New Self

How would you spend your time if you found you only had two weeks left?

Yesterday, I found myself asking this question during some God-time..
At first, I thought, oh man, I'd live it up. Vacations, Disney World, lots of fun..

But, then I realized that that isn't what matters. I would not spend my time that way.

I decided that I would meet with my family. Go outside, find beautiful places, and pray with them. I would volunteer my time at organizations, I would meet with my friends, I might go to Africa and help people who need my help. I would get rid of all my money. I would read my Bible, and pray for openness. I would dance. I would have a party for everyone.. Anyone, and everyone would be invited, and I would sing at my party. I love to perform. I would do that for everyone I love. I would tell everyone I meet about Christ, and how He gave everything for each and every one of us. I would spread the message of hope. I would help people and give myself up to them. I would play with my nieces and nephews. I would help my mom cook the meals. I would give everything away, and stop hoarding items that I do not need.

I would try.

What would I not do?
Probably be on facebook, read books that don't matter, watch movies that are rotten, go shopping (for myself, at least), spend idle time, sit alone day dreaming and wasting time, procrastinate

Each moment should be precious, folks. Every moment is a new chance to be Christ-like, to share Christ, to love on those around us. God is love, and love is God. If these are the things that I would (or wouldn't) do when I know my time is limited, why am I (or am I not) doing them now? Time for a new self.

Ephesians 4:
22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Think about it.
Who are you?
Who do you want to be?
Praise God that we still have time to ask ourselves these questions!

Love,
Lauren

We're all Children

Life is so beautiful.
Why do you have working lungs?
Why do I have 10 fingers and 10 toes?
Why are we perfectly built? (no matter what personal bias you may have)

Today, a baby was born, and today that baby died. Sure, it's the end. The end of one quite hour-long life (not including life in the womb). But, more importantly, this is the beginning. The beginning of a perfect life for this baby. Nicholas simply was chosen to skip this scary, sinful place, and instead live in the Perfect Place.

I want to be childish.
Yes, childish.
I want to be wide-eyed and innocent;
and I desire unbreakable faith
and the joy that only children see.

Don't take it for granted.
Life is our chance.
our chance!
Take it while you can, for:

"This is the day that the Lord hath made
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

Much Love,
Lauren

P.S. today I deleted several songs off of my iTunes simply because I realized they are not God-glorifying. It was the best!

Gifted

so, lately.. Time sure has been passing me by. I have been here and there, and back again all week.
But, of course, God has worked His lovely ways, and has continued to teach me so many valuable lessons.
I've really been paying attention to our gifts the last couple weeks.

Romans 12 says that in Christ, many form one body, and each body part belongs to all the others. We are each given specific gifts, and we are to use them.

I love the gifts God has given me, but it can be so easy to overlook them and purely see the gifts I do not have. It's so easy to see this lack of gift as a fault, and to devote yourself to getting over this "fault"... But, that's not the way it is. God has given us these beautiful gifts and abilities so that we can use them and expand on them.

And.. he hasn't given us these gifts so that we can compare ourselves to others and to see where we're lacking, but to see where other people gifted and trust them to use their gift to the best of their ability.

We are all related, and we need to love the gifts of others as if they were our own.