The Romans did not use soap. Just Saying.

Wow, where does the time go?? There are only 14 days until I leave for school. Some of my friends are already leaving. It makes you really feel, well...old. When you put it into terms like, "oh, I'm moving out of my house in 2 weeks", it makes you feel a little elderly if you know what I'm saying.

So life has been treating me rather well lately. God has been blessing me in so many ways. It is easy to get caught up in the blessings and not the "blesser" so to speak. Yesterday was one of those days where I needed to be really focused on the "blesser" and I decided to read a tad bit of Proverbs. I have got to say whenever I need to feel grounded, Proverbs is where I like to turn. As I was reading through the thoughts and words of those wise men from so many years before me, something in particular stood out. It was Proverbs 12:18.

Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.

There are two parts to this verse (obviously I mean, come on, there is a comma) The first part I think we can all relate to all too well. We can all remember a moment. Where we were, what the weather was like, what we were wearing. Its vivid, an all too clear picture of that time that person said that thing you will never forget. They were just words, but they "cut".

For instance, I was in second grade. On the bus. On the left hand side, 5th row. And a boy who shall remain nameless got all of his big 3rd grad friends to call me Snow White and made me cry. Yeah, those kids were jerks.

The second half of this verse though is what really stuck out to me. As I'm getting ready to go off to college; to prepare and equip myself for a life of ministry, I can only hope one day my words will be so powerful that they can bring healing. Words alone-bringing healing- that's such a bind blowing concept for me. I hope as I go off to school, I don't lose sight of that. I want to be all God has called me to be, I want to bring healing to those who need it.

The blood of Jesus makes me worthy.
Sim

Saying Justin Bieber in a British accent is too much fun. Just Saying.

Well, well, well. As college is fast approaching (34 days to be exact) I am getting more and more excited. I find out my roomate this week, which in all honesty freaks me out to the millionth degree. I mean come on, this is the person I have to co-habitate with in a jail cell Esq room for the next year...wow. Now that I've put it in the most odd terms ever...

I've been buying new stuff for school. Of course all the necessities like sheets, and a lamp, etc. But then all of the random stuff you never would think of bringing, but is a totally good idea. Like a bottle of Advil, and tide to go, and a mini thing of dish soap? Living on my own, is going to be a blast- don't get me wrong. But as I am getting swept up in all of this excitement I realize something. I realize I'm taking my eye off of the goal. I'm letting my focus stray away from why I'm actually going to school.

While I cant wait to move in, and there's nothing wrong with having fun in all that is happening, I can't lose my focus. That the reason I am going to this school is to be equipped in the best way possible to tell people about Jesus. Something as important as that can never be left out of mind. All of this makes me think about the human mind. How we are so susceptible to the world around us. We are so easily distracted and caught up in what is momentarily going on. Its so easy to lose our focus, no matter how important it may be.

No matter what your purpose in college is, in life really, I ask you to consider where is your focus? We cannot take our eyes of the destination, or we will fail.

I also ask you today to say "Justin Bieber" in a British accent. It is way too funny. You will be glad you did haha.

Eyes on the prize
Sim

The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache in a deck of cards. Just Saying.

As college life approaches (44 days to be exact) I'm discovering something about myself. I have always been independent, granted. When I was younger and at one summer camp or another, all of the kids would be ready to go home, except me. Sorry mom and dad, you're eldest child wants to be on her own for another week and a half. As the realization that I am going to be "on my own" sinks in, I am beginning to hate, no LOATHE, being told what to do. I want to make my own decisions, my own mistakes, with no input from anyone else. Now this is "normal" by the world's standards. This is stupid by my parents (and in most ways yes it is). However this is what is happening to me. I feel like I am allowed to do anything I want...

Mostly everyone goes through this "phase" in life. One wants to naturally follow the desires of their heart despite consequences. Its natural instinct I suppose. But as we go through these phases, we come to a shocking conclusion that not everything we want is good for us.

Wow Simone, thanks for taking us through what we already know. Stick with me here. Ok, so let's throw Christianity into the mix. A majority of people see faith, or the call to follow Jesus, as a list of "dos" and "dont's". A kind of "Well, I'm not supposed to do this, but that should be ok...I think..."

It wasn't until I was further along in my walk with Christ that I realized something...In my friendships, I don't treat my friends a certain way because I have to, or am obligated. I do it because I care about them, and I want to do nice things for them to make them happy. Our relationship with God is the same way. It is BECAUSE of my love for Christ I should want to do what is pleasing to Him. Not to follow a set of rules.

I was reading my Bible the other day, and came across this little bit:

"You say, 'I am allowed to do anything'- but not everything is helpful. You say, 'I am allowed to do anything'- but not everything is beneficial." 1 Corinthians 10:23

Paul here is acknowledging that we can do "anything we want", but that doesn't mean what we do is always good for us. Things happen in our lives, we get put into situations. We have choices that will, or will not, lead us astray depending on our decision. My Bible has this side comment that has stuck with me all week...

You do not have time for anything that would make this world more attractive, dull your desire for prayer, take away your appetite for Bible study, or keep you from Christian fellowship. Instead, look for things that will benefit and build your Christian character.

WOW. It's so true. Our time on this earth, or 90 years or so, is not that short in the grand scheme of things. When we decide to enter into a relationship with the Lord, we have this "coming of age", we have this new found responsibility if you will. It's because of my love for Christ I should want to do things for Him. I should honor Him with what I choose to do.

This week I challenge you to exam your life. Examine what you're into, what takes up the majority of your time, what you turn to in times of trouble for comfort. Why do you like that? Why do you do that? What are your motives behind your choices. You can determine for yourselves if you like the answers.

Christ is in the middle of my situation, of my life.
Is He in yours? Should He be?
Sim

Blue is the shortest wavelength diffused by oxygen. Just Saying.

Has a song ever truly affected you?
Ispired you?
Motivated you?
Broken you?
Expressed how you were feeling better than you could yourself?

There is a song that has really been hitting me lately. The lyrics are truly inspiring, moving, and powerful. Just read them, let them soak into your mind. Really wrap your mind around what its saying.

A people undeserving
Sim

Hillsong - To know your name

The precious blood of Jesus Christ redeems
Forgiven I'm alive restored set free
Your majesty resides inside of me
Forever I believe
Forever I believe
Arrested by Your truth and righteousness
Your grace has overwhelmed my brokenness
Convicted by Your spirit led by Your word
Your love will never fail
Your love will never fail

I know You gave
The world Your only Son for us
To know Your name
To live within the Saviour's love
He took my place
Knowing He'd be crucified
And You loved
You loved a people undeserving

Its so fluffy. Just Saying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx_aMZX5iio&feature=related"

"ITS SO FLUFFY!"

Gotta love it! Cannot wait to go check out this movie, just for this scene really.

Pink is my favorite color. Just Saying.

Well, well, well. As college approaches (61 days I just found out) I have decided to be more faithful to this little blog. I'm going to actually tell people about it soon, so I figured I best keep up my practice.

Today I was scheduled to work 10 hours, but only ended up having to work 8, which is radical. It was so slow due to the holiday, I kind of wanted to rip my hair out. So in my unending boredom I noticed the small calender at the desk I was sitting at. It was a calender with a little saying and Christian tid bit for everyday. Today's specific passage really really stuck out to me.

It is Matthew 6:14

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.

It (the calendar) went on to say this...

"Bitterness is its own prison...the dungeon, deep and dark, its beckoning you to enter...you can choose, like many, to chain yourself to your hurt...
or you can choose, like some, to put away your hurts before they become hates...How does God deal with your bitter heart? He reminds you that what you have is more important than what you don't have. You still have your relationship with God. No one can take that."

WOW. Let me run that last part by you again...
"He reminds you that what you have is more important than what you don't have."

That is incredible! Bitterness is something I specifically have struggled with a lot this past year. Due to obstacles put in my way, and situations I had to go through, I had built up a lot of bitterness, and chained myself to a consuming hatred. This hatred was something I was unwilling to let go of. I told myself I just couldn't do it. While I grasped it and held it tightly to me, it began to block my walk with God. My view of the Son became eclipsed by this anger and bitterness I had in front of me.

It wasn't until the Holy Spirit prompted me that I was unable to continue growing in my faith until I had dealt with this issue. I have. And praise God I am becoming myself again. No longer am I consumed by that which was slowly eating away at my joy in Christ.

So I ask you today, what is it in your life that you are clinging to? Maybe you re not as far along as I was, maybe you re just entering that dungeon. Maybe your just eyeing those chains. But I ask, no I beg you, today, let it be the day you exam what may be the source of anger or bitterness in your life. Ask God to honestly reveal that to you, and help you move past it. I promise you, you will not be disappointed.

My chains are gone, what about you?
Sim

Flamingos are pink because they eat shrimp. Just Saying.

Hey y'all so this morning I decided to dive into the book of Psalms. I came across Psalm 32:10

"Many sorrows come to the wicked, but the unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord."

I immediately felt drawn to this verse, and love the picture it paints. Describing the love that God offers to us when we put ourselves into His hands. The one word though that really stuck out to me was surrounds. That depicts a beautiful idea! And being the person I am, I really wondered what that word in the original text was. Hebrew words usually have deeper complex meanings I'm discovering. I did a little google magic and found this blog someone wrote who had the same thought as me.

I hope you read it, its really not that long. I know most of you are out of school and "done with this whole reading thing" but I found it so interesting and compelling that I wanted to share it with you. Let its truth encourage you today!

Your sister in Christ
Simone

---------------------------------------------http://skipmoen.com/tag/psalm-3210/
Circling The Earth
Saturday, April 17th, 2010 | Author: Skip Moen
Many are the sorrows of the wrong; but as for the one trusting YHWH, kindness surrounds him. Psalm 32:10 (ISR)

Surrounds – The Hebrew word savav is spelled samech-bet-bet. Samech paints the picture of twisting slowly or turning. Bet is the picture of a tent or house. Let’s combine these images. Savav is the picture of something slowly circling the house twice. This Hebrew word picture doesn’t show us a single circumnavigation of the house. It shows us the action of going around and around and around the house. This action is continuous.

When we apply this picture to David’s psalm, we see that the idea here is not simply being held in God’s hand (surrounded). It is the picture of God’s continuous action encircling the righteous. Just as the Torah is a fence around those who uphold it, so God is constantly moving around and around the lives of His children, protecting and guiding them. The Creator circles the earth, searching out those who put their trust in Him in order that He may shelter their lives inside His protection (2 Chronicles 16:9a).

David contrasts God’s reliability with the many sorrows of the wicked. We would do well to reflect for a moment about this contrast. Why do the wicked have many sorrows? On the surface, it often appears that the wicked are blessed. They seem to have the secret to powerful and plentiful life. The psalmist Asaph eloquently described the apparent success of the wicked and the possible envy of their fortunes in Psalm 73. He concludes that it is all a sham. They face judgment. No amount of success in this life will rescue them from that fateful day. But this isn’t the only reason the wicked have many sorrows.

David might agree with his son that money and power make life easier. So, David’s insight can’t be about the inevitable twists and turns of living. Everyone experiences those traumas. What distinguishes the righteous from the wicked is something deeper. In the end, the wicked have no protection. Without a moment’s notice, everything can be taken away. Disaster can strike without warning. No amount of insurance, bodyguards or safety nets can ultimately protect us. As the Greeks clearly understood, in a world of random chance, anything can happen to you. The wicked are exposed to any possibility. So, the Greek poet Theognis said, “Not to be born is the best of all things for those who live on earth,and not to gaze on the radiance of the keen-burning sun. Once born, however, it is best to pass with all possible speed through Hades’ gates and to lie beneath a great heap of earth.” A man without God is alone in the universe. That is a great sorrow indeed! If you want the biblical parallel of this Greek poet, read Ecclesiastes. The Teacher comes to virtually the same conclusion. Without God, it’s all just hot air.

God’s encircling protection means much more than disaster prevention. It means purpose and hope in spite of disaster. My life has meaning because He cares for me.

Topical Index: Psalm 32:10, savav, surround, 2 Chronicles 16:9