bi·ble-(noun)

Well.. Its been about a year and a half since I have posted on here but I decided that I would make another post.
Recently I have been thinking about the bible and how we don't apply it to our lives as much as we should and these are the thoughts that I had.

Let's say that I am going on vacation for a week or so and I decide to leave my house with a friend of mine. I create a binder full of everything that my friend is going to need. It tells him when to water the plants and how much, it tells him when to feed the dogs and how much to put in each of their bowls so that they dont fight over the food. Now lets say that I come back from vacation and find that all of my plants are dead, the house is a wreck, and there is two mounds of dirt in the backyard where the dogs are buried. I am going to be upset and ask my friend what happened. He'd say something like, "Man the instructions you left me were great! I studied them front and back, I memorized parts of it and even got a few of the neighbors together and we had a group study and discussion on it."

I think that this is how we live ours lives as Christians sometimes. We are content with reading and studying the bible but we don't actually apply it to our lives. We post scriptures on Facebook, we can quote our favorite verse or two, and spend money on Christian music, necklaces, and other things to show our "faith". But we aren't living the christian life that God has called us to live! We think that just because we are reading Gods word then he is happy when in reality that is not what he wants at all. He wants us to live according to his word and use the bible as a guide on how to live our life.
I encourage you to think about this is your own live.  We need to focus less on things like memorizing as much of the bible as we can or even buying the latest Christian music CD and more on actually living according to the way that God has called us to live. We need to focus on encouraging people by the way that we live our lives!

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he reward those who earnestly seek." Hebrews 11:6

Recalculating...

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A few years we bought a GPS for our family to use when we go on trips when we are not exactly sure of where we are going. If you have ever used a GPS when you were driving you are familiar with the constant voice that is used to give you directions. But you also know that if you make a wrong turn or go a different way than it wants you to go then next you hear "Recalculating" as the GPS tries to find you another way to get to your destination.

This last weekend after our basketball game me and two of my friends took a small road trip to Odessa so that we could go to a ceremony on Saturday to see if we made it on to state FCCLA that we competed in. Since we were taking my car for the three hour drive I grabbed the GPS to make sure that we got to the hotel without any problems. This three hour drive had everything! It had loud music, McDonalds, and even a deep conversation. Somehow we got on the subject of how everything happens for a reason and has a purpose in the long run. We all had stories of how something bad had been turned into something great in the long run and how God has always taken care of us. All during this time a great thought came to my mind. A lot of times after something bad happens in our lives we start to wonder why God would let this happen to us and what good could come from this. Sometimes when we fall away from God he sends us a way back to him. No matter what we do in live or how far away we are from God he takes care of us. We are reminded of this in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 when it says, “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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I think that is the “GPS” in our lives and our Christian walks. Instead of just letting us fall away from him when we don’t do what he would want us to do he just provides us another route to our destination in heaven. Every time we make a wrong turn in life God helps us recalculate and get back on track to where we need to be. Like the GPS we can ignore the directions that we are given and constantly have our journey in life “recalculated” but we can also choose to listen to it when we choose and get back on track to where we need to be. We have a great God who like the GPS makes life a whole lot easier. Without God we would find ourselves lost and without direction. We would never been able to reach our full potential and do what God wants us to do without his loving guidance. So when we are faced with hardships we just need to trust God and realize that he will take care of us. He always has taken care of us, and always will take care of us.

Trouble and Suffering

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."- 1 Thessalonians 5:16
When I painted my room a year and a half ago I wanted to write my favorite verse above my bed because it was a verse that I wanted to start living my life by. But, it wasn't until recently that I realized the real meaning behind this powerful verse. It seems like everyday I will get on Facebook and see someone talking about the horrible day they are having and wondering "why this would happen to them", and I will admit that some days that was often me posting that about my day. Recently I have realize another way to look at days like this. I came across an amazing verse in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 and after a little research I have a new out look on the hard times in my life. The verse reads, "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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
After reading that I realized that the reason why we have to go through weakness is because it provides the ideal opportunity for the display of Gods power in our lives. God uses these times to draw us closer to him and make us realize that he is the reason we are so blessed in our lives. I think we are so spoiled and use to the blessings that God provides us with that we complain about the times that everything doesn't go the way we want them to go. The truth is is that they should not go the way we want them to go but the way that God wants them to go.
It has seemed like to me that the easiest times to drift away from God are the times that everything is great in my life and I don't feel like I "need God" as much as I do other times. Its almost like we use God when we need him and blame all of the bad things in our life on him but don't give him the credit for the good in our lives. I think that is why God puts these handicaps in our lives to remind us and keep us in constant touch with our limitations. I thought for a long time that the reason God put these handicaps in our lives was to punish us for sinning against him and just kind of showing us who is in charge. But I think the opposite is true. Trouble and suffering are not always a punishment for sin but is a discipline that results in spiritual gain.
So instead of only drawing near to God when we need him we should, "Be joyful always" not allowing tough times to get us down but embracing them as a way to grow closer to God. We need to "Pray continually" so that we have a constant relationship with our Father and thank him everyday for the blessings he has giving us. And finally "Give thanks in ALL circumstances" not just the times where life is great but for provide us with these handicaps as an opportunity to draw closer to him. We should thank God everyday for allowing us an opportunity to live another day and for his most important gift of giving his Son to die for the forgiveness of our sins so that we can live forever with our Father in Heaven. So, as you go through the next few days and weeks try to keep this in mind and you will be surprised at how much happier you can be realizing that God has an ultimate plan for us and that God will always take care of his children!

Hope is Real. Help is Real.

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Asher Brown, a 13-year-old eighth grader at Hamilton Middle School outside Houston, shot himself in the head last week after being "bullied to death." And today 19-year-old Colton Tooley fired several shots at the University of Texas. Hearing this has me scratching my head, asking why... Why is it that a 13 year old kid would be so alone and so hurt by what other 13 year olds do that he has no choice but to take his own life. It saddens me that this happens so much in this country and so much in the last few years. While there is no way to reliably figure the exact ratio of attempted suicides to completed suicides, the National Institute of Mental Health believes that as many as 25 suicides are attempted for each one that is completed. That means that for this one 13 year old kid there are 25 others who are in the same place and have tried to take their own lives. There are 272 deaths a year by teens and kids just like Asher. If the statistic about 25 being attempted for every completed suicide that means that 6,800 kids feel the need to take their own life before they even get to live it. Something has to be done about this. This has gone on too long and everyone can help. Most kids who have suicidal thoughts said that they felt like nobody understood or cared. If there wasnt so much hate and everyone knew that they were cared about and mattered then this would not happen. We have become such a loathing, hateful society. As human beings we are capable of such enormous love and compassion, yet we choose to hate so freely. To tear down instead of build up. The truth is is that everyone can put a stop to this and make a difference in peoples lives and help people who are struggling. Im sure there were warning signs that went unnoticed and even if they were noticed they were only for "attention", well if someone is saying things for attention then THEY NEED ATTENTION. I mean I think we look at those people the wrong way. Sometimes they just need to know that they are loved and know that someone cares and that they will be missed. If you know someone that is suicidual you CAN make a difference and save their life. To Write Love On Her Arms has it right, To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.  TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. Dont think that you can make a difference. Together we can all put a stop to suicide and make a difference!
Hope is Real. Help is Real. Your story is important.

Cutting Yourself Short

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It seems like everyone has on part about them that they don't like. Whether its because of their physical appearance, a disability, or for no reason anyone, including themselves, knows. But the problem I have noticed that a few people around me have is they let it run their lives. People who dislike themselves may acknowledge they have positive attributes but any emotional impact they have simply gets blocked out. They do not allow themselves to be successful.
The thing that I have noticed about people in high school is a lot of people are in search of love and instead of actually finding love they set themselves up to be hurt more and lower their self-esteem. A lot of people when this happens will turn to the opposite sex because they want to feel wanted and think that having someone want them will make them feel special. In reality most people end up getting hurt worst and lower their standards and settle for lower than they deserve because they have been hurt so many times and they feel like thats the only option they have. Thats how abusive relationships happen is because the person getting abused feels like the deserve it and that this is their fault.
 In other words, if we want to like ourselves we have to earn our own respect. Luckily, doing this doesn't require that we become people of extraordinary physical attractiveness or accomplishment. It only requires we become people of extraordinary character, something anyone can do.
A simple thought experiment supports this notion: think right now of your favorite person and ask yourself, what is it about them that attracts you the most? Odds are it isn't their physical appearance or their accomplishments but rather their magnanimous spirit; the way they treat others. This is the key quality that makes people likable, even to ourselves.
The truth is, we are a much better person than we let ourselves believe. We cut ourselves short by settling for less than we deserve in life. If we just realized that we are special and we are a great person than we can live happier and healthier lives!

Taking Advantage of Life

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They tell you that you can be whatever you set your mind to, but that's not true. I can't write a symphony or throw a baseball ninety-five miles an hour. The truth is if you try your best and better than your best, and work yourself some more, then if your have luck on your side, then you can live life to the fullest and be all the good things God made you to be.
I remember being a little kid and not having a worry in the world. I played all day with my friends,
built forts, played hide and seek, and had snack time. I didn't have to worry about a thing in the world because I knew my parents would take care of me. I was completely happy and yet I couldn't wait to grow up. Now that I'm older I realize how much responsibility and worries I have in my life. Growing up is overrated and i think we focus to much on tomorrow and not on today and the moment. If i got in a fight with a friend this morning we would be best friends again this afternoon. I really think that we had the concept of life right as kids! Forgiveness, snacks, naps, building forts, and being carefree is what we should be doing. Just like we knew that our parents would take care of us we should realize that God will take care of us. If you have a chance learn a lesson from a young child on how to be happy with life. And always be the friend to someone that you would want them to be.
I know that not many people have the superhuman ability to play in the MLB or be a professional songwriter. But I also know that everyone has a gift and should take advantage of every opportunity that is set before him. We sometimes cut ourselves short by not living life to the fullest and not trying our best to make the best out of life!

When is nap time?

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Today was the first day of my senior year. Its all crazy to think about to know that this time next year I will be starting college and working toward making my dreams come true. I start this new year with a new principal and superintendent who have new rules... Some of the rules I personally dont like but I respect them for their rules and plan to make the best of my senior year. When thinking of pursuing my dreams and making the best of my future I decided to provide a few tips...

1. Figure out your dream. How can you achieve it if you don’t know what it is? If you hate your job and you want to change jobs, do some serious soul searching and figure out what your dream job would look like. Where would you be? What would your office look like? Who would you work with? What would you do? What would you wear to work? How often would you be working? What would you eat for lunch? Be as detailed as you possibly can. You’ll be surprised how much you’ll learn just by asking yourself these questions. Write down your answers, so you can reference them later.
2. Timing is everything. If you don’t know what to do, it’s probably not time yet. When the time is right to act, you’ll know. Which leads us to #4…
3. Listen to your intuition. You’d be surprised how brilliant your inner wisdom is. Your gut knows more than any other individual ever will.
4. Believe that your dream will come true. Visualize it. Richard Bach said, “You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true.”
5. When the time comes to go after your dream, send doubters to time out. Chances are, you have all the criticism you can stand between your own two ears. Kindly inform well-meaning family members, friends, and co-workers that you’ve got plenty of self-critique happening already. What you need from them is faith in your ability to achieve your dreams- or silence. Which leads us to #7…
6. Gag your inner critic. This is the time to be your own best cheerleader. You won’t be able to eliminate that fearful voice of criticism within, but you can muffle it so it doesn’t drown out the stadium anthem music you hear when you dream big.
7. Make room in your life for your dream to come true.  Be careful what you wish for- because if you approach it right, it WILL come true. Then what? Build your life to hold space for your dream. Then when it comes true, you’ll be prepared.
8. Don’t be afraid to fly with eagles. You may have been living a sparrow kind of life, but if you’re dreaming big, you’re gonna be flying with eagles, baby! Let the eagles inspire you, but don’t let them make you feel small or unworthy. If I’d been afraid to fly with eagles, I wouldn’t have met Rachel. Dream big- FLY!
9. Work hard and stay focused. Few people who are living their big dream got lucky. Most worked to achieve their dreams.
10. Be gutsy and take risks. You may feel like you’ve jumped off a cliff and you’re free falling through outer space- and if you're living your dream, chances are, you are. Embrace it! The free fall is exciting, and you never know where you’re going to land. Jumping off the proverbial cliff means that anything can happen.“If you hold onto the handle, it’s easier to maintain the illusion of control. But it’s more fun if you let the wind carry you.” –Brian Andreas
11. Go with the flow. Once you’ve jumped off the cliff, ride whatever wave you land on. Quit fighting the current and just enjoy the ride. It’s how big dreams come true, when you finally quit fighting and let go.
12. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Grab the core of you, hold it close and keep it safe, but be willing to put the rest of you out there in the world. If someone rejects you, it’s not personal. Try again.
13. Nurture yourself. Get a massage, take personal days all to yourself, have lunch with a close friend, take a hike in nature, go on a retreat away from the family…whatever it takes to fill you up so that you’re overflowing and have more to give to your passion. It’ll serve you well when those doubters show up…