Fear. Depression. Doubt. Confusion. Even numbness. These are just a few of the many burdens humans bear at some point in their life. It can get overwhelming sometimes. At some points, you might feel like you are drowning in a sea of utter hopelessness. You can't see God, you can't see light, you can't see anything or feel anything but gripping pain. In these darkest moments, life might not even seem worth living.
But these horrible times in your life can also be the best times.
In the midst of these heavy loads, you will begin to see God's work in you. Just like a rock gets beat up and chipped off along the journey, it eventually ends up as a beautiful crystal, with all its faults lost on the way there. In this same way, God is chipping away foolishness, pride, worldliness, distrust of the Lord's plan, and any other fault even you couldn't have seen in your immature state. You may not be able to see Him, but He is always there, always has, and always will be.
Now, you may be thinking, "Quit preaching me this stuff. You don't know what I am going through."
It is true your burden may be far heavier than mine, but believe me, I have gone through trials. In fact, I am going through one right now: fear. It's gripping, it's dark, it's cold, it's evil. I hate it. Absolutely and completely despise it. It is constantly with me throughout the day. Nagging at me, nipping at my ears and toes, picking at my brain till I can't think. And that isn't even when fear is at it's worst.
A few weeks ago, I had my first ever panic attack. A real one. I can honestly say it is so far the single most worst sensation I have ever had in my life. I felt absolutely helpless. I was pacing around the house, getting sick, shaking and shaking and, for a moment, I almost thought death might feel better than that. And that's a scary thought, because I thought that the end of it would only be caused by death. I didn't know it would stop. In the midst of such terror, you don't think it will stop.
But of course, it did. My parents were right there with me. They fought the horrible, horrible feeling with cold hard truth. And let me tell you, the moment I sat down and really thought about the truth and just let the terror run its course I felt so relieved. I was so wholly relieved that I actually smiled, and my fear shrunk down enormously. For any and every situation, as long as you know God is on your side and has a plan for you, anything that seems insurmountable will eventually end.
Its still not quite over, the fear I mean, and I am sure I will have future battles with it. But that's okay. In fact, I'm happy. Let them come. Let whatever God wants to happen come. You know why I can say this? You know why any person who is in Christ can say this with full confidence?
Because of this one, true, awesome, beautiful fact:
GOD'S PLAN IS LITERALLY THE BEST WAY ANY SITUATION CAN EVER TURN OUT. EVER.
People may think that their way is better. That isn't true. Satan thought his way was better. Adam and Eve thought their way was better. Cain thought his way was better. The people on Earth during Noah's time thought their way was better. The people from the Tower of Babel thought their way was better. Every human that has ever existed at some point thought their way was better. This is exactly why we need God so badly.
So to recap: we will face trials. But that's okay, cause God has a reason for allowing them to happen. And also, nothing lasts forever.
A few tips: next time whatever it is you are facing comes at you, praise God. Imagine how freaking angry Satan will be! His attack has just turned into a reminder to give glory to God! He will be soooo angry. I love it! Also, remember that if you are facing a trial, it means that God is gonna give you something really good in the end, better than you expected, and that He is actually telling You He has an amazing plan for you. Isn't that great???
So stay strong in the Lord in His mighty power, my warriors in Christ. You'll get through this eventually. I promise. God's got a plan for you. :)
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Monday, September 1, 2014
The Most Amazing Thing in Existence
We are scum.
No, worse than that, we are trash. Worthless. The exact epitome of complete and utter vileness. Nothing could be worth less than us. We totally and 100% deserve to suffer eternally in the most extreme form of suffering. No doubt about it. Even I realize this, and I once was this mass of revolting waste of space.
But we were not always like this. We were not made to be like this.
In the beginning, God made everything, including us, humans. And He saw it all as good. He made us in His likeness: perfect, beautiful, and completely innocent. We walked with Him in light and joy through the wonder that was His creation. No pain, no tears, no death, just joy. And we loved Him.
But, being the most intelligent person that He was, He made our worship genuine by giving us choice. We had two options: death or life. And what do we choose? DEATH.
We took His overwhelming and entirely perfect love and threw it back in His face. He loved us and what did we do? We condemned Him. Kicked Him. Spit in His face. Beat Him. Whipped Him. Mocked Him. Pounded rusty nails into His hands. Hung Him on a tree to die a horrible, traumatic death. We laughed and laughed as the one and only Son of the only Person who truly loved us slowly withered away and died.
Like I said earlier: we are worthless.
And what did He do in the midst of this heinous event? He smiled. He looked at us with loving eyes as we pounded metal into His skin and said "It's alright. I forgive you." And you know what? He still loves us.
Even after all of that, He still does. And not even a bit less. His love is still greater than the largest star in the universe (which you can see here) and we are not even visible when compared to it.
He did not have to do any of it. He could of just not paid our price, or just made some robots to love Him, or just not have made the human race after all. It would have been easier that way. But sometimes, easier does not always mean better. God made a story. Yes, it was full of extreme pain and suffering, but also joy and love.
But unfortunately, even today, we are still repulsive. We still fight against God. We still sin. But thanks to God and the ultimate sacrifice He paid on that tree, He has restored us. If we just accept it, we can be made in His likeness once again. He has planted the seed, and we must be ready to let it grow.
So even in the middle of our failure, even while we wallow in the sewage of our nature, He will still give us a kiss, as long as we are willing to climb out of the slime to accept it.
If that isn't the most amazing thing to ever exist, then I don't know what is.
Everyone, praise God. Don't be worthless.
No, worse than that, we are trash. Worthless. The exact epitome of complete and utter vileness. Nothing could be worth less than us. We totally and 100% deserve to suffer eternally in the most extreme form of suffering. No doubt about it. Even I realize this, and I once was this mass of revolting waste of space.
But we were not always like this. We were not made to be like this.
In the beginning, God made everything, including us, humans. And He saw it all as good. He made us in His likeness: perfect, beautiful, and completely innocent. We walked with Him in light and joy through the wonder that was His creation. No pain, no tears, no death, just joy. And we loved Him.
But, being the most intelligent person that He was, He made our worship genuine by giving us choice. We had two options: death or life. And what do we choose? DEATH.
We took His overwhelming and entirely perfect love and threw it back in His face. He loved us and what did we do? We condemned Him. Kicked Him. Spit in His face. Beat Him. Whipped Him. Mocked Him. Pounded rusty nails into His hands. Hung Him on a tree to die a horrible, traumatic death. We laughed and laughed as the one and only Son of the only Person who truly loved us slowly withered away and died.
Like I said earlier: we are worthless.
And what did He do in the midst of this heinous event? He smiled. He looked at us with loving eyes as we pounded metal into His skin and said "It's alright. I forgive you." And you know what? He still loves us.
Even after all of that, He still does. And not even a bit less. His love is still greater than the largest star in the universe (which you can see here) and we are not even visible when compared to it.
He did not have to do any of it. He could of just not paid our price, or just made some robots to love Him, or just not have made the human race after all. It would have been easier that way. But sometimes, easier does not always mean better. God made a story. Yes, it was full of extreme pain and suffering, but also joy and love.
But unfortunately, even today, we are still repulsive. We still fight against God. We still sin. But thanks to God and the ultimate sacrifice He paid on that tree, He has restored us. If we just accept it, we can be made in His likeness once again. He has planted the seed, and we must be ready to let it grow.
So even in the middle of our failure, even while we wallow in the sewage of our nature, He will still give us a kiss, as long as we are willing to climb out of the slime to accept it.
If that isn't the most amazing thing to ever exist, then I don't know what is.
Everyone, praise God. Don't be worthless.
The 3 Types of Love (originally made pre-blog)
I've noticed something. There are 3 different ideas about love (romantic that is).
Idea 1: Lust. Obviously bad. Obviously fake. Obviously does not last.
Idea 2: A "crush". Now, this idea isn't necessarily bad, in fact it's kind of cute. But this idea should never be treated like real love. This is simply admiring somebody, liking their company, and getting those little butterflies in your stomach when you talk to them or think about them. Nothing serious, just cute. However, most of the time, people will fall in love with the feeling of crushes- that is, the feelings they emit- rather than the person themselves. That's what a lot of teens do during their teen years. And when you hop around from crush to crush and it isn't even about the person anymore, well, that's when it's no longer good.
Idea 3: True love. I have never experienced this, for I think I am too young and too immature to handle the results of this overtaking. And of course, God just has not told me yet who it is, if I even have a true love. But, based off what I have seen, true love is extreme. It means that you would go to the ends of the earth for that person, it means you take them with or without their sour side. You love all of them, all of your life. You are, and hear me out young people who think they are in love, PREPARED TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR NATURAL LIFE WITH THEM. This love, just like any of the true forms of love, is not selfish. It only wishes to give. This is why it is beyond selfish lust, beyond the shallow butterflies in your stomach, and certainly beyond logic. This love will last for as long as you live. I don't believe in "falling out of love", for if you have decided the love is true, is it really possible for it to ever end?
So my point is, ladies and gents, be careful. Save those three special words only when you really mean it, otherwise, you will end up giving a piece of the love that is meant for your true one to somebody who it is not meant for.
Now, for all of those who are close to me in more than just the way meant for one...
I love you. Really.
Idea 1: Lust. Obviously bad. Obviously fake. Obviously does not last.
Idea 2: A "crush". Now, this idea isn't necessarily bad, in fact it's kind of cute. But this idea should never be treated like real love. This is simply admiring somebody, liking their company, and getting those little butterflies in your stomach when you talk to them or think about them. Nothing serious, just cute. However, most of the time, people will fall in love with the feeling of crushes- that is, the feelings they emit- rather than the person themselves. That's what a lot of teens do during their teen years. And when you hop around from crush to crush and it isn't even about the person anymore, well, that's when it's no longer good.
Idea 3: True love. I have never experienced this, for I think I am too young and too immature to handle the results of this overtaking. And of course, God just has not told me yet who it is, if I even have a true love. But, based off what I have seen, true love is extreme. It means that you would go to the ends of the earth for that person, it means you take them with or without their sour side. You love all of them, all of your life. You are, and hear me out young people who think they are in love, PREPARED TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR NATURAL LIFE WITH THEM. This love, just like any of the true forms of love, is not selfish. It only wishes to give. This is why it is beyond selfish lust, beyond the shallow butterflies in your stomach, and certainly beyond logic. This love will last for as long as you live. I don't believe in "falling out of love", for if you have decided the love is true, is it really possible for it to ever end?
So my point is, ladies and gents, be careful. Save those three special words only when you really mean it, otherwise, you will end up giving a piece of the love that is meant for your true one to somebody who it is not meant for.
Now, for all of those who are close to me in more than just the way meant for one...
I love you. Really.
Depression (originally made pre-blog)
Okay, let's be real for a moment.
Nobody is without suffering. Why? Because life happens. We all have some inner struggle going on. And if you happen to be battling with depression, right now and I mean right NOW go find somebody you love and TELL THEM. You have NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF. Do NOT hold it in a second longer. Tell some one. It will help. It will end. But always remember: never ever ever, no matter how hard it may be, NEVER choose when it ends by taking your own life. Never resort to that. Too many people love you, including the one who made you.
Keep holding on.
Nobody is without suffering. Why? Because life happens. We all have some inner struggle going on. And if you happen to be battling with depression, right now and I mean right NOW go find somebody you love and TELL THEM. You have NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF. Do NOT hold it in a second longer. Tell some one. It will help. It will end. But always remember: never ever ever, no matter how hard it may be, NEVER choose when it ends by taking your own life. Never resort to that. Too many people love you, including the one who made you.
Keep holding on.
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