"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (Romans 12:2 - The Message Bible)
There are so many people who have lost their faith in God because they have conformed to the ways of this world. Few people have held onto their innocence and therefore can recognize what situations and circumstances to avoid in order to keep that innocence. Along with holding onto their innocence it helps them have faith in themselves and to not be ashamed of what they believe in.
People have little respect for each other these days. They cease to remember that other people besides themselves have feelings. Yes, everyone has the right to speak what they believe; express their own opinions. But every person also has the right to feel comfortable and safe. One of the most popular and offending jokes that I have been hearing a lot of are about women's rights and how the "women belong in the kitchen". The jokes greatly affect me, personally, because I feel that they are very degrading for women. These type of jokes, and even jokes that are belittling towards men, can easily rip our innocence from us. Someone who is constantly surrounded by disrespect can so easily conform and become the person who tells the jokes, or insults. I don't get how some men can be so judgmental and sexist against women, and visa versa. I feel that in order to stop this people need to start standing up for themselves and others more and express their opinions.
There's a song called We Are Broken by Paramore and it talks about, from my perspective, the new generation that we are living in and how we have lost our innocence and have become open and easily conformed into the ways of this "new world." I personally believe that this song is asking God to make our world a better place to live and that He would hold us and protect us from how this world wants us to think and act. This song reminds me that even though there are people out there who will try to remove our innocence, and break us down to nothing, God will always be right beside us and He will protect us from what this world will try and do to us.
Please comment and tell me your ideas or opinions on this topic :)
Friday, October 15, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Thanksgiving
What Are You Thankful For?
The most important thing in my life right now is my friends. One of my best friends, who is four years younger than me, has been with me through almost everything that has happened in my life. I'm thankful for her because she is like a sister to me, and sometimes a daughter. I realize, everytime we're together, that she looks up to me a great deal. This reminds me that I have to be a role model for her, mostly to show her what is right from wrong. I've noticed over the years how much she is like me. It's scares me sometimes because I know that I am not always the perfect role model for her. She sees what I do and copies it because she thinks it's okay. This helps me realize what is important in life. Is it being happy and doing what the world calls "fun", or is it being a good, honest, role model for those who look up to us the most?
Another one of my best friends is a year older than me. Her and I have known each other for about ten years now and when we are together there is never a dull moment! Being around her helps me remember to enjoy life and every moment that God gives us. We are so close in age that we don't necessarily look up to each other, but I learn different things from my relationship with her. Every girl, and guy, needs a best friend who is by their side all the time. Unfortunately, she lives about two hours away from me so we don't get to hang out that much, but when we're together, like I said, there is never a dull moment. I'm thankful for my relationship with her because being with her helps me realize that life isn't just something we have to get through, it is an opportunity to make something out of the lives that God has blessed us with.
I have so many more friends, church friends, school friends..but there is one person who I have left out, but not forgotten. He is my best friend's brother, and also my best friend, and boyfriend :) Him and I have also known each other for about ten years and just recently we started dating. Now this is a whole other story and deserves a post of it's own, but I am very thankful for him. Even though he lives two hours away from me, we still manage to stay connected with each other. I'm thankful for him because he is always just a phone call, or text, away. Even if I am having the worst day he seems to make it better just by saying hello. I am so thankful I have him in my life and I hope that my and his healthy relationship can be an example for people who are struggling with their own personal relationships.
So now that you know what I am most thankful for today. I want to know what you are most thankful for on this thanksgiving! Post stories in the comments :)
The most important thing in my life right now is my friends. One of my best friends, who is four years younger than me, has been with me through almost everything that has happened in my life. I'm thankful for her because she is like a sister to me, and sometimes a daughter. I realize, everytime we're together, that she looks up to me a great deal. This reminds me that I have to be a role model for her, mostly to show her what is right from wrong. I've noticed over the years how much she is like me. It's scares me sometimes because I know that I am not always the perfect role model for her. She sees what I do and copies it because she thinks it's okay. This helps me realize what is important in life. Is it being happy and doing what the world calls "fun", or is it being a good, honest, role model for those who look up to us the most?
Another one of my best friends is a year older than me. Her and I have known each other for about ten years now and when we are together there is never a dull moment! Being around her helps me remember to enjoy life and every moment that God gives us. We are so close in age that we don't necessarily look up to each other, but I learn different things from my relationship with her. Every girl, and guy, needs a best friend who is by their side all the time. Unfortunately, she lives about two hours away from me so we don't get to hang out that much, but when we're together, like I said, there is never a dull moment. I'm thankful for my relationship with her because being with her helps me realize that life isn't just something we have to get through, it is an opportunity to make something out of the lives that God has blessed us with.
I have so many more friends, church friends, school friends..but there is one person who I have left out, but not forgotten. He is my best friend's brother, and also my best friend, and boyfriend :) Him and I have also known each other for about ten years and just recently we started dating. Now this is a whole other story and deserves a post of it's own, but I am very thankful for him. Even though he lives two hours away from me, we still manage to stay connected with each other. I'm thankful for him because he is always just a phone call, or text, away. Even if I am having the worst day he seems to make it better just by saying hello. I am so thankful I have him in my life and I hope that my and his healthy relationship can be an example for people who are struggling with their own personal relationships.
So now that you know what I am most thankful for today. I want to know what you are most thankful for on this thanksgiving! Post stories in the comments :)
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