetime, I've learned many things about friends. Some good, some bad. I've had enough friends to realize that they're not all going to always be around. They will enter and exit your life, some with a big to-do about it and others with not so much as a hello or a goodbye. But I've come to the conclusion that real friends are the people who love us not because they have to, but because they want to.
"People come, people go - they'll drift in and out of your life, almost like characters in a favorite book. When you finally close the cover, the characters have told thier story and you start up again with another book, complete with new characters and adventures. Then you find yourself focusing on the new ones, not the ones from the past."
- Nicholas Sparks (The Rescue)
Nicholas Sparks creates a pretty accurate analogy in this quote. I know this from personal experience, and I think in a way most of us do.
So why am I babbling on about friends? No, it isn't because I've had a fight with one of mine, or because I've lost one. It's because I have begun to realize how wonderful the true friends really are, and why they are that way.
Tomorrow, one of my best friends tries out for the football team at the university he attends. He has a real passion for football and sports. He works out and trains nearly every day. He has the kind of heart and spirit that any coach would be proud to have in a player. Basically, this is my friend's dream. This is what he's worked for ever since he transfered to his school last year.
So why am I so focused on it? Well, most college football teams normally practice all the time, year-round, on the weekends, during the off-season...you see where I'm going with this. Now, add in the fact that this isn't just some small college he wants to play for, but an ACC school. If my friend makes this team tomorrow, he won't be coming home very often, and my chances of seeing him will go from slim to even slimmer.
Long story short, I am selfish.
There's no other way to explain it but that. And who can blame me, really? I don't want to have to give up the time I could have with my friend for something that, in the long run, doesn't really matter.
But yesterday, seeing him for the first time in a month, and seeing the joy and excitement and nerves that tomorrow is bringing him...it makes me want only the best for him. And that's the point I'm getting at.
Real friends want what's best for their friends.
I call myself a "real friend."
Therefore, I need to want what's best for my friends.
My friend told me yesterday that as long as I'm happy, he's happy. In my eyes, that is the epitome of a true friend.
Tonight I attempted to encourage him with an awesome translation of one of the most popular pieces of scripture in the Bible:
"Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through the One who makes me who I am."
- Philippians 4:13 (MSG)
Now if that doesn't calm his nerves and give him strength, I don't know what will! I'm striving to support him through prayer and encouragement, as well as through my words and actions.
I've heard it said that "friends pick us up when we fall down, and if they can't pick us up, they sit down and listen for a while." I want to be the kind of friend who is there through thick and thin, and who selflessly supports the ones I love in all that they do.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
How to Fall In Love...
Hey guys! It's a new year, which means new blog posts! Shocking, right? Actually, I am going to try just a little bit harder to post more often this year, seeing as how my last post is from around three months ago.
In the last week or so I've decided to read the book of Romans, primarily because one of the main goals in my faith walk this year has been to literally fall in love with Jesus Christ. The reason behind this goal (I guess that's the simplest way of putting it) is that I've realized that in order to fully commit my heart to one other individual (i.e. the man I'm going to marry), I must first be in love with my Creator. So, why Romans? Well, Romans is basically God's love letter (written through Paul) to the world... So, why not Romans?!
As I was reading about God's great love for us and everything that he strives to invest into a relationship with us, a couple of verses of scripture stuck out to me...
"All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life - a life that goes on and on and on, world without end."
- Romans 5:20 & 21 (MSG)
These verses are saying, more or less, that no matter how great our sin is, it doesn't have a chance against grace because God's grace will always be greater than our sin. Now that doesn't mean that because grace is around each and every one of our sins are automatically pardoned. But it does mean that, as long as we ask for God's forgiveness, the "aggressive forgiveness" we know as grace will cover all of our sins. In other words, we have a relationship with him, we have grace. Relationship = grace.
It's just like my earthly daddy would always tell me when I was younger and had done something wrong - because I love you, I'm going to give you grace. Instead of a harsh punishment for my wrongdoings, I would recieve very little, if any, punishment at all, mainly because the relationship I had with my dad caused him to not want to punish me. Because of our relationship - because of our great love - I recieved grace.
It's the same way with our relationship with Christ, in that through that strong relationship love and grace can be attained. A relationship not only brings grace, but it also brings a deep love, making it a key part of that falling in love I so long to do. So what do grace greater than sin, a relentless love and a strong relationship all have in common? They help us to fall more in love with the Maker of our hearts.
In the last week or so I've decided to read the book of Romans, primarily because one of the main goals in my faith walk this year has been to literally fall in love with Jesus Christ. The reason behind this goal (I guess that's the simplest way of putting it) is that I've realized that in order to fully commit my heart to one other individual (i.e. the man I'm going to marry), I must first be in love with my Creator. So, why Romans? Well, Romans is basically God's love letter (written through Paul) to the world... So, why not Romans?!
As I was reading about God's great love for us and everything that he strives to invest into a relationship with us, a couple of verses of scripture stuck out to me...
"All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life - a life that goes on and on and on, world without end."
- Romans 5:20 & 21 (MSG)
These verses are saying, more or less, that no matter how great our sin is, it doesn't have a chance against grace because God's grace will always be greater than our sin. Now that doesn't mean that because grace is around each and every one of our sins are automatically pardoned. But it does mean that, as long as we ask for God's forgiveness, the "aggressive forgiveness" we know as grace will cover all of our sins. In other words, we have a relationship with him, we have grace. Relationship = grace.
It's just like my earthly daddy would always tell me when I was younger and had done something wrong - because I love you, I'm going to give you grace. Instead of a harsh punishment for my wrongdoings, I would recieve very little, if any, punishment at all, mainly because the relationship I had with my dad caused him to not want to punish me. Because of our relationship - because of our great love - I recieved grace.
It's the same way with our relationship with Christ, in that through that strong relationship love and grace can be attained. A relationship not only brings grace, but it also brings a deep love, making it a key part of that falling in love I so long to do. So what do grace greater than sin, a relentless love and a strong relationship all have in common? They help us to fall more in love with the Maker of our hearts.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Mission-Minded? Maybe...
The topic on my mind right now: missions...
I am a very mission-minded person... I want to mission everywhere I go...so long as that particular trip has the word "mission" attached to the front of it (i.e. mission trip to S.C.).
But who says it has to be like that? I'm constantly hearing about how mission work can begin in my own town. Try taking it a step further...is South Rowan High School not as much of a mission field as Main Street Mission...or Garden City, S.C...or how about Haiti??
What I'm trying to get at here is this: you don't have to travel far to find a mission field. You don't have to pay big bucks, travel to some foriegn country, or even meet any new people. All you have to do is find someone who will listen--who wants to listen--and share your heart. That doesn't mean start professing your faith at any random kid who walks by...but start by being an example...don't be the one who takes God's name in vain or noticably cheats on a test. Be something different, and start small.
Alright, so we have it established that your school can be a mission field...now take it a step further: foreign missions. It seems like every mission-minded person feels the need to get out of the country and experience missions in a different land at least once. I'm right there in that category. Every time a group of missionaries from my church comes back from one of those trips, my heart pings because I know how badly I want to be there with them. Seeing the pictures, the videos, of those precious children and how much they appreciate every little thing we do for them...it just gets me.
I've never been out of the country before; yet as soon as my dad returns from a trip to Haiti, I immediately decide that's where I want to go. The conditions in Haiti aren't the greatest in the world...in fact, they are far from our definition of "great," or probably even "good." And still I, the city-slicker little girl, want to go there.
God's word says this:
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
- Romans 10:14 & 15
I so desperately desire to be those "feet." I want to be used by God to share His word to those who have not heard it... Now whether that is in Haiti or Landis, N.C., that's not for me to decide. God can use me in whatever way He pleases.
Tonight my best friend and I made a sort of pact. A pact to pray each other up. We're both feeling the call to missions... We don't know where, what, why or how, but we know that as long as we're trusting in God for this, He will show us His plan.
I am a very mission-minded person... I want to mission everywhere I go...so long as that particular trip has the word "mission" attached to the front of it (i.e. mission trip to S.C.).
But who says it has to be like that? I'm constantly hearing about how mission work can begin in my own town. Try taking it a step further...is South Rowan High School not as much of a mission field as Main Street Mission...or Garden City, S.C...or how about Haiti??
What I'm trying to get at here is this: you don't have to travel far to find a mission field. You don't have to pay big bucks, travel to some foriegn country, or even meet any new people. All you have to do is find someone who will listen--who wants to listen--and share your heart. That doesn't mean start professing your faith at any random kid who walks by...but start by being an example...don't be the one who takes God's name in vain or noticably cheats on a test. Be something different, and start small.
Alright, so we have it established that your school can be a mission field...now take it a step further: foreign missions. It seems like every mission-minded person feels the need to get out of the country and experience missions in a different land at least once. I'm right there in that category. Every time a group of missionaries from my church comes back from one of those trips, my heart pings because I know how badly I want to be there with them. Seeing the pictures, the videos, of those precious children and how much they appreciate every little thing we do for them...it just gets me.
I've never been out of the country before; yet as soon as my dad returns from a trip to Haiti, I immediately decide that's where I want to go. The conditions in Haiti aren't the greatest in the world...in fact, they are far from our definition of "great," or probably even "good." And still I, the city-slicker little girl, want to go there.
God's word says this:
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
- Romans 10:14 & 15
I so desperately desire to be those "feet." I want to be used by God to share His word to those who have not heard it... Now whether that is in Haiti or Landis, N.C., that's not for me to decide. God can use me in whatever way He pleases.
Tonight my best friend and I made a sort of pact. A pact to pray each other up. We're both feeling the call to missions... We don't know where, what, why or how, but we know that as long as we're trusting in God for this, He will show us His plan.
Friday, September 16, 2011
This Thing Called Love
It seems like once school started, blogging sort of slipped my mind. But here I am again, back where I started...wanting to share my thoughts and hopefully encourage somebody along the way.
Let's talk love. Now I'm not talking lovey-dovey, romantic love - I mean love in more of a brotherly sense.
"We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."
- 1 John 4:19-21
God's word very clearly says that in order to love God we must first love others. Whether we show love through our words, thoughts or actions, it doesn't really matter.
Although the Bible means the word brother as more of a friend than an physical brother, I'm still going to use this example: Last night, my dad went to pick up his brother from the airport at midnight. Now, let's think about this situation...
12:00 at night.
40 minute drive there.
40 minute drive back.
7 hours of sleep??
Those numbers don't add up! My dad wouldn't drive to the airport at midnight for just anyone (well, on second thought, he probably would, but that's beside the point!). The moral of the story being: we can say we love the Lord all we want, but until we show it in our actions towards others, it's an invalid love.
My dad took action last night. He showed love to his brother, whom he can see, and through that love he showed that he loves God. Because he wanted to serve his brother, God blessed him with His love.
Now, let's take this love thing a step further (or rather back it up to verse seven)...
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
- 1 John 4:8, 11 & 12
Ya see that? God is love.
Love isn't money. It isn't fame or popularity. It isn't gifts or tokens. It isn't a carefree relationship. Love is not a random string of words. Love is God. God is love.
Long story short, God's love can't be seen or bargained for. God's love comes from the love we show towards one another. It's as simple as that.
Let's talk love. Now I'm not talking lovey-dovey, romantic love - I mean love in more of a brotherly sense.
"We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."
- 1 John 4:19-21
God's word very clearly says that in order to love God we must first love others. Whether we show love through our words, thoughts or actions, it doesn't really matter.
Although the Bible means the word brother as more of a friend than an physical brother, I'm still going to use this example: Last night, my dad went to pick up his brother from the airport at midnight. Now, let's think about this situation...
12:00 at night.
40 minute drive there.
40 minute drive back.
7 hours of sleep??
Those numbers don't add up! My dad wouldn't drive to the airport at midnight for just anyone (well, on second thought, he probably would, but that's beside the point!). The moral of the story being: we can say we love the Lord all we want, but until we show it in our actions towards others, it's an invalid love.
My dad took action last night. He showed love to his brother, whom he can see, and through that love he showed that he loves God. Because he wanted to serve his brother, God blessed him with His love.
Now, let's take this love thing a step further (or rather back it up to verse seven)...
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
- 1 John 4:8, 11 & 12
Ya see that? God is love.
Love isn't money. It isn't fame or popularity. It isn't gifts or tokens. It isn't a carefree relationship. Love is not a random string of words. Love is God. God is love.
Long story short, God's love can't be seen or bargained for. God's love comes from the love we show towards one another. It's as simple as that.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Growing Up Is Hard To Do
Today was my last first day of school... How crazy is that??
Growing up is one of those things that's exciting and scary all at the same time. I remember not being able to wait until I was a teenager...and then looking forward to getting my license... And now, here I am, seventeen, license in hand, trying to decide which colleges to apply for and what to major in.
This is the one thing I don't recall being excited about. I mean, leaving for college, yes, but applying for colleges and worrying about whether my grades are good enough or my SAT score is high enough to get into a certain school - now that's something I just didn't see coming!
I guess maybe I just skipped that step. We tend to do that a lot of times. We think something is going to be so easy, but we often forget what it takes to make that something happen. We look forward to the destination, but pay no mind to the journey.
And I'm not gonna lie - from what I can tell so far, the journey to getting accepted to the college of my dreams is no piece of cake!
But, God, of course, has something to say about this:
"I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble."
- Proverbs 4:11 & 12
Even though the journey may be tough, the Lord is guiding us every step of the way. He won't lay any burden on us that He knows we can't handle.
My worries seem like so little when I think of others' journies in life. Sometimes it's hard to keep that mindset when we're going through something that we think is extremely hard... Yet, somewhere out there there's someone who's going through 10x the pain or stress that we may be feeling.
God's got us in His hands wherever our journies are taking us - growing pains and all.
Growing up is one of those things that's exciting and scary all at the same time. I remember not being able to wait until I was a teenager...and then looking forward to getting my license... And now, here I am, seventeen, license in hand, trying to decide which colleges to apply for and what to major in.
This is the one thing I don't recall being excited about. I mean, leaving for college, yes, but applying for colleges and worrying about whether my grades are good enough or my SAT score is high enough to get into a certain school - now that's something I just didn't see coming!
I guess maybe I just skipped that step. We tend to do that a lot of times. We think something is going to be so easy, but we often forget what it takes to make that something happen. We look forward to the destination, but pay no mind to the journey.
And I'm not gonna lie - from what I can tell so far, the journey to getting accepted to the college of my dreams is no piece of cake!
But, God, of course, has something to say about this:
"I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble."
- Proverbs 4:11 & 12
Even though the journey may be tough, the Lord is guiding us every step of the way. He won't lay any burden on us that He knows we can't handle.
My worries seem like so little when I think of others' journies in life. Sometimes it's hard to keep that mindset when we're going through something that we think is extremely hard... Yet, somewhere out there there's someone who's going through 10x the pain or stress that we may be feeling.
God's got us in His hands wherever our journies are taking us - growing pains and all.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
How 'Bout a Test?
So, Psalm 139.
Last night, a friend of mine gave me a little clearer picture on this particular chapter of the Bible...and reminded me of how important its words are.
This chapter is David talking about how God knows everything about us... How when He created us, He knew us before anyone else did... How He knows each and every move we make... Talk about amazing!
A familiar verse that many people know and love is verse fourteen:
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well."
- Psalm 139:14
But the verses that my friend pointed out to me that are just as beautiful and even more meaningful are verses twenty-three and four:
"Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."
- Psalm 139:23 & 24
Whenever I read these, and heard what my friend had to say about them, I reminded myself of Pepi, an Argentinian pastor who recently came to visit America and who spent some time with my family. When he would walk into a department store here, he would make one big exclamation - WOW. That's all I could think to say.
Basically, my friend said, these verses are continually asking God to change our hearts to conform to His. It's a plea to be like God!
I mean, sure, it's very easy to praise the Lord for making you, like David did in verse fourteen... But to ask God to make you more like Him - to ask for a test of your faith, so to speak - now that seems to be something completely different. Never in my life have I asked a teacher to give me a test, but here David is, asking God for just that.
So why does David do that? And why should we follow suit and do the same?
As I re-read these two verses, I realize that normally these are things that we ask of God because we know they're what He wants for our lives. But why can't they be what we want too?
"Search me...test me...know my thoughts...lead me."
Those are simple pleas to ask of the One who created you... He's a daddy who wants what's best for his kids, and who will very easily provide those things...if we ask.
Last night, a friend of mine gave me a little clearer picture on this particular chapter of the Bible...and reminded me of how important its words are.
This chapter is David talking about how God knows everything about us... How when He created us, He knew us before anyone else did... How He knows each and every move we make... Talk about amazing!
A familiar verse that many people know and love is verse fourteen:
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well."
- Psalm 139:14
But the verses that my friend pointed out to me that are just as beautiful and even more meaningful are verses twenty-three and four:
"Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."
- Psalm 139:23 & 24
Whenever I read these, and heard what my friend had to say about them, I reminded myself of Pepi, an Argentinian pastor who recently came to visit America and who spent some time with my family. When he would walk into a department store here, he would make one big exclamation - WOW. That's all I could think to say.
Basically, my friend said, these verses are continually asking God to change our hearts to conform to His. It's a plea to be like God!
I mean, sure, it's very easy to praise the Lord for making you, like David did in verse fourteen... But to ask God to make you more like Him - to ask for a test of your faith, so to speak - now that seems to be something completely different. Never in my life have I asked a teacher to give me a test, but here David is, asking God for just that.
So why does David do that? And why should we follow suit and do the same?
As I re-read these two verses, I realize that normally these are things that we ask of God because we know they're what He wants for our lives. But why can't they be what we want too?
"Search me...test me...know my thoughts...lead me."
Those are simple pleas to ask of the One who created you... He's a daddy who wants what's best for his kids, and who will very easily provide those things...if we ask.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Saying Goodbye...
Tonight I said a "final" goodbye to several of my very best friends. They're all going away to college, and I'm staying here, in Smalltown U.S.A. I mean, none of them are going away for good good. I'll still see my chorus friends at concerts, and my church friend every once in awhile at church. It's simply the fact that I won't have them right here, so close to me, that makes me sad.
I am, of course, a typical teenage girl...which means that sometimes my emotions get the best of me. I've had friends leave for college or move away before, but it just now kind of sank in that they're really leaving. And not only that, but I'm going to be in their shoes this time next year, saying goodbye to the life and the people I know and love. But I'll try not to get ahead of myself...!
One of my favorite authors, Nicholas Sparks, wrote a great piece of advice about people and friendships.
"People come, people go - they'll drift in and out of your life, almost like characters in a favorite book. When you finally close the cover, the characters have told thier story and you start up again with another book, complete with new characters and adventures. Then you find yourself focusing on the new ones, not the ones from the past."
Okay, now, like I said, this is a great quote...particularly if you don't care to be reminded of where you came from, and are attempting to start a new chapter in life. But when you're trying with all your might to keep those memories of old relationships alive inside of you, the last thing you want to hear is "people come, people go...don't worry about the ones from your past, you'll forget them in a couple years anyways!"
Right now, the last thing I want to believe is that I can live without these people, and that - even worse! - there are gonna be other people who pop into my life at just the right time to replace the old people, and to make my story interesting.
And then I stop and think about the people that my friends are going to meet, and ohh no, I hope they don't forget about me! I want only the best for my friends...and I want them to know that.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
- Jeremiah 29:11
This verse is something that settles my heart. It lets me know that hey, my closest friends are going to be just fine wherever they may go, because they've got God on their sides.
It's tough to say goodbye, but when you know that the ones you love are in good hands, it sure makes it a lot easier.
I am, of course, a typical teenage girl...which means that sometimes my emotions get the best of me. I've had friends leave for college or move away before, but it just now kind of sank in that they're really leaving. And not only that, but I'm going to be in their shoes this time next year, saying goodbye to the life and the people I know and love. But I'll try not to get ahead of myself...!
One of my favorite authors, Nicholas Sparks, wrote a great piece of advice about people and friendships.
"People come, people go - they'll drift in and out of your life, almost like characters in a favorite book. When you finally close the cover, the characters have told thier story and you start up again with another book, complete with new characters and adventures. Then you find yourself focusing on the new ones, not the ones from the past."
Okay, now, like I said, this is a great quote...particularly if you don't care to be reminded of where you came from, and are attempting to start a new chapter in life. But when you're trying with all your might to keep those memories of old relationships alive inside of you, the last thing you want to hear is "people come, people go...don't worry about the ones from your past, you'll forget them in a couple years anyways!"
Right now, the last thing I want to believe is that I can live without these people, and that - even worse! - there are gonna be other people who pop into my life at just the right time to replace the old people, and to make my story interesting.
And then I stop and think about the people that my friends are going to meet, and ohh no, I hope they don't forget about me! I want only the best for my friends...and I want them to know that.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
- Jeremiah 29:11
This verse is something that settles my heart. It lets me know that hey, my closest friends are going to be just fine wherever they may go, because they've got God on their sides.
It's tough to say goodbye, but when you know that the ones you love are in good hands, it sure makes it a lot easier.
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