Why?

When I got home from work today, my mom was watching a random show on television while she was organizing stuff for our garage sale. I semi-watched it as I fixed my afternoon snack. The shows she likes are usually not of any interest to me--especially after I get home from a long day at work and would rather watch something mindless. When the show switched to commercials, I began to completely ignore the blare of the television. Commercials are one of the worst things ever invented. But that's not what this post is about.

As the commercials were doing their little song and dance of "buy this! Buy that! You couldn't possibly live without this!" one commercial popped up that caught my ear.

"He only has one night to get everybody [or, something along those lines. You get the point.]…." Obviously, I jumped instantly, thinking to myself "tomorrow's Easter! Not Christmas!"

But as I turned my attention to the television screen, I discovered that the commercial for Walgreens was not discussing Santa Claus's one-night feat of reaching every child in the world. It was, in fact, telling the world about the Easter Bunny's feat of delivering Easter baskets to all the children in one night. Yes, you heard me correctly. Not only does Santa bring presents, so does the Easter Bunny.

Later, while in Fred Meyer waiting for my sister, I relayed the commercial to my dad. We were standing in the foyer, and had an excellent view of the shelves loaded with chocolate eggs, Easter baskets, and Easter-themed balloons. He rolled his eyes and relayed to me a story of a town that holds annual Easter egg hunts. But, the no longer call them Easter egg hunts. They call them egg hunts "so as not to offend people with religious affiliation".

The holiday of Easter stemmed from the Christian celebration of Christ arising from the dead, and with it, the salvation He brings. Thus, as a Christian, the celebration of Easter has great significance for me.

Every holiday stems from a tradition or a celebration of something or someone. St. Patrick's Day is meant to commemorate the work of St. Patrick. The Fourth of July commemorates the birth of the United States. Thanksgiving recognizes the Pilgrim's thankfulness in arriving in the New World safely, and Christmas comes from the acknowledgement of Christ's birth. Like I said before, Easter comes from Christ's arising from the dead. Halloween stems from pagan traditions and celebrations.

Every holiday comes from somewhere. To celebrate a holiday is to recognize where it comes from. No one is required to celebrate any holiday. Everyone has a choice as to what they do with that particular day that is marked by society as "special".

Every year, society tries to make Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter into a consumer exploitation. They've replaced Jesus Christ with a rather large man and a fluffy bunny. People get offended or try to avoid offending others by not speaking of why these holidays got started. People just want an excuse to eat all the junk food they want and get presents.

Society is acting like we have no choice but to celebrate the holidays that are marked on the calendar.  But if you do not agree with or are offended by what the holiday was made for, WHY?

What is the purpose in celebrating that holiday?
Why would you support something that you don't agree with?

Celebrating Easter and Christmas is akin to saying, "I believe in this and it doesn't offend me."

It's great to use Christmas as a time to get together with family you haven't seen in a long time. My family does every year. But if you need a holiday you don't believe in to have a reason to get together, maybe you need to examine the relationships you have with your family members. If you have to come up with some sort of "requirement" for having these times of extended family fellowship, maybe your family isn't so close as you thought it was.

I do not celebrate Halloween. This confuses people. They have said to me, "Why wouldn't you celebrate it? You get tons of candy!" I don't agree with the worship of demons. I am offended by the origins (which, incidentally, this day was originally a special day for demon-worshippers to go out and kill Christians). So why would I celebrate it? If I celebrated Halloween, I would be showing my support for its origins. If I need to justify pigging out on candy, it's a sign I need to re-adjust my thinking (and my cravings, for that matter).

Why celebrate something you don't believe in? There is no solid answer.

The meaning behind so many holidays has completely disappeared. No one (or, hardly anyone) knows the origin of St. Patrick's Day and Valentine's Day. Memorial Day, President's Day, Veteran's Day, and Labor Day have become more excuses to take a day off of work than a day to remember people who have worked hard to keep our country free. Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas have become excuses for junk food and/or gifts rather than times to reflect on what God has given us.

Wearing green, celebrating love, taking the day off of work, and getting gifts aren't bad things in and of themselves (junk food is kind of another story..). But when we use these things to overshadow what these holidays mean, they become bad things.

Tomorrow is Easter. Tomorrow, people everywhere will gather for Easter egg hunts, receive Easter baskets, and sit down for a delicious dinner of ham (or some other meat) and other delectable delights. But I wonder how many people will be doing this with the reason for this holiday in mind. How many will take the time to reflect on what this holiday represents?

But what does this holiday represent?

The greatest gift that has ever been given (which, incidentally is the greatest that ANYONE can receive).

Salvation.

Salvation from what?

Salvation from eternal torment in Hell.

Christ died and rose again for our sins. He conquered death, Hell, and the grave. He went through unspeakable tortures.

And for what?

For US.

Poor, lowly, despicable sinners.

Easter represents the day Christ arose. It was established as a day of celebration of Christ's perfect gift.

And what have we turned it into? A commercialized, bunny-concentrated, mad-house.

If you do not believe in or are offended by what this holiday represents,

Why are you celebrating it??

Be honest with yourself.

If you do not want to support my religion, please do not exploit my holidays.

Christianity: A Label or a Lifestyle?

Chris•tian 

[kris-chuhn]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings

2. decent; respectable

3. human; not brutal; humane

noun

1. a person who believes in Jesus Christ; adherent of Christianity

2. a person who exemplefies in his or her life the teachings of Christ. 

(definitions from dictionary.com)

What is a Christian? Is a Christian merely someone who says that they are? Is he someone who is decent? Is he the person who goes to church and says he believes?

Or is he the person who lives what he says he believes?

Everyday, people walk around wearing the label "Christian" on their chests. They walk around saying that they believe in God and His power and will and the Bible. But in their next breath, they're telling raunchy jokes, swearing, and running around causing trouble. Please don't look around and think that this is not happening: because it is. 

When I log into my Facebook page, I scroll through a feed of posts from many different people from many walks of life. I know a variety of people: both Christian and not. I recently had a disturbing realization. I can open two separate tabs on my browser with one tab open to the profile of a non-Christian friend and the profile of a Christian friend and the profiles will be so much the same. I'm not talking about the layout or anything like that.

I'm talking about the posts.

Friends, this disturbs me. A lot. 

And be ye not conformed to this world: 

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, 

that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. 

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:15

Be ye not conformed!

Love not the world!

Friends, are you listening?

To be a Christian is to be the very essence of different!

Christians are called to make a difference in this world! We are to reach out to the world and win souls for Christ! 

If we are acting just like the world, how are we supposed to do this? 

The answer is simple: we can't. 

We cannot live like the world and expect to produce spiritual fruit. 

We are to live as called people!! Because, if one is truly redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, that is exactly what one is: a called person. 

But, what are we called to do?

We are CALLED!

Called to:

Look different.

Act different.

Talk different.

Dress different. 

Live different.

Friends, you have to choose.

You have to choose between the things of God and the things of this world. 

A True Christian is someone who is filled with the Holy Spirit.

Does someone with the Holy Spirit in them:

Swear?

Tell raunchy jokes?

Purposely cause trouble?

Listen to music from blatantly anti-Christian artists?

Listen to any music with lyrics that contain swearing, innuendos, or portray sin in a good light?

Allow themselves to be associated with those who are known to be trouble?*

Tell rude jokes about a person (and I mean any person--celebrities included)?

NO.

A person filled with the Holy Spirit repelled by these things. These are not merely trivial things. These are things that go directly against God's Word.

Friends, I am extremely concerned about the spiritual well-being of my peers. Christians and non-Christians alike. My generation is falling into a downward spiral. We are running down a path to destruction. 

I encourage you to get rid of the conforming habits in your life. But don't just decide to get rid of them. Doing so by yourself will only take you on a u-turn. Life lived right is not achieved on one's own. This is something you can only achieve through the use of God's strength. 

Here's something my mom told me once about changing in the strength of God:

Imagine your struggles are all old, unwanted objects. Now, put them all in a box. Take that box, and lay it down at the throne of God. And leave it there. Don't come back for it. Don't pick it up again. Don't open it. Leave all of your troubles to God. Let Him guide you down the path to deliverance. Let Him give you the strength to break away from the world. 

Christians are chosen people. Now, go act like one. 

Ye have not chosen me, 

but I have chosen you, 

and ordained you, 

that ye should go and bring forth fruit, 

and that your fruit should remain: 

that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, 

He may give it you.

John 15:16

*NOTE: I am not saying a Christian should not be around those who aren't Christians. I'm saying that people who aren't Christians are not the people who should be our best friends or the ones whom when others think of you, they think of those people and their actions and think of them like you. 

It Started Out As a Feeling

Feelings.

Love.

Hate.

Joy.

Sorrow.

Excitement

Indifference.

Renewal.

Heartbreak.

Warmth

Chill.

Smiles.

Frowns.

Sun.

Rain.

Good.

Bad.

Happy.

Sad.

Dance.

Sleep.

Hug.

Alone.

Friendship.

No one.

Family.

Rejection.

Light.

Dark.

On my skin.

In my heart.

Reflecting through my eyes.

Sifting through my fingers and toes.

Wrapping me up.

Gently.

Smoothing my hair.

Brushing my cheek.

Feelings surround me.

Overwhelm me.

One would be nice.

Two, maybe three.

But my feelings don't listen.

Sometimes they attack me.

Poking.

Pulling.

Contradicting.

Confusing.

How do I know

The start of something good?

I don't.

I just do.

How do I harbor

A contradiction in one emotion?

I don't.

I just do.

What would my life

Feel like?

Taste like?

See like?

Hear like?

Smell like?

If I did not feel?

Or maybe

I've already answered this.

I don't want nothing.

But sometimes I do.

Is wanting

To not feel

A feeling too?

Rain.

Rain. 

I love rain. 

Most people find it gloomy. 

But every time it rains, my face breaks out in a grin 

as memories flood through my mind's eye and warm my soul. 

Some of my best memories have come with rain. 

Dancing in the middle of a downpour during the best week of my life, 

then walking to session, my hair dripping, 

my clothes sagging, the wettest person there. 

Running through a raging storm, splashing in nearly knee-deep puddles 

as I made my way through Washington, D.C., 

surrounded by friends, all of us dressed in our best.

Sitting in an amphitheater, writing and practicing a speech. Clouds were just gathering, the wind picking up, a few drops hitting my nose. I had thought myself completely relaxed as I timed my words. But a friend's voice behind me made me scream, jump up, start to run, then burst into laughter as we both shook our heads at my over-reaction.

Running through a downpour, holding my tiny umbrella, another friend's hand gripped over mine, stumbling, laughing, trying to reach the stone legislative building ahead, getting wet despite our efforts.

Standing in a torrential downpour, trying to transfer luggage to another car, laughing as a parent ordered his son to do something before realizing it was the child hadn't seen for a week.

Singing in the middle of a parking lot. 

Riding Splash Mountain over and over and over again, 

not caring how wet I got. 

Just happy to be having a great time. 

Walking arm in arm with a close friend I rarely see, 

talking about anything and everything as rain gently fell. 

Rain is my friend.

Whenever it pours, my heart fills with smiles and laughter..

Memories that I will never forget.

Memories that will always make me love rain.

Speak and the World Listens

Last weekend, I attended a speech qualifying tournament.

[Have you ever had that moment where you're writing and you try to write an attention-grabbing first sentence, but can't? Yeah, I'm there. But, my insecurities aside, this was a crazy weekend for me.]

It was insane.

I've looked forward to it ever since I got the e-mail announcing when registration would open.

But... then I got nervous. Really nervous.

I wanted to break. I had to break. It was the last qualifier of the season. And the only one I'd been able to attend.

But everyone was so much better than me. They had coaches. And clubs. And speech and debate was the only thing they did.

For me, speech is one thing among a million.

But I went. And I loved it.

But, you know, I walked into it not really expecting to learn anything huge. Especially spiritually.

NCFCA is a Christian organization, but you know, it's one of those things where it's a competition and you just think about the fact that you're going there to compete with other people.

But I did learn something.

Honestly, I learned a lot.

And the fact that I didn't break made me learn even more.

Take my pride, for instance. I thought there wasn't any way I couldn't break. I'm the best 4-H speaker in my county. I'm among the top in my speech class. I've come so far since I was eleven. When I was the little girl who rocked back and forth on her heels and held her note cards up in her face. I walked into that tournament ready to blow the judges away and make my way to the top.

Even during the tournament, when I was getting power-matched with people whom I had heard were really good, I thought for sure I would break.

But I didn't.

To be honest, I thought there'd been some mistake. As I was going home, I kept waiting for my phone to buzz. For it to be a friend or one of the heads of the tournament, telling me there'd been a mistake; a typo; something.

But there wasn't.

That was harder than I thought it would be.

I'm okay with it now. And I definitely learned from it.

Someone has to win, someone has to lose. If we all won, it wouldn't be a competition.

And what about prayer? Giving God complete control of everything.

One of the biggest things I struggle with is letting God have control. I've always been the "do it myself" kind of person. Independent, not wanting to admit to anyone I need help. But during this weekend, something that God showed me (actually, a better way to put it would be something God smacked me in the face with) was the huge difference between the rounds I spent time in prayer before, and the round I chatted and joked with my friends before.

Before my first and third rounds, I spent quite a bit of time praying, begging God to help me convey my piece in a way that would honor Him and bring across to people what I wanted to bring across. I walked out of those rounds feeling confident and like God had spoken through me with every word and every motion. In my first round, a judge cried. In my third, all three were so stunned, it was all they could do to shake my hand and smile when I thanked them.

But before my second round, I had several friends with me. We were all hanging out and chatting and joking and just having a good time. There's nothing wrong with that. But I wasn't thinking about my piece, or what I had to do and say. And then, my mom came to watch as well, and I was talking to her and.. I completely forgot to pray. My turn came so suddenly. I went in, and did well, but my mom and I both knew I could do better. Much better.

Giving everything to God is so important. Even in seemingly small things like a speech competition. I think a lot of times, even as Christians, we don't really think about the fact that God cares about every teeny, tiny minute detail of our lives. He wants to see us succeed and do well. He wants to fill us with strength to do whatever we're doing: even a speech.

There were other things that filled the weekend. Things that made me smile, laugh, stress myself out, and so much more. Things that are running through my mind that I can't sort out. Things that make me wish my mind wasn't so busy.

But the weekend was amazing. God is amazing. The things He showed me in that short amount of time are things I pray I never forget. I know this post seems kind of scattered, but that's how I'm feeling about the weekend. While I loved everything, not breaking was a bit of a let-down. But it's okay. It's all okay. What I need to concentrate on now is what God taught me, and what He gave me that weekend: a lot of time with a close friend I rarely get to see, a chance to speak competitively, a big lesson in being prideful, another huge lesson in the fact that God cares about everything in my life, and a greater understanding of other things in my life that have in the past left me confused and reaching out into the void of misunderstanding.

It was an amazing weekend.

And I wouldn't take it back for the world.

Counting it All Joy

“Life is 

10% what happens to you 

and 90% how you react to it.” 

–Charles R. Swindoll

When asked to describe me, my friends will use words like:

happy

welcoming

inspirational

godly

sweet

I’ve been told I’m known for my friendliness and my always open shoulder. 

I’m active in 4-H, TeenPact, work, and life in general. 

All of this describes my 90%: 

how I’ve reacted to life. 

But what most people don’t know about me is my 10%: 

what happened to me. 

Because my 10% is that I was bullied for five long years. 

I would be lying if I said I emerged from this ordeal stronger all on my own. 

Yes, I emerged a stronger person, 

but not because of anything I did. 

Who I am today is all because of God. 

Many times, I found myself looking at the footprints in the sand and, upon seeing only one set, 

wondered where God was in all of it. 

What I failed to see 

was that He was carrying me: 

every step of the way. 

Throughout those years, He gave me someone who constantly reminded me that He was in full control, 

even when I felt like life was spinning out of control: 

my mother. 

I remember late nights when she would hold me as I cried. 

She always told me the same thing:

“And we know that all things 

work together for good 

to them that love God 

to them who are the called 

according to His purpose.” 

Romans 8:28. 

People who know me and knew me as I went through this trial in my life  

would probably be shocked 

if I told them 

I am a victim of bullying. 

I used to equate this to putting on a mask. 

 And for a while, 

I believe I was. 

But God’s constant prodding and my mom’s constant prayer made me realize something: 

I must count it all joy. 

Being joyful when all I wanted 

was to curl up in a corner and cry my life away 

was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. 

But I didn’t do it on my own. 

The reason I can be joyful is because 

God is teaching me 

joy 

peace 

forgiveness

 and faith. 

I’ve forgiven those girls. 

It took quite a while, but God never gave up on my heart.

“My brethren, 

count it all joy 

when ye fall into divers temptations; 

Knowing this, 

that the trying of your faith 

worketh patience.” 

James 1:2-3

A Little Nonsense Once in a While...

While I was job shadowing at the capitol, it was fantastic to see the legislatures as real people. They laughed and joked amongst each other (at least... the Republicans did. We all know that Democrats are just a bunch of old, heartless cronies ;) [note for those of you with no sense of humor: THAT WAS A JOKE!]).

Haha.. aaanyway..

Watching and listening to these men and women interact with each other (and me..) a lot of hilarious things were said. So today, I present to you:

Quotes from the Capitol!

I think the Democrats are responsible for the raccoon attacks.

Random Staffer

I like you people over here on the R side. 

You're nicer... your water tastes better...

Previously mentioned Random Staffer

The Democrats have raided us for our cups!!

Rep. DeBolt: Rep. Parker, if you're swiping snacks again, I'm going to kick you out of this office!!

Rep. Parker: Who says I'm swiping snacks??

Rep. DeBolt: I saw you slipping one in your pocket yesterday!

Rep. Parker: I needed one for the floor!!

Rep. Hinkle: (introducing me to someone) This is my shadow!

Security Guard: Hi, Shadow!

Rep. Hinkle: (once again, introducing me to someone) This is Rose Johnson, she's my shadow for the next couple of days.

Another Rep: Funny, I always thought you would cast a longer shadow..

Backstory: I had run back to grab Rep. Hinkle's iPad. 

When I'm about three feet away from catching up to him, I hear this: 

Random Rep.: Where's your shadow? Aren't shadows supposed to right next to you?

Rep. Hinkle: This one runs errands for me. 

Don't let him corrupt you!!

Republican Caucus

I say we pass some legislation that says that all staffers should have cute accents. 

Head of Ways and Means Committee

Oh good, he hasn't scared you away yet!

Random Republican Representative 

The Speaker is about to lock the roll-call machine. ::long pause:: 

The Speaker is reaaaallly close to locking the roll-call machine. ::another long pause:: 

REPRESENTATIVE (so-and-so)!!! HOW DO YOU VOTE!!  

Speaker of the House 

(the Rep. in question wasn't paying attention)

And then there was that time it took all the will-power I had not to "slug-bug" my representative..
But... we're not discussing that..
(note: I was [miraculously] able to resist)