Life.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

Two wrongs don't make a right. Laugh often and love much. Clothes don't make the man. What goes up must come down. When one door shuts, another opens. Life is what you make of it.

All of these proverbs are fairly easy for people to learn, considering the vast amount of life lessons there are. But unfortunately, I'm an exception.

I have a nasty tendency to make myself too busy, so busy in fact that I am no longer enjoying my summer. I have been neglecting some very important things in my life, so I am going to reprioritize.

I found another blog on happiness, and I think this is some great advice that I should take to heart. Here's a summary:

Simplicity
Happiness is not dependent on amassing a certain amount of fame or wealth; happiness is not dependent on reaching a certain social pecking order. If we are always striving after something bigger and better, happiness will remain elusive.

Live in the Heart
If we only live in the mind we look at every situation with our critical judgmental mind, as a consequence, we will inevitably find innumerable faults with the world and with other people. When we are constantly criticising others we can find neither peace nor happiness. However, if we live more in the heart we have a more tolerant, accepting attitude towards others.

Control Over Your Thoughts
To cultivate happiness we need to cultivate positive thoughts. This means stopping negative thoughts and replacing them with good, inspiring thoughts.

Gratitude
If we show no appreciation for others and for life, we create a narcissistic outlook. We focus excessively on our sense of self and ego. When we offer gratitude for small things in life, it helps us feel a broader identity and awareness; our consciousness expands and we bring to the fore our own positive qualities.

Active
Happiness is easily found in usefully serving others. Activity doesn’t mean filling up our lives with as many activities as possible — this only leads to a sense of self-importance and stress as we struggle to do several things at once. But, if we are calmly active we find a sense of purpose in life; this sense of purpose and satisfaction helps cultivate an inner sense of satisfaction.

Physical Exercise
When you take regular physical exercise you will feel many benefits. Firstly, when we look after our body we are less prone to lethargy and illness. Through developing our fitness we gain an increased sense of self esteem; this is because we are taking active steps for our self improvement.
Increasing our fitness also enables an increased sense of mental well being; exercise helps rid the mind of many useless thoughts. It is important to have the right attitude to exercise, don’t think of school P.E. lessons in the cold rain; getting fit doesn’t have to be torture — you can easily find a sport or some exercise that is enjoyable and sociable.

(To view entire article, click here http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-6-components-of-a-happy-life/. )

If these are some of the keys to happiness, then I need to slow down.

This isn't to say I'm not happy. Having faith and a love for Jesus Christ alone makes me happy and joyful. I think the key to true happiness is remaining close to God--taking time to be with Him and listen to what He tells me. It is refreshing to know, after reading the verse above, that if I remain in God's word, I will have whatever I need.

Will see if I can to slow down…..let's hope so, or pray so I suppose….

Like a Child.

Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all….


The blue room bustled with toys flinging across it. Crayon marks decorated the tables. Trains made their way down the red carpet, and the loud chatter of four and five-year-olds filled the room.

"Wh…What's a didgeridoo"? 4-year-old Lauren asked as she wandered closer to the stage, closely watching the girls leading worship rally.

"That's a musical instrument they play in Australia," I replied, pulling her closer to me and hoping she wouldn't begin to ask a plethora of questions as she normally does. "Do you think you can sing along with the girls"?

"No. I can't play that instrument. When are we going to the classroom"?

"Soon. Why don't you go sit by Hannah"?

"Ok," the little girl replies as she hurries down the front row to sit between Hannah and Kate.

I looked from left to right--boys on my left, girls on my right. The kids were making an honest effort to keep up with the Boomerang Express, but the song was a little fast for there tiny hands to keep up.

Oh, the sweet sounds of Vacation Bible School.

In the middle of my week helping in the four and five-year-old class, I stumbled across the verse above. It's an interesting thing to think about. And the next night I watched the children with a new perspective.

It's funny. Something we work so hard to grow out of is the one thing God wants us to be like.

Like the way little Samuel looked up at me as he turned around in his sit on family night.

"Where's my mama"? He put his tiny hand in mine and trusted me to take him to his mother.

Or the way Kaeyln would start praying before Mrs. Dee could ever begin. How many times have we not wanted to pray in front on anyone?

These kids put their faith in people they barely know, they follow the motions during worship rally without a care, they believe what you say without question….

I suppose I should hold more respect for these preschoolers. Although they are difficult at times, these kids are sweet, kind, and innocent. They have the opportunity to see God in the beautiful way he is meant to be followed.

It's weird to try to achieve something you work so hard to grow up from. As adults are doubts, self esteem, and fears get in the way of following God's will without question and compete trust in what he has planned for us.

It's too bad we can never look and listen to God that way again, like we did years and years ago. Now, we will always be inhibited by the world and Satan.

The next time I worry about what others will think of me, I'll try to remember these kids….

Beautiful.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.... So God made the expanse and seperated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so....


The foamy white waves rolled in and slipped back into the sea off St. Augustine beach, teasing the beach's visitors. The salty air and hot sand dared those looking for a spot among the crowded rows of beach-goers. The water rushing on the shore whispered to the wind whipping off the coast like two lovers in a spat. As if on cue, the sun began to shine, promising a hot, perfect day.

I forgot how much I loved the beach. The sand. The water. The waves. The sun. All of it combined makes a delightful day.

After staring at the horizon, I wondered how any one can deny God's hand in creating it. It would be sad to think that the vast ocean formed after years of chemicals combining together or whatever the common explanation is. Watching the sunset, tucking itself just beneath the horizon, I could see God as clear as I could see the waves coming in and out of the ocean.

I'm not criticizing those who don't believe in creation. How can they know any different if they haven't experienced the wonderful love, joy, and peace God provides Christians? But as I a Christian, I'm lucky enough to see the beauty in it.

It was nice to get away and take a break. Vacations are important. I mean, yes, I love my job, writing, and internship, but doing nothing but reading and laying by the beach was very peaceful and calming. And my post-beach tan ( somewhat at least) appreciates it too.

Everything seemed to stop for those three days. My family went down for the week after my sister's graduation, but I could only stay until Wednesday, which happen to be my three busiest days. But amazingly enough, I didn't have any stories!

Wednesday afternoon came at just the right time though. I was refreshed, and although I would have loved to stay longer, my editors were beginning to call more and more, reminding me that I had to come back to reality eventually.

And I did. Feeling refreshed and slightly sunburned, I was ready to get back to the busy life as a reporter. But, I'll admit, next time I won't wait so long before I take another trip to the beach….

Love.

I have been doing a study on the fruits of the spirit that Paul mentions in the Bible. I just finished the “love” chapter, so I thought I would share some of what I learned.

The fruits of the spirit:
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

The Holy Spirit produces His fruits of the Spirit in our lives as we practice obedience to His commands in the Bible.

God is the source of love, and all love comes from Him!

Five principles from God’s word:
1. Love is an act of the will.
- God loved us enough to send His son to die on the cross for us
- “Love is sharing a part of yourself with others.”
2. Love is action, not just words.
- 1st John 3:18: show you love someone through your deeds and truths.
3. Love reaches out to the unlovely.
- Jesus loved (and commanded us) to love our enemies and our neighbors (Matthew 5:43-. 5, Luke 6:35a).
- Kindness is the ability to love people more than they deserve
4. We need God to help us love.
- As Christians, God’s love should pour out of us.
5. Love expects nothing in return.
- Jesus was kind to evil and ungrateful men (Luke 6:35).


If you continually love someone, even when it’s really hard to do, they will grow both as a person and stronger in Christ.

The definition of love according to the father of the early church father, Augustine:

When asked what love looks like, Augustine replied, “Love has hands to help others. It has feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see the misery and want. It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. This is what love looks like.”

Things you can do to walk in love today:
- Loving the people God puts in your paths begins with being loving to those at home.
- Ask God to help you love someone when you are having difficulty loving them.
-Serve/help one another with love.
-Remember Jesus: He came to serve, not be served.

The fruit of the spirit begins with love:
Joy is love exulting
Peace is love in repose
Patience is love on trial
Kindness is love in society
Goodness in love in action
Faith is love on the battlefield
Gentleness is love at school
Self-control is love in training