Final Blog Entry

I've always wanted to start a blog, but I am one of those people who do something for a week straight then get bored with it and finds something else to do. So, Obviously blogging isn't going to be something that is easy for me. And it wasn't. In the beginning I don't well, posted every day or every other day, but after that I just quit, and I've spent all day today Posting so that I could have 25 blogs to be graded. I'm a procrastinator, it's getting pretty bad. I enjoy writing, a lot, so it's not like I can't blog, it's just that I just find other things to do. So, the writing part was the easiest for me, considering I just reflected and added on to some sermons and made some of my own. The hardest part of this assignment was doing it every day, obviously, I posted 12 days in a row and all of the rest just today. :P
I like writing, so If I was the type of person that could do the same thing everyday without getting bored I would have loved this assignment, but considering I am not that type of person and I spent the last 6 hours posting blog entries, I am not too fond of this assignment. But that is my own fault! If I could do it all again, I think I would take it more seriously, and actually do it everyday or have tried a little harder.

Let's Fake Love -Everything you gotta know about Women

This is not FOR women it's about woman.
1 Peter 3:7 "The same goes for you husbands; Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God's grace, you're equals so your prayers don't run aground.

A Woman is not a commodity. An Object, or something that brings you value.
3 Lessons Porn teaches us:
   1. A Real Body isn't good enough.
   2. One body isn't good enough.
   3. Your wifes body isn't good enough.
A Woman is to be honored. 
    -Don't call it entertainment when God calls it sin!
    - Renew your mind in order to think differently.
    - Make up your mind in order to behave differently.
Guys, We don't need another sermon, we need another perspective!! 

Let's Fake Love - 3 Things every guy needs to hear

This Is not FOR men, it's ABOUT men.
3 Things every guy needs to hear! 
   1. You have Purpose!
      -God's boundaries lead us to His blessings!
      -Proverbs 16:26 "The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on."
         -Guys need to Solve
            -A Woman is not a problem to be solved! But a person to be loved.
         -Guys need to succeed
            -your own insecurities prevent you from succeeding in the areas that really matter.
   2. You are loved and respected
      -Ephesians 5:33 "However each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."
         -Roles- Not rules!
      -Proverbs 21:19 "Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife."
         -He doesn't have a big head, just a hungry heart!
   3. You make me Proud.
      1 John 3:1 "See what great love the father has lavishes on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"
The Biggest question guys have to answer:
   "Will Jesus be Primary or Secondary in my life?

Let's Fake Love - Happy Never After

Are you the type of person that the type of person that you are looking for, is looking for?
Confusing? haha.
Be who the person that you are looking for in a relationship, you shouldn't expect your spouse to do something that you don't do yourself.
 How can You change you, not the other person?
Your present will eventually be your past, but it will show up in your future.
Marriage doesn't solve problems, it reveals problems.
"The Grass is always greener on the other side..." Why Don't you water your own grass!!!! Change you!
Dating Myths
   -If I meet the right person, I'll live happily ever after.
   -If I meet the right person they will complete me.
      God Completes you!
   -If I meet the right person, the chemistry will be off the charts!
      Marriage isn't about sex as much as it's about communication!
      Sex Is not a need, It's a desire!
The Bible gives us very little help when it comes to finding the right person, but it provides lots of help when it comes to becoming the right person.
   -1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
3 Steps to "Happy Ever After" (Don't mix up the order!)
   1. Discover your maker.
   2. Embrace your mission.
   (After you've taken the first two steps, it's a lot easier to stumble on the 3rd)
   3. Meet your mate.
      1 Corinthians 13:11 "When I was a child, i talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned llike a child. When I became a man I put the ways of Childhood behind me.

Grow a Pear 2

Taking Responsibility for Injustice

It's Hard to change the world if we refuse to move our feet! 

   -Mark 16:15 "Go Everywhere in the world and tell the Good News to Everyone. "

   -Matthew 6:10 "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven..."

What if God's biggest plan wasn't to escape earth, but to transform it!

In Order to Bring Good News to the World...

   1. Jesus will change what we CARE about

      -Matthew 25:37-40

      -C O M P A S S I O N 

   2. Jesus will change what we become indifferent too.

      -Luke 9:59-62

   3. Jesus will change what we get mad at.

      -Ephesians 4:26

      Jesus gets mad when..

          The needs of Children go unmet

             -Mark 10:13-14

          The suffering of others is ignored

             Luke 11:46

   4. Jesus will change what we sacrifice for

      -John 3:16

Grow a Pear 1

Taking Responsibility for the fruit in your life! 

Don't throw excuses, just take responsibility

We are the product of the environment we create.

   -The Environment you create for your life, sets the tone!

   -If you don't like how your life it now, CHANGE YOUR ENVIRONMENT!

   -Create a different environment!! 

Romans 12:2 "Do NOT conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -His good, pleasing, and perfect will."

The WRONG Environment will lead you to conform!

The RIGHT environment will lead you to transform!

You don't need to change, because you can change back just as quickly. You need to TRANSFORM into something completely different!

Galatians 5:16-25 "16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

It's not a fruit issue, it's a root issue! 

Fruitful always follows faithful!

3 Dementions to our growth

   1. Desire - This is God's job

      Dare him to give you a desure!

      Philippians 2:13 "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

      God isn't going to work through you if he hasn't worked in you! 

   2. Dicipline -Thats your job! 

      -Feed the spirit, starve the flesh!

      -The ONLY way to change your life is to CHANGE YOUR LIFE. 

   3. Delight- This just happens

      -Happy Just Happens

      -Galatians 6:7-8 "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

LIVING FOR GOD IS NOT ABOUT TRYING HARDER, IT'S ABOUT TRAINING DIFFERENTLY!

T R O Y

Troy
Just watch this video.
So touching, so real, so true.

-Volume+

-Volume+

To find God's will just follow God's voice.

The more we obey what we know, God turns the volume up.

The more we disobey what He's already said, God turns the volume down.

God's BIG plan is discovered through small steps of obedience. 

It takes two things to impact the world:

   1. Obedient people

   2. The Holy Spirit

God's favorite weapon is people. 

The 3 voices of God:

   1. The Bible - Provides God's principles and perspective!

      - 2 Timothy 3:15-17 "and how from infancy you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teachinh, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thotoughly equipped for every good work."

      -Focus on the Obvious, not on the obscure.

      - Let's stop talking and start applying!!!

   2. The Holy Spirit - Provides insight and understanding.

      -Changes us from the inside out.

      -Romans 8:9-11 "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit of God who lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you. "

   3. Community - Together we see things we'd otherwise miss.

      - Isolation is spiritual arrogance

      -My job isn't to weigh it, my job is to say it. 

      -NEVER say "God told me..." Because what if you're wrong. 

      -Scripture Trumps, Go with your gut.

      -Proverbs 13:10 "...Wisdom is found in those who take advice."

When it comes to God's volume, in order to turn it up, we need to walk it out.

Monsters -Zombies

Zombies

Things that control our lives

2 Most important days of your life:
   1. The day you were Born.
   2. The day you figure out why you were born.
The quickest way to forget what God thinks about you is to focus on what others think about you.
When I live to please God - I discover my purpose.
When I live to please others - I get buried in pressure.
"The Disease to Please"
Matthew 14:6-11
If you don't know what you want in your life you will do what everyone else wants you to do.
Never wait for an opportunity to decide what you want.
Never cash in a long-term dream for a short-term desire.
What is the danger in pleasing everyone?
   -It puts the wrong person in control of my life.
   -It keeps me busy doing the wrong things.
What drives my decisions?
   -My Fear?
   -My Feelings?
   -My Future?
Ask yourself. "Am I asking the right people to speak into my life?
"Am I seeking advice of agreement?"

Monsters -Werewolves

Werewolves

What comes out of me reflects what's in me. 

Proverbs 4:23 "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."

Matthew 15:18-19 "But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these are the things that make you ritually unclean. For from your heart come the evil ideas which lead you to kill, commit adultery, and do other immoral things; to rob, lie, and slander others."

When you get angry, you have a choice...

    Nurse it, rehearse it, or reverse it!

Good News: The control to Anger is in YOUR hands!!

You control your anger, what you do with it is on you. 

YOU make YOU angry. 

When we get mad we think of the cause of our anger, not the consequence.

How To Deal With Your Anger:

1. Remember the results.

   -James 1:20 "...Anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."

2. Reflect before reacting.

   -We have the ability to control our anger.

   -Ephesians 4:26-27 "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity."

   -Being Angry isn't a sin, what we do with it is. 

3. Restrain your remarks.

   -Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up."

   -If you're not in a spot to do it in love, you shouldn't speak truth.

4. Release your resentment.

   -Colossians 3:13 "Make allowance for each others faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 

   -The key to unlocking anger is to forgive.

   -If you resent anyone, take it up with God.

   -NEVER apologize to someone if you're expecting one in return. 

when apologizing, Never say...

I'm sorry IF.... or I'm sorry BUTT...

instead say...

I'm sorry FOR. 

Monsters- Vampires

In October we did this 3 week series on Monsters, the next few posts are going to be based on those 3 messages.

"The Monsters we face around us are not nearly as destructive as the monsters within us."

Vampires

Sin Sucks!! It sucks you in and sucks the life out.
 -It does it slowly, we begin to drift, slowly but surely.
Spiritual failure is seldom on explosion, it's usually an erosion. (It doesn't happen just like that, it usually builds up)
Living for God is a daily choice, Everyday you need to choose to surrender.
Sin is like a trap, It's way easier to stay out than it is to get out.
You never outgrow temptation.
Being a Christian doesn't make you perfect, It just means you are no longer in control.
In order to be a difference maker, you need a difference.
We need to check ourselves before we wreck ourselves.
Judges 16:4-20

4 Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. 5 The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels[a] of silver.”6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”7 Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”8 Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. 9 With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”11 He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”12 So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them. Then, with men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads.13 Delilah then said to Samson, “All this time you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied.”He replied, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric 14 and[b] tightened it with the pin.Again she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric. 15 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” 16 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.17 So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.” 18 When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. 19 After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him.[c] And his strength left him. 20 Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”

He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.

Sometimes we fall more in love with the gifts God gives us than with God.
The beginning of God's strength is an awareness of our weakness.

The Value of Worship

You can't be developed if you're always delighted.
If you always get what you want, then there is no room for growth. Honestly, there is a reason God says no sometimes.
Worship isn't a set list, It's a lifestyle!
Worship isn't what I sing, it's what I surrender.
Worship is not only:
   -A Celebration of what God has done
   -An Expectation of what God will do
   -Worship is also a Realization of Who God Is.

Genesis 22: 1-5

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.

2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”


Do You worship God's gift more than you worship God?
Abraham wanted a son for so long, then when God finally gave him one, God asked him to sacrifice him. Abraham obeyed God, Immediately and traveled to the region of Moriah, to kill his son.

A Faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.
Delayed obedience is disobedience.

Genesis 22 13-18

13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring[b] all nations on earth will be blessed,[c] because you have obeyed me.”

Because Abraham obeyed God, he was blessed. He did not ask questions, he just simply did it.

We are on a need to know basis with God and sometimes, we don't need to know.

Sometimes God speaks to us in Regions
   -Just go in the general direction and He will lead the way
Worship is doing what you don't want to do because God told you to.
Don't try to fast forward God's provision

In Order to Worship:
1. Trust when you are tested
2. Continue when you are confused.
3. Surrender when you're selfish.

You need to give up to grow up.
If you own the results it's worry, if you realize the results are up to God, it's worship.

God will never expect from you what he wouldn't give for you. 

Worship. 

Tilted Flower pots!

Supplies:

• 6 Flower Pots - 5 "normal" sized ones, and 1 Larger one (Preferably one that had a wider bottom like the one that sits on top of the one above) (Lowes)
• Cement (Unless you plan on hammering yours into the ground)(Lowes)
• Paint (I spray painted mine, and they didn't turn out too well, so I would suggest some acrylic paints, then spray paint a clear coat over them.)
• Rebar (Lowes)
• Flowers (Local Flower Shop, Walmart, Lowes)
• Potting Soil (Walmart or Lowes)
• Wooden Bird House (Walmart)
• Hot Glue Gun

SO, here is how I did mine

1. I painted the five flowerpots 3 Purple, 2 blue 

2. Let them dry

3. Mixed up the concrete

4. Pour the concrete into the Bigger pot (We put a plastic bag on the bottom so that the cement didn't leak through the hole in the bottom) 

Fill it about halfway full.

6. Place the rebar or whatever you have to secure the pots into the center of the bigger one with the cement wet, then find something to hold it in place. (we found an old pot that fit perfectly on top without going into the cement) 

7. Allow Cement to dry for a few days (at least 24 Hours)

8. Fill bottom pot with dirt and start stacking flower pots like so. We put a dab of hot glue where each flower pot meets just to secure it a little more. 

(After we had this done we found out it was easier to plant the flowers as you assemble it)

9. If you didn't do it while assembling it, plant your flowers!! (:

10. Drill a hole in the bottom of your birdhouse and place it on top (You can paint it or whatever you want, we just didn't get to it yet.)

Now, I originally got the idea for this project on pinterest with this pin. I obviously changed a few things, and I'm not entirely sure who this photo belongs to. but You can make it either way. (:

Happy Crafting! <3 

Community is Contagious!

We long to belong!
Genesis 2:18 "The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
You weren't created to live in isolation!
God uses human relationships to grow our relationship with him.
When people are around you do you bring them closer to God or push them farther away? Actions have a lot to do with this. People don't want to go to church because "Christians are hypocrites" Are you one of the Christians that lives out the Word of God or are you a Christian that lives for God on Sundays and Wednesdays but every other day of the week you live for yourself and the world? think about it. Are you bringing the people around you closer to God or pushing them farther away?

3 Barriers to relationships
1. Relationships are Messy!!
Want to know why? Because LIFE is messy! There are lies, and feelings, and truths, and all sorts of things to a relationship. Just because someone has a smile on their face does not mean that they are happy! Most people are scared to even be around people, because they're scared if they show you who they really are that people wont accept them. So they put on this front, acting like they're someone they're not so that they can be accepted. Are you someone who accepts people for who they really are, or are you someone who makes fun of the weird kid? Or are you the one putting on the front?

2. Relationships are Risky!
So Risky! There are risks of being hurt, and stabbed in the back. risks of falling in love or losing someone. You just have to decide who is worth the risk.

3. Relationships are costly -It's part of the sacrifice.

Life change happens best in the context of relationships
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."

Jesus wants to change your life, so he used community to bring you to him.
Are you in the Crowd or in community?

The Crowd watches the change, the community creates the change!

Community is Contagious!

You wanna see a Miracle? Get to work.

From now on I am just going to start sharing sermons or messages from my church and what it means to me. (:
Serving is one of my favorite things to do, but if you've read my other posts you already know that ;)
Now, whether you're a believer or you attend a church or not it doesn't matter there are still opportunities for you to serve. Serve others, your community, family, there are plenty of things you could do.

One of my favorite scriptures is Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

That picture always makes me laugh (:
But Even God's own son, Jesus did not come to Earth to be served but to serve. Thats cray. I enjoy serving, I always have, and I always will.
Why does God want us to serve?
1. If we are not serving, we are not growing.
Serving brings us closer to God, and closer to others. It gives us a sense of worth, knowing that we are helping someone, who can't help themselves.
2. Serving does battle against the cancer of selfishness.
Have you ever done something for someone and felt bad about it afterwards? No, because it makes you feel good, being able to help someone out, no matter how small the act is. I have never been a selfish person, and I have always been willing to serve in any way that I can. But I know people who are, and I can tell when I invite them to come with me to Convoy of Hope or somewhere to Volunteer or serve they always feel so good when they're finished and they always want to do it again!
3. Serving is the hinge that opens the heart to worship.
 -If it matters to you, it matters to God.

Here is a little story from John 2:1-10 (The Voice)

"Three days later, they all went to celebrate a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was invited ² together with Him and His disciples. ³ While they were celebrating, the wine ran out; and Jesus’ mother hurried over to her son.

Mary: The host stands on the brink of embarrassment; there are many guests, and there is no more wine.

Jesus: ⁴ Dear woman, is it our problem they miscalculated when buying wine and inviting guests? My time has not arrived.

⁵ But she turned to the servants.

Mary: Do whatever my son tells you.

⁶ In that area were six massive stone water pots that could each hold 20 to 30 gallons.^[a] They were typically used for Jewish purification rites. ⁷ Jesus’ instructions were clear:

Jesus: Fill each water pot with water until it’s ready to spill over the top; ⁸ then fill a cup, and deliver it to the headwaiter.

They did exactly as they were instructed. ⁹ After tasting the water that had become wine, the headwaiter couldn't figure out where such wine came from (even though the servants knew), and he called over the bridegroom in amazement.

Headwaiter: ¹⁰ This wine is delectable. Why would you save the most exquisite fruit of the vine? A host would generally serve the good wine first and, when his inebriated guests don’t notice or care, he would serve the inferior wine. You have held back the best for last.

¹¹ Jesus performed this miracle, the first of His signs, in Cana of Galilee. They did not know how this happened; but when the disciples and the servants witnessed this miracle, their faith blossomed."

God's miracle often comes on the heels of a challenge.

Everyone enjoyed the product, but the servants saw the miracle. 

You want to see a miracle? Get to work. 

Rant

I'm just going to rant a little, if you don't mind.
Today was a good day, up until about 6:00 When my boyfriend called and told me he got fired from his job he's had for a little over a month. They claimed they fired him because he was not getting things clean or putting things back where they belong. The real reason is he's missed 1-2 days each week he's been there. He's only been there for about 5 weeks. So, obviously he's going to get fired. Now, this is the second job he's gotten fired from due to him not showing up. You'd think he'd learn.

Also, My mom was dating this guy who is now in prison, and NOW she is dating this guy who just got out of prison. (Pick's em well, don't she?) Anyways he's all churchy and Christian now so my mom started going to church with him and now she thinks she's just holy hot-stuff. It is rather annoying if you ask me. "I spent nine hours at church Sunday, I even cried a little." Good for you, mom. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. Also, My mom hasn't had a job for two years, besides for a few months at the end of 2012 to the beginning of 2013. and she only got that job because they don't do drug tests. so My sisters and I have been asking her to quit smoking the refer so that she can get a job. she wouldn't do it, she wouldn't even try for us. But guess what, As soon as this guy gets out of jail she quit smoking for him. hmm something just isn't right. If you stop doing something for a Man over your children? Seriously. Thats rediculous. Then I asked her to call around to some vets and see how much they were she told me no, then her "Boyfriend" asked her to call walmart and ask them a question she said "I can't because I told her I wouldn't call the vet for her, but if she wasn't here I would." Seriously.. If you choose a man or a woman over your kids, you need some help. that just isn't right.

Prayer Is Powerful

I believe in prayer, I believe in the power of prayer, I believe in the act of praying. Prayer is powerful, and in my opinion, one of the most important things to do when being in a relationship with God. Praying has had a huge impact on my life. I never used to pray, but once I started praying, my life started changing. Praying is not just about asking God for something, or thanking him for something. It’s just like talking to someone. I talk to God every day, all day, just like I talk to my best friend. Not only has praying impacted my own life, but I have witnessed it impacting the lives around me. A few years ago at church camp there was this girl who had gotten into a car wreck a few days before camp. The wreck caused her to break or tear something in her leg (I don’t remember exactly what they said it was) and she could not walk on it for another 6-8 weeks, she was on crutches the whole week of camp. The night before we were leaving to go home, It was a Thursday night, We were in service worshiping and praying and it had died down a little and people we’re heading back to their seats, I remember hearing a group of girls still praying around someone then they all started cheering and yelling and clapping so I looked up, to see this girl drop her crutches on the ground and start jumping up and down on both feet. No joke, honest, no lie home fry. The next day at the morning chapel before everyone left they announced what had happened, the story about the wreck and everything. It honestly, still to this day, blows my mind. That, my friends, is the power of prayer. The power of God. 

Faith Without Deeds is Dead

Now let me talk to you a little about what I can do for Him. James 2:14-26 “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."  For me, those bible verses sum exactly how I feel when it comes to honoring God with what I do. Now don't misunderstand me, please. Do I believe that my works can save me? Absolutely not. The ONLY way to Heaven is through salvation in Jesus, redemption by the blood of the lamb. I know that in order to go to Heaven I have to admit I'm a sinner, believe Christ died for me and confess that He was raised from the dead, so in no way am I attempting to justify and or change that. You see, I'm obsessed with God. Therefore, just like in a good relationship, I want to make Him happy. Now, will He disown me or send me to Hell for not making Him happy? No. I don't do for Him the things I do out of fear, I do them because I love Him with a love that speaks through actions, boldly! I do things for Him because He did the ultimate for me, and because even though I didn't deserve to be forgiven for all of my sins, He sent His only son into the world because He so loved us. He stepped down from His thrown and came to earth. He lived with us and walked among us. I'm impressed and completely shocked by His absolute dedication to rescue and restore humanity. His total commitment to us was proven by His unstoppable plan to save us. He honored us by living among us as one of us. This is the part that get me though: you see, whenever Jesus (Gods son) went back to Heaven after living on earth, He went as a man. Think about that, please. He could have left His body here and taken His spirit there, but no, that wasn't intimate enough for My God. He took humanity to the very thrown room of Heaven! I'm just so humbled by it. I guess what I'm trying to say is this: God sending Christ to die for me was the absolute most He could do, me living for Him is the least I can do.

This I Believe

To Believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest. –Mahatma Gandhi

When I was asked to write about something that I believed in, I tried thinking of different things. I thought about how I believe in love, and I almost used my amazing boyfriend as an example as to why. I thought about writing about a few of my hobbies because I believe in them, they interest me. I even contemplated writing about how I believe in myself, and then it hit me, I thought, "I'll write about all 3." So, here I am, tirelessly (maybe due to some minor procrastination) typing this essay about all 3 of those things. About love, about things that captivate me to my core, and about myself, or even more, where my identity is placed. So, here I am, telling you about one subject, or even more, one person, who sums up all three of those things. His name? God.

Let me tell you about how He is who my identity is found in because of the amazing power that He holds. You see, I am convinced beyond the shadow of any doubt that the greatest adventure we can embark upon is to know The Lord, so that, in and of itself should be a basic summary as to how this paper will be laid out. One thing that never, even briefly ceases to amaze me about God is His unconditional ability to heal me. Now when I say "heal me", I do mean physically, yes, absolutely, in fact! He is the ultimate physician, there's nothing He can't do. But I don't only mean heal my physical elements. No, to say He was only capable of healing every illness, disease and physical disorder ever known would be completely belittling and insulting to Him, His power, and His capability. He can, in fact, do so much more. He also heals and mends me spiritually. There are days and even seasons of my life where I wonder why the world is out to get me (and no, it's not just every twenty eight days whenever my uterine wall decides to shed.) I wonder why people have hurt me, betrayed me, abandoned me and forgotten me. I have wondered if I'm alone, if I'm worthy, if I'm even here for anything. Well, you see, God has this way of completely stepping into the midst of my sorrow, my shame, my pain and my worthless feelings and demolishing them. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. He makes my soul soar, it's seriously the most liberating thing on this side of Heaven. His ability to completely be light in darkness, hope in hopelessness and restoration in destruction is simply beyond me. He lifts me up and encourages me to no end, He is my rock and my salvation, my hope comes from Him alone. No wonder I'm glad, He holds me in His mighty right hand. Whenever I wonder why things are the way they are and I don't understand situations, He reveals to me that all along, even since the start of the world, He's always had a plan up His sovereign sleeve.

what if you made a difference?

What if you actually did everything you talk about doing? What if you actually did the thing that you wish other people would do to better the world? Why wait for someone to do something that you were called to do yourself?
After all is said and done there will be more said than done. Meaning you can talk, talk, talk all day long, but that doesn't change anything. The only way anything is going to change is if you get off of your tush and do it yourself.
You can't sit around with the excuse that someone will do something, eventually. No! Do something about it now!! You feel sorry for the guy on the street begging for money? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
I'm not saying give him money, chances are he'll buy some boos, but take him out to dinner, be a friend, buy him some food. do what you would want other to do if you were in his position. No, it wont make a huge difference in the whole world, BUT it would make a difference in one person.

and it starts with ONE.

what if everyone in the world had a super power

If everyone in the world had a super power... that would probably not turn out too well. considering they could probably do whatever they wanted, control other people, and that would give the evil people in this world a reason to continue doing what they were doing and ruining peoples lives, unless of course the good people had an over powering superpower. I guess the world would be pretty much the same. sometimes the villian wins, somethings the hero wins. I guess it really depends on the person and what they do with the super power they are given. But if everyone was given a super power I would think that they would all clash and it would turn into a huge mess. thats what I think. or they would all cancel eachother out and nothing would change. because obviously everyone would be using their power for either good or bad. If they're using it for bad, then obviously the one using it for good is going to try to stop them from doing whatever they're doing. and nothing would happen, assuming the super powers were equally as powerful.

What If...

• what if hair grew pink?
• what if you died today?
• what if you lost someone you loved?
• what if candy didn't make you fat?
• what if our eyes were in the back of our head?
• what if computers were never invented?
• what if cell phones were never invented?
• what if alcohol was banned, again?
• what if cigarettes didn't kill people?
• what if Jesus IS real?
• what if he isn't?
• what if there were no colors in the world?
• what if everyone looked and acted the exact same?
• what if smart phones never existed?
• what if roses never died?
• what if chocolate tasted like watermelon?
• what if you had fingers for toes and toes for fingers?
• what if we didn't have a nose?
• what if we walked on our hands?
• what if you never grew up?
• what if you could go back in time and change things?
• what if you could have a million dollars?
• what if you could fly?
• what if you could travel all around the world?
• what if everything was made of candy, like candy land?
• what if there are people on other planets?
• what if shoes didn't cost so much money?
• what if school didn't cost so much money?
• what if there weren't any homeless people?
• what if you stepped out and did something about something?
• what if you made a difference?
• what if you stand up for something you believe in?
• what if you were alive 700 years ago?
• what if there was no hate in the world?
• what if it rained spaghetti and meatballs?
• what if snow was black?
• what if vampires were real?
• what if everywhere had a beach?
• what if we never died?

Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

When you give your heart to God that doesn't mean you can just continue getting drunk every weekend and do whatever else you were doing just because "God will forgive you." 

We are a product of the environment we create. If you go to parties where your friends are drinking, you'll probably be right along side them. Create a different environment! Don't put yourself in the situation, that, is setting yourself up for failure. 

Don't say your a "christian" when you're with your "church friends" then go to your other friends and do what they're doing. Or say you're a "christian" because you go to church... umm, going to church doesn't make you a christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. What is that doing for the Kingdom of God? Nothing, besides making people think it's okay to "be a christian" but still live the lifestyle they want. 

The wrong environment will lead you to CONFORM. The right environment will lead you to TRANSFORM.

You don't need to Change, like a chameleon, because you can always change back. You need to Transform like a caterpillar into a butterfly. 

Happy Wednesday, SassyKassySue 

Forgiveness

F O R G I V E N E S S 

We love that word right? 

We love it when we are on the receiving end of it. We love being forgiven when we have hurt someone, or wronged someone, or stabbed someone in the back. We LOVE forgiveness.

But what about when we are on the other side of the equation? What about when someone has hurt us, wronged us, stabbed us in the back? Not so much right? Didn't think so. When we're the ones forgiving we don't like that so much. We don't want to forgive people that have hurt us. They don't deserve forgiveness, they deserve to be hurt back. They deserve what they have done to you to be done back to them? right? Thats how you feel? And you're just holding onto whatever they have done until you get the chance to get even. REVENGE. Payback. Some of the things that you're holding onto are probably stupid petty things, like someone not returning a shirt  when they borrowed it 7 years ago, or you let them use your favorite pen and they didn't return it, so you're going to hold a grudge against them for 20 Years. But then again, maybe your hurt is much deeper, maybe someone has done wrong to you, or a family member. Maybe it's a family member, mom, dad, brother, sister, spouse, ex-spouse, boss, or maybe even a church? You know who I'm talking about, you're thinking of a person right now, as you read this. and you're plotting your revenge too, aren't ya? 

Well here's the thing, when you're up all night, thinking about how much you hate that person, and you can't go to sleep, and it's all you ever think about all day long, every day of the week, and it eats you alive, They're out living their life, perfectly happy, not a care in the world. They're not worrying about what they did to you 20 Years ago. Holding onto that grudge is hurting YOU more than it is them. So do yourselves a favor, forgive them. that doesn't mean you have to be best friends with them, it just means that you are moving on with your life, and you will be able to sleep at night. I promise, you will be a lot happier, don't let their wrongdoings hold you back. 

Forgive them. move on. 

When we forgive someone, we are really setting ourselves free. 

Happy Tuesday 

SassyKassySue 

Hello There

Hello there :)

Kassy//19//Missouri//Full-time Student

Photo Credit: Kinsey Mhire Photography

Why am I blogging? 

I am starting this blog for a school project. At first i was sceptical about the whole thing, but then I decided to embrace the experience. The assignment is to blog every day for 30 days. I have tried to blog a time or two, and I enjoyed those three days very much. ;)

What will my blogs consist of?

Well, I am a rather Creative being, so chances are there will be tons of random things. Craft projects, pinterest projects, recipes, cupcakes, photography posts, posts about my life, family, friends, boyfriend, and pets, I will probably introduce my readers to Important people in my life, inspirational posts, things that really tick me off, music... Well, lets just put it this way, you will always be surprised.

About me

I am a Firm Believer in Jesus Christ. I am not religious. I am not perfect. I simply have a relationship with Him that cannot be shaken. If you don't Believe, That is your choice, I will not think any less of you.

 I am called to L O V E not to Judge.

 My Boyfriend, Brandon and I have been together since my Freshman year of High School, 5 years in August :) I love him to the moon and back <3

I'm currently going to OTC to get my Associates in Accounting. After that I am hoping to go on to get some kind of business degree and open up a Cupcake Cafe

I Enjoy colorful things

I am brutally honest, don't ask for my opinion unless you REALLY want my opinion. 

Sarcasm comes naturally to me. 

Drugs/alcohol/cigarettes/tobacco are from the Devil. I hate them, they have caused much conflict in my life. No, I have never done nor will I ever do any of them. 

Purple is the best

Pitch Perfect > Everything else 

I hope you all are having a lovely weekend <3

-Kassy Sassy Sue

P.S. If you have any more questions just comment down below and I will comment back as soon as I can. (:

Kass-an-dra OR Kass-on-dra?

Photo Credit: Kinsey Mhire Photography

Hello Friends!

My name is Kassandra, with a K. I bet you're wondering if it's pronounced Kass-an-dra or Kass-on-dra... Well, to be honest, I've been wondering the same thing my whole life. My Parents split when I was still in the womb, and I guess they didn't quite discuss how my name was going to be pronounced. I say this because my Dad pronounces it Kass-on-dra and my mom pronounces it Kass-an-dra, which is how it's spelled, so it obviously makes more sense, right? Wrong. Get this, my dad is the one who named me AND came up with the spelling; if he wanted it to be Kass-on-dra then why didn't he spell it Kassaundra? I will never know. Weird guy, my dad is. 

Anyways MOST people (besides my dad, but again, he's weird) call me Kassy, but people have been known to call me Kass, KaSsIzZlE, Kass-Vegas, Kassaroo, Kassy Kay, Kassablanca, Sassy Kassy, OR Kassy Sue. Feel free to call me whichever one you like best, or make up your own and leave a comment. (:

I hope you have a fantastic weekend

XOXO, SassyKassySue