That Little Red Square

What did you do today?

I've been haunted by that question for the past week.  Lately, I've been feeling like my days are so busy that they just fly by...but it seems like I'm not getting near as much done as some people I know.  So about a week ago, I asked myself, "What did you do today?"

My answer was something like this: I went to class.  I did some homework.  I studied.  I watched Flashpoint on Netflix.  And I spent a little bit too much time clicking that little red square known as a Facebook notification.

I'll be the first to admit to how lame that is.  Seriously?  I did homework, watched TV, and played around on Facebook?  I'm not in high school anymore.  There's nothing wrong with taking it easy sometimes, and it's certainly true that I have more classes on some days than others, so those days go by much more quickly.  However, as I continued to assess how I was consistently spending my days, I became pretty disappointed.  I could be spending my time in much better ways.

Here is the conclusion I've come to.  If I call myself a Christ-follower, I'd better be spending my time following Him- and honestly, I doubt that that involves very much time spent on Facebook obsessing over who likes my status.  If I call myself a musician, I should spend more time cultivating my art.  If I call myself a writer, you guys should probably be seeing my posts pop up in your feed more often, and I should spend more time reading and drawing inspiration from other writers.  If I call myself a student, I should be more diligent in my studies.  If I'm majoring in journalism, I should spend more time reading/watching the news.  The list goes on, but I think you get my point.  I don't just get to be whatever I say I am- I have to work at it.  It wasn't until I realized exactly how much time I've been spending watching television and surfing social networking sites that it hit me that I could have done so much more with my life by now.

So I'm turning around tonight.  Don't worry, I'm not going to go crazy and shut down my Facebook and Twitter and never watch TV again...but I believe in self-control.  Facebook is a great tool for communicating, and I even use it for school sometimes- so I will definitely still use it, but sparingly.  Twitter is fun, but I'm going to be thinking a lot more about what I tweet and how often I check my feed.  I'm definitely not going to keep Netflix open in the next tab like I often do (I'm so embarrassed).  I am so excited about how God is going to use me once I'm not a slave to these things and I'm free to just follow where He leads me.

I know that everyone is at different places in their lives, and I'm not going to stand on a soapbox and tell you to do the same as me.  However, I do know that Christians are called to drop everything and follow Christ.  Right now, for me, that means dropping those things that I've been wasting my time on.  It could mean something completely different for you.  What is God calling you to drop in order to follow Him more closely?

-Sammie

"Then Jesus said to his followers, 'If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing even to give up their lives to follow me.'"

Matthew 16:24 (NCV)

New Beginnings

Today was my second day as a sophomore in college.

Since I took classes over the summer, I almost forgot that this first week of fall semester is supposed to be a rush of excitement and fresh beginnings. But as I fought my way through the plethora of students at club rush, I couldn't help thinking about the fact that this semester is brand new, and it can be different than all of those that came before it.

So I'm pretty excited.  During my freshman year, I was hesitant to branch out because I was so inexperienced in college life.  But now that I have a year of college under my belt, I'm ready to try new things, meet new people, and be used by God for whatever He has in store.

This is the first semester that I will be juggling classes, the school newspaper, and a job, so I doubt I will have much time to blog.  However, I'm so excited about what God is going to teach me that I'm sure I will be writing about it from time to time.  In the mean time, I hope all of you  have a great fall, and look for ways to bring glory to God in every situation.  That's my goal!

-Sammie-

Standing Up

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

-1 Corinthians 10:13-

Temptation doesn't always feel like a bad thing.  Actually, it often feels really good- duh, that's why it's tempting!  I think a lot of girls especially struggle with wanting to be around someone who gives them attention, no matter how bad that person could be for them.  Attention feels really good, and a charming smile can be as hard to resist for a young woman as a piece of candy is for a kid.  So, what on earth are we supposed to do when faced with temptation like this?

Step 1: Admit you have a problem.

No, seriously.  I know it feels good.  I know his smile is really nice and he told you you looked pretty and this feels like the first time that someone has really liked you in a long time, or maybe ever.  I know you can think of a thousand reasons why he's great for you.  But if you know that it wouldn't be pleasing God for you to be with this guy, then you have a problem.  Admit it.  

Step 2: Pray.

Am I being really cliche in this post?  Well, I don't apologize.  Do not expect to be able to resist temptation with your own strength- most of the time, it's simply not going to happen.  Even if you could do it by yourself, what is the point in exhausting yourself that way?  God is the one who will provide a way out (as the verse at the beginning of this post promises), so He will also show you the way out.  Pray.  It's going to be hard, but the Lord is your strength.  Pray.  Pray.

Step 3: Trust and Obey.

When I was younger, my mom used to tell me this a lot.  I even wrote it in a really cool font one day on my sketch pad (when I was going through my "yeah I'm totally gonna be an artist one day" phase) and tacked it on my bedroom door.  One day (after a certain incident when I hadn't trusted and obeyed her at all), she sat me down and explained how important it was for me to trust her and my dad, and to obey them even when I didn't understand.  As I've grown up, I've realized how important it is to do the same in my relationship with God.  Trust and Obey.  I'm not always going to understand.  I'm not always going to want to trust that that guy isn't good for me- because let's face it, he knows all the right things to say.  Trust God and obey what you know He's telling you.  You will not regret it.


All of these steps have to be continuous.  Don't stop praying just because you think you've prayed enough- because you haven't.  Draw your strength from God and find your joy and worth in your walk with Him.  Don't stop trusting just because it doesn't always feel good.  And notice what I didn't say in this post- I didn't say that the temptation will go away.  Most of the time, it won't, but we are given the strength to turn it away through the Holy Spirit.  Turning down temptation is one of the hardest things we have to do in this life, but Christ did it Himself and He will bring you through it.  I am a living testimony of that fact, and I'm writing these words just as much to myself as to anyone else.  But let me tell you this much: there are few things cooler than the power that God gives us through the Holy Spirit.  We who have accepted the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ have also accepted the Holy Spirit, which gives us everything we need to resist temptation.

So there you go- admit you're being tempted, and that whatever is tempting you is not so great as it looks.  Pray and draw your strength from God.  Finally, trust and obey Him no matter what.  You won't be sorry.  I'm not.

The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.

-Exodus 15:2-