Normal is Overrated

"Normal" is so overrated. So many people say they just want to be normal...but truthfully, I don't think anyone has a true desire to be "normal" or "average" - I think it's more that we have a fear of what people might think if we step out of the box. It's so much easier to just do the average thing - wake up, go to school or work, eat, sleep, and repeat. But what's the point of that? We need more than normal people to change the world! We need to be Jesus crazies! People want to follow people who stand out, not fit in!! I have a challenge for everybody who's reading this - this week, practice stepping out of the box. No! Don't JUST step out!! When you are out, pick up "the box" and chunk it!! Throw it as far away as you can... And never go back to average!! Don't let your fear of what your friends might think keep you from stepping out!! BE CREATIVE and BE YOURSELF (and "yourself" is not normal)!! :) I'm ready! Are you?

Get Off The Recliner!!

I don't know about you, but it is easy for me to be lazy. It's easy to sit around at home and do absolutely nothing. But thats not what God wants for us!! Anyone can sit around on their recliner and play solitaire all day, but it takes someone bold to actually DO something. As Christians, we are called to serve and make disciples! This week, instead of sitting around and doing nothing with meaning, let's get out there and love, serve, give, etc!! I'm tired of easy! I'm ready to get out there and DO stuff with meaning!!! What about you?!?

Believe and You Will Receive!!!

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." ~Matthew 21:22Believe and you will recieve!! When you ask God for something, then turn around and doubt that it will really happen, then its not going to happen. Instead, when you pray for something, believe in your heart that God can answer that prayer, and guess what....your prayer will be answered! God does not want his children to doubt his power! God can do anything and everything - nothing you ask for will ever be too hard for God to do!! It's us that block our prayers from being answered - our doubt changes everthing. Believe that God will answer your prayers, and he will!!   

Be Content in EVERY Circumstance!!

        Something I have been working on lately is being content in EVERY circumstance. Its so easy to want what you don't have. For me, after moving to VA, it has been really hard not wanting something different. One thing, for example, is instead of me complaining that we don't have a church yet, I have to be content and look for the bright side - I get tons of time with my family. Everyone has different things that might not go exactly like planned. No matter what it is, be content. Everything God does is for a reason....a reason that you won't know usually until after the fact. I always think of Paul - he worshipped God while he was in jail! Now that is real contentment! Here are some bible verses about being content:

 

Philippians 4:11-12 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

 

1 Timothy 6:6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain."

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

 

In every circumstance, be content and trust God!! He will be with you all the way through it all!!

Loving The Ones Who Don't Love You

Its so easy to love people who love you, isn't it? But what about the other people? The ones who don't love you back? The ones who might even hate you? The ones who have hurt you? Well I have news for you - we have to love them too. God says that even fools can love the people who love them, but it takes somebody wise to love the ones who don't. Trust me, this is not easy. Sometimes we think we can only give the love that we FEEL in our heart, but this is not the case. Its not OUR love that we need to give them, its God's!! We have to show these people the same love that Jesus shows us. There are about 6 billion people in this world, and Jesus loves EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. He even loves the people who beat him and put him on that cross. Wow. The least we can do is show love to the few people we know who don't love us back. The first step to showing this "God love" to everyone, is forgiveness. Its so much easier just to hold grudges or just pretend certain people aren't even there, but....the easiest way is not always the right way. This is so, so, so hard for me and I'm sure for you too, but with God's help we can do it! Just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!