Relationships

I am about to begin a study into relationships with my small group at school. Tired and sick of relationship issues we all decided to check out this series by Andy Stanley. This is a topic that gets us all. It brings us down, discourages us and has the potential to really damage us. Andy challenges listeners to become the "person they are looking for is looking for". Check it out:
http://www.northpoint.org/messages/the-new-rules-for-love-sex-and-dating

Northern Ireland Mission Trip

So every year at CCU a team goes to Northern Ireland. The team does absolutely class work. They stay at Murlough House, a place I have volunteered since I was 15 and the place that is basically the reason I am here. I am so excited for these people to experience N.I. It means so much to me that they are going to see the reason why I am here. They are going to see the country that I have left a part of my heart in. They are going to see first hand where my passion comes from. They will attend my church. They will meet my family. But most importantly, these people are going to help my community. These people are going to impact my people. I know that for sure. I am literally crying thinking of the amazing things they are going to do there. I know most of these people and know that they are going to do AMAZING things. But I want to ask you something, I want you to pray for all the members of this team, I want you to do this regularly. I want you to pray that they raise the money they need to, that they can prepare for this trip in every way, that they can prepare to have their lives changed by changing the lives of those I hold so dear. So here's the names...get to work :)

Leader: Rick Cherok
Team :  Hannah Steinman
            Curtis Hahn
            Sarah Brown
            Joe Brackemyre
            Kate Haynie
            Becca Duff
            Matt Sweasy
            Aaron Veatch
            Parker Sims
            Josh Morford
            Jessica Pemberton
            Megan Trammel
            Zakk Reddick
            Jordan Bullard

Pray for every single one of the people. They are capable of amazing things. The things they could do back home are limitless. I just want you all to believe in them as much as I do :) 

Amos 5:21-24

The Message (MSG)

 ^21-24"I can't stand your religious meetings.
   I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
   your pretentious slogans and goals.
I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes,
   your public relations and image making.
I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
   When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
   I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it.
   That's what I want. That's all I want.

I seen this on friend's Facebook status today. We really do have a talent for making things a lot more complicated than they actually need to be. We feel great about ourselves because we attend church and small group meetings yet forget why we are actually there? When was the last time the only things we sought for were Justice and Fairness for others? When we worship do we get more caught up in what instruments are being used than we do about giving glory to our Father in Heaven?

We need to strip it down. Our lives. Our faith. We need to get back to what it is all about. We need to get back to Jesus.

People Pleaser

One of my biggest weaknesses is that I try to please everyone in every situation. It's a major flaw. Let me tell you this. You can't make everyone happy. Its impossible. In every situation just think about who you are actually pleasing, are you pleasing men? Or are you pleasing your Father in Heaven?

You will get emotionally and physically drained if you are trying to make everyone happy or trying to make sure everyone likes you. Here's something to think about. Jesus was thee perfect person. You couldn't have got a more compassionate, loving and understanding person. He offered hope to everyone. But guess what, He couldn't even get everyone to like him. So, no offense, but you haven't got a chance. Give up on trying to please those around you. Stop trying to be something your not in order to be accepted. Because if you aren't yourself, who are you?

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think"

Galatians 1:10 "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

You don't get more crystal clear than that. We must make a distinction between loving people and pleasing people. Trying to just please people isn't always the most loving thing we can do for them. Sometimes people need to be told things that may not necessarily make them happy but they still need to hear it. Sometimes the best thing we can do in some situations is to just walk away from them. Yes we need to put others before ourselves but we are not entertainers trying to keep everyone happy. That is not true compassion. 


We are here to please God. That is our purpose. Live FOR Him and BY Him and we cannot go wrong. 

Wow it has been a while

So I have been totally awful with blogging recently. So bad. Truth is, college is causing me to think a lot, think a lot about everything. So lets get updated here.

I'm currently on fall break, a four day weekend which is totally needed in my opinion. The American lifestyle is so fast and can be so overwhelming at times. So many things are happening. So many things going on.

But then I have to grab myself, still myself and remember the real reason why I am here, the real reason I am in this country, at this university, what I am working for and who I am working for.

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

I am learning the importance of this verse.

"Be still" - put down what your doing, take a break, clear your mind of all the worries you're thinking of, get away from everyone around you, do what needs to be done in order for you to clear your mind and distance yourself from the busyness of this world. You need time for yourself, time to think, time to really translate, organize and work out your thoughts.

"know that I am God" - KNOW that you are part of something that is more than this world. KNOW that there is someone out there who could not care more for you. KNOW that He is there. KNOW that He cares. Know He can offer you more than anything or anyone on this earth can. KNOW that He will not desert you. KNOW that no matter what you do, or what you have done, He will welcome you back with open arms like nothing ever happened. But you need to KNOW Him. You need to KNOW that you can trust in Him, for He will never let you down. Ever.

So if your being tossed and turned by the troubles of this life, not knowing what you think, not knowing what to think. Take a step back, take some time out, Be still. Know that Someone is there, Someone is cheering you on, Someone wants you to overcome whatever it is your facing. Know that this person is your God. And that this God is all you need.