Sour WarHeads

So I was talking to Zach, and this convo gave me an idea to write a post on my blog.

Zach: "So you know those little sour warhead candies?"

Me: "Um...yes?"

Zach: "They make great pick-me-ups."

Me: "How so?"

Zach: "I wanna get the powder that they coat them in...cause that's the only sour part. Once you get past the sour outer layer, it's just a normal candy."

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So I thought, isn't life kinda like that? Maybe life is like a sour warhead candy. It's covered in a sour outer layer, and though it may be difficult to get through without scrunching up our life (like how you'd scrunch your face when you eat the sour part), it's chewable and in the end it leaves the normal inner layer. And even though we're covered, with trials (the sour layer), we're able to get through it. Some people enjoy the sour part. Think of it like this--let us thank God for our trials and sour layers! They're tests of our faith and trust in the Lord to bring us through and love Him no matter what.

It's kind of a weird analogy, but that was almost my instant thought when Zach said what he did. Yeah. I have a weird mind.

Peace and War

So I found some really cool Bible verses, and I thought I'd share. :)

Exodus 14:14: "The Lord will fight for you, only you have to be still".

1 Samuel 2:9: "It is not by strength that one prevails".

1 Samuel 17:47: "It is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves".

Psalm 20:7: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God".

Psalm 46:8: "He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth".

Ecclesiastes 9:18: "Wisdom is better than weapons of war".

Hosea 11:9: "I am God not man, I will not come in wrath".

Matthew 5:43: "Love your enemies; pray for prosecutors".

Luke 6:27: "Love your enemies; bless those who persecute you".

Romans 12:17: "Return no one evil for evil...live at peace with everyone".

2 Timothy 2:24: "The servant of the Lord must be gentle to all".

Favoritism Forbidden

James 2: 1-12: "My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you", but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet", have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my death brothers: has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promise those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself", you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery", also said, "Do not murder". If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!"

If we are to be kind to the rich man, why not be kind to the poor man? Do not show favoritism. Not only is treating rich men well and not treating poor men well showing favoritism, but it also shows prejudice-ness. It is the royal law to "love your neighbor as yourself". If you do not follow this law, then you are a lawbreaker. (along with breaking any other law, such as committing adultery, murder, etc) It is like you are a criminal.

Mercy triumphs over judgement! It is so much better to show mercy and love to anyone and all than to show it to only certain people.For "God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promise those who love him".

Listening and Doing

James 1: 19-27: "My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

It is good for us to listen to the Word. To read the Bible, and to talk to God (and listen to what He has to say). But it is also important to do. I mean, I don't think God wants us to just sit around and do nothing. Look around you! There's people hurting, people confused, people in distress. How can we just do nothing? We need to reach out to them, and we need to do what God has called for us to do. God didn't create us to listen , he created us to do. I'm not saying that we shouldn't listen, obviously. We need to listen, but in following listening, we must do something.

Like it says in the verse above, "anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says, is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." It's like looking at someone sitting without shelter, hungry for food, and thirsty for water. Should we look at him like we are looking in a mirror, walking away and forgetting what we saw? Of course not.

So let us listen, and let us do.

Trials and Temptations

James 1: 2-8: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, Who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."

James 1: 12: "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him."

We will go through trials and temptations. But let us be happy in the fact that with God, we can persevere. We should trust Him in everything. When there is a trial, should we just give up? No. We don't go through it alone. God is there right with us, and He may be testing us. Don't you want to show and express your love for God? Your dedication to Him?

In trials and temptations, if we are not sure what to do, go to God. We can't figure it out on our own. He can give us the wisdom, if we are open to it. We have to listen. It's good for us to talk to Him, and ask Him things. But we must learn to be still, quiet, and patient to what He has to say, and what answers He has for us. If we are confused, He will help us. If we pray to God about something, we should do it without doubt. We should have the belief that He will answer. Don't let your confusion and questions stress you out or blind you. God is right there with us, guiding us. We shouldn't give up. We aren't alone. We don't go through problems alone. We don't do things alone. God helps us, if we are open to it.

Blessed are those who persevere!

Death and All of His Friends

"No I don't wanna battle
From beginning to end
I don't wanna cycle
Recycle revenge
I don't wanna follow death and all of his friends

No I don't wanna battle
From beginning to end
I don't wanna cycle
Recycle revenge
I don't wanna follow death and all of his friends".

--Coldplay, "Death and All His Friends".


As most of you know, Coldplay is my favorite band. Reading those lyrics from the song, it got me thinking.

"No I don't wanna battle from beginning to end". I know I don't, either. It's not bad to fight for what we believe in. But why fight pointless fights, from beginning to end? I'm tired of arguing and then regretting it because the fight was over something that wasn't even a big deal. I'm tired of arguing and then regretting it because I could have handled the situation in a better way. Recently God gave me a feeling of joy, peace, love, and happiness. He lifted a weight off my shoulder. What weight? My own weight. I emotionally hurt myself by beating myself up inside after arguments/fights. I don't wanna battle pointless battles. Not to say I'll never argue again or say things I'll regret later, because I'm sure I will. But God is helping me.

"I don't wanna cycle, recycle revenge". What if someone goes behind your back? Someone you trusted? What if someone hurt someone you cared about? Should we fight fire with fire? No. Fight fire with water. Put out the fire. We'll get hurt in our lives, but we need to look up to God, for He is watching over us and loves us. We should not cycle, recycle revenge. God wants us to love our neighbors as ourselves, including our enemies. If we respond with revenge, that will only make things worse. Cycling revenge is pointless...and again, why fight pointless fights from beginning to end? Let us respond in the way God would want us to.

"I don't wanna follow death and all of his friends". John 3:16: "For God so loved the world He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life". God is my Life. I shall follow Him, not death. I shall not follow God's enemy and his friends.

God, I'm in love with you. Thank for opening my eyes to certain things. Thank you for working in my life. Thank you. I love you. Amen. :)

Be Still

Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I Am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth".

Sometimes we get so busy, so caught up in life. We need to be here, need to do that. Sometimes it's stressful and tiring. But we need to take time to just sit, take a breath, and be still. Talk to God. "Be still and know that I Am God". God will take care of you. He's got you covered. He'll get things worked out. It won't always be easy, but nothing is difficult for God. Trust in Him, and know that He is God. Praise Him.

Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me".

Sometimes when we are so busy, we aren't even sure if we can get all the things we need to get done, done. But we need to, again, be still. Know that we can get things done, for God strengthens us.

Let us praise Him, for He loves us, strengthens us, is watching over us.