A Moment You Wish You Could Relive

Day 6.

I have learned in my life not to live in the past, nor to stay in the present, but to proceed into the future.

However, reminiscing is not a bad thing. In fact, it is a wonderful thing. Reminiscing brings back happy memories, teaching moments, and refreshing thoughts. One of my favorite memories to reminisce is one night at TeenPact State Class 2009. (I wrote a post about a TeenPact event last May.) On this Thursday night, the remaining students and staff from the class(around thirty people) went down to the lake where we had a bonfire. We stood around the fire looking up at the stars singing or praying. It was such a beautiful moment that is embedded in my memory.

Just Some Thoughts...

Some people do very little thinking in their life, doing things on a sudden impulse or saying whatever comes to them at the moment. But as for me, I am a thinker. Whether it be deep thinking, random thinking, or thinking about nothing of importance, I love to do it. Here is a little something that has given my brain a workout. Are you ready for this?

"In 2011, we will experience these dates 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, and 11/11/11. Also, if you add the last two digits of the year you were born and the age you will be this year, the result is 111."

Never Failing.

Today I watched one of those cliche Disney movies which of course comes with a teen romance mixed in. But this one upset me a tad bit. Okay, okay. More than a tad.

The Disney guy, who is the main character of the story, has an annoying, self-centered girlfriend who he doesn't even like. They are together for popularity's sake. Then he meets this ordinary girl that he falls for after spending an entire day with her. He then ensues to tell his best friend what is great about this "ordinary" girl and why he likes her so much. Everything he says is overheard by his real girlfriend. She breaks up with him. AND HE IS ASTOUNDED. The unfaithful, lying guy is the "hero" of the story?! Sorry, but he lost points from me. (Sorry about the rant.)

Anyway. It got me thinking about my God and His love for me. His love is true. His love is faithful. His love is never-ending. He doesn't love me one day and leave me the next. Through all of my faults, He still loves me. When I make a gazillion mistakes in one day, He is there with arms wide open. Isn't it a beautiful thought?

His love. never. fails.

A Favorite Quote

Day 5.

"I wish to do something Great and Wonderful, but I must start by doing the little things like they were Great and Wonderful."-Albert Einstein

This is such an applicable quote, and one that I have applied to my own life. Many times we dream big but miss the here and now. "I want to do this." "I want to go there." "I would make a bigger impact if I did that." All of these things are great and wonderful, but what about the small things? The things that prepare you for the big ones? The things that you are needed for?

Why must we mope around if we can't do something huge when there is a smaller task staring us in the face?

You may want to be a leader in your state or nation. That is awesome! But right now you need to be a leader in your family. You may want to visit foreign nations, preaching the gospel to thousands of people. That is amazing! But maybe you are needed in the soup kitchen, telling that one girl about Christ.

Sometimes we are needed in ways that don't seem great and wonderful, but they are great and wonderful. You may not become famous or nationally recognized, but that is where God wants you. Matthew 6:1 says, "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven."

Now don't get me wrong. I am not saying that everyone is prideful in wanting to make an impact. I am saying that we shouldn't get distracted by the things WE want to do when there are things that GOD wants us to do. We shouldn't get distracted by looking for the "big" things that are Great and Wonderful, but we should "start by doing the little things like they are Great and Wonderful."

Today We Stand Together

In March 2007, the state of Alabama suffered a great disaster when tornadoes swept through killing 20 people, 8 of those being students from the Enterprise high school.

Two days ago, on April 27, Alabama suffered another tornado outbreak which killed more than 200 people, devastated cities, and left thousands homeless. Alabama was not the only state affected, but Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia also received damage and fatalities. The following pictures are just a taste of what Tuscaloosa and Birmingham went through. (Note: These pictures are not mine.)

I have many friends scattered throughout each of these states, and I am thankful that all of them are safe. Please pray for those who are homeless, trapped, or lost loved ones.

A Favorite Television Program

Day 4.

I don't watch much TV. Why? Because nearly everything on now-days is trash. I love interior design so HGTV is a channel I turn to when nothing else is on. Some of the designers intrigue me, but I'm afraid that there are few really good design shows anymore. I remember the days of Trading Spaces hosted by Paige and While You Were Out hosted by the amazing Evan. Yeah...

But anyway, I don't watch the modern popular shows. I watch reruns of the old sixties and seventies shows like The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy, and The Waltons. One of my favorites(though it is from the eighties) is The Cosby Show.

It's a comedy show about a family in Brooklyn which consists of a doctor father, a lawyer mother, and five kids. It combines a family's joys, trials, and everyday going-ons with hilarious comedy from Bill Cosby.

It's a show that just makes you laugh. :)

The Easter Season

If you ask a child, "What do you think of when you hear 'Easter?'" the answer will most likely consist of the easter bunny, easter eggs, candy, and presents. Why is this their answer? Because Easter has become like most holidays: a time for businesses to thrive, kids to get hyped up on chocolate, and the true meaning of a holy day(Holy day. Holiday. Get it?) goes down the drain.

Sure. I like the Reese's Cups shaped like eggs. But I can get chocolate anytime of the year. Should this be what we look forward to at Easter? No. The Easter egg hunts? No. New movies about bunnies and chicks which hide the true meaning of Easter? No.

It is a time to celebrate the day that Christ rose from the dead giving life to everyone that believes on His name! Now that sounds like a reason to celebrate.

Today is Good Friday, a day in which we remember the day Jesus died and shed His blood on the cross. On this Good Friday as children around the world sing about Earth, I choose to sing about my King who died to bring me life!

And as Easter becomes more commercialized, it is time for Christians to rise up and not just tell the world, but also show the world what Easter is really about. Jesus Christ rose from the dead, breaking the chains of death and giving us the power to life!
"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."-Romans 6:4

Have a blessed Easter full of the hope of Christ!

"There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand"