Being Okay With "Maybe"....

So many things currently dangle precociously close to the edge of a cliff. It all depends on "...", fill in the blank. It's uncomfortable.
I am one of those people who loves absolutes, I would rather live with a definitive "NO!" then a half-hearted 'maybe'. I hate that word. If I was being totally honest, probably my least favorite words in the whole dictionary are "maybe" and "possibly". But my life seems to be full of them.
The question is, do I trust God enough? Even with the "maybe"s?  My own mind taunts me with questions; "Will she keep her GPA up? Will it stay high enough for a scholarship? Can she even graduate? Will she be able to afford the school? " -and to each of these questions, the only reply I hear is; "MAYBE."  If I get caught thinking too long, my mind wanders to; "Will I be able to get a job out of college? Will I ever have a husband and kids? Will I be able to afford to live and pay off loans?"

To which, I have to stop and scream; "WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE?!?!"... yeah, it's bad when I get caught thinking too much.

But here's the thing. Why do I want to go to college-ultimately? Yes, a husband would be nice, a degree would be great-and living on my own would be so much fun right now!! But ultimately? The reason I want to go to school is so that I can honor and glorify God with every single step of my life. I believe that by getting a degree, I can use it to magnify God. I know that I am most satisfied and most happy, when I rest in the glory of God.

So if where I truly want to be, is wherever God puts me, then I *have* to learn to be okay with the "maybe"s, because that's where he has put me.
...
The only way to describe the way I feel is with a word picture.

This is a bus stop. What do you do at a bus stop? Obviously, you wait for a bus. Now imagine for a moment-that you started out at this bus stop with a group of friends 3 years ago. You all had on these funny looking gowns and hats, and you all were excited about having just graduated. Some of your friends are a little older, but most had the same looking gown as you. You knew some of your friends were going to go off on certain buses, and that you probably wouldn't see them again for a long time.
So together you all sit and wait for the different buses you've been looking for.... a few of your friends hop on the University bus, some hop on the 'relationship' bus, still, some of your older friends even wind up having kids, getting a diploma, or getting a big shiny rock on their left hand. ....and still you wait. Your bus has not come yet. A whole year passes, and all your university friends have left...... the second year passes, and some friends take the bus that has other friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, or in-state schools, we all know that bus; "The Busy Bus", these friends may live near the bus stop, but their buses route schedule never allows time for them to come sit with you.
Finally, it's the 3rd year. Hear you sit, your graduation cap and gown are looking a little sadder now, and the bus stop is looking quite empty. You thought your bus was going to come last year... but there were some complications, and your bus got delayed. You've done your best to smile and wave at the people leaving, but it seems as though the loneliness and anxiousness continues to build. There are a few stragglers left behind, and for that you are thankful, you get to talk to them every once in a while. The encouragement they give you to 'keep waving, keep waiting, some day your bus will come!' is helpful, but the mantra is starting to get old..........

But then, another bus rounds the corner, it looks like the front of your bus!!! Could it be??? ...

To which the answer is a very loud " MAYBE!!! ".


Discouraged and hopeful. How do those two things fit together?? I don't completely understand it, but it's reality. When you start to think that maybe it IS the bus you've been waiting for, what if it's not what you were expecting? What happens while your on the bus, and what happens when I have to get off??
This is the picture that has been running through my mind.

The question is, do I trust God, even with the maybe's? The sad truth is-no, I don't... I need supernatural help! My faith is being stretched, and I'm learning to trust. I like it better when the answer is either a "yes" or a "no". I can live with that! I'm learning to enjoy resting in the 'possibles' and enjoying the time at the 'bus station'. Sure, not a whole lot of people are there with me, but that's okay, I can wave as other cars go by, I can sing, I can stop and look at the stars. I won't be able to look at the stars when my bus comes. I can enjoy the smell of the rain, and the alone time I have. -Those things won't be there when the bus comes.
(Think family time, alone time, quiet time with God,my own room.... I know, the way I think is weird!)

Trust is a hard thing, but I know in the long run, it's better...I'm learning to be okay with the answer "maybe", it's infinitely more biblical:

~James 4:15~ "Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."'

Saved-Without Facebook??

Would people know I was saved without my Facebook page? 

It's a question that has been rattling around in my mind for the past few days. Yes, I believe the Lord can use Facebook as a medium for conversations and discussions about the gospel--and that's my hope in having one...

Let's be honest, I also have friends who live far away (such as my cousins in Colorado, a friend who was in Africa for a while, my MK friend who was in Slovokia for a while, etc.) who want to know about how my life is going, and sometimes Skyping just doesn't work itself out, and Facebook allows people to catch up with me.

BUT, my question is this: yes, while I share the gospel on my Facebook page, do I share it in my life? If I took away my Facebook page, would people know I still love gays and lesbians (even though I disagree with their lifestyle?).

See one of the things I keep seeing is this debate of gay marriage. I'm watching as some believers are fighting for the "equal rights" of gays and lesbians, then declaring that if you don't, that you're judging as a Christian-which Christ calls us "not to do". (Which isn't 100% true.. but that's a different topic).

I'm very saddened that this topic has come up during Passion Week. My friends no longer are focused on the cross and what Christ did for them. They're no longer concerned with sharing that beautifully good news. Instead all I see are arguments.

So you want to talk about gay marriage? Let's talk about it:

Gays are sinners. Gays without Christ are going to hell. Gays need the precious blood of Jesus to cleanse them from their sin. Once that has happened, God will deal with Gays' sins on His own timetable - that's what sanctification is for.

Now let's change that to YOU. Every word of that is true of YOU:
YOU are a sinner. YOU without Christ are going to hell. YOU need the precious blood of Jesus to cleanse YOU from YOUR sin. Once that has happened, God will deal with YOUR sin on His own timetable - that's what sanctification is for.

Now let's talk about ME:
I am a sinner. Without Christ, I am going to hell. I need the precious blood of Jesus to cleans ME from MY sin. Once that has happened, God will deal with MY sin on his own timetable - that's what sanctification is for.

Galatians 3:22 "the Scriptures declare that we are ALL prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ."

There. The topic has been covered. Now go and share the gospel with your gay friends. OFF OF FACEBOOK.

See that's my question, would my gay friends know my stance on gay marriage and my love for them if I didn't have a Facebook?  My prayer is that those who know me -whether they're gay, straight, people addicted to porn, or those who are high or drunk - know Christ in me; that they know the love of Christ and see his work in my life - even if I turned my Facebook off.

Do people know I'm a believer by the way I treat my family? Do they know I'm a believer when I sit at the lunch table at school and don't cave into the temptation to laugh at dirty jokes? What about what I wear? Does that make me look like a believer? How about when I'm driving in traffic - am I compliant with traffic rules, and kind to those who need a spot in front of me, or do I fight for my own way? When I talk about politics, do I get angry and hostile-or do I share the truth of the gospel with love in my conversation of politics? When someone starts a topic of discussion, am I able to give them the verse they're thinking of without my phone to Google it? For me, that last on is a killer. See, I myself am dealing with current sins in my own life, and I think that next week starting April 1st, I will be turning off my cellphone and my Facebook. I'm going to replace the time that I spend on Facebook typing about the love of Jesus, and instead I'm going to experience it for myself AND share with others face to face. That takes a lot more guts to do than sit behind a screen typing Bible verses. Again, would I even know the Bible verses without Google? Is God's word "hidden in my heart" or is it "found in my "About Me"  page on Facebook???

Please understand, I'm not saying Facebook is evil and everyone should get off of it--by all means NO! I have used Facebook to share the Gospel with several of my non-believing friends, and share the love of Christ with my believing friends. Facebook can be GREAT. It's an awesome supplement to what I do in my personal life anyway. My question for myself is, am I able to do those things WITHOUT social media? WITHOUT a screen in front of my face? I believe that with Christ I can. I have chosen not to--because it's easier on Facebook.

If you feel like joining me in this challenge, feel free to leave a comment below! If not, just pray for me as I seek to know Christ and make him known in this coming week.

I pray that your Easter is filled with the awesome knowledge of Christ!
Lanelle

A Post From Ryan Y.

durp! oh how i tresure the word. i misspell the previous words......... ok whatever i am just really messed up so romeo romeo ho why do i lowercase this dust the feel stupid or not may the squiggled line be ritten on how i am epicly.........a bird can fly so dose time when your having fun but in sicence it drops dead in the sky mannnnnnnnnnnnnn i am so tierd are u
hmmm......... anyway im writing this and my poems suck so traaaalala is see a saw am i the one who ate a pecan the shape of the sun1 this is the end so just send............. some READING MATERIAL!

                                            The

                                    End.....for now :) in insane!!!!!!!

What is Beauty?

A friend of mine and I have been having a discussion on beauty. A lot of times, people wonder why I don't say "aw I'm not pretty", and things like that. But most of you readers know, that considering myself "beautiful" is something that took me a very long time to understand. It's something I have struggled with all my life.

Well, my friend and I, during our conversation, got to talking--and I asked her to create a "bible lesson" of sorts, on Biblical beauty. I am including some of what she wrote here, as well as some extra thought I had! Her stuff will be in pink, and mine will be in purple! :)

The Greek Definition of Beauty is a characteristic of a person, animal, place, object, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure or satisfaction.

I have found that this definition counteracts what the Bible has to say about beauty. The Bible says in Song of Solomon 4:7 "You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you."
Most people know the "world's" definition of beauty, yet forget what the one who created us says about beauty. It's so easy to believe the lies this world tells us.. (What is necessary to be beautiful, what we need to look and act like, etc.) See, the difference between worldly beauty and biblical beauty--is that God's definition will never change. Unlike the fashion of today's world, where skinny jeans are in one week, and silly bands are a "no-no" the next, God looks at us and sees beauty non-stop. In fact, he does get "pleasure" and "satisfaction" like the Greek definition--just not over the same things. For the world, it's whatever's "in" that week--be it blonde hair on Monday, and curly black hair on Tuesday, but for God it's the same always. God says "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” -Rom. 10:15. My personal favorite-- 1 Peter 3: 3&4  says: 
 "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight"

God also tells us that he makes everything beautiful in it's time. (Ecc 3:11), and he tells us that the beauty of the world is fleeting--but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (Proverbs 31:30).
If we are in Christ, we should believe what the Bible says about our beauty. I mean, for goodness sakes, we were made in the image of the Beholder. Beautiful, flawless, perfect. This does not mean we are perfect, no, not at all--but rather that Christ sees us as perfect because our sins have been washed away, we are seen as perfect because of Jesus' work on the cross. If the creator of the whole world thinks that we are beautiful, why should it matter what anyone else thinks, right? We live in a sin cursed world, full of temptation and lies that Satan loves to make us fall into and believe. Let's be honest, we have all at some point in time, believed the lies that we have heard before. That's why we need a savior!! To set us free from those lies!

It's so hard not to believe what the world tells us. We live in this world, but please don't be fooled. This is not our home, and this is not where we belong! God created beauty, yes, but this sin cursed world has turned it into something it was never meant to be! Men are supposed to respect women, not treat them like some object they just won at an auction. Once they get sick of it, they just get rid of it. Rather, men are to love their women like Christ loved the church. Men should be willing to give up their lives for their wives. Unfortunately, this is not the way it always works. As women, we need to submit first to God, and believe what he says about beauty--and believe it when Christ tells us we're worth dying for! Then, when the right guy comes along, we need to be willing to submit to him. Just as the church is supposed to submit to God. Women are not meant to flaunt the beauty God gave them just to make men fall into sin.  When we flaunt it with the intention of making men fall, we are actually begging men to take their eyes of Christ, and instead worship us. "A woman's hear should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to come to know Christ before he comes to know her." -Maya Angelou When both men and women are focused on serving Christ, the relationships between the two of them is a beautiful picture of what Christ is to the church. We shouldn't walk around in turtlenecks, that's not what we're saying here--rather, women need to be more concerned with Christ--and allowing THAT to make them beautiful--not the coolest necklace.

To summarize all of this, yes there will be times that we believe the lies of this world. But in Christ, we don't have to-because he's freed us from the lies! In Christ we are already made beautiful in HIs eyes. He is the one who created us, and who we will be spending eternity with-- his opinion is the only one that really matters any ways!!

"More Than Enough"

Many times I have been told of the dangers of 'just singing a song'. Unfortunately, too many times, I do just 'sing a song'. One of those songs has been running in my head recently, maybe you know it, it goes like this:

"All of You, is more than enough for
All of me, for every thirst and
Every need, you satisfy me
With Your love, and all I have in You
Is more than enough"

How many times, have I sung this song, and the reality of it never hit? Pause for a minute with me, and meditate on those words... "More than enough"

I think the only times I've used those words, is after a huge thanksgiving meal, and someone offers me more pie; "No thank you, I have had more than enough!!"

Or maybe when a teacher gives out extra credit... "More homework? No thanks, I've done more than enough."

But in regards to Christ? I don't think I ever have used that terminology. Is the concept scriptural? Yeah, definitely. Paul talks about it: "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ"  (Philippians 3:8) 

More than enough

Many of you know that I am seeking to go to Liberty University in the Spring of 2014. You know of my struggle financially, and wondering if this indeed is what the Lord wants. You know of my struggle of wondering; "Is this what God wants, or what I want?"
Many of you know I wonder all the time about things like, if I'll ever get married, what my grades will be in a semester, and what in the world I'll do for a living if the path I'm headed down doesn't 'work out'. 

I think I have found the answer to the questions I ask, and it seems like a strange answer: "God is more than enough." I know in my head, that the goal of my life is to: "Preach Christ, die, be forgotten." and that my purpose in life is to:
1. Become more like Christ
2. Make disciples
Everything and anything I do, should revolve around those two things. But there's a character trait that should go along with the head knowledge that I have, that I think I haven't quite achieved yet---contentment.

I'm not trying to say that I'm unsatisfied with what the Lord has given me--except, that's exactly what I'm saying. The Lord has blessed me in uncountable, unmeasurable, infinite ways,and yet, I'm constently looking to other things, and yelling while I shake my fist: "This isn't enough God!! I want____ too!" (fill in the blank with any good desire.)
See, wanting to go to a good school, be financially comfortable, get married, have kids--- all those things aren't bad... but if God says no to them, am I able to say: "No thanks, God is more than enough for me"?

If I can't? Then I'm afraid the things that I desire, have become more important than Christ... and they are now an idol in my life, and I need to get rid of them. 

So my prayer is that I would learn that Christ is more than enough. That even if I can't afford the school I want, even if I end up homeless, jailed, or ridiculed for my faith in Jesus, that I can say: "Oh man, Jesus is more than enough for me. I am completely satisfied with him, I need nothing, for God has provided for all my needs with his love." --and if you think of me? Join me in praying for that!