Do you really know what you believe?

“Do I really know what I believe or am I just parroting off what I have been taught?”

 

“Are these my convictions or something someone has shoved down my throat?”

 

“Am I voicing my opinions or am I saying what I know they want me to?”

 

These questions and more have gone through my mind lately and I have been challenged to find the answers. The first question is an easy yet complicated answer. Yes, I truly believe that God the Father gave his son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. All I had to do was realize that I am a terrible sinner, repent from my sins, and acknowledge that Jesus is the son of God and accept his gift of salvation. But what does that mean to me? That means that the Perfect Son of God was beaten and bruised and killed in my place. Do you really know how much that means? That means that now I don’t have to spend my eternity in the torments of Hell! Praise the Lord I am free from the chains of guilt and sin and the devil no more has control in my life! Because of Christ’s sacrifice on my behalf, I Will now live eternally in heaven worshipping God! What an exciting time that will be!

 

I have searched my heart and can fully testify that YES, I DO believe! And nobody can take that blessing of knowing the truth from me.

 

The second question above is more of a complicated matter. Every person has different convictions. We can only search out Gods word and find what we know is right. We cannot make anyone else believe what we believe, we can simply show them why and explain it but they still must make their own decision. If you try to continually nag someone about ‘they have to think the way you do or else...’that will only drive them away, cause them to not trust you, and cause them to lose respect for you. Also, this may cause them to not want anything to do with Christ.

Just because you have differences does not mean that you cannot be friends. If that were the case, life would be “every man for himself”. I know firsthand because I can say that every member of my family does not always agree on anything. We must learn to work out our differences or avoid those issues or agree to disagree.

Don’t let conflicting opinions rob you of a good relationship with a family member or a friend! It is more difficult to repair bad relationships.

 

The third question above is something I really struggle with! I am a coward when it comes to speaking what I think not just what I know the person wants to hear. If we do that, it is the same as lying! When I think about it in this way, I am determined not to do that. Sometimes, I may just not say anything to avoid conflict, but if I am forced to voice, then I will not take the cowardly road!

 

Many more personal questions have been swimming through my mind and I have been working to sort out my brain. The Lord has blessed me with many who help me when I ask and are patient enough to endure my frustration, and do not condemn me for my faithlessness. Praise the Lord for such understanding souls! =) I love them all to death and don’t know what I would do without them!

Never Alone

Why do we get Down and discouraged?

Because we are looking down.... Instead of looking up and around us where we should be, our focus gets deflected downward on ourselves, what we dont have, what we missed out on, or even what we didnt do.
Instead of focusing on self, we should be looking around us at the blessings God has poured on our lives! You may deny that you are blessed but I know you are! If you are reading this post, God is allowing you life! He is giving the very breath you are breathing at this very moment! He has given you another chance to Praise him! He has given you a chance to be encouraged and move forward!

I have been trying to regain my focus. Instead of focusing on missing out on opportunities to spend extra time with Friends, I am trying to focus on the time i did have and how much i was blessed during those encounters! Instead of worrying about My future, focus on the here and now. Serve God with all you have now! Singles can do more without as many worries and distractions so serve God with your life now! Dont waste these precious years fretting about what may or may not happen in the future... Instead of getting down about past failures, Ask God for forgiveness, forgive yourself, and move on. If you hold on to self-pity, you will lose opportunities to serve God and others.

Most importantly, Look UP! God is an amazing Savior! He died to pay our sin debt so we could go to heaven and live eternally with him! Be thankful for that! He is a loving God who wants us to trust Him and look to him for guidance and instruction. He wants us to talk to Him and include Him in our lives. Why not talk to the one who knows everything? When you start to get discouraged, Pray! Tell God and he will be there for you! He will never leave us alone!

Psalms 73:24-26+28 

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

 

 

Hebrews 13:5 

... for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

 

God will never leave us! On this note, the following song is one that i have been thinking about a lot.

 

I’ve seen the lightning flashing

And heard the thunder roll,

I’ve felt sins breakers dashing,

Which tried to conquer my soul;

I’ve heard the voice of my Savior,

He bids me still fight on-

He promised never to leave me,

Never to leave me alone.

 

No, never alone, No, never alone-

He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone;

No, never alone, No, never alone-

He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone.

 

The world’s fierce winds are blowing-

Temptations sharp and keen;

I have a peace in knowing

My Savior stands between;

He stands to shield me from danger

When all my friends are gone-

He promised never to leave me,

Never to leave me alone.

 

No, never alone, No, never alone-

He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone;

No, never alone, No, never alone-

He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone.

 

When in afflictions valley

I tread the road of care,

My Savior helps me carry

The cross so heavy to bear;

Tho all around me is darkness

And earthly joys are flown,

My Savior wispers his promise-

Never to leave me alone.

 

No, never alone, No, never alone-

He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone;

No, never alone, No, never alone-

He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone.

 

He died on Calvary’s mountain,

For me they pierced his side,

For me He opened that fountain,

The crimson, cleansing tide;

For me He’s waiting in glory

Upon His heavenly throne-

He promised never to leave me,

Never to leave me alone

 

No, never alone, No, never alone-

He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone;

No, never alone, No, never alone-

He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone.

                                                                   ~Unknown



Random Photos.

I find it hard to refrain from posting pictures of people. This is just a random conglomeration of them i guess...

 

 

Sams Monitor.

 

A picture i really like! =D

 

Some freakezoid doll at my grandmas house....

 

A cup of hot chocolate. =)

 

Part of last Christmases candy... =) No, its not still around!

I

Hello September!

August has flown and September is here... Pretty much every Saturday is filled with something from now for a long time. Today we are headed across the state to visit my dads family for a surprise 80^th birthday party for my uncle. Tomorrow is Samuels 1^st birthday so next Saturday, we are having a birthday party for him. The 22^nd is The youth hunt and also a bike race... I am torn between which to do! The 29^th we have a youth group activity. October 6^th is our final parade for the year and we usually have a fellowship and “hayride” afterwards. We will probably have a fellowship sometime in the first half of October because that’s when Pastors birthday is. After that starts dads basketball game schedule and since I work, ill be busy a lot of Saturday mornings with that. Not to mention school.... We have devised a plan to get working faster to get the year go faster. We are all eager to graduate! We have several projects in school as well. We are working on a vocation project and I chose Housewife as my vocation. We are also working on a patriotic project in Government. We have to pick a founding father and write a composition on their Biblical beliefs. Also, we are in the middle of a book report for English... I am throwing myself at everything just trying to get over the mountain that looms before me. But when I reach the top of that mountain, I am thrilled to see what is next! NO SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =D Yes, I am very excited! I am still praying about guidance for what to do after that but I know God will guide my footsteps! =) And with awesome people supporting me every step of the way, I feel at peace. =) A big thank you to all my friends who pick me up, set me on my feet, and help me keep on going!