Philippians 3:13-14

 

"Forgetting those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 3:13-14

    Have you ever been so ashamed of something you did that you wanted to forget the whole thing? Or so ashamed of your entire past that you wish you could get amnesia?
    It's a proven fact: human beings make mistakes. Often. Probably every day. And sometimes we make mistakes so big that it hurts to remember. Some people--including me--actually wince when we're reminded of stupid things we've done. We wish we could forget, but often there's something inside of us always bringing it up again, haunting us like a ghost.
    Good news, people: God doesn't want us to be tortured like that. He wants us to let Him forgive us, repent from doing the sin, and move on happily. When you confess a sin to God, He forgives you completely. He doesn't even think about it anymore. So there's no reason we should either.
    It's just a really liberating thing, knowing that once we're forgiven, we don't have to be haunted like that anymore. Don't you agree?

Galatians 1:3

"Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,"

Galatians 1:3

    This awesome blessing is one that Paul uses in a lot of his epistles--but it doesn't make it any less valuable. It's a wonderful greeting that bestows perfect peace and forgiveness. Who wouldn't want that? :)
    I hope you have grace and peace throughout this week! :D

The Power Of Unity

    I was reading the Bible earlier today and came across the story about the tower of Babel. While reading it, something really caught my attention.
    When the people were just beginning to build the tower, God watched them and said something intriguing.

"And the LORD said, 'Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do with be withheld from them.'" (Genesis 11:6   NKJ)



    He said that since the people united and worked together as a group, they were practically unstoppable. Nothing thrown at them could keep them from accomplishing their goal--except, of course, God's intervention.

    There's serious power in unity. Amazing things can be done if people would work together.

    If writers team up and write/critique together, the end product is considerably better than what would be if someone was working alone. If two friends work together on a project and they get along, the project will be more detailed and better done. If two business partners work well together, they can create a truly great company.

    So who can you unite with? What could you accomplish? :)

Showing State Of Mind

 

 

"Be sure not to discuss your hero's state of mind. Make it clear from his actions."

~Anton Chekov

    This quote is really cool. Personally, I love it when an author shows in their writing rather than telling. Especially when it comes to describing feelings. Showing creates a picture in one's mind while reading, like a movie in your head. It really helps transport you as a reader and even as a writer into the story.
    Do you know any novels that are really good with this? :)

Isaiah 65:17

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind."

Isaiah 65:17 (NKJ)

    This verse speaks of eternity, when God remakes the world. It's so comforting. To know that eventually, in the end, we'll live with God in a literally perfect world and that we won't even think about the bad stuff that happened here.
    Think about it: living in a wonderful place, never remembering all the mistakes we made, all the bad things that happened, all the tragedies we faced here. None of that will come to mind. We'll never feel guilt or shame or embarrassment or fear. We'll never cringe or cry or groan again. Everything will always be okay.
    Actually, scratch that. Everything will be totally awesome! :)

Wow--Time Runs Quickly

    Hello, blogging world!
    Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Time has been so scarce with homework and stuff . . .
    Haven't you ever noticed how time seems so limited when you've got stuff to do, but when you don't have much to do, it's plenteous? How when you've got a major school project to do, you end up with having about five minutes to write or talk with friends, but when on a day you have no homework you just don't have the spark to write or do something else that's important?
    Weird, huh?
    Sometimes, though, I ask God to lengthen the day--and the day actually seems to last longer! I get all the stuff on the checklist done and sometimes have some free time.
    Have you ever tried that? :)

Isaiah 41:13

"For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'"

Isaiah 41:13

    Have you ever been so scared that you just wanted to hold onto someone, hold their hand? Ever imagined that someone would be God?
    It's amazing, simply wonderful that God would be willing to hold our hands. To tell us, "don't be scared. I got this." It's a promise that everything really will be okay.
    A monumental comfort. Don't you agree?