A lil' catching up...

Wow... this past month has really just flown by.  There are a couple reasons as to why I haven't posted in a while, like how my cousin had two hip replacements (and he is only a 12-year-old), I was extremely stressed out with turning in last minute essays and speech at my college, and I just finished my finals this week (a week early).
Through all of this God has still been amazing... my cousin is doing better and now he can use crutches to get around everywhere, I'm getting good grades in my college classes, and I finished a week early because of my good grades, and I know He will help me finish off my high school work so I can graduate in June.

Submission:

"Leadership is found in becoming the servant of all." (Foster 115)

My church leadership program for 11-12 graders stresses this point sooooooo much and I was very happy to see it here.  I have taken this quote to heart and I am trying my hardest to be a servant of all.  Which is why I try to be as humble as I can possibly be.
Although I can become a control-freak and begin to control the times when I'm in submission instead of always being in submission to God.

Solitude:

Once you get to know me I'm very talkative and energetic, but the fact that I need to be silent in order to hear God, is so difficult for me.The study mentioned that the reason why it is so difficult to remain silent is a lack of trust in God.  And I just had a major revelation! Every part of our life, and our walk with God is centered on TRUSTING HIM!!!! everything from worshiping to service all leads back to trusting in Him!

And let me just say this, humans are extremely difficult when it comes to trust, and we never give it freely, we always expect something in return! Which relates to us treating God as a vending machine, we be a good person, then we get something in return, right? Wrong! God is not a vending machine and we should not treat Him as such, for using something/someone in order to gain something is completely selfish and is a habit we as humans must quit.

Service:

This study was extremely eye-opening to me. I never really expected there to be a difference between being a servant and serving. 
"Right here we must see the difference between choosing to serve and choosing to be a servant. When we choose to serve, we are still in charge. We decide whom we will serve and when we will serve. And if we are in charge, we will worry a great deal about anyone stepping on us, that is, taking charge over us."
I didn't realize just how much of a fear this was in my own life.  I do feel obsessed with attempting to serve on my own terms instead of God's. But lately I have been trying as hard as possible to be a servant for God rather than just serving others.

Celebration:

I find it hilarious that celebration comes after submission, solitude, and service.  It's like after all of these difficult things that you should be trying to do, you should always party! haha it is just so funny that after we are all so serious we are told to always be joyful. And that fact is so true though.  Even when we try to be so perfect we still need to relax and just have fun and remember how amazing God is, and that he loves us more than we will ever know.

So I'll end with this DO NOT FORGET to celebrate how much God loves us!!!