Do it again.

I'm social media fasting for a couple of days. Blogging doesn't count, does it? I don't know.

Because, this quote– I can't avert it:

"Because children have abounding vitality, 
because they are in spirit fierce and free, 
therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. 
They always say, “Do it again”; 
and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. 
For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. 
But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. 
It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; 
and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. 
It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; 
it may be that God makes every daisy separately, 
but has never got tired of making them. 
It may be that he has the eternal appetite of infancy; 
for we have sinned and grown old, 
and our Father is younger than we."
~G.K. Chesterton from Orthodoxy

Could it be that our omnipotent, alpha-and-omega God is younger in spirit than anyone? Is this what He means when He tells us to have childlike faith? To find purpose in the old & repeated? 

Perhaps, instead of praying for new & miraculous things to happen all the time so our faith won't bore, we should be asking for a renewed faith to see the miraculous in what is already happening. This is exulting in the monotony. 

I need to remember this on the mundane days. Would God have created them just for the heck of it? I'm not so convinced. I think those days are just as much a partaker in the big story as anything else. I believe, when you take a magnifying glass and observe closely, they aren't really mundane at all. 

Maybe it's not life that has become dull, but our own selves. 

Wonder

My grandparents moved from the house they'd lived in for as long as I've been alive. I was not particularly happy about it. I mean, that was their house. It's all I've known of theirs. I could not bring myself to imagine another family calling it home. It sounded weird. 

Well, I visited the new house a couple days ago. Their backyard gave me an immediate change of mind. I LOVE IT, YOU GUYS. It's not anything special, but there are flowers growing on the fence and the most perfect climbing tree. That's all you really need anyway. 

I mean, look. Sigh.

You know when you're looking at something and you receive a feeling of… want? Like a sudden desire for something more has been born in you? That's what happens when I see sunlight coming through. The hope. The wonder.

 The curiosity and desire to know about the Creator sometimes is more comforting than actually knowing. Or maybe the wondering about Him IS knowing Him. Knowing He is big enough that we don't have to hold all the answers. How powerful is He that we humans might not be able to comprehend on this earth the entirety of Him?

The wonder.

And what I most love about wonder is that there's no limit to how infinitesimal or prodigious something has to be for a person to experience it.

The never-ending, mysterious universe beyond our own galaxy. The variety of detail in the petals of each flower. It's all by Him, and it all gives me so much gratefulness. So much desire to KNOW.

The little and "less important" creation is of equal worth to the big. He is a mighty and holy God, oh yes He is. But BECAUSE He also notices what others may not. Might we do the same? Might we be strong enough to wonder about the considerable AND the inconsiderable?

What do I know of wonder? Help me, O God. Help me to never lose it.
Even when it comes smallest and most monotonous things. Especially when it comes to those. Like light coming through that one tree in my grandparents' backyard. 

A Word for the Bride: God's Love vs. the world's love

To the Church, the Body, the Bride of Christ:

Last week I visited my parent's small group. One of the members, a lady fittingly nicknamed "Rabbi", spoke something that has not since left my mind. I will paraphrase and add in my own thoughts on here, but it's the same idea:

The modern church has started to promote love as being synonymous with toleration, specifically of sin. We are so set on putting the "What" into action that we forget about proclaiming the "Why".
Are we scared of people thinking we are forcing God into their lives? Because they can't say we are if it is in the form of personal testimony: "I am choosing to love you regardless BECAUSE of what JESUS did for ME." Loving people not by only being kind to them, but loving them BY loving Him.

Justification from Paul the apostle... 

"So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth IN LOVE, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up IN LOVE." (Ephesians 4:14-16)

Notice the words like "builds" and "grow". Both having to do with getting bigger and expanding. As in, the Body of Christ. Us. And what better way to grow the Kingdom than share stories of His love shown in our own lives also? (And they have conquered satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony... Revelation 12:11a)

Think of Jesus when the people tried to keep Him from leaving them. He said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for THIS PURPOSE." (Luke 4:42-43)

Oh, dear Church, are we not to be like Him?

Or what about this:
"Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you-- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15: 1-4)

Or us being SENT by God to go and make disciples? (Matthew 28:19-20)


Church, let's stop the "Do what makes you happy". Go deeper than surface-level. People could mistake our intentions of loving the sinner/hating the sin for encouragement to keep on keepin' on. The Jesus-kind-of-Love is different than society's view of love. So, if we are not secure in what His word says Real Love is, we could be unintentionally loving people straight to hell.


It sounded pretty intense to me, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it is just crazy-sounding enough to be true.

That is why, when I was asked the question, "If you could say one thing to The Church, what would it be?"

...my answer is this: Please Church, let's Love. Like, Real Love.

I was hesitant at first, thinking it might be too cliché of a response. I prayed to God over it, asking Him to give me the right words to say. He told me that for His Love to be cliché is not possible. Because True Love can never be and will never be. He is too unique and mighty for such a commonplace reputation. 

Love is important. It's a pillar of all things good. God is the very essence of it (1 John 4:16).

Love is trusting in the faithfulness of Him.

Love is being brave.

Love is taking action for justice.

Love is being kind.
Love is being intentional and purposeful.

Love is desiring wisdom to make the right decisions.

Love is how we grow.

Love is resisting temptation.

Love is choosing.

Love moves mountains.

I could go on, but I'll say only one more.
Love is preaching the Gospel.

So, Church, next time we are being driven by a love, let's use God-given discernment to make sure it's the one that is founded by Him. 

The year I

2014

The year I traveled out of the country 4x

The year I drove for the first time.

The year I started high school.
The year I became a Compassion International advocate.

The year we got one step closer towards adoption prep for Miss M!

The year that consisted of court, court, and more court.

The year I prayed more.

The year I fell in love with classical music. And football games.
The year I joined a discipleship group.
The year Chipotle was brought into my life.

The year I lost my reading mojo…

…and the year I got it back.

The year I understood more about what being a daughter of the King means.
The year we added another child to our sponsorship family. 

The year I purged my clothes. Hallelujah and Goodnight.

The year I got a newfound desire to dig in The Word.
The year my family had to cancel two vacations. Boo.
The year I learned to like avocado (my taste buds finally love me!)

The year I should've written more.
The year my friendships grew, both in number and closeness.
The year we thought about moving, but didn't (for, like, the 3rd time).

The year I turned 15 (but honestly, it feels more like 18).
The year I became an essential oil addict.
The year I was reminded that DQ blizzards exist.
The year I was introduced to the greatness that is Jimmy Fallon.
The year I was an infrequent blogger.

The year I accidentally tasted champagne (aka the most disgusting drink in the history of ever).
The year with so many ups and downs my head started to ache.


2015
The year I will pick up the cello again.
The year I will go to Disney World for the umpteenth time.
The year I will go sweet free*
The year this girl will finally get some school done. Sheesh.
The year I have so much hope for. Crossing my dainty little fingers.

*Bless my sugar-lovin' heart. I'll do the best I can. // UPDATE: Never mind. 

On the subject of social media...

  I've never seen a teen blog about social media in this sort of way. I don't see many teens blog, period. Actually, this is a pretty popular topic amongst parents. 

   You've probably seen blog posts about this many times before, but I am hoping, since I'm a teen myself, that hearing it from me could spark a different response.  If anything I say is misunderstood or offensive, I'm sincerely sorry. I am only telling you this because, Moms and Dads, as a teen, I care about my peers.We are the same generation. They are my closest friends, my acquaintances, and my enemies. I was with them 5 days a week, for months at a time, every year for 8-9 years of my life. I'm homeschooled now, but I still see your child everywhere. At Target, at church, and most of all, online.

  I can see who they follow. I see what they're tweeting, sharing, posting and liking. Fantasizing about boyfriends, offensive retweets regarding race. I even see some teens I know following pages containing porn. And not every teen is like this. Let me repeat: not every teen is like this. But still, people are surprising me. And even the ones like me who try to stay away from that stuff are accidentally being exposed to it; whether it be through friends they're following, or innocently clicking a popular link. It makes me wonder if parents really know about their child's account.  Or maybe they do know, but they don't have access to it or interest in seeing it. I feel that if more parents knew what their teen is able to find on social media and how easy it is to find it, then they would be more cautious.  Here are some things I think would help.  

Your child should not have a better phone than you. 

  If you own a flip phone while your teen is sporting the newest iPhone, then I suggest you trade phones. You should know how to use your child's phone, and know what's on it.

Be informed about the social media apps and websites your child is on.

  If your child has an account on anything, you should know about it, or maybe even get one yourself so you can check in on your child. Know who they are following and who's following them, and who they're friends with. I'm not saying you should stalk them. Be engaged in and knowledgable about our generation, even if you're not a part of it. You and your spouse are like the king and queen. You live in the castle, but you also need to know what's going on down in the village where your people are. It's how you keep your kingdom strong, happy and safe, because you care for them and love them. Unless, of course, you're evil. Grin.  

Set rules. 

  If you don't feel comfortable with your child on a specific social media, cut it off and have them wait. Set a time limit. You choose. You are the one in charge. Your teen does not need social media, no matter how imperative it seems in our society. Even if we don't like the rules y'all give us, we will end up thanking you in the end! I know I feel that way with my parents.

 These are only suggestions. Go with whatever you want! I am not the parent. 

  I am telling you all of this with the best intentions. I love you and your teen, no matter what you believe and choose to do, or how you parent and use social media. 
  
  May the Lord give you wisdom to do what is best for your family. 

  So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. (Ephesians 5:15-17 NLT)

  Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV)

El Salvador 2014: Day 1

 It has been a bumpy road, but I finally made it to the day I've been waiting for. I think it's safe to say I'm home again. I just can't wait to fulfill God's plans for this week!

 Isn't this place gorgeous?!

They performed plays and songs for us when we got there as a welcome!

This is one of our sponsor kids, Milton. He's only 12, but he looks 15.

All these kids are learning how to sew water bottle holders, towels, pillows, etc.

 

When it was time to go to back to the hotel, I felt like every single person in the church hugged me to say goodbye. They all have such beautiful hearts. I hope to be more like the people of this wonderful place.  For more updates on the trip, go to the hashtag #elsalvador2014bcf on Instagram.

ABC's of Me

idea stolen from citymomsblog.com/houston/

About Me:

  I am first and foremost a follower of Jesus, a sister to 5 others, and a homeschooler. I spend most of my time babysitting or doing other teenager stuff such as church events and being on my phone. I like homemade chocolate chip cookies, Anthropologie, young adult fiction novels, and art museums. I wish my life looked like my Pinterest account, and I have a heart for a country called El Salvador. My best and favorite friend is my mom. A lot people think I'm mature for my age, but I find that hard to believe.

Best Thing About Houston:

 Two words-- the food. I have yet to find any greater restaurants than those in Houston. I was shocked when I found out there wasn't a Chick Fil A in every state. I mean, come on! What's a girl gotta do to get good food out of Houston?! Another one of the best things is the people. I swear, these are some of the best people in the whole world. Especially at my home church, Bayou City Fellowship. I feel so loved here.

Chasing My Dreams*:
     My dream is to fulfill whatever God has planned for me. I know it sounds like the "Christian answer", but it's true. When I meet God face to face, I desperately hope He sees me as someone who obeyed their calling and trusted in Him. For as long as I remember, I have felt called to the mission field, specifically to El Salvador. I have always planned on skipping college and just moving there to serve and love on the people (Katie Davis is my role model). But honestly, I still don't know for sure. Everyday I am learning more and more about my Father, hoping I am lead to the right place.
 

 *Originally, the "C" stood for "Children of Mine", but obviously I don't have any children so I changed it.