everyday joys.

yes, i realize that the last post was about 3 months ago. but so what, right? at least i have a life, right? okay, maybe i don’t. shut up, maybe i’m just lazy:)

but in those 3 months, there have been many changes in my life. one: oh, hey guys, i turned 21 in july! time to party it uppp! two: i was faced with a major decision at the end of july concerning the rest of my life; would i take out thousands of dollars in loans in order to go to college this semester? or do i choose obedience and push my college career back even further? after an intense dive into the scriptures, i decided to not take out loans, therefore, i am not going to school this semester. three: for the first time in my life, i am in a relationship with an amazing guy. (and that would be my first boyfriend. ever.)

but just so we’re clear, i don’t “party it up” all the time. in fact, i found out it doesn’t take much alcohol before i start feeling it; and no one will let me live it down. oh well, i guess it’s a good thing i can’t hold liquor. :)

secondly, i thought i would hit up the reasoning behind not going to school and why i didn’t take out loans. it’s not very complicated. in fact, when it comes down to it, it’s actually quite simple. however, it is extremely bold. it screams in the face of the popular way of thinking. i’m sorry if i offend you, but know that you choose to believe whatever you want; i will be speaking truth, because it will be coming straight from the bible. so, if you can’t handle the truth, stop reading now.

however, if you’ve chosen to continue with me, thanks for sticking it out. i’m excited to show you what the Lord showed me about obeying him in all things.

growing up, my dad always quoted the bible saying that, God doesn’t like it when we borrow money, or that we aren’t supposed to co-sign. and i believed him, just like any daddy’s girl would. but it wasn’t until this summer that i was faced with where the rubber met the road on this principle. so, i did what i knew to do. i challenged my father and went to the source (its the only challenge he welcomes). i searched the scriptures for an answer, all along knowing what i would find. so here goes, this is what i found:

(please note, i am just sharing what Jesus showed me, i could be wrong. it wouldn’t be the first time, haha.)

Proverbs 22:4 ”Humility and fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.” —this says to me, that what i strive for as a humans on a daily basis is only fully achieved when i am humble and fear the Lord. so okay, obedience. got it.

Proverbs 22:7 “The rich rule over the poor, the borrower is servant to the lender.” —this verse is definitely one of the more tangible verses Jesus showed me. i don’t believe we should be a servant to anything but Christ and the reason i believe that is found in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” —if it isn’t clear in that verse, i don’t know how much clearer you can get. in a combination of both Prov. 22:7 and Matt. 6:24, you see that i can’t serve money and God, it’s one or the other, and by borrowing money, i become a servant, ultimately, to money. so choose wisely.

recap:

true obedience, through humility and the fear of the Lord, will bring wealth, honor and life.

what am i obeying? the choice to be God’s servant, not money’s.

there is one more point that i want to make: consequences of disobeying.

1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” — if i decide to give into my flesh and disobey, which is my nature, i open up a dirty, rotten, stinky can of worms. i delve into loving something other than my most gracious Creator, and consequently, i lose the only thing in my life worth pursuing-Jesus.

Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.’” —be content with Jesus. simple as that. trust in Him to provide. loving money just shows you don’t trust Him:)

i hope and pray that this post was Jesus talking through me. i can only hope to be vessel in His plan.

i was, and still am to an extent, very hesitant to talk about this because it is such a touchy subject. but i’m glad have a chance to speak truth. take from this what you will, but now you know the reasoning.

as for the third point, that of my boyfriend, that will have to wait for another time:)