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
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
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>
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>
Monday, January 21, 2013
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
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
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