Only Two Things that Matter

Just this morning, one of my friends passed away. He was only 23 years old. This is just two years older than I am now, and he was doing something I do almost every week and more so at home: driving in a car. 

When someone so close to your age dies, it makes you realize the brevity of life, and the importance of living a life that counts. So, what am I really living for? 

This summer at camp one of my friends said this: "There are only two things that matter in this life, God and people." 

As I go throughout my days, I want to remember that I'm here to love God and others, no matter what that cost may be. It may not be easy. It may not be convenient. It may not always be what I feel like doing. But in the end, it will be totally worth it. 

I can honestly say that my friend loved God and loved his campers this summer. He was a true example of the joy found in serving Jesus Christ. Though he is not with us any longer, I know God will use his life and his death to bring glory to Himself. (By the way, I know my friend doesn't want to come back here!) 

I pray that at the end of my life, whether it's tomorrow or 50 years from now, I will have a testimony of a genuine love for God and people. 

Appearance Isn't Everything

She flipped her beautiful, straight locks in my face. She batted her long, luscious eyelashes my way. She glanced at me covered in a tanned, flawless complexion. Walking through a cosmetic store this past weekend, this is the face that pulled me in. And she can be summed up in one word: fake.

This woman, she is the face of the world. She calls out to us, screaming that we have to look like her. You're not skinny enough. You're not beautiful enough. Your skin is not right. Your hair is too big. You will never get anywhere in this life. She yells out her lies. But where exactly is she trying to get? 

Proverbs 31:10 - Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. 

External Beauty is temporary. Internal beauty is eternal. We have come to put so much emphasis on the outward appearance that we have disregarded the importance of the internal appearance. So, what if you have the latest fashions if your God is not pleased by your clothing choices every day? Are you clothing yourself in hot dresses or humility? Are you covering your face with a rejuvenating concealer and a pearly white smile or with a renewed countenance of the joy found in Christ? Is your hair straightened out smoothly or is your hidden life simply a secret you hope no one finds out? Could we possibly be hiding the fact that we are falling apart inside by fixing up our outward appearance? 

I want to challenge you to look past your own outward beauty (because you are beautiful just the way God made you; see Psalm 139:14) and search your heart for the flaws that are there. Because this is so much more important than just the outward appearance. Pretty character is always more beautiful than a pretty face. 

Do's and Don't's

A lot of times we just go through the motions. Wear your skirt to your knee. Don't drink. Don't do drugs. Don't say bad words. Be kind. Be respectful....the list could go on. Are you stuck in this rut? Maybe, you've thought before, Why am I even doing this? 

Well, why are you doing it? Is it because that's what you've always done? Or because your parents say so? I'd like to venture out and say, those aren't the right reasons. You can stop reading now if you want. You can keep going day in day out doing the same things. But just hear me out for a minute. 

There is always some kind of motivation behind everything that you do. It could be as simple as sleeping because you or tired, or it could be a perfectly laid out plan to accomplish a long term goal in the next five years. But both of these have a motivation behind it: it's something that you desire above anything else at that moment. 

Psalm 42:1 says, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God."

Just like a deer has a longing, a necessity, for a drink of water, so is David's desire for His Savior. Ultimately, this motivation is what led a 17-year-old boy to fight a giant. This is what led Him to show restraint from killing Saul even though he had multiple opportunities. This is what led Him to repent and accept the punishment for even what we would say is his greatest sin. All of these actions were motivated by His love for God.

Where do we begin to have this great love for God? We don't have to look very far. Just look up a hill on a dark day long, long ago. The hill called Calvary. What do you see there? I see a Man, broken and bleeding. I see the weight of my sin, crushing His holiness. I see a Savior, who loved me more than anyone ever could. 

So, why do you do what you do? Just because your parents say so? Or because a love for God's Word motivates you to obey? Because others will praise you? Or because God will be pleased? If we could even just begin to understand what Christ did for us on the cross, we would have absolutely no excuse, no reason not to live out of love for Him, our ultimate sacrifice. 

No Better Time to Be Thankful

Because of Thanksgiving coming up tomorrow, it seems appropriate to pull this one up from just a few weeks ago. I hope you'll take some time to be thankful for those little things we so often forget!

Have you ever gone through something and thought, Why me? Why now? I have definitely been there. But you know what I've realized? There's no better time to be thankful for everything that God has given me. So, here's my list of 101 things I'm thankful for:

1. God knows the number of hairs on my head.

2. I have godly parents who encourage me to not just do right but to be right.

3. I have godly friends who encourage spiritual growth.

4. I get to go to a Christian college.

5. God always provides, despite my doubts.

6. Weekends!

7. The ability to read and write

8. I don't have to wash my clothes by hand.

9. God gives me a new day every day.

10. I don't have to worry about what others think of me, only what God thinks of me.

11. Warm blankets

12. The freedom to do right

13. Good food

14. A bed to sleep in

15. Air conditioning

16. Stairs (for all of my Wilds' friends)

17. Creativity

18. Pretty handwriting

19. The opportunity to be a Wilds counselor

20. Alarm clocks

21. The bond of Christians even if they have never met before

22. The unity that prayer brings

23. Bible studies

24. Emotions (there are good ones and bad ones!)

25. Organization!

26. Having a place to call home

27. Having friends that make being away from home easier

28. Laughter

29. Experiences I've had that allow me to help others

30. Fuzzy slippers

31. Warm water

32. Day planners 

33. Purses and bags

34. Comfy clothes

35. Family dinners

36. God's leading me to be a teacher

37. That I'm not in nursing school!

38. A nana that writes to me

39. My collegian at college

40. Not always getting what I wanted

41. Being a senior!

42. God having a bigger plan

43. A solid church family

44. New friends

45. Good roommates that I don't want to leave

46. Transportation

47. Dunkin' donuts' coffee

48. Imagination

49. Nail polish

50. Journals

51. A summer/Christmas job

52. Love

53. Goals and dreams

54. Lights

55. Stars

56. Musicals and plays

57. A copy of God's Word to read every day

58. Wise counsel

59. Kittens

69. Rain

70. Curly hair

71. Little sisters and a brother that make me smile

72. The beach and ocean

73. I can talk to the God of the universe.

74. Sunshine

75. Seasons

76. Christmas and its activities

77. Cold weather

78. Blogs and articles

79. Makeup

80. Swimming

81. Cameras that capture some of the sweetest memories

82. The ability to remember

83. The ability to memorize

84. The sense of taste

85. God's gift of true joy even when circumstances aren't the best 

86. Friends that pray for me

87. Technology such as iPads and phones and computers

88. Good books

89. Sunday afternoon naps

90. Pinterest

91. New recipes

92. The old classic Disney movies

93. Windows to see outside 

94. Good health

95. I live in a free country. 

96. The ability to hear

97. Sports 

98. Medicine and healthcare

99. God's creation (waterfalls, mountains, etc.)

100. God gives me strength, His strength. 

101. Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the cross.