Sin.

Give glory to the Lord of your God before He brings darkness and before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains, and while you are hoping for light He makes it into deep darkness, and it turns into gloom.
Jeremiah 13: 16

Usually, I have something specific I read during my morning quite time, but for the past several weeks I have just held my bible and said, “Ok God, open this to where you want me to read.” And every day it opened to or near Jeremiah 13.

Sadly, this was my reply to God’s answer: “Umm….I don’t feel like reading this.” And I proceeded to flip somewhere else, most times reading a short psalm, saying my usual prayer, and then leaving for work.

You know what I found out? My mood is almost completely dependent on how close I am to God.

After about two weeks of continuing in this routine, I was in a BAD mood. Grumpy and unhappy. By the end of the two weeks it was like I was thirsting to death. I was starving for God and His word. I needed to dwell in it, read it, and soak up God’s love and mercy.

So, I sat down and opened the bible. I ended up somewhere in Matthew. I felt so much better!

Finally, I decided to read Jeremiah 13. I mean, I had been opening to that spot for a while now. So, I read it.

“Well, you must have really needed those verses,” you say.

My response: “????....”

Next day, guess what it opens to? Jeremiah 14!

“Wow! God really wants to tell you something. You must have gotten something out of it….,” you say.

This time, my response is slightly more vocal: “What and why”?

In case you didn’t notice in the verse above, this is REALLY gloomy.

I should provide a backdrop. Before these verses, evidently Judah and Jerusalem had disobeyed God.

“I destroy the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. This wicked people, who refuse to listen to My words, who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts…let them be just like this waistband which is totally worthless.” Jeremiah 13: 9-10.

But these verses do remind me that it can be easy to forget how angry God gets about sin.

A lot of times as Christians we get wrapped up in the happy, flowery God that saves us and helps us with any problems we have.

And that’s true and amazing! But God hates sin, too. We tend to ignore or forget that God will not let sin go unpunished.

These verses have reminded me to be as aware my sin as I can and figure out what that sin is. Whether it’s pride, greed or jealousy, or the myriad of other sins it can possibly be.

These verses have reminded me that no matter what happens to give God the glory because He can take it all away in a snap.

Just because you don’t see God’s wrath or punishment, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. In one way or another, if we continue to dwell in our sin, God WILL punish us.

I am glad God had me read these verses. Truth be told, I have wanted to read Jeremiah for a long time, but for some reason or another I haven’t. I’m glad I did.


I have seen your abominations. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will you remain unclean?
Jeremiah 13: 27

A Test?

So today, I planned on talking about Susan Boyle—the new Britain’s Got Talent singing sensation. I planned to go on about how disgusting we (I mean people) are to look at person, say she’s ugly and cast her off as some awful, untalented woman.

Then, I was going to go on about how awesome and wonderful it was for her to be an amazing singer!! I was going to go on about how much she deserves it!

Then, I was going to talk about how sad it is that she has had to live her life with everyone making fun of her!

THEN—I was going to go on about how much I hope America has learned a lesson!

Well, clearly I decided to go on about it a little…I couldn’t help myself.

BUT INSTEAD….I’m going to talk about decision making and how much it SUCKS!

I have a piano recital on Friday, and my last piano lesson before recital is Wednesday. Well, guess what??? The Alligator wanted me to cover a speech (on community development in India of all bloomin places) that same time.

I should explain that if I couldn’t play my song for my piano teacher before recital, then I couldn’t play, and I have spent the last 3 months getting this song ready.

Let the agony begin. So, because I seem to think I can do everything under the sun, I told the Alligator I would do the story. By miracle and God alone, someone could switch piano lesson times with me. So, I can still play in recital (well, I hope).

I’m saying this to say I have learned something through all this. First, I learned I really can’t do everything. Sometimes, no matter the great opportunity you must say no.

Second, I learned that piano needs to become more of a priority.

Third, I learned that I am going to be picking and choosing and hoping for miracles like this one my whole life. Stuff I can only decide as I go.

I suppose life will figure itself out.

Anyway…that’s what I learned today. Now that I am putting all of my thoughts on paper I’ve realized how much I am learning. Hmmm….

Journalism vs. Christianity: Round 1

I have never been worried about what will happen in my life as a journalist. I don’t know why, and really, it baffles me that I didn’t think about it.

But there is one problem in this field that does worry me. Eventually, my job as a journalist will clash with my beliefs. As a Christian I do not want to write anything that God would not be glorified in, and eventually I will be faced with a choice.

But you know what? I just realized something! Hold on….. first, the reason I am writing this particular blog (my first blog might I add):

I felt that as a journalist I needed some outlet to voice my thought and opinions as well as offer future editors, writers or employers a way to view my clips and learn more about me.

I have known that I needed to do something like this, simply because of the changing times, but as I mentioned in the first paragraph, I haven’t been particularly worried about it. My editor, Ron Dupont, at the High Springs Herald, where I have an internship, told the interns in a staff meeting that we all should have some website where future employers can view our work. So, thanks to Ron, I finally did it.

While I fully intend to offer this chance to future employers, the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of using this blog as a sort of spiritual reflection—a way to glorify God. But every time I think about doing that, I feel like that is going to conflict with my chosen career path, like I need to keep them separate. But they’re completely intertwined. Everything in my life is intertwined with God.

Like I began saying earlier, this is a battle that I feel will soon come to a head. As I continue to get closer to God and, at the same time, gain more experience as a journalist, the closer I get to a battle between the two.

But everything I have gained is only the result of God. So, no matter what happens I need to stick with Him. Somehow that thought doesn’t make be feel better.

I suppose the only thing I should do is stick it out and see what happens. One thing important for me to remember is that God has a wonderful plan for my life, so in the end, whatever happens will be for the best.

These verses have helped a lot:
“Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11: 28-29.