God is still Good

So lately, I've been having this theme in my head continuously come up. It just seems to reoccur, every single day and in every single prayer. The theme that God is still Good. This small saying seems to be applicable to every situation in life. No matter what we go through, good or bad, God is still Good. It's amazing to be able to proclaim such a powerful set of words, when things in the world today, don't seem to go the way we want. When we have people in the world suffering and dieing everyday, God is still Good. When we have billionaires wiping their butts with 100$ bills, God is still Good. NO matter how good or bad it may seem, God is still Good.

But how often do we go around saying this, when we lose a family member, mostly likely the first thought in our head is not God is still Good, but rather why God, what did I do to deserve this? And thats reasonable, when something or someone is lost and gone forever, how are we to stand and say God you are still Good? Of course its easy to say it when we are happy and life is going as smooth as butter. Why wouldn't you lift up praises to him? God is watching over you and he is allowing you to be free and happy! But as soon as the sun goes down and your heart is surrounded by darkness, we go back to square one, and start blaming and asking God

why this?! why that?! and so on.

How easily we change from modes of praising God to blaming God, is quite remarkable. We do it all the time, and we may not even be aware of it. But a challenge that I believe we should all try is to praise God in all circumstances. Good and Bad, from the greatest moments of our lives to the worst and everything in between. I believe if we do this, Life will always be happy and joyful, and God will ALWAYS be Good.

May all praise and glory be lifted up to you, Lord.

Believing in God's Will for us

Sometimes I wonder why, God gives good people such hard situations to handle in life. I remember learning in Sunday school classes that God takes care of the good people and punishes the evil doers of the world. But now that I am older and have learned otherwise, I'm still a bit puzzled to why bad things happen to good people. I mean why would such a loving God punish people who try to do only good things? It doesn't make sense!But the one thing I have learned is that everything is part of God's plan, regardless of how good or bad the situation maybe, its all part of God's plan for us. And with that it should put our minds and hearts at peace, yet I still have trouble with that...

Hear my prayers father, please watch over those who know you and also those who have yet to receive your love. That they may believe in all that you do, even though we are imperfect and we may doubt and deceive you at times, will you show us that it is part of your will for us, no matter what situation we may be in. That it is done all out of love and not hate.

Amen

Your Grace is definitely more than enough.

I just want you

I just want you, nothing more and nothing less. I don't know why my head is constantly filled up with the desire to want other things in my life. Friends? I have them and they are the best bunch of people I have come to know. Family? Couldn't ask for a better one, ya we fight and argue but who says we're perfect? Girl Friend? wow who knew that word would come out of my mouth, i think i have so much on my plate right now that, there is no need for a significant other.

Yet why is my heart and mind so restless at night, laying in bed wondering why i have such a burning passion for someone to fill my life. To fill in a hole in my heart, but as i come to realize more and more everyday, that hole isn't shaped for just anyone. It cannot be filled by a family member or friend but God. It's a God shaped hole, and yet its so hard to fill. I don't think its that simple, maybe my hole won't be filled for a long time, maybe it will happen overnight? But lately thats whats been running through my mind. Wanting God and him alone, nothing else, no strings attached, no bonus prizes. I just want him, because with God its like getting a gift that we don't ever deserve in our lifetime. Yet he's just waiting for me, to open my heart up to him, he's standing with his arms open wide. It's just a matter of time, for me to run into his arms and feel the unfailing love of my Abba.

Having the Heart

When it comes down to doing something, we always have a choice. We can either give it our best, or we can half ass it. I think before we attempt to do anything we make that choice in our heads. At times we know what that choice is and sometimes we don't. But I believe thats just our brain trying to mess with us and that leads to us having to make that choice. It may be a easy choice to make, and sometimes it may be the hardest choice of your life.

Whatever I may do in my life, I have that decision to make, from lifting hard at the gym to worshiping God at church. For me as long as the heart is in the right place, everything else will just come together naturally. Having the Heart for something you truly desire can not be measured on a scale, it can not be limited to anything. For no one in the world today has the knowledge to try to measure or understand what the heart can truly do. When the heart comes into play with what we do, we don't even have to make that choice anymore. It's already been chosen for us.

Heart of Worship, Heart of Prayer, Heart of Love, Heart of Fellowship ( Do I really need to continue? ) As long as the heart is in the right place and everything is done with the best of intentions, we have nothing to worry about. If we put our best foot forward in everything we do, can we do anymore? If you can, you obviously didn't do your best. As time draws near for me to move on, and go to this fabulous world known as college, that will be my one prayer.

That God will help me to have the heart for everything.

In anything we may do, may it come from our hearts and no where else.

The heart of love, shown from father to son, imagine how much

love God has for us.

You are all we've got

When I am suppose to be studying for my enviro AP test, all I want to do right now is just write. So I guess that is what I shall do. When I first heard those words you are all I've got, it really hindered me for awhile. I thought to myself what does that mean, so I started to examine the quote from left to right, and from top to bottom and this is the conclusion I have settled on.God is all we have, meaning when everything we have disappears, God will still be there. When our family and friends pass on, (God Forbid) God will still be there. When our needs go through the test of time, they will all fail miserably. But God will not fail the test of time, even when we perish from this earth, in heaven God will still be there. And that's the beauty of our Lord!
No matter what happens, in our lifetime he will always be there. To the Ends of the earth, no matter where we may be, he will be there with us. Taking the pain and punishment for all the sins we have committed and have yet to commit. As I conclude this blog, I am reminded of a famous poem titled "Footprints in the Sand", may this poem help you as much as it helped me.

Companionship

It sucks, how much I depend on others for companionship. I always need people to be there for me to comfort me, in my time of need. When all seems to fail, the first thing I want to do is call someone and just Vent. And if you know me, that's what I do best. All I do is vent about everything and anything. No matter what the topic maybe from girls all the way to grapes. ( not really grapes, but you get what I mean) Just recently I can see how much friends effect me on a daily basis. Only two days of school have gone by and yet I feel so alone. Not having many people to talk with and not having many close friends in class. It sucks so much, and its so pathetic. How is it that in the first two days of school I feel so alone? I wish I could have a person there for me, whenever and where ever, but I know deep in my heart that I shouldn't be looking for that satisfaction in friends or family. I should be looking and yearning for that satisfaction from God. Only he can provide me with that love, which I search for in my friends and family.And as time goes on I know I will still fail to seek Christ first and foremost, but by the grace of God, he will always be there for me. No matter what I may have done. And that's the indescribable beauty of my Lord, Jesus Christ. May I seek you in the mist of my troubles but also in the times of jubilee.

summer...

As the last week of school was just around the corner, the first thoughts of my summer was, it's gonna be lame. And now that most of the summer as gone by, I can confidently say that it wasn't anything close to a lame summer, but in retrospect it was by far the best summer of my life.
Sure I was stuck at work from nine to five everyday, but by working everyday, I finally learned the value of money and hard work. I didn't spend any of the money on myself, but I gladly spent it on others, first by giving my parents an allowance. It was my small way of saying thank you, for everything you have done. Next I bought everyone food, and anything else they wanted. Since my job was so easy and pain free, it never felt as if i was working the whole summer, but more in a sense of playing everyday. Considering my job as play and not work, the money was a blessing and since it came so easily I didn't feel bad spending so freely on others.

But when I wasn't at work, I was at church, simply planning for retreat and getting closer with my youth ministry. By planning for retreat, I learned that there was more to retreat planning than just picking a campsite and a theme. And by going through such a rigorous process of planning, I respect the leaders of my youth ministry so much more.

But I would have to say the highlight of my summer wasn't getting all that money or retreat planning, instead it was the chance that God blessed me with, to get closer to a few of my youth ministry members. With the opportunity that God had given me;a sinner, I took full advantage of it.God had graciously bestowed upon me a community, that loves me and cares for me.With that community behind me, I feel confident in everything that I do, no matter what it maybe. Because I know that they will always have my back and that they will always keep me accounted for.

And it is simply by God's grace that, this "Lame Summer" has turned out to be the best summer of my life. There truly aren't enough ways to say thank you to him, but I know by trying my best in everything and by putting my best foot forward in all that i do,is all he is asking of me. I've learned so much this summer which is a blessing in its own, I pray and hope that he will continue to keep this community around me and that he will watch over me, this coming up school year.

"My Community"