Sibling Love. The importance of comparison.

I love my family. I love my friends. Sometimes though, I find myself loving my friends more than my family. So when I snap at my siblings, and joke and converse with my friends, I realize that something is seriously wrong. So I will start now, to treat my siblings at a better and deeper level than I do my friends, as I should have been doing long ago. I encourage anyone who reads this, to prioritize your family relationships over your friendships. 

God has given us the family we have for a reason, and we must never take that for granted. Don't get me wrong, friendships are important as well, but lets get our perspective straight and start loving our brothers and sisters as if they were our best friends. 

American- what?

The name itself should give it away. American Idol is a much watched, much loved show in more countries than the country named. With a subtle mix of celebrity dreaminess and a down to earth involvement of the viewers, American Idol has leaped its way to the top of the current entertainments of America. Every year it is the same. People from all over America come to show their singing stuff to the animated judges, Randy, Paula, Simon, and the new addition, Kara. Eventually, if the contestants make it far enough, America will then decide their fate. More accurately put, America will then decide who will be the next celebrity/celebrities to be worshiped. The name American Idol Hits the mark perfectly. There are positive and negative elements to this show. One element, is that America has a chance to raise up unlikely, and everyday people, to the world of fame. This is positive, and negative. The positive side, is that this element reveals that you don't need to have money, amazing good looks, or connections to become well known and loved by people you don't even know. All you need is the talent you were made with. That and some pretty good luck when it comes to the judges moods. On the other hand, fame is an unstable world, and the same people who were voting for you on American Idol yesterday, could and probably will be forgetting all about you tomorrow. 

We all agree that the draw of fame and fortune is strong, we all, in one way or another, have held that hairbrush microphone and have danced in front of that flattering mirror. But when it comes right down to it, fame in this world is not fame in the kingdom of God. So when I see those poor players, who risk dignity and pride to appear on a show that is meant to get you famous with people who may hate you tomorrow, I will try and focus more on building up my treasures in heaven. Because those treasures will last forever. 

Can you picture Jesus singing on American Idol? Probably not. Can God call Christians to pursue a life of music and song for Him? Absolutely. But does God call Christians to a life of worldly fame? Absolutely not. Fame may come, or it may not, but giving the fame to God is what we are meant to do. God actually calls us to do the opposite of pursuing worldly fame, to take up our cross and follow Him. And the rewards are greater than anything American Idol could cough up. 

Fireproof

What an awesome movie. What a light shining in the dark world of Hollywood. Many times I find myself finishing a movie and thinking one of three things. One, that movie was nice to watch. Two, I cannot believe I watched that, my mind is now slightly more corrupted, or three, that is an amazing movie, beyond words to describe it. I found myself thinking number three as I finished watching the movie Fireproof last night. The bottom line of the movie is, you're not going to get your relationships in life right, until you get your relationship with God right. And when you get your relationship with God right, He will help you change the way you live, and fix the mistakes that you might be making. How true that is.... I highly recommend this movie. If you are familiar with the movie Facing the Giants, you will like this movie a lot, because it was made by the same church, and has the same moral standards. This movie may just change your life.... 

Step one, two, three...

Ah life. Life is like a staircase for a christian. You start out small, with the first step, but its a big first step. Then every step gets you closer and closer, higher and higher. Then, when your time has come and God calls you home, you have reached the destination of the staircase. What a comfort to know that every Christian has their own staircase, with different stairs and different numbers. How reassuring it is to know, that no Christian will die without reaching the top of their stairs. My steps are numbered, I don't know how high or low I am, but I know that God has labeled each step and that he will be the railing that holds me in place. 

The most beautiful thing in the world to watch is a bunch of young children captivated by something that interests them. In this case, it is cinderella. 

Dear Diary,

Twilight. To say the name would send girls screaming and talking non-stop about the newest romantic story out there. Yes I will admit, I would probably be one of those girls. I have just recently finished Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in the Twilight saga, and I have come to my own conclusion. Twilight is a wishful fantasy. For girls who are looking forward to nothing more than their own Edward later in life, and not the love of Jesus, Twilight is very appealing. Edward Cullen is a vision of the ultimate romance. He is dangerous, yet protective, he is handsome in every way, he is clever, and he is going to live until the end of the world! And last but not least, he loves our heroine more than "life" itself. What girl wouldn't want that? I have decided that the last thing I would want in a husband is someone who would love me more than anything else in existence. Which would mean he would love me more than God. The last person I would want to love, would be Edward Cullen. Because, vampire or not, he represents a slippery slope, falling away from our one true love, Jesus. Yes I will still squeal over the books, but I will always bring myself back to reality, remembering that not even Edward Cullen could love me as much as Jesus does. 

Love Naomi 

Through the unknown door

Who knows where life will take us? More appropriately phrased, who knows where God will take us? Many times in a persons life, opportunities will arise, along with questions and choices that must be made. As soon as a decision is made however, many people will then fret and worry over their choices. As a human, I worry like this. As a Christian, I know I have nothing to worry about. If I made the decision that I felt God wanted me to make, I don't have to worry about how it will turn out. 

If God gives me a door, and says walk through it, I must walk through it, even though what lays beyond is unknown.  Now that is faith. 

Photo By Naomi