Tis a Rare and Unusual Species

How many teens have you personally met that are just completely on fire for God? Or rather, how many people, no matter their age, have you met that are on fire for God?

Probably not many.

We live in an age where there are many "Christians", and many Christians, but not many flaming Christians.

Many call themselves believers, but are not.

Many who call themselves believers, and truly are, are hard to spot because they are afraid of what will happen if they shine their little light is the dark world.

We are a rare species. We who are on fire.

Am I on fire? Not as much as I'd like. Shame on me if those around me are not sure if I'm a Christian.

So, what can we do? 

I'm not going to go running down the street screaming that I'm a believer. They'd just think I'm insane and lock me up.

But I'm not going to sit in my bedroom all day every day and not shine my light to the outside world either.

Like most everything, there is a balance. 

I think that one of the only things that shouldn't be balanced is what we are willing to do for Christ, and to further His kingdom. Within reason, yes. We're not going to walk into a village in the middle of nowhere where we're sure we'll be killed before we can open our mouths, that doesn't accomplish anything. But we shouldn't be so consumed with our own lives that we simply aren't willing to risk them for Him who died for us.

Getting back to the subject, we've been called to be different.

We've been called to be the green blade of grass in a field of brown, the only light in a dark world, the fish who swims against the current while the others just flow with it.

In a sin-filled world, being a Christian implies being different. 

No true change on the inside means no true change on the outside either. We've gotta be washed from the inside out. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, as we read His word, talk with Him and spend time with Him, our words, actions, and attitudes will change. The more time you spend with Christ, the more you will begin to act like Him. It's just like with anyone you spend time with. That's why it's so important to be around believers and people that love God, and to not hang out so much with people who are consumed in the world. Who you hang out with will form you into what they are.

Don't go swim with the others. 

Don't turn brown by spending time with the wrong people. 

Don't hide your light. Shine it.

New MMT video: Why should I get involved?

You Never Let Go...Ever

This past year..my jaw locked up, I was allergic to glutin, corn, and dairy, to name a few, I was in the ER with kidney stones, I'm currently three weeks behind on school...needless to say, many, many times I was down. 

And I was down not just because of health issues either, mind you,  but emotional - eight of my bffs moved away within six months time - and spiritual, too. 

With every thing that came up, every challenge, every hard spot...I'd break down. Most people don't know the hard times I had, and I'm not under any circumstances asking for sympathy, just making my point: 

He never let go...ever.

In every challenge, He was there.

In every hard spot, He was there.

Every time I broke down, He was there.

Every time I would have given up, He held on tight and never ever let go...

EVER.

--------------------------

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

Your perfect love is casting out fear

And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life

I won't turn back

I know you are near

And I will fear no evil

For my God is with me

And if my God is with me

Whom then shall I fear?

Whom then shall I fear?

(Chorus:)

Oh no, You never let go

Through the calm and through the storm

Oh no, You never let go

In every high and every low

Oh no, You never let go

Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on

A glorious light beyond all compare

And there will be an end to these troubles

But until that day comes

We'll live to know You here on the earth

(Chorus)

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on

And there will be an end to these troubles

But until that day comes

Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

-Matt Redman, You Never Let Go

Waiting for a Sign

Just a moment ago, I sat here at the computer looking at the comments that you, my dear readers, have left on my last couple of posts. And as I sat, a song came on. It was Lift Me Up, by the Afters.

I've always loved this song, but the timing seemed impeccable. So here I am...posting about it.

Waiting for the sunrise

Waiting for the day

Waiting for a sign

That I'm where you want me to be

I love this part, I mean, it's SO true! Sometimes, when I don't know where to go, don't know what to do, don't feel like I'm making an impact for the Kingdom...just the feeling that I'm wasting time...I am just waiting for the sunrise, the day, a sign, any sign, that I'm where HE wants me to be. 

I feel like I'm open. I feel like I am just supposed to sit and wait for direction, and until then do....well, nothing but sit and wait.

That's not what the Christian life is supposed to be. We are to continually be shining our lights in the world, though small they are, they are still a light in a dark world. 

Even a little glimmer can be clearly seen in the pitch dark.

So, here I sit.

Waiting.

But is that what I'm supposed to be doing?

I - we! - have already been given direction.

Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the world. -Matthew 28:18-20

That sounds a lot like directions to me. 

I'm a firstborn, I like structure, I like specifics, I like order. So this command, this direction, this guidance, seems pretty broad. But keep in mind that that's not all the direction that He gives us! 

He guides and directs us, this is very, very true, but in some instances we might not receive specific instruction.

Sitting on your rear end waiting for specifics is one thing. Working to further His Kingdom and serve His people in any way you know how is another thing entirely. 

Most likely, we are not going to get moment by moment instructions, but that's ok, because we've already received an order from our Lord - go ye therefore.

So, in the meantime, I - we - just have to keep working. We've need to pray for guidance and direction, but always look towards the goal, never stop learning, serving, and worshiping Him, and continually work to further His Kingdom.

There's no time to sit around and wait. 2000 years ago the time was at hand...what does that mean for right now?

You are what you Eat

You've no doubt heard this at one time or another, it's a pretty widespread phrase.

You are what you eat.

But have you ever thought about it in a different aspect?

How about, you are what you believe?

Interesting statement, yet true.

What you believe determines your actions, attitude, and choices throughout your life.

Now I'm not talking about what you say you believe, I'm talking about what you believe deep down. So deep may be these beliefs that you never really put them into words, you just...believe them. They're who you are - what you're made of.

The choices you make show what you believe. They show whats important to you. They show who you are.

It's the same with your attitude and every other aspect of life. 

You are what you believe.

What do you believe? Is it really what's in your creed? Or is it just what you say you believe cause that's what makes sense in your head? 

Does the stuff that makes sense in your head make sense in your heart?

You are what you eat believe.

Worth Fighting For

The clock ticks. Slowly. Steadily.

You chew your pencil. Day dreaming. Staring.

You inhale. You exhale.

School, chores, work, church, volunteer work, hanging out, video games...these things fill your life, your spare time, your thoughts.

Life seems boring. Dull. Repetitive.

You want adventure. Excitement. Purpose.

You know what you could be doing. You know what you want to be doing. You know what you need to be doing. 

But somehow, these things often don't happen.

Life becomes grey. Purposeless. Worthless.

You need something. Something new. Something exciting. Adventure. Purpose. 

Something worth fighting for.

Every hour, dozens of abortions take place in the US alone.

Every hour, Dalits are raped and murdered.

Every second, a mortal life ends and an eternal life or death begins.

These are battles that are currently going on in your world.

These are battles most people either don't know about, or just chose to ignore. 

These are just a few examples of causes worth fighting for.

End abortion. End the raping and murder of Dalits. Show the lost the Savior.

You have a choice.

You can chose to ignore these ongoing battles like most people, or  you can fight. It's your choice.

No excuses.

There are things in this life that are worth fighting for.

Strange how things Change

My dear readers! I am back! Three months is so long and so short a time. Short in the way that its hard to believe that I haven't posted since then. Long in the way that it feels like I've grown up a lot since then. I don't know what it is about time, but it feels like you never have enough of it and it flies so fast. 

Funny thing about time. You love it and you hate it. You hate it when you can't wait for some specific time or event to come. You love it when it's there and when it's gone it's kind of a mixture of feelings. Love-hate relationship I suppose.

What's strange is change. It's strange how these two things we love and hate work together in perfect harmony to create the constant whirl of life. As time goes by everything around us changes - and we change. It's hard to find a solid, unchanging ground to stand upon, but once you find it, it will carry you through life - through all those changes - and it alone will be unchanging. This ground is God. This solid, unchanging, firm place is our Heavenly Father. The only One who will not change, who will carry you through life with all that change, whether good or bad, and will never let you fall. 

Maybe that's what has changed most in my life in the past three months. My feet have become even more firmly planted on that Solid Ground. Daily it seems like they can't be more firmly planted, but as the next day (or challenge) comes and goes, I am over and over again proven wrong. And how glad I am that I have been wrong so many times! Because for every time I am wrong my feet are planted more firmly and my eyes more set on that which matters most of all. Yes, both my feet and eyes go astray way too often from that which they should be on, but without fail He brings me back again. That's the God I serve. 

It's strange how things change. One day you think everything is great, nothing could go wrong; the next day the clouds overhead become dark and let loose their water; and the next, the sun shines out even brighter than before. You can't ever tell what the next day - or even the next moment! - will bring, but you know that the Rock you are continually standing upon will always be the same.

Thanks, Talia, for encouraging me to come back. :)

In Christ our Rock I stand,

Buttercup

50 minus 1 Q&A about me :)

1. High heels or boots? I trip without heels. Give me heels and I'd think you were trying to get rid of me. I like boots. :)
2. What time did you get up this morning? Sevenish I think...
3. What was the last movie you saw at the theater? Pirates of the Carribean 4. Not a fave but still a good movie. :)
4. What is your maiden name? Well, right now at least, it's my last name.
5. What is your favorite TV show? Well, seeing as I don't really watch TV besides a random NCIS guess that's my fave. xP
6. What do you usually have for breakfast? Cereal. *sheepish grin* I'm lazy in the mornings.
7. What is your middle name? Don't you wish you knew...
8. What food do you dislike? Olives.
9. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Let's make that plural...Undone by Mercy Me, Restored by Jeremy Camp, Underdog by Audio Adrenaline, and Over and Underneath by Tenth Avenue North.
10. What characteristic do you despise? Self-centeredness.
11. Favorite clothing? Blue jeans.
12. Anywhere in the world on vacation? Not all that hip on vacations. Missions trip? Now we're talking!
13. Are you an organized person? Can't stand my room a mess. Drives me bonkers.
14.Where would you retire to? Right here.
15. What was your most recent memorable birthday? This last one. Awesome possum to say the very, very least.
16. What are you going to do when you finish this? Homework.
17. Furthest place you have ever been to? Belize.
18. Person you wish you could meet? *wish* or *will*? If the latter, then my Lord!
19. When is your birthday? Not tellin'. Though a certain person reading this should know all to well...haha. You know who you are. Don't ask your brother.
20. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night.
21. What is your shoe size? Ultra tiny. 6-6 1/2.
22. Do you own any animals? Nope.
23. Any news you'd like to share? (I feel...interviewed. Like, "anything else you want to say?" Anyways...) I am going to try my hardest to get Go Ye Therefore out this Friday! Don't ask how much I've done...this month has been crazy. And...I'm the world's bestest procrastinator...
24. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Many, many things...One that sticks out in my memory though is an interior designer.
25. What is your favorite flower? Sunflower. :) They're so big and bright and just seem like they're smiling at you.
26. What day on the calender are you looking forward to? hm....probably this Friday...Co-op, Teen Club water day, and sleepover! :)
27. If you were a crayon, what would you be? I don't know...probably a mix between hot pink (excited and happy) and sea blue (calm and peaceful)...depends on the time of day and who is around me.
28. How is the weather right now? Teasing. Holding all that rain up there and just blowing away from us and dropping all it's beautiful goodness somewhere else that doesn't NEED it as much as we do.
29. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My friend, Nona. (nickname)
30. Favorite drink? Water or Dr. Pepper. Depends...
31. Favorite Restaurant? Giovanni's. ooooh man.
32. Hair color? Blonde and proud of it.
33. What was your favorite toy as a child? Giraffee. :) And *was* isn't the right word... xD
34. Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter? WINTER!
35. Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla!
36. Coffee or tea? Neither. Aw man, that's the second time now...
37. Wish you were still young? What's that supposed to mean? I'm still high school.
38. Do you want to get married? Depends on what He's got in mind. :)
39. When was the last time you cried? Yesterday or the day before.
40. What is under your bead? Nothing but carpet.
41. What did you do last night? Sat in the dark. (Power went out)
42. What are you afraid of? Needles. O.O
43. Salty or sweet? oooh sweeeeet!!!
44. Best quality you have? I feel bad answering this question. I don't know...ask someone else...
45. How many years at the current job? Random babysitting job? Maybe a year. Maybe. 
46. Favorite day of the week? Sunday!
47. Favorite movie? Don't have one, but I love Fireproof, Soul Surfer (just saw it for the first time...LOVED IT!), Princess Bride...and others.
48. Have you ever had a crush on anyone? That's for me to know. Some of these questions are creepy...
49. Do you like finding all this stuff out about your friends? Oh yeah! Especially when it's peoples like Anna, who tagged me, because she knows  how to write and make you just die laughing.

If you want to do this, please feel free! :)

Have a SUPER DUPER FANTASTIC rest of week!!!
Love in Christ,
Buttercup :)