Hope Does Not Bring Disappointment.

Romans 5: 1-5

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory.  Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Suffering – Endurance

Endurance – Character

Character – Hope

Hope does not bring disappointment.

Pride Needs To Go.

Everyone tries to stick out. Everyone wants to be original. Unique. Nobody wants to be the exact same as everyone else around them. Why can't we be content with ourselves? Is it so bad to just 'fit in'? Is it too hard to follow in the footsteps of someone who may or may not be greater or wiser? The intent of so many these days seems to be to make a huge impact on the world, to change a problem into a solution, to fix what no person has fixed before. A goal of having a joyful life or even a family who simply adores one another just doesn't seem to be enough anymore. We've trashed what a true, pure family really is by tearing it into pieces with our lust for worldly love, by adding a stepfather, by adding a stepmother, by throwing in half siblings here and there. We say it's okay. We try to move on, but the true fact is, we're lying to ourselves. Even the American Dream has been distorted into some sort of selfish, greedy will to do better than those around us. People can't stand to see the person next to them hold an accomplishment in their hand with any small sense of pride. Money. A car. A job. A family. We feel the need to somehow prove ourselves worthy of affection, of love, of praise. Since when has a simple 'thank you' not sufficed for gratitude? Since when has 'you're welcome' perverted into 'whatever' or 'yeah'? Since when has 'I love you' been told to the man met yesterday on the street corner? We claim to want to change the world. We claim to long for a better future. We claim to desire a utopia of love, peace, bright rainbows, and butterflies, but all we accomplish is prideful, self-indulgent, scrimpy, sinful, disdainful victories over what is right. What is true. What is pure. What is just. There's absolutely no way to fix any problem, to accomplish any dream, to hold any worthy victory while focusing solely on oneself. Every single time we put ourselves before the good of others, we forfeit the right to a blissful, delightful life. Every time we put ourselves above that homeless persons across the street, we throw away what could've been the joy of helping another. Every time our pride comes first, we fall, because "pride comes before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). The next fall, just may be the fall of man.

This is Still Going to Make Me Perfect

Well.. That, I have to say, was the longest Christmas break I've ever had.. Even though it went by the fastest! It was a blast spending time with long lost relatives, and I have to say, I do hold the record for the best friends in the world. :) 

On Christmas Eve, I had a scope and a few biopsies done at downtown Mercy, and as a result, my specialist found "more than a few ulcer like erosions" around my stomach lining... Apparently, this could well be the cause of all my digestive/allergy problems. So, I don't have allergies? I'm seriously confused... He put me on a normal diet and some new medication, and hopefully they will have more answers at my next appointment. For now.. I'm eating anything I want! Mostly, because everything I eat makes me sick... But I might as well enjoy myself, eh? 

I could definitely still use prayer... I'm not really sure what God's doing ehe with my life. It's starting to seem almost as a game, and I'm not sure I truely appreciate it.

James 1:2-4

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the tring of your faith workers patience. But let patience haver her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

This is still going to make me perfect.