Go Tell It On the Playground

We all remember the playground game of tag. Some of us may even still play it in Walmart just for fun ;)  However, have you ever thought about making the school yard game a parallel to witnessing to sinners for God?  So, here's how the game normally goes.  One person is picked to start the game as 'It' and the rest of the players scatter and try not to get tagged. Once someone is tagged, they are now 'it' and have to chase down and tag someone else.  The game goes on until the bell rings. No time outs. 

With religion, we can play this game with the entire world. We're all born sinners who 'run' from God.  Some fight much harder- run faster, longer- to keep from being converted into a believer.  So, here's how our new remix of the game goes.  You're 'it.' I'm 'it.' All believers in Christ are 'it.'  It's our job to chase down and 'tag' non-believers.  It won't always be easy.  Some people may be faster than you.  They may have all the right arguments.  They may have the 'know-it-all, untouchable' attitude, but everyone gets tired in time so don't give up until the chase is done.  Sometimes you may trip and fall.  Temptation is sweet, and it's all around you.  These times will be difficult.  It gives the runner the advantage to get away with some extra time, or some may even turn around to rub it in your face.  Get back up, dust your self off, and keep the chase going. 

The most important part, however, is that you don't stop until the bell rings.  We can't take breaks.  You never know what could happen that could make today your last chance.  Continue to run hard and to keep trying and go for all that you can.  There's no limit to how many people you can tag.  And let me tell you,  the feeling you get once you tag someone is unbelievable.  We are all put on this earth for a purpose and the impact that we have the ability to make is unimaginable.  The possibilities are endless.  So, now the game begins. 'Your It' :)

Mark 16:15

Jesus said to his followers, "Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.

God's Protection on the Battlefield

Jeremiah 15:20
“I will make you as strong as a wall to this people, as strong as a wall of bronze. They will fight against you but they will not defeat you for I am with you,” says the Lord, “I will rescue you and save you.”

In our high school career alone, we’ll experience countless battles. As we struggle for time between school, sports, jobs, and homework. Battles with friends, family, team mates, and co-workers. Inner battles when trying to make the righteous decision that will please God and maybe not our peers. We will struggle to remain above the influence and pressure of temptation around us. God will test us each and every day, and we will be defined by how we conquer and react to each one.

Proverbs 24:10
If you give up when trouble comes, it shows that you are weak.
And trouble will come. Stress and anger and dissatisfaction will be shoved in your face. You’ll stand toe-to-toe with all kinds of conflict. But with God on our side, what do we have to fear?

 

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ our Savior who rescues me.

 

God has told us time and time again that he'll will never give us more than we can handle. So if you're in this ridiculously tough situation, it's because God knows that you are strong enough to push through it.

Proverbs 18:10
The Lord is like a strong tower; those who do right can run to him for safety.

However, it’s no free ride. There is a catch. “THOSE WHO DO RIGHT.” Those who worship selflessly and whole-heartedly. Those who humble themselves and sacrifice time and money to serve the Lord. You have nothing to be afraid of. Nothing and no one is greater than our God.

Proverbs 24:16
Even though good people may be bothered by trouble seven times, they are never defeated, but the wicked are overwhelmed by trouble.

The words are set in stone. It’s done, no questions asked. All we have to do is trust him. We don’t have to be tough and do it alone because our savior will not forsake us and we can always turn to him.

Proverbs 16:3
Depend on the Lord in whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Just because you see someone doing wrong and getting away with it doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have it under control. We don’t need to try to take it into our own hands. Keep your eyes on the path God has set in front of you.

Proverbs 2:8
He makes sure justice is done, and he protects those who are loyal to him.

So just trust God. He’s almighty and more powerful than anything else. I’ll leave you with these last verses of reassurance.

Proverbs 4:12-13
“I am guiding you in the way of wisdom, and I am leading you on the right path. Nothing will hold you back; you will not be overwhelmed.”

Did you hear....?

We all know 'Ripley's: Believe It or Not'. Well, the Bible remix would be 'God:Believe in Him or Rot'. Yes, it's both slightly depressing and blunt but our life or death due to religious beliefs, though very important, aren't the particular point of this blog. My focus is what we choose to believe. It struck me when I read 1 John 1:2.

He who gives life was shown to us. We saw him and can give proof about it. And now we announce to you that he has life that continues forever. He was with God the Father and was shown to us.

Proof. How do we choose when it's necessary? How many times do you arrive at school and learn that Cindy Lou went to this crazy party and got 'totally trashed' and got in a wreck and had both legs amputated and her face re-done(this is exagerrated but stay with me) and by third period the whole school is buzzin. Next thing you know, you walk in to fourth period and there Cindy Lou is smilin in her desk legs and all. Who asked for a referance? Who asked for validity? Who bothered to ask 'how do you know'? No one. We all just took it and ran.

Now, preach that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ made the universe in 7 days and who's laughing it off? Who's badgering you for 'proof'. Sand samples and fossilized ferns. Who's askin to see what proves that God flooded the Earth. Suddenly, we're all drivin to find tangible evidence. Fair? Stevie Jo who heard from Bo John  who heard from Sheila Lyn is point on as a needle, but the word of God is worthy of doubt?

John 14:6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Remember When....

"Growing up... your best friend becomes your worst enemy, lollipops turn into cigarettes, homework goes in the trash, detention turns into suspension, soda becomes vodka, undies turn into g-strings, and kisses turn into sex. Remember when getting high meant swinging on the playground, protection meant wearing a helmet, the worst thing you could get from a boy was cooties, your worst enemies were your siblings, race issues were about who ran the fastest, war was only a card game, wearing a skirt was a style not a character trait, the only things that hurt were skinned knees, and goodbyes were only until tomorrow? And to think we were all in such a hurry to grow up."


When I was a kid, mommy and daddy were superheros. 'Love' was only used when refering to chocolate and the color green. My puppy dog face was the only thing that could break a heart. My best friend was the kid who sat next to me in class. The hardest decision was between playing tag or touch football at recess, my out fit was whatever mommy picked out the night before, and boys were just the gross things at school that were always picking on me.

But now I'm sixteen. Drugs are more than cough medicine and kids tylenol. They're marijuana and purp. Races are more than to the fence and back(shout out to Blue for always being the fastest in elementary school). There's black, white, hispanic,and asian and jokes to go along with each one. Homework was drawing letters over the dotted lines. Now it's research papers with 75 notecards and 8 sources. 'Poop' was a bad word, and I'd cry when someone called me a 'Doodoohead'. Even though life was easy, our eyes were always set on the 'big kids'. We wanted our hair done just like theirs and to go where they went. We always said 'when i grow up...'

And the phrase is still ever present today. My junior year I'm having to think about what college I want to go to and what occupation I want to follow. Why does it seem we can't just live in the moment? Why do I have to have a five year plan? What about in five minutes? Why do I need to know where I'm going? Why can't I sit back and enjoy where I am? Whatever happened to living for the moment? Take a chance and learn a lesson. "Every day we do something for the first time and something for the last time." So enjoy what you've got. Spend time with the ones you love, and don't be afraid to tell that one crush how you feel. Try something new. My goal? Never live the same day twice.

Dont get caught up in the drama and stress. Don't worry about what some kid at school or someone at work said about you. Don't stress about that one little thing that didn't get done. Trust God to protect you as you walk through life. Take a deep breath and pray.

Matthew 6:34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Hi, My name's Kasey and.....I'm a Control Freak..

It's always been, in my opinion, my biggest thorn. when i'm in a sticky situation or a regular every day one for that matter, i like to solve it myself. i like to get things done and move on to the next shananigan. i know what you're thinking. "what's wrong with getting stuff done?" and the answer is...nothing. that's how we grow and catch up with this fast paced world we live in. my problem is that i tend to rely soley on myself and my skills, but we get so busy and caught up with simple problems like cooking or chores that once we get the larger problems like troubles with relationships and attitude we want to deal with them in the same manner. which, hard as it is to admit, just won't do. we need help. we need to talk to friends but most importantly, we need to pray. keep our head clear and say 'God, help.' now i, of all people, know that we often are too stubborn to admit defeat and ask for help but i've learned that i can not handle situations like this on my own. recently when i was dealing with my latest 'delima' i invited my dear love anna holt over. i needed an unbiased mind to listen and advise. we talked all day and night and learned that we were both in very similar situations. we talk and somewhat made decisions but we both knew we were still on the fence. the next day we sat in the pool and it went a little quiet as we both sat there pensively. suddenly, a cold drop hit my arm. it was such a beautiful sunny day, but rain started to fall. anna and i looked up and sat in silence and awe as we experienced god's amazing power. this was something i'd never experienced. you could look straight up into that beautiful sunny sky and watch each individual droplet float to the ground. i closed my eyes. i couldn't believe how silly i had been. my god is so awesome and amazing. he can flood the earth, make a blind man see, set soaked materials ablaze, and make a paralyzed man walk. was i really ignorant enough not to trust him with my measly issues? i knew then that though i may get nervous or antsy, if i turn whatever it may be completely to god and stop trying so hard to fix it myself, he'll show me where i need to go and who i need to be. and if the decision may not be the one i particularly wanted and it may hurt, i know my god will comfort me and heal me.

Psalm 147:3-He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Welcome fellow people of the blog world :)

sooooo...i have never in my life done a blog but it seems like something fun to do and im opinionated and open soooooo sounds like my kinda junk. this is just to show you that i am here because i dont know when i'll do my first legit blog or what it would be on sooooo if you have ideas or something you'd like to know throw it at me. thanks. much love! :)