Everybody

Good Afternoon everyone!
If anyone reading this is as crazed and stressed out with assignments or work or just anything...I totally relate. I pulled my first all-nighter in college earlier this week but I can still say that I absolutely love the whole college experience. Again, I'm going to advertise schools...because I know a lot of you out there are looking into different schools around this time of year. Baylor University in Waco, TX folks! Perfect atmosphere, friendly faces, incredible campus, sunny all the time, here's the link to the school! Check it out! http://www.baylor.edu/.
One thing I've noticed is the immense use of technology used on campus, which makes sense since we're living in the technological age where everything is easily accessible at our fingertips. But is this making us all a little more lazy and a lot less productive? Possibly. Now we can do homework, stream Netflix, listen to iTunes, surf Facebook all at once on the same device...this could be the reason so many kids drop out after their freshman year. In one of my classes we're learning the art of rhetoric, which sounds boring, and I'll admit, some of the speeches I've read out of my Plato books have done a fabulous job at putting me to sleep. But Socrates points something out: that society is for the most part ignorant in the art of rhetoric. Rhetoricians-- people who were "professionally" spoke and gave speeches back then-- would list off anything they could make sound believable. Isn't that what society is like today? It's on the internet, heir-go it must be true! Except now a days it's the media just spilling out whatever it thinks will be accepted as credible.
At the same time, it seems like technology has made it easy to make anyone and everyone able to express whatever they want and sadly, many people will believe these less credible sources (Wikipedia, ask.com, etc...). For example, apps like facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr allow anyone with internet to post whatever they jolly well want to post. Right now, I'm blogging on a website public to anyone that cares to read it. For this reason, I think we've not only made a technological shift but we also have this need for people to constantly approve of what we have to say...

Ingrid Michaelson's song, Everybody hits on this idea of constantly looking for approval. "Everybody wants to love, everybody wants to be loved" it's true, we all post a status in hopes for the most "likes" constantly friending people to build up our audience and posting pictures on our Instagrams to get more followers. But is this really a bad thing? We're now living in a generation where everyone and anyone can be an artist. Youtube allows anyone with an account to upload a video in hopes to become the next "Justin Bieber." Instagram lets us take pictures and filter them to look spectacular. This can all be great at times, but we have to keep in mind why we initially post. Is it for some greater purpose? Is it harmful to others? Is it merely for fun? But the greater question to ask is "Do I still have room for God in my life?" This one is difficult because it's hard to balance out everything. We all want to be appreciated by someone, someone tangible, someone who we know and can physically see and hear. Sometimes God's appreciation for us all is overlooked because we live in such a materialistic world. We are constantly focused on pleasing society.
I found this to be a problem in high school especially. There's different groups people can fall in, and everyone wants to fit in. And then once you've established your group you feel the need to continually meet high standards to stay in this group. It's crazy! And all the time we're loved by the one person who really matters: God.
College is tough... not only did I have to learn to adjust to new living standards, but I was practically thrown into this pool with 3000 other students in my position and I had to learn to friend-making process all over again, like kindergarten. Except in kindergarten friends were made daily with the standards being low.
It's true, we all want to love and we all want to be loved. Just keep in mind that God's love is constant and he will always love us no matter what.

Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 


My Challenge for everyone: Pray! As weird as it sounds, prayer can be challenging. A lot of questions about prayer come up...when do I pray? What do I pray about? Where is it acceptable to pray? The answer? ANYTHING is acceptable! Prayer doesn't have a set formula, just pray to God about anything that comes to mind! It's amazing what a few minutes of prayer will make you feel afterward, you'll truly feel the love for God and the love God has for everyone. Pray. Regret nothing.

Between the Raindrops

Hey everyone! I'm really trying to make these posts more of a habit and more frequently. I really appreciate everyone who takes a few quick minutes out of their busy schedules to read my posts and I really hope its worth it, I know that reading something "relatable" in my life can help me cope and get through whatever is going on--plus there's always a new song that you can listen to on my blog! :) I just learned today that I can actually upload the video to my blog... which makes it much more convenient.

Anyway, I've successfully completed my first week of college. And can I just say that it one of the most stressful, fun, amazing, crazy, social, hectic, enjoyable weeks I've ever had. Just the idea of being in charge and independent of your choices, your life, and your path is so great. It's the first time for many people that they are in total control of their actions and completely in charge of their path and choices to effect their future. For those of you looking into schools, whether it be undergrad or graduate, I'm going to advertise Baylor University. It's one of the most friendly, beautiful, christ-filled environments you can find. To me, it was really important that Christ be included in my college experience. Especially since college can get a little hectic at times, it always is good to be reminded that God is still with you through everything. My school has church services, bible studies, youth gatherings, and chapel all the time. And I love knowing that a relationship with Christ is something they really strive for all the students to have.

The other day in class, my professor had the class read an article on the major decisions made in college. It shocked me that a majority of students change their major 2-3 times during their undergrad years. Shocking in the fact that I've had a set plan and goal laid out for me since I was a sophomore in high school. I had picked a major and took classes and joined activities to prepare me for further education in college. And now I'm being told that it might not be my final path? That worries me a little, as it should for a lot of college students. Aren't we paying thousands of dollars a year to become educated in the area that we want to excel in and possibly have a future career in? At this moment I can't possibly imagine changing paths... but that's in my power, I have the power through prayer to help God guide me to the right path, the most successful path that addresses my needs and will make me most happiest. And I think that can sometimes be a difficult concept for some to grasp, I know it can be for me. Here I am, someone who has worked a majority of high school for what I'm going to accomplish in college, I want my path to be right. But who's to say that God doesn't have something else in mind? Sometimes we need to take a step back and let God lead us, guide us to the end of the tunnel.

I think this song, "Between the Raindrops" ---->
by Lifehouse best suits this. Change can be a scary concept. Change to a new school, a job change, moving, a new year, new goals, regardless of the change, it's difficult. But God is always with us, walking through every tear, every smile, every laugh, every pain, every raindrop in our lives. He's constantly there reminding us that his love is unconditional and the promising light at the end. One quote I love is "Everything will be okay in the end, if it's not okay, it's not the end." Sometimes I give up on myself too easily, I think that once I've failed I can't redeem myself or get back up. But that should never be the case, it's never too late to get back up, it's never too late to redeem yourself, and it's never too late to accept Christ into your life, because he's always there.

My challenge: Redeem yourself in something that you thought you should give up on: finish that book you thought you couldn't finish, join the club you never got to join, do something :)
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jerimiah 29:11
Regret nothing.

Bruises

Hi Everyone! :) I know its been a while, I've been super busy with graduation and all the roller coaster hills that come with that and I almost forgot to take a deep breath and take in everything that has happened to me. There are always those times when it gets to be so difficult and you just want to quit everything. There are times I feel like falling asleep and never waking up. But then what do I have to live for? Those one in a million times when someone or something brings you down to the point where you don't think you can get back up and every little thing seems to tear you back down... Those are the times when God and prayer are most important. I feel like everyone can relate to this feeling at one point. Whether it be school, friends, work, economic issues, etc that slow or tear you down, God always has a plan and a way to keep you back on your feet. Everyone is alike in this way.

Actually, to go down a different path, I think our similarities bring out our differences. We as humans are so complex that it can be to our disadvantage. We seem to have established throughout the generations that the more different you are from the majority, the more "unwanted" and looked down upon you become. We see it everyday: race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, occupation, education, etc... all sorts of factors now attribute to banishment or discouragement from the "higher society". I don't know why we've come to establish this "higher society" but it has nonetheless happened. Another curious thing I've come to notice in people is that we try to "compete" for the better...or I guess in this case worse sob story. Why?? What's the point? What do we gain? Bragging rights to a less fortunate life than others? Other's pity and sorrow for something we're ashamed of? It doesn't make any sense... But instead of helping others out of their sorrow and shame, we instead have to prove that we have more of a pathetic story that deserves more attention until it's a never-ending vicious cycle battling out which situations are the most saddest.

Lately I've been really attached to the song "Bruises" by Train (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmXaaEvnnOQ). It's an interaction between two old friends, who basically are going over all the negatives in their life since they last saw each other. They both realize that "Everybody loses, we've all got bruises." I think we can all reflect on this when we start comparing our hardships with others... We all go through similar emotions and the thing that sets others apart is how well they can get through the storm and move on, because in the end, we're all one in the same. We all have the commonality of being human, making mistakes, messing up, experiencing tragic events, going through pain, suffering and then there are those joyous times that make up for the pain. But God made us all with the vision on unity. I know I've made mistakes, we all make them, but we have to learn to forgive, learn, heal, and love. Colossians 3:13-14
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

My challenge: forgive someone that you haven't been able to forgive, for whatever the issue is, because we all have bruises and scars in our lives. Find something relatable in someone you might not necessarily get along with. Opposites find their strongest attractions when they work together. But mostly regret nothing. Live with God, for God, throughout God eternally.

Temporary Home

I know its been a while, I've been preoccupied with school and work and a bunch of other things...But today just seemed like the right day to write. What do you do when someone you've known your entire life has to leave the earth and go live eternally with God? Last week, my best friend--or my sister's mom lost a long battle to cancer. It's heart breaking to have something like that happen, especially when there's so much more life left inside. Her mother was one of the sweetest, kindest, gentlest people I've ever met. And she was a part of my family. Our families would spend countless hours hanging out at Elitch Gardens, the Zoo, sleepovers, lunch, and birthdays. I always looked forward to hanging out with them.

It's sad to think that you're losing a piece of what's molded you to be who you are, but then after spending night after night thinking about it I've realized that God took her when she needed it most: Cancer is an awful thing and its extremely painful and takes the energy and life out of you. When I think about it, she was saved from more suffering, which is important. While everyone will miss her, she's now with God. 

So today's song is Temporary Home by Carrie Underwood (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LraOiHUltak) This song can relate to pretty much any situation. It's all about hope and God and life and love. We are all put in situations that are difficult: trying to find a job, being a single parent, paying for your expenses, the first few years of college, living on your own, death, losing a friend, etc... But we all need to remember, it's just temporary and we are all on a journey to somewhere amazing--we all just need to wait for it to come around.
Whenever a challenging situation arouses, try and find a solution through God. Put all your faith in him, and he will make right your path. Just trust in him.
My challenge for you: if you see someone struggling with something in life, no matter the situation, try and lend them a hand, a shoulder to cry on, a laugh, a lunch, something to comfort them. Regret nothing.