In these past few months of spring, I have been blessed with the opportunity to finally begin to rediscover the art of being communally involved/maturing again. Over the past four years, I have been very active in serving those available to me, but after having my passions/heart crushed last fall, I crawled under a rock, and never wanted to come back out. The months of being uninvolved and self- focused were torture, I found that everything in my life began to suffer... my focus, my studies, my faith, my relationships... all my bitterness toward those who had hurt me, bled into a self-focused, unhappy, unfulfilled, monster! Lol! Sure, that may all sound funny, but there is a truth behind those words. Because I allowed my heart, passions, character, faith, and being to be compromised, because of someone else's selfish choices, I became one of them too. :/
On an especially low day, I read a quote on Facebook that began to trickle light of hope and perspective back into my heart. It said, "When you feel like your life is falling apart, go out and serve someone who's life really is." Suddenly I began to think of Haiti, and all the people I had met there. I saw the children, their horrible everyday reality seeping through the pores of my blind mind... my supposed reality was truly theirs, and yet I was the one hiding?... I was the one pouting??... I was the one believing my life was over? How selfish of me, how cruel!
From that moment on, I began to search for ways that I could re-enter service to my community, but this time, I was going for a different approach. I wanted to serve the hurting, the scared, the lonely, and the lost. I wanted to seek out those who had been forgotten, because I now knew what it felt like to feel like you are facing life's brutality alone. I wanted to find these people, hold them in my arms, and tell them, "You are not alone. You never have been, you never will be, and I want to show you why, because I love you." You see, these broken people were not always broken. For all we know, maybe they too had their own selfish antagonist... maybe they too forgot what it was like to be loved. Through my experience, I truly believe, that no matter how many humans "love" you, you will never have known what love is, until you have met and walked with Christ. His love is so vast, so complex, and so unconditional, that there truly is no earthly word to describe its power, and the way it sweeps over an aching soul, who no longer feels worthy of the air it breathes. Someone beat spiritually, and emotionally, to a pulp.... someone who's face has been rubbed with dirt... someone who knows the full force of hate, and its results... someone treated like a 'something'. There is no feeling like it in the world, but all I can imagine is myself, at the bottom of a giant dirt pit, bleeding and grimy from the scum that has been thrown my way. My shoulders are hunched, I'm on my knees, and my entire body quakes with fear and disgust... Suddenly, a light appears at the opening to my pit. A hand is extended, and a kind voice says to me; "Come and hurt no more, for you are beautifully, and wonderfully made. You are my child, a princess among thieves, and the pain you have endured for my name has not gone forgotten. Come, let me heal your wounds, wash your tears, and make you new. Come, let me love you." No matter my situation, that is the image I see, and I wonder how I could be worthy of a love like that, when I am so filthy, and forgotten. I praise the God who loved me enough to die for me, and who lives on to become my everlasting Father. I am a humbled princess at His feet, after the internship of life has broken me.
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Monday, April 2, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Boys will be Boys... So What should You Avoid?
Hey girls!
As many of you know, girls can be vicious, at times. Many are wonderful, as long as you are on their side, and some are genuinely sweet. If you are like me, you may have morphed over to hanging out with 'the guys' more often than, 'the girls'. Lol!! Well, if you have, I feel your pain, and I understand why you might think that, by hanging out with guys, you will get the best of mostly everything! Sadly, I had to learn my lesson the hard way. So here is my article to you, my fellow young women, on how to keep your actions in check for God, your friends, and yourself. :)
For years now, I have been one of 'the guys'... in theory, that is. About 75% of my friends are male, and for a long time, I thought I was living the life. Coming from an area of competitive, backstabbing, girls, I felt that, by hanging out with guys who would never be my competition (and don't seem to be interested in cat fights) I would be 'playing it safe' for myself, and my happiness. There were so many pluses to hanging out with 'the guys'! I could wear sweats/bball shoes, play catch, or a game of three on three, and most importantly, there was NO CHICK DRAMA WHAT-SO-EVER!!! :D For a long time, I thought I was in heaven. Going to the movies with four guys, versus one = SCORE for my ego!!... Having close friends, of the opposite gender, to discuss relationships with = SCORE for my ability to understand guys better... and finally; Being able to feel accepted, and safe, with a group of people I truly felt good with = a boost to my happiness. :) Through it all, a few warning flags went up, whether it be in discussions, or change in attitudes, but I ignored them, hoping to keep what I had going for awhile. Sadly, I finally discovered why male/female friendships can be SO complicated if you're not careful, or you let your guard down.....
Of the four, or five, different times I have tried the whole 'one of the guys' things, my predicament in the end has persisted. Eventually, somewhere along the way, a conversation is going to be hindered by your presence, an activity cancelled because they want to keep it literally just 'the guys', or a friendship will begin to develop into something else... for one of you. Although the first two items on that problem list can make you feel bummed, like you are holding those friends back, the final item can literally ruin your friendship with the whole group. Eventually, either you, or one of your guy 'friends', is going to start seeing someone in a different light... the crush light. :/ When that happens, it's down hill from there, unless you are both on the same page. Sadly, because you joined the group to be a friend, that doesn't always mean you were accepted for that purpose. The reality of it is, girls were never meant to be 'one of the guys'. :( If you are like me, and you hoped that would not be the case for you, hope again, because it does not change based on the person. No matter what, we were created to be attracted to the opposite sex, and if you mix those genders on a 1:5 ratio (or anything where you are outnumbered, and it's not a GROUP of evenly proportioned friends) things WILL end badly. You may have a few weeks of un-awkward down time with 'the guys', but you, as a young woman, are testing yourself, and those around you. Bottom line, guys are great, and they can be amazing friends, but we cannot allow ourselves to enter an outnumbered group of 'friends'. For our sake, and for the sake of those we encounter, we must display choices that follow after our faith. We, as young women of Christ, should never enter a situation that we secretly know will either tempt us, or the people with us. Now, I am not saying that, by entering an 'evenly proportioned' group, things will change. NOT AT ALL!! Ha, ha! Again, we are human, and we were designed to be attracted to the opposite sex, but by entering an evenly proportioned situation, your image as a young woman is not as hampered, your temptation is not as great, and your safety, and ability to blend with everyone, increases with 'non-coupled' events.
As far as girl drama goes, high school does not last forever, and eventually you can get out into a MUCH bigger world, to find some true, humble, Christian, young women to surround yourself with. Until then, devote your time to your church, or community. Find ways to get yourself out of tempting, or dangerous, situations. When you are hurting, or scared, find someone who is feeling even worse than you, and serve them. In this, you will make your Heavenly Father smile, and put your soul to rest. :) Imagine each young man you come in contact with, as someone's husband someday. May your behavior mirror what you would prefer the young women, in your future husband's life, to behave like.
Press on, ladies!
Clay
As many of you know, girls can be vicious, at times. Many are wonderful, as long as you are on their side, and some are genuinely sweet. If you are like me, you may have morphed over to hanging out with 'the guys' more often than, 'the girls'. Lol!! Well, if you have, I feel your pain, and I understand why you might think that, by hanging out with guys, you will get the best of mostly everything! Sadly, I had to learn my lesson the hard way. So here is my article to you, my fellow young women, on how to keep your actions in check for God, your friends, and yourself. :)
For years now, I have been one of 'the guys'... in theory, that is. About 75% of my friends are male, and for a long time, I thought I was living the life. Coming from an area of competitive, backstabbing, girls, I felt that, by hanging out with guys who would never be my competition (and don't seem to be interested in cat fights) I would be 'playing it safe' for myself, and my happiness. There were so many pluses to hanging out with 'the guys'! I could wear sweats/bball shoes, play catch, or a game of three on three, and most importantly, there was NO CHICK DRAMA WHAT-SO-EVER!!! :D For a long time, I thought I was in heaven. Going to the movies with four guys, versus one = SCORE for my ego!!... Having close friends, of the opposite gender, to discuss relationships with = SCORE for my ability to understand guys better... and finally; Being able to feel accepted, and safe, with a group of people I truly felt good with = a boost to my happiness. :) Through it all, a few warning flags went up, whether it be in discussions, or change in attitudes, but I ignored them, hoping to keep what I had going for awhile. Sadly, I finally discovered why male/female friendships can be SO complicated if you're not careful, or you let your guard down.....
Of the four, or five, different times I have tried the whole 'one of the guys' things, my predicament in the end has persisted. Eventually, somewhere along the way, a conversation is going to be hindered by your presence, an activity cancelled because they want to keep it literally just 'the guys', or a friendship will begin to develop into something else... for one of you. Although the first two items on that problem list can make you feel bummed, like you are holding those friends back, the final item can literally ruin your friendship with the whole group. Eventually, either you, or one of your guy 'friends', is going to start seeing someone in a different light... the crush light. :/ When that happens, it's down hill from there, unless you are both on the same page. Sadly, because you joined the group to be a friend, that doesn't always mean you were accepted for that purpose. The reality of it is, girls were never meant to be 'one of the guys'. :( If you are like me, and you hoped that would not be the case for you, hope again, because it does not change based on the person. No matter what, we were created to be attracted to the opposite sex, and if you mix those genders on a 1:5 ratio (or anything where you are outnumbered, and it's not a GROUP of evenly proportioned friends) things WILL end badly. You may have a few weeks of un-awkward down time with 'the guys', but you, as a young woman, are testing yourself, and those around you. Bottom line, guys are great, and they can be amazing friends, but we cannot allow ourselves to enter an outnumbered group of 'friends'. For our sake, and for the sake of those we encounter, we must display choices that follow after our faith. We, as young women of Christ, should never enter a situation that we secretly know will either tempt us, or the people with us. Now, I am not saying that, by entering an 'evenly proportioned' group, things will change. NOT AT ALL!! Ha, ha! Again, we are human, and we were designed to be attracted to the opposite sex, but by entering an evenly proportioned situation, your image as a young woman is not as hampered, your temptation is not as great, and your safety, and ability to blend with everyone, increases with 'non-coupled' events.
As far as girl drama goes, high school does not last forever, and eventually you can get out into a MUCH bigger world, to find some true, humble, Christian, young women to surround yourself with. Until then, devote your time to your church, or community. Find ways to get yourself out of tempting, or dangerous, situations. When you are hurting, or scared, find someone who is feeling even worse than you, and serve them. In this, you will make your Heavenly Father smile, and put your soul to rest. :) Imagine each young man you come in contact with, as someone's husband someday. May your behavior mirror what you would prefer the young women, in your future husband's life, to behave like.
Press on, ladies!
Clay
Sunday, January 15, 2012
At some point you have to realize the people in your life who do matter; who would be there for you in a split second, and who live by a two-way friendship lane, and not one... & the people who will probably disappear from your life, the second they don't need your friendly, one-way friendship lane services anymore. This 2012, treasure those two-way friends/family like priceless jewels. Have a blessed year! :)
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Welcome to Voice of the Unborn Series' New Blog!!
Hey, y'all!! Thanks for dropping by! Welcome to my blog!! This is our first official day of posting, so there's still lots of news to come!! The purpose of this blog is to help you, our fans/supporters, stay updated on our progress, appearances, polls, and MUCH, MUCH, MORE!!! I just want to thank you all for your support! May God bless you!!
To really help me prepare to promote my new book (once it is released in the next couple of years), please LIKE us on Facebook, FOLLOW us here on Blogger, and SHARE us wherever you usually Tweet, Beep, Share, or Post!!! ;)
Peace-Love-Christ!
To really help me prepare to promote my new book (once it is released in the next couple of years), please LIKE us on Facebook, FOLLOW us here on Blogger, and SHARE us wherever you usually Tweet, Beep, Share, or Post!!! ;)
Peace-Love-Christ!
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson (from Akeelah and the Bee)
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