I have no idea of how to put this more gently, but ya know. Let's just roll with it, shall we?
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Hey, guys! Just a quick post here. ;) I've been really busy lately, but I am currently working on two devotionals and a story, so I should be getting those published by the end of this week or next.
(Psst! I actually wrote this post acouple years ago, but since all my posts had gotten erased, I've decided that it won't hurt to put it up now. XD) My younger sister, Abigail, is two years old, mischievous, yet incredibly adorable. The worst combination ever, I must say. Not to mention the ultimate pouter! When she asks for something she can't have, and your answer is a flat, "No.", look away. Just look away. She's gonna turn on the pout, and that's the end of your "no." You'll grab her up in your arms, cuddle her, then say, "Okay, okay! You can have it!" then pause and say, "You're too cute. I can't say no. I just can't." Beware of the pout. It's her weapon. That, and the rest of her cuteness. She's a killer, that one. :) As for her… uh… good side…? Well, she can be very sweet, and informative if our baby sista is getting into trouble or something. Sometimes even if the older two are getting into trouble! She can be very helpful too. Like every morning, when possible, she helps empty the dishwasher. What two year old would want to do a chore right when they wake up? Well, Abby's one. But as far as her complicated personality goes, well, it's a burden that comes with the package. Like for instance, this morning: After we finished with the dishwasher, she told me she wanted to eat. I asked her, "Do you want oatmeal, or cereal with milk?". Her answer was no to both. "Okay, how about… oatmeal!?" I said with more enthusiasm. "No, not oatmeal!" she told me. "Well, what do you want?" I asked her. She just whined like I was supposed to know what she was thinking. "I don't know what you want. You want cereal with milk?" "No!" "Hey, I don't understand!" She stopped whining, and kinda paused. You know, "waking up more", kinda thing. I walked away, then came back and asked if she wanted to eat. Her reply, "I 'ant oatmeal!" she said, as-a-matter-of-factly. "You want oatmeal?" I asked to confirm. "No!" she said, waving her arms at me. "You don't want oatmeal?" I ask. "I 'ant oatmeal!" she says. So I grab out the oatmeal packets, and show it to her. "You want oatmeal?" I ask again for the hundredth time. She nodded. Finally. And that's how it is every day. Every single day. Goodness, it's the true patience tester! Abigail - her father's joy. That's the definition of her name. Although she's a troublesome little rascal, she is a sweetie… sometimes. Proper training and care is all kids need. "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." - Proverbs 22:15. She's stubbron, but turn that stubbornness for righteous things and you'll have a mighty woman right there. ;) (Attention! First written last year, three months after my mission trip to Burma in July. It's a rant, so beware.) Hey guys! Today I want to share with you on what the Lord taught me, and is still teaching me, about the mission trip I came back from three months ago. Before the trip, it was all about my life now. Everything was “now” related, with wants and Amazon wish-lists. Me, me, me. Stuff, friends, girly vanity; all earthly and all meaningless! I just want to wipe all that off my history, and skip to my “after the trip self”! It’s not that everything I was doing, how I was living, was all wrong, but my goals and to-do lists were so simplistic and “now”. I just need to vent these thoughts in a rant. Bare with me, or leave. Your choice. Before the trip, I somewhat knew how those people lived, how poor they were. My daddy had told me. In Burma, you don’t have the luxuries we spoiled Americans do! You have stick houses that get flooded and mixed with the “everything” water, you don’t even have bare necessities! You don’t have wardrobes full of clothes and every accessories known to the trendy world, but you want to know the shocking thing? They smile more than the richest, most successful people in the known world. Okay, maybe not everyone there. But the kids in the orphanage we went to. Their wants are so different compared to ours. Mrs. Cathy was doing interviews with the kids, and those kids had to name what they like and what they want. They didn't even really know what she was asking at first! But when they did understand, do you know what they said? They said food and health. And to be able to pass whatever grade they were in. That’s what was important to them, that’s what they prayed for. Those kids at Agape and Faith have ruined my life! My entire life is broken down to the tiniest bits! They have no idea how much they have torn down. My passions and goals are so meaningless after what I experienced there. After what they showed me, everything I used to spend so much time on was not worth the attention I gave them. What I saw in their smiles was beautiful. What I felt as I held their hands was beautiful. My view on life is so different now. My view on happiness is totally different. It’s not just the feeling of having everything you could ever wish for, everything your heart’s desires. It’s not that feeling. It’s the feeling of the fullness of Jesus Christ in your heart. That’s true happiness. And that’s what I saw in those kids. They were threadbare of belongings. Literally, you get your arms, stick them straight in front of you, fill that space from your chest to your fingers, and they can fit all their belongings in there. Most of them are school books, but then they have some things that are from their sponsors and such. And yet they love you like you sacrificed something very, very valuable just to go there to see them. And they’re right. You did give something up, although you didn’t know it at the moment you decided to go. Do you know what you gave up? You're whole view on life and true happiness. Let me tell you what... After a mission trip, your life is ruined. That’s the plain truth. You can’t sugarcoat it nothin’. It’s not the materialistic things in life that’ll bring you happiness, darling. It’s the joy of Jesus that glows in smiles and hearts… Like those orphans in Burma. They have happiness bursting from their seams, and it’s contagious. Like the flu. So, they’ve ruined my life and have given me the flu. Wow. That'll scare anyone from ever going on a mission trip-- well done, Jazzy. *sarcastic applause* You first walk into the orphanage, and those kids'll hold your hands and smile at you, and you just want to cry. I know that doesn’t make much sense, but just hear me out. After spending only couple minutes with them, just standing there and smiling at them(since you can’t understand each other anyways), you will fall in love with them. Well, maybe that's just me. I've loved those kids, even before I met them. My heart has always been to go there and love on them! For the King, Jazzy * * * P.S. I'll see if I could get some pictures from this trip this week, but we'll see. Have you gone on a mission trip? Where did you go? How did it change your life? What did God teach you during your time there, or after? Hey, y'all! Today, I have another tag/award from—guess who? Megan from Invisible World! Thank you again, fellow blogger/writer/book-lover! To open up my post today, I'd like to make one thing clear. I have no idea what the dragon stands for in this award. But I love dragons. So, let's just roll with it, jan? =) The Rules...1. Display the award on your blog. Announce your win with a post and link the blogger who awarded you 3. Present 6 deserving bloggers with the award 4. Link your awardees in the post and let them know of their being awarded 5. Write seven interesting things about you. 7 Facts...
The Nominees...~ Explorer4lyfe~ ~Christopher164~ ~The Three Things~ ~Guitar with Arms~ ~Gabrielle Massman~ ~Christopher "the 4th" Green~ The End... And that's all for today, my friends! Congratulations to the nominees. Y'all are awesome. Until next time…
For the King, Jazzy P.S. I'm planning to do a Q & A post sometime, so if y'all have any questions just put them in the comments and I'll be putting up my answers as soon as I get the chance. Thanks guys! :) Once again, Megan has nominated me for a post, but this one is a little different. You guys, this one has personality quizzes(let me hear a cheer for personality quizzes!)!!! I was so excited for this, I just had to write it even though I have a lot of homework and school and stuff— this is important, people! A must, if you ask me! The Quizzes:
My Answers:
And there you have it, Megan and y'all! My answers were pretty blunt, I'm short on time so I couldn't formulate a truly embellished post, but oh-wells. Live with it, peeps. ;) Now… for the surprise I was supposed to publish a week ago(I'm such a dweeb, I know, I know)! I want ALL of y'all to take the quizzes, then put in the comments all of your results(or write a post on you blog if you have one ;))! Have some fun, and share this post with your friends! Let's get to know each other! :) God bless. For the King, Jazzy First written a bit before my mother gave birth to her eighth child in March, 2015.)
It's hard to think that my mom is going to have another baby. After seven it's amazing how it's still so supremely exciting! I mean, just think. IT'S ANOTHER PERSON! Someone new, someone we know nothing about, someone that we need to find what he/she likes and dislikes. Want to make your head go bonkers? God knows who he/she is, and what they will go through in his/her life. Amazing. Breathtaking. Awesome if you will! And the ultimately awesome thing is that He knows and created each one of us. Think about it. Just think about it. He runs the whole universe, causes then calms storms and stuff, guides and talks to His children all over the world, and still! He manages to design and create little humans in His image, with intricate detail, totally different than the other babies He's designing at the same time. He arranges their bones, organs, and everything! Our bones, organs, and everything! Amazing! I don't know about you, but it's still, after the how many already, awesome to me. It's just so cool how our God is so… awesome. It's a thrill to live, and know that even if you try to imagine what it's like to be unloved by every human being, you are still loved by the Ultimate One! It's so amazing, I can't put it in a thousand words. But I can put it in just three words: God is Amazing *SIGH* Leaning on the Lord is tough. For strength to have grace in times of trials and patience during tribulations, it’s hard! Even more so when you know it’s the Holy Spirit beckoning you to walk the narrow road. When you know it’s Him, you want to run, hide, and say, “No, go away, Lord! I don’t wanna hear you! I can rule my own life, be my own lord… I can be my own god!” We are fallen creatures and we hate correction. We hate being wrong, it’s just natural. No one wants to lose an argument just because they like being wrong! They will argue till they prove themselves right. That’s just how our mind is set. We’re prideful creatures. But whether we like it or not, we need Him. More than anything, really. Sunday night, I had prayed for the week to be God-centered and God-honoring. I wanted to take ever opportunity to declare God’s love by loving and serving those around me. I never wanted to cease proclaiming His name and glory. The result: I didn’t listen to Him when he would open a door to glorify him or humble myself and show his love, I pushed it aside and lived life, pretending I was listening and yet shutting out every word he would utter. Life would be sweet if it were easy to serve Him. Life would be awesome if it were easy to walk in Him. Life would be amazing if it were easy to surrender to Him. To put down our pride and let Him reign. But it’s not. And because it’s not, we need Him so much more. We need his strength, his love, his mercy. And it’s in knowing that, that we begin the process of letting Him rule our lives, and yes, even our dreams. It’s hard for me to say this, but we do need to surrender our dreams, no matter the beauty, the purpose. I want to be a missionary to Burma, I love them there, I love those kids there. There’s nothing wrong in loving like that! But I’ve got to remember, we could easily make the same mistake of pride when we think we know what’s best and leave God in the dust. We all have dreams for the future, but all that is worthless without Christ. In knowing we are empty, He makes us full. Do you see what I’m saying? After we surrender our lives to Him, then He will release the chains that had so long bounded us to our flesh, and set us free. Free to roam the beauty of his majesty and the glory of the King. It truly is in surrender that we are free. Is life perfect after surrender? Nope. Is life easy after surrender? Definitely not. In fact, it may be harder. But He is faithful, and He draws us nearer and nearer. He will make us stronger and stronger in Him. When we surrender our lives to His hands, He becomes our Keeper. He never lets us fall in Satan’s traps without warning us, or coming to help us when we cry out to him from humble hearts. He never lets us wander far without picking us back up. He never fails to be holy and just. But first, we must surrender. Put down our pride, let him inhabit our hearts to the full, allow him to use us for his glory. We can’t live perfect lives. We will sin and fall and rebel. But with his grace and his steadfast power, we can overcome. We will overcome. Because when we surrender, his glory shows in ways unimaginable. After surrender, it’s a whole new world. (*Lea Solanga voice singing in my mind*) I’ve been following and reading many posts from this blog. Recently, I read this post. As I read, I knew I was caught. I knew it wasn’t a coincidence that I ran into that post. I knew God was trying to say something to me. I wake up at 5:30 every morning, since I have things to take care of. I’m tired. It’s dark. And I hate the dark. I don’t feel like getting up. “Ugh. Great. It’s morning. Seriously?” And instead of thanking God for waking me up so early to praise Him and talk to Him, I complain and whine. But hey, it’s too dark to be up anyhow! Right? Actually, no. It’s never too early to praise Him. It’s never too early to thank Him. It’s never too early to tell Him you love Him. It’s just an inconvenience to our fleshy I-want-to-do-what-I-want-to-do mindsets. I’m a child of the King. I’m a daughter of my Heavenly Father. I’m in love with Christ. Wait… am I really? I read a book called Before You Meet Prince Charming, and in it the author talks about our relationship with the Lord, and compares it to a couple in love. I reread that part, over and over. They love to spend time together. She loves to tell everyone about her guy. And they waste no time to learn more and more about each other. They study each other. They write love letters to each other. When he sends her one, she reads it. Rereads it. Studies it. Memorizes his ever word. That’s what our relationship should look like with the Lord. If we are truly in love with him, then we should be like a crazy little college girl, truly in love with the man of her dreams. Study His Love Letter He gave to us. Tell Him we love Him. Show Him we love Him. Think about Him ALL the time. Talk about Him ALL the time. Talk to Him ALL the time. Learn about Him ALL the time. Including early in the morning, when it’s dark, and you’re tired. Commune with Him like crazy! He is wanting your every moment of attention, and when you are in love, what do you want to do all the time? Think about the person you love. It’s not wrong to learn and seek the Lord. So, why not do it? When I wake up in the morning from now on, I want to talk to the Father. I want to thank Him. I want to praise Him. I’m gonna commune with him like CRAZY! Because I am in love with him. "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple." Psalm 27:4 My prayer is that He will use this post to encourage and challenge and bless you guys. Thanks for taking time to read. For the King, Jazzy P.S. Hey, you guys... I forgot to do my homework for my blog(about the surprise), and I might not post it today-- maybe. There's a chance I might do it all today, and post it later on! The rest of the week I'll be busy, so maybe Saturday or Sunday. Maybe. :) Please have patience with me. School is a blessing, but mostly a curse. JK :P Do you get excited about the day, and what the Lord may have in store for you? How He might use you for His glory? I’m still in school, and being homeschooled, I’m home all the time. I take care of my siblings and care for the home, but am I always happy to do my part in the family? Absolutely not! For Pete’s sake, who likes changing diapers? I’ve been reading the book of Acts, and I found this verse: "…And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." Acts 5:42 Wow! These Christians were so filled with the Spirit, that they never stopped teaching and preaching! I don’t know about you, but I, for one, know I’m not always so passionate about sharing the gospel to my siblings, who I am with all day. I grudgingly go through my day, complaining about what I can be doing instead of watching my sister and telling my brother how to spell words. I don’t even care that my siblings might grow up to become young adults like me, and not ever have seen Christ in me! What kind of reputation is that for your own siblings to think lowly of you? I’m to be a light for Jesus, shining nonstop, and mimicking Jesus. I don’t think shutting them up is very Christ-like… When I think of sharing the gospel, I think of youth groups going door to door, or church groups going on mission trips. I think of going out into the world and teaching Christ, when really, as a stay at home daughter, I am to be a missionary inside my own home! I’ve been reading about the Church back in Paul’s time, and I tell you, it has been an inspiring adventure. They were always, always, so full of the Holy Ghost, and when they weren’t, God rebuked them and set them straight! I want to be like those Christians who never ceased to share the Gospel and love like Christ. I want to be like them, but most of all, I want to be like Jesus. I want to become the serving vessel He created me to be, and where is a better place to begin learning than in my own home, with my own siblings, 24/7? He has an awesome purpose for putting me in my family, and I plan to make the best of it and minister to them! "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;…” Romans 1:16 I want to see all my family members in Heaven, and if I fail to do my part in sharing God’s love, there’s a possibility that that may not happen! Jesus died so we’d be able to see Him one day. Wouldn’t that be selfish to not let others see the way into Eternity with Christ? I’ve been thinking a lot about missionary life lately, and here’s a song that is really encouraging in that area! It’s so beautiful, but if you read the lyrics, it’s a world better. :) “A World We Never Touch” Arrangement by: John Marshall Family He walked along the shores of Galilee From clay He formed the healing balm That caused the blind to see When stones of wrath lay heavy in their hands He knelt to write His mercy in the sand Jesus came to set the captives free Showed us by the way He lived The way we need to be Oh love is more than words could ever say We must touch them with compassion To help them find their way Chorus: How can we reach a world we never touch? How can we show them Christ If we never show them love? Just to say we care will never be enough How can we reach a world we never touch? Could we be so busy being saved Trying to impress a world that’s long since lost its way We pride ourselves in being set apart Yet we don’t have time to touch a broken heart Even if we found the time to care Would we take the risk involved in always being there Oh we hold the very thing they need so much Sometimes the Word of life can pass Through just a simple touch Bridge: We hide behind these walls And the security of friends While beyond the stained glass windows The world is lost in sin. How can we reach a world we never touch? How can we show them Christ If we never show them love? Just to say we care will never be enough How can we reach a world we never touch? (First written last year...) Here’s what happened: Four of us girls were in my room, I was cleaning up and packing things away, while they were sitting on the bed simply watching me.(You know, because it’s not like I needed help or anything…) Eventually, they all decided they wanted to take a nap (Fancy that!), so they asked me to turn off the light. I was like, “No, I’m gonna be scared!” just to goof with them, and convince them to keep the light on. I don’t like to work in a dark room! They looked at me from atop the bed, I’m sitting on the floor, covered in scrap pieces of sewing materials, markers, and paper scattered aimlessly around the world. Abby was the first to speak up, and do you know what she told me? With the straightest of faces, and the most set jaw, she told me, “Don’t be scared, Ate Jazzy. Trust in God!” What a little me, I thought. I would tell them, whether it was during a thunder storm or not, “You don’t have to be scared. Trust in God, because He will protect you! He has all His angels guarding y’all because you are all His princesses!” Most of the time they’ll go to sleep, but other times they’ll ask me to tell them more. It’s funny and very flattering when a “little” mimics you. But then it got me totally aware of something I had not really thought about before. My siblings watch me. They watch how I talk, how I hold myself, how I handle certain situations. They are watching, and now that I’m aware of that… It scares me. It’s an intimidating challenge, and I feel so inadequate to have the task set before me. I don’t feel good enough to be the example that they need. I have my own faults. I’m far from perfect, and I’m close to the meanest sister on earth. And guess what?? The whole world is watching me! Okie, that's a bit nerve-wrecking, don't you think? But you know what else? He’s working in me, He is molding me into the vessel He created me to be. See! "For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth." Proverbs 3:11-12 He “loveths” me!!! (loveths?) He will form me into perfection in His timing, even though I feel totally useless right now. Because it truly is in my weakness that He is made strong. I shouldn’t be worried about what I am as me, but what I am in the Lord. It’s not me that my siblings should see at all. If it were, they’d be studying and gleaning off a selfish human being with no goal in life but to please herself. We are called to live Christ, and so, that’s what I shall do! I’m going to live for Him, with everything I’ve got! Nothing should hold me back, not even the fear of my inadequacy. God put me and my family, and God will give me the will to fill in the space He gave me. He’s the King of Glory, and the awesome thing is… He’s my Father. As my conclusion, I’d like to ask you these: What do the “littles” in your life see when they look at you? What can you do that will make them admire Christ in you? For the King, Jazzy |
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