Talents of Many Kinds

I was thinking today about my talents. I am a writer, a mediocre one, but a writer nonetheless. I love writing letters to encourage people; I have this blog so I can share deep inspiring thoughts (lol). I take joy in sharing words of encouragement and inspiration and I am awed at the power words have.

However, there are times when I do not appreciate my own talents. Sometimes when you do not see the good fruits your talents produce, you can become discouraged.

It is easy for me to see other people's fruits as a result of their talents and sometimes I am tempted to (and do) envy them.

I have one friend who produces and acts in short inspiring films. He is just out of highschool and has been doing this awhile with some friends. He is brilliant, to say the least, and it is easy for me to see how far he'll go.

Another one of my friends is an stage manager. When I look at her I know that she will go far. She doesn't seem like much....in fact, she is an introvert! However, put her behind the scenes of any drama or play with teens involved and things will run without a hitch! She has loads of people organizational skills.

Yes, it is easy to see the fruits of their talents. However, there are two things I have to remind myself of:

1. I am positive there are moments when they do not see the fruits of their own talents. Moments where things go wrong or a scene just won't come together right. Moments when they have been up most of the night and might not see much progress. Not every moment in our lives are the fruits of our talent obvious, especially to ourselves.

2. They are only using the talents God gives them. I am sadly an awful actor, I am not athletic, I am not above average in most things in school (besides English). However, God does not make mistakes and God never made an elephant to fly (unless your Dumbo, lol).

God has given me talents.....He has given us all talents...some may seem small and insignificant, but God will use all of them for His glory. We cannot do something well that we were not created to do.

If we all only had the talent of acting, there would be no singers. If we all were writers, there would be no performers. God made each of us for a purpose and He gives us talents to fulfill that purpose. We must choose to use the talents given us!

"Just as each of us are part of one body with many parts, so in Christ we are all one body. We each have a different role to play. We all help each other out." Romans 12:4-5
 

No Man Is An Island

This week started a new adventure for me. I started Physical Therapy (PT). I'm 17 years old and I'm falling apart! I have bum knees. I'm too young to have all these aches and pains!

However, given that I do...I thought, "Why not write a post on it?!" Yeah, I'm weird.

After the first day of therapy I was frustrated because there are certain things that I am asked to do that I have been able to do in the past just fine and simply cannot do right now. Anyone who has ever been in PT likely knows this frustration. I was frustrated and a bit mad at myself. I should be able to do this (I'm only 17!)......

I was being really hard on myself and I kind of let it get to me. That voice that seems to pop up when I'm down started talking. You know the voice I'm talking about....the one that beats down your already crushed self esteem. "You can't do this." "You should have done better." "You'll never be good at that." Yeah, we all know that voice. The voice that tells you that you are not good enough.

I was kind of feeling sorry for myself and talking out my frustrations to one of my friends. Then he said something that really caught me....."You're not the only one who struggles with PT. A lot of people do. You're not alone."

For whatever reason, when I'm in the middle of something, it doesn't seem to dawn on me that I am not the only one who struggles with the issues I struggle with. Maybe it's because I want to feel sorry for myself thinking no one else goes through those issues. Maybe it's because I don't wish my challenging situations on anyone. Or maybe it's something else completely different....regardless, there is such power and encouragement in hearing that you are not alone.

None of us were meant to be islands floating in the middle of nowhere with no support. God has made us to live in community so we can learn from each other; share struggles and triumphs; to empathize and love on each other; to encourage and challenge each other; to not be an island.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25

You're not alone. Life is a journey. It is messy, it is amazing and horrifying; it has funny moments, sad moments, happy moments....and everything in between....but none of us walk alone. There is such comfort in that!

Today, take the time to let someone know that they're not alone. It can make such a huge difference....I know it did for me!

"No Man Is An Island"

Tenth Avenue North

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkSBMs_jo6A



A New Creation

I just watched the movie, "The Giver" a few weeks ago. It is very thought provoking and definitely a conversation starter.This may spoil it, but it got me thinking, so I am going to share anyway....

In the movie, free will is seemingly nonexistent. It was an attempt to keep people from getting hurt, but in reality it hurt more not having it. Love, emotions, and even what killing and death really were nonexistent in the hopes of protecting people.

The people are okay with that because they know nothing else. Yet, you see how once they have tasted what pain is, they have no desire to go back to a life without it. They understand the seriousness of death and killing. They understand the sweetness and heartache of love. They understand what negative emotion is. They couldn't go back to their old way of living because life becomes richer when they see the world as it is....even with the pain. It is not easier, but it is worth it.

Following Christ is like that. When we were not Christians, we knew no other way of life. When we became Christians and experienced God's love and grace we couldn't go back to our old lives!

What we had was good and maybe less painful, but what we have dims in comparison to that because a life with Christ is so much richer than a life without.

We see sin as it really is, yet we understand that God has redeemed us. We struggle against our flesh, yet we know we're not alone. We experience hopeless situations, yet we know that we need look no farther than Christ to find hope.

We have seen what God can do and we feel how He has changed our lives. We cannot go back to what we were!

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation. The old is gone forever! All things are made new!." 2 Corinthians 5:17

You Are All He Says You Are!

What would happen if we really believed how much God loves us?

Think about that a moment.....

See, we KNOW how much God loves us, we KNOW what the Bible says, but we have a hard time BELIEVING it!

Beloved, God treasures you (Isaiah 43:4). You are made in God's image (Genesis 1:27). You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:12-13). God delights in and over you (Zephaniah 3:17). You are known by God (1 Corinthians 8:3). You are precious to God (Isaiah 43:4). You are loved by God (Jeremiah 31:3). You are chosen by God (Colossians 3:12).

If we believed all these, how much more would we value ourselves and others? How much more would we love ourselves and others? We live in a world that says, "You have to do ____ to earn love." You have to do ____ to be good enough." You have to be ____ to be valuable." God isn't like that though! He says, "I love you. I love you with all your mistakes, failures, broken pieces, and imperfections. I love you because you are you and I made you. You are mine!"

Yet Jerusalem says, “The Lord has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.”

“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?

Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?

But even if that were possible,

I would not forget you!

See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands!

Isaiah 49:14-16

If we dared to believe God loves us and sees us as "worth it," "treasured," "loved," and so much more, imagine how our worldview would change! We would dare to love the unlovable. We would dare to love who we are. We would dare to set high standards because we would know our worth. We would dare to believe we are loved. We would value others because they, too, are made in God's image! It would make us brave and bold. We wouldn't be ashamed! We could be honest. We could be free!

Beloved, the facts are obvious! God loves you more than you can fathom! The human word for "love" cannot even begin to give a glimce of just how much God loves you! Dare to know it and believe it! You are all He says you are and you are His!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfFyqSkMiUw

"All He Says I am" by Cody Carnes and Kari Jobe

King of my Heart

Usually I am not this inspired this time of morning, but I have had this song running through my head all morning. It is called, "King of my Heart." Just like the title, it is about how Jesus is the King of my heart and He is bigger than anything I may face.

This really convicted me when I started thinking about it. God doesn't demand to be the King of my heart. He is the Author and Creator of my heart and my very existence, but He does not force me to acknowledge that. I have to choose to acknowledge that He is King of my heart and give Him full control of every moment, every thought, every feeling, and every circumstance.

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." and then Jeremiah 17:9 says, "“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?"

 Left to myself, I can do so many things to hurt myself and others. I am weak and easily entangled by the ways of this world. I can't guard my heart on my own. I cannot make it pure. I cannot protect my heart from everything that will try and harm me.

That is why I must choose to let God be the King of my heart. He knows everything about me. He created me and He knows my deepest thoughts and desires. Who better to be the King, Savior, and Guard of my heart?!

My prayer is similar to David's prayer in Psalms 51:10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me." I desire to be like Christ and reflect His love, but I cannot do that apart from Christ. If I do not let Christ be the King of my heart then I cannot reflect Him fully or properly as He deserves.

Today, I choose God as the King of my heart. He is my Rock; my Creator; my God; my Everything. Apart from Him, I have and am nothing.

~King of my Heart~

by Love and the Outcome

I'm in a war every minute
I know for sure I'll never win it
I am David up against Goliath
And it's a fight for my attention
I'm being pulled every direction
This world tells me trust what I can see
Lord, won't You help me believe what I believe

You are bigger than any battle I'm facing
You are better than anything I've been chasing
Savior and royalty, the only hope in me
Jesus, You are, You are
The King of my heart, heart
The King of my heart, heart

All by myself I fall to pieces
But You are strong when I am weakest
I feel Your kingdom come alive in me
My feet are bruised but they'll follow where You lead

You are bigger than any battle I'm facing
You are better than anything I've been chasing
Savior and royalty, the only hope in me
Jesus, You are, You are
The King of my heart, heart
The King of my heart, heart

Your love is deeper than the ocean
You wash away my brokenness
Your arms are always open
Come and rule in me
Come and be my king

You are bigger than any battle I'm facing
You are better than anything I've been chasing
Savior and royalty, the only hope in me
Jesus, You are, You are
The King of my heart, heart
The King of my heart, heart
You're the King of my heart, heart
The King of my heart, heart
You're the King of my heart, heart

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE8f0OaPSEQ 

Homeschool Perks and Such

These aren't all mine, but most of them are and what's in bold face is. Just some of the perks and struggles we homeschoolers face :)

High School has taught me that becoming valedictorian is not as hard as everyone makes it out to be... #homeschoolprobs 

• Come on, this is easy people! If I can do it anyone can!

People either assume I'm really smart, or really stupid. #homeschoolprobs

• I mean....really.....

#Let'smakeitawkward Ask me what school I go to. #homeschoolprobs

• "Well....I'm homeschooled" "Oh." *Instant conversation killer*

I am the school janitor. #thestruggle #homeschoolprobs

• And you think you have it rough? -_-

Won homecoming queen... again. #homeschoolprobs

• I mean....why does everyone think this is a big deal?

"Why aren't you awkward or antisocial?!" ...well I could go stand in that corner if it would make you feel more comfortable #homeschoolprobs

• Really....you asking that makes you more awkward and antisocial than it makes me....

You spend 8 hours a day in a big brick building, yet I'm the one with no life? #MakesSense #homeschoolprobs

• BURN!!! Nuf said.

Person: Where do u go to school? Me: I'm homeschooled. Them: u don't look homeschooled. Me: WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE #homeschoolprobs

• I can go put on a homeschool shirt or something if it makes you feel better....

Going on a field trip... to the grocery store. #homeschoolprobs

• Everyday is a field trip! I mean...I get out of the house....

You may get to see your friends everyday, but I get to do school in my pajamas everyday... so who's the real winner here? #homeschoolpros

• What now, people?!

When "I never would've guessed you were homeschooled." is a compliment. #homeschoolprobs

• Why thank you kind Sir! I really would hate for anyone to suspect my secret identity *wink, wink*

I break out into song randomly throughout my school day so I guess you could call my life a home school musical. #homeschoolprobs

• Do you wanna build a snowman? It doesn't have to be a snowman! I just can't hold it back anymore..........

Did I take a shower today? No. Does it matter? No. Aren't you glad you asked? #homeschoolprobs

• I mean...no one but my family, the mailman, and the cat are gonna see me today. Why bother being presentable?

When people assume that I'm shy just because I'm homeschooled. #homeschoolprobs

• I am terribly shy...I just hide behind an outgoing, boisterous, attitude!

Being afraid to go out during school hours because everyone assumes that you're skipping school... #homeschoolprobs

• No....really, I am homeschooled! Just ask my teachers....errr...parents.

7 lies about homeschoolers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJHt-m3VX6o Really worth watching if you want a laugh.

And Tim Hawkin's Homeschool Blues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wu0R_8rH00