Dear Generation Y and Z,
I have a few concerns. Lectures are not my style, so I'll be skipping that. I only want to point out some things I've noticed recently. Also, my concerns are not complaints; we are in this together. You see, I see these generations doing incredible things: rising up to occasions, solving problems, promoting equality and justice, leading, adjusting. Congratulations! We are making the world our own, as we should. Although we are accomplishing so much, I also see some areas that we could improve on.
First area: grace. Where has our grace for our fellow mankind gone? Quick judgements and snide remarks flood our daily thinking like an explosive hurricane. It's as though we've forgotten the power that unity has to change the world.
Second area: humility. This is so important. No longer do we value and give worth to other's opinions or ideas; instead, we value how loud our own opinions and ideas are being projected to everyone else. It's similar to a shouting match. We have forgotten the beauty in conditioning ourselves to invite other's thoughts into our thinking. Pride is taking over.
Third area: our stance. If we're not standing for what we believe in, we allow what we don't believe in to tower over us. Too many times I see great individuals with great ideas cower in fear of standing. Eventually, the current sweeps them in they are tossed back and forth like waves, crashing back and forth between opinions and ideas that aren't even theirs. Those voices become lost, or drowned out.
Fourth area: individuality. Being yourself seems boring. With all the sparkling celebrities, small town popularity, and ideal lifestyles, it's very easy to conform. This seems to be a result of apathy. It's not easy being unique when other forces are telling you to model them. This is tragic.
And lastly: self-worth. Loss of self-worth is heart breaking. Insecurity comes in many forms and they aren't hiding themselves anymore. They are being blasted on the faces of so many people that some are barely recognizable. Hiding them behind makeup, false identities, attitudes, and veils is becoming increasingly difficult.
My point is, wake up. We are a force to be reckoned with. Our ideas contain truth. We have to stand together. Have grace with one another. We are all just trying to figure everything out. There's no set list of rules that come with existance. Listen to one another's opinions and value them. They hold tramendous weight. Sit back and practice being humble. It pays off. Take a stand on the things you believe to be true. Whether it be something as small as flavor preferences, or something as large as worldwide equality, dig your heels into the ground and stand by what you believe. Be unwavering forces in raging storms. We were made for this. Be yourself. Self-worth is one thing that you will never regret possessing. We mean something to this world. No individual on this earth is pointless. We do not have the right to consider ourselves anything less than significant. Be individuals. Embrace the fact that every day, you live and exist as no one else can, because you are you. Unique individual, stand up and rise to the occasion of loving yourself and others like no one else can.
I believe in us.
Sincerely,
Samantha Jane, Generation Y Blogger.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
"More Than Ever"
I don't know why evil exists. I don't know why suffering, hate, pain, or sadness continues to exist, day after day. I don't know why our world looks further from God every passing day. "Isn't there a God?"; I've read and heard this phrase too many times to count within the past two weeks. Empty questions plastered onto screens such as, "Where is God?", or "Why is God letting these things happen?", have given me insight into what the world around me is feeling: afraid. How can anyone blame these souls with such questions? Hatred, pain, sadness, insanity, evil: they're all occurring within the bubble we call home. Everyone around me is starting to feel the discomfort that is a result of a lost and dying world, and to be quite honest, I am afraid too.
As I was reading through social media some last week, I came across a prayer that a friend of mine had written. It was not eloquently worded, or even grammatically correct throughout most of it. But, it spoke to me in a way that it may not have been intended to. One line read, "God, we need you now, more than ever,". When my eyes first met this plea, it only registered as another cry to God on Facebook. Then, after moving on with my day a bit, a question hit me. I felt uncomfortable; my view of my friend's words turned from acceptance to, "Why do we need God now more than we did a year ago? Why do I need God more today than I did yesterday?".
Then, as I was lying in bed wrestling my fully awake mind with my exhausted body, I remembered Mark 4.
We are exactly like the disciples in the middle of a storm. Panic takes us over when things get chaotic. Our faith shrinks, our minds race...in short: we go nuts. Why? That's what human nature tells us to do: human instinct, fight or flight, [insert another psychology term here]...right?
The truth is, I need Jesus today the same as I did yesterday, the many years before, and I will need Him every day for the rest of my natural born life. Why? Because without Him. I am filled with the number one problem we face in the world: sin.
In Mark 4, Jesus shows why He is my hero. He does 3 things. One, He knows what the disciples need and He gives it to them. What an awesome and providing Father He is to them! They needed to be and feel safe. Two, he tells the winds and waves to be still. Although He's talking to the elements in this moment, I still hear Him speaking directly to the disciples and to me with those words: be still. Finally, three, He challenges the disciples hearts by asking, "Do you still have no faith?", not because He wants to humiliate them, or make them feel inadequate, but because He loves them and knows that they are capable of believing and being vessels of faith in a powerful and living God.
That is us! Up, down, left, and right, that is us.
Where is our faith? Where is my faith? Jesus gives us a spirit of boldness that allows us to do so much more than we can imagine. He even tells us we will do greater things than He did. Chew on that for a second. My 5"5 frame, 130 pound, silly, food loving self will do GREATER things than Jesus did on earth.
Yes, the world is going crazy! Yes, it will continue to get worse! Yes, we need Jesus now! BUT, we have always needed Him the same. So did the disciples.
I challenge you, in the middle of this storm we are suffering through, take heart. Know that Jesus did this thing called life and rocked it. He kicked it's butt and tells us that we can do the same (John 16:33). Have faith and know that men cannot do anything to your soul because that is in The Lord's control (Matthew 10:28). Call on Jesus daily and even when the storm seems to pass, call on Him harder (1 Chronicles 16:11). And finally, be still and know that God is who he says He is (Psalm 46:10).
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
As I was reading through social media some last week, I came across a prayer that a friend of mine had written. It was not eloquently worded, or even grammatically correct throughout most of it. But, it spoke to me in a way that it may not have been intended to. One line read, "God, we need you now, more than ever,". When my eyes first met this plea, it only registered as another cry to God on Facebook. Then, after moving on with my day a bit, a question hit me. I felt uncomfortable; my view of my friend's words turned from acceptance to, "Why do we need God now more than we did a year ago? Why do I need God more today than I did yesterday?".
Then, as I was lying in bed wrestling my fully awake mind with my exhausted body, I remembered Mark 4.
We are exactly like the disciples in the middle of a storm. Panic takes us over when things get chaotic. Our faith shrinks, our minds race...in short: we go nuts. Why? That's what human nature tells us to do: human instinct, fight or flight, [insert another psychology term here]...right?
The truth is, I need Jesus today the same as I did yesterday, the many years before, and I will need Him every day for the rest of my natural born life. Why? Because without Him. I am filled with the number one problem we face in the world: sin.
In Mark 4, Jesus shows why He is my hero. He does 3 things. One, He knows what the disciples need and He gives it to them. What an awesome and providing Father He is to them! They needed to be and feel safe. Two, he tells the winds and waves to be still. Although He's talking to the elements in this moment, I still hear Him speaking directly to the disciples and to me with those words: be still. Finally, three, He challenges the disciples hearts by asking, "Do you still have no faith?", not because He wants to humiliate them, or make them feel inadequate, but because He loves them and knows that they are capable of believing and being vessels of faith in a powerful and living God.
That is us! Up, down, left, and right, that is us.
Where is our faith? Where is my faith? Jesus gives us a spirit of boldness that allows us to do so much more than we can imagine. He even tells us we will do greater things than He did. Chew on that for a second. My 5"5 frame, 130 pound, silly, food loving self will do GREATER things than Jesus did on earth.
Yes, the world is going crazy! Yes, it will continue to get worse! Yes, we need Jesus now! BUT, we have always needed Him the same. So did the disciples.
I challenge you, in the middle of this storm we are suffering through, take heart. Know that Jesus did this thing called life and rocked it. He kicked it's butt and tells us that we can do the same (John 16:33). Have faith and know that men cannot do anything to your soul because that is in The Lord's control (Matthew 10:28). Call on Jesus daily and even when the storm seems to pass, call on Him harder (1 Chronicles 16:11). And finally, be still and know that God is who he says He is (Psalm 46:10).
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Monday, June 8, 2015
The Strangest Thing I've Ever Written
This may be the strangest thing I've ever shared. To those who know me, it's no surprise that I say and do strange things. But, today, I felt like being a little more peculiar than usual.
So, Saturday night, I had a dream. In the dream, I was jumping from dangerous situation to dangerous situation, over and over again. As if that wasn't enough, it was ME that was placing myself in these dangerous situations. I was being rebellious, taking risks, making dumb decisions...you name it, I was probably doing it. When I finally woke up, I felt exhausted. The dreams that exhaust me are the worst; waking up feeling like I never fell into a deep, much needed sleep aggravates me to no end.
As I rolled out of bed, slipped on some jeans and a t-shirt I found on my bedroom floor, washed my face and halfway brushed my tangled mass of hair, one part in the dream kept playing over and over again inside of my head. I remembered sitting in a house known for being a place to conjure spirits and palm reading.
*****Pause: here's where it gets kinda weird.
As I sat in this house, I was met by a woman dressed in ripped, 70's flare jeans; a fringed graphic t-shirt; and purple dreaded hair. I then proceeded to ask her to tell me what she could about my future. So, like any erratic and unusual hippie lady who tells young girls about their futures do, she pulled out the tarot cards. Weird yet? Absolutely. Even though this was my dream, I knew what I was getting myself into was wrong; so as she proceeded, I remember saying the same 3 phrases over and over again to myself as a protection method. The words I uttered to myself were: "God is bigger than this.", "He will protect me from any evil this may stir up.", and "His grace will cover me even though I'm sinning by being here and doing this.".
Now, people...how strange of a dream is that? I should consider what I eat before I go to bed.
But, even though it was crazy, Jesus chose to speak to me through it. After thinking about how God had become my safeguard in that crazy house, I realized something. I didn't just use Him as protection in my dream, I do that when I'm awake too.
In my daily life, I sin. I have no claims to perfection. A lot of times, I sin without thinking about it because some things I struggle with are so easy to just do without meditating on it beforehand (quickly becoming angry with something/someone, slander, being lazy about spending time with Jesus, etc.). But, there are times when I KNOW that what I'm contemplating doing is sinful. Just like in my dream, I find myself having the same thoughts: God is good, He will protect me from whatever consequences this sin may hold, and His grace will cover me.
How wrong is that? Very.
I am taking advantage of the grace, love and mercy that is given to me so freely. Why? Simply because I am sometimes selfish (there's another one to add to the list). Jesus didn't give me all that I have so that I could live without rules, consequences and boundaries. He gave me what he did so that I could live fully, in Him, where safety, rest, and adventure is found. It's so creative how God always decides to speak to me in the things that seem so far from Him.
So, after the conviction hit and the lesson set in, I felt new. Knowing that Jesus doesn't give up on me even when I use Him encourages me like nothing else. I know what to change now and what to watch out for, all because of a dream about tarot cards and being dangerous.
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:1-2
So, Saturday night, I had a dream. In the dream, I was jumping from dangerous situation to dangerous situation, over and over again. As if that wasn't enough, it was ME that was placing myself in these dangerous situations. I was being rebellious, taking risks, making dumb decisions...you name it, I was probably doing it. When I finally woke up, I felt exhausted. The dreams that exhaust me are the worst; waking up feeling like I never fell into a deep, much needed sleep aggravates me to no end.
As I rolled out of bed, slipped on some jeans and a t-shirt I found on my bedroom floor, washed my face and halfway brushed my tangled mass of hair, one part in the dream kept playing over and over again inside of my head. I remembered sitting in a house known for being a place to conjure spirits and palm reading.
*****Pause: here's where it gets kinda weird.
As I sat in this house, I was met by a woman dressed in ripped, 70's flare jeans; a fringed graphic t-shirt; and purple dreaded hair. I then proceeded to ask her to tell me what she could about my future. So, like any erratic and unusual hippie lady who tells young girls about their futures do, she pulled out the tarot cards. Weird yet? Absolutely. Even though this was my dream, I knew what I was getting myself into was wrong; so as she proceeded, I remember saying the same 3 phrases over and over again to myself as a protection method. The words I uttered to myself were: "God is bigger than this.", "He will protect me from any evil this may stir up.", and "His grace will cover me even though I'm sinning by being here and doing this.".
Now, people...how strange of a dream is that? I should consider what I eat before I go to bed.
But, even though it was crazy, Jesus chose to speak to me through it. After thinking about how God had become my safeguard in that crazy house, I realized something. I didn't just use Him as protection in my dream, I do that when I'm awake too.
In my daily life, I sin. I have no claims to perfection. A lot of times, I sin without thinking about it because some things I struggle with are so easy to just do without meditating on it beforehand (quickly becoming angry with something/someone, slander, being lazy about spending time with Jesus, etc.). But, there are times when I KNOW that what I'm contemplating doing is sinful. Just like in my dream, I find myself having the same thoughts: God is good, He will protect me from whatever consequences this sin may hold, and His grace will cover me.
How wrong is that? Very.
I am taking advantage of the grace, love and mercy that is given to me so freely. Why? Simply because I am sometimes selfish (there's another one to add to the list). Jesus didn't give me all that I have so that I could live without rules, consequences and boundaries. He gave me what he did so that I could live fully, in Him, where safety, rest, and adventure is found. It's so creative how God always decides to speak to me in the things that seem so far from Him.
So, after the conviction hit and the lesson set in, I felt new. Knowing that Jesus doesn't give up on me even when I use Him encourages me like nothing else. I know what to change now and what to watch out for, all because of a dream about tarot cards and being dangerous.
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:1-2
Friday, May 29, 2015
Simple Truths
Sometimes, I feel like Moses. I am not eloquent in my speech, I am not the epitome of confidence, I am not always the best at confrontation, and I tend to run from my problems. I spend so much time focusing on lacking that I completely miss that I experience huge peaks in my week straight from Jesus himself. Usually, I look for huge, exciting and emotional experiences during times of musical worship or reading my bible. But, today, I experienced a peak bigger than any worship service I've ever been to, any bible study I've done, and all that is in between. Today, I feel adequate and that is an incredible victory. Being completely vulnerable and honest, I struggle to feel my worth and to see my abilities.
During my reading today, I responded to an urge to write what I felt and what I heard in my heart. Sharing this is so exciting for me because it's so simple. It may seem elementary, but that's the beauty that I found within these words. Jesus is not complicated. His love is simple, His pursuit of me is constant, and his grace is sufficient.
This is what He reminded me of this morning:
When I am misunderstood, His love understands me. When I feel lost, His love finds me. When I am broken, His love puts me back together. When I am tired, His love carries me, When I am joyous, His love rejoices with me. When I am hurt, His love heals me. When I am alone, His love stays with me. When I can't speak, His love speaks truth for me. When I'm under attack, His love protects me. When I feel empty, His love fills me to overflow. When I am scared, His love comforts me. When I feel unsure of myself, His love is my identity. When I see no hope, His love becomes my vision. When I feel overwhelmed, His love lightens my burden.
"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
2 Corinthians 12:9
"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
2 Corinthians 12:9
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