Living in 2011 (2 blogs in 1)

So what have I been up to lately? Well I'm glad you asked! I've been working, being lazy, and working more. It's summer so it's perfectly okay to be lazy! But as summer has continued to go on I've become more aware of the society I am living in. What I mean by that is, I've become more aware of modern day issues (history is repeating itself), I've noticed why people don't like Americans through my observations at work, and I've began to realize who I am as a person and who I want to be.

The American Society:
1. We're very impatient.
2. We think people can read our minds.
3. The majority of our food isn't healthy.
4. We're a soda drinking country beyond compare.
5. If someone messes up, it's likely to ruin our day.
6. It's weird if someone offers to do a good deed for you.
7. Calling yourself a Christian in America is a lot different than if you were in Asia, or somewhere where Christianity is illegal.

So why am I writing about the American society? I don't have a specific reason, it is just some things I have noticed the past few weeks I've been working. I think often times people get too caught up in themselves and forget that we are merely just humans, mistakes happen, and we shouldn't get worked up about it.

I'm currently in the slow process of reading 'Crazy Love' and watching Andy Stanley's sermons on 'The new rules for Love, Sex, and Dating.' Through this God has taught/shown me some awesome things. Some of my closest friends are in serious relationships, aka close to getting married. They're just about 2 years older than me and it is so crazy be we're still young. Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely happy for them and am glad God has blessed them with such amazing men in their lives. God has also blessed me with some amazing single girls, which is great. But through listening to Stanley's sermons it's come to my realization how much I am longing to know who I will one day marry. With my friends talking about wedding stuff and me not having much response it's made me a little jealous. Sometimes it's hard to be around them because we're just in completely different points in our life, but this has all made me realize something; I'm not ready to settle down and get married. I'm spending my time being single, growing in God, becoming satisfied with where I am in my life, and becoming the person who I am looking for to spend the rest of my life with. With all of this, I'm learning it's perfectly fine to be single, my happiness shouldn't be found in a guy, but rather in Christ himself. I need to learn to become satisfied with the people who are in my life now, the situations I'm in, and not worry about what the future holds. I can't tell you how many people have told me, 'stop worrying about the future, God has a plan.' But to me, it's so much more than that.

What are some things that you are holding onto? Have you figured out the direction your life is headed? I challenge you to seek God in absolutely everything you do. He gives us guidence and direction.

Untitled (Potentially Part 1)

I started reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan, probably 3 or 4 months ago. I got to about the fourth chapter or so and stopped reading it. I could say I stopped reading it because I got 'busy', but in reality I stopped reading it because it was convicting. Really convicting actually. It got so convicting to the point that I was questioning whether I was truly a Christian and if I was living my life for myself or for God. So I put the book down feeling convicting and hoping all of this would go away. Maybe I was feeling convicted because I was angry at God for taking away someone that was special to me. Maybe it was because I knew I had lost my 'spiritual high' after coming back from Passion. Or maybe it was because I was lacking motivation and just didn't feel like loving God. However, today I decided to pick the book up again. I decided it was okay to feel convicted and guilty. While reading and once yet again feeling super convicted, I thought about a mission trip I went on 2 years ago. It was to Cluj, Romania. For a week I was surrounded by extremely poor, starving people. I went through an extreme reality check and culture shock. I witnessed poverty and hopelessness right before my eyes. Then remembered I wrote a poem about this trip Senior year of High School. I wrote it for my honors English class, and also as a reminder for me to realize how I have changed, for the better. This poem may not make much sense to you in this post, but to me it's a great reminder of who I should be living for.

As the American's arrive

Tears of joy fall like a river

To them we bring hope and love

Neither of us speak one anothers language

We only know 'hello' and 'thank you'

Luckily communication survives

Muddy, torn clothes is all they have

Scarped feet, and dirty skin

Running water is nonexistent

They draw their unclean water from a well

Playing soccer is what they love

We try to teach a new kind of love

We sing songs and share our faith

Some listen. while others cry in fear

My perspective on life has changed

I don't need materials to live

We've only been together for a few hours

But everyone is smiling

And wanting to play "Rata rata gasca!"

All we have to give is Christ's love and a hug

As the American's leave

Tears fill their eye, their hope is gone til we return

So I ask: Who are you living for? Do you really need to keep up with the Jones'? Is Jesus who you're living for, or is it you or someone else? Is it time for a reality check on your spiritual life? Just some food for thought.

I am FREE to Live

This is why I'm here on Earth: I am hope to the hopless. God will use me to give people hope. People who ran out of hope long ago. God will use me to love children that have never been loved before. Chilren who are seen as "unloveable" because they have HIV/AIDS, children who were abandoned at birth, children who literally starving and sell themsevles for food. God will use me in my life to proclaim his name for His glory! A revival is upon my generation, we're apart of it, our actions are following the words we speak. They're not just being said in hopes of a revival happening.

Over 300,000 children in the U.S. alone are slaves. The polite word, or rather 'politically correct' word in todays society for slavery is Human Trafficking. These 300,000 children are prostitutes, clothes makers, and food harvesters. Whatever happened to the 13th ammendment that abolished slavery? I mean that was the reason behind the Civil War right? So what has happened since then? People are still slaves. Their natural born rights have been stripped from them. They no longer have the freedom to live. These slaves are beaten, given food just barely enough to survive, and are rarely paid any amount of money. They are sold for as much as a $100. They are treated like animals, not human-beings. Americans are uneducated about massive, illegal problems that are happening in our own backyard. Just the other day I watched a video my friend had posted on her Facebook wall talking about a brothel that was busted up in Indy. That's just an hour and half away from me. But the even scarier thing about human trafficking is it's not just happening in America. 1.2 million people a year are becoming slaves. Women are selling themselves for what they thought was work, but in reality they've become part of an industry that pleases men. Children are becoming part of forced labor and getting beaten for not getting the job done quick enough. This is a huge issue and a solution must happen now, not later. There isn't any time for later.

Tonight my mom and I went to the 'Free to Live' worship service tonight over in Louisville. We worshipped. We listen. God spoke to us. His spirit was alive and present. And we responded. God spoke to me, He told me I was hope. Hope to this world of broken and hurting people. One day I will bring hope to someone. Their life could change for forever, in Jesus' name.

Isaiah 58: 6-7 says this "No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

Choices, choices, choices

I have a choice. 
I can continue being pessimistic/ negative Nancy.
 or
I can quit and start being optimistic.

I vote for optimism. I say I have this choice because lately I've been quite negative. Negative about being home for the summer and taking a summer class. While I like being home, if it was my choice I'd still be in Evansville. My friends are there, I'd probably have a job by now, and it's where I feel comfortable. I don't mind being at home, but my friends aren't here, and I don't like being in a place that I don't like.

Most people enjoyed their high school years, I however didn't. I went to a school for snobby, rich kids. I didn't feel welcomed, and I often found myself missing California. I had a choice then, but decided to just be negative about the situation.

So while I've learned that being negative gets me nowhere, literally, it's time for a different outlook. I've thought about how I can be positive about a situation I don't like and the results are much better than having a pity party for myself. Taking this summer class will allow me to press onward with my goal of graduating early, it will keep my mind off missing Evansville, and I will be thankful to get a silly class out of the way next semester when I'm taking 18 hours.

So I challenge you. What things in your life are you being negative about? Maybe you should try changing your perspective. Ask God to allow you to be more optimistic about situations you don't like.

So You're Not Perfect, huh

Everywhere I look there are advertisments about "#1 dermatologist recommended" or "lose 10lbs in 2 weeks" or better yet "these Reebok shape-up shirts and pants really work, just try for yourself!"

Everywhere I go I am reminded I'm not "perfect", atleast that's what society is telling me. It's on TV, billboards, magazines, and even in the mall. I'm not a size zero, so therefore I'm fat. I'm not tan, I have freckles, therefore I stick out and look weird if I dare to show my pale legs. (If we still lived in the 1800's and early 1900's a woman wasn't suppose to be tan, it meant they had been working out in the sun) My hair isn't blonde, or stick straight, it's dark brown and curly. My skin sometimes resembles that of a young adolescent, therefore it's not perfect. It is sometimes oily, and has acne on it. I'm not wearing the latest trend, so therefore I'm not fashionable.  There's things about me I don't like, mainly because I used to get picked on about it. But I've overcome my 'imperfections' and learned to be confident. I'm not saying I walk around thinking I'm this gorgeous person, by anymeans. I just try to stay positive and not let what society says get to me. For example, it seems like everytime I turn around someone is mentioning how 'pale' I am and that I should go to the tanning bed. The fact is, I like how my skin looks, and even if I did try to fake bake, it doesn't happen. It rarely bothers me anymore, but why would someone even say that to a person? I guess that's just how the world works. Let's be honest, we're not "perfect", atleast by what society says. So does this mean we're not beautiful? Of course not!

I hate turning on the TV to find another diet commercial on, or some other commercial talking about how to improve your body and looks. Proverbs 31 says, "Charm and beauty are deceptive, but a woman (or man) who fears the Lord is worthy to be praised. Society says we may not be perfect or beautiful, but I promise you are. Nobody should ever tell you different.

Someone who sees you for you truly are will know that you're beautiful. If a guy truly loves you, it will go far beyond your outward beauty, and they will see your heart of gold (inward beauty). What you're passionate about, and who you truly are. So next time you look in the mirror rather than staring at the things you dislike about yourself, look at the things you do like and realize that you are beautiful, even if society says you're not.

Listen to this: Don't you know that you're beautiful

The Time Has Come

....to say goodbye to Evansville.
I'll be back in 3 1/2 months or so to start the Fall semester.  I really liked my first year of college, after getting over the huge transition from high school. So what will I be doing between now and August? Good question. I'm not really sure to be honest. I will be taking one summer school class (lucky me!), going to see Hillsong United in concert with a friend, climbing Half Dome at Yosemite in California, and visiting my best friend in California. I hope to be going back to grand ole Chick fil A as well. I'm going to miss my friends here, bible study on Wednesdays, and of course my church!
So goodbye Evansville, I'll be back one day, and miss you dearly in the meantime.