Thursday, December 6, 2007

Step-by-Step

Ahh... my days have been pretty busy lately... but I have nothing to complain about. I have lots of things to work on, though... like accomplishing things step-by-step instead of trying to jump ahead. It never works and it only makes me even more stressed out. I also need to figure this whole thing out about my music standards. I'm not sure if I made the right choice or not by deciding to not listen to secular music -- some of the songs have really good lyrics to them. Should I stop listening to contemporary Christian music? Is it okay to listen to Christian rock? Is it okay to listen to secular music if it has good lyrics? They are all questions that I've been asking myself lately. And then the whole "hurry sickness" thing -- it's been getting baad. I'm trying to slow my life down and I'm thinking of some things that I can maybe cut out of my life, but I can't really think of anything. Oh, and the whole being self-conscious thing? I find that I feel much better about myself when I'm connected with God. I haven't been feeling very connected with God lately, and as a result, I've been losing my true identity -- which lies in Christ. I was thinking today about how I learn everything the hard way. It really does seem like I do. I do think I'm getting better at it, though -- with God's strength -- but I still do learn things the hard way and learn the same lesson over again more than once. I guess it's all a part of growing and learning in Christ. I realize, though, that I need to keep trying and striving and yielding and surrendering and focusing. I need to keep on keeping on. I need to continue to live for God.

I think I found my problem. Not too long ago I felt like I was doing pretty good in my walk with Christ. Actually, I couldn't think of anything that I was doing wrong. Maybe you could say that I was even getting a little prideful. God humbled me and showed me through different people and through different things that I am not anywhere close to being perfect, that I am not anywhere close to being like Him, that I am not anywhere close to being "good" in my walk with Christ. He revealed to me that my walk with Him is a journey, with valleys and mountains, with hard and trying times and good and "high" times. Through my entire journey, God has been pruning me -- which is, at times, a very painful process. Though my journey isn't always easy, it is refreshing. It is worth it.

I was doing a World Religions lesson tonight [I'm trying to get caught up] and right now I'm learning about Hinduism. I was watching a video on the Hindus and their rituals and things and wow -- my heart just went out to them. They spend their entire lives doing all of these rituals for the "gods" and "goddesses" and try to stop reincarnation and reach Heaven... all of which is in vain. The only way to Heaven is through Jesus Christ. And the Hindus don't know Him. Watching the video and watching them perform all of their rituals and prayers and trying, trying, trying in vain to reach the "gods" -- and all of this time they are wasting their lives away. Little children are following in their parents' footsteps and doing the same thing. I got tears in my eyes watching it -- and I don't cry easily! It is so sad. I pray that God will open their eyes to Who He really is and that they will find the true way to God -- through Jesus Christ.

"Tears of the Saints" - Leeland

There are many prodigal sons
On our city streets they run
Searching for shelter
There are homes broken down
People’s hopes have fallen to the ground
From failures
This is an emergency!
There are tears from the saints
For the lost and unsaved
We’re crying for them "come back home"
We’re crying for them "come back home"
And all your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home
There are schools full of hatred
Even churches have forsaken
Love and mercy
May we see this generation
In its state of desperation
For Your glory
This is an emergency!
There are tears from the saints
For the lost and unsaved
We’re crying for them "come back home"
We’re crying for them "come back home"
And all your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home
Sinner, reach out your hands!
Children in Christ you stand!
Sinner, reach out your hands!
Children in Christ you stand!
There are tears from the saints
For the lost and unsaved
We’re crying for them "come back home"
We’re crying for them come back home
And all Your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home

"'I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.'"
-John 15:1-4

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Mollyyy. Woot! I can post comments! I was wanting to but I didn't think I could. Yeeaay.

Anyway, how's life? lol Oh, and I know what you mean about to whole secular music thing--I was actually going to post on Xanga about it a while back but I never did. Your post has prompted me to now, lol. So yeah.

Ooh noo, you left ECT?! We miss youuu, you were like the first one on that forum! lol

Yaay, I can post comments, woooo

Alyssa said...

I know what you mean about "perfectness" Sometimes when we think we're doing okay we're really not. I heard from a preacher awhile back that when we think we're doing okay and we don't see anything we're doing wrong that it's a sure sign there is something wrong. Keep posting! I always enjoy reading! God Bless!