Your Way To Go

We know that we are not the same as the person standing (or sitting) next to you. You may be smart when it comes to school, while the person next to you is street smart. You are both different but that doesn't mean that one person is better than the other. But when it comes to our faith, we tend to compare where we are in our faith to everybody else. You may think that you are better than someone because you read you Bible everyday. Or during worship you may raise your hands, so that means you are better than someone who stands there. But being different than someone doesn't mean that you are better than that person. It is that both of you are on different paths. Psalms 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Notice the second to last word "My." We each have our own paths, and each one of them are different. You may struggle with porn, while the person next to you struggles with drugs and alcohol. You can't say, "I don't struggle with drugs and alcohol so I am better than the guy next to me." God sees each sin the same, and Jesus died for everyone.
Let's take my favorite band for example, Casting Crowns. They are a band that tours the country, and on Sundays they all go and teach at their church. The lead singer, Mark Hall, is a youth pastor, as well as the lead singer. Just because they do so much for God, doesn't mean that they are better than you. God loves everyone of his children the same. The members of Casting Crowns are just on a different path than you. With the path that they are on, they also face different challenges than you. The world may see that Casting Crowns is "better than you", but God sees you all the same, each person on a different path.

Dear Heavenly Father, 
I know that I easily compare myself to other people, just trying to feel better about myself. Help me to find all the love I need in you, so I don't have to find it anywhere else, because your love is sufficient for me. Help me to understand that not one person is better than another person, but that we are on different paths. Help me to encourage people, no matter where they are on their path for your glory God. Amen.

Christian Life

I don't know why we have this idea in our head, that Christians are no fun sticks in the mud.  I mean people can justify it by all the rules that Christians have to follow, like don't steal, or lie, or murder. The thing is these rules were put there to show us how much we need a Savior, not to make our lives dull. We should try to obey the laws, but God wants us to be happy and to have a little fun in our lives. Ecclesiastes 8:15 says, "So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun." God does want us to have fun and he isn't trying to work us to death. God gave us a day to rest during the week, and he gave us friends and family to hang out with. We do have to be careful and watch what we say and do, but going to a cafe with your friends isn't a sin. Watching a movie with your boyfriend isn't a sin, you just have to be aware of the temptations there. Having fun doesn't equate to sin, you just have to be careful of the temptations present. So I will keep this post short, so that you can go out there and have a little fun today, instead of just listening to me blab. 

Dear Heavenly Father,
I have this crazy idea in my head of what a "Christian life" should look like. I pray that you help me break down those ideas, so that I can see you for you, and how much you love me and how you do want me to have fun and to be glad Lord. Thank you for your love everyday, and that the love you have will encourage me to go and have fun, while I work for you. 

Christmas is Coming

The story that I am using can be found in Isaiah 9:6  which goes, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." I chose this story, because of it's location in the Bible. It is found in Isaiah, which is located in the old testament, but if you read the passage, it sounds like it was written at the same time that Jesus was born. It was prophesied years before Jesus, that he will be born. This was a story to the Jews at the time, and it was passed down from generation to generation. It was a story, until Jesus came to Earth and made it a reality. Jesus became a wonderful counselor and the prince of peace, and the everlasting Father, and so much more, the night that he was born in manger, in the City of David. Jesus made this story that had been around for a while into reality.
Now, there is so much more to this in how it can apply to your life. We each have a story, whether it is something that we had to overcome, or a victory that we have won. God had already written our stories a long time ago, before we were even born. He knows what is going to happen, and he knows all the plot twists before they happen. He will take your story that he has written and make it a reality if you let him. Just like how Jesus turned a story into reality, God is willing to do the same with you if you let him in. I know how much we each want our own realities to come true, but the story that God has written for us, will play out so much better in reality than anything that we will write. You just have to trust in the story that God has written for you.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending you son down in a form of a baby, to come and save my life. Thank you that you already have my story written out, and I trust you that it will be amazing when it comes to reality. I know that it is hard to trust a story that we don't know the end to, so I pray for the courage to trust and follow you in all that you make reality for me. Amen.

Finding the Right Gift

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 ultimate gift. I pray that this holiday season that I can show how much I love the people around me. Amen.