Prisoner for the Lord.......

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then I urge you live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith and one baptism. One God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” –Ephesian 4: 1-6

All I can say is WOAH!!!   

What is this truly attempting to say? The first verse is what hits me hard. “As a prisoner for the Lord, then I urge you live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” If this is not something that makes you think then I do not know what will make you think.  “As a prisoner for the Lord,” to some thins may seem to be a bit of a scary statement. Generally we associate prison as being something that is negative. Prison is a place where here on earth we go to for doing awful things. But I imagine this prison, the “ Prison for the Lord” as being an amazingly beautiful place , I imagine it being right inside the arms of our amazing father and creator. It is more of a prize rather than a punishment. This prison is a place of love and a place of correction for when we get off track. No matter what this place is a place that you are able to call home. And know that you are not alone in this prison all of your brothers and sisters in Christ are right there behind bars with you. All of us living out our lives to honor God.  This prison is freedom, freedom to roam and to even fall astray but a place where when you come back you will be welcomed with open arms and comfort. It will not always be an easy, but it will not be impossible. You as a prisoner have one job and that is to live your life fully and honorably for God. To go out and tell of the good news and of his word, be his disciple and bring people to him.

Now onto the second part of the first verse, “live the life of the calling you have received.” For some this statement may seem very difficult, you may not even know what you want to eat for lunch let alone your calling from God. But for some this statement may be something that is reachable. They have received their calling and know what God intends to do with their life. The part that becomes tricky is the part where you let God and let Go of the things that you desire out of life. You need to walk on the path that God is planning out for you and not live by your own selfish decisions. This can be the most difficult part of it all.  This is coming from an ultimate control freak I need to know what is happening at all times and I need to be in control of all of my decisions. Some times it is nice to just place everything right into the hands of the one who made you, and already has your story written.

So go and be a “prisoner for the Lord,” go and live the life that God has intended you to live.

           

So this is what growing up is like........

So as my first year as a college student is coming to an end in just three weeks. Which is absolutely crazy to me because I honestly have no clue where the time has gone. But I have thought and decided to reflect a bit on what this year has taught me. This year has brought upon me a ton of changes that I never really expected to happen. Between new relationships, and friendships, to making really hard decisions on my own without having someone telling me what to do. Growing up is an understatement of what college does to you. Before coming here what seemed to be my only worry was what I was going to eat for dinner and if I had enough time to stop and get a coffee before going to my next destination. Now my worries are how the heck and I going to pay off all of my college loans, and what do I want to do with the rest of my life. But also many more things:

• ·      Your parents are not crazy what they have told you is all true.
• ·      Also let your parents know that you love and appreciate them before you go to school, you will regret it other wise.
• ·      Studying is a real thing and it needs to happen often.
• ·      Sleep and Coffee are your greatest friends on a long week.
• ·      The freshman 15 doesn’t have to exist.
• ·      Changing the sheets on the top bunk is a good enough workout for the day.
• ·      It is okay to be stressed out, and not just for a day it is actually expected.
• ·      Perspective students are terrified so be nice to them.
• ·      A smile can go a really long way, you never know the type of day that someone is having.
• ·      It is okay to not go out one night because you have to do homework, seeing that your education will total the cost of a new house.
• ·      Your professors are your friends they want to get to know you and help you in every single way that they can so take advantage of it.
• ·      Learn to appreciate and be intentional with every single relationship that you have. Never take a single conversation for granted.
• ·      Care packages are the best things in the entire world.
• ·      Home seems a lot farther away on a stressful day.
• ·      Explore your food options in the cafeteria because they get old really quickly.
• ·      But most importantly Do not panic because no matter how hard your day may seem you will be able to get through it.

Going to college will change you, even if you try to not let it change you it will anyways. Mostly for the better, the things that I said were not to scare you but to unveil the truth that College even though it is the time of your life it will also be work hard work.