Category: perspective

perspective

Overcoming Worry Problems (Guest Post)

by christianprepsterLeave a Comment on Overcoming Worry Problems (Guest Post)

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I have an amazing blogger friend who I’ve known for a couple of years. We both started blogging around the same time and I’m happy too say that we are both still going strong.

In my blogging journey, I have had many “worry moments”. I worry when I accidentally hit publish when I meant to hit save. I worry when I have major typos and (seemly earth shattering) grammatical errors.

Now, my struggle with worrying doesn’t just come from blogging… it comes from my heart and thus appears in every aspect of my life. When I have a worry problem, I have a God problem.

If you have those same problems with worry… I encourage you to take a look at what my friend has to say.

Don’t Worry- The Literary Artist

We worry a lot as human beings. We worry about things we cannot control. We worry about things that are weeks, months, even years from now! And while worry is in our human nature, worry is not a characteristic of someone who has faith and trusts God to do what He is doing.
We think that we have to do something because our human minds don’t think God has it all under control sometimes. But He does! The One who is giving you breath to live in this moment, right now, knows EXACTLY what He’s doing. He has a plan and a purpose for your life, a path that has been planned since before you were formed in your mother’s womb.
I was listening to a YouTube sermon the other night as I was doing my hair. It was about being a friend of God. And the pastor said something that made me stop and think about my life and the anxiety and worry floating all around in my overthinking-prone brain. He said worry was a sign that you aren’t a friend of God. Because worry shows that you don’t have trust. And if you don’t trust in the Almighty God and have that relationship with Him, how can you be His friend?

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25,

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear, ls not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”

So while I know we are still in summer, as we come upon a brand-new school year, and we experience new things and classes, may we remember that we have no need to worry. The Creator of the universe has it all under control.

God bless 

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perspective

Community

by christianprepster1 Comment on Community

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I am a huge pinterest person and recently have loved little inspirational quotes. I was scrolling through my boards and saw that picture. It’s so true. I see the need to just come together and say,”You know what, me too, I need you and you need me.

I think a lot of us may feel alone in our struggles or alone living these lives. But I am here to tell you that you are not alone. And God never intended for you to be alone. In fact, you are always within His love even when it doesn’t feel like it.

Now I know it is easy for me to sit here and type this, and press publish, but I really want you guys to believe me when I saw that You are not alone. The things you are going through are nothing God can’t handle, in fact, He is ready to hear your heart and the hurting aches going on in your mind.

Then again, this may not apply to you right now. You may be sitting there like, “Girl, I get it life is hard but it’s summer and I’m doing fine.” To you, all I have to say is praise the Lord. These happy times in your life are a blessing and please don’t take them for granted. If you are feeling dandy then I STRONGLY encourage you to come along side of your friends, family, and fellow christian brothers and sisters and give them a big hug.

Christianity was meant to have community and sometimes I think we forget that. It is so good and healthy for us to have fellowship with other believers in different stages of life. To lean from each other and pour out our hearts to one another.

There is a reason why Jesus had 12 disciples, despite the main goal to train them and equip them to spread the gospel, Jesus wanted to set the example of community. He knew that humans need other humans to support and encourage each other. He n=knew that when things get tough we need people to hold our hands and tell us everything will be alright. We need people to pray and intercede for us when we can’t see clearly.

Sometimes we just need a group hug.

Now I’d don’t know if you are one of those in need of some love right now or one who has enough love to share with others, but either way, I pray you have that support group of people you can got to and people who will have fellowship with you.

If you are in need of some love and encouragement, I am always here… but more importantly, God is always here for you. He was with you the day you came into this earth and has never left you.

I know it is hard sometimes and I know you may feel alone but please know that I am here for you and am praying for you. Even if we’ve never meet, our belief in Jesus Christ is what bonds our struggling hearts together. If you ever need someone to talk to, please send me an email thechristianprepster@gmail.com… really I would love to hear your stories.

Remember, God is always there for you and will never leave you, even if you feel He is far away.

 

XOXO, The Christian Prepster

perspective

My Year of Growth

by christianprepsterLeave a Comment on My Year of Growth

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My school year is officially at a close. It is kind of a bitter sweet moment because so much happened at my high school this year. I remember praying for this year to look different from my past school years and praying that I would focus more on being intentional with my faith than with my grades. As I’ve said in many other posts, I also wanted 2017 to be my year of growth (aka my DO IT year). Thankfully, God has answered my prayers more than I thought was possible.

This school year has been the best thus far. I saw so much good and meet so many sweet people who I will never forget. I like to think that I helped/encouraged people in their faith.

I know, at least for me, I was WAY less concerned about my final product, than I was with the people around me and my spiritual life. I took some big risks, had some hard conversations and did a lot of “growth crying”.

All I want to accomplish in this post (as I write to super dramatic jazz music LOL) is some encouragement to you as we enter into the summer fun. Because growth is sometimes scary and hard.

But I want to have you take a step back and think about your life right now and ask yourself these questions:

  • Are you happy with the things you are involved in?
  • Do you like the way your life is going?
  • What did you think your life would look like right now?
  • What do you want your life to look like?

After you have seriously answered those questions, I want to give you the seemly bad news. If any of your answers don’t match up how you want them to, you are in need of some growth and change.

It will be hard, It will cause you to practice some selflessness, and it will be worthwhile. But to my fellow students reading this, now is the best time to make some changes. You have two months of summer to grow and challenge yourself. To those with fulltime jobs and families, I want this summer to be your best yet. I want you to care deeply for your children and coworkers, be more than just a busy face.

What I’ve learned from this past school year is that growth and challenges are amazing things. They mold you and shape you and lead to a strong heart.

I AM NOT KIDDING WHEN I SAY THIS, If you need any encouragement or what to share your challenges, struggles, and growth stories… please shoot me an email: thechristianprepster@gmail.com I want to be here for you guys and I know it is not easy to grow. So guys, I’m here, ready to grab your hand and grow through things together.

XOXO, The Christian Prepster

 

Christian writer, inspiration, perspective, young writer

Pecan Pie

by christianprepster3 Comments on Pecan Pie

This is a guest post from my mom.
pecan pie

Yesterday was Sunday.

Yesterday was the day I begged for the hands of time to stand still.

Yesterday was the day I ate a piece of pecan pie.

To be honest, I don’t particularly like pecan pie. In fact, under normal circumstances, if pecan pie was my only option for dessert, I would pass. But I didn’t pass on pie yesterday.

Our lunch outing was coming to a close.  The plan was to finish lunch, then to get in the car and drive the 6 1/2 hours back to our home.  My heart was aching.  My eyes were burning as tears were fighting their way to the surface and beginning to pool around my lashes.

“Pie!”  I could stall with pecan pie!

It had been 19 years of breakfasts, lunches and dinners…and teddy bears and leotards and sleepovers and giggles and sloppy kisses and “sort of funny” jokes and made up dances and dirty faces and messy rooms and pony tails and bathtub bubbles and hair bows and finger nail polish and boy troubles and texted check-ins and bonfires and all of a sudden it was Sunday.

As soon as the piece of pecan pie was gone, we would be leaving our middle daughter at college.  I have never eaten so slowly in my life.  As I gently skimmed the surface of the pie and trimmed off the tiniest morsel of pecan possible,  my mind was racing.  Would she be safe? Would she be happy?  Would she find friends?  Would she know not to wash her black volleyball socks with her white cardigan?

Then, I glanced into the face of my husband.  There he sat, strong and brave.  His lunch plate was empty, his glass of water, gone.   His lunch was over.  He was ready.  How could that be? How could he be so certain that SHE was ready?

He didn’t shed a tear.  He hugged her tightly, smiled and told her he was proud of her.  He didn’t linger to watch her walk away.  He was ready.

I, on the other hand, swallowed hard in a poor attempt to hide my emotions.  As we drove away, I could hold it in no longer.  Tears streaming, heart breaking, I surrendered to the ache and allowed myself to quietly weep.  Gently, my husband reached his hand to mine and held on tightly.

After months of the whirlwind of college visits, recruiting trips, transcripts, scholarship application deadlines, pros and cons lists, praying, planning, preparing, equipping, shopping, packing and unloading, in my quiet weeping, Christ reminded me that SHE BELONGS TO HIM. From the moment she was born, SHE HAS BELONGED TO HIM.  He reminded me that he loves her  so much more than I am even capable of loving.  In this transition, she will learn to depend on him more than ever.

He promised me this:

When she is lonely, and she will be – He will give her comfort.

When she is sad, and she will be – He will give her peace.

When she is hurt, and she will be – He will provide healing.

When she is sick, and she will be – He will be her great physician.

The quiet moments in our home – when she would normally be telling us about her day or dancing around in her awkward but beautifully-fantastic style, I have to remind myself of these promises.  Whatever her future holds, I know that Christ is in control.

As for Mr. Toughguy…on the drive home, he lingered in a gas station convenient store waiting for her to emerge from the bathroom – like he had done a million times before – standing vigil to ensure her safety.  It took him a minute to realize that she wasn’t coming out.  Our new normal is a little strange, a little uncomfortable, a little painful, but exactly what it needs to be.  Our middle girl is growing into an amazing young woman for Christ and we wouldn’t want it any other way.

The more I think about it – Pecan pie isn’t really all that bad.  It’s not my favorite, but I think if I really try to embrace the idea of a pie made from nuts and sugar, I might actually be able to appreciate it.

 XOXO, The Christian Prepster’s Mom