A Quick Update on My Simplex Life

Hey People!
{L. Here}

I have felt bad that none of us have posted recently. We are working on several longer posts right now but I didn't want to lose you all while we work, so I thought I would write something really quick to let you know we are still around.

Exciting news!!!!: I learned how to put text on pictures and upload them to the blog! I have been trying to do this forever so it is really exciting for me! I added them to Me of little faith, why do I doubt? and 7 Lessons from a Month of Crushing for practice as well as hopefully more effective pinning. So enjoy the new photos and feel free to pin away!

Question: Do any of you even remember my New Years Post? I shared about my sort of resolution and asked if you had made one. I said I would ask how you were doing on them in a few months so now that it has been five how are you doing? Personally I think I have been eating a little bit healthier or at least I have been more aware of what I eat. My sleep schedule has been getting worse though (I have slept in past 12pm twice in the past month!). I am going have to get up earlier on the weekends this summer so that might help.

I have grown in a lot of ways I didn't expect this spring though. I am getting better at talking to people and don't feel like no one likes me as often anymore. I've learned from a lot of mistakes and been so much more aware of God's daily grace!

Well, this was longer than expected. : /
Have an awesome summer!
-L

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

(John 1:16-17 ESV (bold added)

Author of My Life

Hi, (E. writing)

I want to start off with a bible verse. 

It's Romans 8:28 'And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.' (ESV)

I know, your thinking- wow, haven't heard that one before! -right?! But hold on! Think about that for a moment. ALL things, not just a few things, not just big things or little things, but ALL things work together for good. For Good. For those who love God. Notice it doesn't say 'For those who are completely perfect and love God', or 'For those who always obey and love God', it simply says 'For those who love God, and are called according to His purpose,' meaning anyone who has received Christ into their heart, as their Lord and savior. If you have given your life to him, then you are called according to his purpose.

Now just because it says -everything will work for good- doesn't mean that nothing bad will ever happen, and your life will be perfect, or that you won't be hurt, it just means that whatever happens, happens for a reason. If you seek God through it, he will always, without fail, turn it for good.

When bad things happen in my life, God always takes them and shows me a lesson to learn from them. Many times its a hard lesson that I honestly don't want to learn. Sometimes it's even something that I think I already knew. Recently He's been showing me just how far He will let me mess up, just to learn a lesson, and to remind me that no matter what I do He still loves me. Yes, there are always consequences for doing something I shouldn't have, but that is to be expected. In the end I'm always glad to know that I can still learn from mistakes and not repeat them.

Another important point is that God is in control. Completely and totally. Because of this we should always give him full control of our lives. (fyi: very very very hard to do)

An important reminder of how much He is really in control is this: He wrote the story. He is the author. I am a character. He wrote my story. I am a piece of art, subject only to how I am made. He knows what happens at the end. Every detail. He knows my likes and dislikes, what makes me happy and what makes me upset. He watched me grow up even as I rejected Him. He has never stopped loving me. Not for one second. He is with me even when I sin. And he has forgiven me for every sin hundreds of years before they even happen. And through all of this I ask myself daily: Why can't I be in control? 

I 

Am 

Not 

Without

Sin

And that is why Jesus laid down his own life for me. 

~E

  

7 Lessons from a Month of Crushing

Hey People!
{L. Here}So I have a crush right now that's different from any I have had before. Any other crush I have had has been painfully unrealistic and obviously harmful. Because crushing on the specific guy was always a problem for me I thought that was the only problem with my crushes. Now that I like a guy near my own age who really seems to love Jesus and want to be my friend I am realizing things about crushes in general. Here are a few things you might already know that I realized or was reminded of in the last four weeks:

1. I would rather have my crush care about me as a person and love me as the bible commands (“You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:14b ESV) than "like me back".

2. I put being around/thinking about my crush over thinking about/living for God all the time and that's making him an idol.

3. Just because I recognize that I have a crush on this guy doesn't mean that I will or should feel or act that way the next time I see him. 

4. Praying for your crush can be a good thing, but if anyone person dominates your prayer life they might be becoming an idol.

5. The fact that he is near my age, not considered a "bad boy" and technically available does not mean we are right for each other and nothing makes obsession okay.


6. (I learned this before but needed the reminder) Trying to avoid a guy completely to a point of being a little rude just because you like him is a bad idea! (In an effort to not give him to much attention I put energy into avoiding him out of fear. I still don't know what to do but I know one more thing not to do. : / )


Hope this helped someone (or at least gave you a good laugh) .Thanks for reading!
L.

Me of little faith, why do I doubt?

Immediately he[Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he  came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

(Matthew 14:22-33 ESV)

{Colors and size variation added for clarity and emphasis}

Okay, lets unpack this story: First Jesus lets the disciples go while he deals with the crowds. Pretty cool, right?

Then Jesus prays. Whaa? That is what confuses me about the trinity, but I guess He would miss His alone time with his Dad. (I am not going into all my thoughts on that right now. Maybe another post.)

Now the disciples are being tossed around in a boat which is far from land and beaten by the waves because the wind is against them. Oh, and then they think they are seeing a ghost coming towards them (I don't know about you but I would hope to have passed out by this point because that would be scary!!!!)

Then the "ghost" is Jesus. (Have you ever realized that the thing you were afraid would make things worse was really what God would use to save you? I have.)

And he tells them to take heart, it is him; they don't need to be afraid. (this is like the point in my fear and anxiety when I remember that God is bigger and stronger then my circumstances that He loves me and is here.

Check out Peter's next line.“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” It could be one (or both) of two things. Either this is a "Prove it" moment or Peter is stepping out in faith and trusting that it is safer with Jesus then in the boat. (I think is was a mixture)

In any case Jesus says "Come," So Peter walked to Jesus on the water. {He walked on water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!} I think this compares in my life to the times when I am so excited to be okay and don't even recognize the incredible means God used to get me there.

Next: Peter sees the wind. In a sermon this Sunday my pastor pointed out that you can't see wind, just its effects. Peter probably saw trees being bent or broken, and boats being rocked. (I see people leaving the Church, dying and hurting emotionally, My world being shaken.) Fearing what this could mean to us, we both started sinking and cried out to Jesus for help.

Here is my favorite part: Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”(Matthew 14:31 ESV)

Jesus immediately reached out to save Peter. Then He rebukes Him for his lack of faith. something almost identical happened to me about a week ago. I was doubting again. I cried out in my heart and God gave me faith though a simple reminder of answered prayer. It was like he gently said “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” He had it the whole time and I never had a reason to worry.
oh yeah and I almost forgot something else that is really cool: At the end  "those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”"

-L.

P.S. Here are a few more verses about faith: Matthew 6:30 Matthew 8:26  Matthew 16:8 Matthew 17:19-20

P.S. And here is a spoken word.