Fun...Who or What defines it?

Individuality is one of the many gifts God has blessed humanity with--this must be true. God couldn’t have created so many people with different personas on accident. There is a reason for everything He does! There is a reason for my seriousness, your comic, her outgoing personality, and the list goes on and on!!

When I observe those in my surroundings, I notice that many people choose to conform rather than separate.  And I feel as though this choosing is often done BLINDLY! Going along with the crowd is done the most when you notice it the least—at least I know that is what occurs to me. The more present something is, the more you want to catch on to it and follow the flow! The YOLO flow, the skinny jeans flow, the “Rihanna pixie-hair cut” flow! There are simply too many trends to discuss—ones current and those declining in popularity. I am not writing this to necessarily bash these trends because saying YOLO for the sake of doing so was fun and the Rihanna’s pixie hair cut indeed is a cute haircut! I simply want to place on emphasis on what’s really going on with us: we easily become influenced rather than influence!

Our different personalities and interests can offer something new to the table, but only if we allow it to. Ask yourself, What is something that I enjoy doing? Next ask yourself, Why? Do you enjoy it because everyone around you enjoys it or do YOU yourself have fun doing it?

People assume that Christians can’t have fun and I don’t blame anyone for thinking that way. At some point, I grew discouraged in my faith because I was (I still am) the Christian girl who would not engage in some of the activities my friends decided to and therefore I began to spend more time alone. To be sane in college, I came up with the solution that I just might have to surround myself around people with perspectives similar to the new ones I’ve formed during my spiritual growth. Transforming into a disciple, calls for change. Changed behavior may come with changed surroundings. I am not too familiar with God calling us to live boring lives, but I am familiar that we “were called to be free. But [we must] not use [our] freedom to indulge the sinful nature” (Galatians 5:13, NIV). We don’t have to refrain from enjoying our lives. We simply need to reflect on whether or whether not our fun keeps us from resembling Christ.

Strive to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14, NLT) while maintaining and divulging to the rest of the world your “you-ness.” 

"We make so many commitments but we don't keep them."

A few months ago I committed to creating a blog that I'd dedicate to discussing matters pertaining to my life as a Christian. Being freshly baptized and continuously motivated to get closer to Christ I truly did want to engage in this project. My youth pastor and I had Skype meetings where we'd talk about potential topics and themes. Based on our chosen topics I wrote a couple of things. But days, weeks, and eventually months passed and nothing was published. Slowly but surely the motivation that once kept me driven to conduct a blog faded. The excuses, the fear of not being able to write in a way that would attract an audience, and my sole focus on my academic studies were all factors that kept me from going through with the project . Every time I opened up my laptop to start typing an entry a feeling of laziness and discouragement rushed over me. I simply didn't feel like doing it anymore; I was giving up.

After hearing Sunday's sermon about the failure to commit at a church I was visiting, I reflected on my failed commitment--my blog. Time and time again people (including myself) say they want to go through with something but there is no action. And what are words with no action? Just words. Empty promises. Yes, commitments in any situation are hard to keep, but if we focus on the obstacles we must undergo more than the prize resulting from our commitments we will never be rewarded.

Something that the Pastor said that Sunday struck me: "If you are a coward you cannot follow God." We need to stop letting fear delay and keep us from accomplishing our obligations, especially those we devote to God. What are you waiting for? Stay committed. The time is now.