"Stop this Train"

I was thinking the other day that if I had to describe my life lately through an analogy it would be this.

   "I'm on a train, it's called "Life" and it's moving super fast.  It's beginning to pick-up speed.  It's beginning to move so fast I barely have enough time to catch a glimpse of the scenery. I want it to slow down, but it won't -it can't.
I take hold of the break in attempt to slow the train down but my attempt is futile and the break,breaks.  The break throws me back into reality where I realize there is nothing I can do about the speed of this train.  The only thing I have control of is how I will react to the trip.  I realize I'm only a passenger, not the engineer - someone else holds that position.  I realize the only thing I can do is make the best out of the ride no matter how fast the train is moving."

Now, it was about two weeks ago when I thought of this comparison and than began to feel smart about myself and the comparison because I am not much if a creative writer, you see.
Well people, there is nothing new under the sun!
This comparison has already been thought up and put into song. I heard it at Weatherford Christian's graduation ceremony.
Who, you may ask wrote this song!?  John Mayer did and it's called ' Stop This Train".
My mother always said there was a song for everything.
-O

Purpose

pur·pose (pûr'ps)
n.

1. The object toward which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or a goal: 

2. A result or effect that is intended or desired; an intention.

3. Determination; resolution

4. The matter at hand; the point at issue.

Oh! There is so much to think about and to prepare for and at times all I want to do is nothing, I just want to sit and stare.  I'm having to make more decisions then I think I have ever had to in my entire life and I'm having to think and plan for what I want to be doing four...ten years down the road without losing grips of what is happening right now!  The most important thing in order to keep my head on straight and to keep me from falling into a pit of despair would be to make sure that I make my personal quite time with God a priority.
( In all reality I have slacked off BIG time with this in the past several weeks. I am so thankfull that my God is still faithfull when I am not!! ) 
Without that time to reconnect and be encouraged by the one who loves me the most and who is fighting for my best, I begin to become very overwhelmed and loose sight of what our / my purpose is. 
That purpose is to be a "little Christ" in our actions and words ( I love being called that - " Little Christ" )
To tell others about His life saving, FREE gift and how they can have it.
We need to remember not to become bogged down with "religious rules" but to love recklessly abandoned  and madly in love with Christ.  I love being in love with Christ, I really Don't forget your purpose my friends!     : )

-O

Learning A Lot

Man! God is growing me a lot right now in this chapter of life.  High school is almost over and and with it, to be honest, so is my childhood.  This excites and frightens me.  I look forward to being used by God in the years to come and I am so thankful for the past years He has blessed me with but the idea that I will soon be responsible for SO much more is humbling.  I love getting to see how God is leading and providing for all my needs-physical, spiritual and emotional.  I was talking with my parents the other night about this whole "transition stage" and how I'm enjoying and disliking it at the same time.  Sunday for instance I was an emotional wreck.  ( Which is not at all like me)  I cried on and off all day and I didn't really even know why.  I didn't know how to explain what I was feeling or what I thought I was feeling, I just cried.  You have to understand that I cry when I'm stressed or tired- I was both- so that didn't help but still, I was having a real "come to grasps with reality" moment.
It's funny how God always knows when you need those.
God really showed me how short our lives are and how important it is to be sure that we live every moment for Him.
Through this, He is teaching me that I need to learn how to prioritize my activities and time - this is a hard lesson.  He is reminding me to be sure that I try to bring Him glory in all that I do and that my priorities are ones that honor Him.   I have always tried to searched for God's will in my life and asked that His will be done but lately I have really been convicted to dig deep and search hard for what the Lord is wanting me to do. What His specific will is for me.  This might take some time but I know He will answer me in His timing and until then I will wait patiently and expectantly for His answer.   He is also reminding me to live with purpose.  Not to got through the motions of being a Christian, not to be content with living in my own little Christian bubble doing my own little thing but to live reaching for goals and with a purpose to show others Christ.  Not be afraid of whether or not other people will except what I have to share with them about Christ but to be content in obeying Him.  That brings me to another point, contentment.  
He is showing me that I need to be content with the age that I am, in the place that I am and with what He has me doing right now.  That's another hard lesson but one I am so thankful to be taught.

Bottom line - God is good and He never changes.
He has a plan and my prayer is that I will earnestly seek and follow it with all my heart. I pray that I will not worry about the future but be content with the here-and-now and live every moment of this short life for His glory and with purpose for His kingdom.


-O