Looking Back Over 2015

New Years....a time where people reflect on the past year and look forward to the future year by making resolutions on how to be a better person as a whole! (Though people rarely complete them!)

I guess it's my turn!

This year has been one of my craziest years! It's been up and down, side to side, stretched, and pulled! Parts of it have been amazing and other parts have not! I have had spiritual highs and spiritual lows! I have had amazing relationships and I have had terrible ones! I have had expectations met and my expectations destroyed! Believe me, it's been a crazy year!

The things I have learned from this year are, however, the most important.

I have learned that every relationship is either a blessing or a chance to learn. I have had a couple dangerous and bad relationships, mostly at the beginning of the year, and have learned that I tend to settle for relationships too quickly before really thinking them through! But, I have had some AMAZING relationships this year and learned that real love is worth fighting for!

I have learned that even in the rain and storms the sun still shines. Our trials suck, but it is in the valleys that we truly depend on Christ and see him work! It just makes us appreciate how great He is in the good, easy times!

Since I tend to plan my life out, I learned that my plan and way of doing things isn't always the best or smartest! Sometimes people have more wisdom than I do and can point me to where I should be going! God definitely sees the big picture, while we only see the little part we are working on!

Family is the most important thing (after God, obviously...pretty sure it goes without saying). These people are blood....well some of my family is.....anyway.....they will be there for you no matter how much you mess up and how badly you treat them! While boyfriends/girlfriends, friends, and mentors will move in and out of your life, family will always be there! Even if you give up on them, they will NEVER give up on you...even if you beg them to! (Been there done that! Trust me they are in it for the long haul no matter how much you beg!)



Relationships are hard! Whether it be your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, friends, or boyfriend/girlfriends, they are all hard! While they are all extremely important, they require a ton of work and are hard! Two sinners interacting....yep it's hard to think about the other person more than yourself!

Remembering that living for the future is better than just in the present. Present happiness wont be the best, look to further God's kingdom...that is the ultimate goal! Yes, the present if fun and exciting, but the future is even better!!!!

Well...those are the highlights! There are so much more, but I could't possibly fit them all!

Good luck on those New Year's resolutions! I pray that this will be the year that you actually complete them!

With Love,
 From....
~Cait

Lovin When I Don't Wanna

Awhile ago, I wrote a post about loving when it's hard....(you can read it here...http://catydidgirl.blogspot.com/2015/06/loving-when-its-hard.html) but what about those times when you just straight out don't want to love them and plain hate them (maybe hate is too strong of a word...or maybe not..)???

Be honest with yourself...I think we all have a person that we just down right refuse to love!

Don't worry....I'm not judging you!! Trust me!! I have people in my life that I just hate!! This post is as much for me as it is for you!!



Whether this person gave you reason to hate them or you just flat out want to hate them, it doesn't matter! It doesn't matter who they are, or why do have this level of dislike for them, you just do, and you kind of want to!

I uh, hate to break it to you though, (myself included) that this 'emotion' (ha, you got that right!!) towards this human being (are they even human?) is sin...(darn it!!) Yeah, God says to love everybody (maybe this person won't count, maybe, just maybe there will be a legitimate reason for me to be allowed to hate them...please!!)



Nope!!! God says in the Ten Commandments, to love your neighbor as much as yourself. Unless you completely despise and hate yourself, which I'm pretty sure you don't, since we are selfish human beings, who sometimes love ourselves too much...you have to love this person (it's okay, get red in the face, scream, and throw the nearest object next to you across the room...I did that already!)

I don't want to love the person I detest either! They have done so much to bother me and torment me...( I may have twisted their words a little bit, but hey, it's probably what they mean...right?)

However, if we are truly followers of Christ, we should desire to do what is right and love this person. But sometimes, I honestly, really, really, don't want to, despite what God says!!!

But here are somethings that help me take a step in the right direction.

1) Start viewing them as human beings with a soul: I know that sounds weird, but I think it's true!! Sometime when we hate somebody our emotions get in the way and we unconsciously (or consciously) view them monster-like and think that every word they say or everything they do is pure evil (maybe a bit of an exaggeration).

If none of you feel this way then...I'm going to delete this blog, shut my laptop, and personally admit myself to a psychiatric hospital because I clearly need help!!

If you do feel the same way, then GREAT!!! Well... okay maybe not great...but hey, at least I'm not crazy!

In all seriousness, when you start looking at this person and viewing them as a person with a soul and as someone who could either be going to heaven or hell, it creates a tenderness and compassion towards that person!

Again...a step in the right direction!

2) Stop twisting their words and actions!!! I know it's hard to break old habits, but really, it only strengthens your hate and feeds the emotion!

3) Put yourself in their shoes: A classic, might I add!!

4) Let it go: Right now I'm singing that song...and since you can't hear me...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MK7qz13bU
You can thank me later!!!



Stopping this emotion won't happen over night, it will take LOTS of prayer, dedication, and patience! But trust me, it will be worth it! Hating someone is so straining and is a weight on your shoulders!



So there you are! it won't be easy, but with God's help you can do it!! We will all be trying to love the people we hat together! And dare I say...we might actually like them??? Who knows!!

Love you all!!!
Good Luck!!
~Cait

Broken Community Redeemed

"No matter how you are wired-introvert, extrovert, socially adept or socially awkward- something in your soul longs for meaningful relationships with other humans. We long to know others and be known by the. We treasure friendships that allow us to truly 'be ourselves.' Though some of us have never found this sort of community and though others have been deeply wounded by relationships, all of us still long for deep, authentic, real community." -From the book the Gospel-Centered Community by Robert H. Thune and Will Walker

Wow...

But wait...

Why do we crave these kind of relationships? Why are they so deeply rooted in us?



Well, we are made in the image of God....and God is community...He is made up of three persons: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit (the Trinity)

Because we are made to reflect God's image and His likeness, we desire deep community.

But if deep community is something we want and is part of us being made in God's image then why do we have such a hard time attaining and achieving these types of meaningful human relationships that God apparently wired us for?

Well...there is a very simple answer...sin

Think about all your relationships for a minute...

Think about your nature with those relationships...now i'm not trying to put words in your mouth, but I think sin nature gives me leave to say that your tendency is to use people to meet your own needs. We often are self-focused, pursue our own interests and desires, and try to protect ourselves from people and relationships that might hurt us or demand too much of us.

Am I right?

If you don't believe me think about it like this,

How often have you intentionally avoided someone who drives you crazy and annoys the crap out of you?

Or...

Have stopped pursuing certain friendships or other relationships just because they were no longer useful to you?



And lastly....

stayed in an unhealthy relationship just so you wouldn't feel alone.

I'm sure each one of us can relate to at least one of these...

Now that we are all on the same page and realize just how selfish we are, I think we can move on....

Our selfish tendencies show us that something went really wrong in our pursuit for community. Even though we are made in God's image, we have fallen short.

Because we are selfish and self-absorbed, we are prevented from reflecting God like we were created to do!

We don't believe what is true...we believe lies...which, ultimately leads to bad behavior and negative emotions!

Unbelief was the root of the first sin...(Eve believed Satan's lie that her eyes would be opened if she at the forbidden fruit and would become like God)

Unbelief inhibits us form seeing and believing God's truths about our world and ourselves! We are not trusting God's goodness!!!!

Sin is so deadly that it isn't just that we don't believe it is that without Christ we are UNABLE to believe...

Sin has caused us to become self-focused causing us to ruin our relationships with others...



Now that I have just totally angered you about just how selfish you are... you will probably unsubscribe from my blog, unfollow me on Facebook, and never talk to me again....

BUT WAIT!!!!! Before you do any of that, I have good news for you!!!!

Because we are so sinful, we NEED someone who can save us from our unbelief and selfishness and restore us so that we can have true, deep lasting relationships and community!

We call this good new...wait for it...the GOSPEL!!!

God, ever merciful, sent His only son, Jesus, to earth as our substitute for eternal death! Wow!!!

Isn't that beautiful?

All that we have to do is humble ourselves, acknowledge that we need Him and turn to him!! That's it!! The Bible has a fancy word for this...Redemption~to be delivered, ransomed, or set free.

So we know that Jesus redeemed us from our sin and its effects on our lives, but what did he redeem us for? There had to have been a reason! Well...one of the main things that Jesus accomplishes when He redeems us is to restore our capacity for community!

Not for a community of people who look and act just like us, but for a community of all different kinds of people!

Because God first created us for community...and Jesus redeemed us for community...He has mad us into His very own body (not to be weird or anything...just go with it!), which enables us to live, love, and to share His 'good news' or gospel with other people!

But hold on there....Jesus redeeming us for community is great and all, but why is it still so hard?? Why is there tension? Why do people still fight?

Good question...Jesus delivered us from sin, but he hasn't yet gotten rid of sin from our world yet!! And...because sin is still in the world..we are still prone to unbelief...

We so easily forget the gospel and what Jesus has done for us, and quickly fall back into sin and selfishness!

Building and enjoying healthy relationships requires us to actually believe the gospel. But, this requires us to intentionally focus and identify the unbelief in our hearts that hinders our ability to love and serve others and to receive love from them in return!

But before we can truly love others and accept their love...we must first receive the healing, liberating truths of the gospel.

This work of ongoing transformation takes place in....guess where....COMMUNITY!!!




Love,
          ~ Cait

What is Our Purpose in Life?

What is our purpose in life?



That is the million dollar question...one that people have been asking themselves for centuries! Philosophers and teachers have been arguing and debating this one question coming up with many different answers!



So what is our purpose here? We have to be breathing for a reason...right?? I sure hope so!

Is it to have the coolest job? Have the most money? Have many fans and friends? Have the best kids? Or is it to find true love?

Is our purpose in life to have great success???



Many people believe that success is our sole purpose in life! Wow....I would definitely be failing in life then...just saying!!

But once you get to the end of your life does money, love, jobs, house, etc really matter?

As believers we live for something so, so much more!

We live for Christ!!

Which, can I just say, is the greatest honor given to mankind?!?

God created us in the very beginning of time to glorify and praise Him!

We live for something greater than ourselves! Sure, we think that we are pretty great and that living for ourselves wouldn't be so bad, but it is so pointless!!!

Can you take success, money, fame, friends, and family with you once to die? We would like to think we could...but we can't!

So glorifying God is the number one purpose of life!!

It honestly just makes sense that we should worship and glorify the very being that created and brought us to life!!!!

Spreading the gospel to unbelievers is another one of our purposes in life!!



God commanded us to share the gospel!!! And why wouldn't we want to??

If you know something exciting and it has drastically changed your life don't you want to share it with everyone?? Sure!! It is something exciting and important to you and you just want everyone else to share in the excitement!!
For example...you found your soul-mate...the love of your life!!! You are so excited and happy that you just want everyone else around you happy too... so you try to match up your friends and make them happy!!!

How is that any different than wanting to share God's love and redemption story with everyone around? Except for the fact that a person's eternal salvation is on the line, while match-making friends isn't!!

Our purpose in life is to glorify God and share the gospel!!! Not too hard right?? Hahaha... if only our own selfish desires didn't get in the way... right?

Listening to Understand

I LOVE to talk! Trust me! It's one of my best qualities!! I rarely am at a loss of what to talk about! Rarely!!

While my strong point is talking, my weak point is listening! During a conversation I have noticed that I tend to tune the other person out and start thinking about what I'm going to say next.

I saw this quote yesterday and thought it worded this problem perfectly!!

Here it is....

"The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand. We listen to reply."
-Gabriel Garcia Marquiz



I so often listen to reply and don't take the time to really hear what that other person is saying. It makes me wonder, am I really caring and loving that person by tuning them out and selfishly trying to determine what I'm going to say next? No, of course not!!! What I'm doing is completely selfish and unloving!!

Now, having thought out replies is a good thing and is a wise move, however, focusing on what the other person is ACTUALLY saying can help in having an intelligent comeback and lead to a very thoughtful conversation.



You can learn a lot about people when you actually listen to them and hear what they have to say!

Now, the hardest part is actually listening to understand not to just reply.

The action part is way harder than just recognizing the problem!!
This is the part that I still struggle with!

So I think that once you recognize that you struggle with listening, you can move onto spending time in prayer, asking God to help you overcome this struggle, because we obviously can't do it by ourselves! I think we also need to start changing our thinking- it's not about how many words we can get into a conversation, it's about what you can learn from a conversation or how you can encourage this other person!

Some people just want a listening ear! They don't always want someone to try to insert their opinions or solutions, but someone who will encourage them and just hear and understand them! So start thinking about it that way! Start telling yourself that this person really needs someone to just listen not talk!!


Not to mention, your relationships are guaranteed to be strengthened just by listening to understand, because...

1) You are putting someone else's needs above your own.

and.....

2) You are actually hearing their likes, dislikes, hopes, dreams, struggles, etc!

You can learn a lot about someone just by talking to them!

I know I didn't have an actual solution for you guys, I'm still trying to figure it out myself! But I hope, f nothing else you can know that you aren't the only one who struggles with this!

Praying for you guys!!

Love,
Cait

Behind The Line Of Fire

**Warning...this post is not a light-hearted one!!**

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2 Timothy 3:12

Here are some facts about persecution....

Each month:
-322 Christians are killed for their faith
-214 Churches and Christian properties are destroyed
-772 Forms of violence are committed against Christians (such as beatings, abductions, rapes, arrests, and forced marriages) 

(opendoorsusa.com)

So, from these statistics...I think we can gather that Christian persecution still exists today!

No, it is not just an old biblical thing.

The thing that really sparked the idea for this post actually happened about a month an a half ago! Oh well, I needed time to really think and pray about this one!


Well...my wonderful grandmother, knowing how much I love the World War 2 era and any kind of spy...thing, took me to a presentation about Female spies during WWII! It was amazing!
I got to hear about all of these strong women, dedicated to their country and their mission!
I think I aspire to be like them after hearing some of their stories!

What really hit me was the fact that these women carried out their mission to the very end! Even if it meant having to sacrifice their life!

I was just so inspired by that! The fact that they kept going, even if their cover was blown!

I was thinking about this in relation to my own life...How does what they did apply to me? Right now...in the 21st century....for a 17 year old...or for anyone for that matter!

Well...I began to think....this could really relate to persecution!

I began to think of all the people in the various countries being held in prison, tortured, and the such, all because they refuse to denounce Jesus Christ as their Savior and turn their back on Him! They are the true heroes in my opinion!

They are there, never swaying from what they believe in, fighting the good fight! These Christians are dedicating their life to sharing the Gospel.

I have read stories of persecuted Christians that actually witness to their persecutors! They are that in love with Jesus that they want EVERYONE to know about His love, and grace!

We all face some kind f persecution in one way or another! Sure, in America we are not publicly persecuted, but we can be in little ways!

So what can we do with our persecutions?

Well we can start by praying for faith and perseverance just like our brothers and sisters in the other countries!
Christ will give us strength to get through anything! No matter the struggle!

What can we do about our brothers and sisters that are getting tortured and imprisoned for their beliefs?  

There is this amazing website called Voice of the Martyrs that is helping these people in tangible ways! Not to mention they give you personal things that you can pray for!

http://www.persecution.com/

Well that's it folks! Sorry for taking so long to get this out!! I kept rewriting it because it never sounded right! So...here is the 4th Edition!!

Love,
Cait

Neverland

 This afternoon I was helping my younger brother clean up and tidy our woods garden, aka the large open space in our woods that butts right up against our yard...don't ask me why it's called garden...nothing grows in there- hence the large open space!

There is a large tree house right in the middle of it with a collection of old broken toys and furniture that has all been used for a multitude of things; pirate ship, house, farm, hospital, etc! Things, meaning toys and furniture, had gotten a little out of hand recently, and since my graduation party is this weekend, I decided that the stuff must get cleaned up!

Now, I'm 17 years old and have not played out there for several years.

As we were cleaning things up I would pick up an old toy and old memories would flood into my mind. I remembered the carefree, and somewhat child I was, up in that tree house being whoever I wanted to be!

I stood there for a moment letting the sweet memories sweep over me.

I suddenly felt a longing to be 10 again pretending to be a nurse. Not having to think about the grades or long years of studying it would take for me to become one!

I wanted to be young, innocent, and without all the stress that life has bogged me down with.  I don't want to have to worry about school, grades, money, relationships, time, etc!

Why, oh why did I wish those years away to get to where I am now? There is nothing glorious about it!

And then I realized...I didn't wish those years away...it happened naturally and over time. I was bound to turn 17-18 eventually! And I had a fun childhood! I wouldn't really change it at all!

And being a teenager has many blessings that as a child, I didn't have!

Like having more freedom, being able to drive ( that's a big one!), having more responsibility, having more say over your life, making decisions YOU want to make, being old enough to be in relationships, and so many more things!

So, I guess my main point in this is...be content in the stage of life you are in! They all have their pro's and con's! It's just what you choose to focus on! 

Well that's it folks!! I'm working on a big post right now...I've been struggling with it, but hope to have it out soon! 

Love, 

Cait