It's one of those weekends again. Up to my neck in studying, a pile of assignments due next week, AP testing the week after that, tests and quizzes in my classes next week, and MAJOR stress. Oh, and don't forget those extracurricular activities that I have to drop, AGAIN, because of school for the one-hundred-and-millionth time. I'm feeling cross and grumpy and tired and I'm stuck inside when the weather's nice. Not fair!
Does that sound a little bit like you?
Unfortunately, we waste too much of our lives grumbling and complaining and making the people around us miserable and we lose too many opportunities to share our faith. We want to be happy, but we spend a disproportionate amount of time being negative and cranky. Ironic, isn't it?
I think we Christians often forget that we're supposed to do everything for God. We wade our way through school and work and homework and housework and wind up totally exhausted because we don't realize that what we're doing is for the Lord. We're not doing homework or teaching or whatever it is for man; we're doing it for God--in other words, we should give our whole concentration to what we're doing so that we may glorify God better. People will see and judge you by your attitude and actions (and it's not so good when you're trying to make a good first impression, or trying to share God's Word), and it's up to you to choose the right attitude, not them. Colossians 3:23 says, "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." Keep this in mind as you go through your day. By doing so, you reach your potential and can witness for God more effectively. Infinitely better than being crabby, don't you think?
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The Hole Inside
It's always been discouraging for me that people don't believe that the God of the Bible created the world. It makes no sense to me to believe that the universe came from a little thimble-sized piece of super dense matter and then exploded for whatever reason. It may be true, but scientists haven't said anything about where that little bit of matter came from. It could hardly come from nothing. Unless, of course, an all-powerful and all-knowing eternal being had created it.
Why is it so hard to believe? Don't people want something beyond this life? Life is pointless without something beyond life. Do you really believe that life does not need a purpose? All those lives and nothing to show for it. How could life be so purposeless? Do you feel satisfied inside with the idea that there is only this life and nothing else? Don't you want, need something more? Something that gives life purpose besides the "make a difference in the world" mantra? Something that doesn't focus on how to preserve your name in history, focus on you you you you you? We tell each other to not be self-centered, but we're doing exactly that. And there's that big, gaping hole that just grows and grows and grows. What is that hole? Why do we have it? How do we fill it? Sure, helping others is satisfying for a while, but that hole will come back bigger and worse than ever.
Who else could fill that hole but God? The everlasting, forever loving, omnipotent, omniscient Father?
He has given me purpose. He has given me a whole new perspective on my life and the impact I could have on others. I have someone to really live for, and not to go my way or the highway. I have peace. I have joy. I have hope. I have love. Even though bad things still happen, there's a deep peace that cannot be destroyed. Every day I wake up and I want to sing and dance and laugh because I'm so happy. God has really changed who I am. He's my God, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Friend, my Counselor, and I will praise Him forever. The hole is no longer there. I still have my ups and downs, but the hole can't return--He's filled it up and turned me into a new person. I can't stop singing inside. I feel so alive. Don't you see how miraculous the incredible harmony of nature is? Don't you see how impossible it is for everything, chemicals and compounds and food chains and complexity and natural selection and evolution, to exist without a Creator? How else can nature be so balanced? How else can everything fit together like a puzzle? How else can we feel thrilled when we're looking at the ocean or standing on a mountain peak and looking down at the scenery or some other huge landscape that makes us feel insignificant? Don't you see it, feel it, the sound of joy and everything good, just rising up as you're soaking in the cloud-shrouded peaks, the glorious sunrise, the powerful ocean as the sun sets? This is how I feel. This is the everlasting peace that exists in me. And no one can ever take it from me--that's the best part of all.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
What Are You Thinking About?
I was reading through Joyce Meyer's Battlefield of the Mind for Teens a couple days ago and I read this verse: "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
I started thinking. If God wants us to follow this guideline for what we're thinking, how much of our thought life would pass this test? We have so much trash going through our heads. Almost nothing passes the Philippians 4:8 test. It's proof of how much we need God. We're so messed up that what we think for about 99% of the time is just junk. It's pointless, even stupid. I'm pretty sure that the majority of my thoughts today did not pass Philippians 4:8. So what do we do about it?
In John 8:31-32, Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples." Not following the guidelines in Philippians can lead us off of the path that God wants us to walk. So write down Philippians 4:8 on a piece of paper or memorize the verse. Whenever you're thinking about how much you hate someone or how boring class is, remember it and ask God to help you clean up your thoughts; He will listen and give you the power to train your mind to think good thoughts.
I started thinking. If God wants us to follow this guideline for what we're thinking, how much of our thought life would pass this test? We have so much trash going through our heads. Almost nothing passes the Philippians 4:8 test. It's proof of how much we need God. We're so messed up that what we think for about 99% of the time is just junk. It's pointless, even stupid. I'm pretty sure that the majority of my thoughts today did not pass Philippians 4:8. So what do we do about it?
In John 8:31-32, Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples." Not following the guidelines in Philippians can lead us off of the path that God wants us to walk. So write down Philippians 4:8 on a piece of paper or memorize the verse. Whenever you're thinking about how much you hate someone or how boring class is, remember it and ask God to help you clean up your thoughts; He will listen and give you the power to train your mind to think good thoughts.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Natalie Grant- Alive
Who but You
Could breathe and leave a trail of galaxies
And dream of me?
What kind of love
Is writing my story till the end
With Mercy's pen?
Only You
What kind of king
Would choose to wear a crown that bleeds and scars
To win my heart?
What kind of love
Tells me I'm the reason He can't stay
Inside the grave?
You
Is it You
Standing here before my eyes?
Every part of my heart cries
Alive! Alive!
Look what Mercy's overcome
Death has lost and Love has won
Alive! Alive!
Hallelujah, risen Lord
The only One I fall before
I am His because He is alive
Who could speak
And send the demons back from where they came
With just one name?
What other heart
Would let itself be broken every time
Until He healed mine?
You
Only You
Could turn my darkness into dawn
Running straight into your arms
Alive! Alive!
Look what Mercy's overcome
Death has lost and Love has won
Alive! Alive!
Hallelujah, risen Lord
The only One I fall before
I am His because He is alive
Emmanuel, the promised King
The babe who made the angels sing
Son of Man who walked with us
Healing, breathing in our dust
The author of all history
The answer to all mystery
The Lamb of God who rolled away
The stone in front of every grave
Alive! Alive!
Look what Mercy's overcome
Death has lost, and Love has won
Alive!
I am His because He is alive
Alive!
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Apology for "Christians" Going Viral
So one of my former English teachers has a daughter who recently saw some people holding up signs saying something like, "DRUG ADDICTS HOMOSEXUALS RAPISTS CRIMINALS MURDERERS WILL FACE JUDGMENT." (Intolerant much... Can you really believe that they call themselves Christian? It's really kind of baffling.) She saw the signs, went into the library or something and after a few minutes, came back out with a sign saying "I APOLOGIZE FOR THESE CHRISTIANS." That took some guts. And I want to say, congrats to her courage and for showing what a true Christian should act like.
Interview: http://johnshore.com/2012/04/13/an-interview-with-ms-i-apologize-for-these-christians/
Just to clarify a HUGE issue with Christianity, Christians do not hate homosexuals or drug addicts or whoever. We hate what they do, NOT who they are. Well, theoretically. You gotta keep in mind that even though we're Christians and we're trying to follow all those laws that God gave us, we're still human and we're still flawed. With God's help, though, we can change, because only God has the power to change people. So next time you're saying or thinking or hearing that Christians hate homosexuals, etc. etc., please remember this. We're not called to be hateful. We're called to help and love others. And please remind us when we forget this, because even though you may not believe in God, you can still correct us (just do it in a friendly way).
Interview: http://johnshore.com/2012/04/13/an-interview-with-ms-i-apologize-for-these-christians/
Just to clarify a HUGE issue with Christianity, Christians do not hate homosexuals or drug addicts or whoever. We hate what they do, NOT who they are. Well, theoretically. You gotta keep in mind that even though we're Christians and we're trying to follow all those laws that God gave us, we're still human and we're still flawed. With God's help, though, we can change, because only God has the power to change people. So next time you're saying or thinking or hearing that Christians hate homosexuals, etc. etc., please remember this. We're not called to be hateful. We're called to help and love others. And please remind us when we forget this, because even though you may not believe in God, you can still correct us (just do it in a friendly way).
Welcome!
Welcome to my blog, All You Need Is Faith. I was inspired by my friend. Her blog is called Worthwhile Treasure; you can visit her at http://worthwhiletreasure.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/worthwhile-treasure/ .
I won't be sharing names or anything, but here are a few facts about me: First off, I'm a teenage girl. I'm a Christian. I've gone through some pretty intense things for a sheltered Asian, as my friend (not the one mentioned above) once referred to me. Those situations and some bad decisions almost cost me my life, but I rediscovered God and I've been trying my best to follow Him ever since.
My purpose is the same as hers: to share the good news of Christianity with anyone willing to read my blog. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13a, 14-16 NIV, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?... You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." I will share a bit of my testimony, but the point is for me to share with any of you out there what I believe in and my reasons for my belief, especially with those out there who feel like there's no hope. There is hope for you, hope greater than any situation that will or has come your way that has brought you to your knees. All you really need is a little faith. Again, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20) Of course, with the extreme disbelief today, the mountains may not move, but God will do things for you. Small or big, they will have a huge impact on your life. You just gotta go look for them.
May God bless you through me!
Carolinia
I won't be sharing names or anything, but here are a few facts about me: First off, I'm a teenage girl. I'm a Christian. I've gone through some pretty intense things for a sheltered Asian, as my friend (not the one mentioned above) once referred to me. Those situations and some bad decisions almost cost me my life, but I rediscovered God and I've been trying my best to follow Him ever since.
My purpose is the same as hers: to share the good news of Christianity with anyone willing to read my blog. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13a, 14-16 NIV, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?... You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." I will share a bit of my testimony, but the point is for me to share with any of you out there what I believe in and my reasons for my belief, especially with those out there who feel like there's no hope. There is hope for you, hope greater than any situation that will or has come your way that has brought you to your knees. All you really need is a little faith. Again, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20) Of course, with the extreme disbelief today, the mountains may not move, but God will do things for you. Small or big, they will have a huge impact on your life. You just gotta go look for them.
May God bless you through me!
Carolinia
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