The Brick Wall of Religion.

Hey there. Lately, I have been finally feeling a sense of belonging here on my campus. There is nothing I love more than spending nights laughing, eating pizza, and watching movies with my new friends here. However, there has been a lot going through my mind lately. Not only have I been pressured to do certain things, I have also been tested with my faith. The disappointing thing is that I don't know enough apologetics to have a firm stand, and that makes me question my own self sometimes. To be able to say that I believe in Jesus Christ, but am not able to explain much into it with evidence or answer deeper questions is beyond disappointing. I have taken classes in Apologetics and Hermeneutics while in High School, but I never took them seriously and failed to recognize their value. Now that I am college, I wish I could answer some of my friends' questions or share with people what I've found about Christ or how He has shaped my life today.
     Being on a large, public college campus, there are so many religions, cultures, identities, etc., that the list never ends. However, concerning religion and belief systems, the face of Christianity doesn't have a good look. For those of you unaware, there are constant street preachers claiming to be Christian. They stand on the corners of our campus, yelling and condemning others for not accepting Christ. Then while in class today, one of my professors decided to provide some comments about the situation as if it were a joke. It is unfortunate that Christians are seen this way by the world; as if we are nothing but condemning hypocrites. It's also sad to see how much of an impact street hypocrites are making in the lives of those who have never heard the Gospel. I am tired of not being able to have answers (for those around me) to things I have already been taught. It is hard to sit in silence when someone decides to ridicule my faith. In those situations, I always hear, "choose your battles wisely" ringing in the back of my head.  As I look around myself, I have begun to realize that more than half of the people I study or associate with outside of class aren't Christian. A large majority here are either agnostic or atheist. And lately, I have taken the backseat to see the positions and different aspects of the world they are coming from. I hope that if my words can't lead people to Christ, it will be my daily actions that do. Goodnight.

Looking Forward, Not backward.

Hey friends!
     I know I haven't been on here much lately! I just wanted to give a life re-cap and then discuss the topic for today. First of all, I would like to say that college is amazing. I've only been here for two months and I can already tell you that it's been the best 60 days of my life. I am continually learning new things about not only myself, but also other people around me. I love being independent, out on my own, and growing in myself. What a blessing it is to call this place my new home and have such amazing new friends. High School was fun, but I am glad to have moved onto the next chapter of my life.

Todays topic of discussion is growing in yourself and looking forward.

Lately I have been thinking about my life on a deeper level. Midterms have been probably the biggest disappointment ever. Not having things go exactly how you expected them to is hard to accept. However, I personally, have been training myself to just keep looking forward. You see, thats what I think so many of us struggle with. I think that we should all try to evaluate our lives at some time, change a few things for the better, and keep moving. This concept isn't limited to just school, relationships, or even with your best friends. Knowing how to keep striving and being positive can increase our well-being. It can make us better people in the long run, with a burning reason to just keep seeking the best. For example, when I got a low grade on an exam, I decided to take it as a way for me to find new ways of studying and learning that I've never thought of before. Although it is hard to except the fact that I am struggling in some areas of my life, I have chosen to keep moving with what I was given by improving my mistakes. If all else fails, I keep my eyes on my goals and purpose in life. The only way we will truly grow is to fail a few times, pick up the broken pieces, and then mold them back together to be even better/stronger. This sense of looking forward in life will increase our happiness and ability to see growth in our daily lives. So whether or not what I  wrote to you made sense or not, I just want you to remember this: Are you looking back, when you should be looking forward? Just promise me you will never let the past negatively impact your future success.

Is He Real?

My purpose for this blog is not to make only spiritual/religion based posts, but to share about my own personal life. However, today I'm feeling the sudden urge to talk about Jesus Christ. In particular, I have a question for all: Is Jesus real?

I have battled with this simple three worded sentence for a long time, and still to this day. Although, I just realized something different. What if this phrase is asking if 'Jesus is real to us in our own lives', rather than asking if He is/was physically real? Many of us go to church every Sunday (not going to lie, I haven't gone in forever), bible study groups, and pray to the Lord every night and day. Even though so many Christians do these daily routines (including myself), can we go on and grow spiritually without having Jesus be real to us? I think theres a point where we have to realize that Jesus is real in our own lives, and thats when we can allow Him into our daily routines and relationships. For myself, I know I'm in the process of finding Jesus and I'm not sure where I stand. However, I do know who He is, what He's done, and most of the main Bible stories. But He hasn't become real to me in my own life. I hear of Him in my peers' lives, but not in my own. I wait for Him to do something that will be something I can finally respond to by saying, "Jesus must be real because...(fill in the blank)." For a long time I have not been listening to what God has been telling me, and I've lost sight of Him. I'm not telling you that I've suddenly found my way tonight, because I'm still lost in the sea of life. However, I think tonight marks a time when God showed me that He wants to be a reality in my own life. Not someone I pull out of a box (only) in times of trouble, but someone who stands by my side every day, no matter what the circumstance. He's different from anyone in this world because He takes my hand...and never lets go. God is becoming REAL in my life, and I'm glad I could share it with the world today.

Be You, and Only You.

BE YOU. I feel like this is a phrase that we all hear on a constant daily basis. However, I think it's something that all of us (particularly women) still struggle with. I know a lot of us also hear about how we're all beautiful (for believers: in Gods image) and that we don't need any of the societal ideas of "perfect" to destroy our beauty. But let me ask you this, what do you see when you look in the mirror?...

Do you see the beautiful creature handmade by a creator who designed every single inch and millimeter of your being? Or do you see all the things that could possibly be fixed, moved around, or hidden so that we can achieve the so called, "social norm" of covering our flaws? I'm not saying that wearing make-up is God-forbidden, because lets get real, I wear make-up everyday because I enjoy it. It's part of my daily routine. But I'm asking you all to think about why and what your covering up. For what reasons. Just remember that you're ALL beautiful, every single inch of your being has been perfectly made (Yes, even that stretch mark too). To all the single women out there, just know that your prince charming should love you for who you are, and you should NEVER have to change your body image for a partner. Just be the flawed self that you are because thats what makes you not only unique, but also a princess with beauty. You are beautiful, perfect, and wonderfully made. You are a Jewel. Value yourself ladies, and see the beauty bestowed in yourself.

Leaving the Past in the Past.

Have you ever caught yourself dwelling on what happened a few days, weeks, or even a month ago? How you could've avoided something, or how you regret your previous choice? Well I've personally had this happen to me plenty of times. The only question is...how do we avoid this doubt and fear of the past decisions in our lives? Is it even possible to forget the past? Thats the thing...It will never be possible to forget what happened to us, but we do have the capability to take it and leave it where it ended. Don't pick up what was already broken. If you made the wrong decision yesterday, start today off on a better note and make the right decision today. You don't have power over yesterday because it's already over; but you do have power over the today and the "now." Now is your time to start new and leave the past behind you and Achieve YOUR Dreams without the brokenness of yesterday.

         

         

Acceptance in Our Daily Lives

Today. If I could possibly sum up my day to you in just one word I would define it as marvelous. It was such a fantastic day here in Madison. I got to meet some more peers in my program and explore the city zoo. I have a big day for tomorrow with many errands to run, but I've been feeling the sudden urge to just blog and get my thoughts out there. I truly hope that the words I'm writing/have written will be a blessing to everyone who reads it. It's my goal to not only share my life with you all, but also to make an impact in other lives. Whether that be by you just simply reading what I have to say, then so be it.

Anyways, the topic for today is acceptance. Once again, I'm not exactly sure why I chose this one, but its just been on my heart. Everyone truly wants to be accepted by at least one person in their life. While here at college, my first weekend has been the constant cycle of everyone trying to find their home and some sort of "acceptance" with their new friends. College is cool because absolutely no one knows who you used to be, so you can finally come on a clean slate to start your life back over again. Personally, I think the best way to be accepted is to just be yourself. It may seem silly for me to say this, but you'd be surprised how many people I've ran into that seem to be in this situation. Being yourself should always be the number one priority, and eventually, your true friends will come too. I'm going to be completely honest and say that coming from a religious high school previously, its been different for me to just accept everyone. Just because you accept someone for who they are, doesn't mean you have to agree with it. There's a difference there folks. Accepting and agreeing. Also, this is a little off topic but I feel the need to touch on the fact that you can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped. Just never forget that. We will all eventually impact someone's life during our time here on Earth, whether they accept us or not. The only lingering questions are, "who and when?" Well thats the thing...how about now? Start being the light in the darkness, accept others, and be that impact. Spread like wildfire and never stop believing in YOU.

         

                               

Clarity in the Scientific Field of Love.

Well, the day has come in which stands the last day my entire family is sound asleep and I'm still living here under the same roof. I'm going to miss being at home with my family more than anything. If anyone doesn't know me on a personal level, you should know that I am a very emotional person. I care a lot for people, and I would probably cross the ocean for someone I love.


Speaking of which, today I felt the sudden desire to expound on the magnificent topic of love. Earlier in my postings I mentioned that I wasn't quite sure if I even believed in love in the first place. I'm not exactly sure why, but suddenly I've began to realize what love is to me. Love is going the extra mile just to see that other person happy, even if it means you suffer. Love is putting your selfish needs aside and caring for others. It never envies or boasts. However, so often, our own generation uses this powerful word without realizing what it actually means. Personally I think thats why I wasn't sure if love existed. I didn't think it existed because someone in my life had failed me, shortly after they told me how deep their love for me was. Love doesn't give up. It's powerful and can break even the most strong beings in this world. I truly believe its the one thing our hearts truly yearn for in life. Wherever any of you find love is completely your own decision, but just know this: love is all of these things I have mentioned, and more. I hope as this day concludes, that everyone in this world (including you) finds someone to experience true love with (whether it be romantically, or with a friendship). Don't limit your surroundings because of someone who hurt you. LOVE can hurt you if it's fake, but don't let it take who you are. Stand up for what you want, and never give up.