UnEqual

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" 2 Cor. 6:14

What does "unequally yoked" mean to you? Some believe it just means you can't marry someone who isn't a believer, however I would never call someone a "best friend" if they aren't progressing in their faith. I believe we are called to reach out into the world, but should we rely so closely on someone who doesn't believe Christ is their Savior. Or should you even engage in a dating relationship where the boy isn't leading, or isn't stronger. Just some thoughts for today.

What does this verse mean to you? How strict are you on engaging in intimate (meaning anything past a friend) relationships with non-believers? Go read the whole chapter and see if it sheds anymore light with you. Please, tell me what you think.

One Word

I asked my friends to describe me in just one word. What was the first word that came to mind when you thought of me? Most said more than one, but here's the gist of what I got...
1) Leader
2) Judgemental
3) Confident (but not arrogant)
4) Honest (but not rude)
5) Good Advice Giver
6) Good Friend
7) Needy
8) Dramatic
9) Demanding
10) Inquisitive
11) Reserved
12) Observant

As each word reach my ears, I just stopped. Some I was really excited to hear, others I was kinda blown away from what they said. Now I know that what people think of me doesn't matter, but it put a lot into perspective. Obviously, I have some things I need to work on, and it was obvious which friendships were healthy and which weren't. I think sometimes we need to stop and evaluate how we're doing. Some of these things would have NEVER come to my mind (aka "dramatic" and "needy") so it's a good thing to get a perspective from those who were close to you. Just a random thought from today. Feel free to leave any comment you'd like.

(So it's official, all of my friends have graduated high school...)

Enrollement

Today my daddy and I went to UCO for Enrollement. We went prepared, so it was pretty much waisted time. However, I got to take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (for the 5th time). And here was my final results...(I hope they make you laugh, because they sure made me chuckle)!

Introversion (I)
I like getting my energy from dealing with the ideas, pictures, memories, and reactions that are inside my head, in my inner world. I often prefer doing things alone or with one or two people I feel comfortable with. I take time to reflect so that I have a clear idea of what I’ll be doing when I decide to act. Ideas are almost solid things for me. Sometimes I like the idea of something better than the real thing.

Sensing (S)
Paying attention to physical reality, what I see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. I’m concerned with what is actual, present, current, and real. I notice facts and I remember details that are important to me. I like to see the practical use of things and learn best when I see how to use what I’m learning. Experience speaks to me louder than words.

The following statements generally apply to me:

• I remember events as snapshots of what actually happened.
• I solve problems by working through facts until I understand the problem.
• I am pragmatic and look to the “bottom line.”
• I start with facts and then form a big picture.
• I trust experience first and trust words and symbols less.
• Sometimes I pay so much attention to facts, either present or past, that I miss new possibilities.

Thinking (T)
When I make a decision, I like to find the basic truth or principle to be applied, regardless of the specific situation involved. I like to analyze pros and cons, and then be consistent and logical in deciding. I try to be impersonal, so I won’t let my personal wishes--or other people’s wishes--influence me.

The following statements generally apply to me:

• I look for logical explanations or solutions to most everything.
• I make decisions with my head and want to be fair.
• I believe telling the truth is more important than being tactful.
• Sometimes I miss or don’t value the “people” part of a situation.
• I can be seen as too task-oriented, uncaring, or indifferent.

Judging (J)
I use my decision-making (Judging) preference (whether it is Thinking or Feeling) in my outer life. To others, I seem to prefer a planned or orderly way of life, like to have things settled and organized, feel more comfortable when decisions are made, and like to bring life under control as much as possible.

The following statements generally apply to me:

• I like to have things decided.
• I like to make lists of things to do.
• I like to get my work done before playing.
• I plan work to avoid rushing just before a deadline.
• Sometimes I focus so much on the goal that I miss new information.

And here is my personality in a whole...

ISTJ
Quiet, serious, earn success by thoroughness and dependability. Practical, matter-of-fact, realistic, and responsible. Decide logically what should be done and work toward it steadily, regardless of distractions. Take pleasure in making everything orderly and organized – their work, their home, their life. Value traditions and loyalty.

Graduation

Well, today's the day. I've been waiting for 12 years for this day to come, and here it is. My high school career is almost over. I'm finding it hard to believe, but I'm ready for this day to come. I'm ready for a new adventure with new people. I'm ready to take the next step into God's plan for my life. And I'll leave you with this quote I heard at the midnight showing of Prince Caspian (a must see!!)...

"I do not think I'm ready."-says Prince Caspian to Aslan
"For that reason I know you are."-Aslan

As today grew closer, I felt like I wasn't ready. So much of my time was wasted on things that didn't matter the next day. But as always, God thinks I'm ready, so I must be. Here's to the next part of the journey!

This poem was given to one of my friends during her quiet time and she asked me to share it with you all. So please pass it to your friends as well.


Why?

Why must I see such evil things when I close my eyes
When I open them to the world it makes me realize
God made the world for good not for all the pain we see
But man disobeyed God's wish and took the fruit upon the tree

Why must I see such hurt and sorrow everywhere I go
It makes it hard to realize but at least I know
That God made the world for good not for all the pain we see
God sent Love in the form of a man to die upon a tree

Why must evil rule the world we know and live in now
It’s hard to say we'll make it through but I know we will somehow
Cuz God made the world for good not for all the pain we see
And the Spirit lives in you while the Man on throne with He

Hmmmm....

So my parents are convinced this dream probably doesn't mean anything, and I just over-thought it, which is probably true, but let me tell you what I came up with:

1) Bombs--I was under attack, and a lot of it was with the stuff at church, but I wasn't ever hit because I was hiding out in Central LifeKIDS. For a while things would be ok and then out of nowhere something else would happen.
2) Significance of the people:
Lori--our main interaction is at church, we're both incredibly busy
Hannah--our friendship fades in and out (busyness), but we always end up together
Chris--we go through a lot, but always end up ok in the end
Taylor--just in my life for short periods of time, but is always focused on what's ahead of him
Family--at the time, I didn't involve my parents in much of my life, so they didn't know what was happening (but that's changed, so don't worry)
The people in the field--I think they were all people I knew and that had a part in my life.
3) Don't know about the field
4) Warehouse--I'm hiding from something big that I'm supposed to be apart of, but won't join without coercion and support
5) Mountains--they are a place of peace for me
6) Bombs--get ready, they're coming again.



So whether or not you think this dream had any meaning, you have to admit, it was strange. :) I don't know what I think, sometimes I think God speaks to me through dreams. You can believe as you will (and I'm the first to admit I over-think A LOT), but here it is. Take what you will :)

A Dream

Here's a freaky dream I had. It happened about 7 weeks ago. The week after we got back from Mexico.

"I was at church, downstairs in the LifeKIDS Central Offices (if you have been there, I was between Kendra and Shawn's desks). I was with lots of people (around 7), but the only person I remember is Lori. Next thing I know, bombs (almost torpedo-like) come through the walls and we all hit the floor and covered our heads. After about 5 min, the bombs stopped and we all got up and none of us were hurt. We gathered ourselves up and go on doing what we were doing. About 15 minutes later, bombs (again torpedo-like) and the same thing happened, we all hit the ground hoping we didn't get blown up. Next thing I know, I had left the church and I'm with Chris and Hannah. We're walking South on Coltrane from 15th to 33rd. Next thing I know, Hannah is gone and I'm just walking with Chris. As we approach 33rd, everything around us turns into ice: the road, the green trees, the cars---EVERYTHING was ice. Then, Taylor is in his car and passes Chris and I in the intersection. You can barely see into his car, but you could see his face. I kept yelling at him to go check on his dad (remember bombs just went off) and he kept pointing behind him. As he went through the intersection, two kids on bikes followed him. He was just gonna make sure they got home safely. Chris and I walk through the intersection, but we had to pull on the iced trees to get up the hill, but we made it over the top together. Where there are houses on Coltrane after 33rd, there was just a field--a field that had never had anything on it, but it was full of families. We (Chris is still with me) run through the field searching for my family. I found them sitting in their lawn chairs, chatting away as though nothing had happened (remember, bombs just went off at church). I ran to them making sure I was ok, but they didn't hear me. All they asked was what I was doing, and I told them I wasn't sure. Hannah and her family coming running over, and soon all of my parents' friends are with us. Chris, knowing Hannah and I had made it to our families, went on a search for his and he walked across the field to 33rd and Bryant. The rest is kinda fuzzy. I was in this big warehouse, but I was hiding in the rafters. A spotlight kept trying to find me, but it never did. Below me, there was dancing and singing, almost like they were putting on a production. A guy was in the rafters as well and he convinced me to join in the dancing. So now I'm dancing in this circle. Next thing you know, this same guy is pushing me out the front door telling me something bad is gonna happen and we have to hide. I think more bombs might have been going off. So he pushes us out the door and he makes a run for it, but I just stood on the outside of this warehouse. To my left are mountains of great size. The people I traveled to Chihuahua with are with me now and we are climbing these mountains. We get to a plateaued spot and we, along with some kids we picked up from somewhere, are sitting in a circle, holding hands. Just as we sat, bombers come in from behind the mountains and I'm yelling to this group, "WE SHOULD MOVE!!! MORE BOMBS ARE COMING!!!!!! WHY WON'T YOU LISTEN?!?!?!"

Here's where I woke up. I know it's long, but I wanted to give details. Craig said to write it down, so I did. Do you think there's any significance in the dream? What might your interpretation be. Look soon and I'll show you what my friends and I came up with. They thought it was such a bizarre dream, it had to have meaning....keep in mind, I have the gift of prophecy...I don't know...

Lessons Learned from Toy Story

I was babysitting last night for a new family and we watched Toy Story (1&2). And as I watched, I picked up a few lessons I learned from Woody and Buzz and the gang:

1. Jealousy is NEVER good.
2. Sacrificing old friends for "new, cool" friends generally isn't a wise thing (sing with me "Make new friends, and keep the old..." I don't know the rest...) Like my parents say...don't burn bridges
3. Embrace who you are to your Owner and don't let other "toys" convince you that you were worth more than your Owner knew.
4. Sacrifice always comes with love.

If you don't know the story, I suggest you go rent them both. I'll do a quick summary of the situations of the lessons, but I don't want to make it too long.

1-When Andy gets Buzz, Woody gets jealous. He was always the favorite, but now he lives under the bed instead of on it. His jealousy goes so far that he "pushes" Buzz out the bedroom window.

2-The other toys fall for Buzz's newness and immediately turn their back on Woody. They keep the two from getting home and almost get Buzz blown up by Sid, simply because they had traded in their trust of Woody for Buzz.

3-In the 2nd movie, Woody is stolen and is sold to a museum in Japan. He came from a TV series and his "co-stars" convinced him, Andy wouldn't love him forever and he should give up and sell himself. BUT in the end, Woody remembers Andy will always love him and returns with his new friends.

4-Buzz risks his life to rescue Woody all because Woody once risked his.

What lessons have you had to learn. Just in the last few months, I've experience each of these at least once. What other movies have you learned from?

Glorious One

Our hands are lifted high
Our hearts are bowing reverence
And we're surrounded by
The glory of Your presence

With every creature every tongue
We're lifting our voice to the Glorious One

Glorious One
Glorious One

Light of the world
You outshine the sun
King of all Kings
Eternity sings
Glorious One

God of infinite worth
With hands that carve out the ocean
You hold the universe
And still You run to the broken

With every heart that's been redeemed
We're lifting our song to the Glorious King

There is none more beautiful
There is none more wonderful


Glorious One, by Steve Fee