So. I'm coming to the home stretch.
Got three more DSSTs to finish, two more transcripts to send off, an application to fill out, a few weeks to wait (hopefully it's only a few weeks, pray, saints!), some financial aid stuff to figure out, and then three more courses and I'll be done with my BA.
Yup. That's right. After about four years of doing online college, I'm finally gonna be done with my degree.
*Deep breath* YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Ahem. Anywho.
It's been a long, kinda crazy journey. I've passed tests, gone through some struggles, been stressed out the wazoo, laughed, cried, learned, grown, fallen down, gotten back up, screamed, changed my major, prayed, face-walled (like a face-palm, but with the wall instead of a palm), sighed in relief when some courses were over, triumphed, got punched in the gut and kicked in the butt by some of the assignments, and we're not outta the woods yet, but we're getting there. 😌
You'll probably hear more rants and triumphs and happy events and crazy events in the upcoming weeks (or months, haha, sorry about that), and I hope you enjoy reading these sort of random windows into my mind and life.
It's still kinda surreal. It hits me at random times that this is happening. I'm finally accomplishing this thing that I've been working at for years. It's like I'm coming up to the final few chapters of a book, and after it's finally over and I've finally finished it, I'll start another one. Jobs, writing more books, graduate school, going overseas as a missionary, working with broken and hurting people, shining the light of Jesus into a dark world. Who knows? The possibilities are endless, 'cause God's in control. It's gonna be amazing, I know that much.
Oh, and hey. To the kid, adult, human being that has a plan, keep pursuing it, but don't get discouraged if things don't work out exactly like you planned. Sometimes, God wants us to go in a different direction than what we originally wanted, and He'll shake up our plans because our plans aren't His plans. He wants to use you for a purpose that will blow your mind, and in order to do that you gotta trust Him and follow His lead.
And to the human who had a plan but it all got messed up, or you don't even have a plan, just keep trusting God. Keep following Him. Who cares if it's not quite what you had in mind? My dad was gonna go into med school, become a doctor, ended up feeling a call to the violin. Now, he's a violin teacher, helping kids learn discipline and responsibility and watching them change their worlds. And let's talk about Joseph, in the Bible. Man, that dude went through the most insane stuff. He didn't really have a plan, but he had a promise from God, and after all these crazy things happened to him, being sold into slavery, being falsely accused and thrown into prison, being forgotten there, all that junk, he ended up being second-in-command of Egypt, and God fulfilled that promise He'd given him.
I'm not exactly sure what God's got in store for me in the future, but I know that even in the darkest places, as long as I'm in God's will, it will work out and be better than I ever could've dreamed. God's gonna take you places you never thought you could go, and you'll reach people you never thought you could reach. You just trust and follow Him. Trust me, it's gonna be epic. 😏
God bless you guys!!! Love ya!!!
--Sonya 😁💕💞💓🐧🐤🐼🐶🐵🐠🍲🍥🍜🍛☕
P.S. please forgive me buuutttt I JUST FOUND OUT I COULD INSERT EMOJIS INTO MY BLOG POSTS AND I'M KINDA HAPPY ABOUT THIS. GOD BLESS YOU AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. 🌙🌠🌝🌃🌄🌆🌇🌉🌌
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Not Trash, Treasure
Someone once told me, half-jokingly, "Boys are trash. Boys in church are just saved trash."
And I know he meant well. He meant to be careful and not just give yourself away to the first joker who catches your eye, because not everyone has your best interests at heart. Not every guy will love and cherish you and protect you. Some guys really are scum-filled.
But people are not trash. People are broken, but they are not trash. People are twisted and filled with trash, but they themselves are not trash.
We have an epidemic of human beings who walk around believing that they are worthless, stupid, replaceable, alone, dirt-filled, irredeemable messes. They're looking for something to fill this void inside of them, but what they fill that emptiness with only seems to make them feel worse. It makes the feeling go away for a while, sure, but after the high's gone, the book's been read, the TV show's completed, the work's done, the relationship's over, you're just left with... what? Maybe some memories. Probably some regrets. And they just keep going, looking for something deeper, looking for something that'll last, something eternal.
But they're not worth that, they think, so they settle. They settle for that abusive relationship. They settle for a job they absolutely hate and don't bother to keep looking and trying. They settle for less than. They settle for a temporary solution. Or worse, they choose a permanent solution for a temporary problem.
People are not trash. People are precious. Every single human being, no matter what they've done, who their family is, what color their skin is, what they believe, they are precious. What's the point of gaining the entire world if you lose your soul? Your soul is way more valuable than this entire world. Why would the God who created everything come down, put on this tiny, vulnerable body of flesh, and subject Himself to even death, if He didn't think you were worth it?
Jesus does not lie. He loves you. He says you are worth it. He says you are precious to Him. He says, "I love the broken pieces that make up you." He says, "I'll fix you, but you gotta be willing to hand over your brokenness." And you know the crazy thing? He does it. He fixes it. He makes it new. The things that you never had, the people who were supposed to love you and instead threw you away because they thought you were trash, none of it matters anymore because the God who created everything says, "I love you and I want you."
One man's trash is another man's treasure.
People have called you trash. They've called you worthless. They've beaten and broken you. They've hurt you and made you into something that no human should ever be. The pain of your life and the mess you've had to deal with is insane.
But there is hope, and His name is Jesus. He'll restore the things you've lost. He'll heal the wounds that've been inflicted on your body and your mind. He'll make right what's wrong. He'll give you the strength that you need to overcome your past and your present, and He'll change your future for the better. He's able to give you abundantly, exceedingly, above all that you could ever ask or think.
All you gotta do is let Him.
There's gonna be some pain involved. When a bone breaks and heals wrong, you gotta break it again so that it'll heal right. It hurts to open up and be vulnerable, but trust me, God's not gonna make you hurt just to hurt, He does it to get it out and make it better. You're gonna have to cut off some things, cut out some things, and live in a way that your old self is gonna hate, but when you become a child of God, old things are passed away, all things become new, and if anybody is dead in Christ, it makes them a new creature. You're gonna be new, you gotta act like you're new. Your old life was filled with hate, your new life is gonna be filled with love. You gotta choose it every day, to walk in that newness of life, but dude, you and I both know that your hardest day with God is better than your best day without Him.
Sometimes, you gotta clean and scrape the grit off of something in order to make it shine. You're worth more than gold. He'll take what was once called trash and show the world what a treasure it really is. You're special, you're chosen, you're called, you've got one crazy destiny, kid. :) You're not trash, you're a treasure.
Love you guys. Have a great week. :)
--Sonya :) <3
And I know he meant well. He meant to be careful and not just give yourself away to the first joker who catches your eye, because not everyone has your best interests at heart. Not every guy will love and cherish you and protect you. Some guys really are scum-filled.
But people are not trash. People are broken, but they are not trash. People are twisted and filled with trash, but they themselves are not trash.
We have an epidemic of human beings who walk around believing that they are worthless, stupid, replaceable, alone, dirt-filled, irredeemable messes. They're looking for something to fill this void inside of them, but what they fill that emptiness with only seems to make them feel worse. It makes the feeling go away for a while, sure, but after the high's gone, the book's been read, the TV show's completed, the work's done, the relationship's over, you're just left with... what? Maybe some memories. Probably some regrets. And they just keep going, looking for something deeper, looking for something that'll last, something eternal.
But they're not worth that, they think, so they settle. They settle for that abusive relationship. They settle for a job they absolutely hate and don't bother to keep looking and trying. They settle for less than. They settle for a temporary solution. Or worse, they choose a permanent solution for a temporary problem.
People are not trash. People are precious. Every single human being, no matter what they've done, who their family is, what color their skin is, what they believe, they are precious. What's the point of gaining the entire world if you lose your soul? Your soul is way more valuable than this entire world. Why would the God who created everything come down, put on this tiny, vulnerable body of flesh, and subject Himself to even death, if He didn't think you were worth it?
Jesus does not lie. He loves you. He says you are worth it. He says you are precious to Him. He says, "I love the broken pieces that make up you." He says, "I'll fix you, but you gotta be willing to hand over your brokenness." And you know the crazy thing? He does it. He fixes it. He makes it new. The things that you never had, the people who were supposed to love you and instead threw you away because they thought you were trash, none of it matters anymore because the God who created everything says, "I love you and I want you."
One man's trash is another man's treasure.
People have called you trash. They've called you worthless. They've beaten and broken you. They've hurt you and made you into something that no human should ever be. The pain of your life and the mess you've had to deal with is insane.
But there is hope, and His name is Jesus. He'll restore the things you've lost. He'll heal the wounds that've been inflicted on your body and your mind. He'll make right what's wrong. He'll give you the strength that you need to overcome your past and your present, and He'll change your future for the better. He's able to give you abundantly, exceedingly, above all that you could ever ask or think.
All you gotta do is let Him.
There's gonna be some pain involved. When a bone breaks and heals wrong, you gotta break it again so that it'll heal right. It hurts to open up and be vulnerable, but trust me, God's not gonna make you hurt just to hurt, He does it to get it out and make it better. You're gonna have to cut off some things, cut out some things, and live in a way that your old self is gonna hate, but when you become a child of God, old things are passed away, all things become new, and if anybody is dead in Christ, it makes them a new creature. You're gonna be new, you gotta act like you're new. Your old life was filled with hate, your new life is gonna be filled with love. You gotta choose it every day, to walk in that newness of life, but dude, you and I both know that your hardest day with God is better than your best day without Him.
Sometimes, you gotta clean and scrape the grit off of something in order to make it shine. You're worth more than gold. He'll take what was once called trash and show the world what a treasure it really is. You're special, you're chosen, you're called, you've got one crazy destiny, kid. :) You're not trash, you're a treasure.
Love you guys. Have a great week. :)
--Sonya :) <3
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Words
I'm always amazed by how elaborately we can describe something with our words. Whether it's the spoken word coupled with body language, or the written word, it's fascinating.
I mean, think about it just for a moment. I saw a Tumblr post that described it like this: Your favorite book is just a combination of 26 or so symbols marked on thin slices of trees, and you hallucinate vividly for hours on end. Not a direct quote, but you get the gist. If you don't read the good 'ole paperback, then it's probably an extremely complicated combination of 1's and 0's. If it's not books, it's movies, or people, or music.
You can express a whole ton with just your words. You can literally create an entirely new world, complete with races, an ecosystem, a creation myth, its own physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, ways of life, all with just your words. You can reach down into the depths of someone's heart and pull them out of their shell, just with the right words. You can literally speak light into someone's darkness, and vice versa, just with your words. You can breathe life or death with your words.
So, now that you know you have this super power, what are you gonna do with it? You could save a life. You could destroy a life. You could create something new and terrible, excruciatingly, painfully beautiful, devastatingly amazing. I caution you, once you open your mouth and start to speak, take your pencil and begin to write, open up your laptop and begin to type, unlock your phone and start to tap at the keys, your words will change the world around you. Once you start using your words, you may also have to follow through with some action, as well.
Can you handle that? One day you may be called on to account for the words you've used, the things you've spoken into existence.
So what are you waiting for? You know you can't be silent. Choose your words and use them wisely. God bless you as you change your world, and the worlds around you.
I mean, think about it just for a moment. I saw a Tumblr post that described it like this: Your favorite book is just a combination of 26 or so symbols marked on thin slices of trees, and you hallucinate vividly for hours on end. Not a direct quote, but you get the gist. If you don't read the good 'ole paperback, then it's probably an extremely complicated combination of 1's and 0's. If it's not books, it's movies, or people, or music.
You can express a whole ton with just your words. You can literally create an entirely new world, complete with races, an ecosystem, a creation myth, its own physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, ways of life, all with just your words. You can reach down into the depths of someone's heart and pull them out of their shell, just with the right words. You can literally speak light into someone's darkness, and vice versa, just with your words. You can breathe life or death with your words.
So, now that you know you have this super power, what are you gonna do with it? You could save a life. You could destroy a life. You could create something new and terrible, excruciatingly, painfully beautiful, devastatingly amazing. I caution you, once you open your mouth and start to speak, take your pencil and begin to write, open up your laptop and begin to type, unlock your phone and start to tap at the keys, your words will change the world around you. Once you start using your words, you may also have to follow through with some action, as well.
Can you handle that? One day you may be called on to account for the words you've used, the things you've spoken into existence.
So what are you waiting for? You know you can't be silent. Choose your words and use them wisely. God bless you as you change your world, and the worlds around you.
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Obligatory Happy New Year's Post :D
Happy New Year!!
Wow, guys. We made it. It's 2017.
Which means that NAYC'17 is happening this year. YAY.
And I'm also turning 20 this year. WHOA.
And I'm gonna get done with my BA this year. FINALLY!!!
It's gonna be a busy, probably insanely crazy year. One thing you can always count on, it's not gonna be exactly like you expected it to be. There's gonna be ups and downs, you're probably not gonna keep all of your New Year's Resolutions (If you do, props to ya, man, I wanna be more like you), you're gonna have some great times and you're gonna have some low times, some crazy times and some chill times, and then those random periods of not quite insane but not quite chill either.
So, you know. Life.
Going into this year, my resolution is to just be better than I was last year. Be better than I was yesterday. Be better than I was an hour ago. I know, not a super specific goal, but it's easier to just shoot for making it off the ground instead of going for the moon all at once. Once we get off the ground, then we'll shoot for making it to the clouds, then outta the atmosphere, then to the moon, then to the stars. That's my philosophy, anyways.
So, happy new year, guys. Hope yours is awesome. Go out there and make it awesome, don't just talk about it and dream about it, go out and build. Make it happen. If stuff doesn't happen like you wanted it to, adapt. Change. Pick up your chin and keep going. Make a new plan. Don't just survive. Thrive. I know you can. I believe in you. :)
God bless ya!!
--Sonya :) <3
Wow, guys. We made it. It's 2017.
Which means that NAYC'17 is happening this year. YAY.
And I'm also turning 20 this year. WHOA.
And I'm gonna get done with my BA this year. FINALLY!!!
It's gonna be a busy, probably insanely crazy year. One thing you can always count on, it's not gonna be exactly like you expected it to be. There's gonna be ups and downs, you're probably not gonna keep all of your New Year's Resolutions (If you do, props to ya, man, I wanna be more like you), you're gonna have some great times and you're gonna have some low times, some crazy times and some chill times, and then those random periods of not quite insane but not quite chill either.
So, you know. Life.
Going into this year, my resolution is to just be better than I was last year. Be better than I was yesterday. Be better than I was an hour ago. I know, not a super specific goal, but it's easier to just shoot for making it off the ground instead of going for the moon all at once. Once we get off the ground, then we'll shoot for making it to the clouds, then outta the atmosphere, then to the moon, then to the stars. That's my philosophy, anyways.
So, happy new year, guys. Hope yours is awesome. Go out there and make it awesome, don't just talk about it and dream about it, go out and build. Make it happen. If stuff doesn't happen like you wanted it to, adapt. Change. Pick up your chin and keep going. Make a new plan. Don't just survive. Thrive. I know you can. I believe in you. :)
God bless ya!!
--Sonya :) <3
Friday, December 16, 2016
Fiiiinaaallsss
Finals. Fiiiiinaalllssss. Fi. Nals. The dreaded word of every student. Quick question to the Harry Potter fans, in real life, which is scarier, the term 'Finals' or Voldemort? Which would you rather not be named?
With Finals Week comes all the stress that can give you ulcers and drives you to pull all-nighters trying to study those last few things so that you'll get a passing grade for a class you've either done fantastic in, or you're totally failing in.
If you can just get that last final done, you're home free for Christmas break. You can chill, sleep in, relax, and not think about school until the day before break ends. Hopefully you don't have homework over break.
But you're not done with Finals yet, so no celebrating yet.
With the stress also comes the depression, the anxiety, the panic attacks. You start having thoughts of, "I'm not good enough," "I'm gonna fail no matter how hard I try," "I should just give up now," "My parents are gonna shoot me if I come home with a failing grade," "What's the point of this anyway?"
If you're like me, that kind of thought trail leads to a pretty messed up place. You're beyond tired now, you're exhausted. You're emotionally and physically drained, you have zero motivation to do anything anymore, and you just want to give up on life and take a hiatus for, well, ever. The future's pointless to look at because you're so bogged down in right now, you don't know how you'll survive, or if you're even worth it if you survive.
This is me, keeping it very real. This is the thought process I go through when I'm stressed out and barely holding it together. So, like, basically the place I've been returning to these past few weeks.
I'm surrounded by some of the most amazing people, and I've met some of the most amazing people on the face of the planet. Compared to them, I'm a candle, and they're everlasting supernovas. This candle's melting. The wax keeps dripping down, 'til, eventually, it's gonna run out, and the fire of the candle dies.
What do I even do for anyone? I'm selfish, an attention-seeker, a hypocrite, an introverted extrovert, I wanna punch some people in the face all the time, I get down on myself very easily because I'm too emotional, and the list goes on and on. I know I have a purpose and a destiny, but what's the point since I'm probably just gonna mess it all up anyways?
The point is, the people that I'll meet one day, the people that I already know, they rely on me, so I gotta keep going for them. They deserve a chance to make it.
But I don't want them believing a lie about me, that I've got it all figured out and I'm totally together. 'Cause I am totally not. I gotta figure this out, figure myself out.
So where's the balance? If I get so focused on trying to make it for other people, I'm still gonna get worn down and torn apart. It's a spiral down, either way. Focus too much on me, I'm messed up. Focus too much on other people, still get messed up. Gah.
The thing I realized is, first off, going to bed and sleeping off the bad day helps to reframe everything. When you're body's more rested, your mind's more rested, and you can look at things a bit more objectively. Secondly, I'm getting my degree so I can help other people, and the things I'm going through now, the stress and the pain and the mess, is so that I can learn to lean on Jesus more, rather than relying on myself. Ultimately, it's for His glory, it's because of His mercy and love that I can live and hope and try. The fire that I walk through, the crushing process that I'm in, is to purify and expunge the mess outta me so that I don't show off myself, but so I can reflect Him. A testimony is a powerful thing, and Revelation says that we overcome by the blood of the lamb and by the word of our testimony. I got the blood applied to my life, and when this test's over, I'm gonna have a testimony about how I thought I wouldn't make it, but God saw me through and I'm here today because of His goodness.
Thirdly, it is okay. Being stressed out, having a heart that's hurting for no reason, is okay. Pain means you're still alive. Pain means you're growing. Pain means you're trying. Frustration means you're trying. Failing means you tried, and if there's still breath in your body, it means you can try again. It means you made a mistake, you got some experience, and you can adapt, refine your strategy, and go after that boss monster again. You keep trying 'til you've defeated that test. You keep trying 'til you've killed that thing. You've got another chance from God, go try again.
Fourth, when you've hit a dead end, you feel like the walls are closing in around you and you have nowhere to go, cover your face with your hands and pray. Open up your Bible and read it, absorb that Word like your life depends on it. You've got a God who loves you and never leaves you. God is always listening. He's a very present help in trouble. He's a strong tower that you can run into and be safe. He's a provider, a protector, a healer, a deliverer, a saviour. He's there when no one else is, and if you're listening, He'll speak to you. He's a comforter, a counselor, the everlasting father, the mighty God, the Prince of Peace.
By the way, that word 'prince' doesn't mean like, 'prince' as in 'son of a king', it means 'ruler', 'captain', 'chief', 'lord', 'governor', 'principal', 'keeper', 'general'. You have chaos, He has peace. He will give you peace in your mind, spirit, body, if you go to Him. You're His child, of course He'll give you His peace.
To all of those who've finished their finals, yaaayyy go you!!! :) To all those who haven't yet, God bless you, I'm praying for ya, gan'batte!!! You're gonna do great. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Go knock 'em dead.
God bless you guys. Love ya. :) <3
--Sonya :) <3
With Finals Week comes all the stress that can give you ulcers and drives you to pull all-nighters trying to study those last few things so that you'll get a passing grade for a class you've either done fantastic in, or you're totally failing in.
If you can just get that last final done, you're home free for Christmas break. You can chill, sleep in, relax, and not think about school until the day before break ends. Hopefully you don't have homework over break.
But you're not done with Finals yet, so no celebrating yet.
With the stress also comes the depression, the anxiety, the panic attacks. You start having thoughts of, "I'm not good enough," "I'm gonna fail no matter how hard I try," "I should just give up now," "My parents are gonna shoot me if I come home with a failing grade," "What's the point of this anyway?"
If you're like me, that kind of thought trail leads to a pretty messed up place. You're beyond tired now, you're exhausted. You're emotionally and physically drained, you have zero motivation to do anything anymore, and you just want to give up on life and take a hiatus for, well, ever. The future's pointless to look at because you're so bogged down in right now, you don't know how you'll survive, or if you're even worth it if you survive.
This is me, keeping it very real. This is the thought process I go through when I'm stressed out and barely holding it together. So, like, basically the place I've been returning to these past few weeks.
I'm surrounded by some of the most amazing people, and I've met some of the most amazing people on the face of the planet. Compared to them, I'm a candle, and they're everlasting supernovas. This candle's melting. The wax keeps dripping down, 'til, eventually, it's gonna run out, and the fire of the candle dies.
What do I even do for anyone? I'm selfish, an attention-seeker, a hypocrite, an introverted extrovert, I wanna punch some people in the face all the time, I get down on myself very easily because I'm too emotional, and the list goes on and on. I know I have a purpose and a destiny, but what's the point since I'm probably just gonna mess it all up anyways?
The point is, the people that I'll meet one day, the people that I already know, they rely on me, so I gotta keep going for them. They deserve a chance to make it.
But I don't want them believing a lie about me, that I've got it all figured out and I'm totally together. 'Cause I am totally not. I gotta figure this out, figure myself out.
So where's the balance? If I get so focused on trying to make it for other people, I'm still gonna get worn down and torn apart. It's a spiral down, either way. Focus too much on me, I'm messed up. Focus too much on other people, still get messed up. Gah.
The thing I realized is, first off, going to bed and sleeping off the bad day helps to reframe everything. When you're body's more rested, your mind's more rested, and you can look at things a bit more objectively. Secondly, I'm getting my degree so I can help other people, and the things I'm going through now, the stress and the pain and the mess, is so that I can learn to lean on Jesus more, rather than relying on myself. Ultimately, it's for His glory, it's because of His mercy and love that I can live and hope and try. The fire that I walk through, the crushing process that I'm in, is to purify and expunge the mess outta me so that I don't show off myself, but so I can reflect Him. A testimony is a powerful thing, and Revelation says that we overcome by the blood of the lamb and by the word of our testimony. I got the blood applied to my life, and when this test's over, I'm gonna have a testimony about how I thought I wouldn't make it, but God saw me through and I'm here today because of His goodness.
Thirdly, it is okay. Being stressed out, having a heart that's hurting for no reason, is okay. Pain means you're still alive. Pain means you're growing. Pain means you're trying. Frustration means you're trying. Failing means you tried, and if there's still breath in your body, it means you can try again. It means you made a mistake, you got some experience, and you can adapt, refine your strategy, and go after that boss monster again. You keep trying 'til you've defeated that test. You keep trying 'til you've killed that thing. You've got another chance from God, go try again.
Fourth, when you've hit a dead end, you feel like the walls are closing in around you and you have nowhere to go, cover your face with your hands and pray. Open up your Bible and read it, absorb that Word like your life depends on it. You've got a God who loves you and never leaves you. God is always listening. He's a very present help in trouble. He's a strong tower that you can run into and be safe. He's a provider, a protector, a healer, a deliverer, a saviour. He's there when no one else is, and if you're listening, He'll speak to you. He's a comforter, a counselor, the everlasting father, the mighty God, the Prince of Peace.
By the way, that word 'prince' doesn't mean like, 'prince' as in 'son of a king', it means 'ruler', 'captain', 'chief', 'lord', 'governor', 'principal', 'keeper', 'general'. You have chaos, He has peace. He will give you peace in your mind, spirit, body, if you go to Him. You're His child, of course He'll give you His peace.
To all of those who've finished their finals, yaaayyy go you!!! :) To all those who haven't yet, God bless you, I'm praying for ya, gan'batte!!! You're gonna do great. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Go knock 'em dead.
God bless you guys. Love ya. :) <3
--Sonya :) <3
Saturday, December 10, 2016
The Real Reason for the Season
It's December. There is snow on the ground. It's pretty cold outside.
Yaaayyyyy. :D
Anyways. Who all's doing finals? It seems like everyone's freaking out about finals, staying up late studying for 'em, drinking more coffee, praying extra hard, not that they get an A in this class but that they pass it, stuff like that.
My finals are different from your finals, but I get the stress. I have two more courses to finish before I'm done with this semester, and I'm starting one of them next Monday. I'm gonna finish the other one next Wednesday, and then hopefully finish everything before Christmas break. *cue my own all-nighter*
So here's my question. Why is Christmastime always so stinkin' stressful? I always thought it was a time to have fun, be 'at peace' you know? That whole peace on Earth, goodwill to all men thing. All the lights, the glitz, the glamor, the Christmas plays, special music, trees, decorations, presents, it's all nice, but it's not about that. Christmas is about how the God who created everything came down to His creation in created form so that one day He could die for us. You can't talk about Christmas without mentioning the reason Christ came.
Mary probably did know. She was Jewish, she knew the prophecies of the Messiah. She probably knew that He'd one day die on a cross. But for a few short years, Jesus the Messiah was a baby, her baby.
I'm not dissing the decorations, the trees and all that wonderful stuff, I like getting presents and I like giving presents. I like looking at all the lights and the special music's pretty awesome. Christmas plays are epic too, I mean, my pastor's wife can't do a mediocre play, she always makes it spectacular.
All I'm saying is, instead of getting stressed out about the little details, think about why Jesus came. Think about the reason for the season. Think about why we hang up lights and decorate a tree and practice special music for a special service and memorize scripts and direct Christmas plays.
You are the reason He came. You were once lost, dead, dying, hurt, without hope. But now, you have a hope. You've been found. You died, and God gave you life. You were hurt, and He healed you. And even on your worst days, you still have an unreasonably strong hope that it's gonna get better, 'cause your hope's not found in the temporary things of this world, it's found in an everlasting God who loved you enough to pay the price and make a way for you to come to Him.
Love you guys. Merry Christmas! :)
--Sonya :) <3
Yaaayyyyy. :D
Anyways. Who all's doing finals? It seems like everyone's freaking out about finals, staying up late studying for 'em, drinking more coffee, praying extra hard, not that they get an A in this class but that they pass it, stuff like that.
My finals are different from your finals, but I get the stress. I have two more courses to finish before I'm done with this semester, and I'm starting one of them next Monday. I'm gonna finish the other one next Wednesday, and then hopefully finish everything before Christmas break. *cue my own all-nighter*
So here's my question. Why is Christmastime always so stinkin' stressful? I always thought it was a time to have fun, be 'at peace' you know? That whole peace on Earth, goodwill to all men thing. All the lights, the glitz, the glamor, the Christmas plays, special music, trees, decorations, presents, it's all nice, but it's not about that. Christmas is about how the God who created everything came down to His creation in created form so that one day He could die for us. You can't talk about Christmas without mentioning the reason Christ came.
Mary probably did know. She was Jewish, she knew the prophecies of the Messiah. She probably knew that He'd one day die on a cross. But for a few short years, Jesus the Messiah was a baby, her baby.
I'm not dissing the decorations, the trees and all that wonderful stuff, I like getting presents and I like giving presents. I like looking at all the lights and the special music's pretty awesome. Christmas plays are epic too, I mean, my pastor's wife can't do a mediocre play, she always makes it spectacular.
All I'm saying is, instead of getting stressed out about the little details, think about why Jesus came. Think about the reason for the season. Think about why we hang up lights and decorate a tree and practice special music for a special service and memorize scripts and direct Christmas plays.
You are the reason He came. You were once lost, dead, dying, hurt, without hope. But now, you have a hope. You've been found. You died, and God gave you life. You were hurt, and He healed you. And even on your worst days, you still have an unreasonably strong hope that it's gonna get better, 'cause your hope's not found in the temporary things of this world, it's found in an everlasting God who loved you enough to pay the price and make a way for you to come to Him.
Love you guys. Merry Christmas! :)
--Sonya :) <3
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
In Light of the Election Results...
Sooo, guys. Trump's gonna be our next president. I'm gonna be honest, I voted for him, and watching the polls last night was more intense than watching the Cub's score.
So, here's to all the people who said Trump supporters are deplorable. Racist. Bigots. Hateful. Trash. Homophobes. A buncha other different names that I won't repeat because I'm homeschooled and I don't cuss haha.
First off, I forgive you for calling people like me those names. People get pretty hyped up during Election Season, campaigning for their favorite presidential nominee, trying to convert people to their side. I applaud those of you who did their research on both candidates. I understand that Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice is a touchy subject. My stance is Pro-Life, just because I believe that each body inhabits has a soul inhabiting it, and that soul could literally change the world. The amount of potential in an unborn 'clump of cells,' shall we say, is astounding. I was once a clump of cells. You were once a clump of cells. Your best friend was once a clump of cells. Now think of your life without those people who make it worth living. The worlds that would crumble if that 'clump of cells' hadn't been there to hold it together, to keep you upright. I feel like it's a crime to take away that kind of potential.
Now, yes, we definitely need to worry about what happens to those babies once they're out of the womb, who's gonna take care of 'em, the cost of living and education and all that jazz. That's a pretty pressing issue. But if you have been blessed with carrying a tiny little soul in your womb, whether through horrible circumstances or an accident, you have the greatest responsibility of nurturing that soul to change the world and make it a better place. Nothing worth having is ever easy. You haven't been cursed with motherhood, you've been blessed with the potential to invest in the future.
You have a choice. Whether it's legal or not, you do have a choice. What're you gonna do with that?
Anyways. That's my two cents. I love you guys. If you voted for Trump, woohoo our candidate won! If you voted for Hillary or third-party, then get over your loss and let's bind together in unity to make this country great. A house divided against itself cannot stand, but if we stand together, nothing will be able to knock us over.
And for those Anti-Trump people who are saying you can't be a Christian to have voted for Trump because he's so far from being a Christian because he's crass and degrades women and this and that... Was King Nebuchadnezzar a Christian? Was Darius a Christian? Was Xerxes? Was Caesar? Nebuchadnezzar built a statue of himself and ordered everyone to worship it, and threw three Hebrew guys into a fiery furnace when they refused to do it. Darius got big-headed, signed a law that said no one could worship anyone but him for, like, a month, and threw Daniel in the lion's den for breaking that law. Xerxes was devoted to pleasure, got drunk and ordered his queen to do something extremely degrading for a woman of her standing in front of his friends, she got banished, and then he had a beauty contest to choose his next queen. Under Caesar's rule, Jesus was crucified. But you know what? God used all of these different, messed up rulers to accomplish His will. Those three Hebrew boys were thrown into the fire, and they walked out unscathed. Daniel came out of that lion's den unharmed. Esther saved her people. Jesus, well, He rose from the grave and here we are today.
So instead of freaking out about how Trump's not a Christian and all that, why don't you get down on your knees and pray that he's a good president?
You say he won't follow God's voice. So let me ask you this. Why do you pray for your lost family members? Your lost friends? Your wayward children? Your coworkers? That country you feel called to go minister to as a missionary? Your neighbors? People who're lost and without hope? Why should they listen to God's voice? Why should they choose to let God in? Why would they?
'Cause you trust and believe that God has a purpose and a plan for them and that He wants them to come to know Him and spend eternity in Heaven with Him. So why not believe the same for Trump?
To be honest, I'd be saying the same thing about Hillary Clinton if she'd won. Get down on your knees and pray for these people. God's got this. And if you get in tune with what He wants, you'll start to see the bigger picture, and your fears for the future of this world and our country will disappear.
Peace out, guys. Love ya. :)
--Sonya :) <3
So, here's to all the people who said Trump supporters are deplorable. Racist. Bigots. Hateful. Trash. Homophobes. A buncha other different names that I won't repeat because I'm homeschooled and I don't cuss haha.
First off, I forgive you for calling people like me those names. People get pretty hyped up during Election Season, campaigning for their favorite presidential nominee, trying to convert people to their side. I applaud those of you who did their research on both candidates. I understand that Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice is a touchy subject. My stance is Pro-Life, just because I believe that each body inhabits has a soul inhabiting it, and that soul could literally change the world. The amount of potential in an unborn 'clump of cells,' shall we say, is astounding. I was once a clump of cells. You were once a clump of cells. Your best friend was once a clump of cells. Now think of your life without those people who make it worth living. The worlds that would crumble if that 'clump of cells' hadn't been there to hold it together, to keep you upright. I feel like it's a crime to take away that kind of potential.
Now, yes, we definitely need to worry about what happens to those babies once they're out of the womb, who's gonna take care of 'em, the cost of living and education and all that jazz. That's a pretty pressing issue. But if you have been blessed with carrying a tiny little soul in your womb, whether through horrible circumstances or an accident, you have the greatest responsibility of nurturing that soul to change the world and make it a better place. Nothing worth having is ever easy. You haven't been cursed with motherhood, you've been blessed with the potential to invest in the future.
You have a choice. Whether it's legal or not, you do have a choice. What're you gonna do with that?
Anyways. That's my two cents. I love you guys. If you voted for Trump, woohoo our candidate won! If you voted for Hillary or third-party, then get over your loss and let's bind together in unity to make this country great. A house divided against itself cannot stand, but if we stand together, nothing will be able to knock us over.
And for those Anti-Trump people who are saying you can't be a Christian to have voted for Trump because he's so far from being a Christian because he's crass and degrades women and this and that... Was King Nebuchadnezzar a Christian? Was Darius a Christian? Was Xerxes? Was Caesar? Nebuchadnezzar built a statue of himself and ordered everyone to worship it, and threw three Hebrew guys into a fiery furnace when they refused to do it. Darius got big-headed, signed a law that said no one could worship anyone but him for, like, a month, and threw Daniel in the lion's den for breaking that law. Xerxes was devoted to pleasure, got drunk and ordered his queen to do something extremely degrading for a woman of her standing in front of his friends, she got banished, and then he had a beauty contest to choose his next queen. Under Caesar's rule, Jesus was crucified. But you know what? God used all of these different, messed up rulers to accomplish His will. Those three Hebrew boys were thrown into the fire, and they walked out unscathed. Daniel came out of that lion's den unharmed. Esther saved her people. Jesus, well, He rose from the grave and here we are today.
So instead of freaking out about how Trump's not a Christian and all that, why don't you get down on your knees and pray that he's a good president?
You say he won't follow God's voice. So let me ask you this. Why do you pray for your lost family members? Your lost friends? Your wayward children? Your coworkers? That country you feel called to go minister to as a missionary? Your neighbors? People who're lost and without hope? Why should they listen to God's voice? Why should they choose to let God in? Why would they?
'Cause you trust and believe that God has a purpose and a plan for them and that He wants them to come to know Him and spend eternity in Heaven with Him. So why not believe the same for Trump?
To be honest, I'd be saying the same thing about Hillary Clinton if she'd won. Get down on your knees and pray for these people. God's got this. And if you get in tune with what He wants, you'll start to see the bigger picture, and your fears for the future of this world and our country will disappear.
Peace out, guys. Love ya. :)
--Sonya :) <3
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