Dear High School Me,

Dear Highschool Me,

 

 Hey! It’s me! Your older and “wiser” self.
I know that you think you know who you are. I know that you think that you know what you’re going to achieve and when you’re going to achieve it. I know that you won’t listen to me right away, but when the time comes… you will think about my words.

You already know how important God is. Well make Him even more important. Appreciate all of those times you are obligated to go to church to learn about and worship God, since you’re the preacher’s kid. Those times in church will help you become closer to God and will help you learn all that you need to know about becoming a better Christian. Plus, your Sunday School teacher will teach you all that there is to know about Christianity. Yes, you need to do the homework that he gives you. It’s more important than your school work. God should be your first priority. Keep Him there.

 

That family of yours? You know, the one that has been through almost everything to tear it apart and is still together? Yeah, that one! Make them your second priority, since God is first. Your family should always come before everything else and after God. Those times that you’d rather be anywhere else other than home? Forget it. Stay home. They need you just as much as you need them. Just because they’re always there, doesn’t mean that they will always be there.
Spend time with your daddy. He’s doing everything that he can to make sure you have everything that you could possibly want. Go hunting with him. Go ask him questions about what he’s doing while he’s working on that old truck he bought. You know how much he loves teaching and working on stuff. Take the time to tell him what’s going on in your life. Even though he may act like he’s happy with all that you are, he’s still scared that you’re growing older and that he doesn’t have enough time in the world to spend with you. You’re his babygirl.
Spend time with your momma. She’s so beautiful. She is a perfect role model and even though you are taller than her, you will look up to her for so much wisdom in the years to come. Help her in the kitchen. Take notes on all of those recipes she cooks and all of those cleaning secrets she has used over the years. She will cry the day that you pack up your car and leave home. Don’t let her strong demeanor keep you from thinking that she isn’t sad about you growing up. She’s just keeping it together, because she’s the glue that keeps everything together. She will be okay after you leave, but there will be times when you will cry and hurt for leaving. It will be hard, but you will grow from it, I promise.
That annoying brother of yours… boy oh boy. He’s a tough boy. Don’t let that fool you, though. He’s so soft on the inside and he needs your help. He’s learning to express himself more and he needs you to let him be him. Don’t judge him so much. He may be disabled in some ways, but in every other way: he is able. I know that you have always believed in him and will always believe in him, but you need to tell him that more. Build his confidence more. He needs to hear it from you. He looks up to you and when you leave, he won’t understand. He will miss you. He will be okay though, don’t worry.
Your Grannie is a special part of your life. She has been and will be there for you. Don’t take advantage of that. Tell her how much you appreciate her and how much you love her.

Your family is there to teach you what family is all about. Don’t take advantage of them. Not that you have or will, just keep remembering to not take advantage of anything good. Especially your family. I know you’re wanting to socialize and make friends. Your family ARE your friends. Sometimes your only friends. They aren’t perfect and you definitely aren’t perfect either. But you are beautiful and your family helped you become that way. God gave them to you to help shape you and to help you be the best version of yourself you can be. They may let you down at some point, but they have better intentions for you than you can ever have for yourself. Don’t forget to listen to what they have to say and you will definitely learn how much they care about you and your choices.

Those friends that you’ve accumulated? They are important, but they will let you down. They are human, just like you are. They won’t be there for everything and they won’t care enough to get to know everything about you, especially through the changes you will go through. There are a few that will make you think that they will always be there and that they will always be your “best friends”, but they won’t be. Don’t let them be. I’m not saying don’t have friends, because you will always make friends everywhere you go. I’m saying: Don’t let them be your “best friends”. You will grow out of a few of them and some will grow with you, but nothing will ever be the same after you graduate. Nothing at all. No matter how hard you try for it to be. Then when you get married, it’s important that you fill up your “best friend” spot in your heart with your spouse. If you do that, you will have more of yourself to give to your significant other.

Those boyfriends that you focus on? You’re probably thinking that I’m going to tell you not to focus on them at ALL. No, I’m not going to tell you that. I trust your heart and judgement. Even though I know that you’ve been through weird relationships with friends and boys. Don’t let them discourage you. You are going to get hurt. Many times. Don’t let that keep you from your relationship with God. Each one of those boys that you’re going to have a relationship with will lead you to the one God has made for you. I’d like for you to experience every little bit of pain that they cause you, so that you can get away from them as soon as possible so that you can meet the man that will be your husband. I want you to focus on those things that you like about them, but don’t let that cover up all of the bad things. You have a habit of only looking at the good in people and not seeing the bad things. Well, when you’re dating someone, it’s important to look at the bad things too. Because when you get married, you’ve got to love the bad things too. Focus on the good things and you will find a man that has every single one of those good things and more. God will bless you with a man that will show you the love that you deserve. Nothing like the “love” that those other boys will show you. I bet that will make you think twice before you lock lips with that boy you’ve been dating for the past few weeks. Oh yeah, that one boy that keeps manipulating you and bringing up things from the past, claiming that he cares about you more than ever… laugh in his face and just tell him thank you for showing you what you DON’T need in your life. You are better off without him that close to you in your life. You know who I am talking about. He’s been there since before highschool. Don’t let him get to you and in the middle of your relationships. He will change, eventually. Just be patient and don’t pay any attention to him. He will convince you that he is the only guy that knows you and that he will be the guy that you end up with. He won’t be. He’ll find him someone else to love and care that much about and he’ll leave you alone to let you live your own life.

 

Those books that you’re keeping your nose in, keep on doing that. Reading keeps you out of being a normal teenager and being a normal teenager is overrated. Those parties and clubs don’t need you, but you already know that. I don’t have to tell you that. There will be times, though, that you will wonder what it’s like, but don’t wonder too far into those thoughts. Be happy with who you are and you are not someone to take part in those activities. I’m actually craving those moments of just being able to pick up a book any time I want to and lose myself in it. You may be yearning for more right now, but don’t. Not yet. You have a life right now that needs to be enjoyed at every second of every moment, because those moments will be over before you know it. Don’t keep your nose in the books so much that you let everything pass you by.

 

School work may seem so very important to you and it may seem like it will determine your future. It is important, but it will NOT determine your future. I know that you love to learn and that you have fun studying, but don’t let that determine how you’re going to spend your future. I know that you have a lot of pressure on you to get good grades and go to college. Take a deep breath and pray to God about all of your choices, when the time comes to make those choices. Listen to what everyone around you has to say and don’t ignore it. BUT don’t let them be the ones to make any decision for you. This is up to you and God will not lead you astray. Trust Him. Trust me. Trust YOU. Let those people around you know that you are trusting God and if you don’t go along with what the people around you want you to do, remind them to trust in God too. Remind them to trust you, as well. They need comfort and reassurance from you, because they care about your future just as much as you do. Remind them that you may not know what you’re doing, but God does and that you will follow God’s direction no matter who it may upset. It might hurt sometimes, making choices, but it will make you grow. Not only will it make you grow closer to God, but it will make you grow closer to yourself.

 Those teachers that you are learning from are more than just teachers. They are there for you to look to for advice and guidance. They will look after you, no matter what you’re going through. The school that you are going to will be like your second home. Make sure you thank all of your teachers and let them know how much you appreciate them. They help shape you, just like your family and friends. Don’t overlook them, just because they aren’t as close to you as everyone else. They still care.

 

Those dance classes won’t last forever. You may see dance always being in your future, and it will be. Just not in the same sense as it is now. Right now, my dancing is to the music I listen to while I clean up the house. I’m not going to give you the exact details, because you will find out soon enough. Don’t give up on those extra workouts for dance and don’t just brush off your senior solo! Work harder and you will be better.

 

You might be overwhelmed with everything right now. But God has got this. Let Him have it and do your part.

 

I know that you were probably hoping that I was going to tell you what’s going to happen in the future and what your life is going to be like. I’m not going to, because it’s important that you live in the present and take each day one day at a time. Don’t dwell on the past and don’t dwell on the future. Dwell on the present and make sure you dwell on God.

 

I love you and all that you are. I have the upmost faith in who you are to make the right choices and live your life as God intended you to. Keep on keeping on and don’t let anything keep you from doing what God has planned for you.

Love always,

 

Your Future Self

What do YOU smell like?

Do you have a certain body wash that you use? How about a certain shampoo? Or maybe a certain lotion, perfume or cologne? Do you wear deodorant? Do you chew gum or take a breath mint to make your breath smell better? We use those certain things, because we are self-conscious about the way that we smell and we don’t want to stink. Most of all, we don’t want other people to smell us and think that we stink.

 

When we think that we stink, we want to do something about it. We want to cover it up with some nice smelling perfume or body spray. When we feel that we stink, we want to take a shower or bath and use some nice body wash and shampoo. There are times when our breath stinks even after we’ve brushed our teeth so we put a breath mint or nice smelling gum in our mouths to freshen it up before we talk to other people. When we’ve sweated some and think that our arm pits stink, we hope that we remembered to put deodorant on, because otherwise we’d smell like nasty corn chips. Who wants to smell like that? Not me.

It’s disappointing and embarrassing to stink.

 

As Christians, it’s important for us to give off a good smell. A good fragrance. But I’m not talking about a bodily smell or a smell from a certain body wash, shampoo, or breath mint.

I’m talking about a SPIRITUAL smell. Our SPIRITUAL aroma is very important.

 

We need to smell like LOVE.

We need to smell like JOY.

We need to smell like PEACE.

We need to smell like PATIENCE.

We need to smell like KINDNESS.

We need to smell like GOODNESS.

We need to smell like FAITHFULNESS.

We need to smell like GENTLENESS.

We need to smell like SELF-CONTROL.

 

You’ve heard before that sometimes we are the only Jesus that some people may see, but you know, we are the only Jesus that some people may SMELL as well.

 

How can you smell like the Spirit?
If we focus on BATHING ourselves in the Spirit and spending time with the Spirit daily, then we will begin to smell like the Spirit.

 

Paul tells us in Corinthians chapter 2 verses 14 through 16:

“But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those being saved and by those perishing. To those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?”

 

God’s desire is for us to share the Gospel through our fragrance.

By smelling like the Spirit, getting rid of all of those stinky things in our lives, and sharing that good ole Spirit fragrance with those around us, we will be doing what God desires.

Think about those times you’ve smelled a strong perfume on a woman you see every Sunday at church or maybe a family member you don’t see very often. When you do see her, you may hug her or shake her hand. After you’ve hugged her or shook that person’s hand, whether you want it to or not, the smell of that strong perfume lingers on you.

 

Now, let’s use that example for when we share the Gospel. When we share God’s word and live our lives as God desires, filled strongly by the Spirit, whether the people around us like it or not, our attributes will eventually rub off on them. Just like the perfume rubbed off on you when you hugged that specific person.

 

What if our fragrance stinks as a Christian? Could that rub off on other people too?
Absolutely.
And it’s disappointing to God.
Just like when we get disappointed by our bodily stink, I could only imagine that God gets disappointed when we stink Spiritually.

 

We need to watch how we smell and give off the fragrance God has given us: the fragrance of the Spirit, in order to do as God desires.

So what do YOU smell like?












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What/Who is the Lord of My Life?

At church this morning, our pastor did a sermon on the Lord.

 

This sermon really got me thinking. Our pastor talked about how we don’t give Jesus His rightful title in our lives, sometimes. We put other things before Him. We let other things control us, when Jesus should be the one in control.

I know there are times when I put other things before Jesus and I let those things control me. Like my emotions, for example. When things don’t go my way or I don’t get what I want, I sometimes let my emotions control me and how I act. I don’t think about Jesus and how I SHOULD act. I just think about how I feel and how I WANT to act. That’s the biggest thing that I struggle with; I let my emotions control my actions.

 

Sometimes I think about some things in my past that hurt me and I let them control me. I let that hurt and pain that I felt in the past, control me. It makes me act ways that aren’t pleasing to God and it hurts others around me.

Giving those emotions control and giving that pain control, makes them the Lord of my life.

 

There are times when I let my children control everything that I do and the choices that I make. I let them CONTROL things that shouldn’t be theirs to control. When my kids aren’t in good moods (whining and screaming at the tops of their lungs), I let myself become in a bad mood, resulting in me not acting how I should as a mother. I let them control what mood I’m in and how I react to certain things.

I also let my husband control who I am, sometimes. This one is the hard one. Because I want to please him so much, it’s hard not to let him control who I am and how I am. It’s hard keeping myself separate from him and what he does, because I have given so much of myself to him and he has given so much of himself to me. We are so close together; we are one. Yes, it is not good to let your husband/wife/significant other control you, even if it makes you a better person. That’s not their place. Yes, there’s a difference between submission and just letting your significant other control you (another post for another day).

Giving my husband and my children the ability to control me, means that I'm giving them the authority to be my Lord.

 

If Jesus is the Lord of my life, He should be the one that I let control me and everything that I do. I should let Him have COMPLETE control over everything. My feelings, emotions, actions, relationships, and my life. When I let Him have complete control, I will begin to see the things that I am meant to do in this life, for Him. I will be able to see the work that I am supposed to do. If I give Jesus Christ complete control, He will become the LORD of my life. I will begin to act according to His plan and His word. I will be who I need to be for Jesus Christ. 

 

2 Corinthians 4:5 says, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”

 

Is Jesus the Lord in your life? Or is there something else that you’re calling Lord?

Happy Birthday to LIFE!

So my birthday is tomorrow. I was so close to forgetting about it this year!
When I used to think about my birthday, I always thought about just being one more year older. I remember when I was younger, I always wished I could be older. I enjoyed growing up. Until I started getting responsibilities and things started getting more complicated, then I wished I was a kid again. It’s funny how things switch up like that.

I remember many of my past birthdays when I was a kid. I had so many birthday parties and lots of fun! I enjoyed every birthday, because everyone that was special to me made me feel very special. I remember one particular birthday when I had Barbie cakes. It was my fifth birthday. I remember another birthday when I had a 50’s sock hop in my living room, that was my twelfth birthday. As I got older, my birthdays lost themes and just became “get togethers”, not parties. I started having just a few friends and family over and I didn’t expect anything out of them except maybe a hug.

I never really expected people to tell me happy birthday and it wasn’t important to me that they did. But when or if they did, it made me smile and feel good.

 

Since I’ve had children of my own, I’ve learned so much more about birthdays. On my babies’ birthdays, God was able to prove to me the miraculous strength that He is able to give me and just how amazing He really is by allowing me to birth them.

When I think about that, I think about how much I love celebrating THOSE days of birth, because they were so beautiful and miraculous. My children's lives came about on those days.

I never thought of my birthday like that, because I don’t remember when I was being birthed.

Seeing it through parents’ eyes now, though, I see why my parents celebrated so much and why those that were special to me celebrated. They weren’t just celebrating me, they were celebrating life and God’s miracles in general.

I feel like it's important for us to celebrate our birthdays, because we are God's children and we are special to Him and I feel like that He smiles down on us when we celebrate the life that He has given us.

So now when I look at my birthday, I see it as a time to celebrate my life and all the miracles that God has performed. Especially those miracles that God has performed using me.

Being alive is such a gift and I am thankful for it. I am thankful that God has given me the life that I have. Not only am I able to share my life with such remarkable people, but I’m able to live my life FOR HIM.

I’ve learned that it is important to celebrate life while you can, because it can be taken from you at any given moment.

For my birthday, I’d like for you all to just reflect on life in general and think about all of the things that God has shown you and done for you during your lifetime. Maybe write some things down about yourself that you don’t ever want to forget. Celebrate who you are, for me, because if you are reading this, then you are special to me. Thank you for being who you are.

God made you special and God made me special. Let’s celebrate that.