Honoring God, Honoring parents

So it says in the bible that we must "honor your father and your mother", which most of the time is easily done; clean your room, don't break your curfew, be nice to your sister. But what about when it goes against what God is calling you to?
About last fall I was asked to start leading a hub group(a.k.a. a cell group). Well, I thought, it's a little nerve wrecking, it's a lot of pressure to lead others, but hey, if it'll help in building God's kingdom, why not? I want to serve. So having Christian parents, I asked, thinking I already knew the answer, but I was wrong! The answer was something like, "You're busy, it's your grade 12 year, you're working, you have other commitments". Alright then, next year it is! Come this fall, I've graduated and I asked again. Same answer! But first year of university, not last year of high school.
I just don't understand! It's only an hour a week, I don't need to prepare for hours on end because I can get it straight out of church, youth group, and my devotions. So what's the big deal? I don't start until school until January, giving me time to get used to leading. I would grow so much if I were to lead a hub group. It keeps you accountable to how you live your life. If God wants me to lead, he'll make things work out. If not, he'll close doors. Easy as that! I want to honor my parents but I know that I have to honor God above them. Since when was it so wrong to want to grow in your relationship with God and serve in His kingdom?!

The Impact of Prayer

When you pray, you're talking to God, maker of the universe. How could you not receive great and wonderful things from him? So when you pray, do it with expectation. God is bigger than you or I can comprehend, so don't worry about being let down or causing him too much trouble. The Lord wants you to go to him, to rely on him. He hears your prayers so be open and ready to receive whatever he has for you. Sometimes it may not be what you expected or wanted but he won't ignore your wishes, he'll answer them just as promised but in a different and better way that you can imagine. Don't take prayer lightly, it's one of the most effective ways to influence people and/or situations. Sometimes it may seem like there's nothing you can do for a friend or you don't know what to say in a situation, but there is; you can pray. "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." - James 5:16

Pride

You were right, I was wrong
I knew it all along

But still I kept going
Why didn't you stop me knowing?

It's just my stupid pride
Yet you stayed by my side

You say you want what's best
but still I put you to the test

Now I see you're right
and I won't put up a fight

Words Hurt

Words Hurt
It seems like your weapon of choice
You've shot me where it hurts most,
the mind
I am wounded
I can't seem to heal
The pain lingers
every time I return to the battlefield
that we call school
No doctor can heal me
for this is a wound that cannot be seen
The injury has spread,
to the heart
it infects my thoughts, my dreams
Comrades look at me, pity me
as I pass by in the halls
What could they do?
They think they have no authority
but there is strength in numbers
Who's in charge?
Where are the lieutenants?
Someone help me
There must be a cure
The pain is killing me
Don't you know,
Words hurt?

Macro

Does anyone use the Macro setting on their camera? For those of you who don't know what this is, it's a special feature that allows you to focus on a certain object or person and then blurs everything else around it. It's cool how the camera is able to focus on just one thing.
In life you sometimes need to focus on one thing at a time to thoroughly enjoy it. Or maybe it's some sort of task or goal and you need to stay focus to get it done right. You could say that it's sometimes necessary to focus on one thing at a time. And that's great but make sure you don't get lost in doing so. Don't be so concentrated on the one thing that you lose track of everything else around.
What's a blessing to someone if there's no love behind it and you're only doing it out of obligation? Is it really the same? When you're serving or leading, keep the "why" in mind. When you're doing things for the kingdom don't be condemned, be compelled!
Let Jesus take care of the details and do what you are already told to do. Don't be arrogant and question him or be controlling and put things in your own hands. That is what faith is all about.

Blindsided

It's amazing what can come out of not communicating properly. When you're not transparent and bring things to the light, the enemy can use it as a foothold against you.
Yesterday I finally had the courage and was brave enough to speak truth to a friend. For months I held something against her without even confronting her about it. It turned out to be a huge misunderstanding.
Small little incidents which were nothing was turned into something just by not bringing it to the light. She didn't even know I had felt this way at all toward her. And how could I expect her too when I didn't even tell her in the first place? I just expected she was aware of her actions and assumed the worst.
Now that we've talked, I feel as if our friendship is renewed. I won't dwell in the past anymore and just start fresh now, a clean slate.

Welcome

Greetings fellow bloggers,
I decided to make this blog as a tool to be able to express myself freely. Sometimes I will share words of encouragement and other times I may just vent and fume. I don't intend to pretend I live a perfect life. We all have something we're dealing with, working on. Maybe as I ask my rhetorical questions and rant on, it might help those who are struggling with the same things. In some way I guess that is encouraging?