I wasn't going to post until after Easter, but this question has started to bug me: do we glamorize too easily the cross? I'm sure everyone who goes to church regularly has some form of a cross in their home: be it a piece of artwork, jewelry, something. I myself have cross earrings, a cross necklace, and two crosses hanging on my wall that I've been given as gifts.
But I guess I'm asking myself if I really should display those crosses. Should I really display crosses as jewelry? I mean, in Jesus' day the cross was ugly, cruel, and symbolic of a severe punishment. And I've heard preachers and other people say how we've become all too comfortable with glamorizing the cross. I suppose it's a matter of how you personally feel about the matter: for me, I'm not comfortable with showcasing more than a couple, or having jewelry that is so blingy that it's gaudy. Lately, though, I've been wondering if I should display anything at all out of respect. Will it lead to me trashing every cross in my home? No, probably not.
On the same note, I feel as if when I wear my cross jewelry that it's what every other "Christian" does. Think about it: how many "Christians" do you know who wear at least one piece of cross jewelry? I am willing to guess that nearly all of your "Christian" friends own at least one piece of cross jewelry. What about people who are "Christian" but their lives/choices don't match up with their preaching? When I see those people, and if they are wearing a cross, I think, "How hypocritical. Wearing a cross doesn't prove that you are a Christ-follower. Wearing a cross just says that you think it's a good piece of jewelry", but then I remember that I myself am guilty of wearing the same kind of jewelry. I wear my jewelry sporadically. I wear my Christian t-shirts a little more often because most all of them have a great message to them, and I know that I'm trying to live by whatever that message might be.
The preacher who substituted for my dad 2 weeks ago had 2 great sermons that Sunday. One of them centered on how we are too concerned with how people approve of us instead of being concerned about our hearts before the Lord. He said, "I really dislike the term Christian because it is over-used, over-simplified, and applies to nearly everybody. In the Bible, there are maybe 2 or 3 mentions of the actual word, 'Christian', while "disciple" or "Christ-follower" appears many, many, many more times. That's what I label myself as: a Christ-Follower." That really was a great point: you ask people if they're a Christian and they say, "yeah, I grew up going to church, I'm not a bad person, etc...". Christian applies to almost every person who wishes to apply it to themselves. Not to mention, people tend to think of Christians as being hypocritical all the time. So, if anyone ever asks me if I'm a Christian, I'll say, "No, I'm not. I'm a Christ-follower, which are two different things."
Okay, well, I've kinda run out of things to say, so I'll close this by asking you to consider your heart this Easter. Is it in line with God? Is your will submitting to His? Are your choices reflecting the desires of YOUR heart, or God's? If you'll consider these, so will I. I plan on it.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
How Your Greatest Disappointment Can be a Great Lesson
Somehow I only seem to get around to blogging every 10 days or so...but I have good excuse for it! Saturday was a big day for me as I was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. Not bad, eh? Well, I have an added pressure of maintaining my 3.5 GPA for the next year.
Yeah, thought that might be your response.
Anyways, God willing, I will keep working hard and pull my grades through. This semester I have struggled a lot with not only my homework, but also my life in general. I have been so incredibly disappointed with people in my life, namely this one guy that I really liked. Last night it hit me smack in the face: why in the world do I like him anyway? I mean, he really exhibited his immaturity last night, and what I once found humorous, I now find just downright annoying about him. I guess this is my way of saying, "Okay, I'm letting this crush go and getting on with my life", but he also deserves my criticism (he's dating a girl 4 years younger than he is whom his parents don't want him to be involved with, but anywho). God has a strange way of doing things sometimes, doesn't He? I think I've just had to come to realize that no matter how much I fight against something, if it isn't in God's will, it will not make me a happy person. I will not be able to function as a Christian if I continually fight against His leading. And lately, I have been struggling with my future. What will I do? What college will I attend? Will it even matter? I'm standing in-between choosing veterinary medicine and veterinary technology. I pretty much know what college I will eventually transfer to, but it's still confusing to look down the road and not know what's ahead! On that note, last night we had the group Re-Creation at our church. They were amazing; all of them are college-age students who have put their lives on hold for a year at a time to tour. They really support our hospitalized veterans and perform most often for them, and I admire that about them. Anyway, one of the guys in charge came up to me after the show and asked me if I was into computers (he had seen me putting up our computer that we use on Sundays); I told him that I usually run it and program it and everything. He said, "would you be interested in joining the group?" Inwardly I was thinking, "Would I what?" You see, this group is located in Pennsylvania. They stay in PA for about 4 months out of a year and tour the rest of the time. First of all, while I find the offer flattering, I just don't think I could cut it out on the road. I don't travel well! SEcond of all, it would mean moving away from the only state I've ever known as home, and I just don't like that idea whatsoever. Can we say that I'm just a little bit confused right now? Up until now, I had firmly believed God was leading me to be a veterinarian or vet technician. Now, I feel like He could also be calling me to join this group as a technician or computer person and tour the country. It's going to take some very serious prayer about both paths, but right now,I think I'll just wait on His guidance, which in the end I think is the only thing anybody can do.
Yeah, thought that might be your response.
Anyways, God willing, I will keep working hard and pull my grades through. This semester I have struggled a lot with not only my homework, but also my life in general. I have been so incredibly disappointed with people in my life, namely this one guy that I really liked. Last night it hit me smack in the face: why in the world do I like him anyway? I mean, he really exhibited his immaturity last night, and what I once found humorous, I now find just downright annoying about him. I guess this is my way of saying, "Okay, I'm letting this crush go and getting on with my life", but he also deserves my criticism (he's dating a girl 4 years younger than he is whom his parents don't want him to be involved with, but anywho). God has a strange way of doing things sometimes, doesn't He? I think I've just had to come to realize that no matter how much I fight against something, if it isn't in God's will, it will not make me a happy person. I will not be able to function as a Christian if I continually fight against His leading. And lately, I have been struggling with my future. What will I do? What college will I attend? Will it even matter? I'm standing in-between choosing veterinary medicine and veterinary technology. I pretty much know what college I will eventually transfer to, but it's still confusing to look down the road and not know what's ahead! On that note, last night we had the group Re-Creation at our church. They were amazing; all of them are college-age students who have put their lives on hold for a year at a time to tour. They really support our hospitalized veterans and perform most often for them, and I admire that about them. Anyway, one of the guys in charge came up to me after the show and asked me if I was into computers (he had seen me putting up our computer that we use on Sundays); I told him that I usually run it and program it and everything. He said, "would you be interested in joining the group?" Inwardly I was thinking, "Would I what?" You see, this group is located in Pennsylvania. They stay in PA for about 4 months out of a year and tour the rest of the time. First of all, while I find the offer flattering, I just don't think I could cut it out on the road. I don't travel well! SEcond of all, it would mean moving away from the only state I've ever known as home, and I just don't like that idea whatsoever. Can we say that I'm just a little bit confused right now? Up until now, I had firmly believed God was leading me to be a veterinarian or vet technician. Now, I feel like He could also be calling me to join this group as a technician or computer person and tour the country. It's going to take some very serious prayer about both paths, but right now,I think I'll just wait on His guidance, which in the end I think is the only thing anybody can do.
Friday, March 19, 2010
My God is an Awesome God!
Wow. This past week I've been so floored by God's reminders that it isn't funny. Last week sometime, I was checking on my grades for algebra. Thinking that I had flunked my last test, I scrolled down to the test 2 slot. Instead of finding a 65 or something similar, I found a 100%. A WHAT?! If I hadn't been sitting down when I saw my grade, I would have fainted. This chapter was one that I struggled with and I didn't think I would do very well on the test, but I guess that getting that 100 was not only a confidence booster from God, it was also His way of reminding me that hard work, in any area, will be rewarding in the end. I didn't give up on the chapter, and I think that getting an A on the test just reminded me that I'm capable of more than I think I am.
Today I received a letter from my college informing me that I had been accepted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Now, I was shocked that I left last semester with a 3.6 GPA, but this takes the cake. Again, I'm glad I was sitting down when I read this letter because otherwise I think I would've fainted dead away. Of course, there was a fee, but my parents wanted me to accept the membership because of how good it will look on my resume (haha). I've never been in any kind of honor society, and not only is this gratifying, it's humbling. The past few weeks I've been in a mood of "I'm worth nothing because I'm stupid. I'm worth nothing because I'm not pretty or thin or anything." These two events just exist to remind me that there is One who values me for who I am. He may not like all that I do or say, but He is going to remind me that I'm valuable to Him.
This past week was also spring Break, but "Break" was kind of an oxymoron. Why? Well, I have a paper due this comin Monday/Wednesday, and I had to take all my books with me to Mississippi. But I ended up not actually "working" a whole lot; I ended up playin the Wii more than I worked on the paper, haha. I think that there are more important things than a paper, and that's spending time with family. It's been a fantastic week and one that I won't forget anytime soon.
Today I received a letter from my college informing me that I had been accepted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Now, I was shocked that I left last semester with a 3.6 GPA, but this takes the cake. Again, I'm glad I was sitting down when I read this letter because otherwise I think I would've fainted dead away. Of course, there was a fee, but my parents wanted me to accept the membership because of how good it will look on my resume (haha). I've never been in any kind of honor society, and not only is this gratifying, it's humbling. The past few weeks I've been in a mood of "I'm worth nothing because I'm stupid. I'm worth nothing because I'm not pretty or thin or anything." These two events just exist to remind me that there is One who values me for who I am. He may not like all that I do or say, but He is going to remind me that I'm valuable to Him.
This past week was also spring Break, but "Break" was kind of an oxymoron. Why? Well, I have a paper due this comin Monday/Wednesday, and I had to take all my books with me to Mississippi. But I ended up not actually "working" a whole lot; I ended up playin the Wii more than I worked on the paper, haha. I think that there are more important things than a paper, and that's spending time with family. It's been a fantastic week and one that I won't forget anytime soon.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
When You Reach the End.
I haven't blogged in over a month. It's been pretty busy around my house! School takes up most of my thinking time, and I've been sick over a week, but never fear I think I'm finally getting over it. An update on school: I've been so frustrated with my online courses. I never think I can do enough for my teachers, and it's driving me crazy. But I'm going to keep up with it and not let it get the better of me. Sunday marked not only Valentine's Day, but also the official start to the NASCAR season! I was so excited for NASCAR to start back up, even with all the disappointment of last season, but I think I've realized that no matter how much I dislike some things in the sport, NASCAR is in my blood now. I will always be a fan.
I've reached a point in my life where I've felt at the end of my rope so many times. I've felt so helpless, hopeless, and desperate that I didn't know what to do...there are days when I just sink into depression, Sundays being one of those days. Regardless of what committments I've made in reference to dating, I still find myself becoming impatient. Recently, I found out that a guy I like(d) has a girlfriend. Just randomly, I found out about it. It hurt. The first thing I thought was, "This is what following my convictions has done to you. You missed out on this guy, and now you are paying for it. Some God you follow!" and then I thought, "But I never had a chance with him anyway. Why am I crying about it?" I never had a chance with this guy, and deep down I knew it. I knew we wouldn't go anywhere, but it's still a disappointment. Sometimes I laugh at myself because what I feel like a little girl; I feel so immature sometimes that it embarrasses me. I can't tell you if God has something in store for me because right now, I don't even believe it. To be perfectly honest, I can't trust God right now. I don't trust Him right now. I go through periods where it's hard for me to even believe He's real. I know He's real. I just happen to be going through a period of doubt about it.
My comment about dating is probably one that makes you think, "huh?" so I'll give you a paragraph: I don't think you should date in high school. It's a pointless activity. You're not ready to get married or engaged, so why immerse yourself into a relationship? I don't think you should be dating numerous people either; why give away your heart piece by piece (and girls especially get emotionally involved) to guys who you'll probably never see again? I'd rather date one or two guys instead of ten or twenty and give away pieces of my heart that I won't get back. A silly belief of mine is that you shouldn't kiss while you're dating or engaged. I know that's old fashioned, but I feel like kissing is a piece of your virginity that once you give it away, it's gone. I'd like for my first kiss to be on my wedding day. I'm holding off on dating until God shows me, one way or another, that He's placed somebody in my life that He wants me to be with; and I want the guy to make the first move, I'm not going to be a boy chaser. Ever. I was once asked how I would get the right guy if I didn't date. I replied, "I didn't say I wouldn't date. I said I would WAIT to date UNTIL God showed me He was ready for me to date." I was also asked, "Well what if your husband is a lousy kisser if you don't kiss him until your wedding?" To which I responded, "It won't matter. Not to mention, I won't know he's lousy because he'd be my first" (I mean duh!).
There's probably more to all that, but that's the basics. Those are things that, five years ago, God laid on my heart. I'm a stick-in-the-mud and I know it. Most of the time i don't mind it. Well that's enough for now...my fingers are getting tired of typing, and I doubt people read this anyway. :p haha.
I've reached a point in my life where I've felt at the end of my rope so many times. I've felt so helpless, hopeless, and desperate that I didn't know what to do...there are days when I just sink into depression, Sundays being one of those days. Regardless of what committments I've made in reference to dating, I still find myself becoming impatient. Recently, I found out that a guy I like(d) has a girlfriend. Just randomly, I found out about it. It hurt. The first thing I thought was, "This is what following my convictions has done to you. You missed out on this guy, and now you are paying for it. Some God you follow!" and then I thought, "But I never had a chance with him anyway. Why am I crying about it?" I never had a chance with this guy, and deep down I knew it. I knew we wouldn't go anywhere, but it's still a disappointment. Sometimes I laugh at myself because what I feel like a little girl; I feel so immature sometimes that it embarrasses me. I can't tell you if God has something in store for me because right now, I don't even believe it. To be perfectly honest, I can't trust God right now. I don't trust Him right now. I go through periods where it's hard for me to even believe He's real. I know He's real. I just happen to be going through a period of doubt about it.
My comment about dating is probably one that makes you think, "huh?" so I'll give you a paragraph: I don't think you should date in high school. It's a pointless activity. You're not ready to get married or engaged, so why immerse yourself into a relationship? I don't think you should be dating numerous people either; why give away your heart piece by piece (and girls especially get emotionally involved) to guys who you'll probably never see again? I'd rather date one or two guys instead of ten or twenty and give away pieces of my heart that I won't get back. A silly belief of mine is that you shouldn't kiss while you're dating or engaged. I know that's old fashioned, but I feel like kissing is a piece of your virginity that once you give it away, it's gone. I'd like for my first kiss to be on my wedding day. I'm holding off on dating until God shows me, one way or another, that He's placed somebody in my life that He wants me to be with; and I want the guy to make the first move, I'm not going to be a boy chaser. Ever. I was once asked how I would get the right guy if I didn't date. I replied, "I didn't say I wouldn't date. I said I would WAIT to date UNTIL God showed me He was ready for me to date." I was also asked, "Well what if your husband is a lousy kisser if you don't kiss him until your wedding?" To which I responded, "It won't matter. Not to mention, I won't know he's lousy because he'd be my first" (I mean duh!).
There's probably more to all that, but that's the basics. Those are things that, five years ago, God laid on my heart. I'm a stick-in-the-mud and I know it. Most of the time i don't mind it. Well that's enough for now...my fingers are getting tired of typing, and I doubt people read this anyway. :p haha.
Friday, January 15, 2010
That Time of Year Again.
I can hardly believe that this is 2010. I can hardly believe I'm facing my 2nd semester at NCTC. Gracious. It's been at least 2 weeks since I last blogged, so here are some things that have been going on:
1. The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has arrived once again in Texas! My parents and I attended last year, but were only able to afford going to the stock Show, not the Rodeo. I would love to go to the rodeo one year though! We're thinking of going again this year, because the FWSSR always runs about a month. Yesterday, we had to make a trip to Ft. Worth to buy some things for school (clothes mostly), and because my dad wanted to reward me for babysitting last week. So he asked me, "How would you like to see A Christmas Carol in IMAX?"
I was like HECK YES! So that was the main purpose of our driving 2 hours into the metroplex. My dad and I had seen ACC before, and it was amazing. A little bit scary/creepy/freaky, but overall a great film! I also read the book last week, and it stuck very close to the book. Reading ACC will become a Christmas tradition for me. My mom, whom I assumed would hate it, came out of it saying she really, really liked it!? Who knew? The museum in Fort Worth (The Fort Worth Museum of Science and Natural History) is building/remodeling their entire establishment. The thing was huge! we last were at the OMNI last Memorial Day to see Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian., and they didn't have near that much built. I was simply amazed how much they accomplished in a few short months. But anyways. I would really like to go back when they complete it and fill it with all their new exhibits. ACC was even better in IMAX, and I caught little nods to the book that I hadn't seen before (mainly because I hadn't read the book before and wasn't looking for them), and again realized just how brilliant Robert Zemeckis and Alan Silvestri are (Zemeckis directed, Silvestri composed/conducted the score).
2. I found out what my grades were for the fall semester: 3 A's and one B. If I hadn't been sitting down when I saw them, I would've fainted. The B was in biology. The A's were in history, composition and algebra. Yeah, I can't believe I got an A in algebra either.
That's about it. Really, the first few weeks of 2010 has seemed to drag. But I know that once school starts, they will fly by like nobody's business. And that's perfectly OK with me.
1. The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has arrived once again in Texas! My parents and I attended last year, but were only able to afford going to the stock Show, not the Rodeo. I would love to go to the rodeo one year though! We're thinking of going again this year, because the FWSSR always runs about a month. Yesterday, we had to make a trip to Ft. Worth to buy some things for school (clothes mostly), and because my dad wanted to reward me for babysitting last week. So he asked me, "How would you like to see A Christmas Carol in IMAX?"
I was like HECK YES! So that was the main purpose of our driving 2 hours into the metroplex. My dad and I had seen ACC before, and it was amazing. A little bit scary/creepy/freaky, but overall a great film! I also read the book last week, and it stuck very close to the book. Reading ACC will become a Christmas tradition for me. My mom, whom I assumed would hate it, came out of it saying she really, really liked it!? Who knew? The museum in Fort Worth (The Fort Worth Museum of Science and Natural History) is building/remodeling their entire establishment. The thing was huge! we last were at the OMNI last Memorial Day to see Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian., and they didn't have near that much built. I was simply amazed how much they accomplished in a few short months. But anyways. I would really like to go back when they complete it and fill it with all their new exhibits. ACC was even better in IMAX, and I caught little nods to the book that I hadn't seen before (mainly because I hadn't read the book before and wasn't looking for them), and again realized just how brilliant Robert Zemeckis and Alan Silvestri are (Zemeckis directed, Silvestri composed/conducted the score).
2. I found out what my grades were for the fall semester: 3 A's and one B. If I hadn't been sitting down when I saw them, I would've fainted. The B was in biology. The A's were in history, composition and algebra. Yeah, I can't believe I got an A in algebra either.
That's about it. Really, the first few weeks of 2010 has seemed to drag. But I know that once school starts, they will fly by like nobody's business. And that's perfectly OK with me.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Christmas
I haven't blogged in a week or so, mainly because I've found very little to blog about. A week ago last Friday, I turned 18. Yesterday, my sister celebrated her birthday. 18 and 25 are pretty big milestones, aren't they? 18 is when you can vote, buy a lottery ticket, and a lot of other things that you probably shouldn't do. 25? Well, 25 is a quarter of a century. No, I didn't get a tattoo or buy a lottery ticket as soon as I turned 18; in fact, I did very little besides register to vote to prove that I was 18. I've never really felt the pressure to rebel; I've never really wanted to rebel, if that makes sense. Many preacher's kids go off the deep end when they turn 18, 21, or move out of their parent's house. I hope I stay on the straight and narrow, and that God keeps putting people in my life to keep me there. Yes, I have a responsibility to stay there myself, but every Christian needs another Christian to keep them accountable.
But anywho, Friday was Christmas. I have to say, nobody predicted or expected the snowfall; snowfall in Texas?! P-l-e-a-s-e. Yeah right. Texas only gets ice, not snow. We don't get white Christmases. Thursday, an hour after my sister and brother-in-law arrived at our house, it started snowing. And sleeting. None of us expected the snow to last during the afternoon. We all expected it to melt by 2 or 3 p.m. But it didn't. It just kept snowing, and snowing, and snowing, until finally, we had at least 11 inches to a foot of snow on the ground. In TEXAS of all places! I've seen snow in texas before, but NEVER to the extent that it was Thursday. And you know what? IT STAYED!!!! We ended up having to cancel our Christmas Eve service (something I was disappointed about) becuase of the dangerous road conditions. I finally had the White Christmas that I had waited for for so long, but by Christmas morning, I was wishing it had melted! But the snow still stuck around, and yesterday, my brother-in-law and I built a huge snowman. *picture included* What a crazy week! Wednesday, I believe, it hit 70 degrees. Thursday? it was below freezing. Goodness. Only in Texas will you use your air conditioner and heater in the same day.
But seriously: what is Christmas all about? I've always maintained that because of why we celebrate, people seek to look to other means and other figures. Christmas is about Christ. Yeah, I realize it was begun as a pagan holiday, but Jesus hijacked it. Did you know that? Jesus Christ hijacked a PAGAN holiday with His birth and turned it into the greatest day of all history. Jesus' birth was miraculous; the simple fact that He was conceived by a virgin teenager proves that. But more importantly, the whole timing of His birth in and of itself was miraculous; I believe that Jesus' birth took place when the Roman Empire and a certain language was becoming powerful and the mainstay. I don't remember the language, but the language that was the common tongue helped to spread Jesus' message, especially during the first century. Jesus' birth also fulfilled several prophecies, including the one about where He would be born (in Bethlehem). You know, if Joseph hadn't been loyal to Mary after the angel's visit to him, I doubt the prophecy would have been fulfilled. But I honestly believe that God had selected JOseph for Mary in order that JOseph wouldn't just simply divorce her and leave her in Nazareth. God's perfect plan for salvation wouldn't allow a slip-up like JOseph divorcing Mary. They were a couple for a reason: Joseph was of the house and line of David. Jesus had to come from the line of DAvid. why do you think God put them together? I wonder if they ever looked back on those events and wondered, "What if we hadn't stayed together?"
If you've never seen it, you should watch The Nativity Story; it's a fairly accurate portrayal of Luke's account of the event, with a few historical missteps here and there (the 3 kings, when they worshipped Jesus, and the mistake that there was only one angel who visited the shepherds), but overall, I think it portrays Mary and Joseph correctly and what they might have gone through: shame, criticism, and doubts. It also shows how people were out to get Jesus before He was even born; Herod's constant worrying about the prophecies of a new King drove him to kill all the young boys (2 years and under) in Bethlehem; but God had that worked out too. When God's hand is in or on something, nothing can disrupt it because He plans everything out, and He knows the steps and the problems that will arise.
Sometimes, I think we can oversimplify the story of Jesus' birth. It wasn't simple; it was fairly complicated. But the REASON behind His birth IS simple: He came to bring us salvation and eternal life.
That's all I think you have to really understand about Christmas.
But anywho, Friday was Christmas. I have to say, nobody predicted or expected the snowfall; snowfall in Texas?! P-l-e-a-s-e. Yeah right. Texas only gets ice, not snow. We don't get white Christmases. Thursday, an hour after my sister and brother-in-law arrived at our house, it started snowing. And sleeting. None of us expected the snow to last during the afternoon. We all expected it to melt by 2 or 3 p.m. But it didn't. It just kept snowing, and snowing, and snowing, until finally, we had at least 11 inches to a foot of snow on the ground. In TEXAS of all places! I've seen snow in texas before, but NEVER to the extent that it was Thursday. And you know what? IT STAYED!!!! We ended up having to cancel our Christmas Eve service (something I was disappointed about) becuase of the dangerous road conditions. I finally had the White Christmas that I had waited for for so long, but by Christmas morning, I was wishing it had melted! But the snow still stuck around, and yesterday, my brother-in-law and I built a huge snowman. *picture included* What a crazy week! Wednesday, I believe, it hit 70 degrees. Thursday? it was below freezing. Goodness. Only in Texas will you use your air conditioner and heater in the same day.
But seriously: what is Christmas all about? I've always maintained that because of why we celebrate, people seek to look to other means and other figures. Christmas is about Christ. Yeah, I realize it was begun as a pagan holiday, but Jesus hijacked it. Did you know that? Jesus Christ hijacked a PAGAN holiday with His birth and turned it into the greatest day of all history. Jesus' birth was miraculous; the simple fact that He was conceived by a virgin teenager proves that. But more importantly, the whole timing of His birth in and of itself was miraculous; I believe that Jesus' birth took place when the Roman Empire and a certain language was becoming powerful and the mainstay. I don't remember the language, but the language that was the common tongue helped to spread Jesus' message, especially during the first century. Jesus' birth also fulfilled several prophecies, including the one about where He would be born (in Bethlehem). You know, if Joseph hadn't been loyal to Mary after the angel's visit to him, I doubt the prophecy would have been fulfilled. But I honestly believe that God had selected JOseph for Mary in order that JOseph wouldn't just simply divorce her and leave her in Nazareth. God's perfect plan for salvation wouldn't allow a slip-up like JOseph divorcing Mary. They were a couple for a reason: Joseph was of the house and line of David. Jesus had to come from the line of DAvid. why do you think God put them together? I wonder if they ever looked back on those events and wondered, "What if we hadn't stayed together?"
If you've never seen it, you should watch The Nativity Story; it's a fairly accurate portrayal of Luke's account of the event, with a few historical missteps here and there (the 3 kings, when they worshipped Jesus, and the mistake that there was only one angel who visited the shepherds), but overall, I think it portrays Mary and Joseph correctly and what they might have gone through: shame, criticism, and doubts. It also shows how people were out to get Jesus before He was even born; Herod's constant worrying about the prophecies of a new King drove him to kill all the young boys (2 years and under) in Bethlehem; but God had that worked out too. When God's hand is in or on something, nothing can disrupt it because He plans everything out, and He knows the steps and the problems that will arise.
Sometimes, I think we can oversimplify the story of Jesus' birth. It wasn't simple; it was fairly complicated. But the REASON behind His birth IS simple: He came to bring us salvation and eternal life.
That's all I think you have to really understand about Christmas.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Finally a Break
My first semester of college is now officially over, and I am very proud of my grades. I haven't gotten a report or anything just yet, but in biology, I have a B. A B!!!!!!!!! I never expected to have that kind of a grade, or to even pass. Or if I did pass, it would be just enough to get me by. But I was pleasantly surprised that in Biology, one of the hardest subjects, I'm doing better than I expected. I have an A in Composition, but as for my other 2 classes, I have no idea what my letter grade would be; for Algebra probably a B, for History, probably a C or B. Whatever it is, I'm very excited to get my reports in from the school; whenever that is.
But I'm also ready for this break. I was nearing the point of exhausting myself and wearing myself out worrying over getting things done for school. Next semester will be packed...17 hours worth, in fact, although 1 hour of that is Aerobics, so maybe I won't have homework. Haha. I've already bought my books; and added 4 more to the 3 I already have. Good grief. I was going to get a job next semester, but I don't think I can handle it. Then I considered getting a job for my break, but then I realized: between school and a job, when would I rest? Anyways...it's only a few more days until I'm an "adult", and I'm so excited! Then a few more days after that, my sister and brother-in-law are coming down for Christmas. It'll be the first Christmas we'll have with my brother-in-law, and I'm very excited.
Hopefully I'll post some Advent thoughts this Sunday...nothing Advent-related is on my mind right now.
But I'm also ready for this break. I was nearing the point of exhausting myself and wearing myself out worrying over getting things done for school. Next semester will be packed...17 hours worth, in fact, although 1 hour of that is Aerobics, so maybe I won't have homework. Haha. I've already bought my books; and added 4 more to the 3 I already have. Good grief. I was going to get a job next semester, but I don't think I can handle it. Then I considered getting a job for my break, but then I realized: between school and a job, when would I rest? Anyways...it's only a few more days until I'm an "adult", and I'm so excited! Then a few more days after that, my sister and brother-in-law are coming down for Christmas. It'll be the first Christmas we'll have with my brother-in-law, and I'm very excited.
Hopefully I'll post some Advent thoughts this Sunday...nothing Advent-related is on my mind right now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)