Together We Can Change the World

"Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth, agree on anything they ask for, it will be done for them by their Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them"

Matthew 18:19-20 NIV

Yesterday night I went to a bible study with one of my friends. We studied Matthew 18 in whole. It was a really great study. My eyes were opened to a bunch of new and amazing things. When we came to verses nineteen and twenty something really clicked.The pastor, who was leading the bible study, stopped at these verses and talked about them a little bit. He didn't say much about the verses but he did say that if Christians joined together in agreement they could change the world. They join arms and become like a brick wall to the enemy. 

God truly has blessed me with five amazing christian friends. At this time last year I never could have imagined how great it would be to be their friend. but here I am today. It hasn't necessarily been always easy, with rainbows and unicorns, but it's been worth it. I wouldn't change it. 

When I was listening to the pastor talk about these verses last night, I couldn't help but think of my group of friends. We agree on a lot of stuff, but what if we agreed on something and changed the world. Could we change the world? Yes!! With God with us, we would be unstoppable! We could really make a difference. I don't know how or in what way, but we could. Honestly this post is for my five friends. 

Guys, it's been a crazy ride. I'm not the most lovable person in the world, but some how you still mange to love me. I haven't made your lives easy by any means. But you have never let me down. I know I can lean on you. I want you to know you can lean right back! 

Thank you!

Together We Can Change the World!

Technology

Technology is a big and controversial topic.
I got a comment from an anonymous reader which stated: "Becca, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I would like to know what you think about the effect of digital devices on society.If that's to weird of a topic for you,I would like to know your thoughts on texting during conversation?" 
I was super excited about this. The topic is great but I mostly couldn't get over the fact that someone actually commented! Thank you reader!
Anyway...
Digital devices have only been in my life for a few years. Growing up we didn't have cable, (we still don't) so TV was a foreign concept until I was about eight and we visited my mom and step-dad at their home. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching TV. In fact, I enjoy it a lot, but not having it at home makes it easier to focus on my day to day life. I love movies and television shows.One of my biggest dreams is to be in movie one day. I'm serious; I think that would be really awesome. A television really isn't what you think when you think a digital device. But it really is. It's kinda where digital started. When I think digital device, I think phones, especially smart phones, Ipods, Ipads etc. Well technically they are mobile digital devices. These mobile devices are really the issue in society. I own an Ipod. It was a present, from my loving brother, for my birthday last year. I love having it and use it often. I use it most to text. I can communicate with my friends when ever I want. If I have a question I can take it out and use it to ask my question. I live pretty far away from most of my friends, so my Ipod has been really useful in my life. I say this so you know that I'm not innocent when it comes to mobile devices. I own one and use it often. But as much as I like being able to talk to my friends and family when ever I want, I truly feel like mobile devices have handicapped society in a way.
Last spring I went to a youth weekend for girls at my beloved youth group. A lot of amazing women leaders put a lot of time into the weekend. I really appreciated all the work they did. I got a lot out of the weekend. I decided to show my gratitude, I would write a thank you card. Thank you cards, on the other hand, where never foreign to me growing up. My parents always had us hand write thank you cards for everything. It's polite so I am thankful for the training. I assumed everyone did this. You can imagine my shock when I gave the head leader that thank you card, and she was flabbergasted. She told me the next week how crazy it was to get a handwritten thank you card from me. She went on and on about how awesome it was to get a handwritten note. I couldn't really understand this. I loved writing letters by hand. Didn't everyone write thank you cards?
My point of this story is that I think that mobile devices have kept us from reaching our full potential. Back in the day men used to get wives by handwriting letters. For the record, I don't think that mail order brides was a good idea, I'm just saying.
So to answer your question, Anonymous reader, I think mobile devices can be useful if used in moderation and properly. I hope that answered it. If not let me know and I'll take another shot at it!

Priceless

I went to this concert a few weeks ago. It was Winter Jam. It comes every year with ten artist for ten dollars. This was the first year I got to experience the phenomenon of Winter Jam. Ten Christian artists; Ten dollars; Rate is a ten. I had an amazing time and I look forward to going next year. It was defiantly worth my ten dollars. I had no idea what I was getting into when I handed my ten dollar bill to the smiling lady at the door. I had hopes of what it would be like but I had no idea that it would leave me thinking about something for the next weeks to come.
Many people know about the horrors of human trafficking. My brother feels very strongly about it. I first heard about it when I was eleven. My older sister took us to a informational get together, where they really just gave us more information about the sex trade that human trafficking is. I, needless to say was terrified. I had no idea girls my very age were being taken from their family's, sold as animals and then raped and beaten. Once they were taken it became their life. I used to walk confidently alone in Walmart and now a cowered behind my sister. Looking for anything safe to hold on to. Now that I'm older I don't fear it so much. But that doesn't mean it's not happening. I think the only reason I don't fear it now is because I know God is protecting me. I was blessed to live in the country where we try to keep girls safe from that. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen here. Because it does. There is no doubt about that. I believe in the protection of my God so I do not fear. But what about those girls who don't have that? What about the ones who are part of the sex trade? The ones who don't have any hope anymore?
"Every woman and girl is priceless!" One of the guys from for King and Country said at Winter Jam. I didn't know how much this simple, but incredibly powerful, phrase would do to my day in, day out, life. At the end of the show a friend bought me one of their priceless necklaces. They explained that these necklaces stood for the fact that every woman is priceless. I really wanted to be a part of that, and my friend saw that, so she kindly bought it for me. I wear the necklace around my neck every day. I have only not had it on one day since I got it. That was only because I put it on my night stand and forgot to put it back on. I feel it every day. When ever I move, it moves. Reminding me that it's there. Reminding me that every woman and girl is priceless. It's just a simple one cent coin form Australia, with a for King and Country symbol next to it. It's nothing fancy, but it means a lot.
A friend and I were tousling around one day and he said something about how I was worth as much as free. When he said it I felt the necklace heavy next to my heart. I got really irritated at him for what he said. I knew he didn't mean it but he said it. He apologized over and over again but I couldn't forgive him. He had the same necklace hanging around his neck. He was standing for the same thing, yet he dared to let those words come out of his mouth. I knew he didn't mean it but he still said it. We happened to be outside of church when he said it. We were pushing each other around as we were walking into the building. We always do that. I went through all of service, refusing to forgive him. At the end of the service we were preparing to take communion. I knew that I didn't dare take communion with out forgiving him and making amends. I got up out of my seat, my necklace moving when I moved, and sat down next to him. We discussed what had happened, made amends and took communion together. We moved on. He didn't mean it so  I forgave him. While he was apologizing to me over and over he leaned up close to me and said "I didn't mean it! You really are priceless." That is really the part that has stuck with me. I have never been told that I was worthless, but I also have never been told I was priceless. I am priceless. So are you. Every person is. But what about those girls who are never told that they truly are priceless, but instead are sold for a price. No person should ever be able to be sold, because no can pay the price for them. The only person who can is Jesus. And he did do just that. Every person who was, is or will be created was paid for with a very high price. The price of perfect human blood. We could never pay our own price, but or maker paid it for us. He paid it for me; He paid it for you; He paid it even for the hopeless girl who is sold over and over again for sex. The price he paid was his own life. Even if we gave our own lives it still wouldn't be enough. His life is perfect, our lives are flawed. But he died once for all. He paid the price for every one. Making it so that every girl, every boy, every woman and every man, is priceless.
Ever time I move, and feel that necklace on my skin, I think of all the priceless girls who may never be told the truth of who priceless they really are. This post is for them because they are priceless!!

Why This?

I had this thought, maybe your wondering why this? Why this blog? What's the point?
Honestly I wonder the same thing sometimes. I have been thinking about making this blog for a while now, and I just got around to it. I think that in a way, it will be an outlet for me. I express a lot through writing. I'm not disciplined enough to write a whole book, so why not write a bunch of small books. I intend for this blog to consist of stories, thoughts, and opinions. I'm not normally opinionated. I'd rather make everyone happy them voice my opinion. I don't think sharing my opinion is really that important.I'm not saying that it isn't important, just that I don't like voicing it. I grew up with ten very opinionated siblings. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, I like it that way. I don't have to say anything, but hear all the opinions. It's part of being introverted. My dad always says I'm the quietest kid. I never saw how true it was until I thought about it. I really like it that way though. I love listening to my siblings debate or talk about things. It's always been that way, and it makes me feel safe.
Back to my original point, why this blog? I really don't know why. It's just a way for me to get things out. I don't like actually talking. But writing, I love. This blog is really just for thoughts. If you have a subject or something that you would like me to give thoughts or an opinion on I would love to. Comment and tell me. You can comment anonymously if you want.
Thank you for reading my first post. I really appreciate it. If you like what you read tell a friend. :)