Identity

I got this idea for a blog from an assignment we did in class. We took an online strengths test to tell us what we are good at. This is a short synopsis of what I learned about myself.

One big part of my identity is how I see myself with others. I don’t often talk, but I like to observe people. I like to know their strengths and weaknesses. I can often listen to their stories, even if it is on a topic I have no knowledge on. Over the summer, I worked at a movie theater and often on breaks, and when the theater wasn’t busy, people would come over and talk to me, and most the time I didn’t say a word, but they felt better to have someone listen to them. I also was able to quickly see in my co-workers what they were good at or what they liked doing, So I often would switch tasks with them so that they could do what they were good at, even if they didn’t ask me. This is reflected in my StrenghtsQuest report. My top two strengths are developer and individualization. Both of these talk about, looking for the best in people, and what makes them unique.

Another thing is that I am very creative. I love to paint and draw. I am good at photography, and I am learning how to take good video. I love to think differently and I love to approach problems I may have in a creative view, and it is often a view that most people overlook. I may not always be the best with words, but with pictures, and stories I find that I can get my point across. This is important, because when I am in a debate, or even just a conversation, I need to know how I approach a problem. By using this approach I can then, find the best ways that I can articulate my point so that the other people can understand where I am coming from.

I am a huge Star Wars fan. I originally grew up not wanting to watch the movies, but once I did with my dad, I was hooked. It has been a way for my family to bond. Even today, when a new episodes of Star Wars Rebels comes out, I call my family and we watch it live together. I now love to watch the TV shows, read the comics, and to read the books that are about the Star Wars universe. It amazes me that this universe is created and it fits so well together, and it makes me appreciate what God created more and more. In NISO this year, we are even playing music from Star Wars, and it has been a blast so far as well as a challenge. I can tell you anything about the Jedi Order, and the Sith Lords and the universe as a whole. I am super excited for the Episode IIV to come out. I even painted a lightsaber duel on canvas that is now hanging above my desk in my dorm, and I often get distracted by admiring it. One thing that I also love to do is tie Star Wars back to my faith. Going off the every square inch theme from Kuyper, God is even using Star Wars to bring glory to Him, and I love looking for it.

God gave each and everyone of us ur own identities. When we understand what they are, we can then be better equipped to use them to glorify God. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for our individual identites and gifts. I pray that I can use them for your glory God. Amen.  

Christmas from the Heart

Christmas time is the time to give gifts to all of your friends. Many people believe that these gifts have to be big and expensive for them to mean anything. That is not true. Throwing money at a problem doesn’t mean that it satisfies the job. A true gift is a gift that shows how much you know about the person. It reflects how much you care about them. Sure anyone can go to the store and get the newest piece of tech, but it takes a true friend to sit down and listen to the other person to truly understand what they want. Once you understand what they want, you can then decide what to get them, and it may not be the most expensive thing on the market at that time.

So now that you aren’t rushing out to the store to get the newest, most expensive gift, the question becomes “What are you to give them?” Like I said earlier, it depends on the person. If it is a girl the safest bet is still jewelry. But instead of the expensive pendant on a chain, make you own piece. It can be in their favorite color, with a pendant that matches the dress that they never seem to have a necklace for. There are lots of possibilities. Now let’s say, you are reading this and you are thinking, “Kaitlyn, I am just not that creative.” Find what you are good at. If you can write, then write a story for your friend. If you can dance, then create a piece to show to your friend. There are many ways to create a gift for a friend or family. It may take some extra to think about the gift, but it will be greatly appreciated. 

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending you son down, which is the ultament gift. I pray that this holiday season that I can show how much I love the people around me. Amen. 

Making Media-Pictures

One thing I know we all have is a phone, and most of them come with a camera. And with this camera, we often like to take pictures of ourselves and friends and post them on social media. Well, with the pictures we take on our phones, we can use to tell of the awesomeness of our God. One thing that I like to do is post a Bible verse or a comment with my pictures glorifying God. Below are some pictures off my phone, and an example of what I would say with each.

I love going to Sioux Falls just to look at God's beautiful creation at Falls Park.

It is always beautiful after the snow has fallen, reminding us of how the Earth is covered by God's love.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the technology we have to capture your beauty. I pray that we can use it wisely to spread you love and to lift people up. Amen.

Making Media- Coloring Books

So the new thing out there right now is adult coloring books. I got one for my birthday and I love it. I like to color the picture, then cut them out and mount them on cardboard. They are great to decorate a dorm with, or give as a gift. You can always write a note on the back, like a word of encouragement or a Bible verse on the back. You can personalize it and make it yours. And it is rather simple, and almost anyone can do it. Below are some of the ones that I did that I already had mounted.

 Peacock

Dog with Frisby

Adult coloring books are a fun way to create your own little piece of art. So go ahead, try it. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for the individual gifts that you gift us. Thank you for the art that we can create that we can give to other people to share your love, or just bring a little light into their life. 

Making Media-Poetry

One way to make media is through the written language. Today I want to focus on poetry as a way to share God's love. Below is a poem I wrote, and then some other poems that people have put online. If you are talented at poetry, write a poem and share it on any social media site you have, or you can share it with me and it might end up on my blog.

The Reason Why?
Why did you send your Son,
to die a brutal death?
Why did you send your Son,
in the smallest of life forms?
Why did you send your Son,
to live among the outcasts?
Why did you send your Son,
to this world that had turned away?

You sent your Son,
to pay the price for me.
You sent your Son,
to give courage to the weak.
You sent your Son,
to love all of humanity.
You sent your Son,
to draw the world back to You.

Websites with other great poems.
Christmas Poems
Poetry of Faith
Christian Poems

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of writing and poetry. I pray that I can write in such a way that it will move people closer to you. Thanks for the amazing gift. Amen. 

Dear Media Makers

I found this video on YouTube from Anthem Lights. Their song is called “Dear Hollywood.” It is an amazing song that is written in a form of a letter to Hollywood. It is calling Hollywood to open their eyes to the truth right in front of them. That truth is found in Jesus Christ. The song is calling Hollywood start portraying the truth in what it does in the media that it creates.

This song is good, and it has a good point. But it is not just Hollywood’s job to create media that tells the truth. In my Intro to Mass Communications class this semester, the big take away from the course, is to turn students from mindless consumers, to produces of media. And in this day and age, that really isn’t that hard to do in this day and age. You can post a video on YouTube, write a blog, or just post a status update. Every day, we are interacting with media, and we are creating media. So as much as this song is asking Hollywood to start sharing the truth, it is also asking us to create media that shares the truth. Matthew 5:14 says, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” We are not just to let other people share the truth about God’s love, but we are to partake in the media that is being made around us. So for the next couple of posts, I am going to posts different forms of media that I created, and I pray that you would do the same and share them with me. Let’s create media that tells the truth, and take responsibility for what is put out there.

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your love and your truth. I pray that I can create media that helps guide people to you, and not just wait around for someone else to do it. Thanks Lord for your reminder of your truth in our daily lives. Amen.

 

"Dear Hollywood" Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmzGtEJOoMw

Answered Prayers

I don't know how many of us realize this, but God is constantly watching out for us. I was in Colorado for Thanksgiving and I was planning to head back to Dordt on Monday. The thing was that there was a big storm heading that way Monday. The girls who I was riding with wanted to go back on Tuesday, but I didn't want to miss another day of school. God provided by giving me a ride that was leaving Sunday. My family and I are grateful, because I was back on campus before the storm hit. When it did come, I was able to bundle up in my dorm. I didn't have to worry about getting back in the snow. God provided me with a ride, and I didn't really ask for one. God knew how stressed out my family and I would be if I left later, and he provided me with a ride back on Sunday.
John 10:14a says, "I am a good shepherd. I know my own." God cares for us, like a shepherd cares for his sheep. He knows each one of us, down to the hairs on our head. He wants what is best for us, and he will provide only the very best for his sheep. I was going to settle with missing a day of school, and driving in the snow, but God had something else in mind for me. He knew that it would be better if I went on Sunday, and he provided a way. That is how awesome God is.




Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for only providing the very best for us. I know your will and plan for my life is better than I can imagine and I trust what you have in store for me. You are the shepherd, and I am your sheep. Amen.

Bestest Brother

I have the best brother in the whole world. He goes out of his way to do things for me. For example, he programmed the Christmas lights on the house to play to the Darth Vader theme from Star Wars. He also helps me comes up with ideas for school projects. Lastly, he watches my television shows with me. He is a pretty cool brother.
As believers in Christ, we are adopted into his family. So you have lots of brothers and sisters. Brothers are there to help you through "adversity." (Proverbs 17:17) They are there to encourage you, and help you in your faith. And you have many brothers and sisters, a constant source of encouragement through adversity. If you are ever in need of help, you have brothers in sisters there waiting to help you.

Dear Heavenly Father
Thank you for an amazing brother and sisters that I have. Help me to be encouragement to them. Amen.

Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving. In preparation for Thanksgiving, my church talked about 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 which goes, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." This verse sums up perfectly the attitude that we should have not just once a year, but every other day of the year. No matter what stage in life we are in, or what is going on in your life. If you think about it, we always have something to be thankful for. It can be as simple being thankful that breath is in your lungs. When we have the attitude of gratitude, then it is possible to have a positive outlook on life. Think about that as Thanksgiving Day ends and a new day begins, remember to continue to thank God for all he has done.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your constant love. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you for every breath I take and every step I walk. Thank you for all my friends and family.

Back Home

So yesterday some girls and I drove home for Thanksgiving break. There are some differences I have noticed between my dorm in Iowa, and back home in Colorado. Like for one, I can sit up in my bed at home. I also now have a cat that follows me where ever I go. It is nice to be home, and from the looks of it, I have a busy week ahead of me. Stay tune tomorrow for a special Thanksgiving post.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the safe drive home. I pray that I can have a good Thanksgiving break with my family. Amen.

First Snow

Yesterday was the first snow at Dordt College. It was cold and windy while the snow was falling, but at night, the snow sparkled and glistened under the street lights. I love snow, and how it blankets the Earth.

As I was looking out the window of my dorm this morning, I realized something. The imperfections on the ground was gone. Out of my window, there a huge land of grass for playing on. It gets so much use that there were dirt patches where the grass doesn’t grow. There are patches torn up from shoes that run across the grass. But once the snow fell, all the imperfections couldn’t be seen any more. All you can see is a blanket of white snow, fresh and untouched. Many of us who have grown up in the church know that Jesus washed us white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18) The fresh blanket of snow is how he sees you. He knows the imperfections that you have, but he chooses to see us clean and as pure as snow. So next time you have a snow fall, take some time to admire the fresh blanket of snow around you.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for loving me and seeing me as perfect, and not focused on my imperfections. Help me to see myself the way you see me. Amen. 

Someone's Superman

So recently, I have falling in love with Daughtry’s song “Waiting for Superman.” It is an amazing song, about a girl waiting for a guy to swoop in and rescue her. The video is also very well done. For those of you who haven’t seen the video, I suggest that you go watch it before reading on. Daughtry-Waiting For Superman The video shows how one guy is persistent in doing good, even though everyone around him doesn’t see it that way.

I hear this song and I watch the video, and I think about my actions in life. Am I that superman for somebody who needs me. In the video, the guy tries to be helpful on three different accounts and every time is intentions were taken the wrong way. Instead of the people he help say thank you, they turned and yelled at him, and even the cops got involved in one case. But even with all of this, he is still willing to help. If you were to think on your life, would you be able to do that. I probably would get discouraged after the first attempt, not even willing to help again. Many of us get discouraged if we don’t get the gratitude we think we deserve. The thing is the God calls us to love even when we aren’t loved back. Luke 6:32-35 says,

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

God called us to love those and help those who may not repay us with gratitude. In the end, God knows what you did, and he will reward you in heaven, a reward much greater than a thank you. And who knows, you might stumble on one person in your mist of helping people who really appreciate your help, like in the video, who ran after the man to give him a hug as he walked away. There are people who will thank you, for you were their superman at the right time, but you can’t just look at a person and know. You actually have to help people, and some might be grateful, and some might not. But it is what God has called us to do.

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for all that you have done for me, and for all the people you have placed in my life to help me. I pray that I am a willing servant who will go out to serve the people who need help, regardless of f they will thank me for it or not. Amen.

Beauty of Fall

Fall is a beautiful time of the year, where God displays all the warm colors on the trees. Below are a few pictures I took this fall. Enjoy it as the season is changing to winter.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the colors of fall. It is a beautiful season. As winter approaches, I pray that you will protect us in the snow and ice storms. Amen.

Rest

So the past couple of days I was rather sick, which is why there wasn’t a post on Wednesday. Wednesday I decided that I would take a day of rest. I know Sunday’s are for rest, but I turned Sunday’s into my day to get all my homework done. Then Tuesday when I was really getting sick, I decided to work through the pain, and go to all my classes, and over exert myself. That is why when I woke up Wednesday, I decided that I just need to let my body rest in an effort to let my body recover from all the pressure I put on it.

Now if you were to stop and examine your own life, how much rest are you getting? Most students in college and high school aren’t even getting a full night sleep. A time set aside for you to rest, and we waste it by staying up late. It is said that a normal person needs 7-8 hours of sleep. 3-4 hours is not cutting it. It’s not enough to allow your body to recharge. On Sunday’s, are you allowing your body to rest from the week of work, or are you doing all your work on Sunday. God even rested on the seventh day, and we should to.

As I finish up this post, I encourage you to find time on Sunday to rest, and to actually get 8 hours of sleep one night this week. Allow your body to recharge. Mark 6:31 says, “And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourself to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” God is calling us to rest our bodies every once and a while from the toils of work. Take some time this week to rest.  

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for allowing us time in our day to rest. I pray that no matter how busy my week may get that I can find time to rest my body. Amen. 

The Emptyness

I warned you last week that I wasn’t going to be doing a blog post on Wednesday. The reason for that because I was on a media fast for my Intro to Mass Communications class. The premise was that for three day, Tuesday through Thursday, we were to go without any forms of mass media. No TV, Internet, reading books for fun, social media, music, ect. My days were so packed with classes and homework, that I didn’t really miss it that much. I did however missed YouTube, and Thursday night, I waited until it was midnight, so that I could binge watch YouTube.

Now it is important to note what I was doing before the fast ended. The thing is that a couple of hours before the fast ended, I did two devotionals for my Bible Study for the next day, and I went to Praise and Worship. I was so filled with God, and so filled with his love. But as soon as it was Friday, I immediately replace being filled by God, to being filled by YouTube. YouTube cannot take the place of God. It left me filling empty, and I soon regretted staying up so late. Philippians 1:11 says, “Having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Jesus died so that he could be with us in Spirit and fill us up with his love every day, and we turn that around to praise God for all he has done. That is what I did Thursday. I learned more about who God is, and grew closer to him. I then went to go and praise him for all he did. I was filled up with his love that YouTube can’t supply. I found the whole experience of being let down by YouTube as an opportunity to stop and reflect on what I am putting in the place of God, and it opened my eyes to others things that I may need to change in my life. So far, I haven't really watched YouTube, but I have been trying to focus more on God throughout the day.  

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your unfailing love. I know that I will chase things that won’t fill be up, but thank you for always being there when the things of this world leave me empty. I want to be filled by your love Lord. Amen.

I Know What's Gonna Happen

When I started to watch Boy Meets World, I was already watching season 2 of Girl Meets World. So when Cory and Topanga broke up, I knew that eventually they had to get back together. When Shawn ran away, or when Shawn and Cory fought, I knew that their friendship would last. It was little things like this, that when the show first aired, viewers didn't know what was going to happen unless they were to watch the episodes that follow. As a viewer who has watched Girl Meets World, there were insights that I knew that the characters didn't. I was looking in to their world, and I already know what was going to happen, and I could see the bigger picture, when the characters couldn't.

The same thing happens between us and God. We are the characters, and we can't see the bigger picture of what is happening, and we can't see that every thing is going to be okay. God on the other hand, is looking down from above, and while he see each individual struggle we go through, he also sees how this fits in the bigger picture. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." When ever we are in a struggle, and we can't see the other side, know that God has a plan for this that is good. God can see the bigger picture, and while life may seem like a downer now, in the grand scheme of things, it will all work out. We just have to trust God in his plan, for he is the one that can see the plan laid out, while we only get pieces. 

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for knowing my life and knowing how everything is going to fit together. When I go through the storms in my life, help me to lean on you and your understanding that you already see how it will all play out. Amen. 


NOTE: There will not be a post next Wednesday, and the explanation for that will come in Saturday's post. 

Family

Sorry that I didn't post on Saturday. My family came up for the weekend to visit, and I was so preoccupied with them, that I didn't have time to write a blog. But it does lead in nicely to what I plan to talk about today.

In Boy Meets World, a huge part of the show is this idea of family. Family is some place that you can turn to in times of need. They are a safe place for you to turn to. The show also talks about how family is more than just blood. Shawn Hunter was always a part of Cory Matthews family even through they weren't related by blood. The Matthews cared for Shawn, gave him a place to stay in times of need, and they were always there for him to protect him. Family is there for you in times of need.

The same concept can be applied to our Christian family. As Christians, we are not related by blood. However, the Christian family is there for you in times of need. The family is there to "encourage one another and build one another up." (1 Thessalonians 5:11) In Ecclesiastics 4:9 it talks about how 2 are better than one. There is someone there to support and encourage you. The Christian family is all about being there for one another.

Also as a part of this family, you have a father in heaven you will always love you. He will listen to you, and will be there right beside you the whole step of the way. Even if your earthly father may have failed you, God is there to be your father. He wants to love you, and he wants to call you his child, and bring you into this amazing family that will encourage you. Family, isn't always about blood, but it is about being there for one another.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for adopting me into your family. Help me to encourage my brothers and sisters, and help me to receive encouragement as well. Thank you for your fatherly love and always being there no matter how far I try to run away. Amen.

The Constant In The Changing

In season five and in the last season of Boy Meets World, there are similar episodes that deal with change. This change can be from high school going to college, or it is going from you home state to a totally new place. I both of these episodes Cory Matthews freaked out. He doesn’t like change and it is very clear. He wants everything to stay the same. He wants to keep his group of friends together. He wants to know that he will have some place to turn to when things get hard. He doesn’t like the unknown, or what the future may hold.

This is also true for many of us. Change can be scary, whether it is from one job to another, between high school, and college, or it could be a big move all together. And when things change, we feel like we lose control, so we freak in an effort to keep what control we have left. In this time of change, we want something constant. Something that won’t change no matter what.

And luckly there is someone out there who won’t change no matter what. His name is God, and he is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8) God gave us his Word to turn to in times of trouble, his Word that will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8) The Lord does not change, no matter what the situation is going on down on Earth. (Malachi 3:6) You can feel like you are losing control but God still has your life in his hands, and he is still in control. So in those times of change, don’t freak out like Cory does in the show, trying his best to keep everything that way it is. Instead, let the chaos happen, knowing that God is in control, and that no matter what his love is never going to change.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for being constant and never changing. I pray that as my life may change that I can turn to you for structure and not try to fix everything on my own. I know that you have my life in your hands. Thank you for watching over me. Amen. 

It's All About Friends

Lose One Friend,
Lose All Friends,
Lose Yourself.

This quote is from Eric Matthews and it was used in both Boy and Girl Meets World. One thing that is key in both shows is the power of friendship. This particular quote was used in both series when the friends were in conflict, and this quote was used to show how losing one friends can greatly impact you. As people, we change into the people around us, they help shape who we are. But when you lose that friend, you lose a part of who you are. The Bible talks about iron sharpening iron, but when you lose one of the two irons, the other one just goes very dull. Keeping the friends you do have is important.
Now since this quote came up in conflict, I think it is very important to understand how to approach conflict. Ephesians 4:31-32 says, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." If you are angry or bitter, you aren't going to be so willing to listen and to work things through. But when you let kindness and forgiveness in, then progress can be made.
Also it is important to keep this between you and that person. Matthew 18:15 says, "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother." The conflict is between you and your friends, but when you gossip about it, then you get more people involved who do not necessarily need to be involved. You can have someone who is neutral in the conflict help mediate, but you don't need a conflict with 10, 20 or 100 people.
The last, and probably the most important thing is forgiveness. To move on from this conflict, how ever it is resolved, you need to forgive the other person of what they did. It is important to try and keep you friends with you to help build you up even if you are going through a conflict. 

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you so much for your forgiveness. I pray I can forgive the people who I have been in conflict with. I pray that I can find true friends who will help me grow, and that I will work to keep them around and not let them just drift away. Thank you Lord for all the friends in  my life. Amen.

Where You Running?

My favorite character on Boy Meets World is Shawn Hunter, because in a weird way I can relate. Not because I was abandoned by my parents, or I was dirt poor, but because so often I wanted to run away. If you have even watched a little bit of Boy Meets World, you probably saw an episode where Shawn tried to run away. He never felt satisfied, or loved, or cared about where he was, even though he had Cory, and the Matthews, and Turner, and Feeny. Shawn even ran away during college, where he traveled for some time. But the thing is that he always came back home, because he never found what he was looking for when he ran away, and by running away it didn’t solve his problems.

Trust me, running away doesn’t solve anything. Ever since 6^th grade, I had a folder and money stashed in my closet under my yearbooks, of a plan to run away. I thought about it so much, but I was to chicken to ever leave.  So I did the next best thing, I let my mind run free, while my body stayed at home. I would dream up all of my problems being solved. 

The thing is that when problems do arise, God doesn’t want us to run away from him, but he wants us to run to him. Psalms 31:1-5 says,

I run to you, God; I run for dear life.
    Don’t let me down!
    Take me seriously this time!
Get down on my level and listen,
    and please—no procrastination!
Your granite cave a hiding place,
    your high cliff aerie a place of safety.

You’re my cave to hide in,
    my cliff to climb.
Be my safe leader,
    be my true mountain guide.
Free me from hidden traps;
    I want to hide in you.
I’ve put my life in your hands.
    You won’t drop me,
    you’ll never let me down.

God wants us to run to him, so he can be your leader or guide. He wants you to run to him give us a place to hide, and he wants to free us from the traps that ensnare us. He won’t drop you. He won’t let you down. People and even you will continuously let yourself down, and there are times when we feel like we want to run and hide. But God doesn’t want us to hide from him. If we are running, we should be running to God. I know that I touched on calling out to God last week, but we have in our heads that God is distant, or he is too big, or that we are unworthy of God’s time. I want to make sure that you and I understand that God wants to love on you, and he does without you knowing or asking. But imagine what he can do if you give yourself over to God. Someone so strong that he can carry you through the valleys, and celebrate with you on your mountain tops. God wants us to run after him, not run away. He already knows all about you, but he is waiting for you to tell him, so that you are spending time with him. Stop where you are right now, and run to God, he is waiting.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray that as I walk through life, that I will run to you and not away. Thank you for always being there for me, allowing me a safe place through the storm. Lord, you are so much more powerful than anything I am going through, and I need you in my life. I love you so much God. Amen. 

City Slackers

So this post is also going to focus on a particular episode, “City Slackers.” A brief summary of the episode is that Cory and Shawn sneak away to Mr. Feeny’s cabin in the mountains, but they are busted by  Mr. Feeny. While they are there, Shawn and Cory learn a little more about their teacher, Mr. Feeny.

Now if you know the show then you know that Cory and Shawn aren’t big on school. Shawn was studying history in the beginning of the episode, but his history book was still unopened in the original wrapper. Shawn and Cory rarely actually read anything that they are suppose to for class. Then when the boys are in the mountains with Feeny, there is a conversation between Feeny and Shawn, where Feeny shows his extensive knowledge on Shawn, and Shawn knows nothing about Feeny. So later that night Shawn actually opens a book, and reads it and this is a dialogue between Cory and Shawn while Shawn is reading.

“Cory: What are you doing?

Shawn: I’m reading.

Cory: No really what are you doing?

Shawn: This book that Feeny was looking at it’s like some kinda of diary.

Cory: Shawn your reading Feeny’s diary. Are you nuts? Are we in it?

Shawn: He just knew so much about me that I just wanted to find out some stuff about him.”

As Shawn and Cory are reading Feeny’s diary, they find out that the watch that those two dropped down the drain earlier that day was Feeny’s anniversary watch that he got from his wife, when she was alive. Knowing this, Shawn and Cory go digging in a septic tank for that watch. When the boys present the watch to Feeny, this is the conversation between Shawn and Feeny.

“Feeny: Never thought I’ll see this again.

Shawn: We figured it meant a lot to you being your anniversary watch and all.

Feeny: You read a book Mr. Hunter.

Shawn: Guess I did.

Feeny: Well, good for you!”

Now how does this relate to our faith? Well just like at school with all the textbooks, there are lots of books that can help us with our faith. There are devotionals, fictional stories, non-fiction stories, and so on. But when it comes to know exactly who God is, there is only one book that is going to tell you about who God is. I mean God knows all about you, and for most of us, we only scratch the surface in knowing who God is. God knows your hopes and fears, your desires, your likes and dislikes, you strength and weaknesses. But if we were to ask how much we know about God, we would come up empty.

When we read this book from God, the Bible, we start to see what’s important to him. To Feeny that watch was important. To God it might be helping a neighbor, or giving to the poor, or going on a mission trip. Just by finding out just a little more about who God is, might move us to act on what is important to God. That is when real change starts to happen. Sure there are other books out there that you can read about God, but the only book from God himself is the Bible and that is the best place for us to begin to know God.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your word. I pray that I can find joy in reading it, and joy in finding out more about you. Thank you for knowing so much about me, and I want to know more about you. Thank you for the Bible. Amen. 

Cult Fiction

The first thing that I want to talk about is my favorite Boy Meets World episode, “Cult Fiction.” I first saw this episode at three in the morning, while both my roommates were at home over Labor Day weekend. By the end of the episode, I was crying my eyes out. There is one scene at the end that got me, and every time I watch that scene it still gets me. Not only do I feel sorry for Shawn Hunter, but I can relate to what he was going through, and what he says actually speaks to me.

Before I go into great details about that scene, I need to explain the episode. “Cult Fiction” is in the fourth season, and the episode focuses on Shawn Hunter. Now for those of you who don’t know, Shawn comes from a messed up background. He lives in a trailer park, his mom left him in middle school, and his dad left to go chase after his mom, leaving Shawn in the care of the Matthews. But during that time, Shawn was finding it difficult to stay there because they had such different ways of living that Shawn eventually ends up staying at Johnathan Turner’s house, who was a teacher of Shawn. Mr. Turner and Shawn became super close, and Mr. Turner cared for Shawn like a son.

The episode starts off with Turner asking Shawn what his plans for college were, because at this point Shawn was about to be a senior. Shawn blows him off, and after Turner leaves a classmate comes in to comfort Shawn, siding with Shawn in what went down between him and Turner. She leads him to “The Center” where he meets Mr. Mac, and Shawn is convinced that this is the place for him. The thing is that, as an audience member, we can obviously tell that this is bogus, and when we hear Shawn talk about joining "The Center", all his answers are scripted and his words are fake. But he feels like he is finally being filled by this place, and no matter how much the people who care for him protest, he still goes to “The Center” because he doesn’t want to feel empty anymore. At the end of the episode, Mr. Turner gets in a motorcycle accident and is in the hospital. Mr. Feeney and the Matthews go to the hospital, and Shawn shows up later with Mr. Mac.

Now all of us have felt empty at one point in our lives. We have all tried to fill the emptiness in many ways. It could be being the best in athletics, or the smartest in school. It could be trying to win the approval of your parents. It could be the most popular in school, or be known as the class clown.

Take some time to think of one thing that you try to use to fill yourself up with, and write it down. For me I rely on my grades to fill me, and when I don’t get the grade I want, I feel let down. And when things seem to be breaking in relationships between my friends or family, my grades don’t encourage me then. They leave me feeling high and dry.

Shawn tried to fill this emptiness, but when push came to shove, The Center, couldn’t help him with Mr. Turner being in the hospital. Cory and Topanga left Shawn alone in hospital room where Mr. Turner was. Alone in the room, what Shawn says next is my favorite, and it is what gets me every time. Below I have typed Shawn's monologue while he is in the hospital room.

“John how could you be in here. How could you screwed up on your bike. I have never seen you screw up on anything. I’m the screw up remember. Come on you remember.

Don’t do this to me John I don’t do alone to good. Look I know you’re in there, but it’s like you’re not really here. You’re not talking but I know you’re here. So I’m just gonna talk and you can listen.

John even when I was at the center. It was all the things you taught that made me wonder of it was the right place for me or not. But you didn’t teach me enough. You and Cory, and my parents, and the Matthews, and the handful of people who really care about me. So don’t blow me off John! Don’t blow me off God!

I never asked you for anything and I never wanted to come to you like this, but don’t take Turner away from me. He’s not done yelling at me yet.

God you’re not talking but I know you’re here. So I’m gonna talk and you can listen. God I don’t want to be empty inside anymore.”

This scene is so powerful in my opinion. The audience knows Shawn as being this confident, cool guy and watching him completely fall apart is powerful. But another thing that makes this powerful is the fact that he cries out to God. This is so powerful, because this wouldn’t be deemed a “Christian” show, but we have one of the main characters reach his breaking point and crying out to God. So than why do many Christians find is shameful to fall apart and cry out to God. Psalms 18:6 says, “In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” Shawn was in distress, and he cried out to God, and he asked God not to take Turner away. God heard both of these request and answered them. Turner survived the crash, and he made a full recovery. God also heard Shawn’s cry to not be empty, and he filled him up. Shawn then went back to the waiting room, and Mr. Mac suggested that Shawn go back to the center, and Shawn agreed so that he can get his belongings and stay with the Matthews. When Mr. Mac try to refute, what Shawn responds with is amazing.

“You know I see you right in front of me and I hear what you have to say and it’s nothing. And if I was an empty person who didn’t have anything to believe in then I might go with you because that would be easy. Well I’m done with easy. I’m done with empty. I’m done with you.”

In this episode we see Shawn go from being empty and broken, to being filled with God. His life didn’t get any better, but he knew he wasn’t alone, and he was filled with something that could sustain him. He wasn’t going to take the easy way out, and he was going to work to be filled.

Now earlier, I asked you to think of something that you use to try to fill complete. If you think about, is that thing really making you feel complete, or is it leaving you empty when life gets hard. Are you just trying to take the easy way out, and bouncing back and forth between things that temporarily fill you up. Are you in a season of life, where everything is spinning out of control, and you feel so alone and empty? Then stop what you are doing and cry out to God. As I finished that episode at three in the morning, I dropped on my knees and cried out to God, I let everything that I have been keeping to myself out. And for the first time in a while, I didn’t feel empty, or just a wandering soul. God is there and he is waiting to hear you cry out to him. Don’t be ashamed of it, just go for it. Then afterwards when you feel filled by the Spirit, you can then turn to the things that have been leaving you empty and you can say, “Well I’m done with easy. I’m done with empty. I’m done with you.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for always being there and hearing my prayers. I know I chase after things in this world in hope that they will fill me, but they don’t. Only you can fill me. So Lord please fill me up right now because I am done with being empty inside. I know that you are good, and that you are there, and that you have a plan for my life. Lord I trust you, I follow you no matter how hard it is. I don’t want to take the easy way out, for it just leaves me empty. Thank you for filling me up with your love in every season Lord. Amen. 

Brand New Series

I am starting a new series for the month of October. I am basing this series of the TV show Boy Meets World. For those who don't know, Boy Meets World is a show from the 90's about three friends growing up, and making their way in the world.
For many of you who knew about Boy Meets World, then you know about the series that Disney is doing as a sequel called Girl Meets World. I, seeing how I was born towards the end of the 90's, knew Girl Meets World before Boy Meets World. However, for this series I am going to focus just on the first of the two, seeing how that chapter of the story is finished. I will talk about the sequel, but my primary focus will be on Boy Meets World.
If you haven't watch either shows, I suggest that you to watch a couple of episodes for they are both good in their own ways. I pray that you will join me as I walk through this show, and discover how their lessons can be applied in our lives to reflect God's glory.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the entertainment that you give us. I pray that you help us to take this entertainment and use this for your glory. Amen. 

God Made Time

Going into college, one of the biggest questions is  “Who Am I.” Through school up to this point, we have been told what to take, when to take it, and what we should learn from the course.  When you get to college, you get more freedom in what classes you can take, and you get a lot more freedom with what you can chose to fill your free time with. You can very well sit in front of the TV for hours on end, or you can do something that has significance to your growth as a person. How you use your time, shapes how you will use your time in the future, and it shapes what exactly you are going to do as a career. I am writing this as I am sitting in Falls Park, Sioux Falls, an hour away from college. I came out here, to take pictures of the falls, but also to spend time in God’s creation and enjoying what he has made. Now I could have spent time with God in my dorm, and I could have taken pictures of the campus, but there is something in setting aside time, to break up a routine that has been set that helps you grow as a person. Ecclesiastics 3 talks about how there is a “season” and a “time” for every “matter under the sun.” Sure there is time to do school work, and time to do TV, but there is time to explore who you are and who God made you to be. There is also time to break the routine that you may be stuck in and try or go somewhere new. Trust me there is enough hours in the day to explore who you  are and who you are going to be, you just may need to use your time more wisely.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for giving me my interests. I pray that I can use my time wisely to use my interest to glorify you. Thank you for the free time you give me, and I pray that I can make the most of each minute, whether it is studying, sharing your love, or just relaxing. Amen.

Still a Hero

I don't know why but recently I have been feeling pretty nostalgic. I was looking through some older post of mine, and I found this one. It was written a couple of years back, and as I read it, I wonder if it still could be applied to my life. I wrote it when I went to a public high school, but I am now going to a Private Christian college. It was about being a hero in a dark world, but that couldn't possibly apply to me now that I am with a community of Christians. It still does apply, because even a Christian School, there is still brokenness and sin, and you can still be a hero to some one who already believes. So I don't know where you are in your life, or what type of school you are going to, but I pray you take encouragement to be a hero for the people around you.


Growing up, we all watch the princess and hero movies, and we all imagine that one day we could be a hero and do awesome things, and save people lives. When we grow up, we realized that we won't be able to fly or to become invisible, and that we aren't going to be locked up in a castle waiting for Prince Charming to come. What really happens is that we fall into a routine. We wake up, go to school, come home and do homework, and then we go to bed. The isn't much of a chance for us to be that brave hero that comes in and saves the day.

 What would happen if I say that in everyday life, you have a chance to be a hero. It may not be a big action, crime fighting hero, but you can save someone's life. Casting Crown's new song, "Heroes" explains how we can all be heroes. The second verse goes, "He walks the halls, against the flow / He sees his high school as his mission field / He’s broken ‘cause he knows / The hopeless road that they are taking / The empty feelings they are chasing only lead to futures wasted / So he’s willing to stand alone / He lives what he believes when they all say it’s not worth believing / Every night on his knees, he prays “God, won’t / You please help me reach them?”" You can be a difference in your school. It may require you to stand alone, but you can save someone's life from eternal separation from God. Now it may be hard to think of ways to reach your school, so I'm going to list some things that my bible study at school thought of, and some bible verses to go with it.

Positivity-When you can stay positive though what ever you are going through, people start to wonder why are you so positive. This then creates a good platform to share the gospel. 

Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me,"

Loving on People-When Jesus was on Earth, He went around loving on people. Some ways you could love on someone might be as easy as introducing yourself, or sitting with them at lunch.

John 13:34-35 says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Speaking Up-When your class talks about something that you don't agree with, stand up for what you believe in. You may not win any argument, but you can get some minds thinking abut what they believe.

Romans 1:16 says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

Standing Out-When you see people you are close with doing something that you shouldn't be doing, don't take a part in it. That way people can see that you mean what you believe and when they ask why, you can share with them why.

Ephesians 2:8-10 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Honor Your Parents/Obeying Authority-No matter how uncool this sound, God put them in charge of you for a reason. When you do what they ask, no matter how uncool, people will start thinking and asking questions and this gives you a great opportunity to share with them.

Exodus 20:12 says, "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." 

Hebrews 13:17 says, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."

Reading Your Bible-This is killing two birds with one stone. You are growing in your faith, and when people ask you what you are reading, it gives you a great platform to share the gospel with them.

Psalms 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Pray-When you pray in school, people can clearly see the God you serve.

 Mark 11:24 says, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours"

This is just a list of some of the things that you can do. Some of them will be easier then others, but when you start to show God's love in your school, you are bound to be a hero. So, how are you going to be a hero at your school?

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the lessons that you teach us that can be applied to any part of my life. I pray that I can be a light for people no matter if they are a believer or not, because we all need a little reminder every now and then. Thank you for your constant love. Amen.

Song Break Down - Right Here

I haven't heard of Ashes Remain before, but they kept coming up on my Pandora, and then I found a video that I loved that was to their song. I am actually going to write about the song that was used in the video, "Right Here." When I first heard this song, I couldn't help but get emotional because it speaks so much truth in it. The song “Right Here” talks about that no matter how much your life is changing, God’s love is always constant and he is always by your side.

The first verse of the song sets up nicely that we all struggle in life. We break down and cry because of the scars and the brokenness. We become fearful for we don’t know what is up ahead of us. The first verse goes: “I can see every tear you've cried / like an ocean in your eyes / All the pain and the scars have left you cold / I can see all the fears you face / through a storm that never goes away / Don’t believe all the lies that you’ve been told” God sees the pain you are going through, and he understands it because he was here on Earth and he dealt with pain, betrayal, you name it, he faced it. He understands all the pain that you are going through, and he can see all the hurt that the storm is creating for you. This happen suddenly and our lives can change in an instant and God understands that and the pain that comes with it.

The second verse, however, shows us God’s love for us. The last line of the second verse is “Let me love you when you come undone.” God wants to love you, and the song describes some of the ways he demonstrates his love: “I will show you the way back home / never leave you all alone / I will stay until the morning comes / I’ll show you how to live again / and heal the brokenness within” He wants to guide you back home. He wants to stay with you until the storm clears. He wants you to live your life, and not be chained to the brokenness. He is willing and waiting to do all this for you, but you have to let him. I know that it is difficult when everything else is changing to put you trust in God, but no matter the situation, he still wants to love on you.

Now the chorus is my favorite part. “I’ll be right here now / to hold you when the sky falls down / I will always / be the One who took your place / When the rain falls / I won’t let go / I’ll be right here” I love it because there is so much truth in there and there is verses in the Bible to back it up. My favorite part is “I will always / be the One who took your place” because he is the only one who can take your sins away, which is what he did on the cross. John 19:30 says, “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” When Jesus died, all you sins were taken from you. Jesus said that it is finished, because he took away all your sins, and replaced it with his love which is never changing. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” God always loves you, and there is nothing that can change his love for it is always constant. And finally Hebrews 13:5b says, “For he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” God love is never changing, and he is never leaving your side. The words “right here” have a connotation of being in closeness to an object. By God being “right here” he is close to you, and he is never going to leave that closeness, no matter how much your life changes or how far you try to push him away.  

God loves you, and he wants to love you through the storms in your life. There is a line in the bridge that I love: “reach for my hand.” You have the choice to take God’s love or not, but know that all you have to do is reach out to him, for he is right there ready to love on you. 

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for always being right beside me during the storms in my life. I know that I can always reach out to you and you will be there. Thank you for you constant love and forgiveness. Amen. 

Audio Video
Right Here

Hope vs. Fantasy

Many of us at some point in our lives have fantasied about what our future will be like. What car we will drive, who we will marry, how many kids we will have. But as we grow older, we convert our fantasies into what is actually real. We then end up gaining a pessimistic view on life, from the struggles and conflicts that fill our lives.
The thing is that even as grow older, we may lose our fantasies but that doesn't mean we lose our hope. I was talking with a friend who is going through a tough time in life, and I emailed her, and I was so filled with hope for the situation. She responded "I don't live in a fantasy." It breaks my heart that as a whole we see hope as a fantasy, something that is our of reach, something that we can't have. God came to Earth to give us hope in the hopeless situations, and we don't have to earn this hope either. God offers it freely. Its not living in a fantasy if you are hopeful in a situation. There are days where it is that hope I have in the Lord that gets me though the day. I am hours away from home, in a new situation, not sure of my future, not knowing anyone coming in, but I still have hope that God has a plan for me here, and that he is there for me, and so far college has been amazing. Sure there are it's ups and downs, but I have learned so much already, and I hope that as I continue this new journey that I can continue to learn and continue to grow. Having hope is not the same as having a fantasy.
If you are in a hopeless situation right now, below are some Bible verses for you to meditate on, with a specific goal to give you hope that can help get you through what may be going on in your life.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope"

Philippians 4:13 "For I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." 

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the hope that you give each one of us. Thank you for the plans you have for our lives, and for always being with us. Lord I pray that you will be there beside us to give us hope in the hopeless situations. Amen.

A Short Note

So far college is going great for me. Dordt College is an amazing college, and I enjoy all my classes. I am still however, still trying to get adjusted to college life, and that includes when I will write my post for my blog. For example, the time where I had roughly planned to write my blog, I instead got invited to go to a karaoke party with some of the girls from my hall. So some of my posts are going to be short for a while as I get use to finding the time and the words to say what I want in my blog, and I say thanks now for your patience.
One thing that I have noticed at Dordt so far, is how they hold every degree program up to a standard of serving the Lord. Many people think that the only way to serve the Lord through work is by being a pastor or a missionary, but Dordt focuses on everyone bringing glory to God no matter what major you are. Colossians 3:23 came to mind as we talk about this, and it says, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." This verse talks about how we are to work for the Lord in whatever we do, it doesn't matter if we are a pastor or a janitor. 
This is just an interesting topic to think about, because we all can glorify the Lord in a way that is unique to us. I plan on going more in depth on this topic in the future, as well as talking about how to glorify God in my specific major. 

Dear Heavenly Father,
You have called each and everyone of us to a specific vocation and we each have a different skill set. I pray that I can use the skills you have given me to glorify you in all that we do. Amen.

A Way to Glorify God

As Christians know, we are to show God's love in all that we do. This is a shirt I made. It looks like a note that was written from God to his child. I love it because not only can the wearer be encourage, but the other people around can also be encourage. It is small things like this that can bring glory to God's kingdom in everyday life. For those who can't see the shirt it says:
My Child,
You are unique and wonderfully made. Nothing in this world can take my love away from you. I see the plans I have for you, and your future looks so bright. I'm here to bring light to the darkness that surrounds you. I will never leave nor forsake you.
Love,
You Heavenly Father 

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your love and mercy everyday, I pray that in what ever I do in life, that I can glorify you, Thank you for always being with me. Amen.