6 Things I Learned From My 1st Semester of Nursing School

1. Throw perfectionism out the door. Then throw it out the window and far, far away. There is nothing perfect about it, except your Medication Calculations test score (hopefully!). Set your goals high and work hard towards them; however, don't let fear of failure or a looming  grade-point average take precedence over simply doing your best. Your best is always good enough.
2. Check things twice. Always check.This could apply to a lot of things: your test answers, your medication math, your patient's chart, your sterile field, or your scrubs when utilizing the hand sanitizer dispenser goes awry.
3. Don't be afraid to ask. Ask for that test review, even if you didn't score below their recommendation. You'll smile when you see the same questions and answer choices on the final. Ask for help if you need it. Ask for guidance if you seek it. Ask for clarification or grade correction if two of your grades, equivalent to 7 hours of course work, get entered as a lower grade than you rightly earned. Don't have a heart attack over it, although it is tempting.
4. Avoid putting things off. Never put off until tomorrow what you could do today. If they give you tons and tons of online assignments due throughout the semester, go ahead and get them nailed out by early October. You'll definitely thank yourself when you're up to your ears in studying materials in December. It will lead to less heart palpitations when you get an email saying that your "Canvas quiz has been graded." Stay one step ahead of your professors, and three steps ahead of the busy work.
5. Don't compare yourself to others -- others' test scores, others' clinical experiences, others' progress. You may all be taking the same courses day in and day out, but you're all uniquely different. One subject area or even an entire class that you're good at might cause another to struggle. Reversely, you might encounter trouble in some subject matter that those around you easily excel at. We're not all made for and geared toward the same kind of nursing specialty so take what you're good at and use that experience to grow into your role as a nurse and help those around you. Your GPA and HESI scores won't follow you for the rest of your life. Your contribution to nursing and your kindness to others will. 
6. It comes at a price. A coveted and highly pursued profession in the medical field with seemingly adequate compensation, so who wouldn't want to be a nurse? Except it's not as easy as putting on a pair of comfortable shoes and donning the Littmann that you chose months ago around your neck. It's real life, with real people's health problems before you and their dependence on you. What is of high value comes at a high price. It may drain your time, your amount of sleep, your energy, and every last brain cell that you think you possess. But it will be so worth it in the end. If you want to meet your end-goal, you have to commit to the pursuit.
   
   
   All in all, I learned a lot. More than I can put into words, but merely a tip of the iceberg in reality. A substantial amount of what I learned cannot be found in any textbook, but instead in the forms of attitude, confidence, and service.
   
   
   

   

Comparison is the Thief

"Comparison is the thief of joy!" I've heard this quote more times than I can count. But y'all, it is so true. It is not credited to an influential church leader or pastor. These words were spoken by the 26th President of the United States. A national leader whose most notable philosophy was to "speak softly and carry a big stick." And I think he was on to something. 

It is so easy to get caught up in the world and all that it has to offer. As humans, we are largely susceptible to focusing on the lives that others are living and give up on our own. They have "it," which is always the culprit. "It" may be a friend, phone, vehicle, personality trait, job, family member, word of praise, house, relationship, bank account balance, social status, or opportunity. The list could go on and on forever. You may not even realize what "it" is, but your heart and mind certainly do! You may be able to trick one or the other, but you cannot trick both.

As Christ-followers, we should strive to be good stewards of our bodies, abilities, and possessions that we are blessed with. These are all from Him, used for His glory, and part of His divine purpose! However, sometimes we misuse these or idolize their existence, or lack thereof. Sometimes we think that the more wealth, popularity, or power we can acquire, the better. It's not wrong to have a nice car, a big house, or a substantial income. These are good, useful things on this earth. But sometimes we can get so focused on increasing our worldly kingdom, that we neglect to expand and glorify His eternal Kingdom! That isn't God's hope for us; it is so much bigger than that. "You will never know the fullness of Christ until you have known the emptiness of everything else but Christ!" There are so many things in this world that can provide temporary happiness but never long-term satiety. The only thing you can take with you to Heaven is another soul.

For Christians, God is our source. Everything else is merely a resource. Dependence on Him doesn't look like storing excessive manna (or provisions) when we think He's not looking. It may seem smart. The catch: God's abilities and masterpieces transcend any intelligence or "thinking ahead" possible on our part. Dependence on Him means taking only what we need for now. Holding on to that grace and peace needed for the moment. Taking just enough and knowing that He will be faithful to provide in the tomorrow. 

            The tomorrow of your family. The tomorrow of your life goals. 

            The tomorrow of your marriage. The tomorrow of your education.

            The tomorrow of your career. The tomorrow of your dreams.

I encourage you to not live life glancing hesitantly to your right and left. At him or her. At what they have or what they are doing. Go forward each day like a determined racehorse with blinders on. [Side note: I am not a horse expert by any means. If you're wondering why horses wear blinders, it is a means of preventing them from becoming distracted by what is happening beside them, and to avoid them becoming panicked by what they see around them.] Keep your eyes on your goal (ultimately, Christ). Stay in your lane. This is your individual race that God has created and set before you before He even created you! It won't match everyone else's. If you're trying to run their race from your land, you will struggle and never win. That is because it's their story, not yours. And that's all right!

Your individual story is full of innately crafted complex "webs" formed by the One who created every single trillionth cell in your functioning body and it is beautiful, unique, and special! He does not make mistakes, we do. He does not lose faith, we do. We do not have to compare ourselves to everyone else. Instead, we should measure ourselves in respect to His holy standard and righteousness. His perfection is unattainable for our human selves but it is unchanging, and it is holy, and it is just!

When we strive for this, we are free! Free to live our lives with a liberty and joy that is otherwise elusive. Free from the chains of comparison, jealousy, doubt, guilt, and inadequacy. Free from being faced with immense feelings of failure, regret, frustration, and imperfection. Free and forgiven.

So I think I'll have to agree with Roosevelt. I do not know if he meant this in a spiritual sense, but I believe there is a lot of truth in it. Even one of my favorite authors, C.S. Lewis, says something of a similar sense. He says, "Comparison is the death of joy." He goes on to say in The Great Divorce, "No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. To those who knock, it is opened." So think, is comparison stealing your joy? It's not worth it! But it's up to you. Because you are beautiful, wonderful, and loved!

[Picture: https://quotefancy.com/quote/33048/Theodore-Roosevelt-Comparison-is-the-thief-of-joy]

{Zoo Blues}

This isn't going to be an angry rant about animal cruelty, child endangerment, or hazards of zoo-life. It's not a petition, or an attempt to persuade. Just simply reflective thoughts.

But I honestly couldn't tell you that if that four-year old child was my son, whether I was the non-vigilant parent or the other parent who perhaps had to work that day, that I would let that gorilla have my son, my daughter, my child. And I'm not even a parent.

But you see, Someone did just that. When God relinquished His Son as a sin Offering for us, He said willingly, "Take my Son." That doesn't mean it wasn't hard for Jesus; did you read about Him in the Garden of Gethsemane? That doesn't mean it did not hurt God emotionally to sacrifice His only Son for unappreciative, sinful people; did you read about the way all of nature grieved as He breathed His last breath?

The truth is, we are like that gorilla. Not in the evolutionary sense, which opens up another can of worms, but in the behavioral sense. We toy with sin as the gorilla carelessly slung that boy around as he ran, causing him pain, as we cause Jesus when we sin. We take the Gift for granted, perhaps as the mother did until she recognized the immediate danger that her child was in. Instead, we should be treating our Salvation as the gorilla took the boy momentarily, under our figurative wings, protecting it.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Photo Credits: http://www.southernbride.com/blog/we-love-the-memphis-zoo/

{Salutatorian Speech}

{Recently, I had the honor of addressing the Senior class of my high school one first and final time at graduation. I didn't want to act like a circus clown, try to talk down to anyone, or give a scholarly speech with big, intellectual words that I didn't even know the meanings of. Just 1008 words from the heart}

"Good morning, faculty, administration, family, friends, and fellow classmates of the Class of 2016. As we come together to celebrate the end of our high school careers, and the beginning of the next chapter in each of our lives, I am honored to be able to stand here as Salutatorian.

Class of 2016, look around you for a minute. You’re surrounded by your classmates, friends, parents, family, faculty, coaches, teachers, your entire support system up until now. This is the last time that we’re all going to be here, together. We are all about to embark on new journeys: different colleges, cities, and states. 

Some of us have been here for four years of high school, some just one, and a few of us for fourteen years. In the coming fourteen years, a lot is going to happen that will change everything. A lot of people in this class are going to go to college, get jobs, obtain degrees, get married, and maybe even have children.

Well, thinking back to the last fourteen years, a lot has altered us.  Each of us have had a plethora of teachers and faculty that have dedicated their time and energy within these walls to invest in us both mentally and spiritually, and they have all made an extremely profound impact. On behalf of the entire Senior class, thank you. This school has given us firm foundations on which we can choose to stand on.

To every parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, and everyone who stepped in and up to the plate to help us get through these last four years, thank you.  Thank you to all, like my parents, for equipping us, pushing us to do our very best, and helping us achieve our dreams. Your dedication to seeing us succeed, your investments in our education, and late Starbucks runs are greatly appreciated. We would not be here today without you.

Lastly, a challenge to every single graduate here. Let God use you ONE through your testimony, TWO to make a difference, and THREE after you choose Him!

First, testimony. If researched on google, the search engine that literally got me through high school, testimony is a “formal written or spoken statement” or “evidence or proof provided by the existence or appearance of something.”

As I deliver this testimony to you, let your life be yours. Let it be the evidence or proof provided by the existence of something bigger than yourself, a God that is not limited by any of man’s schemes, plots, or conspiracies. No matter who you are or what you’ve done, God can use you! What we lack in perfection, God makes up in love. Only God can turn a mess into a message, a test into a testimony, and a trial into a triumph.

Think of high school as one big test, and sometimes it really felt like it. If you’re sitting before me now, you passed the test, and that’s awesome. But did you pass with flying colors or did you barely scrape by? Because I know a lot of days I just wanted to do enough to get by. But that’s not what anyone here wants to happen to us when we all step into our “something news” this fall. Your testimony can change its path, right now, today.

You have probably heard this verse since you were in first grade. 1 Timothy 4:12. “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

We may have been donned the title of “Seniors” for the past ten months, the highest position possible, but we are all about to fall quite a few rungs on the ladder. We’re back to being literal or figurative freshmen, the youngest of the legally titled “adults.”

Don’t let a petty fight, high school rivalry, or any drama, stop you from making a difference in someone’s life in the future, because our God is better than that.

Don’t let your grade-point average, ACT score, homeruns or goals, or what you can lift define your capability of changing the world. The world is bigger, and our God is bigger than those numbers. “Worldview” is a word that every single senior should know after this year, and can relate to. World changers, now that’s another word to know. God’s delight is received upon our surrender, not awarded upon our conquest.

                Third. Someone recently told me, “along with all of these other major decisions and things that are going to take place in the coming years, you’re going to make a definitive choice, whether it be conscious or unconscious.”

Joshua 24:15. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Choose Him and don’t wait. This last verse is something I pray over every single person in front of me as we leave here today.

Ephesians 3:20-21. “Now to him who is able to immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

                This morning, as you trudge along not quite awake yet, dance, or skip across this stage, remember.

1)             Remember what it felt like to sit here, honored, the most envied by under-classmen, and an example for others.

2)        Remember that if you choose to serve Him above all else, and there is a lot of else in this world, your testimony can be your most powerful tool to make a difference in others.

3)       Remember that we’re the next doctors, lawyers, authors, nurses, servicemen or women, musicians, engineers, etc., the world is ready for you. Are you ready for the world?"

(Six Important Things I've Learned from High School}

{808 words detailing the most important things I've learned in my last four
years of high school, as told by my senior pictures}

One. Take lots and lots of pictures.
Don't live solely through your phone's camera lens, but do make memories worth taking pictures of, and worth remembering. Looking through an old high school yearbook could be fun, but reminiscing about your own, individual adventures is going to be even more enjoyable. Graduation will most likely be the last day you see a good percentage of your graduating class, and maybe even some of your friends. So capture what you can with what time you have left, because they may not always be there two or four years from now.

Two. Sometimes you just have to laugh about things.
In high school, things may not always go as planned. Actually, they won't. You have to be flexible. That class that you signed up for but didn't get? The Chemistry labs that never quite worked like they're supposed to? The 3 huge term projects/papers that are due a few weeks before graduation? Just roll with it. "Go with the flow," as my friend says." And if you're really good, just laugh about it. Because the fact that it's due date is coming sooner means that you're just one step closer to being done.



Three. Sometimes you just have to get away from people and hug a dog.
High school friends are great, and they're there most of the time when you need them. But sometimes, after a really long day of school, it's better to just be around a dog. They don't lie, they don't talk back to you, and best of all, they're super fluffy. They're loyal, lovable, and lick a lot. So if you're having a bad day or need a super cool friend, get a dog. They're "man's best friend" after all.


Four. You have to learn to get along with people, no matter how they act, and no matter your temperament.
Someone once told me, "You meet the same people in every stage of life; they're just encased in different bodies." This is not wrong. This couldn't be more true. This is going to be really stereotypical, so don't hit me, please. But there will always be a partier, "cool" jocks, quiet, sweet, nerdy, intelligent, insensitive, or haughty guys. And there will always be super preppy, school-spirited, shy, extraverted, intuitive, chill, or unconcerned girls. We won't always get along with all of them, in fact, we won't get along with most of them. But we can't shut them out like they don't walk the same hallways or parking lots as us. So, we need to learn to be patient and understanding, and embrace each person that comes our way. Because there will always be someone smarter, prettier, and richer than you. But there will also be those who aren't as gifted, handsome, or affluent as you too. Just remember that we are all part of a complex dynamic, perfectly created by God to complement each other, not to crush.


Five. Staying in God's Word keeps you from wasting a lot of your time and life.
The time to live for Christ is not after high school is over, not after college is finished, and not when you settle down with a family. The time is now. In doing this, you'll be ready for whatever high school may throw your way, whether it be in your home, church, or school. If you stay immersed in God's teachings, you will be more likely to stay in a state of grace, maturity, and humility.
Also important, when the daunting task of choosing what to do after high school comes around, you will be prepared. Once you arm yourself with the firm mindset of "Lord, take me and use me exactly how You want, and wherever You want," you will truly be able to see God work, and the pieces will fall into place.
You won't have to worry about which college to go to, anxiety about which job to take, or fear about what the next four years will look like. This is one of the most exciting decisions of your life, so don't waste it on trying to take and control the wheel. Let Him take it.


Six. Don't miss "it" while waiting for the "next thing."
Change. Some people like it, some people don't. Either way, most seem to always be waiting anxiously for the next, new things to happen. To be an upperclassmen, to be a Senior, to be in college, to get a job, to start a family. But if you are constantly looking forward at what is to come, you will miss what is happening in the now. So don't let life pass you by while you're looking for your next landmark. Be content in the stage of life you are in, who God has made you to be, and what He has given you.

{Spiritual Streaks and Faith-Filled Fires}

{537 words of reflection regarding the day and age in which we live—whether strategically or subtly}

Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter. Everyone thinks that they need more points, likes, comments, and retweets to gain approval from others, and society in general. But what does it even mean?

For people today, it seems like a visual is helpful and motivating.  Well, if two people send a candid selfie or photo to each other, everyday, for a long period of time, they will slowly get to know each other better and better. They often strive for the "fire" emoji with a high and powerful number next to it, or the impressive "100" image. Next to these little treasures resides a name of someone very special, or at least important enough to daily carve out time for.

If we spend that much time maintaining contact with a friend, how much more should we strive for constant communication with God?

1 Chronicles 16:11 says, "Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually." You see, God isn't that old friend who moved to Colorado. We aren't meant to check up on Him occasionally, shout a "Happy birthday" once a year, and see how he's doing when things get rough at home. Not only is He our Friend, but our Creator, Provider, and Sustainer. And because of this, He deserves so much more.

If we want Him to do big things in our life, we must treat Him like the big God that He is; to know is simply just not enough. It's like a trip. How can you get really, really excited about something that you know nothing about? How can you get excited about God if you really don't know Him or spend time with Him? But once you get that itinerary (I get unnecessarily happy about precise itineraries), packing list, and information, you can get really pumped about what is about to happen. With God, if we're in the Word, in prayer, and submersed in Him, we can get ecstatic regarding Him. We can be excited about what He is doing, what He has already done, and what He will do in the future! 

Matthew 7:11 reads, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" He wants us to know Him, He wants to bless us, and He wants to redeem us. But we must let Him! We must be pliable clay in the hands of an Almighty and Everlasting God; not sifting sand, blown and tossed by the wind.

In closing, if you've never felt a spark for Jesus, let this be your match. Let God start something in you that no man can squander, that no thing can prevent. And if you have ignited a fire within for Jesus Christ, don't let it go out, don't waver. But even if you haven't felt something like this in a long time, just know that you are never too far gone to reignite that spark, to make a new "streak," a new start, and a new day. 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

"....You only need a spark to start a whole blaze, It only takes a little faith...."

{If life's a soda fountain, I'll drink the water}

{690 words of personal reflection that have less to do with the picture of absolutely delicious sweet tea to the left, and way, way more to do with Jesus Christ, Lord of the Heavens and Earth | Matthew 11:25}

I'm sure you've heard of "If life's a beach, then I'm playing in the sand." Well here's a new one for you: If life's a soda fountain, then I'm drinking water.

I think that some could agree that getting a fountain-drink at a fast-food place or restaurant could easily be one of the biggest wastes of money, causing it to also be an easy way to save some money here and there. In the moment, it may be fulfilling to indulge in an ice-cold Coke, but it can add up to hundreds of dollars to your yearly spending. You must ask yourself, is it a worthy investment?

I'm really not here to make you feel guilty about that weekly sweet tea or Arnold-Palmer, because I do love my sweet tea in copious amounts, and that would be hypocritical. However, there are evident parallels between the process of buying a costly drink, and the presence of sin in a Christian's life. A "Big Gulp" or "Polar Pop" may sound great at the time, but your wallet may begin to disagree, and after a few minutes, it's gone. Those "dollars well-spent" are never coming back, but was it worth it? Likewise, the desires of the world can and will be costly. But is it a worthy investment?

Some people look at the world like it is one big, personal fountain-machine, and they go through life with a white styrofoam cup in hand. They seek everything and anything that the world has to offer, including desires to taste everything they can fit into that one cup. They act as if buying one cup entitles them to keep refilling over and over again, day after day, with no repercussions. This is because the world tells us, "do what you want," "do it whenever you want," and "do it however you want." These can easily amount to the infamously sinful desires of this world.

Galatians 5:19-21 says, "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, or which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Because we know, as Christians, that this is wrong, we have traded in our cups. Now we hold in our hands the "water cup," lucidly visible and on display for all to see. We've said, "Take this world, and give me Jesus."

But now we have attained an accountability that those with a Styrofoam cup are not responsible for, and quite honestly, some are just waiting for us to mess up. To say the wrong things. To do the wrong things. We mess up daily, but we are never too far gone to right ourselves, our testimonies, and our walks with God. Don't be the person who gets a free water cup and then puts Coke in it. That ruins our reliability. Likewise, we ruin our testimony when we claim to have that "white cup," but choose to fill it with impure filth.

Though Romans 12:2 is one of my favorites, a less common verse is 2 Corinthians 6:17. It proclaims, "Therefore, 'Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.'" Though Paul's words in Romans are powerful, seeing them written in red causes them to take on a whole new level of meaning and authority.

Jesus is the ice to your drink. If he isn't in "the mix," then we will be warm, or rather lukewarm. And who likes a warm soda? Revelation 3:16: "So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. With him, not only are we refreshed, but also the ones around us as they 'feed' off of our energy."

You could attempt complete satisfaction within the confines of soda, pop, the world, desires of the flesh, or whatever, but in the highest of ways, Jesus Christ is the only way to attain COMPLETE and utter satiation and nutrition.

{Greater Things Are Yet To Come}

Image source: http://longhollowwomen.com/the-god-of-new/

Do you ever have those days when it feels like you're driving down the highway in a convertible, the wind is blowing through your hair and face, and everything in life is going good? If so, I know you also have those days when it as if you are trying to crawl out of a deep well as bits of rocks and dirt are hitting you in the face. You might feel as if nothing more can go wrong or you might just wait for the good times to end because bad things are likely.

With God, life doesn't have to be a constant deviation between extreme highs and lows. Plain and simple, life is hard. Life never stops being hard. In school, your tested over concepts that just get harder and harder. If they stayed the same, we'd get bored naming shapes and colors for seven hours every day. We wouldn't increase in wisdom--something we should strive for (Luke 2:52). It's the same way with our spiritual walk. Each trial only increase our knowledge and grows us in our faith.

• James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

Image source: https://www.pinterest.com
/pin/37858453093798368/

Even when I think He has failed me, He's led me to something greater and I just haven't realized it yet. You could lose friend, a parent could die, you could lose everything important to you, your whole world could feel like it's falling apart. But He's always there, saying, "Just trust me."

You can dig your heels in like children often do and refuse to give yourself over to Him. You can try to reason with God or make excuses.  Or you can completely give yourself over to him and He can use you in mighty ways.

• Peter 5:6: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time."

When you do this, life is like a peaceful boat ride. You're in the middle of a pond (life) and it doesn't matter which direction you go; God's Will will prevail as long as you obey Him.. We must then trust that He will use us as He wants as He guides our decisions. However, we must be ready, like pliable clay in the hands of the Great Artist of the Heavens.

• Esther 4:14: "Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created."

Lastly, God can open doors no man close and He can close doors no man can open. He will bless you abundantly if you only trust Him.

{Conveniently Chrsitian?}

I think it would be safe to say that everyone has had a friend who at some point tends to only talk to them occasionally. They talk to you when they need something, when they don't have anyone else around to talk to, or when they're absolutely desperate. But when a brighter prospect comes along or life becomes easy, they leave you in the dust. It's really easy to be mad at them; they're using you, after all, right?

Then I got to thinking about how this is how I was treating God at a point in my life. It's really easy for even Christians to fall into a pattern of only praying before meals, big tests, or times of crisis. Prayers before meals morph into simply "going through the motions," prayers preceding tests become desperate (following halfhearted attempts to accurately prepare ourselves with what they've been equipped), and as a result, we often feel far from God during times of crisis.

God should not be our “back-up friend” who is the last one we go to. He doesn’t deserve to be our last resort. He deserves to be our Best-Friend, #1 Confidant, and so much more. When you get exciting news, do you tell your friend before God? If something really cool happens to you, do you thank God or do you forget? That’s the problem with this world. There are so many distractions that it’s a daily battle filled with preparing for the day, school, work, sports, instrument lessons, family-time, hanging out with friends, phones, and so many more things. But how much God-filled time do you partake in? These things aren’t bad until you become so wrapped up in them that they hinder you from drawing near to the Lord.

·        James 4:8: “Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

We should not be in the mindset of “I can live however I want, but I’ll still call myself a Christian. I’ll talk to God when I need Him.” No one likes a fair-weather friend. If you're a Christian, you should  strive to act like it all of the time. Not just when it's convenient.

·        1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Go to him with your problems, your triumphs, your struggles, and your fears. Go to Him.

When we draw close to Him, He will draw close to us. Everything in life will not be pristine, perfect, and calm, but I know who holds my tomorrow. Best of all, I don’t have to worry.

{Pause for Politics with a Partner}

Today, things are going to go a little differently. I have a friend with me, Katie, who has many strong opinions regarding today's politics.


Source: http://www.theharwoodinstitute.org/2015/07/why-im-not-worried-about-donald-trump/





MH: It's kind of ironic that the title of this website is, "Why I'm not Worried About Donald Trump." Katie, are you worried about Donald Trump?
KG: I am absolutely concerned about Donald Trump going for president. I like that he speaks his mind, but he has a tendency to completely degrade others.
MH: So you think his manners a little lacking and he needs more tact?
KG: Absolutely. Do we want someone to be our president who refers to women as "pigs?" He also routinely makes fun of anyone who calls him out for his personality.
MH: Very well said. What do you think about his immigration policies?
KG: It may sound easy to just "build a wall" across the Mexican border, but let's be honest. There is always going to be a way for people to get into this country. I do believe we should have stricter immigration policies, but I think that this country was founded by people of all backgrounds, so there needs to be a distinct path to outright citizenship.
MH: So seeing as Trump is probably not your first-choice presidential candidate, may I ask whom you do support?
KG: I really, really admire Carly Fiorina. I love her no-nonsense attitude, her fashion-sense, and her ability to "punch a shark in the head" so to speak. Watching her in the Republican debates, more specifically the second one, she really shined. She is somebody who I would want to lead this country. However, I do wonder about her time at HP, though.
MH: Anyone else you have in mind?
KG: Ben Carson is definitely on my radar. I watched him on Fox News just last night and his Christian ethical mindset is refreshing. He truly cares about this country and this isn't a popularity contest for him. He truly wants to change America for the better. Also, his wife is very intelligent and awesome. Also, I like Rubio, but I do not like that his wife has had something like 19 speeding tickets in her life. If you're running for president or you are the wife of a candidate, you should be obeying the law. No one is an exception.

So, now. It's time for you to decide for yourself. Who are you supporting for the 2016 presidential ticket? Regardless of your party, religion, or family, decide for yourself. Voting is not something to do just for fun or just to get a cool "I Voted!" sticker. Who resides in the White House can determine the extent of your freedoms in the future. Choose wisely.

{To Know, Live, and Understand God's Will}

Humor me for a minute if you will; imagine that you are driving a car. The passenger of the car has so graciously given you this opportunity to drive so that he can give you directions as you drive. He has the map out in front of him and knows exactly where to go, what you will encounter, and other ways you can get there. If he just told you the destination (where you would end up), would you know how to get there? No, he must give you step-by-step directions. Turn this way, merge here, turn that way. Little by little, it is revealed where you will end up as you get closer. You can choose to listen to him or not. However, if you do not follow his directions, you will go down a different and perhaps more treacherous path.

This is kind of the same way that we are “driving” our own lives. God has given us these lives to live along with free-will and the ability to make our own choices. He knows exactly what is best for us and He tells us what we should do through the Bible and prayer. He mercifully reveals to us not only our “life map,” but Himself as we grow closer to Him. He is constantly sitting next to us. If we are listening for His voice, we will hear Him urging us to do something, to not do something, to go this way, to go that way, His constant directions leading us through His will for our lives.

If you want to know God’s will, you must listen for His voice.

·        “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:47

·        “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28

·        “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” Psalm 25:4-5

If you want to live out God’s will, you must equip yourself.

Equipping yourself is the equivalent to putting on your seatbelt. You can’t have a harvest without first planting the seeds. Wait on the Lord to show and fulfill His plans to you. In the meantime, make sure you are prepared to take on each day to the best of your ability despite unexpected roadblocks, detours, twists, and turns that I promise will happen.

·        “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

·        “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

If you want to live in God’s will, you must trust Him.

·        “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Psalm 3:5

Solomon is not implying that we should trust God “just a little,” or trust Him only when it seems easy and convenient. We must trust Him with all of our heart and lean on Him. Think of the peeople you trust and admire most on this earth. If you can trust them, how much more should you trust God, who will never ever let you down? We shouldn’t tell Him we know better than He by questioning His plans for our lives.

If you want to understand God’s will, you must see the whole picture.

We don’t understand a lot of things that happen here on this earth and that’s because we can’t see what God can see. We can only have faith in God that things work out alright amidst pain, struggle and strife.  It’s hard to comprehend why two rising high-school seniors were killed and three others injured by a selfish man who had already been convicted of more than a handful of DUIs. It’s crazy that one day someone can wake up with fatal symptoms of an incurable disease that they showed no hint of yesterday.

In the movie Do You Believe, the older couple’s daughter had been hit by a drunk driver years ago. The wife asks, “Where was God? Where was he the night that she was killed?” The husband with answers something similar to, “He was there. He was begging that man to not have another drink, to call a cab, to do anything but get behind the wheel of that car and drive.”  

Just because something tragic happens does not mean that God is not present. Just because we do not see or feel His presence does not mean His hand is not working. It is in times of crisis when God feels even closer perhaps. Peoples’ sinful wills cause bad things to happen. The easy access to alcohol has done big things for our country. However, I cannot think of one of them that is good or positive. The only thing that it has left our country with is addiction, brokenness, tragedy, and loss. God let Satan tempt Job by stripping Him of almost everything that he had. However, there is one thing that he did not and we cannot lose: our relationship with God. At some point in your life, it may feel like the only thing you have. And at that point, it is enough if we trust in Him.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” {2 Corinthians 12:9-10}

{Serve, Savor, Share}

Seeing a basketball game on TV doesn't make you a basketball player. Observing a football game from the sidelines doesn't make you a professional football player, much like solely having a plethora of knowledge about the sport doesn't make you one of the team. What does make you a player? The definition of a player is someone who takes part. Likewise, what makes you a Christian? Do you think you're a Christian because you are around Christians and rely on your knowledge of the religion, while abstaining from having an actual relationship with Jesus? 

We are called to serve. No, our "status" or Christianity isn't determined by certain "works" or sacraments. However, the strength and validity of our faith is defined by our actions--righteous or not.

• "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." // Ephesians 2:8-9

However, if you are a genuine believer, fruits (Galatians 5:22-23) should be evident in your life. It's like how you don't get your driver's license with no intention of ever driving. That's the whole point of getting it, right? Well how can you believe in Him, commit your life to Him, and receive salvation and not want to serve Him? 

• James breaks it down pretty well in the following: {James‬ ‭2‬:‭14, 18, 20, 22, 24‬} "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? .. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds...You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ... You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did...You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone."                            

• 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 

Born again, changed, and different forever! Faith and actions working together, hand-in-hand. 

We need to savor Jesus. Sounds weird, I know, kind of like I'm talking about food. But if you are truly hungry, is observing a passing plate of food satisfying? Is simply watching the preparation of food truly filling? No, of course not. This is the same with God. Watching others or staring at a closed Bible will not spiritually satisfy us. To savor is to "taste and enjoy completely." 

• Psalm 34:8 says to "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." Don't rush through time with Him, bask in His goodness and mercy.
  
  
• "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." // Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22-23

Lastly, we are called to share Jesus with others. I don't mean share Him like we teach little kids to do with their toys. I mean telling others about Him through what you say and do, both deliberately and inadvertently.

• "So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God." // ‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ 

As that children's song, "This Little Light of Mine," says, God isn't meant to be hidden under a bush. The first thing most people want to do when something good happens to them is tell someone. So why would we all want to walk around keeping our salvation our best kept secret, when it's the best thing that could ever happen to us?

• "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

{Oh Be Careful}

This is going to be kind of long, so bear with me if you'd like. I write (type) only what God lays on my heart and keep it to the point as much as I can. So thanks for reading or at least trying to :)

We all know that sin is bad. Most of us were probably raised in churches or schools that taught us that it is wrong to lie, cheat, or steal. So you'd think most Christians, or people who call themselves Christians, would know better. However, many Christians are lying to themselves maybe without even knowing it.

Despite some opinions, the Devil is smarter than you might think. The world is also growing more corrupt through both subtle and obvious mechanisms that are designed to trick you into the thinking that it is, "normal" or, "okay" to participate in such worldly activities. If you think that God does not care about the content or intent of what you watch, listen to, say, or do, then you might need to take one gigantic step...towards Him.

I heard this song often as a child, but never knew to what extent it could be relevant to my life later on. When I was that age, I was mostly reading books about cats and puppies and watching cartoons and Disney channel. I wasn't truly able to grasp how sin-filled and worldly that life on Earth can be; I didn't have the least idea.

Oh be careful little eyes what you see. What movies we  see, what videos we watch on YouTube, and what websites we visit matter to God. We should always be mindful of what we are seeing and feeding our brains visually.

• Psalm 101:3: "I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me."
• Matthew 6:22: "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light."

Oh be careful little ears what you hear. What you listen to matters to God. We, as humans, are creatures of habit and repetitiveness. What we hear will come out of our mouths whether we want it to or not. Children start at young ages to repeat phrases or imitate voices of shows they watch, friends they hear, or what parents say. I've heard it. If parents curse around their children, their children usually repeat it whether they know what it means or not. Cursing or vulgar language is not pleasing to God whether we just listen to it or repeat it, no matter how appealing the movie or song.

• Luke 8:18: "Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.

Oh be careful little mouth what you say. Not only does what we listen to matter to God, but so does what we say. In fact, what you listen to is probably a pretty accurate reflection of what comes out of your mouth. Behind actions, I think words are pretty high up there on the list of how your character can be judged or assessed; this is addressed quite often in the Bible.

• Ephesians 4:29: "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
• Matthew 15:10-11: "And he called the people to him and said to them, 'Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes OUT OF THE MOUTH; this defiles a person.'"
• {defile: to make unclean or unpure; to corrupt}
• Matthew 12:36-37: "I tell you, on the Day of Judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Oh be careful little hands what you do. What you do defines who you are, who you will become, and what you are known for. When you do anything, you're representing your family. When you attend school, you're representing your school. When you work at a job, you're representing the company. Well, as Christians, we are representatives or ambassadors of Christ! It is because some do not realize this that others develop misconceptions about Christianity. Maybe it's just me, but if someone's "talk" doesn't match their "walk," I'm often skeptical of their true intentions. The point is: whatever you do, make sure it would glorify God in the fullest! Jesus came to earth to serve, not be served. We, like Him, are on earth to serve others, not ourselves.

• Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
• 2 Corinthians 5:20: "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
• Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

....There's a Father up above and He's looking down with love so be careful little....

• 2 Timothy 3:1-9: "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

• Hebrews 10:26-27: "For if we go sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God."
• Romans 12:2: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

I know that there are a lot of articles dissing the Fifty Shades of Grey movie, so I'm not going to make this another one that you won't read. I have also seen multiple posts surface about how we should be less concerned with this, "harmless" movie and more concerned about starvation and world hunger, because, after all, there are "more important" issues. I can't say I agree completely with the latter. I'm now going to bring up that completely cliché analogy with the oxygen mask. If you don't put on your oxygen mask first, then how can you adequately help others or point them towards Christ? If you aren't paying attention to what God is telling you, listening to the Holy Spirit, and growing on your own, then how can you tell others rightly about Him? In my opinion, you should not do anything that you wouldn't tell a newborn Christian to do after leading him or her to Christ. Your actions will be a reflection of your walk with God, or lack thereof, anyways. If your intentions are wrong, then your good-intended actions are desperately in vain!

There is no reason to make excuses about sinful indulgences just to be able to continue to submerse yourself in them. The Bible is not a mere, bendable suggestion for us; it is a blueprint for how a Christian should live. No, you might not be the, "perfect Christian" in a mere 24 hours, but the truth is, the perfect Christian doesn't exist and never will. Although we should always strive for perfection, we will never be completely perfect because we are a sinful people. That's part of what makes God a Holy (sacred and set apart) God, set apart from us! So in the meantime, we need to be content with being a, "work in progress" or a "project in the making," ready for God to shape and use us how He pleases because His plan is perfect for us regardless of what we think. Trust Him daily.

• "Finally, brothers and sisters, 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
• Luke 11:28: "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

~M