Long Time No See

I am doing something I never thought I'd be doing. In January, I'm packing up my bags and making a long, boring drive into the middle of nowhere. I'm going to a place where the life of the city is indeed the college campus, as there is nothing else to see. Where am I going? Lubbock, Texas. Why am I going? Because I'm doing something I didn't think was possible.

I'm graduating early from high school.

"Why Lubbock?" one may ask. Well, there's a school there called Texas Tech University... so that's why. The reason I'm telling you about my planned trip to the world of college? Well, it's because I'm going to talk about growth. Cool? Cool.

I've grown a lot throughout high school. I've made new friends, I've lost old friends, I've dated people, I've dumped and been dumped by people. I've done many things I never thought I'd do. I've explored things I probably shouldn't have explored (but my impulsive and rebellious behavior told me to explore). I've, you know, grown. I went from being a dorky, confused freshmen to an even more dorky, confused senior. Just kiddingggg. While I was dorky and confused my freshmen year, I have definitely changed a lot since then. For one, I did tap in to a more rebellious side. I think it started around the time I started to distance myself from my old church friends.

(****side note: the other authors on this page were those friends, and I really miss them****)

So basically, I started exploring, which isn't bad, but sometimes it's not good. Sophomore year, I hated my life. I really did. The only thing I enjoyed was swim team and my drawing class. Other than that, it was a bad year. But for real though.... I don't remember anything about that year. Except for swim team and art class. I just remember being miserable in between those classes. I wasn't doing drugs or anything that would make me forget that year, but the fact that sophomore year is just a giant fluff ball of nothing is pretty sad to me. Art class I was happy, swim practice I was happy. Anything else? Nope. I don't remember a thing. (Oh except English class. But I only remember the cute boy who sat behind me.) So sophomore year is when things started going way downhill. I did pick up guitar though and had a very, very good summer. Got a job, turned 16, made lots of memories. But then........... I met a boy. Now, I had a sort of thing with someone before this boy, but that thing ended as quickly as it started. But this new boy. We went to homecoming together last year and then started dating. That's when the real exploring began.

I've long strayed from the path of Christianity. I have a love for things like Woodstock, a festival I'm pretty sure most Christians have a huge hatred for. But me? I'm independent, I think on my own. Is that bad? OF COURSE NOT. But when you disconnect yourself from God and continue to act on your own, rebellious free will 100% of the time, I assure you things will go spiraling downward. End of junior year, I broke up with my boyfriend, went down a dark and dangerous path, isolated myself. And the sad part is that when I reached out for a hand, those friends just slapped it away and watched me fall apart. Of course they were the friends I had made during my dumb exploration period, so it was no surprise that when I actually needed guidance and support that they pushed me away, but it did hurt. It hurt when I watched people I thought cared about me go right into the arms of the devil.

So end of junior year, I turned in my schedule for senior year. Shortly after that, I dropped out of my high school and enrolled into a great online program. I got my sh** together, called up my sister in Christ Gloria, and I paved a way to a better and brighter future. I mean, I still love things like Woodstock and have an incredibly independent mind, but I stopped being stupid about my independence. I slapped myself across the head and got back on my feet. Now I'm marching my way to greatness. (Cliche, I know.)

The point? I've grown up. I've had to experience horrible things, and I've had to drag myself through so hardships, but all-in-all, look at where I am now. If none of those horrible things had happened, if I hadn't done some of the things I regret doing, I wouldn't be graduating early and getting a jumpstart on my life outside of home. I know this whole post seems super duper cliche, but I feel as if this story needs to be told.

To anyone reading this who may be going through tough times, I just wanted you to know that eventually everyone hits rock bottom, but if you seek guidance from the Lord, you really will find your way back up. I sure did. I hit rock bottom once, twice, and many times after that. I suffered from depression at least three times in my life, and I'm only seventeen! I suffered from anorexia too. So I do understand hardships. I do. But I let myself trust in God and the one sister who has truly been here for me since the beginning, and I haven't  hit rock bottom since.

-Morgan (last post i went by Courtney)

Give and Take Away

We all know God is generous. We all know he is merciful. We have heard and seen of the wonderful things he has gifted us with. But sometimes we forget that he takes away, too. He gives and he takes away, just like the song, "Blessed be Your Name."  But what we don't always realize is that when God takes away, it can actually be a good thing.

I have seen this first hand. I worked very hard for several months to make "officer" on a team I was on in Jr. high. But I didn't make it. I was really upset for a little while, but I move on. The next year I knew I had to try out for the highschool team, which was fierce competition. Only half of the girls on the Jr. high team would make it going into highschool, and I wanted desperately to be one of those girls. Because I did not make officer, I worked even harder for the next year, taking private lessons, extra classes, and everything extra I could possibly do to help me improve and make the high school team. And God blessed me- I made it! God took away the chance of being an officer so He could give me the chance to be on the high school team, which was way more important in the long run. One year missing a couple extra oppurtunities for four years of a million new chances- I would take that trade anytime!  But before God took that first chance away, I didn't realize how hard I had to work or how much better I could become. 

God takes away so he can give you something better. It may not be something you can see right away; you may not recognize his plan for months, years, maybe even decades, but someday you will recognize what He has done for you and you will realize how worthwhile the "loss" was. I have seen other examples of this in my own life, and it never ceases to amaze me.  It makes me so thankful that we have such an amazing God who knows not only what we need to receive, but also what we need to loose. If God didn't take away as well as give, how would his plans for us be fulfilled?  How else would we be able to follow the path he has intended for us, which is so much better than we could ever envision for ourselves?  As the song goes:

You give and take away,
You give and take away,
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be your name!

Thank you, God, for all you give us. But thank you, also, for all you take away!

God bless you,
Heather

Stressed Out? Me too...

Anyone here feel stressed out? Well, you aren't alone. With all these exams coming up, who wouldn't be stressing out. Also, sports tryouts for next year are coming around the corner, which doubles the stress. Then planning for your summer activities might even triple it. But not to worry. GOD TO THE RESCUE! I know when I'm about to take a test I pray for God to help me out and help me get a good grade. Of course I have to put forth some effort too, but it helps to know that I have a cheer squad up in Heaven. 

Also, before I dive into the water during a swim meet, I pray. Others stretch and stare at the time board. I talk to my opponents and try to be friendly. I pray while I do my stretches. Honestly, I'm not trying to preach, but I am trying to make a point. Life is about a million times easier when you have God on your side. The stress goes from 10 to 0. Well, in some cases. Even if you pray, stress still exists. When I'm standing on that block and the starter says take your mark, all of the swimmers in my heat take the position. Then, stress levels go from 0 to 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000.......

The only thing I'm aware of is myself and the buzzer. 

"Take your mark..." says the starter into the microphone. 

I say this to myself, right as he presses the buzzer... "I can do all things through him who gives me strength." 

Even as I'm swimming, I pray. I try not to pay attention to my competitors. When you're racing, it's every racer for themselves. It's like a Hunger Games. Honestly, the feeling I get when I'm racing through the water is like none I could ever explain. It's the most amazing feeling ever. Even when I get last in my heat, i feel so proud of myself. Partly because I tend to be in the most competitive heats,  but even if I was in the first heat, I'd be okay. As long as I try my hardest, nothing will stand in my way.
So having Jesus in your heart and mind will empower you to do anything you set your mind to. As Michael Phelps once said "there are no limits."

<COURTNEY>

Beautiful Things

Hey there Eternal Grace-ers! I'm Eliza, another teen looking for some guidance in this crazy world we call reality.
Luckily, I have a light in this tunnel, and so do you. We have God.
How cool is that? Isn't it mind-blowing to say that you have the Creator of the entire Universe on your side? God's rooting for you, right now, yesterday, tomorrow. He knew before TIME began who you were, and he's proud to call you his son or daughter. How can you not get chills hearing that? And I'm not just saying all this just because it sounds cool and I like to pretend it's the truth. I'm sharing this good news because I KNOW it is the truth- it is the one and only Good News.
So, let's say you're like me. You read the Bible- when you get to it. You like to serve- when your mom makes you. You go to church every Sunday- or, just about every Sunday.
Sounds like you're only going halfway. And halfway to Heaven only gets you to the moon. Man's already been on the moon, so why stop there? If you're like me, you're stretching your hand to Heaven, but stopping short because of something distracting you. God didn't make us to reach for him, he made us to touch him. God made us in the image of himself. Let me say that again- the image of himself. That's right, I'm made to be like Christ. You're made to be like Christ. So why are we still stopping halfway to Jesus?
Maybe it's because we just don't know anymore. We don't know who to believe- our friends a book called the Bible, declaring something that we know not to be possible? It's a tough choice to make, but it's called faith. And it is beautiful.
Yesterday in church we sang a song that nestled deep in my heart and has stayed there. It's one of those songs that makes you feel as if God was singing it to you, and you can't help but shiver. The chorus went like this:
"You make beautiful things. You make beautiful things out of the dust. You make beautiful things. You make beautiful things out of us."
How gorgeous is that? It is so true, too. To me, that's what faith is. Letting God make you beautiful. Letting him shape you into this wonderful Christian follower that you were made to be. We all have a calling to be sharers of the Good News, even if we haven't felt it yet. Your time is coming. Your time might be here. And you can change the world. Right now. Today.
And why not?
I challenge you this week to let God take over. Let Him make you into a beautiful thing. With God rooting for you, you can do anything.
So go share the Good News, be a disciple of Christ.
And Be Not Afraid.

God is love. God is everywhere.
Eliza

Hard Work

"Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth."
-2 Timothy 2:15

I love this verse- I think it's a good one to keep in your head at all times. Whatever you are working at, give it your all so that God can look down at you on judgement day with approval. Come to Him knowing you gave everything the best you had; that with all you attempted, you did your best- in school, in work, in giving your testimony to spread God's good news, in explaining the word of truth... What you do now matters because God is always looking down on you. He wants you to be the best you can be because that's how he created you. God bless!

Sincerely,
Heather

No Such Thing as Random

I just wanted to once again point out that God is AMAZING!!! The other night several problems I'd been struggling with were brought "out if hiding" from where I'd shoved them in the back of my mind. I sort of figured out what I knew God wanted me to do, but to calm myself down I read a chapter in my Bible, which I hadn't really done in a couple weeks since I'd been busy. It just so happened that there was a short paragraph that almost completely summed up what I'd thought God was telling me before- all of my problems addressed in a couple of verses in a random passage I just so happened to read on the night i needed them!!! Except the amazing part is that they weren't really random, God planned it out so perfectly that it worked out that I read them on that night. Thank you God!!

This is the passage that stood out to me:
"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries an cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by the means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen."- 1 Peter 5:6-11

So much is stored up in that little passage, probably more than I got from it:). Hope you enjoy your weekend, and God bless!!!

Heather:)

Eternal Grace

     I think it's long past due that I explain the name of the blog- Eternal Grace. I mean, looking at it by the literal meaning of the words, it's pretty simple. Eternal= endless; always existing. Grace= mercy; pardon. An always existing pardon. Easy, right?

     But if we say, oh, we're done, that's it, we are missing the whole point of what those two words tell us!!!!!!! You see, the million dollar question is not what does "eternal grace" mean, but what is the eternal grace for?  Why DO we have an always existing pardon? What have we been pardoned for in the first place?  And at the top of the list, how have we been pardoned?!?!

     The first three questions are basically the same. Ok, we have been pardoned, but what for?  Well, that's simple- because we sin. We fall short, we miss the target, we mess up. A lot. Even after we have accepted Christ, we are still going to make a mess of everything!!! We fall short of His standards of righteousness, which means we cannot be, SHOULDN'T be with Him in Heaven. But God pardoned us from the dungeons of Hell; he made us righteous. He bestowed upon us His grace, so that we can be with Him in Heaven. And that grace isn't a contract- no matter what you do, you still have His grace, His pardon, forever.

     The last question is how DID God make us righteous, even while we continue to sin? Because His one and only son, Jesus, died. We live an imperfect life, and therefore deserve Hell. Jesus lived a PERFECT, absolutely SPOTLESS life, and therefore deserved Heaven. But Jesus died the death we were meant to die, taking upon Himself the death and punishment we deserved, trading with us so we could have the righteousness, the eternal life in Heaven he earned for us.

     Both these answers are such typical "Sunday School" answers, so we tend to skim over them. I've heard this a million times before, right? But the reason we hear it a million times is because it is sooooo important!!! I can't even begin to comprehend the enormity of it all, to start to understand all that he did for us.

     I think this title, "Eternal Grace," sums up a lot about why we are Christians, about the point of following Him. Because he loved us, he gave us the grace to let us be with Him forever.

I know this was a long one, but I have one more thought before I end-

"God saved you by his grace when you believed.  And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."
-Ephesians 2:8-10

     This is not at the top of the blog for no reason- take it as something to think about this week:)

     God bless you, and I hope you better understand the incredible gift of God's eternal grace.

-Heather