hard rule

Salvation=simplicity. Living the life of a Christian=impossibility without the grace of God. To stay close to Him and to remain in his will for your life means to be convicted of everything, whether it is listed in the ten commandments or not. The Bible says that all things not motivated by faith are sin. That's a hard rule.
However, I thank God for the problems that I have as well as the ones I do not have. I have problems like Lord, make me strong enough to live the life you have planned for me. Help to me to be faithful enough to trust you. Help me to know that there is no place I will tread and no decision I will make where you will not be there for me, and even more so, if it is the decision motivated by you. Forgive for me being disobedient due to my lack of my faith and my own human desires. Teach me that anything which makes me worldly and causes me to focus on you less than I ought to is wrong for me.
I thank you Lord that all I struggle with is my convictions versus my desires and that I do not have a problem with drugs or alchohol, that I am doing well in school, that I do not suffer from depression, that I have had a loving and stable family life. That I have been provided with all creature comforts. I thank you Lord that I as far back as I can remember you have always been a part of my life.

running looks good

Today a woman taught me that sometimes running looks good and that I should always dance, regardless of what other people think. She also taught me to make sure that I never stay with anyone because they really love me when I don't feel the same about them, but this works both ways. Don't stay with anyone that you are crazy about if you know they don't feel the same about you. I also learned that the one who makes the best date, doesn't always make the best husband. A good husband is loyal, dependable, hard working, trustworthy. He's a rock or he's a puppy. He may not be smooth or romantic but he will take care of you and love you.

art exhibition

I don't always know where I'm supposed to be, but it always seems as though God has me exactly where he wants me. It's as though he uses those around us to tell us the things he wants us to know. Tonight, he used a German classmate of mine to tell me that I have depth and its okay to be close to my parents, yet break away for self-absorbed reasons of my own. It's okay to enjoy final days even though they don't last. He used a political science, model/actor classmate of mine to show me that it's okay to love and to hurt and to leave your heart out there to do it all over again. He used a couple of really good friends to show me he's thinking about me, that he cares, and that I'm not alone. God uses the people who come into our lives as instruments to help us. Sometimes, it's that listening ear at just the right time, sometimes it's a well placed hug, and sometimes it's a phone call, saying, "hey, come play with us." that seem to make sense when nothing else does. It's crazy how a random jaunt through a golf course in the middle of the night, when that night and a few subsequent days belong to you, can lead to a chapel where the doors aren't locked. A cross on the ceiling can show you that everything is just as it should be. It's not that the circumstances of your life are any more clear or that you have figured out the direction you should take. It's that you have peace and can run around confidently in circles like a chicken with your head cut off laughing hysterically because you aren't the one driving anyways. I guess I'm saying Jesus took the wheel, and I ended up in my father's house singing praises to his name, knowing that in that moment there was no place else I should be. Funny how God began this night with an art exhibition and showed me beauty all night long.

Woodpecker

God created a bird that can put holes in trees with its face. It seems to me he has the power to do anythinng and everything, however big, however small. He does all things in his good pleasure. Why not let him have his way with your life? After all, if he expects you to bore through wood, he will equip you with the proper tools with which to do so.

fun with mr pibb

Not having Latin American politics today, I slept in. I thought this would be a great morning for this reason. Nope! I jumped in the shower and had to leave before I was ready to give a classmate her book back. Then I was burning up hot all morning. I rounded up enough change to get a diet coke. I pushed the button for diet coke and a mr. pibb fell out. I think to myself that sucks. I dropped in on the floor and it exploded. Then I thought well, some days are just better than others. I was just real freaking happy not to be wearing any mr. pibb. I came home for lunch and ended up wearing some of my soup. At this point, I just started laughing. Even when things are bad, its all really funny. I like to think of God having a sense of humor. I say it sucks about the mr. pibb then God is like oh really? Check this out. Explosion! No more mr. pibb problem. Now that is humor!!!

More than Conquerors

We are more than conquerors. Christ the Lord overcame the world before time began (it just doesn't know it yet). Satan knows this truth, but why would he admit it? The God of peace will soon bring Satan under your feet. If you aren't already on God's team, you might want to switch sides before the victor collects the spoils of war, and the insurgents are put on trial to receive their just punishment. There are no neutrals; all parties are brought into this war of the spirits. Take up defenses with the Lord or forfeit your soul to the loser. The battle goes not to the world's strong, but to God's weak for He gives them strength when they need it.

Strength To Stand

His strength is perfected in our weakness. I went to a retreat once called the Strength to Stand Conference. They gave us a small white flag, representing surrender. Jesus, is your strength to stand. If you want to be strong, be strong enough to let go and let God. When you pray, give it all up. Release the pain, suffering, sorrow, worry, fear, etc. Once you've prayed about it, let God carry your burdens. They will do nothing but tear you down. To give them to God is to edify Him and yourself. His grace will be sufficient for you and you will not be tempted beyond what you can bear. God will always provide you a way out so that you may be able to stand up under it.

"Walking in the Lord"

I'm gonna do my walking in the Lord
I'm gonna do my singing in the Lord
I'm gonna do my dancing in the Lord
I'm gonna do my running in the Lord

Chorus:
walking in the Lord
singing in the Lord
dancing in the Lord
running in the Lord

I'll walk by faith when I cannot see
I'll sing praises to his name
I'll dance for his pleasure
I'll run to his stronghold

I'm gonnna do my falling in the Lord
I'm gonna do my standing in the Lord
I'm gonna do my waiting in the Lord
I'm gonna do my willing in the Lord

Chorus:
falling in the Lord
standing in the Lord
waiting in the Lord
willing in the Lord

I'll fall to my knees when I am weak
and there I'll find strength to stand.
I'll find his time to be the right time.
I'll make his will my own

I'll do these things...

Chorus:
Cause walking in the Lord
Gives me peace
Gives me joy
It gives me strength to stand.
(Repeat)