Start Praying and Stop Ceasing

     Why is it that in life the simplest actions are often the most difficult to accomplish? Is it that we crave challenges and want to test ourselves, or do we decide that if something is too easy it's not worth pursuing? This is a question that often baffles me, particularly in the area of prayer. For some reason, I find it difficult to put aside time for one of the essential parts of living a Christian life. I can sit down and read my Bible, I can travel hundreds of miles to go on a mission trip, but talking to God through prayer doesn't come easily to me. Why is this? I think the reason is that because prayer is so simple I take its value for granted. 
     A few days ago, the BCM launched a "15 Days of Prayer" campaign, and we began by holding a "15 Hours of Prayer Day." This was a time where people signed up for shifts and went to the B (that's what we call our building) to pray. 
 

(This is the front of the prayer pamphlet we received upon finishing all of the prayer stations. I added the Lilly Pulitzer background for a bit of decoration.)

There were 15 stations that we prayed at, and each one had us pray for a specific topic, such as upcoming mission trips, the lost on our campus, and places that have never heard the Gospel. After going through this experience, I left with a softened heart and a renewed belief in the power of prayer. Beginning the day by talking to God filled me with a joy that permeated my day, and I thought to myself Why wouldn't I want to start every day like this? 
     Furthermore, in my quiet time this morning, I read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 which says, "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Out of all the things we Christians are expected to do, this notion should be one of the simplest.     
     There is no denying that following Christ comes with many trials and tribulations, various mountains and valleys, and both good and bad times. However, the beautiful part of having a relationship with God is that it comes freely. He willingly gives His grace and love to us even though we don't deserve it, and He'll listen to us whenever we call upon His name. 
     With this revelation comes motivation to work on my prayer life. I'm determined to set aside time each day to just talk with God. He is never too busy to hear, never too busy to talk, and never too busy to give. He truly and genuinely cares what we have to say which should make the simple action of prayer more appealing and doable.
     So how about you? What are your thoughts on prayer? Do you pray without ceasing, or, like me, is it difficult to even start? If you have trouble, I encourage you to remember what it's like to have a deep, heartfelt conversation with God. Don't forget the feeling of peace and security that flows through you after talking with Him.  
     I hope you have a prayerful and blessed day, and thanks for reading!
    

Live for Now, Play in the Snow

     Over the weekend my little ‘ole college town awoke to a white blanket of snow. Cheers were shouted, layers were put on, and playing like a kid ensued. Even though it was cold, it warmed my heart to see so many people forget about the “mature image” that we college students are supposed to don.  For a little while, we were kids again. For a few hours, snowballs flew, people ran, and laughter occurred.  Oh yeah, and lots of pictures were taken of the wintry goodness by my friend, John.

Courtesy of JMichael Photographs

     Unfortunately, though the miracle of snow is a beautiful thing to behold, it often doesn’t last very long (at least in the South), and by the middle of the afternoon, that gorgeous blanket became mushy, sparse, and even a little brown in some areas.

     This phenomenon got me thinking about how important it is to appreciate every moment we’re given and how we should live in the here and now. Usually I'm the type of person that likes to know exactly what to expect in every situation, and I write everything in my planner to make sure that this happens. However, we all know that life is full of unseen twists and turns and my eyes were recently opened to how my need for control was actually a sin that was controlling me.

     I recently went on a retreat with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) at my school, and the theme of the weekend was focusing on the present and giving God our moments. 

Here's a group photo from the trip.

In Matthew 6:34, Jesus says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." This is a command that I wasn't living, and after attending this retreat, my eyes were opened to the error of dwelling on things that may or may not happen. 

     Don't get me wrong, it is important to think about the future and to be prepared, but it's also crucial that we don't let that planning take us away form "playing in the snow" today. If God takes care of birds and lilies, how much more will he take care of us?

    Live in the now. When something beautiful happens, enjoy it. Always appreciate what you have because you don't know when time (or the sun) will melt it away.

From Pretend to Reality

     When you were younger, did you ever play pretend? Did you imagine yourself as a princess, locked away in a castle, waiting for Prince Charming? Or maybe you were an adventurer and saved the world from bad guys? Though I certainly imagined myself in each of these scenarios, in reality, I'll never be a Kate Middleton and marry the heir to the throne. I'll never save the world from some evil villain who is bent on its destruction. Many of the things I pretended to be when I was younger will never occur, but one thing that is attainable (and that I've almost grasped) is being a teacher.
     I remember playing school and using my stuffed animals and Barbies as students. I spent endless hours jabbering away about ABC's and 123's and teaching my pupils content that I dubbed to be important. It's both exciting and scary to know that the time for make-believe is over and that the "real world" is moving in. As my college career nears its end, the reality of what I'm getting into is beginning to set in. I'm under no misconceptions that the classroom will be filled with rainbows, daisies, and butterflies; in fact, I see lots of frustration, impatience, and possibly a few tears in the future. However, what makes it all bearable is that I know I'll be doing what God put me on this earth to do. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." I know there will be days when I want to quit and give up, but if I can make a difference in one student's life it'll all be worth it. I'm just so excited to see where this road leads and am anxious to meet the adventures that I'll encounter along the way.