Do Not Conform to the World

I used to wonder why God never helped me out with anything in my life. Everyone always told me, "God has a plan for you." But at the time, God wasn't showing that plan to me and I was lost and alone. Now I know why, God wasn't showing me the plan or will he had for me because I wasn't living the way He wanted me to. I wasn't following Him. 

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I was living the life the world wants me to live. I was doing exactly what God had said not to do, "Do NOT conform to the pattern of this world".

One way I was conforming to the world was listening to secular music ALL the time. I never listened to Christian music. I have deleted probably over 200 secular songs on my iPod and Im still in the process of deleting more. I never realized the effect it has on your mind and attitude. All I listen to now is Christian music and my mind is so much more cleaner and Im always happy for the most part. The world makes secular music so evil and filthy. The world also makes Christian music out to be boring, well I disagree with that completely. Listening to this Christian music was one way I renewed my mind. 

....so many people ask why God doesn't help them or why they feel like God isn't present in their lives. I was there, I know what it feels like. Give your whole life over to God completely. Don't hold back. Don't live for the world. Live strictly for God and give Him your everything. 

Yesterday was my 20th Birthday...

And let me just say, it was amazing! Grandma came to school and went to chapel with me and also took me out to eat! I love when she comes here! I've been getting a lot closer to her recently. I think it's because I finally share a spiritual bond with her. God has brought me closer to her. She doesn't realize how important she is to me and how much I need her in my life.

My birthday day didn't end there though....Kevin decided to plan a little birthday date and he did a very good job! I was completely lost the whole night because he wanted to surprise me with everything. We started off going to Olive Garden ( one of my fav restaurants) and it was absolutely amazing! Then I asked him what we were doing next and he said he couldn't tell me because "I would get mad". Well this kind of scared me. Next thing I know he is pulling into a bowling alley. And he was right, I was mad! If you know me at all, I HAVE to have my bowling ball and shoes otherwise I can't bowl. So I started freaking out. When he got out of the car he opened the trunk, and there was my bowling bag with my shoes and ball! Little trickster ;)
I opened my bag and there was a box in it....in the box was a beautiful bracelet! I can't believe that after dinner, and bowling, he also got me jewelry! He is so sweet!
Oh and we also went to Ju Ju Berries and ate some delicious frozen yogurt! :)

Birthday = Awesome!
By the way, I CANNOT believe Im 20 and no longer a teenager...it's weird!

Lukewarm

It's sad to say, but most "christians" are lukewarm...I've been there. I am not proud of it. I don't even know if I would have considered myself lukewarm then...I was more cold.

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm-neighter hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
Revelation 3:15-16

That verse right there sends chills down my spine. I would hate to be turned away because I was lukewarm. Not many christians realize the importance of this verse. Many people think that if they go to church and are a good person, that gets them in. You have to live your life for God, follow His Word, and be on fire for Him. Be scorching hot for God. He gave His only son to die for you, so why can't you at least do as he says? It took me awhile to realize this myself. Luckily, my God is a forgiving God and he has forgiven me for being a lukewarm Christian in my past.

Weekend Report

Friday: Grandma came to visit e for grandparent's day. She sat  in my class. She met Kevin. We went home. I got a new car! A cute little yellow colbalt. Went to Lafayette with the sister and had a sister night!

Saturday: Went around and saw all my co-workers. Went to pick out my ring with grandpa. I didn't get the one that I posted on here, but this one is even more pretty and it's special because grandpa picked it out. It has to be sized and I will get it when I go home for fall break. Went to eat with the family at Red Lobster....got fat. Then went to a corn maze with some old friends. Got lost all by myself and started to cry. Shawn found me finally.

Sunday: Went to church with Karen and had a nice service. Did some homework, took a nap, came back to school and then watched Over The Hedge with Kevin.

That is an overview of my awesome weekend! I loved being home! Usually I don't like to go home, but for some reason I really wanted to go home and didn't want to come back to school. Maybe it's because this week will be awful for me. I have a TON of things to do this week! I have some papers due, and some tests that Im stressing out about! The only thing I can do is take it one day at a time and trust God to help me out this week.
On top of all that, I am getting sick....great!
In other words, I NEED PRAYER THIS WEEK! It would be much appreciated! :)

Do Not Worry...

So easy to say, so hard to do. Especially for me. I am a HUGE worry ward and it's a difficult thing for me not to do...
A good friend told me to read Matthew chapter 6, well today, I did just that.

6:25
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life..."
6:27
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
6:33-34
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I worry about every little thing in my life. Things I shouldn't even worry about yet, but I do...
I worry about tomorrow, next year, graduation, my future husband, kids, house, jobs, my family passing away...a lot of that stuff, I shouldn't even be worry about because that's so far in the future.
God obviously tells us not to worry. We need to seek Him and He will take care of our worries. The day is already hard enough with troubles, so why make it worse with worrying about everything? It's not worth it.
I've decided that every time I start to worry, Im just going to stop myself completely, and pray to my awesome God and He will help me. I am trusting Him.

Clumsy

I just fell going up the stairs in front of wildcat. Completely ATE the stairs...awesome! I really hope no one saw me! My leg is now bruised and has a bump on it....dumb stairs...

Suffering

Today I had the urge to do long devotions before class. I think God was trying to tell me to spend more time with Him today than I usually do. Usually I am dead when my alarm goes off, but today I had a lot of energy. Yup, definitely God!
So I went to McConn and just opened my Bible in a random spot. I was trusting God to give me something great...and He did just that. My Bible opened up to 1 Peter. I read chapters 2-4 and I needed to hear those words. It talks about living for God and suffering for being a Christian. Lately I've been worrying what my "friends" from home will think about my faith and chapter 4 touched my soul. After reading it, I don't worry about what my friends will think.

1 Peter 4: 14-16
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and God rests on you. If you suffer, if should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

I made sure to highlight this. I am going to start reading it every week to remind me that it doesn't matter what other people think about my faith because Im not ashamed of it. I want people to know about my faith and share it with others. And if people do make fun or me for it, it doesn't matter because God will bless me that I stand for Him.

After I read 1 Peter, I wanted more and didn't want to stop reading God's word. So I turned to my favorite book of the Bible...Psalm. Before I knew it, I had read almost 10 chapters. By this time, I had been sitting in McConn for almost an hour.  I had gotten lost in God's word and didn't want to stop. It was amazing! God is so good!