Thursday, January 28, 2010

The ultimate pointless post

Good morning AMERICA!!!



January is a weird month.

Yeah, how's that for an intro sentence?! No, really. You just got over a (should be) relaxing Christmas/New year's. You know in about three months 4-H is going to be in full swing. And aside from that, you do actually have a life! (Surprising I know... ) So to me, this is a weird time. It is like the calm before the storm. How do you handle this?! Besides go mildly INSANE?!!!!!!! This is an example of how I handle this random bored/expectant stage...


Okay, no really... That was just a random picture :D ...


SEE?! A lion and a bunny! (Yes, it is purposely labeled wrong.)

Okay, enough ADD..

So really, there is no point to this post as you might have noticed, besides the obvious subject of boredom. Weird thing... I mean when something crazy/un-fun is happening you say "boy, I really wish I could sit and do nothing..." *stare off into space*. I mean how long is sitting doing nothing fun? If you have a pretty awesome book, then for some time. But for those of us who would much rather be out in the mud playing frisbee, sitting and doing nothing is not something we tend to strive for. So to wrap up a seemingly pointless post, (Not that it matters much since I have only one subscriber, my sister... uh yeah... I said it...)

NEW SUBJECT!

Yeah I can't really say anything bad about her, since she IS my only subscriber... if anyone would see a post about how terrible sisters are (They aren't) she would! sooo.. Here is a fun picture we took today:

SISSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


HAHA! How's THAT for sucking up?!

-Hoosierhorsegirl

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Time to put on the track cleats.



Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Matthew 18:3-5




Okay, get off your high horse for a second and look back to when you were a kid. Lets say around the age of 9... On cool spring day, after being cooped up all winter, you have your little kid friends over to "Hang out". The whole... 'What do you wanna do?' scenario begins. You settle on playing tag... Oh tag, the old standby when nobody else can decide on what to do. So of course you pick the youngest/smallest most introverted kid to be "it", because you KNOW that he wont be able to tag you. ---Really there was no point to this... just sort of reminiscing...


~
The other day, a metaphor came to me using this game of tag...


~
When you are playing this game of tag... 99.99999% of the time all the little kids want a base. Why? Because then you can take a break from running like a chicken with its head cut off ..


~
Now this base is like your comfort zone as a Christan. The devil (Tagger) isn't going to bother you while you are on comfort zone (Base) because you are not a target. You are out of the game, no threat whatsoever. When you're on this comfort zone, or base, it's not like when you're out there on the front lines, trying to change things; working to bring people to the Lord. The Devil would rather loose one person who is a Christian, but is not doing anything than one person who is affecting the lives of everyone around them.


~


Now, we can't ignore these people who suck it up and keep running. These people have either just learned how to play the game (aka new believers), or are true athletes in the Lord.





But those you wait on the Lord
shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31



Once you become Athletes, things are not going to be all flowers and hearts... uh no... Congratulations, you are now on the radar of the ultimate enemy, the devil. He'll be watching, testing and trying to foil the plans of God. Your job is to keep running the race set before you! No sitting on base resting! The Lord will renew your strength! So get to work!

This is all I have for now... all the Lord has given me for the moment. So quit reading and get running! Strap on those track cleats!


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Practical Test

In this day and age, how incredibly hard is it to believe in something. Pretty darn. Not only that, how hard is it to share your belief (AKA the truth) with other people... You might as well forget it.
~~~

That you may become blameless and
harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked perverse
generation, among whom you shine as lights in the
world.
Philippians 2:15 NKJ
~~~
We are in a dark world. Just plain old bad things everywhere you look, things that bring in people from all age's and circumstances. But don't worry about how terrible things are, because that is when our job comes in.. we are the lights in this world. If everything was good (Can't even imagine it) What would our purpose be? The Bible says...
~~~
For behold, the darkness shall cover the
earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, And his glory will be seen upon you.
Isaiah 60:2 NKJ
~~~
Have you ever walked into a new church, or someplace you have never been before. There is at least that ONE person, who you can just tell that God is working in them. Tons of people come up and shake your hand (Your a first time guest remember...) but this one person is literally a beacon to everyone. This is what we need to be... A lighthouse, a city on a hill.
~~~
When a person knows you are a believer in Jesus Christ, they will be watching you... waiting for you to slip up. Waiting to see if you're the real dea. And not only that, they will push your buttons, trying to get you to react...in the wrong way... It's your job to stand firm in the Lord. Set the example.
~~~
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the
Lord and in the power of His might.
Ephesians 6:10
~~~
You are the light of the world. A city
that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it
under a basket, be on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the
house. Let your light so shine before men, than they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
Yes, this is all I have written at the moment... I has just been floating around in my head, so I decided to put it on paper! (Well... computer screen...?) anyway, if anything else needs to be added later... I will be sure to add it.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Keep on running... running running

Do you see what this means- all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running- and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed-




In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through- all that bloodshed! So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?




God is educating you, that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live Gods holy and best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in the relationship with God.
So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the patch for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!

Most of Hebrews 12 -The message

Stereotype

ster•e•o•type
1. A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.
2. One that is regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type.
3. Printing A metal printing plate cast from a matrix molded from a raised printing surface, such as type.



Picture a teenage girl in your head..... Go ahead, take a minute.

Now there are many things that you could have thought of. But the Basic Stereotype:
1. Favorite color is pink.
2. It’s all about the boys.
3. Always has pink, sticker covered cell phone at the ready.
4. Mini skirts/leggings.
5. Car consists of a bright lime green Volkswagen Beetle.
6. Can't go out the door without makeup. Ever. Its practically a sin.

Okay, that was fun, but not the point! In today's day and age, Teenagers, especially teenage GIRLS (See 'Captivating' by John and Stasi Eldredge) are going through a battle. Every day. Now I don't put the term "battle" lightly. Quite the contrary... The battle they/we are going through is not of this world......

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 NKJ

Okay. That’s all fine and dandy, but what does the NEXT part say?

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, have done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:13 NKJ

And so... it goes... Into great detail on exactly what your armor consists of. Now when you knowingly are going into a war, battling with things beyond what you can handle yourself. What do you do? You prepare, call in reinforcements, whatever is necessary for you to defeat the enemy.

Example: Cottonwood Cantata 2008. Though I had the solo that year, the girls in the CCFC were doing a song together. The four weeks before the performance were rough on Hannah; she would get physically ill before even just the practices! Hannah has a beautiful voice and had no reason whatsoever to be so nervous. But our mom picked up on this, and told her that Satan was literally attacking her-- Not wanting her to display her talent praising the Lord. Mom talked with her-- and rebuked those demons! And the rest is history...

So as I pointed out above, there IS battle teenagers ARE going through, whether they like it or not…and sometimes they might not even be aware of it. And it is your/our job to prepare them. And how can you do that? Help them put on the WHOLE armor of God!

You've been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you'll be a good servant of Jesus.
1 Timothy 4:6 (The message)

The future literally lies in our hands. Are we going to rise up to be the soldiers God made us to be?



In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
Ephesians 6:18