The Leaper

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to reap the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Galatians 6:7-8

So today I was talking to a friend over dinner about how I haven't updated the blog in a while. She suggested that I just update it when I have time, when I want to. I told her that I update when I feel God putting it on my heart to update it.

What I failed to realize during dinner is that she is partially right.

I have to want God to come into my life, otherwise I remain blind to Him. I have to want God to change my heart. God will show me what He wants to, whether or not I want Him to show me, but I have to want to update my life in order for God to use me. I have to choose God's perfect plan that He chose for me. More than that, I have to do what God asks me to do.

I have to follow Him with my whole heart, my whole mind...my whole being.

How badly do you want Him?

How closely do you follow Him?

Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

1 John 2:6

From the Inside Out

Love and faithfulness meet together;

Righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Psalm 85:10

There are so many times we are placed into a community, either by choice or by birth. This society then influences some of our decisions and perceptions of the world, which can be a negative or positive thing. Truth is, Christ designed us to be part of communities so that we can learn about His love through one another. However, sometimes when we enter into the Christian society our faith starts to go in a different direction than where He's leading us. I encourage all of us, whether at a Christian school, or a secular school and part of a Christian group, that we make faith our own.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Proverbs 3:3

I pray that we all develop our relationship with Christ, so that our lifestyles and beliefs are a faith, not just a phase.

Many a man claims to have unfailing love,

but a faithful man who can find?

Proverbs 20:6

How Many Kings

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths,...

-Luke 2:7

"Just a child? Is this what we've waited for?"

-downhere, How Many Kings

The song, "How Many Kings," brings up several questions that leave me in awe of how Great our God really is.

"How many kings stepped down from their throne?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many 'greats' have become the least for me?

How many gods have poured out their hearts, to romance a world that is torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?"

To think that our Savior came to earth as a baby. This baby was born to die in order to forgive us for everything that we will ever do wrong. The Greatest of the Great (Alpha and Omega!) became a mere human in order to die, Our God let His Baby be murdered, He gave up His wonderful time in Heaven (eternal bliss!) to spend thirty some-odd years on Earth, He gives us His Heart and an opportunity for sinners (those who have engaged in a relationship with Satan, even for just one second) to have a relationship with Him every day for the rest of forever.

What kind of God is He that would do something like that for us?

How are you going to serve a God who is that Good?

And Jesus said, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

-Mark 10:18

Nonfiction Love Song

...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21

The Bird and the Worm

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow and the LORD will be with you.
-2 Chronicles 20:17


Mrs. Johnson, the LCS class of 2008 advisor, made us write our names on two sheets of paper during our senior trip to Virginia Beach. One of the pieces of paper went to a room where all the senior girls were hanging out, the other sheet went to a room where all the senior boys were hanging out. We were required to write a comment about each person on their piece of paper (17 persons=17 comments/thoughts). After re-reading these pieces of paper, my heart broke (in a good way--from stone to flesh!). The boys stood strong in their faith and their words were very encouraging. One line, specifically, stood out to me throughout all the comments.

"Aileen,...Stand firm, you'll see that you are not standing alone."
-John Canning

Even when we believe to be dwelling in an area void of morality, Christ, etc. if we stand firm in our faith and don't waiver, we will find that Christ has put other people and events in our lives to encourage us along the way. The journey may be long and difficult, but with one another we can find the joy in every step.


"Yet if you devote your heart to him,
and stretch out your hands to him,
if you put away the sin that is in your hand
and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,
then you will lift up your face without shame;
and you will stand firm and without fear.
-Job 11:13-15

Wake Up

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

-Colossians 3:16

From hanging out with my new friend, Sister Francine, a thought occurred to me.

The following is a snip-it of a reflection I had on an interview with Sister,

"By the end of our conversation, Francine and I became good friends. We made dinner plans for the upcoming weeks, hugged one another, and went our separate ways. Today I learned a lot about faith, not just about Francine's occupation and opinion, but also about my own personal relationship with Christ. I once considered myself a Protestant. “A protestor of what?” I asked myself in the car on the way home. My faith is not about protesting the Catholic faith (or the church of England), that’s for sure. I am not a protestor, but a student of His people. I am an evangelical and a born again believer who is in love with a God that is Good. However, “evangelical” and “born again” are words that describe me, not define me. I agree with Francine, Christ defines me; Him, and Him alone. I have much to do in the name of my Creator, but more importantly, I have many places to follow my Leader, spiritually and physically. I have gained more than a friend today, I have a new sister, related through the most sacred Blood."

So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.

-Ecclesiastes 7:25

If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand.

-Mark 3:25

You Make Me Sing

As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.

-Exodus 17:11

So I am currently in training for rugby spring season, and of course I forgot to take my asthma medication. Once my breathing starts to get out of wack, I have to put my arms above my head, either straight up, or bent behind my head (in a relaxed position). My asthma started up pretty quickly (I'm quite out of shape, due to taking the semester off), and almost immediately I had to have both my hands raised up high.

What was very interesting about this moment is that while Owl City was playing in the background, I was reminded that people worship in so many ways. I worship through sports, others through painting, and others by studying for chemistry. With my hands up in the air, it truly hit me that I can worship Him in rugby just as passionately as I do in church when I'm belting out the lyrics to a David Crowder song. Christ is that good, that He would let us see Him so clearly through everything that we do.

How do you worship Him in your daily life? Does it look the same way as it does during worship in church? Do you really throw up your hands and give everything to Him with everything that you do (either literally or figuratively)?

How will you give it all to Him today?

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!

Serve the LORD with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the LORD, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gate with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the LORD is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

-Psalm 100