Happy Monday, everyone!
First off, thank you all so incredibly much for helping this blog get to FIVE THOUSAND views in three months! You are all so supportive, and I appreciate your kind comments, shares, and suggestions. My hope is that out of all my posts, at least one helped just one person. After all, that is why I write: to mentor others and offer a helping hand every now and then.
So, to celebrate this milestone, I thought that I would start another: my first series. Unlike my past posts, tonight and the next few weeks' posts will be linked. In my quiet time, I have been reading through 1 Corinthians. Of course, I have read through this book, but until now I had no idea how rich the scripture was. The book is absolutely full of incredible, awesome things. So, starting tonight, I am going to start posting my thoughts on what I have read.
Disclaimer: This will not be a "Bob Agan" speech. I could never meet those expectations. In the next few weeks, I will be skipping around the book, but I will cover what I notice. That being said, I really hope that you will join me on this journey.
***
Quite possibly my favorite passage that I have read comes from 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11. It reads:
"Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits,to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines."
Throughout my life I have idolized tennis players, especially my #1 man and former Georgia Bulldog, John Isner (sorry, Grant) and Melanie Oudin. From the moment I first saw them both play at an exhibition match in Athens, I wanted to be a professional tennis player. I had this dream that I would one day stand in Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City and hold the US Open Trophy Cup above my head as Daughtry's "No Surprise" played in the background (I was a big, vivid dreamer back in the day). I told myself that I would practice harder than anyone, play more than anyone, eat better than anyone, and that through that, I would fulfill my dreams. Clearly, that did not happen.
When I was younger, kids my age adored celebrities such as Amanda Bynes, the Jonas Brothers, and Michael Jordan. We were absolutely captivated by their skills, their riches, and their fame. We wanted to be just like them, and wondered why we weren't so lucky.
What we failed to realize, however, is that those celebrities, those million and billionaires, were normal people who were given the chance. I've heard it said that success can be found at the corner of luck and preparation. But honestly, their success is more than that. Why are these people so successful? They were given the opportunity. They were given a destiny.
You see, God gave these people a gift. Whether it be dramatic stage presence, rockstar vocals, or "mad" basketball game, when God made each of them, he had a plan.
Even greater, God's plans did not stop at the Hollywood sign. It is so crazy to imagine that He had a separate plan for every one of us. For the longest time, I had no idea what His plan was for me, and honestly, I am still not completely sure. But I have an idea...
I feel that God called me to write. I feel that He called me to minister to others, especially middle and high schoolers. I feel that He called me to be a light for Him.
Out of all my friends, possibly the one I look up to the most is a sweetheart named Sarah Beth. Whether she is writing her short story, cheering on her Indians, or taking care of her fellow classmates, she always amazes me. Though she is only a sophomore in high school, I can see her future plans unfolding before her. The only issue, though, is that she doesn't always see it.
We all have a little bit of Sarah Beth in us. Day by day, we live our lives seeking to know our purpose. We try out different opportunities in hopes of finding our niche, but, in our eyes, we always come up short.
Though we may not always realize it, we were crafted according to God's plan for our lives. No one plan is better than another. If we are destined to be writers, lawyers, teachers, hamburger-flippers, or graffiti artists (okay...bad example. Don't be a graffiti artist), if it is in God's plan for us, He will make it known to us. As verses 4-6 says, there are many times of gifts, but because they are given by the same God, they will all work together in society.
Yes, celebrities are gifted. Athletes are gifted. John Isner is incredibly gifted (once again, sorry Grant). But what made them so successful? Yes, they practiced harder than most. Yes, they acted, sang, played, and wrote more than most. But the key to their success, their fame, was God's absolute perfect will. As it says in Philippians 2:13, "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."
So, readers, whether you be famous or anonymous, rich or poor, in control or controlled, do it all for the glory of God and realize your place in this incredibly complex, confusing, perfect world.
Thanks for reading! As always, comments, shares, and suggestions are much appreciated.
You all pretty much rock.
Blessings, Love, and High Fives for being AWESOME,
Emily
First off, thank you all so incredibly much for helping this blog get to FIVE THOUSAND views in three months! You are all so supportive, and I appreciate your kind comments, shares, and suggestions. My hope is that out of all my posts, at least one helped just one person. After all, that is why I write: to mentor others and offer a helping hand every now and then.
So, to celebrate this milestone, I thought that I would start another: my first series. Unlike my past posts, tonight and the next few weeks' posts will be linked. In my quiet time, I have been reading through 1 Corinthians. Of course, I have read through this book, but until now I had no idea how rich the scripture was. The book is absolutely full of incredible, awesome things. So, starting tonight, I am going to start posting my thoughts on what I have read.
Disclaimer: This will not be a "Bob Agan" speech. I could never meet those expectations. In the next few weeks, I will be skipping around the book, but I will cover what I notice. That being said, I really hope that you will join me on this journey.
***
Quite possibly my favorite passage that I have read comes from 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11. It reads:
"Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits,to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines."
Throughout my life I have idolized tennis players, especially my #1 man and former Georgia Bulldog, John Isner (sorry, Grant) and Melanie Oudin. From the moment I first saw them both play at an exhibition match in Athens, I wanted to be a professional tennis player. I had this dream that I would one day stand in Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City and hold the US Open Trophy Cup above my head as Daughtry's "No Surprise" played in the background (I was a big, vivid dreamer back in the day). I told myself that I would practice harder than anyone, play more than anyone, eat better than anyone, and that through that, I would fulfill my dreams. Clearly, that did not happen.
When I was younger, kids my age adored celebrities such as Amanda Bynes, the Jonas Brothers, and Michael Jordan. We were absolutely captivated by their skills, their riches, and their fame. We wanted to be just like them, and wondered why we weren't so lucky.
What we failed to realize, however, is that those celebrities, those million and billionaires, were normal people who were given the chance. I've heard it said that success can be found at the corner of luck and preparation. But honestly, their success is more than that. Why are these people so successful? They were given the opportunity. They were given a destiny.
You see, God gave these people a gift. Whether it be dramatic stage presence, rockstar vocals, or "mad" basketball game, when God made each of them, he had a plan.
Even greater, God's plans did not stop at the Hollywood sign. It is so crazy to imagine that He had a separate plan for every one of us. For the longest time, I had no idea what His plan was for me, and honestly, I am still not completely sure. But I have an idea...
I feel that God called me to write. I feel that He called me to minister to others, especially middle and high schoolers. I feel that He called me to be a light for Him.
Out of all my friends, possibly the one I look up to the most is a sweetheart named Sarah Beth. Whether she is writing her short story, cheering on her Indians, or taking care of her fellow classmates, she always amazes me. Though she is only a sophomore in high school, I can see her future plans unfolding before her. The only issue, though, is that she doesn't always see it.
We all have a little bit of Sarah Beth in us. Day by day, we live our lives seeking to know our purpose. We try out different opportunities in hopes of finding our niche, but, in our eyes, we always come up short.
Though we may not always realize it, we were crafted according to God's plan for our lives. No one plan is better than another. If we are destined to be writers, lawyers, teachers, hamburger-flippers, or graffiti artists (okay...bad example. Don't be a graffiti artist), if it is in God's plan for us, He will make it known to us. As verses 4-6 says, there are many times of gifts, but because they are given by the same God, they will all work together in society.
Yes, celebrities are gifted. Athletes are gifted. John Isner is incredibly gifted (once again, sorry Grant). But what made them so successful? Yes, they practiced harder than most. Yes, they acted, sang, played, and wrote more than most. But the key to their success, their fame, was God's absolute perfect will. As it says in Philippians 2:13, "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."
So, readers, whether you be famous or anonymous, rich or poor, in control or controlled, do it all for the glory of God and realize your place in this incredibly complex, confusing, perfect world.
Thanks for reading! As always, comments, shares, and suggestions are much appreciated.
You all pretty much rock.
Blessings, Love, and High Fives for being AWESOME,
Emily