Faith, Holidays, Relationships, Stories

The First Friendsgiving

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Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

2 Samuel 22:50

The following is a story I wrote while I was in college. It was intended to be part of a little book about my college life I was going to give to my little brother so he sort of knew what to expect when he got there. But nothing in my life has ever been typical and my experiences varied wildly from what others probably experienced. So I never finished the book. He’s still writing his own story which is filled with just as much happiness and misery as my own but at the time I didn’t think he’d be able to relate. Here’s one story that survived that I think everyone can relate to, though. Please feel free to cringe as you read.

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Faith, Life Advice, Relationships

Making Time for God

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My good friend Emily writes: I love routine. I thrive off of it. Once COVID hit, all routine went out the window. My classes I did from bed. My work was moved online so I could do it whenever I wanted as long as I got all my projects completed on time. With not having a schedule for really anything, I stoped having a spiritual schedule as well. I didn’t create the time for God in my schedule. Things were happening in my life that sort of made me bitter towards God at times. I could recognize a difference from when I first got home from the mission and studied the scriptures every day to then (and honestly sometimes now) when I spent no time for or with God. When I was praying and studying the scriptures each day, I had such a positive outlook and attitude. When I wasn’t, I became increasingly bitter towards God for the littlest things. I recognized that, but that bitterness made me not really care that I was more bitter. A new semester rolled around and things in the world didn’t. Work got more busy and obviously school got more busy and I needed to thrive in both aspects… so I needed to create a new routine. After certain things happened in my life, I hesitantly added prayer and scripture study into my morning routine. At first, I didn’t recognize a huge difference, but after a couple weeks, I noticed that my days were better and I was more accountable to myself and to God. I stopped being really bitter towards God and gratitude flooded into my heart. Now, am I the best at keeping this routine? No. But I have recognized that my quiet time spent with God has a huge impact on my life. I realized that God wants to help me in my life, but I have to put forth that time to allow him to.

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Faith, Stories

In the Beginning

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Christening of the baby Jesus Jeston

I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant…

Genesis 32:10

Before I went to college, I had been baptized twice, each time into a different church. I was christened as a baby into a non-denominational church not long after my birth and then again as a Baptist sixteen years later. Religion and going to church were always a part of my life, sort of like going to school or paying taxes. It was just something you had to do so you wouldn’t get into too much trouble. God was like a distant relative you talk to every once in a while so they don’t think you only call on them when you need something, which is usually what the deal is. I knew He was there but I didn’t really know what role, if any, He was playing in my life. I didn’t know if any of my prayers had ever really been answered or if sometimes things just happened to go my way. I wasn’t too concerned about it either way.

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