Putting Pride to Death

Today, once again, I came up against a tough issue. My pride. Honestly, it is so hideously ugly, yet I rarely try to fight it! The question for me then becomes... How do I rid myself of it? I can't love me and serve me while claiming to love and serve Jesus. It just doesn't work!

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:3&4

Look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. So if I say no to pride and offer to load the dishwasher, I take a step. If I say no to pride and pick up a piece of trash on the sidewalk, I take another step. If I say no to pride and ask my mom how I can help her, I take a step. Eventually looking to other's interests becomes easier and even joyful! And in the process, I move farther toward my ultimate goal: becoming the image of Jesus Christ.

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5

And, I'm proud to say, I am almost completely humble! Just kidding. I still have a long way to go, but I know that I don't have to do it on my own strength. How about you? Will you take steps today to say no to pride and become more like Christ?

Painful Prayers

As I was praying today, I prayed a painful and potentially dangerous prayer. "Lord, break my heart with the things that break your heart." I can't even begin to see or feel all of the things that break God's heart. But when He does give me just a slight glimpse of some of the things that break His heart, I find myself completely overwhelmed. Wanting to weep for the state of our society.

However, one of the many wonderful things that I have found out about God is that he gives us so many wonderful promised. In Matthew 5:4, Jesus says "Blessed are those who mourn, for THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED" (caps added, sorry, there were not italics). When we find ourselves mourning for the way things are, we can know that we will be comforted.

Random Rambling

Well, I must apologize for the lack of blogs recently. See, I have been mentaly bloging quite often. However, somehow my brain waves didn't make it all the way to the internet... Oh well. So, I decided to blog something that you can actually read for a change.

For those of you considering insanely long road trips, I suggest that you fly instead. I really don't mind driving most of the time, but this past Sunday my family spent 16.5 hours in the car (that time did include stops, but still...). Then on Monday we spent about 10.5 hours in the car. It was actually worse than the first day, because I was so sore. However, we did eventually make it to my grandparent's in Nebraska. But, enough about me.

As I was checking all of the wonderful blogs I read, I found this amazing post! This was written by one of the speakers at the camp that I go to every summer with my church. She is an amazing woman of God, and I recommend her entire blog. Rather than annoy you with more of my ramblings, I will give you the link. Learning to wait: http://bethbrawleytaylor.blogspot.com/2009/07/learning-to-wait.html. Enjoy!

We're Back...

Sorry about not posting for almost a month. We've been busy. However, Bethany intends to post a lot the rest of the summer (I'll be busy).

I wrote this "definition" for a contest. There are 15 winners, and the prize is an autographed CD by Jonny Diaz (who wrote the song "More Beautiful You") and a one year subscription to Susie magazine. Ten of the winners would have their definitions in the magazine, and one grand prize winner (chosen randomly) would be given an iPod Nano. All you have to do is send in your definition of beauty.

I had written and edited my definition several times, and sent it to my friend to see what she thought. I had already pasted it into the submission form and was just waiting for Bethany to reply to the e-mail. Well, when she finally did, she broke the news to me. Floridians can't enter! Oh, well. At least I have a blog post now. Here's what I wrote:

What makes a person beautiful? I myself had to think quite a bit before I could answer. My conclusion is, someone who’s filled with the fruit of the spirit.

Someone who loves as Jesus loved. Is filled with spiritual joy. Makes peace. Waits patiently. Always looks for opportunities to show kindness. Does good in other’s lives. Is firmly grounded in their faith. Is of a gentile spirit. And finally, someone who uses self control in their actions.

In my opinion, that’s what makes a person beautiful. And if you’re that lovely inside, who cares what you look like on the outside?

(Copyright © Tori Tj)

The contest ends on the 30th of June. If you want to enter, just go to the magazine website.

Tori

What If?

I was thinking the other day, and I started wondering... What if?What would happen if the church were to arise and take her rightful place? What if we lifted the name of the Lord as a banner over our city? If we said “no more.”? What if we actually tried to make a difference? If we firmly took hold of every promise that God has given us? If we found our confidence in Him? If we stopped looking to the ways of the world? If we took a stand for truth?



What if enough of us took a stand that we could turn our nation back to God? What if loving God and turning souls to Him was all that really mattered to us? What if we were to turn from our sins and confess Jesus as Lord? What then?


Would it make a difference? Could you be the one to make the change? Are you willing to hunger after God for all that you’re worth? Would you devote your life to something this big, focusing on a heavenly reward? Make the change. Stand for Jesus.



Romans 12:2 ~Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)



1 Peter 1:14 ~As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. (NIV)



Bethany:)

Where We've Been on the 'Net

I decided to copy a favorite blog of mine, and show you "A trace of where we’ve been on the web this week:"


Please Pass the Tie-Dye If we are all fearfully and wonderfully made, why dress up? Why wear makeup? Why wear matching socks? Read on as Beauty From the Heart's Hannah Farver shares her thoughts on the subject.


Covered While reading one of our favorite blog/webzines, Crosseyed, we found this article about how big Jesus' sacrifice for our sins really is. We know you already know everything there is to know about it already, but this article puts a new light on the subject, and is worth a few minutes of your time.

There Will Be a Day A blog post inspired by Jeremy Camp's song of the same name. It discusses Heaven and having an eternal perspective. We found this on Bloom!, the blog we got this posting idea from (though we don't plan on doing it weekly).

Others May, You Cannot We read a post on the blog "Whatever Is," which really inspired us. It was an excerpt from what we thought was another's blog. But when we looked for the blog so we could just link you to it, we found that it was an excerpt from Buell H. Kazee's book Faith is the Victory. So, now we're just linking you to "Whatever Is."

Hope these posts are encouraging and inspiring,

Tori and Bethany:)

Scammed?

As my mom and I entered the Christian bookstore at the strip mall, a woman sitting on a nearby bench called out "Mam? Mam! I'm a single mom, out of work, and I was wondering if you would buy something from me so I can buy some groceries?" A little girl in a bright yellow shirt sat next to her, presumably her daughter.

"I'll think about. Will you still be here when I come out?" My mom asked. But I didn't hear the lady's reply as we walked into the store.

I couldn't help but think to myself she sure knew what she was doing, picking the Christian bookstore as her "shop."

At the checkout counter, my mom asked the our cashier "Do you know anything about the lady out front who is trying to sell something?"

"No," she replied. "I didn't know there was anyone out there."

"She said she's a single mom and wanted money for food." My mom explained. The cashier gave one of those knowing looks.

"I guess I'll have to call security on her." She said she hated doing it. But we understood. No solicitors.

My mom and I paused before walking out the door. There was no avoiding the situation. It's not that we didn't want to help her, but... The lady was still there, and when my mom told her that she didn't like giving money away to strangers, the lady's face fell a little. "I'm trying to think of what's around here..." My mom said. It was then I realized my mother's intention. She was going to buy the lady's groceries.

"There's a Winn-Dixie across the street," The lady replied, pointing to the busy intersection on her left. "You could buy me a gift card," she suggested hopefully.

"I don't think so." My mom replied. "I'd like to go with you. I'll drive over and you meet me there.

When, the lady did show up, along with her daughter my mom asked "Where do you live?" The lady named an area nearby.

As we walked along the grocery aisle, the girl fell in step next to me. Before I could utter a word, she piped up, "What's your name?"

"Tori." I replied. "What's yours?"

"Gabriell. I think Tori is a pretty name."

"Where do you go to school?"

"P-------- Elementary." The school she named was in the opposite direction where she supposedly lived. "Do you want to be friends?" I said sure. She chatted on about this and that, asking me questions, even made me do a pirouette when she found out I did ballet. I found out that she had a nine year old brother.

After we had checked out, Gabriell's mom said to the cashier, "Is there a place I can put my cart? I need to go get some bread." My mom and I went out to the car.

"Should we wait and see if her friend comes to pick her up?" My mom asked. The lady had told us a friend would pick her up. I did wonder why she had stayed in the store and not come out with us.

"No, it's none of our business," I replied. Actually, it was. After all, we had just bought her groceries. But what was done was done. "Give to those who ask," right?

As we pulled away, we saw a man, possibly the father, walk into the store with a boy who may have been nine.

A single mom? Maybe. Out of a job? Maybe. Lives in that certain area of town? Doubtless. We were probably ripped off. However it's not my place to judge, though I have done a good bit of supposing. I just hope that what my mom and I did had some sort of positive impact on this lady and her daughter.

Tori
P.S. On a side not, if you can ever help it, don't go to Winn-Dixie at night. It's kind of scary.