I Am Thankful | No. 3

I AM THANKFUL. PERIOD.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. I truly do hope that you are able to spend this day basking in fellowship, friendship and family. I have found that even on this day of thanks we often can get so caught up in the chaos of it that we completely forget the reason we do it (not to mention the very dark day that follows every year).

We live in a society that often wants more. When we have the phone we want, another comes out and we want a new one. We want new clothes, more food, more money, new shows, and new movies. You name it. We usually want it. We all do it, or have done it in the past- at least I have. But we have all we need in the Lord, don't we? All fulfillment can be found in Him.

And so the question is: how do we combat this greedy lifestyle?

Giving thanks. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18).

I believe that when we give thanks, attitudes change from feeling like you deserve more than God has given you, to an attitude of humility, realizing that you do not deserve a single thing that He has chosen to bless you with. God is not obligated to give us things like a comfortable bed, tasty food, or marriage. These are gifts given by a gracious heavenly Father who simply desires to bless His children. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

Somehow we get it in our minds to doubt His ability to take care of our needs, but “… if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not so much more clothe you, O you of little faith” (Matt. 6:30)? We mean more to Him than the grass and the flowers of the field and the doves that He makes sure to feed. Another passage explains His care by describing a father. If his child asked him for bread, he wouldn’t give him a stone (though I’m probably butchering that passage).

Our Father is going to take care of us.

For some of you it may actually be more difficult to be thankful this year than others. Perhaps you’ve experienced a loss or heard some bad news. You might not necessarily be in the mood to praise God and thank Him. Perhaps you are even angry with Him for the things that have happened to you.

I want to tell you about a man that I once read about. He was a good man, the best you would ever know. He loved God and served Him and his life was full of the blessings of God. He was a wealthy man with a wife and many children. He had nothing to complain about. 

But then tragedy struck him. A number of his employees were killed in a raid, a fire destroyed his sheep and servants, and still even more servants were killed in another attack and camels were taken. Then he heard news that his children had all died tragically from a building caving in on them.

It didn’t end there. He suffered with boils and found no encouragement in his wife. Even his friends had only negative words for him.

This man lost everything. If anyone should be able to feel sorry for themselves, it’s this guy here. But in all this he still declared “though He slay me, yet I will trust Him…” (Job 13:15).

It wasn’t because He was some godly man that he was able to say these words in truth. It was because he knew that God was faithful, and because God is faithful, He can be trusted in even the darkest of circumstances. With every hurdle or fear that comes our way, we can still trust Him. 

I don’t know what your circumstances are. I don’t know what heartache you’ve had to face, but I do know one thing: God is still good.

He will take care of your needs. He will not leave you. I encourage you to begin to think on things He has blessed you with. Just start somewhere- anywhere. Once you begin, I think you’ll find the number of items on your list to be innumerable.

All verses used here are from The Holy Bible: New King James Version

I Am Thankful | No. 2

I AM THANKFUL FOR THAT WHICH I DO NOT UNDERSTAND

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33).

When the going gets tough and confusion sets in I often want answers right away. Why would God allow this to happen to me? What is He trying to teach me? Could this be part of His plan? The questions are enough to bring confusion and despair for an over-bearing amount of time.

But God’s ways are so much higher than my ways, and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. His ways are past finding out. This truth brings so much comfort because I know that He sees the big picture and that He has a plan and design. And design indicates purpose.

If we could understand all of God’s ways, would He be big enough to handle our problems?

But God is not totally lost on us. He chooses to reveal Himself in different ways, such as His Word and through Jesus Himself.

I am thankful for that which I don’t understand because of the things in which I do, for my God is a great God, and that is something I know for sure.

Whom then shall we liken to God, or whom shall be His equal? (Is. 40:25) 

He has measured the waters in the hallow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure. He weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance. (Is. 40:12) 

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable,” (Is. 40:28). 

“He has made the earth by His power; He has established the world by His wisdom, and stretched out the heaven by His understanding. When He utters His voice- there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightnings for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries,” (Jeremiah 51:15-16). 

He gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon by night. He disturbs the sea, and its waves roar. (Jer. 31: 35) 

He placed the sand as the boundary of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that the sea could not pass it. (Jer. 5:22)

His greatness is so vast that no words can possibly do Him justice, and yet He is with me always (Matt. 28:20), He preserves the simple, and when I am brought low, He saves me (Psalm 116:6).

Where Were You?- Ghost Ship:

I Am Thankful | No. 1

November has to be one of my favorite times of the year. Not only do men grow some funny looking stashes and great beards, but it reminds us to think on the things we are thankful for. There are changes taking place all around and it is noticeable in the leaves and in the stirring of our hearts. Though the weather may hold a chill, these are months full of warmth, gratitude, and the color orange (and green and red), so pull out your favorite sweater and a cup of coffee and let it snow.

It has been a personal tradition these past few years to sit down and challenge myself to write and think on what it is I am thankful for. There may be a few different surprises this year and it's my prayer that we will come out of it with our eyes taken off of ourselves and fixed solely on Christ.

I don't want to just list the stuff I'm grateful for. I want to bathe in it. I want my heart to burst open with the joy of it all," (Christine Kane).

I am thankful... 

THAT GOD PREPARES ME AND GOES WITH ME

As I sat in contemplation of all that I was thankful for, I found it rather difficult to name them. I sat and prayed and dug in my mind, but once I started to list a few things I realized that I have so much to be grateful for.

The first thing I think of, something I am beyond grateful for, is this opportunity the Lord has given me to study abroad.

The days here are full and it’s more than just class time and homework. Being here I have every day, all day to focus on the Lord, to dig into His word, and to seek him. He is in it all from the little, day-to-day routines, to who I might meet at a café. The days are full of Christ.

I realized something very important in that it should be this way always. It is not limited to my time in another country, but every single day of my life should be full of Christ. Have you ever gone up to a retreat or church camp? Christ is so evident in those places, but He is not only found in the mountaintop experience. He is living in us and when we seek Him we will find Him.

I am so thankful for this time of training where all I have to think on every day is Christ. It’s my prayer that we might not leave Christ at church or on top of a mountain, but that His presence would envelope our lives and His light will shine evidently through us, all to the glory of His name.

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path, (Psalm 119:105).

I Am Thankful | No. 6

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies but a heart of thankfulness and also turkeys.

This year "I don't want to just list the stuff I'm grateful for. I want to bathe in it. I want my heart to burst open with the joy of it all," (Christine Kane).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am thankful...

THAT GOD IS A REFINER

"He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross..." (Malachi 3:3).

God does not just look at your life and say, have at it. But He is playing an active role in shaping and molding you.

When silver and gold is being refined it is put through a blazing fire to burn away all the impurities. When we are facing hardship, trials, periods of waiting, He is using it for our good. He is teaching us what is important, drawing us closer to Him and removing all that is unnecessary in our lives.

Just the other day I walked to my car at the end of a long work shift, only to find out that someone had broken into my car and stolen all that was inside. Turns out it was the wrong day to have every expensive item I owned in my vehicle. (Side note, I am very thankful that I even have a way to be writing these posts, difficult as it may be).

I was mad, scared and really upset. And, shoot, thanksgiving was just around the corner! I looked up and thought, nice one God. Very nicely orchestrated, what with the timing and the placement of all these expensive items in the car on this specific day. Really, you can't write this stuff.

But I am still thankful. Trust me, I'm surprised too.

God is using this for good at so many levels, reminding me of what the Holidays are really about and what is important. He is taking me as gold and burning away the items in my life that are impure. Maybe not the items themselves but the distracting role they play in my life. I am more appreciative of the opportunities I have to play the guitar. And even now that it is more difficult to simply write a blog post, I am making time to do it.

He is making me see more clearly, and with the refining He is making me to be a clearer reflection of Himself.

These are the things that are important. Family, worship, prayer, the Word. And it took a thief to remind me.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well that wraps up my short Hello November Challenge. It's always a real pleasure doing these.

I pray you will take some time this thanksgiving and all throughout the Holidays to spend some time with your family. But most importantly spend some real one on one time with God. He is the reason we have anything to be thankful for. The reason we have breath.

So when we give thanks it is to no other than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Happy Thanksgiving and God bless.

I Am Thankful | No. 5

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies but a heart of thankfulness and also turkeys.

This year "I don't want to just list the stuff I'm grateful for. I want to bathe in it. I want my heart to burst open with the joy of it all," (Christine Kane).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am thankful for...

WAITING

As much as I desire to meet the man I will marry, God has called me to wait as of right now. Some days most days it's a real bummer, but I worship a God who loves to turn what we may see as bad, into something good. Very, very good. (Romans 8:28). The good that God works things into is not a temporary goodness, like a movie you enjoy or a chocolate fudge brownie. Those are temporary things we consider good. The good He is working together is of eternal value, one that will not perish from the depravity of this world, but will thrive with Him when we inherit our full rights as God's adopted children.

He is working in and through us, shaping and molding us to look more like Christ. I may think it's a good idea for God to allow me to be with my husband now, but He's got better plans for me.

This is not to take away from the time in my life when God will allow love. He will be able to use that time to shape and mold us as well. But I can thrive in the here and now knowing that He is not giving up on me, that He is still working on my heart and doing something beautiful.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal," (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

I Am Thankful | No. 4

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies but a heart of thankfulness and also turkeys.

This year "I don't want to just list the stuff I'm grateful for. I want to bathe in it. I want my heart to burst open with the joy of it all," (Christine Kane).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am thankful for...

PRAYER.

The God of the universe desires conversation with me and with you. He wants to walk in fellowship with us, His children.

So why do we not pray very much? It really does break my heart.

Not only does God desire to talk with us, but I desire to talk with Him, yet I know that I don't pray enough. Honestly, I believe none of us do. You know what they say, if you want to humble the mightiest Christians, ask them about their prayer life.

We overthink prayer. We make it some great big idea that we need to speak flamboyantly, drawing out all our empty words and saying "oh God" every two words.

There is no right or wrong way to pray... except not to pray.

I am thankful that I can speak directly to God, present my worries, praise, and any questions I have to Him. I am thankful that He listens. He hears our prayers and answers them. Could be a "no" or a "wait", but I find comfort that He will do what is best for us His children.

Take a moment today and thank God for this wonderful fellowship we are able to have with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.

"Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!" (Psalm 116:2)

"If you want a life of prayer, the way to get it is by praying," (Thomas Merton).

I Am Thankful | No. 3

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies but a heart of thankfulness and also turkeys.

This year "I don't want to just list the stuff I'm grateful for. I want to bathe in it. I want my heart to burst open with the joy of it all," (Christine Kane).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am thankful...

FOR MY BEST FRIEND, COREEN 

Life is just so much more exciting with you.

This girl has been a part of my life from the very beginning. We gave our lives to Christ around the same time, and together we pushed and motivated and corrected one another in our walks. She has been nothing less than a beautiful gift from God, even as far away as she lives.

She is random and crazy, and with her I know I can always be myself, no questions asked.

Well, maybe some questions. When I speak my mind there is often a little confusion. I can trust that she'll always be there to slap me out of it. Literally.

One of her letters reads, "I'll bring you an egg so you can see it's awesomeness :)." Okay? But later in the same letter she says, "When you give your worries to God, you can just feel like it's not even that big of a deal. If you and him end up together, super! But if not, it's because God has a bigger plan. And the fact that, if you 2 don't work out, and there's someone better than him... that's crazy," (Coreen, 12 April 2011).

Gee, green flowers, you are so wise.

I love this one: "I hate waiting for things. Like my show to come on, or the class to end or my hot pocket to warm up. But when it comes to waiting for God, I start having more patience," (Coreen, 8 April 2011).

We have come a long way from our thirteen-year-old-selves, but I've said it once and I'll say it again, you are a blessing from God above. I wonder where I'd bee had I not met you. I love you, and am so thankful for you.

"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend," (Proverbs 27:17).

"Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy," (Proverbs 27:6).

I Am Thankful | No. 2

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies but a heart of thankfulness and also turkeys.

This year "I don't want to just list the stuff I'm grateful for. I want to bathe in it. I want my heart to burst open with the joy of it all," (Christine Kane).

I am thankful...

FOR FAMILY

I have one great family. We are crazy. We probably belong in an insane asylum. And as my siblings and I say, our mom raised a bunch of zoo animals.

Except me, of course. I'm an angel.

My family may be dysfunctional and completely out of order (in the best way possible), but they mean the world to me. They are there when no one else is and they are free to speak their mind and tell you you're being an idiot and remind you of the right direction to go in. Even if you're positive they are wrong. We want what's best for each other, and if it came down to it, we would skin a leprechaun for each other. We will always watch each other drive away, and we will not stop waving until we know you are gone.

I am also thankful for they family of believers God has blessed me with. We serve together, we eat together, we pray together and we paint, clean, wash, cook together. Those, believe it or not, are my favorite moments.

Here's to family, and never ever taking them for granted. God bless!

I Am Thankful | No. 1

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies but a heart of thankfulness and also turkeys.

So for one week leading up to the big day, I will write about one thing I am thankful for. And we're going to do it all in time before my Pic Monkey account expires, kay?

But let me add one thing before we begin. As one of my favorite bible speakers once said, "I don't want to just list the stuff I'm grateful for. I want to bathe in it. I want my heart to burst open with the joy of it all," (Christine Kane).

So? I am thankful...

THAT JESUS FIGHTS FOR ME

Many times I feel unimportant, unwanted, un(isthisevenaword)cared for.

But Jesus Christ has reminded me that, by Him, I am loved and that is all that matters. Even though I may feel like giving up, like no one cares and I am not worth anyone's time, He is fighting for me. always.

He was fighting for me when He came humbly to earth. He was fighting for me when He used all His strength to carry the cross to skull mountain. He was fighting for me as he hung there upon it and when He gave up His Spirit. He was fighting for me when He rose again. And you know something else?

He's still fighting for me. Rooting for me. Praying for me.

He's doing the same for you, and that is something to be thankful for.

Day Nine | Goals For The New Month of December

This is like a mini new-years-resolution. Cool.

The month of December has always, always been really hard for me. I love it, don't get me wrong. All the beautiful lights, cold weather and trees. The traditions past on from generation to generation in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The New Years Eve celebration in which you stay up late in anticipation of a new beginning. It's all so exciting and magical to me.

But for some reason it is really hard to go through alone. I look forward to the day when I can hang lights and decorate trees and go light watching with someone special.

It's silly and I don't understand it in the least, but it's a hard month to go through for me. Valentine's day? That's always just been funny to me. But Christmas is different. It's not expected for you to have a significant other to enjoy it with. But my patience always wears thinner and thinner every Christmas season.

I understand Christmas is not about any of that, so this December I want to spend it all with the One in whom we are celebrating about. I want to take advantage of every opportunity I have to give, give, give. I don't want to make this month about me and my wants. I don't want to have a pity party and watch chic flicks while I soak in my misery with three different kinds of Ben &Jerry's.

I want to get out of my comfort zone and spend it with friends who, I don't know, have just as hard of a time making it through the season as I do. We can do it together. We can make it through and glorify our God in the process. This season can be the best one I've experienced yet. No boyfriend needed.

Just God. And what's awesome is that He's given me friends and family who will be there for me through it anyway. How awesome is our God?

I love remembering the sacrifice He made when He came down from Heaven for me and you. It shows how big of a love He has for us.

So recap. My goal for the month of December is

1. Give.

2. Spend it with others.

3. Spend it with God.

4. Remember the sacrifice He made, just by leaving Heaven and taking on flesh.

5. Oh and work on keeping up with posts. I'm terrible at it.

I had so much fun during the month of November with the blog series even though I was terrible at keeping up with it. I thought I did a great job. (I'm totally kidding).

Have a great December, I know there are some great things to come. I'm so very excited for it. I hope you are too.

Day Eight | Three Things You're Thankful For

You know how sometimes people will be asked what they're thankful for, and they'll respond with, "Oh, I'm thankful for a lot of things."

Hmm, are you just avoiding the question because you haven't actually thought of anything you're thankful for? Maybe not.

But come on, you know you've done it.

Anyway, I hope you had a great thanksgiving. Thinking of all the things I'm thankful for, makes me feel like a spoiled kid. He's dumped piles and piles of blessings on my life. and sometimes it's easy to forget.

I am thankful for God's plan. He does have a plan for my life but it's up to me whether I want to move forward in His plan, or if I want to continue in mine. I know that His way is always going to be better, so it's a constant struggle for me trying to hand Him my life's story. I think I know what's best for my life. But His plans? They're so much better than mine. And that's a very exciting thing.

God gives the best to those who leave the choice to Him. I believe He has someone for me, and I pray, I pray that I walk in his will.

"'For I know the plans I have you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,'" (Jeremiah 28:11).  

 I am thankful for the friends and family that He has placed in my life. I can't handle this life on my own. In solitude. So He's given me my family and blessed me with my church family. And ultimately, He's given me His Son, who gave me life. Which is really something to be thankful for.

Which leads me to the last on my list.

I am thankful for forgiveness. When it's given, it's a beautiful thing, but it becomes a bit more complicated when you are the one giving it. Learning how to forgive has changed my outlook on God's forgiveness. He didn't have to. He could have wiped us all out again and again. We're are just humans for crying out loud. When He created us, Him being all knowing and whatnot, He must have known what creating us would lead to. The price that would need to be paid.

We were killing ourselves. We, a sinful people, were wreaking havoc on this earth. And yet He still had compassion? It's awe inspiring, what He did.

He came down, humbled himself and became man, and lived among us. Then He died so that we might live.

This is our God.

And He is something to be thankful for.

Original photo via

Day Seven | Write About Someone Who Inspires You

As mushy as I want to be, I have to keep this one minimal because Jodi will probably laugh when she reads this (if she ever finds out).

I thought long and hard about who God has placed in my life and who I thought inspired me most. And there are people that I look up to, such as my parents and pastors and what-not. And they all invested in my life and I am entirely grateful. But I chose Jodi.

Jodi has taken time out of her life to spend with me. She never treated me as a project. I'm not a mentee or a student to her. I'm her friend. Plain and simple.

The first time I was invited over, I expected a long conversation about godly things and what I should do with my life and my problems. But it never came. She genuinely wanted to spend time with me, and if I wanted to open up and ask advice, I was completely able to do so.

Without realizing it, instead of telling me how to live my life, she showed me. She invites me over for dinner and cooks me pie. She invites me to her kids hockey practices and games. We watch American Ninja Warrior and play games with her family.

She's been leading by example. She's showed me what a healthy marriage and loving mother looks like. She's proved to me that it's okay to be yourself and to be confident in that even when others don't approve or understand. She has showed me that it's okay to mess up because we have a forgiving Father, as long as we acknowledge it and turn from it.

She probably doesn't realize that she inspires me, but she does, and I'm so thankful for her friendship.

"What is done in love is done well," (Vincent Vangogh).

"Let all you do, be done in love," (1 Corinthians 16:14). 

Day Six | Write 15 Facts About Yourself

Man, all these November challenges are so pointless. Oh well. 

1. I can't sleep without Chapstick. 

2. I'm allergic to hay. 

3. I don't like wearing sun glasses I public because I'm afraid people will think that I think I'm too cool. If that makes sense. 

4. I don't like soda. Only water and lemonade on special occasions. 

5. I love storms. 

6. I love coffee even though I'm not supposed to drink it. 

7. And now I can't eat wheat. It's a terrible life. 

8. I think huskies are the best dogs in the whole world. 

9. I wonder if you even care about my 15 facts. 

10. Okay that was just a filler because I can't think of anything. So is this one. 

11. I've never had a boyfriend ( unless you count the week long one in middle school. Which I don't). 

12. I really like trees. Good looking trees. They give us oxygen and stuff, it's great. 

13. I get really scared of being attacked or kidnapped. 

14. I once lived with the wolves. They're my homies. (Okay that a lie. But it would be cool).  

15. I think it's beautiful when a bunch of birds fly across the sky. But I also get scared of them pooping on me. 

Day Five | Bullet Your Whole Day

Okay, I was a little nervous about this one because, well, what if it was a boring day?

I thought, man, this better be a good one or everyone will know think I'm lame. But then I remembered, I don't care. And plus, the day ended up being pretty eventful when I hadn't even planned on it.

-Woke up.

-Brushed my teeth and hair.

-Cooked eggs and hash browns.

-Read up a bit.

-Grabbed my laundry from the dryer that I forgot about.

-Got ready for work. 

-Drove to work and got mad at a guy for going 20mph in a 45mph zone. Like, come on. 

-Worked and cleaned and all that fun stuff. 

-Drove home and took a shower.

-Prepared a bible study. 

-Ate some leftovers. 

-Drove to church and saw Jodi who bought me Starbucks! So kind. 

-Talked to my BFF Jill. Okay, her name's Coreen and we talked on the phone. 

-Went to michael's before they closed, with Jodi, and bought cute little boxes for the jr high bible study. 

-We also went to Kohl's, because why not. 

-Drove home. 

-Had a night chat with my step mom. 

-Looked on pinterest until I was tired enough to fall asleep.

So there you have it. I actually had a pretty hard time falling asleep because I was dreaming about my future little home that I'd have all to myself. But I'll probably just live with my dad for the next twenty years or until I'm married. So, twenty years.

I think it's so important to enjoy our boring days too, because those are what mostly fill our days. They don't have to be boring. Not if you have the right attitude by finding joy in the ordinary.

P.S. Oh, and somewhere during the day (I think I was in Kohl's) I got a call from the manager of Express. I now have a third job and have put in my two weeks at Arby's! Yay! I'm moving up in life, friends. It's pretty exciting.

Original Photo Via

Day Four | iPod Shuffle

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies, but I'm doing a challenge. It's only twice a week, mostly because I'm lazy. Feel free to comment, and if you want to join in on the challenge, you're welcome to.

Put your iPod on shuffle and list the first ten songs that come up.

1. Spice Girls- Wannabe

2. Need To Breathe- Let Us Love

3.Track1- (A recording of my own that no one will ever hear. I promise).

4. Mumford & Sons- Babel

5.Salena Gomez & The Scene- Who Says

6. Brandon Heath- I'm Not Who I Was

7. Taylor Swift- Begin Again

8. Hunter Hayes- Love Makes Me

9. John Mark McMillan- My Only

10. Nine Days- Absolutely (Story of a Girl)


Spice Girls would be the first song. I found songs that I didn't even know I had during this exercise.

I don't have very many songs on my iPod, mostly because I just don't listen to music that much. As surprising as that might sound, seeing as I do lead worship. If I do listen to music, maybe when I'm getting ready, it's usually Pandora that I listen to.

But getting to the point

There isn't really a point.

I hope you had a splendid Sunday. Stay golden.

Day Three | Your View on Religion

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies, but I'm doing a challenge. It's only twice a week, mostly because I'm lazy. Feel free to comment, and if you want to join in on the challenge, you're welcome to.

 

I've realized that I'm quite terrible at this Hello November Challenge thing.

Well, better late than never, I'd say.

"I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let Justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:21-24).

I don't like the word religion. It portrays the idea of doing all these good deeds. It portrays a sense of false righteousness.

It reminds me of the Pharisees and teachers of the law in the bible.

"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vein; their teachings are merely human rules," (Matthew 15:8-9).

They put on a façade, wearing their holy garments and praying for all to see. But they're relationship with God All Mighty? It's non-existent. This is what Jesus has to say about these "religious" people:

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! you are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness," (Matthew 23:27-28).

Christianity is not a religion, it's far from it. And as much as it upsets me that some will turn it into a religion, it doesn't change the fact that it is a relationship with Jesus Christ.

It's knowing that I am sinful, but trusting Jesus Christ and accepting His forgiveness of those sins. It isn't doing good works to be seen by men and to be righteous, but it's working hard at following in Jesus' footsteps and knowing that I am made righteous only through Jesus Christ.

This Christianity thing? It's a relationship that Jesus allowed us to have with Him. His love changed everything when He was on that cross.

So let these religious acts be put away already. Let us stop complicating things because God doesn't care about you're "good deeds". It means nothing. He wants Justice. And you know what? It can't be obtained on our own. It's what Jesus paid for on the cross. 

Day Two | 5 Pet Peeves?

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies, but I'm doing a challenge. It's only twice a week, mostly because I'm lazy. Feel free to comment, and if you want to join in on the challenge, you're welcome to.

 

Listing a pet peeves just seems so mean to me. So, you know what? I'm changing it. No one said anything about rules.

Instead of five pet peeves, I'll give you five things I love. Now isn't that better?

1. I love God. The best decision I ever made, and will ever make, is following Jesus Christ. My life would be an empty struggle, searching and searching for some kind of answer for what I needed. Could it be found in works? Being a good person? Or maybe if I just had a perfect boyfriend, then maybe I'd be happy. We are all restless till we rest in Him.

2. I love food. What more can I say? It's great.

3. I love when God teaches me something new. I love, love, love it. Having those aha moments, or something completely mind boggling. Something that I can't help but share with you here. I just love when He teaches me something new.

4. I love rainy days. It's such cozy weather where you can to stay home and be content with old movies and hot chocolate.

5. I love toothpaste, because it cleans your teeth. That is all.

Have a wonderful Friday, my friends.

P.s. What do you love? Tell me, tell me.

Oh and I love turtles.

Day One | Relationship Status

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies, but I'm doing a challenge. It's only twice a week, mostly because I'm lazy. Feel free to comment, and if you want to join in on the challenge, you're welcome to.

This is so dumb. Everyone knows my relationship status, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say: I am currently unavailable.

Okay yes, I'm single. But that doesn't mean I encourage, or even welcome, attention when it comes to guys. I'm pretty awkward, and never having dated and whatnot, I guess the whole guy thing is beside me.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Don't ask me why, because I'm sitting here trying to find a way to explain it, but I can't. I don't want to share with anyone else, that which belongs to my future husband. Like hand holding and cheesy pick up lines and, I don't know, flowers.

All of those things are for that person God has for me. It's my desire, that I walk so much in his will, that I won't even "date" anyone who isn't my husband. To be so much in prayer, and to be so sensitive to the Holy Spirit, that I will know when to move forward, and when He wants me to stay put.

So, there you have it, folks. I am currently unavailable.

Hello November. "Oh Hey, How's It Goin?"

Okay, sorry. I admit my blog title is cheesy to it's core, but come on. It's just a season. You don't have to talk to it.

But on a serious note. Everyone does love November, right? The time changes and with it, so much more. It's the month of pilgrims, turkeys, abundance and warmth. We move deeper into the fall and prepare to make our transition into the new season of winter. But let's not think so far ahead now.

I've decided to do one of those challenges, or whatever, that all the bloggy people do. But I don't have it in me to post every single day, so we're going to take it easy and go twice a week. See? That's nice.

November just seems like the perfect month to do it. So, let's get to it. Here's the list:

Day one: Your current relationship status.

Day two: Your top five pet peeves.

Day three: Your view on religion.

Day four: Put your iPod on shuffle and write the first 10 songs that pop up.

Day five: Bullet your whole day.

Day six: Write ten interesting facts about yourself.

Day seven: Write about someone who inspires you.

Day eight: Three things you're thankful for.

Bonus Post/Day nine: Goals for the new month of December.

There you have it, my friends. My November challenge. Gee, I hope we have a good time. I'm a little nervous.

P.s. I might still post when I feel like I have something that's actually important to say. Just FYI.

Photo via