A New Year With The Same God

A New Year. They only come once every 365 (or in the case of Leap Year, 366) days. For many, the New Year is a time for a new you. A time to completely remake yourself due to the stroke of midnight. One minute is the cause for you to want to change yourself. Seems kind of silly, or ridiculous if you put it like that, don't you think? Don't get me wrong, I think that we should always want to improve ourselves, and if it takes a New Year, so be it. But, wouldn't it be nice if we focused more on improving ourselves daily, even far past giving up on your New Year resolution?

I have never really been a New Year's Resolution kind of girl. I guess that I have never really thought about it, because honestly, January 1st just feels like any other day of the year. I didn't feel new, like I have heard so many other people claim. This year, 2016, I do think that I would like to make a resolution, one that I hope will last me far past January all the way to December! Instead of a resolution, (which I think is cliched with quitting) I think that I shall instead call it a pilgrimage.
                           
     pilgrimage (n): a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion

Now that we have that settled, we can get to the part where I tell you my first resolution/pilgrimage! Okay, here I go:

My two-thousand and sixteen resolution is.... Drumroll, please! (Just kidding)

                                               I want to grow in faith. 

This year, 2015, has been the year that I have grown closest to God, I feel. I want to grow closer, closer, closer. I am not there yet, and perhaps I will never grow as close to God as I would like to, but this year I want to focus everyday on growing in Him. Will it be easy? No. Will I want to give up? Probably. Will I need God's help? ABSOLUTELY! Will it be impossible? No! Nothing is impossible with God! Will it be worthwhile? Undeniably. 

So, this new resolution, will I be a new me after this year? Who can say. But, I don't want to be a new me, though. I want the relationship between God and I to be a new us (Me being the one who changes, of course, because if you remember the words of Isaiah 40:8, God does not change- he is perfect!). 

             

I am excited to start this pilgrimage with God. I pray that you too will grow in God. Here are some verses to start you off with a new year, a new beginning.

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

"Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God-- truly righteous and holy."                    Ephesians 4:22-24 

"And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then He said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true!"   Revelation 21:5 

Happy New Year! Now is a good time to remind you the purpose of my blog: to tell you that God never fades! He is there guiding you every step of the way, day of the year, and second of the day! He is unchanging, and even though this is a New Year, we will always have the same God guiding us!

Numbers 6:24-26

24 "The Lord bless you and keep you;

25  The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

26 The Lord lift His countenance upon you and be gracious to you, 

And give you peace."  

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A King Born in a Manger

Merry CHRISTmas!  (Okay, yeah I am a little late, but the message is still the same!) I love Christmas... it has that magical feeling to it that no other time can compare to. I bet that Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, and Wise men would have to agree. Can you imagine the scene? A star so bright, a multitude of angels and voices singing above in heaven; "Glory to God in the Highest!", and a little baby, a King, who humbled himself enough to come to earth as a poor baby, when he could have presided in a palace. It puts me in awe every time I try to picture it. I have seen nativity scenes for my entire life, but to have actually been there... And to catch a glimpse of our baby King.

Wouldn't that be a day to hold in your heart forever? Isn't it positively amazing that a little manger could have so much meaning? That is what is my favorite part. I mean, sure, it would have been just as nice to read a story about this little King being born to a princess in a palace with riches, but the setting is what really makes the story. A MANGER: noun, a trough used to hold food for animal; mostly used for livestock raising. Our King came down from the glory of Heaven to live in our sinful earth, in a dirty barn for cows and sheep. He humbled himself for me. For you. Jesus took the place of a peasant to relate to us.We are poor sinners, in need of love, comfort, and acceptance. Had Jesus been born in a palace, would we relate to this story? Could we relate to a King born to luxuries? Probably not. This little baby Jesus was born to save us from our sins. Honestly, the words in Luke say it better than I ever could. So, please, read the story and hold it dear in your heart, because this is the story of the birth of our Savior.

The Birth of Jesus Christ

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 

And in the same region there were shepherd out in field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in manger." And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning the child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherd returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and see, as it had been told them. 

Luke 2:1-20

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

                                                            

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Filled with Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that you are all feeling extra blessed and thankful today-and everyday for that matter! Thanksgiving is more than a day of food and football. It is a day of backing up to see the bigger picture of everything you have to be thankful for.

Last night I was watching "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving." These little cartoons by Charles Schultz are a Thanksgiving tradition in my house. Personally, my favorite is the cartoon talking about the first Thanksgiving.

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims from England and the Native Americans. The Pilgrims had spent three rough months out at sea, crossing from England to the New World. The King of England had given a handful of people, the Pilgrims, permission to do so in order to escape religious persecution.

These people had complete faith in God; they packed up their lives, left their families, and set out to sea for a place they had never seen so that they could worship God. I don't know about you, but I think that is truly amazing.

Their path was anything but smooth, and they faced many challenges and hardships,  but they finally reached America. These brave Pilgrims changed the course of history. When they arrived,  they still had to overcome struggles, but with the help of the Native Americans, by the following year the Pilgrims were flourishing.  With invitations in hand, the Natives joined the Pilgrims in thanksgiving for the bounty that God had provided.

The Pilgrims lifted up their thanks to God for everything He had provided them: religious freedom, a bountiful harvest, the Native Americans, and so much more. They put their complete trust in God, even when the situation looked grim, and it really paid off for them. Not only does the history teach us to be thankful, but to trust in God above all things.

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!"       Psalm 100:4
"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding."      Proverbs 3:5

Have a very happy and thankful Thanksgiving! God's Blessings to each and every one of you! Remember that even if you feel that you have nothing to be thankful for, you have God, who is worth more than any other jewel or stone! So, lift up your thanks and have a wonderful day!
                                                            


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Vienna

Have you ever heard the song, "Vienna" by Billy Joel? It is one of my favorites. The lyrics ring with wisdom and truth.  If you haven't heard it,  I recommend at least looking up the lyrics. Here's a bit of a teaser, but trust me, the music is awesome!

  "Slow down you crazy child, 

You're so ambitious for a juvenile.

But then if you're so smart tell me, 

Why are you still so afraid?"

Basically, it is a song about stopping and smelling the roses and enjoying life instead of planning out your every move. This song is powerful; the very first note and I am already deeply touched. (That piano intro!:)) Anyway, I am getting off topic...

So, what in the world does this have to do with anything, you wonder? I am so glad that you asked! Listening to this song always make me think long and hard. I have college creeping up my back and grades, scholarships, ACTS, SATS, homework, studying, and, well, you get the point. A long list of life. This long list really freaks me out sometimes. It's not just kids though, nearly everyone can relate to this song. We humans like to put things in fast gear, zipping and zooming about, thinking that our plans and busyness should earn us some sort of medal, but God has a different plan for us. God has already has our plans planned inside and out for us since long before our great grandparents were even born. We don't have to worry about how we will turn out...God already knows, and it is perfect.

These plans that God has for us, they can takes years and years to grow into. My guiding verses for this post are Ecclesiastes 3:11 and Proverbs 19:21.

   "He makes all things beautiful in His time." Ecclesiastes 3:11

"You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:21

These verses are perfect reminders that we can plan and plan until we have plans coming out of our ears, but they will do no good because unless God feels that we can and will fulfill that purpose, those plans seem quite useless. Am I saying that we should not plan at all? Not a chance, but we should ask God to show us the life he has designed us to lead, and ask Him to prepare us to do so. Coming up with a plan too fast and without guidance is like a caterpillar hatching from its chrysalis before it has turned into a butterfly. 

Like Billy Joel said in his touching lyrics, "Vienna waits for you." So slow down, enjoy the journey, and ask God to guide you to where He wants you to go! 

Click Here to Listen to 'Vienna'

With Love for Paris

It has been a little over a week since the terrorist attacks in Paris. I know that I speak for everyone when I say that I was shocked and devastated. I could not believe what had happened. It was the oddest feeling, like all of the air had been sucked out of me and my heart, it actually hurt. I felt connected to people that I had never met nor seen. I thought that it was so very beautiful how countries flocked in their support; even if their presence was not there, their hearts were.

   

I don't know why this as happened or what will come out of it, but I do know that God has a plan. God has everything planned out for us, so we do not need to worry, no matter what happens. God will always be there for us, and now especially, for Paris. I think that Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15 perfectly sums up that with God, there is a reason for everything, even though we may not see it. 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

  2       a time to be born, and a time to die;

           a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

  3       a time to kill, and a time to heal,

           a time to break down, and a time to build up;

  4       a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

           a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

  5      a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

          a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

  6      a time to seek, and a time to lose;

          a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

  7      a time to tear, and a time to sew;

          a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

  8      a time for love, and a time to hate; 

          a time for war, and a time for peace;

  9      What gain has the worker from his toil? 10  I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be bus with. 11  He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12  I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live, 13  also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil- this is God's gift to man. 14  I perceived that whatever Gd does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15  That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away. 

Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." John 13:7

God Only Does Us Good

As I sit here on the edge of my coffee table writing this, I look around at the state of the house. Let me just say that it is not good. Today has not been good. Right now, I would actually rather be anywhere else. Today did not start out well, and let me tell you, letting that happen was my first mistake. Right then and there I should have decided to be positive and cheerful, but I wasn't and now here I am pondering all of the different ways my day could've gone instead. Lately, I have been in a sort of "Lazy Day Blues" kinda mood and I can't seem to shake it. The thought has came to me several times over the course of a week or two-"Ugh, God, seriously, why me? Can't I ever have a good day without being embarrassed, frustrated, or grouchy?" I have been fussy, lonesome, and less than my usual self. I am in a SLUMP.

The house is a mess and I am in no mood to clean it. Prior to writing this I was cleaning in the bathroom. I bent down and a bottle clattered on top of my head. "Ugh!" I growled and then I let my thoughts slip-"Seriously, God. Why'd you have to let that happen." I didn't even think twice about it until now. How could I have said that? First of all, I was the one who knocked the bottle down when reaching for it. Secondly, God doesn't let bad things happen to us-that, my friends, is the devil. You see, the Devil is super sneaky. He winds his way into our lives when we don't realize it and he takes hold. He wants to take hold of you and me both. There he was in the bathroom with me, capturing my thoughts and my attitude. A day that could have been super sweet was super sour because I let it be.

As I sit down and write this, two Bible verses come to mind:

"Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all"        James 1:17

"If you do the right things, won't you be accepted? But if you don't do the right thing, sin will be waiting at the door, ready to strike! It will entice you, but you must rule over it."   Genesis 4:7

These two verses are perfect reminders of what we should remember everyday: God only wants good for us, and if we forget Him, the devil is going to take hold of us and never let go. We have to remember each and every day no matter how things are going, God is always on our side, rooting for us, and the devil is the one tearing us down, if we let him. 

When we put our life into perspective, it can narrow our troubles down for us. I may of had a bad day, but I do NOT have a bad life. Tomorrow will be better! :) I hope that you think so too! And as for my slump, I am working on it, but I know that just writing this has made me in a much better mood. As I grow more as a daughter of Christ I know that I will stumble and fall, but God is there to pick me up.

God NEVER Fades

Welcome to My Blog!

Look around you, all around you. Now, I want you to make note of what you see. Perhaps you are inside your house, and you see your grandmother's precious antique vase. Maybe you're outside, and you see a freshly planted garden, filled with flowers and other miracles. As the case may be, you're at the park, and you happened to stumble upon this blog (Welcome!), and you see dogs, or children running and playing. I don't know what you see, but what do you think of when you see these things? Memories? Beauty? Innocence? So what do these things all have in common? You could probably come up with a few things, but I see withering, corrosion, and fading. I do not see lasting qualities. Call me a Negative Nellie, but let me continue. I don't hate antique vases, gardens, or parks, I have simply not put my hope into them. They do not last. Vases break. Gardens wither away. Children grow up and become adults, live their life and die. Nothing on earth will last. Did this blog post take a seriously negative turn for you? Me too! So let's move on...

I said that nothing on earth will last, but there is one person that we can put our trust in, and that is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, true God and man. God will NEVER fade. Ever. The promises for love and protection and eternal life that he has given to us in the Bible will not be broken, and will not wither away. God is always there to guide us and see us through our troubles. Isaiah 40:8 says, "The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of Our God stands forever." I don't know about you, but I think that is truly amazing! Is it wrong to enjoy the things that God has given us? No, but you cannot let them become your hope and comfort.

Perhaps you've ever put your trust into someone here on earth. I know for me, it's been my parents. When I was really little, my brother and sister and I would beg to go get some ice cream in the rare occasion we got to go into town. My parents would say we could, and we'd move on with our errands. By the end of the day, we all were pretty tired, but us kids hadn't forgotten that promise for ice cream, but our parents had. We would be driving out of town, and quickly reminded them of their promise to go get ice cream. They'd shake it off and tell us we'd get ice cream another time. We were pretty devastated, but hey, what can you do? I still loved them just the same, but nonetheless, humans don't always keep promises, even parents. But there is one parent, out Heavenly Father, that will always keep His lasting promises. And maybe, just maybe, in Heaven God will follow through on that promise for some yummy peppermint ice cream, but I digress! :)

I strayed off my point, but if there is one thing that I want you to take from this post, and my blog, is that GOD NEVER FADES. Unless we put our faith into Him, we will be broken. If we do put our faith in Him alone, we will have eternal life and eternal, lasting love that will NEVER fade. We will always have Him and we will always be able to say that He will follow through on his promises to us, and guide us through life, if we so choose to let Him.

The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8