"Give, and you will receive."

We have been advised our whole lives by those around us, and by our own good conscience, to give without the expectation of receiving. Yet, the Bible tells us in Luke 6:38 that receiving upon our giving is inevitable. However, the motive in which we give should not be for personal gain afterwards. Surely, we are to give with the good intention of giving and the happiness it will bring to those we are giving to. The wonderful news in Luke only tells us that we will receive graces for doing so. We will be rewarded with much more than--for instance--gifts from a friend for doing a favor. We are rewarded by God in whichever way He chooses; and I don't know about you, but I prefer that sort of reward. :)

"Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." ~Luke 6:38

"Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock."

Isaiah 26:4

Laughing With - Regina Spektor

The lyrics are extremely true!
Regina Spektor is absolutely brilliant!

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God
When the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God
When it’s gotten real late
And their kid’s not back from the party yet

No one laughs at God
When their airplane start to uncontrollably shake
No one’s laughing at God
When they see the one they love, hand in hand with someone else
And they hope that they’re mistaken

No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their door
And they say we got some bad news, sir
No one’s laughing at God
When there’s a famine or fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’ve lost all they’ve got
And they don’t know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize
That the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one’s laughing at God when they’re saying their goodbyes

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughing at God in hospital
No one’s laughing at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God when they’re starving or freezing or so very
poor

No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
We’re all laughing with God

Change...

...is not an easy thing.


Today I learned the control my body has over when and how much I can cry.


I learned I can cry in a matter of seconds....and I learned, if I shut out the thoughts making me cry, I will eventually stop.



I also learned, saying goodbye to dear friends who are moving is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.



Elisabeth- I'll love you forever. You are truly my kindred spirit, my best friend, and the person who God chose to be with me all these years and grow up with. I am who I am because of you, and that is, indeed, a very very good thing! I love you. <3

Caleb- You are an amazing human being! You are truly a light in my life, and a very very dear friend! Your humor brightens my days just like it brightens others' days, as I know it does. You're honesty is something I am very greatful of; I know you are never faking who you are when you're with me, and I love that about you! Stay yourself; please don't change for the world. Stay with God; He is worth your while! And, remember how much I care for you! <3

To both of you- I'm already planning my visits! You'll be sick of me soon, I am sure. :P

Jesus...I pray you give this dear family the strength they will need to continue on with the plans You have given them. I pray you stay with me through these days to come, and give me strength to deal with this difficult change.

I ask this is Your most precious name,

Amen.

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

A Big Step

Graduation: done.


I can't believe it. But, yes...summer is indeed here, and I have officially completed high school. I've tried figuring out exactly what I feel about completing this big step in my life. It's not really only happines; I mean, I loved all my high school years...they're what made me, me. And it's not total sadness, cuz as great as high school was, I would like to move on now, thank you. lol But I think I've come to the conclusion that it's a mix of relief, satisfaction, excitement, and concern. I'm relieved to be DONE. I mean, I've been ready for quite a while to move on to bigger and better things; I'm just READY for college. I feel satisfaction in knowing I made the most of these past 4 years, learned a lot about life, myself, the world, and God. I'm excited, because the world is at my fingertips, and the endless paths of life are available for my walking. But I'm concerned, because I'm human. And I change my mind, I make mistakes, and I don't always listen to Him. Before, if I made mistakes, I had the excuse that I'm just learning this 'life' thing...I'm just a kid/teen. But, being an adult now, it's scarier out there. If I make a big enough mistake, if I don't listen to God...it could seriously impact my life. But, I think He'll make this an enjoyable ride, even with it's bumps, as long as He's there. And I've learned (not that I didn't know before) that a real relationship with God is THE most important part of your Christian walk with Christ. You can't walk with Christ, if you don't KNOW Christ...

"Come near to Christ, and He will come near to you." -James 4:8

So...what are my thoughts about where I am in life...?
God's my taxi driver...and I have no clue where we're going. :)

Jesus....drive.
<3