When it comes to music...

...there are a lot of choices. Genres, artists, albums, songs.... And then there's the choice of whether you want to listen to music that is glorifying to God, or stuff that doesn't.
Personally, I'm fine with listening to music that doesn't glorify Him. As long as it doesn't have any cussing, or is suggestive, that is. I'm not saying that I don't listen to music that doesn't praise God; I do. Most of the time what I'm listening to is Christian music. But I don't think that it's wrong to listen to other stuff too. Why would it be? Of course, song is a great way to praise God, one of my favorites. Whether it's in a band or chorus, making up your own songs, or just singing along to music, it really brings you closer to Him.
Some of my favorite Christian bands/singers are Vicky Beeching and Laura Story. I highly recommend them. If you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear them. I'd also love to hear your opinions on whether or not you think it's wrong to listen to non-Christian music. So please leave a comment!

Churches: A need, a pleasure, or a nuisance?

Lately, I've been thinking about going back to church. And that got me started thinking about this; Is church something needed? I mean, do you absolutely have to go to church? Some people think so. I don't think it is, but that's just my opinion. If you want, you can convince yourself that it's mandatory, but truly, it isn't. Otherwise you would have to go when you were sick, out of town, etc. Just as long as you praise God, it doesn't really matter where. Below are some reasons why you absolutely have to go to church every (or nearly every) week.

1. Growing. It is very important to grow spiritually, and church is a great place to do it.
2. God's command. God has told you to go to church, and you're following it.
   

If someone said that it says in the Bible, ask them for proof. I've searched, and can't seem to find anywhere in the Bible that says we have to go to church. There are times it says talks about having fellowship, but that is different. Now here are some reasons why I think it is good to go to church.

1. Fellowship. It's good to know other people who believe the same (or nearly the same) thing as you do. It's both spiritually good and simply nice to talk to others about your beliefs. A bonus: You may become friends with these people.
   
2. Learning. From listening to you pastor/preacher/priest and others talk, you learn more about God and his workings and miracles, how to become a better Christian, and other spiritual things.
3. Encouragement. I think everybody needs some encouragement at times, because everyone has times when their relationship with God is not very good. It helps to hear the words of others encouraging you to go to Him, to rebuild what has crumbled.
4. Fun. Church can be fun, despite what some of you may think. It's fun to learn about Jesus and God, and others who are in the Bible. It's fun to hang out with other people who believe nearly the same things as you. And sometimes a church will put on things that are meant to be fun yet still teach about Him, things like camp; barbecues; even Trick-or-Treating!
   

These are only a few. Perhaps you can think up a few more reasons. Now here are reasons why church is a complete nuisance.

1. Time. Going to church takes time. Time you could be spending doing other things.
   
2. ...............

I truly can't think of any other reasons why it's a nuisance to go to church. And that one reason I have is pretty lame. Can you think up any others? If you can, please tell me in the comments.

So no, I think that no one has to go to church, yet most people should. Church may not be right for some. Others, it may be perfect for. It depends on who you are, but it is important that you have fellowship with others, and most people choose church.

Well, I think that is all for today. I hope I made enough sense that you could at least understand what I mean. Please freely express your thoughts, no matter what they are, in the comments. Thank you!
Jessica

Does God have a plan for me?

Almost everyone says 'I want to do such-and-such when I grow up.' Or 'I'm going to be a so-and-so when I grow up.' But how many people say, 'I'm going to be/do what God wants me to be/do when I grow up.'?

What is your answer when people ask what you want to be when you grow up? Mine is usually 'A writer.' I realize now that this is the wrong answer. The answer to what I truly want to be when I grow up is, 'I want to be like God.' Another correct answer: 'I want to be whatever God wants me to be.'

But how do we know what He has planned for us? Does he have a special plan for us? But we have the choice of what we want to do, don't we? You may be thinking right now. Well, yes, you do have the choice. Of course you can choose what you want to do with your life. You can always ignore God, and do what you want, because you want to, or you can listen to Him, and take the path He planned for you.

But sometimes we take God's path without knowing it. Maybe your parents didn't hear God telling them to marry each other, but it still happened right? It was still the Lord's plan. Maybe you're thinking, 'But wait, that doesn't make sense. Didn't you just say that I don't have to follow the course He planned for me?' Yes, I did. I also just said that they didn't do it on purpose. Do you read a lot of fiction? Some stories will have prophesies, or things like them.

'What?!? You're crazy, prophesies are just made up. They're not real.' Is probably what you're thinking now.

And my answer is; No, of course they're not real. But my point is that their future is all planned out for them. It's like that in real life, too, only God is the one doing the planning. Do you get my point now?
But how we know that God has a plan for us? We don't. It's just a feeling, just something some of us seem to know. I don't know how, and I don't think I ever will, but that is what faith is.

As for me, I plan on following the path He made for me, wherever it may lead. I have a feeling it is going to have something to do with writing, which is one of my strong points. And as for you, you have a choice on what to do. It's not my job to tell you what to do, and I can't really influence your choice. All I can do is hope and pray you will chose to follow the path He made, too.

Now, if you want to follow the path He laid out for you, here is what I have to say.

Sometimes the Lord shows you the path in very obvious ways. Other times it may just be a feeling that drives you. I felt He wanted me to share His love with the world, but at first I was not sure how. When I had this idea, I got a very strong feeling that it was something I should do. Sometimes God will call people into ministry, (preachers, missionaries, etc.) and other times he doesn't. Maybe he wants you to just live a 'regular' life, to raise a good family, have a job, and be a good Christian. Maybe he doesn't. You are the one who has to find out.

Believing vs. Living For God (Believing #2)

Please note: As you read this post, please remember that these are my thoughts and opinions on this topic. Yours may be very different then mine, and that's okay. Please don't get angry if you think something I am saying is blasphemy or just plain wrong. Instead, please express these thoughts/opinions in the comments; I would love to hear someone (and anyone!) else's opinion on this topic. Thank you!

This is a continuation of last week's post, Believing in God. In this post, we will discuss the differences between believing in the Father, and serving the Father. And there is a difference. So here it is.

Do you remember how Jesus died on the cross to save the world? Well, he died to save you. Yes he was saving the whole world, but you are part of the world, aren't you? And even so, I feel sure that he would have died for only you, too. Because He loves you, and always will love you. He'll always be there for you, and he always has, whether you realized it or not. He has blessed you so much, with so many things. How can you ever say enough thank-you's? You can't. But instead, you can serve Him.

Just because you believe in our Heavenly Father, does not mean that you love Him. The Devil also believes in the Lord. But believing is the first step. Because you can't serve God without believing in Him! (That would be really hard. LOL) Serving is the second step. If you love the Father, and feel like you aren't doing enough to thank Him, then you should do this.

Serving Him means that you love Him, and worship Him. It means that when He tells you to do something, you do it, no matter how impossible or unlikely it seems. It means that you pray to Him everyday, and that you read your Bible, to find out how you should act. It means trying to do what's right. Serving Him means that you tell others about His love. Pastors or priests serve him, as you know. But there are so many other ways. God has graced some people with the talent of singing or playing an instrument. Some people are blessed with writing talents, non-fiction and fiction alike. Some people aren't afraid to get up in front of people and give speeches about God's love. Others have sewing or designing talents that they use for good. Everyone serves Him differently, and His plans for everyone are different.

Believe it or not, only a few months ago I was doubting God too. I was beginning to think He wasn't real, even. Before that, I hadn't been much of a Christian, even though I had been raised as one from birth. I had never prayed,or read my Bible, and I wasn't really following God's word. A few simple events changed that. When I realized that God was real, and that he loved me, and forgave me, I also realized that I wanted to serve Him, and let Him lead me. I prayed to Him, and told Him so. I invited him into my heart and life. If something like this happens to you, and you decide you want to be a Christian, tell me. I would be overjoyed to hear it.

Thank you for reading this, and I hope you liked it. Please express your thoughts of it in the comments.

Jessica

Modesty in Clothes (Clothes #2)

This is a continuation of last week's post on clothes. Last week we covered why it doesn't matter what we wear, and this week we're talking about why it does matter what we wear. I know, it probably sounds like I'm contradicting myself, but I'm not. If you didn't read the title of the post, it's about modesty in clothes. Mostly, it's for girls, but if a boy wants to read it, of course they can! Anyway, here's the actual post.

In the eighteen hundreds and before, the clothes most people wore we more modest then what a lot of people are wearing now. Think about it: The skirts were a lot longer then they are now, even when a girl wasn't yet wearing the long skirts of a woman. When they were swimming, they didn't wear bikinis; they wore clothes. The pants were not labeled things like 'Low Rise' and 'Ultra Low'; they were just pants. The shirts girls wore weren't low-cut and revealing. The jeans weren't super-tight, they were loose fitting. And as far as I know, there was no such thing as a miniskirt.

Do you see where I'm going with this? Over the last few centuries, things have changed a lot. I know it's been a few hundred years, but if you really think about it, in all the time that the world has been here, it's not that long. I know that there are exceptions to what I said in the last paragraph, but my point is that most people were a lot more modest then, then they are now. Maybe you're thinking, 'Why is modesty such a big deal?'. Well, I'm about to tell you.

Part of modesty is about keeping one's self protected. Do you really want people staring at you like that? Another part of modesty is about true beauty. Because the clothes you are wearing are showy, it takes away attention from your face. Even more importantly, it takes it away from your inner beauty.

Now, I read a lot, and from what I have read, I have collected that a lot of guys like pretty girls. And girls want to be pretty, it's just the way we've grown up, it's what our culture is like. But maybe it's just the way we were made; vain. I don't know. But I do know that I don't like to see other girls wearing immodest clothes. It's not pretty; in fact, it can kind of be repulsive. I don't like to see it.

Earlier when Savannah and I were talking, she was saying that she doesn't think she's very modest. I think she is fine. Okay, maybe one or two of her skirts are too short for my taste, but really, she is a lot better at that kind of thing then most girls. When we were talking about this, she said that her mom doesn't like her wearing spaghetti strap shirts. I'm fine with them. In fact, I wear them all the time. But when it comes to skirts, I can't stand having anything shorter then just above my knee, unless there is a pair of shorts, leggings or pants underneath. You're probably wondering what I'm getting at with this. Well, my point is this: Everyone defines modesty differently, just as everyone has their own style.

The problem for most people, though, is that they ignore what they think is modest or immodest. I've been pondering modesty for a few weeks, when I came across it on another blog. Before, I hadn't really thought about it. In our culture, we're used to people wearing stuff like that. We don't really think about it. But when it does pop up in our mind, sometimes we try and make excuses, like 'It's not that bad, I've seen a lot worse', or 'Everyone else dresses like this'. Just because other people dress like that, it doesn't mean we should. In the Bible, it says this:

I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. -1Timothy 2:9-10

Concentrate on the part that says 'I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety.' And what the Bible says, goes. For everyone, no matter who they are, what age they are, whatever.

Well, I think that's all I have to say about this right now. Please tell me what you think of this post by leaving a comment. Thanks!

Jessica

Work is a part of life

Work
Let me but do my work from day to day, In field or forest, at the desk or loom,In roaring market-place or tranquil room; Let me but find it in my heart to say, When vagrant wishes beckon me astray, "This is my work; my blessing, not my doom;" Of all who live, I am the one by whom"This work can best be done in the right way."Then shall I see it not too great, nor small, To suit my spirit and to prove my powers; Then shall I cheerful greet the labouring hours ,And cheerful turn, when the long shadows fall, At eventide, to play and love and rest, Because I know for me my work is best. -Henry Van Dyke

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:"-Proverbs 6:6

Work is a part of life, those that think they can avoid it will fail. Americans hire migrant workers to do the more physical jobs that we are"above doing", such as cleaning the bathrooms, picking fruit and meat processing because no American wants to do it for low pay. We ship out thing to China, like toys, to be made for the same reason. The only "desirable" jobs are ones in offices that make $80,00 a year. I just recently found this out. I have always been lazy, I especially hated cleaning, I remember throwing a few fits when I was younger over cleaning. I learned to tolerate it, and them it hit me sometime this year, I like cleaning. I don't really know how I came to like cleaning, but I love to take a dirty room and make it shine. I am happier now that I realize this. Work is just part of life. No matter who you are, you are not too good for work. This is a problem with society, if nobody will be willing to to some physical labor, how are we to survive? Work does not have to be your favorite thing, I don't think that anyone would rather work than play if they had a choice. The Bible says that there is a time for work and a time for play, but society thinks that we need to have fun all the time. I suggest that you read this http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/11/kidults-part-3-ruining-our-lives-with-fun-2/.
My family was very busy last fall with our homeschool activities. Our only full-days home were Monday and Friday! After things slowed down, I forget what I was supposed to do at home, I was so bored! I had been having so much fun out I forgot how to be happy at home. I relearned how do spend down-time, but it was eye opening. Too much fun can make you unhappy.
Points of this:
1.BE happy in your work

2. God doesn't like laziness

3.America is not above work

4. Even if you hate work, you can learn to like it.

5. Work is a part of life, get used to it.

6. Don't ruin your life with fun, be happy at home.

Living on a hobby farm has been an eye-opener to me. I have became much more tough from it, I am not afraid to get dirt anymore. I have cleaned up a calf with scours, taken care of many animal wounds, raised mentally retarded kittens and grown accustom to gruesome things that would make most people throw up. Country life did not come easy for me, but I think it has been one of the best experiences of my life. When I am outside on a nice day, I think how much God has blessed me, even thought I didn't know it.