All posts tagged: christian

Fall.

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Fall: 1. to drop or descend under force of gravity, as to a LOWER place through LACK of support. 2.to become less or lower in degree, amount, quality, value, number, etc. to decline. 3.to succumb to attack 4.to succumb to temptation or sin, especially becoming unchaste to one’s innocence.   These are just four of numerous definitions that basically say the same thing, only one of which reads that a fall may be voluntary…. But let me be the first to say I ain’t tryna fall in love, no more. I did it before, have you? Tell me what’s good about falling? I mean, the fall itself typically hurts, half the time your knees hurt when you stand back up, everyone around laughs and you’re embarrassed after the fact… but most importantly is the lesson: you are extremely careful when faced with similar circumstances. I can’t tell you all that’s right in love, but i CAN tell you a lot about what it isn’t, and my experience with such. Have you ever been infatuated with something or someone …

12.7.14

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Dear Lord, thank you for your strength, your sacrifice, and your selflessness. You reign over all of us, you are creator, you are mighty and worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. We cannot win a single victory alone, Oh Lord. We NEED YOU. There is not one single challenge we can overcome without you. Guide us, Lord, help us to be dependent on you alone. You deserve all that we have, for we are NOTHING without you. As this country faces so many challenges, I want to pray now that you help us al to act in love. Lord, even as race shows itself an issue in this century, help us to see past it. Help us to live as you do, and to recognize that we ALL matter. Help us to build strong relationships so that you may raise a nation of true believers. No one can do it but you. As we are sometimes fearful of our next days, help us to have faith in you. You are more than able to …

IDK.

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We’ve got all the pieces, why won’t they fit? We have a plethora of technological devices that enable connectivity, why don’t we connect… Like relate? I think abbreviations were supposed to work to our advantage, to offer simple ways of discussing concepts we already understood. When we learned the periodic table of elements, for example… But what good would it have done to know all of the abbreviations without having first learned the full names? We are working backwards, and it isn’t helping. We are living in an abbreviated society. . . One where kids don’t always learn to spell words because there are acronyms for everything; we text instead of calling… And may even text in the same room; we watch movies instead of reading books; we watch clips instead of reading full articles, we watch church online instead of fellowshipping in the Lord’s house, we have sex before we love… Let me not be high or mighty. Let me admit that I have been a culprit. I could claim victim, but who but …

11.30.14

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Dear Heavenly Father, For we know that all seasons are yours, created by your hands alone. As December, and more specifically, CHRISTmas, approaches, we recognize that your season comes more to the forefront. As this occurs, may we remember to celebrate the birth of Jesus and acknowledge what that has meant for each of us. Traditional celebrations with trees and gifts are nice, fun, and engaging, but I ask that these do not overshadow JESUS who is ultimately the reason for this and all seasons. Lord, I ask that you would give each of us wisdom and discernment at this time. We often want so desperately to please those around us that we lose sight of you, and further place ourselves in unfavorable predicaments. Please allow love to flourish at this time, as it is the GREATEST gift of all. Fill our hearts with love and joy, allow us to share in laughter, and allow us to live with gratitude for all that you have given us already. Thank you for al that you have …

In The No: “Out”

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Besides the time everyone stood at the edge of “a bridge” and decided to jump while you opted to turn around and take the stairs down instead, how often are you in the no? It’s so tempting to be in the know, aware of all that’s happening, not missing anything… Like when you were a kid and didn’t want to fall asleep while others were up around you. Being involved in the cyclic conversation about The Little Rascals that you’d had 132x before seemed necessary at the time; your friends wouldn’t joke about you being a “sleepyhead”; you didn’t get toothpaste on your face; but you had to beg your mom to stay home instead of waking for church the next morning… and since she wasn’t going for it, you struggled to keep your eyes open until snack time at children’s church. How much different is it now, as an adult? I’ve struggled a million times with being on the scene or not, and what each symbolized and truly meant to me. I enjoy music, I love …

11.23.14

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Dear Lord, Thank you, again, for another day, awakened and alive in you. Thank you for opportunity, for love, for friendship, for all the gifts you bless us with each day, those noticed and overlooked. This week, Americans express thanks and spend increased time with family and loved ones; it’s beautiful. I want to pray, tonight, that we carry this spirit of thanksgiving throughout the year. Please allow us to be aware of all that is working in our lives. Allow us to acknowledge these things and use them to encourage those around us. Our stories are unique to us, but can also help others facing similar challenges. Please allow us to push beyond our fear of sharing the most vulnerable parts of ourselves; may we pay it forward! Most of us have had someone to share their story; whether we’ve taken heed immediately, or required extended time to understand the lessons taught, it helps. We don’t wish to be selfish beings. For what good is it to experience you in all of your goodness …

Ready or not, here I come!

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You remember being a kid, rushing through the count to 10 just to say these words… You didn’t want to be at a disadvantage; you never gave the “hiders” a chance to get ready before shouting “HERE I COME!” That’s how you got out of the “seekers” chair, by throwing someone else off their game, by beating them to the punch, by taking away their chance to prepare! Life has a funny way of working; it throws you challenges and cheat codes, God gives favor, life seems unfair, there is sometimes mercy in the most merciless(seeming) situations. In life, we dangle somewhere between failure or success, so society says. Besides God, there are no constants. Life may count to ten sometimes, it may even count to 100, but it may also stop at 1. Either way you look at it, for anyone reading this, no matter what it seemed, life has continued working, ready or not. I am always planning ahead for something – birthdays, vacations, graduation(s), occupation(s), events, a hopeful wedding… most of us are. As we …

11.16.14

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Dear Heavenly Father, As I come to you this evening, I want to remember in every prayer to thank you. I have lived another day! Even as the day had turbulence, there was productivity and love found in it. Thank you, for raising the sun on the same day that you poured rain on us. Thank you for your grace, that has allowed me to journey another week and begin a new venture doing something I love. You have given me an abundance of opportunities to use the gifts you’ve given me, but I haven’t always answered your call. I want to hear your voice when you speak, and know that it’s you. I want your relationship to be the only one I cannot live without. Thank you for second and third and fourth chances. Thank you for allowing me to love even those people who don’t love me back. Thank you for creativity, for laughter, for friendships… and thank you for you. I know that I am not perfect and recognize, also, that I …

Living Single x Tony Evans

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OH! To speak of conviction! This book was just what I  needed. 25 & Single doesn’t have great appeal. It is often looked down upon, as evidenced by the “when are you going to get married?” and “Who’s your +1?” type of questions I hear all the time. I’ve found myself daydreaming about my future, faceless husband, and our “black*ish” kids playing frisbee in our apparently well-groomed, green fenced in backyard!… Ok, it’s never gone that far until just now… but let’s be real. As a woman, there is pressure to become a wife, to be swept off your feet by a knight in shining Ferragamo cap toes, a Skinny Burberry Tie, and a tailored suit to match. Maybe it’s completely different for a man; I mean, how do you “prove” your masculinity in a fallen world? I’ll leave you to answer that. POINT IS, THIS BOOK IS AMAZING! It gives the CHRISTIAN perspective on singlehood, its advantages, and just how to do it the way God intends it to be done. [Thanks to JNC for …