God's Values

On Tuesday, I learned something that has totally changed my way of thinking. And that was values. But what are values anyway? Before I explain how values shifted my perception of thought let's first dissect the word.

 So a value can be something important or a person's standards. Okay...back to the story. Why I saw the values in a different light is because I didn't really appreciate them. On Tuesday around 7 pm, I was reading an ebook, when I was supposed to studying for my upcoming biology. You are probably wondering how can reading leading to trouble? In my circumstance it can, because I absolutely love reading! But I am taking a break from literature because I need to focus for my upcoming science test. So when my mother came downstairs and I was reading when I wasn't supposed to.... well it wasn't very pretty picture. And to make the situation even worse. I lied to try to cover up my sin. I  learned that you should NEVER try to cover up what you did wrong because it will not be exposed into the light. Anyway, that lesson is for another blog post. So to make this sad story short. I chose to read even though I wasn't allowed to at the moment, and then I try to hide it and lie to my mother.

How does this story apply to values? Great question. Well after I received my punishment due to my dishonesty, my mother gave me a talk. She explained that even though I disobeyed her rule about books, I still shouldn't try to hide it. I need to have values so I wouldn't try to justify sin. Another point I learned is that you cannot justify sin. Like for example, the phrase "a little white lie" is still a lie. That is why values are important because they keep us from trying to bend the rules. But wait a minute. Where do I find good values? Well let's look in the Bible. In Exodus 20, God gave Moses the 10 Commandments to set some rules and standards for the Israelites.

Also when a person follow their values they are protected from a possible negative situation. For example: If I decided to tell the truth to my mother about what I was doing on my comuter then my outcome would of been different. In addition, having values gives a person self worth. When you have values, you know not to follow anything that will can be harmful for you. For example: If I was pressured to try drugs. I would say no because I know that this can harm my body and my future. So to summarize this, I learned that values are important because they keep me from trying to hide or justify my sin.

 This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness." Isaiah 56:1

*I challenge you to think about God's values that he has created for his people* 


 -Gracelyn Lives

True Freedom

Most people like freedom. I certainly do! The joy of not having anyone to tell me what to do and
being able to do whatever I felt like was extremely high. It was until yesterday. Before, I thought that freedom was the ability to do what I wanted, whenever. Now, I am rethinking that because yesterday I got into trouble partly due to my mixed perception of freedom. Unfortunately, I disobeyed the rules and thought that my so-called "freedom" was utterly most important. However, look where it's gotten me now? I have lost trust and dignity because I couldn't think about the bigger picture. Let me move on because I am getting a little of topic, LOL! Anyway, I currently believe that there isn't true freedom without Jesus Christ.

So without further ado, I will clarify my complex thoughts to you! Ahem... *clears throat* When Adam & Eve ate the forbidden fruit all of the human race (except Jesus) was born into sin. Since we were born into darkness without the Heavenly Father interfering in our lives, we will automatically follow evil. There are only 2 sides in this world/universe/all existence (whatever you prefer to call it). There is the good side and the bad side. You cannot choose to follow neither and you cannot be lukewarm either. We cannot decide to walk our own paths because we were made to walk Jesus' path. There is no such thing as human freedom. True freedom is the ability to say no to the Devil and follow God.

Although we can choose who we want to work for (the good side or the bad), we will never be spiritually unemployed. On the bright side, God has given us the liberty to choose what side we want to work for! Anyway, back to topic!!! If a person is not following Jesus or does not personally know him; then they are with the Devil whether they realized it or not. This is why true freedom for mankind doesn't exist without Jesus because without him we would not have to power to walk away from Satan. Don't get me wrong a person can receive literal freedom from people, addictions, and bad behaviors/habits; but they cannot get real spiritual freedom without God. 

What is spiritual freedom? Jesus is the living example of spiritual freedom because he gave us ultimate liberty when he died on the cross for our sins. When you have spiritual freedom you have the ability to say no to those annoying demons/spirits because Jesus is with you. Jesus can break any addictions, guilt, shame, embarrassment, low self esteem, bad behaviors, negative personalities, strong judgment, and anything else. If you really want to be free lay down your burdens to Jesus, because he loves you enough to forgive you and take away the pain! 

  

Here is a summary in 4 straightforward points:

1. Everyone is either following the good side or the bad side

2. You cannot be lukewarm 

3. Jesus is the only one who can give you true freedom

4. You cannot get freedom without the Heavenly Father

Bible Scriptures (to show evidence)

1. "Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom." 2 Corinthians 3:17 

2. "It is freedom that Christ has set you free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

*I challenge you to thank God for giving you legit freedom.* 

 -Gracelyn Lives

Dreams into Plans!

When I turned 13th my mother decided that I needed to have some mentors. I am grateful of that because I learned so much from these outstanding women. One of my mentors is a lawyer; which is the career I want to get into. I learned so many important lessons from her. One of the most important lessons I have learned from her was to follow my dreams and put them to action. She taught me that I have to turned my can'ts into cans and my dreams into plans. I learned that if the obstacle looks difficult I need to call on Jesus to help, but I cannot give up. And instead of just dreaming and wishing for things I need to actually make plans to meet my goals.
Queen Esther also followed this moral. When Haman tricked King Xerxes into signing a decree that Jews should be slaughter, Esther didn't know what to do so she asked God for help and decided that she couldn't wait for someone else to fix the problem, she needed to do it (with the help of God) herself. My mother also chose to follow her gut and go to Atlanta by herself. But before she moved she asked God for guidance. Now that I talked (well typed down) about this topic. I am now going summarize it. (Why? Because it helps get to the point and its fun!)

What I learned:
1. Ask God for guidance and instruction
2. If the obstacle looks difficult ask God for help.
3. Do NOT give up! Try to find a way to overcome the problem.
4. Instead of wishing and dreaming I need to change my dreams INTO plans!

Why am I writing about this?:
Well, I have been dreaming and somewhat planning to get my learner's permit but I have never really got to it. Honestly, it's just pure procrastination. The longer I wait to take the test the longer it will be to get my actual driver's license. So starting tomorrow I am going to study for the test and I will take it next week. I need to work now and play later!

*I challenge you to set a goal and try to accomplish it this week!*

 -Gracelyn Lives

God's Traits

Life is beautiful. Right now as I am writing this I am outside on my back and just appreciating nature. I hear the birds chirping, the trees swaying in the wind, and the weather is just right. It is a beautiful day. I am still in awe that God created this amazing planet and us. Today I decided to write outside because I thought I needed some fresh air. Usually, when I write I am surrounded by noise and distractions so going outside was a great decision. God is like nature. He's warm, inviting, and tranquil. I am so thankful to be apart of God's image and to be able to see his creation. I am starting to see God's traits in other people. Like just yesterday I saw beauty in my grandmother when she was praying for someone over the phone. I saw strength in my friend when he came over to our house for the first time. I could tell that he was nervous and that he was trying to break his awkwardness. I even saw determination in my little brother when he kept dying in the video game he wouldn't give up. Since God's created us in his own image, we have somewhat his inherited traits. For example, lets talk about love. God showed and let us experience love. Without his introduction to love we probably would never get to comprehend and show it to others. Here is my evidence...

With that being said (or typed LOL!) here is a chart of some of God's attrubitues. By the way, He has a lot more than what's listed on the chart.

 

*I challenge you to find out some more of God's characteristics*

-Gracelyn Lives

Overcoming My Temptations

What Would You Do?

Early in the summer, my mother made a rule that my sister and I could not be on our phones for more
than an hour. She didn't want us to lay around the house all day and just stay on our phones during the summer. At first, I didn't understand why she made the rule. I thought that this obstacle would be a breeze and that I could show my mother that I didn't need my phone to have fun. Unfortunately, this rule is soooo much harder than it looks. In the beginning of the process, I felt like I couldn't resist the temptation. I was into my phone that I even ignored the consequences of getting in trouble. I rather be sneaky and get on my phone for more than an hour than be obedient.
Now that I am writing this down it sounds so irresponsible and selfish. Anyway, I didn't realize how much time I spend on my phone. I use it for entertainment, when I'm just bored, when I need to get away from society, when I am in an awkward situation, when I am surrounded with strangers, or etc. My phone was literally a hobby! Now that I have been weaned away from my phone I realized that my emotions and actions have changed (positively of course). I have been more social, a better listener, more interested in others people's lives, more sympathetic, and more outgoing.
Also I have become stronger with saying no to temptation. Don't get me wrong I still get ideas and thoughts in my head, but now I know how to overcome them. And know I am going to explain how. This might not work for you, because EVERYONE has different ways to overcome temptation and that's perfectly okay. But here is how I overcome temptation:

1. Say no to myself either out loud or in my head
2. Think about the consequences
3. Think about how this can affect my loved ones
4. Pray to God and ask for his strength
5. Change the subject to something positive

LOL!

When I overcome my temptation to getting on my phone I feel great! I feel like that God is with me and that I can override the Devil's plans. I know that I am MORE THAN A CONQUEROR!

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Philippians 4:13 KJV

 "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he hasbeen approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord." 

James 1:12 NKJV

*I challenge you to think about any temptations you have and talk to God about them!* 

-Gracelyn Lives

Trust in God!

Last night I had a strange dream. It was a scary yet interesting dream. The dream was in a post
apocalyptic, world ending setting (kinda like the novels, The Hunger Games and Divergent. One scene I remember so vibrantly was when my family and I were in an large office like building. We were surrounded my people who were dressed in navy blue prison scrubs. All of us were separated into 4 lines. In front of us there was a stage and on the stage were 4 yellow horizontal lines. There were workers were giving the prisoners papers about their future/present occupation. When the worker gives the prisoner their paperwork, they have to determine whether is accurate or not. If the person gets it right then they go to heaven and if they get it wrong then unfortunately, they go to hell. It felt like an EXTREMELY stressful test, because paperwork was the main point on where you spent your eternity! I know this was a very strange. But if you keep reading then you will eventually find out where I am going with this. Ahem...*clears throat because this a long weird story*. My grandma was also in my dream which was strange, but anyway she was the first person of the family to cross the yellow line and transcend into heaven. After that other people were either transcending up or going down. Soon I became afraid because I was doubting my decision. The rest of my family were quick to choose their correct papers and I was the only one left. I remember trembling and crying because I didn't trust my instincts. Then a Bible verse came to my heart which is "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding." (Proverbs 3:5) Suddenly,I realized that I needed to trust in the Lord and not my own insticits. After I understood that I soon chose the right paper and transcend up in heaven. That's the end of my dream because my mom woke me up, LOL! I think God gave me a message through my dream, that I needed to trust in him. Then I will be on the right path.

*I challenge to talk and pray to God about your trust relationship with him!*

Have you ever had a dream with a message? If so, please share it in the comments! (only if you want to though) 

I will soon post pictures from my trip. Thank you all for being so patient!

-Gracelyn Lives

Family Matters

Family is very important. Right? This question is very powerful that is why I decided to dig a little deeper on the concept of family to shift our thinking in a more contrastive view. I interviewed different family members about this profound topic and heard some interesting answers. Read below and maybe it will shift your thinking:

Question 1
What is the meaning of family?

Dad: "It is an organic unit consisting a husband, wife and children that loves, shares, corrects,  rebukes, encourages, and combines together to spread God's kingdom on the earth."

Mom: "Family is being loyal, treating others with respect, and will not do anything to cause harm. Family is the representation of love. When you love someone you want to help them not harm them"

Grandma: "Family means so much to mean; words cannot express. Families show love and support one another no matter what the differences are."

Me: "The meaning of family to me is a personal, emotional, and spiritual pact that God has chosen for us."

Sister: "Family isn't just bloodline, but the people that you love and have a spirit connection. Or your family in Christ".

Brother: "I think family means hope and love."


Question 2
Why do you love your family?

Dad: "I love my family because God gave me one in spite of me, my past, my failures, and saw me and my potential to help raise and nurture the next generation."

Mom: "I was created to love. The Lord put love in my heart. It was a simple choice."

Grandma: "I love my family because God is love! God gave me love for my family."

Me: "I love my family because they support me and more importantly introduced me to Jesus Christ."

Sister: "I love my family because I know that they will always be there for me and have my back. They will always support me through thick and thin."

Brother: "I love them because we protect each other a lot. I have great parents and sisters. They love me for me."


Question 3
How has your family made you the person you are today?

Dad: "My family was my biggest supporter, encourager, and motivator for excellence and to life a godly life."

Mom: "They played a part in every area of my life. My family influenced my decisions. I do things based on my life for my children."

Grandma: "The Lord made me who I am today! My family also supported me."

Me: My family has introduced me to Jesus Christ, given me values, and pushed me to do my absolute best."

Sister: "They raised me with their values and they taught me lessons through what they have experience in the past."

Brother: "My family has made me the person I am because they showed me love, took care of me, and helped me."


Question (more like a statement) 4
Describe one fond memory you had with your family.

Dad: "Here is one good memory: My family and I traveled to Tennessee and stayed in a beautiful log cabin. When we drove back home we unexpectedly took a different route on the Smokies Mountains and stopped, took some pictures, play with the snow, and just enjoyed each others company."

Mom: "When my family and I took an adventurous road trip from South Corolina all the way to Washington D.C." 

Grandma: "Just going to church with my family and the beach were great memories. Also visitng friends and relatives were also fun."

Me: "One memory I remember was when: My family and I would be on a road trip at night and mostly everyone was asleep except me and my father. Gospel music would play softly in the background and for some reason I would feel close with my family, warm, cozy, and safe from the mayhem of the outside world."

Sister: "I remember when we got our first dog, Princess, and we played with her in the living room. That was really fun!"

Brother: "I remember a memory when my sisters and were little and our parents were playing with us in the family room."


*Now that you read some intriguing answers and descriptions. I challenge you to answer these questions yourself and even maybe interview your family members like I did.*

I learned some key points like....

1. everyone can benefit from having a family
2. everyone has fond memories from their family
3. most everyone has experienced love from a family member
4. God gave us families for a reason
5. everyone wants and needs a family
5. family is VERY important

-Gracelyn Lives

How to Ditch the Cliques

Yesterday I just got back home from an 11 hour flight from Athens, Greece to Frankfurt, Germany then to Atlanta, Georgia. Tomorrow I will write about all the stuff that happened in Italy, then the next day Greece. Anyway, the trip was fun and I learned a lot of interesting things during the past 10 days. But I will tell (actually write) about that topic later. I have never been out of the country, or an airplane before, and been on a trip that long. This trip really opened up my eyes and I feel more well rounded. My mother and I went to Greece and Italy with my school, Georgia Cyber Academy and EF (Education First) tours took care of everything. It was an really awesome trip because we had such an amazing experience and tour guide. Other students and teachers also went on the trip, since all of the kids (and me)  goes to a cyber school (a public school but on the internet) we haven't seen anyone in person, so we actually "met" everyone at the airport. At first I was a little nervous because I did not know any of the students and my roommates who I would be sharing a hotel room for the next 10 days. Thankfully, I got great room mates. Some students went on the trip by themselves and they did not know anyone personally.
I like to study people and their behaviors, so I definitely noticed the characteristics of my classmates. At first everyone was shy and nervous which is reasonable because we did not know anyone. But soon people started meeting others and everyone was friendly. After the 2nd or 3rd day, we all got adjusted to our environment, surroundings, and people. But during this trip I learn how cliques/groups are started because unfortunately, I was in it. Ahem... *sighs* (because this is a hefty explanation). Initially, everyone was nice to each other felt included and important. But when we got used to everyone cliques began to form. In my opinion, cliques are formed behind the scenes and the key ingredients are judgement and gossip. Here's a deeper explanation:

When Person A dislikes or judges Person B's actions or behavior, Person A can talk about how he doesn't like Person B to Person C which causes gossip. Gossip always leads to separation and judgement leads to a wrong perspective of the person's view point. Both ingredients lead to cliques. 

When a person talks bad about someone and judges them, often the person will choose not to be around them and stay with people they like. Orignially, I thought that cliques just happened and they couldn't be controlled but I learned how they are created during this trip. The kids started judging others and talking about them to their friends which caused them to separated. In the beginning our bond was strong but later on in the trip the bond became weaker. I think their is a connection with elementary school and middle school. Everyone is friends or colleagues with each other in elementary but cliques begin to for in middle school. Maybe younger children did not have a full understanding of judgement, but I am going to move on so I can get to the point. Before I said I was apart of the whole mess and I was. At first I communicated to everyone because I accepted everyone, but soon I saw their behaviors in a different light. Suddenly, I did not want to be around them anymore because I judged their actions and behaviors which caused my relationship with them to weaken. Unintentionally, I began to reject the person. Rejection is like a karma. If you show some rejection to a person they will probably try to reject you all together first because they do not want to be hurt. I didn't understand why others where rejecting me but then I realized that I showed some rejection to them first.
Fortunately, my mother and God taught me how to solve this problem. Drum roll please!!! Which is..... To love others the way they are and pray for them instead of judge! One morning I was in a sour mood because I saw something I did not like from a friend. My mom told me that I had to release the anger because it really wasn't worth it. I can't control people's actions and I cannot be moved by their decisions. In fact, Jesus already knew that Judas was going to reject and betray him but he still showed him love in spite of Judas' wrong doings. I believe that if everyone loved the person for who they are and not their actions and prayed for them instead of judge them. Then it will be easier to ditch the cliques and soon more people's self esteem and confidence can be lifted up. Since most people wants to be loved and be cherished, this method is possible because it can benefit everyone. I am extremely thankful that I learned this lesson because I can prevent rejections towards others and my self.

*I challenge you to write down 5 good qualities about a person dislike and try to view them as person God created them to be but not their actions* 


(Look forward to tomorrow and Monday because I will be showing pictures and videos from my trip)

-Gracelyn Lives

Being Thankful

Yesterday during morning devotion, my mother inquired us to think of things we were thankful for. I realized that I had a lot of things to be thankful for. After we all shared our thoughts, I felt more appreciative of what the Heavenly Father has given me. Here is my list:

WHAT I AM THANKFUL FOR:                                                  

1. Having a personal relationship w/ God2. Jesus died on the cross for me
3. My family
4. My friends
5. My pets
6. Having a home
7. The ability to get an education
8. Having dreams and goals
9. Food
10. Clothes
11. Traveling
12. My name
13. My mentors
14. Having my own room                                                                
15. This blog
16. Nail Polish                           
17. Dual Enrollment
18. Books
19. Freedom of Speech
20. Fresh Drinking Water

There are more things I can add to this list, but these are the top 20. The more I write down the more grateful I feel. I am so blessed to have these things. My mother told us (me and my siblings) that if we are sad think of the things we are thankful for and remember to praise God for them. Also I am trying to give more thanks to the Lord because I want to stay humble.

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

*I challenge you to write down all the things you are thankful for and the praise God!*

-Gracelyn Lives

#HelpGraceGet2Greece please check out my website: http://gracelyn47.wix.com/greeceitalytrip  or donate to my school website: https://personal.eftours.com/secure/make-donation.aspx?poid=DBE569FD&utm_medium=web&utm_source=paxsecure&utm_campaign=fundraising

 Also, please donate so I can go to Greece and Italy this month. My goal is to get 10 people to donate $10 by June 14th! Will you please donate?

Perseverance = Patience

In four more days my mother and I will be getting on a 11 hour flight to Rome, Italy. I am so excited and extremely grateful that the Heavenly Father allowed this amazing opportunity to happen for us. This was always a dream, but I never thought it could come into reality. That was until I learned that perseverance = patience. This obstacle was not easy, and it much harder than it looked. You are probably wondering : Where is Gracelyn going with this? Just keeping reading and I will explain (well write it actually LOL!) Ahem... my mother and I heard about this awesome experience in a kmail (email for my school) and we realized that this could be an amazing adventure. I remember setting the idea aside in my brain thinking: It would be so cool to go to Greece and Italy! But can it really happen?. I soon started to doubt the whole idea and move on. But then when I went to the movie theather with my mom she got an email from the people who told us about the trip. Soon we prayed asking God to do his will silently while the movie was about to start. My mother whispered to me "Remember we can do all things through Christ because he gave us strength (Philippians 4:13)." After she gave me that prophetic message I soon removed all the doubt from my heart and started working towards the goal.
This is how I understood that perseverance = patience. But before I explain let's read the their definitions. Perseverance means steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success and patience means to wait without getting discouraged or upset. Okay now let's move on. It took a lot of perseverance to fund raise for our trip. Honestly, I do not like asking others for money so frequently I wanted to just quit. But my mother and God kept pushing me and reminded me about the goal. We signed up for this opportunity about 9 months ago and it took a whole lot of patience. Perseverance takes patience because you have to wait AND keeping working towards the goal. My mother and I had to raise the money, but also wait. Here is an brief example:

Kendra wants new Ugg boots but they cost $200 and she's broke. She is determined to reach her goal, so she starts a babysitting business and charges $10 an hour. She can only work on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings so it will take a little longer to conquer the obstacle, but Kendra has patience and is willing to wait to get the shoes. Often she would get tempted to spend her money on other things but fortunately she kept her eye on the prize. By the next month, Kendra had enough money to buy the boots! 

Meaningful Questions:
How did Kendra buy the shoes?
Did Kendra give up even though the goal looked too difficult?
Did Kendra get distracted because the goal looked too far away?

Once I personally answered those questions I realized that perseveance and patience went together. Because you need perseverance to not give up and you need patience to not get distracted! I know now that I have to work to conquer the obstacle but I also have to wait for it!

But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV

*I challenge you to choose a goal, work for it, and wait for it!*

-Gracelyn Lives

#HelpGraceGet2Greece please check out my website: http://gracelyn47.wix.com/greeceitalytrip  or donate to my school website: https://personal.eftours.com/secure/make-donation.aspx?poid=DBE569FD&utm_medium=web&utm_source=paxsecure&utm_campaign=fundraising

 Also, please donate so I can go to Greece and Italy this month. My goal is to get 10 people to donate $10 by June 14th! Will you please donate?

Do Something!

Last weekend my sister and I attended a girls retreat called Women Of Virtue Empowered Now (W.O.V.E.N). We signed up to help with their play. Anyway, the play was about young girl seeks the approval of her friends and wants so desperately to fit in. But when she and her friends encounter a homeless a woman on the street, she faces a dilemma. Though pricked in her heart by compassion, she struggles to decide whether she should act on that compassion at the risk popularity among her friends. In the end the girl, does the right thing and helps the homeless lady. She did not let her friends talk her out of helping the homeless woman. Grace did not wait for someone else to do something she did it herself. When I was younger I thought that I had to be an adult to do the right thing. But in 1 Timothy 4:12 it states this, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” In other words, kids and teens can set an example even if they are young.

This is why my sister and I created Teens Help Other People Inc. (TeenHop). We believe that teens (and younger kids) can help make a difference in their community. Let me explain what TeenHop really is. TeenHop is an nonprofit organization that allows teens to volunteer in their community. Our organization was created in 2012 because we wanted to volunteer at an elderly shelter with our

friends. After that experience we had a great time and learned a very valuable lesson that helping others makes us happy and the people we serve happy. Soon my sister and I wanted everyone to experience what it felt to help others so we created TeenHop. We also noticed that some kids our age aren’t really focusing on others and making the world a better place. If you want to learn more about our organization check out our website: www.teenhop.com. Anyway, I am trying to say that anyone can make difference and that I need to stop waiting for someone to fix the problem and just do it myself. That is what Teens Help Other People Inc. is all about. 

*I challenge you to stand up for what is right and do something when a person needs help!*

-Gracelyn Lives

#HelpGraceGet2Greece please check out my website: http://gracelyn47.wix.com/greeceitalytrip  or donate to my school website: https://personal.eftours.com/secure/make-donation.aspx?poid=DBE569FD&utm_medium=web&utm_source=paxsecure&utm_campaign=fundraising

 Also, please donate so I can go to Greece and Italy this month. My goal is to get 10 people to donate $10 by June 14th! Will you please donate?

Offering MY Best!

Yesterday I posted a one of my old research papers because I believed that I didn’t have any good topics to write about and I thought that writing new post everyday was exhausting. I knew that the work really wasn’t my best, but I wanted to just get it over with so I could go to the pool with my friends. The next morning my mother asked me what my new post on my blog was about. I told her that I couldn’t think of any new ideas and just went into my flash drive and found an old research paper. Honestly, I thought that the plan was brilliant, but my mother was very disappointed in me because I didn’t give it my all. At first, I didn’t understand why she was upset with me, but then I remember the story about Cain and Abel. Both brothers were supposed to give an offering to God but only Abel did his best. Cain did just enough and God was disappointed in him. I acted liked Cain yesterday because I did just enough to say I did, but I did not put my whole heart in it. Also, I believe God wants us to apply our best in everything we do because we represent him. So for now on I will push myself to do my absolute best because that is what the Heavenly Father expects. For example, instead of doing just enough when it comes to cleaning, for now I will give 100%! I want to be accepted by God when I give my offering just like Abel. I am grateful that my mother confronted me because this saved me from commotion in the future.

*I challenge you to do your best in everything because God expects it from you!*

-Gracelyn Lives

#HelpGraceGet2Greece please check out my website: http://gracelyn47.wix.com/greeceitalytrip  or donate to my school website: https://personal.eftours.com/secure/make-donation.aspx?poid=DBE569FD&utm_medium=web&utm_source=paxsecure&utm_campaign=fundraising

 Also, please donate so I can go to Greece and Italy this month. My goal is to get 10 people to donate $10 by June 14th! Will you please donate?

Letting Go...

It is very effortless to store up anger and bitterness inside your heart than it is to release it. But storing up anger causes more problems in the future then you would expect it. I can definitely relate to this problem. In one of my previous post I talked about losing a friend (Saying Goodbye to My 2nd Best Friend). I still was a hurt about the situation and stored some bitterness in my heart. But here's the suprising part, I didn't even know it! It all started on a Sunday afternoon and I was in a great mood because my cousins were visiting. While we were having a pleasant time being in each other's company, my phone beeped from a text message. This wasn't really shocking because my friends usually text me on the weekends. But what was suprising was that my friend texted me that the person I had a problem with wanted to talk to me. Here's how the conversation went:

Friend: Hey Gracelyn. Jessica* wants to talk to you.
Me: WHAT? Why does she want to talk to me?
Friend: I don't know. I think she wants to apologize or something. She really misses you.
Me: That's her lost then. She should of said sorry a looonggg time ago.
Friend: Are you okay you sound really hurt about it. What happened?

After my friend asked me the question the first thought I had in my mind was to defend myself. But then suddenly I knew that she was right and thought, why am I so hurt about this? This happened months ago and if I was supposedly forgiven her why and I still upset? For the next couple of days, this problem really set in my heart. I was taken aback that I still was upset and I really wasn't free. When I read my Bible I found this verse "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32) I realized that I needed to forgive her because God has forgiven me and has never held any grudges against me. After learning this important message I decided to text the person I was upset with because I couldn't waste another minute being angry with her. Soon she apologized and now we are back friends again.  I am happy that my friend (the one who texted me) showed me what was really in my heart. That is why I am sharing my personal thoughts with you today because I want to show you the amazing results when you simply forgive and let go. So to wrap this up here are the 2 main points I am trying to address:

1. I need to check my heart to see if I have "hidden grudges" against people. 
2. It's not worth holding bitterness because it causes more problems. 

*name was changed

*I challenge you to also check your heart and ask God to set you free*

-Gracelyn Lives

#HelpGraceGet2Greece please check out my website: http://gracelyn47.wix.com/greeceitalytrip  or donate to my school website: https://personal.eftours.com/secure/make-donation.aspx?poid=DBE569FD&utm_medium=web&utm_source=paxsecure&utm_campaign=fundraising

 Also, please donate so I can go to Greece and Italy next month. My goal is to get 10 people to donate $10 by June 14th! Will you please donate?

Actions Speak Louder Than Words!

Yesterday I wrote about confidence, so today I want to go deeper into about topic. If you didn’t read my post called “Confidence 101” I recommend reading it before this post. Anyway, I talked about how God was the “King of Confidence” and that if a person is seeking confidence they need to go to him. But today, I want to talk about self-worth. This goes together with because I need confidence to get self worth. In fact the definition of self worth is to confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect (from Google). Nonetheless, my mother still tells me to this day that actions speak louder than words, and I agree with 100% . Because of this I realized that this could be “linked” together with the subject of self worth. But how does that work?  Well, I can say one thing about my self worth, but show the complete opposite by my actions. Also, the more negative belief you think about yourself the worse your self worth will become. Anyway, here are some examples of 2 different people’s actions and words. Try to figure out what person has a stronger self worth.

Ben

Belief: believes that he’s an average student

Actions: does just enough to get by with his school work

Bob

Belief: believes that he should always strive to do his best

Actions: does his class assignments with 100% effort and completes extra credit work.

To sum things up, Bob has a stronger self worth than Ben because he believed in himself. A person can decipher which student was more motivated by just looking at their school work. To be honest I have did a “Ben Habit” in the past as well. But now I am trying to demonstrate positive qualities through my actions, so they can line up with my words. 

*I challenge you to think about your actions as well!*

-Gracelyn Lives

#HelpGraceGet2Greece please check out my website: http://gracelyn47.wix.com/greeceitalytrip  or donate to my school website: https://personal.eftours.com/secure/make-donation.aspx?poid=DBE569FD&utm_medium=web&utm_source=paxsecure&utm_campaign=fundraising

 Also, please donate so I can go to Greece and Italy next month. My goal is to get 10 people to donate $10 by June 5th! Will you please donate?

Confidence 101

Over the years I have struggled with confidence. For some reason I believed that I wasn't good, cool, or smart enough. Before I dig a little deeper, let's read the definition. Confidence is the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust (from Google). In other words, confidence is complete trust in yourself, other people, or things (materials). In my opinion, the only one who retains 100% confidence is God. He is probably the true definition of confidence. I can put my entire trust in him because he is "I AM, THAT I AM" (Exodus 3:14). Now that we know what confidence is let's move on. A couple of months ago I was talking to a friend about the subject of confidence. We were actually trying to break the "code of confidence". Our conversation on the phone kinda went like this:


Me: How does a person gain confidence?
Friend: I don't know let's look it up.
(friend looks up confidence key on Google and sends me this) ----->

Me: Wow does this really work?
Friend: I think so all the reasons sounds true. 
Me: Ok maybe we should try this out and see what happens.
Friend: Yeah let's do it!

After that we changed the topic and moved on. Soon I forgot all about our conversation and never really stayed committed to my decision. But about 2 days ago, I was in the car with my Dad and we were discussing my upcoming writing prompts for this blog. I brought up the "confidence idea" and my Dad liked it but he wanted to know if the list agreed with God's word. And honestly that was a really good point, so I have found Bible scriptures to make sure the list is accurate (since God is the "King of Confidence) LOL! Here are the points below:

1. Stop comparing and stayed focused on you. 

Verse: "For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves..." 2 Corinthians 10:12 NET

Btw (by the way): This doesn't mean to become selfish and think only about you. It just means to not compare yourself with others and to stay focused on your attributes. 

2.  Relax. Go with the flow and don't stress the little things.

Verse: "But I trust in you, Lord; I say, "You are my God." Psalm 31:14 NIV

Btw: That means to trust in God and don't stress over things you can't control because everything is in His hands. 

3. Love yourself, you are a gift.

Verse:  "We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4: 19 NIV

Btw: This means that you can love yourself because God first loved you. And that you need to appreciate the life God has given you. 

4. Be positive and look for the good in every situation. 

Verse: "Jesus replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God". Luke 18:27 NIV

Btw: This means to not get discouraged if something looks to difficult, stay positive and again trust in God because everything is possible for him. 

     

Point 5 states to, "Do what you love. Life is too short to waste your time doing anything otherwise". I DO NOT agree with this idea because it is selfish and incorrect. God created us for ONE reason and that was to honor him and share the Gospel. We were not put here on earth do just  what we love and ignore His commandments. So I am revising #5 to this:

5. Do what God has called you to do and don't waste your life focusing on your needs and wants.

Verse: "Obey the Lord your God and follow his commandments and decrees that I give you today." Deuteronomy 27:10 NIV.  

Btw: It's okay to do what you love, BUT it has represent God. 

To wrap things up, I believe that if a person seeks confidence they need to first ask God for it because he is the "King of Confidence" and then try out these helpful steps. I am also working on this list as well! 

*I challenge you to try out on point and comment below or email me about the result!*

-Gracelyn Lives

#HelpGraceGet2Greece please check out my website: http://gracelyn47.wix.com/greeceitalytrip  or donate to my school website: https://personal.eftours.com/secure/make-donation.aspx?poid=DBE569FD&utm_medium=web&utm_source=paxsecure&utm_campaign=fundraising

 Also, please donate so I can go to Greece and Italy next month. My goal is to get 10 people to donate $10 by June 5th! Will you please donate?

Not the End of the World!

I was tired, hungry, and a worn out from school. Today just wasn’t one of those days, I thought to myself as I opened the refrigerator. Eighth grade was very stressful for me, especially when I was taking all advanced classes and extracurricular activities. Deadline after deadline. Project after project. My head started to spin just thinking about it. Things couldn’t get worse than this, I thought while I began to eat a bag of chips.

I was working away on my tedious math project, when I heard my mother race down the stairs practically throwing herself into the kitchen. She was beaming from ear to ear!

 “Gracelyn, I have wonderful news! I just got back from Titus’ teacher conference, then I bumped into one of his friend’s mother. She told me that she decided to home school her child instead of letting him go to middle school next year,” she said.

“How is this wonderful news?” I asked questioningly.

“Well I wasn’t completely sure if was going to let Titus go to middle school next year. So I had an idea if Dad and I put Titus, Brooke, and you in home school together. That way you could finish high school faster and even graduate early,” she carefully explained waiting for my reaction. My heart stopped, the chips felt like they were coming back up. I couldn’t believe my ears. My facial expressions froze like icicles.

“Listen honey, it was just a thought,” she pleaded, “We are still thinking about it.”

I instantly relaxed. “Whew, you scared me for a minute,” I answered. After that my mom changed the subject, and the homeschool situation faded away.  

A few weeks later the topic came back again. Now my mother would talk about it ALL the time; giving my family and I everything we could possibly grasp about homeschool education. How the schedule is so flexible and how we could finish school faster. She just kept going on and on. I was eventually getting worried. My high school dream was literally slipping from my mind!

Since I was in kindergarten, I would dream of becoming a teenager and when the movie “High School Musical” came out, I knew in my heart that I wanted to be just like them. I desperately wanted to enjoy the “high school experience”. It seems silly now, but I was only eight years old when I made up my mind. Obviously, “High School Musical” is nothing like an actual high school. There is no random singing and dancing in real high school, and in real high school there is bullying, drugs and peer pressure. But I didn’t care about that.

Whenever my mother would bring up the topic, I would either ignore or try to change the subject. Secretly I hoped she would forget about this horrible home school idea. In fact, whenever the fear came to my mind, I would push it away. I didn’t want any part of homeschooling. I was walking on thin ice. Fearing that I would become a social outcast; if I didn’t go to public school like the other kids in my neighborhood. Honestly, I thought home school would be staying in the house all day, listen to a teacher communicate through a computer and have no peer interaction at all.

The home school idea would waiver around like a ghost. Sometimes it would come out and scare me and other times I would just forget about it. But the idea just kept coming back. If my mother wasn’t talking about, I would see a commercial about it on television, I would even hear people talk about. It would NEVER go away. I felt like I was running from an ax murderer that was stalking me wherever I went.

Suddenly, three days before my high school experience, my parents changed their mind. They were tired of calling the k12 people and being put on hold. They just gave up and I was completely grateful. I felt like I could accomplish anything; even though I really didn’t do anything except hope and pray. My mother even went to shop for school clothes and school supplies. Things were looking ahead for me.

 But then, the morning of the last day of summer, my parents called my siblings and I to their bedroom. My mother looked apprehensive. “What’s wrong Mom?” my little brother finally asked. She slowly explained that she had a terrible nightmare about the schools we were about to attend. She carefully clarified that she believes that God is giving her a warning, to put us back into home school. I was completely devastated! I broke down sobbing, angry with God for not giving me what I wanted, and angry with my parents for listening to him. I couldn’t comprehend why God didn’t answer my prayers.

Unexpectedly, I remembered the Bible verse Psalms 91:3 “He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases”. Maybe God is protecting me from something I cannot understand, I just have to trust him I thought. Honestly, it wasn’t easy. I had my ups and downs, but I kept moving forward. Soon I realized that k12 wasn’t as bad as I thought. My mother was right. Homeschooling is very flexible and easy.  Rapidly, I found myself enjoying home school. I soon made friends in school and outside of school and my grades were extraordinary. Now looking back on how I reacted when my parents told me the news, I acted totally immature and overly dramatic. In fact I only cared about myself, but not how homeschooling will benefit my parents and my little brother, Titus.  I now know that it isn’t the end of the world, if I don’t get my way. I just need to trust in Jesus because he can see the big picture.

  
-Gracelyn Lives

#HelpGraceGet2Greece please check out my website: http://gracelyn47.wix.com/greeceitalytrip  

Also, please donate so I can go to Greece and Italy this summer. My goal is to get 50 people to donate $25 by December 31st! Will you please donate?