Sunday, March 18, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Detox of Life!
As many of you may know, the season of lent is approaching, and in light of actually thinking about what would bring me closer to my purpose, and farther from my temptations/distractions, I would like to discuss "Detoxing Our Lives".
On average, we could say that most young people spend 15-18 hours awake each day. Now, of those 15-18 hours, how many are spent literally wasting time?? With today's iPad's, iPhones, iPods, portable gaming devices, Facebook, YouTube, Netflix, Twitter, etc., even time that is meant to be reserved for school, is wasted. All of these distractions are temptations of our time, and our character. Do we tell mom we're studying late, so we can stay up and catch up on the Pretty Little Liars series? Do we cheat ourselves, and God, by not fully applying every ounce of our attention to our school work, during class time? Are our minds constantly wandering to the cyber world, because we feel it's so much safer, than the real world? Who/what are we truly worshiping? One heavenly God, or thousands of mind warping, materialistic gods?
What recently brought this problem to my attention, was actually.... me. That's right! My life has really been screwed up by 'distractions'. For me it's: friends (who aren't the best influence in my walk with God), Facebook, Netflix, movies/dvds, junk food, and bad music. When my life really starting going south, and I began to feel spiritually, emotionally, and physically weak, I began to wonder, "What am I really doing with the life/time God has given me?" For many years, I thought I was living an 'okay' life. I had friends, fun, and lots of down time. It wasn't until I was able to start truly feeling the effect of these on my life, that I freaked out! I was killing myself, and throwing away everything God had given me, all because I was following the lead of the media, and my friends, being apathetic towards life, and just flat out lazy! Relationships with my family deteriorated, and I started to see the world from a sad, self-worshiping, point of view. It was literally DEPRESSING!
As the lent season of 2012 began to roll around, I started thinking to myself, "If this season is meant for recognizing the sacrifice Jesus made for us, by sacrificing His life, shouldn't I give up these things that have become my life, and my distraction/disgrace toward Him?" I began to think of all the things I might ACTUALLY GET DONE, with these negative distractions gone... Test taking back to a regular schedule, my driver's license, weight loss, family time, quiet time with/for God, faith strengthening, and maybe even become fluent in Spanish! Ha, ha! All those things, versus what I had allowed myself to become!?
After considering all I could get done, I thought of all I would be giving up... that was my comfort zone, my life, my routine... how scary would it be to walk into the darkness of change, and not know what was beyond each step? All the cravings to return to familiar shores, all the temptations, all the torment.... was it worth it? When I take a step back, and see who/what I've allowed myself to become, I say, "yes! It is worth every moment! It certainly won't be easy, and there may be days where I fail epically, but I know that God will see my repentance, my hope, and my effort to be a better person for Him, and He will lift me up, and give me the strength to finish the 'race marked out'."
If you're out there tonight, looking at your life, and wondering where it first started to slip, know that it's never too late. Until your final breath, you have the opportunity to change who you choose to be, and to strive to live differently. It won't be easy, and the devil will pursue you, but you will cry out, "Get behind me, Satan, for my hope rests in the Lord, God, Almighty, and you shall have no power over me, for God is on my side, and He alone remains forever in control!" So dig deep in your hearts, find what's hurting you today, and 'cut it out' of your life for good. I know that we can do this, but our strength must be in the Lord, our wonderful Father in Heaven, who will catch us when we fall, and cheer as we start to reach the finish line!!
God bless you, and your searching!
~ Clay
Thursday, February 9, 2012
To Mend, Or Not to Mend?.... That is the Question!
Have you ever found yourself in a relationship with someone who is, in truth, great... but you feel like something is definitely missing, or causing you to change? It could be a friend, a boyfriend, or a superior, but it doesn't matter... cause weird stuff happens, and people change.
Whether or not you have ever faced this predicament, you are bound to face it more than once in your life. So here are my suggestions to you:)
1) Be aware of your surroundings, and know the people who are in your life WELL! By doing this, you will not only be able to possibly serve them greater, as a friend/supporter, but you will also be able to pick up on potentially dangerous changes early. This is, to me, one of THE MOST IMPORTANT KEYS to coming out of these types of relationships safely. Sadly, I had to learn that the hard way, but will definitely know better next time. Know your friends, their beliefs, their standards, their choices, and their families. We become who they are, just by spending time with them, so make sure that's something you are ok with representing.
2) When this situation pops up among friends.... Although we may be hesitant about distancing ourselves from a group of people who have become our "crowd", if something in your heart tells you to get out, don't wait around to find out why! The longer you stay with these people, the more you become apathetic to their choices! If what they are doing is not something you started out believing in, and it makes you feel uncomfortable, or you question its purpose, THEN DON'T DO IT! Sometimes, we have to realize that, by hanging out with these people, we are telling the world, "I'm ok with this." If you are not ok with this, then voice your feelings to your friends... and if that doesn't work, then GET OUT, cause they were never your friends in the first place. Now, you've got to know that the OBVIOUS won't always be obvious. For example, growing up, and throughout my middle school life, I had a LOT of friends, and mixed with many cliques. All of these kids were just like me, for the most part. Usually Christian, involved in youth group, sports, or school activities. They didn't have tattoos all over their bodies, they didn't breathe fire, or smoke pot, and they definitely didn't cuss. I thought I had finally found a safe crowd, but then came.... High School! All of a sudden you weren't allowed to talk to 'certain people', let alone, make EYE CONTACT! My girl friends started dressing... different... with lots of midriffs, cleavage, and bootie shorts, and my guy friends stopped seeing me as a friend, and more, as an object. No longer was it cool for me to shoot hoops, or talk, because to them, I now had ulterior motives! Psh! Now, to even have a shot at sitting at their table at youth, I felt like I had to be ok with their choices/behavior... and I wasn't. So what was I supposed to do? Lose ALL of my friends? .... Let me ask you this. From my story above, were any of them really my friends in the first place? A friend isn't a number on Facebook; a person you accept, cause he's friends with your friend's bf! A friend is someone who knows who they are, who you are, and builds from there. Someone who is just as much there for you, as you are for them. Who's supportive, and helps you stick to your dreams.... Were any of those people that for me? No. So why hang onto them? You gotta let 'em go.
3) When you start to question the situation developing with one of your "just friends"... Here's another really tough genre of friendly that is tough to let go of! As girls, especially for those who don't have strong father figures in the home, we tend to thirst for someone to fill that male role in our lives. If we don't find it at home, we look for it in friends... but the truth is, no guy-girl friendship can last as "just friends" if the girl's intention is to use the guy as filler, and the guy's intention is to use the girl as arm candy, or practice! Sadly, and many will admit to this, this is what happens in oh too many g/g friendships! We were wired to want to be by a guy's side, to want to fill his head with support/encouragement, and to be needed by the dude... but all of that was put in us for the purpose of marriage! No wonder people used to marry their kids off at twelve/thirteen! Those hormones kick in, and you better get a ring on that girl's finger, before she goes running off with the shepherd! Lol!! Sadly, in our society today, since it's "okay" to have sex before marriage... marriage, itself, is no longer as sacred and special. It's like, "oh, so we've been living together for three years now, sleeping together for five, I guess we should just go ahead and do this thing, for real." What about any of that is even left to be "real"? Our generations are withering in our beliefs, our standards, our faith, and our self respect. What people don't realize, is that those habits start at a young age, in the home, and in your friendships. Most kids base their faith, standards, and future goals, off of what they see in their parents, or learn from them. However, have you ever taken a step back to look at your g/g friendships? Do you see some habits being put to practice there? Maybe some flirting? Some hair twirling? Some selling yourself short? You have a choice in all of this. They may not know about self worthy actions, but you can lead by example, and cut your ties if it doesn't rub off. This time in our lives should be used for discovering ourselves, not wasting our time making moony eyes at a boy who is going to be someone else's husband someday! Just be careful, ladies.
4) Woolf among the sheep: Finally, beware of those good 'Christian' boys who are genius enough to realize that the church is the best place to pick up 'good girls'. I've seen this happen oh too many times. Where the boy puts on some spiritual act, to get an, "Awwww!", from the ladies, or incessant hugging/hand holding. We almost set ourselves up for it, when we go around acting like our man's gotta be Mr. Darcy, but hey, we live and we learn. The truth is, no guy should be Mr. Darcy, because he is a fictional character, created by a WOMAN! All his die hard traits are WOMANLY traits, because truthfully, men were not made to be OUR helpers, we were made to be THEIRS! So don't work yourself up, and fall in love with a woman, dressed as a tall, dark haired, brooding, lover boy... but appreciate today's real man, for what he is. They are looking for our approval, so we need to stop messing with their minds, and treating them as objects for our use, and start treating them like brothers in Christ, who need to be guided, and supported, in this tough/tempting time in their lives. You have a chance to truly be a friend to a guy, for the right reasons. Help prepare his heart for life after high school, cause this mini-kingdom won't last forever. When you are interacting with someone, ask yourself, "Is this something his wife will thank me for, someday?"
Be careful out there ladies!
Clay
Whether or not you have ever faced this predicament, you are bound to face it more than once in your life. So here are my suggestions to you:)
1) Be aware of your surroundings, and know the people who are in your life WELL! By doing this, you will not only be able to possibly serve them greater, as a friend/supporter, but you will also be able to pick up on potentially dangerous changes early. This is, to me, one of THE MOST IMPORTANT KEYS to coming out of these types of relationships safely. Sadly, I had to learn that the hard way, but will definitely know better next time. Know your friends, their beliefs, their standards, their choices, and their families. We become who they are, just by spending time with them, so make sure that's something you are ok with representing.
2) When this situation pops up among friends.... Although we may be hesitant about distancing ourselves from a group of people who have become our "crowd", if something in your heart tells you to get out, don't wait around to find out why! The longer you stay with these people, the more you become apathetic to their choices! If what they are doing is not something you started out believing in, and it makes you feel uncomfortable, or you question its purpose, THEN DON'T DO IT! Sometimes, we have to realize that, by hanging out with these people, we are telling the world, "I'm ok with this." If you are not ok with this, then voice your feelings to your friends... and if that doesn't work, then GET OUT, cause they were never your friends in the first place. Now, you've got to know that the OBVIOUS won't always be obvious. For example, growing up, and throughout my middle school life, I had a LOT of friends, and mixed with many cliques. All of these kids were just like me, for the most part. Usually Christian, involved in youth group, sports, or school activities. They didn't have tattoos all over their bodies, they didn't breathe fire, or smoke pot, and they definitely didn't cuss. I thought I had finally found a safe crowd, but then came.... High School! All of a sudden you weren't allowed to talk to 'certain people', let alone, make EYE CONTACT! My girl friends started dressing... different... with lots of midriffs, cleavage, and bootie shorts, and my guy friends stopped seeing me as a friend, and more, as an object. No longer was it cool for me to shoot hoops, or talk, because to them, I now had ulterior motives! Psh! Now, to even have a shot at sitting at their table at youth, I felt like I had to be ok with their choices/behavior... and I wasn't. So what was I supposed to do? Lose ALL of my friends? .... Let me ask you this. From my story above, were any of them really my friends in the first place? A friend isn't a number on Facebook; a person you accept, cause he's friends with your friend's bf! A friend is someone who knows who they are, who you are, and builds from there. Someone who is just as much there for you, as you are for them. Who's supportive, and helps you stick to your dreams.... Were any of those people that for me? No. So why hang onto them? You gotta let 'em go.
3) When you start to question the situation developing with one of your "just friends"... Here's another really tough genre of friendly that is tough to let go of! As girls, especially for those who don't have strong father figures in the home, we tend to thirst for someone to fill that male role in our lives. If we don't find it at home, we look for it in friends... but the truth is, no guy-girl friendship can last as "just friends" if the girl's intention is to use the guy as filler, and the guy's intention is to use the girl as arm candy, or practice! Sadly, and many will admit to this, this is what happens in oh too many g/g friendships! We were wired to want to be by a guy's side, to want to fill his head with support/encouragement, and to be needed by the dude... but all of that was put in us for the purpose of marriage! No wonder people used to marry their kids off at twelve/thirteen! Those hormones kick in, and you better get a ring on that girl's finger, before she goes running off with the shepherd! Lol!! Sadly, in our society today, since it's "okay" to have sex before marriage... marriage, itself, is no longer as sacred and special. It's like, "oh, so we've been living together for three years now, sleeping together for five, I guess we should just go ahead and do this thing, for real." What about any of that is even left to be "real"? Our generations are withering in our beliefs, our standards, our faith, and our self respect. What people don't realize, is that those habits start at a young age, in the home, and in your friendships. Most kids base their faith, standards, and future goals, off of what they see in their parents, or learn from them. However, have you ever taken a step back to look at your g/g friendships? Do you see some habits being put to practice there? Maybe some flirting? Some hair twirling? Some selling yourself short? You have a choice in all of this. They may not know about self worthy actions, but you can lead by example, and cut your ties if it doesn't rub off. This time in our lives should be used for discovering ourselves, not wasting our time making moony eyes at a boy who is going to be someone else's husband someday! Just be careful, ladies.
4) Woolf among the sheep: Finally, beware of those good 'Christian' boys who are genius enough to realize that the church is the best place to pick up 'good girls'. I've seen this happen oh too many times. Where the boy puts on some spiritual act, to get an, "Awwww!", from the ladies, or incessant hugging/hand holding. We almost set ourselves up for it, when we go around acting like our man's gotta be Mr. Darcy, but hey, we live and we learn. The truth is, no guy should be Mr. Darcy, because he is a fictional character, created by a WOMAN! All his die hard traits are WOMANLY traits, because truthfully, men were not made to be OUR helpers, we were made to be THEIRS! So don't work yourself up, and fall in love with a woman, dressed as a tall, dark haired, brooding, lover boy... but appreciate today's real man, for what he is. They are looking for our approval, so we need to stop messing with their minds, and treating them as objects for our use, and start treating them like brothers in Christ, who need to be guided, and supported, in this tough/tempting time in their lives. You have a chance to truly be a friend to a guy, for the right reasons. Help prepare his heart for life after high school, cause this mini-kingdom won't last forever. When you are interacting with someone, ask yourself, "Is this something his wife will thank me for, someday?"
Be careful out there ladies!
Clay
Saturday, February 4, 2012
College Plus! for Students!!!
Interested in College Plus!? Want to find out more about how they are serving students, and their futures? Saving students TIME, $$, and restrictions!!! Use my referral, and find out more TODAY!!! This is a great way to transfer into the college of YOUR CHOICE, with the right hours under your belt! OR... an even BETTER way to earn an accredited undergrad degree in 2 YEARS!!! Visit: www.collegeplus.org/tf/7708 for more info!!! My student referral code is: 7708. Help me out with my tuition by filling out a FREE request for more info, & letting them know that 7708 got you there!!! :D Blessings!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Boys will be Boys... So What should You Avoid?
Hey girls!
As many of you know, girls can be vicious, at times. Many are wonderful, as long as you are on their side, and some are genuinely sweet. If you are like me, you may have morphed over to hanging out with 'the guys' more often than, 'the girls'. Lol!! Well, if you have, I feel your pain, and I understand why you might think that, by hanging out with guys, you will get the best of mostly everything! Sadly, I had to learn my lesson the hard way. So here is my article to you, my fellow young women, on how to keep your actions in check for God, your friends, and yourself. :)
For years now, I have been one of 'the guys'... in theory, that is. About 75% of my friends are male, and for a long time, I thought I was living the life. Coming from an area of competitive, backstabbing, girls, I felt that, by hanging out with guys who would never be my competition (and don't seem to be interested in cat fights) I would be 'playing it safe' for myself, and my happiness. There were so many pluses to hanging out with 'the guys'! I could wear sweats/bball shoes, play catch, or a game of three on three, and most importantly, there was NO CHICK DRAMA WHAT-SO-EVER!!! :D For a long time, I thought I was in heaven. Going to the movies with four guys, versus one = SCORE for my ego!!... Having close friends, of the opposite gender, to discuss relationships with = SCORE for my ability to understand guys better... and finally; Being able to feel accepted, and safe, with a group of people I truly felt good with = a boost to my happiness. :) Through it all, a few warning flags went up, whether it be in discussions, or change in attitudes, but I ignored them, hoping to keep what I had going for awhile. Sadly, I finally discovered why male/female friendships can be SO complicated if you're not careful, or you let your guard down.....
Of the four, or five, different times I have tried the whole 'one of the guys' things, my predicament in the end has persisted. Eventually, somewhere along the way, a conversation is going to be hindered by your presence, an activity cancelled because they want to keep it literally just 'the guys', or a friendship will begin to develop into something else... for one of you. Although the first two items on that problem list can make you feel bummed, like you are holding those friends back, the final item can literally ruin your friendship with the whole group. Eventually, either you, or one of your guy 'friends', is going to start seeing someone in a different light... the crush light. :/ When that happens, it's down hill from there, unless you are both on the same page. Sadly, because you joined the group to be a friend, that doesn't always mean you were accepted for that purpose. The reality of it is, girls were never meant to be 'one of the guys'. :( If you are like me, and you hoped that would not be the case for you, hope again, because it does not change based on the person. No matter what, we were created to be attracted to the opposite sex, and if you mix those genders on a 1:5 ratio (or anything where you are outnumbered, and it's not a GROUP of evenly proportioned friends) things WILL end badly. You may have a few weeks of un-awkward down time with 'the guys', but you, as a young woman, are testing yourself, and those around you. Bottom line, guys are great, and they can be amazing friends, but we cannot allow ourselves to enter an outnumbered group of 'friends'. For our sake, and for the sake of those we encounter, we must display choices that follow after our faith. We, as young women of Christ, should never enter a situation that we secretly know will either tempt us, or the people with us. Now, I am not saying that, by entering an 'evenly proportioned' group, things will change. NOT AT ALL!! Ha, ha! Again, we are human, and we were designed to be attracted to the opposite sex, but by entering an evenly proportioned situation, your image as a young woman is not as hampered, your temptation is not as great, and your safety, and ability to blend with everyone, increases with 'non-coupled' events.
As far as girl drama goes, high school does not last forever, and eventually you can get out into a MUCH bigger world, to find some true, humble, Christian, young women to surround yourself with. Until then, devote your time to your church, or community. Find ways to get yourself out of tempting, or dangerous, situations. When you are hurting, or scared, find someone who is feeling even worse than you, and serve them. In this, you will make your Heavenly Father smile, and put your soul to rest. :) Imagine each young man you come in contact with, as someone's husband someday. May your behavior mirror what you would prefer the young women, in your future husband's life, to behave like.
Press on, ladies!
Clay
As many of you know, girls can be vicious, at times. Many are wonderful, as long as you are on their side, and some are genuinely sweet. If you are like me, you may have morphed over to hanging out with 'the guys' more often than, 'the girls'. Lol!! Well, if you have, I feel your pain, and I understand why you might think that, by hanging out with guys, you will get the best of mostly everything! Sadly, I had to learn my lesson the hard way. So here is my article to you, my fellow young women, on how to keep your actions in check for God, your friends, and yourself. :)
For years now, I have been one of 'the guys'... in theory, that is. About 75% of my friends are male, and for a long time, I thought I was living the life. Coming from an area of competitive, backstabbing, girls, I felt that, by hanging out with guys who would never be my competition (and don't seem to be interested in cat fights) I would be 'playing it safe' for myself, and my happiness. There were so many pluses to hanging out with 'the guys'! I could wear sweats/bball shoes, play catch, or a game of three on three, and most importantly, there was NO CHICK DRAMA WHAT-SO-EVER!!! :D For a long time, I thought I was in heaven. Going to the movies with four guys, versus one = SCORE for my ego!!... Having close friends, of the opposite gender, to discuss relationships with = SCORE for my ability to understand guys better... and finally; Being able to feel accepted, and safe, with a group of people I truly felt good with = a boost to my happiness. :) Through it all, a few warning flags went up, whether it be in discussions, or change in attitudes, but I ignored them, hoping to keep what I had going for awhile. Sadly, I finally discovered why male/female friendships can be SO complicated if you're not careful, or you let your guard down.....
Of the four, or five, different times I have tried the whole 'one of the guys' things, my predicament in the end has persisted. Eventually, somewhere along the way, a conversation is going to be hindered by your presence, an activity cancelled because they want to keep it literally just 'the guys', or a friendship will begin to develop into something else... for one of you. Although the first two items on that problem list can make you feel bummed, like you are holding those friends back, the final item can literally ruin your friendship with the whole group. Eventually, either you, or one of your guy 'friends', is going to start seeing someone in a different light... the crush light. :/ When that happens, it's down hill from there, unless you are both on the same page. Sadly, because you joined the group to be a friend, that doesn't always mean you were accepted for that purpose. The reality of it is, girls were never meant to be 'one of the guys'. :( If you are like me, and you hoped that would not be the case for you, hope again, because it does not change based on the person. No matter what, we were created to be attracted to the opposite sex, and if you mix those genders on a 1:5 ratio (or anything where you are outnumbered, and it's not a GROUP of evenly proportioned friends) things WILL end badly. You may have a few weeks of un-awkward down time with 'the guys', but you, as a young woman, are testing yourself, and those around you. Bottom line, guys are great, and they can be amazing friends, but we cannot allow ourselves to enter an outnumbered group of 'friends'. For our sake, and for the sake of those we encounter, we must display choices that follow after our faith. We, as young women of Christ, should never enter a situation that we secretly know will either tempt us, or the people with us. Now, I am not saying that, by entering an 'evenly proportioned' group, things will change. NOT AT ALL!! Ha, ha! Again, we are human, and we were designed to be attracted to the opposite sex, but by entering an evenly proportioned situation, your image as a young woman is not as hampered, your temptation is not as great, and your safety, and ability to blend with everyone, increases with 'non-coupled' events.
As far as girl drama goes, high school does not last forever, and eventually you can get out into a MUCH bigger world, to find some true, humble, Christian, young women to surround yourself with. Until then, devote your time to your church, or community. Find ways to get yourself out of tempting, or dangerous, situations. When you are hurting, or scared, find someone who is feeling even worse than you, and serve them. In this, you will make your Heavenly Father smile, and put your soul to rest. :) Imagine each young man you come in contact with, as someone's husband someday. May your behavior mirror what you would prefer the young women, in your future husband's life, to behave like.
Press on, ladies!
Clay
Thursday, January 12, 2012
New Blog Playlist!!
In preparation of Valentines' Day, I've gotten an early jump on the upcoming holiday (along with most of the local franchises)! LOL!! I hope you enjoy the new music available on my page!!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Human Trafficking Awareness Month!!
Did you know that slavery today is worse than it has ever been in the history of our world? Over 27 million of the world's population has fallen victim to trafficking. Of those 27 million, 1.5 million are caught in sex trafficking, and 50% of those trafficked are children!! Surely our Lord is crying out in anguish for these children who have fallen innocently victim to these harsh, and inhuman, crimes. Today, Jan. 11th, 2012, is Human Trafficking Awareness Month kicks off. Join thousands of Christians around the world in prayer for these poor, forgotten, abused, and neglected men, women, and children! Although we are blessed to not personally experience/know these ordeals, we must also feel their hopeless, and scared, souls crying out, and send them comfort, and salvation, through our prayers. Find a way to use your VOICE, and stand up for those, who are not able to stand up for themselves!!
Visit: http://www.notforsalecampaign.org or http://www.thea21campaign.org/home.php to find out how you can get involved with two of the leading organizations in fighting human trafficking!!
God bless and protect you all!
Clay
Visit: http://www.notforsalecampaign.org or http://www.thea21campaign.org/home.php to find out how you can get involved with two of the leading organizations in fighting human trafficking!!
God bless and protect you all!
Clay
Sunday, January 1, 2012
My Hope for Your New Year :)
At some point you have to realize the people in your life who do matter; who would be there for you in a split second, and who live by a two-way friendship lane, and not one... & the people who will probably disappear from your life, the second they don't need your friendly, one-way friendship lane services anymore. This 2012, treasure those two-way friends/family like priceless jewels. Have a blessed year! :)
The Greatest Comfort
Sometimes, the greatest comfort in life, when you're down, and crying, is not a perky friend who says, "It'll be okay, eventually," to try to comfort you... but it's the friend who comes to you, with tears in his/her eyes, and says, "Let me cry with you. We'll get through this together," that truly soothes a person's breaking soul. It's not always about strong, protective arms to run to, but it's about an understanding soul to grow with in strength, faith, hope, and love.
I find comfort in the arms of one who I can cry with... I hope you find that someone too. :)
Happy New Year!! :D
I find comfort in the arms of one who I can cry with... I hope you find that someone too. :)
Happy New Year!! :D
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