Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Quote

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening word, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all which have to potential to turn a life around." - Leo Buscaglia

There are allot of times when we don't really think about what we are saying or doing, and there are too many times when we don't think about how much something so simple can do. Have you ever gotten a smile, or a hug, or even a kind work right when you needed it?

We all have those days when everything isn't going very well, and all we need is for someone to once more tear us down, and the someone comes up to us, maybe a friend, maybe someone you though would never do something like that to you, comes up, and gives you a hug or a compliment, a kind word, or even just a smile. Doesn't it just make the day a tiny bit better?

Sometimes there are people out there, who are pretty good at wearing there masks, as I call them, they are pretty good at hiding everything inside themselves, they don't really say how things are going in their life, and they just keep it to themselves, and then there are the people, who speak their mind, and tell you how things are going in their life, but no matter which one they are, everyone needs some encouragement from time to time. We all needs people in our lives that pick us up when we fall, and that are able to make the day better, just by doing little things.

We often don't think about how much just a tiny little smile can do, or just a small touch or hug, anything like that small things in this world. But, we all have had the days when it seems the world is crashing down around us, and, you know, some days, a friend comes up to you, and says, hey, how's it going? Or smiles at you, or gives you a hug, or just what you needed, even though they don't know what is going on in your life, they still are a friend to you.

We often don't think about what the smallest things can do in the lives of other, they can do so much, and we don't even notice how much they impact someone else. So, when you get a chance, or you see a friend down, just give them a simple smile, cause it could turn their life around, or even just their day.

Here is the quote one more time...

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

Monday, November 27, 2006

A Quote

All I have today is a quote for you...

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening eat, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." -leo buscaglia

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Words

Words.... you use them all the time, you use them to do many thing, that is how I am typing right now, I am using words to tell you what I want to say. We use words so much sometimes we don't even think much about them. We just kinda say them.
Have you ever had someone come up to you and call you a dork, and has someone ever come up to you and said something that you will never forget what they said, cause it made you really mad, or it offend you in some way?
Sometimes we use words so much that we don't even think about what we are saying, and we just say things that we don't think will offend someone, but they do. Do you think about what you are going to say every time before you say it? Most people would say no, because we don't always think before we say something, and that is why we end up saying stuff that we shouldn't say to other people. Stuff that hurts them. Because, you don't know what is going on in their life, you don't know everything about their life, and their day or whatever. You don't know if something that you say will hurt them, but you think that is might, so, if that is the case, do you still say it?
We use words so much that sometimes we just say stuff because we want to, we don't think about the outcome of the words. Do you ever try and make someone laugh? Well, most people would say, yeah, I have made people laugh before, what is wrong with that? Nothing is wrong with making someone laugh, it is the way that you try and make them laugh. If you are trying to make someone else laugh by making fun of someone else, put yourself in their place, if you were the person you were making fun of, and then you heard what you said, how would you feel? Cause allot of times, we won't think about our jokes, and we will just say them, and then we will end up making someone else mad, or hurt them.
Words have a big part of our life, we use them allot, but we should use them to encourage people, not tear them down. We should say nice things about someone, like they look good, or qualities that you like about them. Because, that makes a person feel better, and it doesn't make them have a bad day or whatever. So, make sure to think before you talk, and don't say something that could offend someone, cause you never know, they might be standing right around you, you never know. And, if they are, you have hurt them, and you may say that it doesn't hurt that bad, but you don't know how their day is going, if they are having a bad day, that is one of the last things that they want to hear. It will only make it all worse. So, make sure that you aren't going to hurt someone by what you say. Make sure that your words are going to build someone up, and not tear them down. Just, before you say something, put yourself in their shoes for a little bit......
Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Time with God

How much time do you spend with God? Most people would say, I spend a lot of time with him, "when I get the time to." You see, we all have busy lives, and we don't have enough time to spend with God, everyday, or so we say. But, one of the problems that we have, is that we have our priorities mixed up. We would say that God comes first, but when you but that into real words, that means that we actually have to spend time with God, like he is out first priority. We have to make time for Him, we can't expect that their will just be time for Him, but we have to make time.
And then once we make time, we have to keep it, and make it a normal thing that we do every day. We have to make sure that we keep up with it, and not just say we are going to do it, but don't. We actually have to do it.
Some kids, when we go to camp we get on what I like to call a "spiritual high" were we are all on for God, and we say that we are going to keep up with everything. We say that we are going to read our Bibles, and do whatever it takes to be all out for God, but then when we get home, and we get back into our normal things, we don't do it. We don't say with it, we just back out, and go back to our normal lives, and forget about it. But, we actually have to make the rule for ourselves, and actually do it.
So, right now, if you feel open to it, I want you to make a rule for yourself, on when and where you are going to spend time with God.....
Make a list...
1. When
2.Where
And then once you have done that, you have to stick to it. You have to actually do it, and stay with it. And do it, not because you have to, but because you want to. Because you want to learn more about God, and it is normally in those times that God will show you the most amazing things, because he is so amazing like that. We could never understand! So, tonight, or tomorrow morning, start it! It doesn't have to be for a long time, do it even for 5 minuets, and after a little while, the time will just build up, and you will be amazed at how God works in your life. But, you have to make the choice to do it, and to stick with it.
So, what are you going to do? When? Where? Are you going to take the challenge?

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Prayer

When you talk to God, what do you talk to Him like? What are you talking to Him about? Are you just asking request after request, and expecting that He will answer you, and make everything okay?
That is what a lot of people think. They think that they can just ask God for requests after requests, like He is Santa Clause, and He will do everything that you want Him to do. He will make your life perfect, but that is not true. God does not make your life perfect, because if He did, He would never be able to teach you anything, because you would always live a perfect life, and you would not be able to live through the hard times. And God does not answer everything you ask for in a yes, sometimes the answer to your requests are no, and we have to deal with that. But, even if He does say no, He will still help us through them, and when He says no, it is for a good reason. He knows the outcome of everything, and for most people, you learn the most during hard times, and you spend more time with God when it is hard.
Here is a way that you can pray that would help you not to just ask God for everything, but if this, you will also be able to praise Him, and not just ask Him for everything.
P- Praise- Give God word that He is.... start out like.... God, you are... and then say a whole bunch a different things that God is to you, like wonderful, great, amazing...
A- Admit- Admit to God what you have done, and ask Him for forgiveness, and He will give it to you. And tell Him that you are sorry.
R- Request- Ask God for your requests, but don't be so sure that He will answer them in yes, and don't make this take forever, just do the ones you think are most important.
T- Thanks- Thank God for what He has done for you, and just thank Him, for whatever comes to mind.
S- Shut up! Be quiet, and let God do some talking! You have just talked to Him forever, now it is God's turn to do the talking, if you don't hear anything, just listen, and wait.
So, next time you want to pray, make sure that you don't just ask God for everything, but make sure that you wait, and let Him do some talking, and then you will be equal. Let Him and you do talking. Then, you both get some time to talk. And don't just expect that God will do everything for you, He will do everything on His own time, and remember that His answer will not always be yes, but sometimes will be no, but if it is no, He will help you through the rest.
Matthew 6:7-8
And when you pray, do not keep on blabbing like the pagans, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father already knows what you need before you ask Him.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Welcome Home

Welcome home, you
I know you by name
How do you do?
I shine because of you today
So come and sit down
Tell me how you are
I know, son, its good just to see your face

-Welcome Home You- Brian Littrell

This song is the story ofa lott of people's lives. At times, we all astray from God. We go out onto our own path. We get mad at God for whatever reason, and we don't think there is a point in staying on His side, and trying to go along with Him. So, we go onto our own paths. We try to do things on our own, and I can tell you, basically NO ONE can do it! We need help. You can't do something as hard as life, all alone. You need friends, and mostimportantlyy, you need GOD! He is the one you need, and he is the one who can help you with all of your problems.

Sometimes when we go astray from God, we think that there is no possible way that we can go back on His side again, and we think that he could never love us again. But, as the song says, God is standing there, and waiting for you. And when you come to him, he is just waiting for you to come back. He is standing at the door, waiting for you. He waits, and he wait for YOU! He waits for you, because you are his PRECIOUS child, and he waiting for you, because he loves you. No matter how much bad stuff you have done, he still loves you, and he still waits for you. And when you come, he gives you a HUGE HUG, and wants to talk to you. Just like a friend you have no seen for like ever, then when you see them again, then you want to talk to them and hug them, and all that. It is the same with God. He is waiting for you, and he wants you to come back. He created you, and he waits for His creation. He is always ready to be on your side, and help you,youu just have to ask Him.

Think of the song again, read the words one more time, but the words are coming to you, from God, they are a letter from God, and this is what He is saying to you. This is not to anyone, but you...Readd it as if I didn't write this, but God did. And He is speaking to you...

Welcome home, you
I know you by name
How do you do?
I shine because of you today
So come, sit down
Tell me how you are
You know, son, it's good just to see your face

God is waiting for you, and when you come, he knows your name, and he wants to know how you are doing now. He wants you to come, and sit and talk with Him. And He says, you know what? I don't care what you have just done, it is just good to see your face. And then, when you say... "God, forgive me for doing that," he says, I already did. And then when you ask Him years later if he remembers what you did, he will say no. He is not like an ordinary friend, he forgives you, and he doesn't even remember them, they just go into the trash, and they are gone. Never to be remembered again, they are gone, and will be. He doesn't remember them. They are gone. Read the words one more time, and put you name in the 1st blank, and then put your name.

Welcome home, ______.
I know you by name.
How do you do?
I shine because of you today
So, come, sit down
Tell me how you are
You know son, it's good just to see you face.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Who are you when no one is looking?

Who are you when no one else is around? Who are you when you are all alone, and no on is watching you? Are you the same person that you are when you are around people? Do you show your Christ like ablitites just around other Christians, and be like another person when you are around someone else? DO you just pretend that you live your life for Christ when you are around people who you think that you should? Do you just ask Christ-like, because you think you should, and because that is what other people think?

If you want to be a true follower, you have to be the same Godly person around non believers, and around strong believers. You have to be the same Godly person, even when no one is looking. Because, if you are not the same Christ-like person when you are around non believers, they will not see God in you. But, if you do act Christ-like around non believers, then they will see that something is different about you, and that maybe they should do what you do too. And, always be prepared for them to ask questions about your faith, and you have to answer honestly. One thing about Christianity, is that you have to be honest. If you are a strong believer, you don't need to act like you don't know God at all, but, if you barely know him at all, you don't need to pretend like you know a lot about Him. You need to be honest with you friends when you know you have messed up, and you need to be honest with God too.

But, what I was talking about is, that you can't just pretend that you know God really well, but you really don't. You can't say that you spend hours reading your Bible, but you really don't. No one knows what you do when you are alone, but if you want to be a true follower of God, you have to even be the same person, a strong believer in Him, even when no one sees you, because God always sees you, He knows everything about you, and you can't hide ANYTHING from God!

So...Who are YOU when no one else is looking?

Monday, November 13, 2006

Marvelous Light

Sin has lost it's power,
death has lost it's sting.
From the grave you've risen
VICTORIOUSLY!

Into marvelous light I'm running,
Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth,
You are the life, you are the way

Where are you running? What are you doing in life? What are some of your main goals in life?
Are you running from the bad things in your life? Trying to push them away?

I was talking to a friend today, and she brought up this song, and I was like.... I LOVE THAT SONG! Cause I do, but after she said that, it got me thinking... What is this song talking about? And, honestly, I didn't really know. So, I thought about the song, and I think that God revealed something to me from that song. As I was trying to find something to talk about on my blog, this is what I feel that the Lord wanted me to talk about, or else he wouldn't of let me type this.... But anyway. I got to thinking about this song.... And something popped out to me.

This question.... What are you living for? And, not to think much about it, I thought you Lord, of course, there is nothing else to live for. But, I got to thinking about that, and it is not easy to live for God, it just isn't! It is hard to be the one to stand out in the crowd, it is hard enough to fit it, and then right when you start to fit in, say you friend asked you to come to a movie with them, and you say.... Well, I don't know, but you are accaully thinking that you don't want to go see it, because it is a bad movie, and you don't approve. It is hard to say no, that you don't want to go, but that is what you need to do. Another example... Someone is making fun of you friend, or even your enemy. What do you do? Ignore it! That is the easy way out, but what you should do, is ask them to stop, or something like that, but it takes courage to do that, wouldn't you agree?

Another thing is, what are you living for? Is you main goal in life to impress others? Or to serve God, and lead others to Christ? A lot of people on this earth are very self centered, and that would make us want to live our lives for ourselves, and that is what most people do. But, if you take the time to spend time with God, you will end up wanted to live your life for Him and minister about Him whenever you get that chase. But, we don't think about what God did for us, we just think about what we did for ourselves, how we did this or that, but remember that whatever we do here won't come with us to Heaven, any of our popularity, or our friends, or anything, when you get to Heaven, nothing will matter but God, so why don't we live our lives for Him now?

What is your main goal? Who are you living for? If you are a Christian, what is your next step?

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Are YOU Ready?

If you were to die today where would you go? If you were to get in a car accident, and die at this very moment, where would you go? Would you go up and see God, or will you go down into pits, with Satan forever?

At church on Wednesday, we had some people come, and talk to us about their 3 boys, and what happend to them. They did not know, that on their way home from Walmart that day, they would die. They did not know that some drunk driver, talking on his phone, and speeding would run into them. They did not have warning. Only, about 2 secondeds, and that is not enough to become a Christian, and ask Christ into your life, and let Him become the Lord of your life, and live in your heart forever. You just see the car, and they next thing you know, you are dead.


Sad though to think about, itsn't it? But, it is true. It could happen to anyone, at any time, right now, tomorrow, whenever! So... are you ready?

Yo may be thinking, well, I am not a Christian, but how can I become one, and this is ALL you have to do...
a) you have to admitt to God that you are a sinner
b) you need to ask God for firgiveness for your sins
c) you have to ASK Christ to come into your life
d) you need to ashk Him to be the Lord of your life

And then, once you have done that, you are apart of the family of God, so welcome! When you die, you are going to go to Heaven, and live with God, and all the other Christians. And once you have done that, LIVE you LIFE for God! Live every moment as if God was standing right next to you, because He is. He is standing next to you, and being a friend that will always be there for you. He is like a friend that will never leave you! He will always be there for you, and the friend that you can come to for everything, He will listen, because He loves you. So much that He took the punishment for all of your sins! He loves you so much that he took alot of pain for YOU! A sinner! He took it all so that you could come into Heaven when you died, and live with Him forever when you die. He took the pain of the cross, the pain of being whipped, and the pain of everything, just for you! He loves you! And it is AMAZING! GOD IS AMAZING!

So... if you were to die today, where would you be headed?

Thursday, November 02, 2006

The WORST Days

Do you ever have those days where you feel like God is out to get you? And you are like, God, why are you doing this to me? Why are you making me go through this?

Sometimes, I do that, I think everyone does. Especially when you are having a bad day, and everything seems to be going down the drains. First, you get up, and your family gets mad at you for this or that, and then you get to school, hoping to forget about it all, and then your friends are mean to you, and don't listen, and yell at you, and it just seems like you life is in the dumps! Everyone is leaving you, except one person... So you go and you want to talk to them, and they turn you away, and say they have their own things to deal with. And push you away, or are TOO honest with you! Like they say stuff that you know is true, but you don't want to hear it at the time, and they don't even care, cause they don't understand! So, you walk away, and feel like you are all alone, and no one wants to talk to you, and your days seems like it will never end.

And you start to question God, and ask Him WHY this is happening to you. But, you know what an even better question to ask God would be? Is, to ask him, HOW will you work through me today? And to me, that is hard, cause it is like, why would God want to show me something from such a losey of a day, but you know what? He is planning to work through it, God opens doors for you, and he closes doors for you, and maybe by some stuff that he is letting happen is because he wants to tell you... you know what, that friend isn't right for you, or you should be able to speak to this person, and God will show you your real friend through that.

Some days, you are like, how do I know who my REAL friends are? And, this is all I have to say, the real friends are the one who are who they say they are, and listen when you want to talk, and the people who build you up, not put you down, but you have to understand, that everyone is not perfect, and there is times when you will mess up, and sometimes the HARDEST thing to do is forgive, but you have to realize that when you mess up, don't you want the person to forgive you? So, why not forgive them!

And, so when they days are rough GO TO GOD, and ask Him, how he wants to show you stuff through what is happening, and what he wants you to do, and how he wants you to Handle it all, and everything like that! Because, he will ALWAYS help you through it all! He loves you, and he made you with a plan, and a purpose! HE LOVES YOU MORE THEN ANYONE ON THIS EARTH COULD EVER LOVE YOU! And he know what will happen to you, no matter good, or bad, and he will work through it with you, because he loves you that much!