Spreading the Gospel Through Social Media

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love social media. Facebook, Twitter, and of course blogging. ;) It makes it so easy to connect with people who might even live far away. It can be a very useful tool. But in fact, I recently was convicted that it can be an incredibly useful tool for spreading the gospel. I read something that really made me think. (Paraphrasing a bit) it pointed out how we have all sorts of different media where we can say absolutely anything we want, and we end up using most of that to talk about ourselves. I was challenged by this idea. Why not use these outlets to talk about Christ, God, and spread the gospel?? This idea stuck with me. I also have a good friend who uses social media (specifically Facebook and Twitter) to do this. This inspired me to do it as well. You would be amazed what just posting an encouraging status can do. It can lift up other Christians. It can help them have the courage to speak out as well. It can be a witness to unbelievers. It can possibly help them see Christianity in a different way. It can help you to stay focused on God as well. It helps you to be thinking of something more than yourself. It might be a small thing, but you never know how big God will make it as He uses you. Try it; you might just be amazed.

Why I Won't Go to College

This post is specifically for all those wondering why I haven't gone to college, or why I'm not making any future college plans.
I have committed to living at home with my parents, specifically under my father's headship, until I get married. Lord willing, I would someday like to get married and raise children of my own. I am waiting on Him to provide that for me in His timing. Until then, I feel it is very important to stay under the leadership of my father until he gives me away to my husband. That means I am not going to move out on my own. I also am not going to go away to college. There are other reasons that I don't want to go the traditional college route, but I won't get into them here.
So yes, I am almost 20 years old, and still living at home. And I currently have no plans of moving out. I love my family. I love being with them during these years. I love serving them. I love the lessons that both of my parents teach me. I love knowing that my father is here to provide for me and protect me. It would be much harder for him to do that if I decided to leave his household.
No, I am not just sitting around the house, twiddling my thumbs and waiting for Prince Charming. I am doing laundry, doing the dishes, cleaning the house, making my best attempt at cooking (which is getting better), teaching piano lessons, and numerous other things. I am trying my best to use the special years to serve. 
So that's why I'm not going to college. The Lord has called me to serve where He's placed me.

The Yellow Rose

Once upon a time, my father gave me a rose. It was beautiful - just a single yellow rose. (Yellow was my favorite color too.) It sat in its vase on our counter and I thought how perfect and pretty my rose was. The sunlight streamed through the window and the rose seemed to light up. The next day I saw my rose again. But today it was different. It had opened up. What was once an average-sized rose was now a full, fabulous flower! It had opened up to nearly double in size. It was amazing. If my rose had been beautiful before, it was gorgeous now. The change was so remarkable it was almost breathtaking.
Reflecting on that rose and it's transformation, I can see an important lesson. I am that rose. I may be pretty today, as a small flower. But given time and nourishment, I will grow into a beautiful, open flower. But the rose did not sit there complaining that it wasn't big enough - it shared the beauty it had. I never know; tomorrow may be the day that I bloom, that I open up and become a gorgeous flower. But until then, I can learn from the rose - I can wait patiently for that day and share the beauty I have right now. Because ultimately, I want to point people to the Creator of the rose.

My Daily War

I'm going to be completely honest. Sometimes I get really tired of waiting. Sometimes I just want what I want and I want it when I want it. But whoa there, that's pretty selfish. And sometimes I just feel like saying, "Yes! It is selfish! Can't I just be selfish for a minute?!"
But of course that answer is no. Of course I know I shouldn't be selfish. But I can't escape the fact that sometimes it is hard.
So what should I do? God warned me of this. In His word He told me that there would be times when my flesh and my spirit would wage war with one another. Because really the truth is that my spirit desires to do God's will more than anything. I desire so much to please God. No matter what. But my flesh desires to have it's own way. To get what it wants now. So I struggle. I struggle daily because it's not easy to deny myself. It's not easy to say, "Not my will, but Yours be done, Lord." It's definitely not easy to deny myself. But I know that it is necessary. Because I know that my flesh will some day pass away. But my spirit is eternal. The decisions I make now do not just effect me now - they have eternal effects. And I must remember this. So I decide, right now, every day, to die to self. I decide to submit myself to God's will. I decide to trust Him. No matter what. No matter where that takes me. No matter if He ever gives me what I want or not. No matter if other people understand. I decide to follow Him. No if's, and's, or but's. And I know HE will provide me the strength I need. I can't do it on my own. I won't ever do it on my own. But with my focus on HIM and through His grace I will make it. And I know that every step is extremely worth it.

Once Upon a Time...I Had a Plan

Once upon a time, I had a plan. It was a pretty good plan. At least, I thought so. I was gonna go to school online to be a medical transcriptionist. I was gonna graduate with awesome grades (I hoped 98% GPA or higher) and then get a job working from home as a transcriptionist. And then...do that until I got married. Or something. Well. God turned my plan around a little bit. ;) I still did my MT schooling. But it was A LOT harder than I expected it to be. I did still graduate with pretty good grades (due to God's grace I received a 94% GPA). Then I started looking for a job. And looking... and looking... and looooooking. Six months passed. I still didn't even have a job offer. In the meantime I had started teaching piano lessons. I had three students. All this time I was praying. I was praying God would lead me. I was praying for His guidance and direction. Three things happened: 1. I felt God was calling me to continue with my piano studio. 2. I felt God was calling me to develop and use the gift of writing He had given me. 3. I started feeling like He was calling me AWAY from MTing. After months of praying for God to lead me, something very big happened. God doubled my piano studio in one day. I went from having 3 students to 7 students in ONE AFTERNOON. I was amazed and in awe. Now I was POSITIVE this was the way God was calling me. I still don't know exactly what He's doing with me. I still don't know exactly where I'll end up in 1 month. Or even 2 or 3. But I do know this: God has a plan. And His plan is best. And I'm gonna follow it.

The 2012 James 4:8 Challenge

Wow. My first blog post of 2012. How exciting. It is also my first blog post since Thanksgiving, I'm a little ashamed to admit. Well I just wrote out a new list of goals today, and one of them is to post on here at least once a week. So, Lord willing, you'll be seeing a little more of me. Of course I will continue to post about random (or not-so-random) things that arouse my interest...but if you ever have something you'd just love for me to write about- let me know!! :)
Well it is 2012. A new year. A new beginning for some people. This year I have challenged some of my friends, and myself, with something I am calling the James 4:8 Challenge. I would like to challenge you as well. James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." Do you desire to be closer to God? I know that I do. Well then we must draw near to Him. Two really big ways to do this are reading His Word and spending time in prayer. So this year, I challenge you to do just that! Read His Word EVERY day. Pray EVERY day. If you are already doing those things, that is great! I challenge you to spend even MORE time in His Word and prayer this year. I guarantee you if you are digging deep into His Word and pouring your heart out to Him, your relationship with Him will deepen. So this year it is my personal commitment to spend more time in the Word and prayer! I hope you will as well!
P.S. If these are areas you struggle in, you may find a daily Bible and a prayer journal to be immensely helpful. Some friends of mine have started a Facebook group called "Bible Study on FB". It is a group where believers post scriptures and discuss them. If you are interested, check it out!

Happy Thanksgiving

Good evening readers!! I realize it has been a very long time since I posted here for you. Things are going well in my life. I am enjoying the cooler weather of fall. One of my favorite things is to stare up at the clear, star-filled sky at night. Being out in the country, I have a wonderful view of the amazing works of God's creation. I'm even secretly anticipating the first snowfall, which I'm sure will come sooner than any of us would like. :) Well here we are with Thanksgiving almost upon us. It's a wonderful thing to be thankful and count the blessings that you have. In the spirit of the season, I decided to list the 10 things I am most thankful for.

1. My Saviour; His love, grace and mercy. I am so thankful that God sent His son to die for me. I am thankful for the relationship that I have with Him-I am growing in Him each and every day. I love Him so much.
2. My family. I have a wonderful family. I am so thankful for them and the continuous love and support that they give to me. I don't know what I would do without them.
3. My friends. The Lord has blessed me with some wonderful, amazing people as my close friends. They love me, support me, encourage me, and pray for me. God has pushed many of my older friendships deeper, and given me many new friends. I don't know what I would do without these people!
4. My karate family. I'm thankful for the people at my karate club- my karate "family." They have always been supportive of me and are just great people. I am so thankful to be able to continue my martial arts training.
5. My piano studio. I have my own piano studio, and I am so thankful for that means of earning some money and being able to teach some children the beauty of piano music!
6. Writing opportunities. Recently I have been blessed with some different writing opportunities, even winning a writing contest. I am so thankful for these opportunities to continue to develop my writing skills.
7. My church family. I am blessed to be in the same church for all 19 years of my life. There are some really great people there. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of them and serve the community with them.
8. My health. I recently had a very bad cold, but it made me realize how thankful I am that I am healthy and how blessed I am with good health.
9. My pets. We have 3 funny dogs, and I love having them around to play and cuddle with. :)
10. My material possessions. I am so blessed to have a house, a bed, a car, and sooo many other things.

May you all be blessed with a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, and contentment.