Haunted House...Haunted World

I know it's been a long time since my last blog. School and work is keeping me busy. However, this is a blog that I posted to my class blog, and I thought it would be good to put up here for everyone to read. So I hope all of you enjoy! :-)

This is an article that I found while I browsing through youth ministry website that I found had some very interesting thoughts, it is an article called Haunted House...Haunted World. Having just come out of the Halloween season, and having all the fun of trick-or-treating, dressing up, and haunted house fun, we have to realize that the the idea of all the frightening things is more real that we think. Ephesians 6:10-12 says, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  There is a battle going on for our hearts and our minds. This battle is one we fight everyday, and the devil never quits. So, it is our responsibility to arm ourselves with the truth so we do not let the devil win this battle. Those of us who aspire to be counselors. We will be helping those we serve to fight this battle. So, we must be even more vigilant, so we will be able to fight alongside of our brothers and sisters in Christ!

What is Happiness?

 So, while I was at school today, I was sitting in the Tilley Center waiting for class to start, and with the cafe right there I was in desperate need some sugar lol (I promise this blog has a point lol). So anyway, I head over to the cafe look at all the candy, and nothing seemed to be what I was look for. Then, the guy in front of me bought some cookies, and it was like one of those epic moments in cartoons where the angelic chorus sings, and there is a ray of light. Not really, but that is how it played out in my head lol. I bought three cookie chucked full of chocolate and proceeded to walk back to my chair. While I was sitting there enjoying my cookies,  a bold comment on the Otis Spunkmeyer bag stuck out at me. It said, "Happiness is a fresh-baked cookie." Knowing my obsession with cookies, let alone fresh-baked ones, I agreed. Then I began to think, what is happiness? It's definitely not just a warm cookie. Quotes stated filling my head. "Happiness is a warm puppy", "Happiness is like a butterfly", "Happiness is a form of courage", and even the Beatles said "Happiness is a warm gun." All of these are radically different, and if one these actually were happiness, then we would be unhappy unless we had or did any of these things. So, what exactly is happiness? Webster's defines happiness as a state of well-being and contentment or a pleasurable or satisfying experience.  The world is constantly telling us that happiness come with how much stuff we have, particularly money. Then, a children's song popped in my head,  "Happiness is, To know the Savior, Living a life that's worth the living, Taking a trip that leads to Heaven, Happiness is the Lord, Happiness is the Lord." I was so busy thinking about what happiness was, that my thoughts were getting in the way of the ultimate answer to what happiness really is. Psalm 144:15 says "Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!" So, may we not forget the source of our true joy and happiness, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and may it be out goal to share it with those around us.

Things I Love About Fall...

This doesn't really concern psychology for learning really lol I was just thinking about fall because I made carrot cake yesterday lol But seriously I love fall :-) It shows just how creative God is because everything seems so much brighter and colorful. If you are an artist, you can see it like God's canvas, and he is painting the picture with such vibrancy it will just take your breath away! Any way here are five of my favorite things about fall...

1. Fall Leaves! :-) (soooo pretty)

2. Pumpkin Spice Lattes!! yummy :-)

3. on second thought... ANYTHING PUMPKIN!! :-)

4. Decorating my table :-) and yes this is my table at my house it makes me very happy :-)

5. Things that you can only do in fall (jumping in leaves, Halloween, etc.), and btw this kid is awesome! :-)

Teens Want More Than Pizza

So, I found this article yesterday on The Gospel Coalition Blog called "Teens Want More Than Pizza". You can read the original article if you want, but basically it's about how youth group attendance has drastically dropped since the 90's. Youth pastors all over America are trying to bring the kids in by buying Wii's and Playstations, throwing parties, and other things that will grab the kid's attention, and they have it for a while and then the kids just stop coming. The kids don't need all that stuff at church, they can get that any where. At church, they want/need the word of God! It is that, and only that will change their lives and keep them in church. This is what the authors is trying convey in his article.

Honestly, I couldn't agree more. When I had a chance to work with the kids of my church this past summer, I experienced this firsthand. Sure, they enjoy coming and hangout with one another playing games and stuff, but what really made them think was the Word of God. All of us, especially teenagers, have a void that needs to be filled, and we try to fill it with things that we THINK that will make us happy. We all have this desire, God created us this way because it is what draws us to Him. This is what can fill this void, and this is what the kids need, not the Wiis and pizza parties.

This kind of stuff excites me because this is what I want to work with! :-) I love bringing people to Christ especially teens! I like helping them find the reason why they were created, and help them find someone who cares for them, their loving heavenly Father! :-)

Sooo...

Well this is completely new to me... I have never really blogged before but I thought it would be a cool idea. I am starting my first year of Grad School at Liberty University straight out of my undergrad and it has already proved to be an interesting experience just with one week of classes. I graduate with my bachelor's degree in  Psychology: Human Service, and I am pursuing my M.A. is Counseling. So, I thought that I would start this not really to use it as a diary, but more of share the different things a learn, find, and experience with my friends, family, and ultimately the world. (haha yeeeaaah...)

Anyway though, to explain my title... I decided to go to convo today because I knew had to be at my required writing class bleh lol It proved to be a blessing though, and I am glad that I went. Vernon Brewer, WorldHelp president and first graduate of Liberty University EVER,  spoke today in convo because we are having the annual missions meeting tonight for Light Ministries where all the students have the opportunity to get involved in all of this year's mission trips. It was at that meeting last year, that I decided to go to Uganda, Africa (and I actually went with Vernon which was really cool). Anyways, he spoke about serving God is NOT easy, and when we set out to do something for God, do it big. In a way, God bigger that anything we can imagine, but when we fail to dream big, we tend to doubt how big God is, and I am guilty of this as much as anybody else. However, Vernon ended by asking a question, will you be that one student?

So, needless to say, I am making this blog because I have decided to become that one student. Being in grad school hit you with a whole new reality than undergrad does. It make you realize that you are learning the stuff that is going to serve you the rest of your life, and ultimately how you will impact the world. And as cheesy as this sounds, I want to change the world. There are so many ways to do and I'm not really sure how, but I want to change the world through the youth of the world. I had the pleasure work with my church's youth over the summer, and that fueled my passion even more. They are searching for something to fill a void in their life, and the only way to fill that void is through Jesus Christ. However, they lack someone in their lives to love them towards Jesus, and their vision of the church is old people in suits and ties. Not very accepting in the mind of a teenager. They need someone to reach out to them, and show them the true love of Jesus Christ. I want to be that person and reach a lot of youth for Christ because they are the future of the church, and they are my passion in life. I want to reach the world for Christ, and change the course of America's youth from what society is emphasizing, and change it back to Christ.

It is a big goal, but when you serve God... Dare to dream BIG! Nothing is to big for God's to handle. So, this is my blog.. It is my journey to become a counselor modeled after the ultimate counselor...Jesus Christ. This was long and not even close to what I want to convey to you all, but hopefully through the course of this blog, I will be able to show you my heart. It is my pray that my heart will adapt to God's heart, and therefore,  may my heart will burn for what His heart does, which is His people and His creation. It will be hard, but worthy task.

Isaiah 61:1-3

¹ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
   he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
   and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
   and the day of vengeance of our God;
   to comfort all who mourn;
³to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
   to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
 the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
   the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
 that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
   the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.