Hey everyone this is Lillie Hutton. I wrote something on here when this was first created, but I feel I need to write something again. This past year has been the most testing and challenging times for me in my faith. I’ve had many distractions, and have been more stressed out than ever. This week I’ve really been thinking about making sure God is the center of everything I do.
Earlier this week I was talking to a friend of mine, Tj Ono. One thing he said really got me thinking about how us Christians live our life. He said, “There is a big difference between a ‘Christian’ girl and a Godly woman. Christian girls talk the walk and they still don’t know God” Then he said that a lot of people are ‘Christians’ but only on Sunday mornings. Sadly, that is true.
One time in class I heard some people saying, “Yeah I’m a Christian, I believe in God. But I don’t go to church, or read the bible it’s boring. I don’t want to.” And I’ve seen these ‘Christians’ make fun of other people, curse, and use the Lords name in vain. Is this the image we want Christians to have??
There is much more to being a Christian than just stating that you believe in Christ. Anyone can do that. But we need to live our lives for Christ. Let me rephrase that—we need to wholly devote our entire lives to living for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Not just our Sunday mornings.
And how do we do this? Well being an image of Jesus is something I’ve been trying to really portray this year. Yes it can be tough. Blowing up in people’s faces if you’re mad isn’t something the Lord would do. Or cheating. Or gossiping. Or cursing. Or stealing. Or lying. And the list goes on. There are so many things that we see everyday. And I’m sure at least one of the things listed can apply to you at times.
I believe that we can change. We can change our attitudes, we can change our actions, and then we can take this change further than just our own lives. We can change the world. So let’s try this together- change your old habits that you know don’t reflect the Lord. Try living everyday for Christ. Take your Sunday morning self and place it into your everyday life. Make God the center of your thoughts. It’s the beginning of a new year- let’s start this new year right.
I’ve also been thinking about what I’ve been called to do. The biggest thing that has been on my heart since the end of 6th grade is Africa. But in the past I just thought I was too young to really do anything since I can’t go over there yet. Well I was wrong. If there’s something you feel you’ve been called to do or help don’t wait until you’re older to do something about it.
Last year I had a feeling I should open some sort of club or do some sort of work for the Invisible Children organization that helps Northern Uganda and is trying to stop the war there. I didn’t listen to my heart because I believed I wouldn’t make a change. But why wouldn’t I be able to? There is absolutely no reason that I- and everyone else our there- can’t do something. This year I am going to listen to my heart. I believe if something is set so strongly on my heart and I never stop thinking about it, there is definitely a good chance that the Lord is speaking to me. I am going to do all I can to pursue my dream of going to Africa and make a change in the lives of those beautiful people. Well, I will have to wait patiently until the Lord presents me with this opportunity, but I know if He wants me there He will give me the chance and meanwhile I’ll do all I can do from here!
Before I end this I need yall- my brothers and sisters in Christ- to pray. Pray for me and everyone else out there that has big hopes and dreams. Pray that they won’t give up their dreams because they think they can’t make a change. Pray that they would be strong in the Lord and place Him in the center of their lives. Pray for a change in our community and our world that us ‘Christians’ will truly live our lives for the Lord and become more than just ‘Christians’ but Godly women and men who have devoted their everything to the Lord. Let’s make 2009 a year to remember.
i am speechless. this is awesome. this is AMAZING actually. and amen lillie, amen.
i agree, with everything. i mean even if we cant go to africa as fish we can still do 30 hour famine, and we can still do freerice.com and we can still sponser and we can still do all of theses things. you are right. we are not to youung and we need to make 2009 a year to remember. i was thinking the other day about how this might be the only year we have to change out class of 2012 because it is the only year that we have together. we can do this, and it will take ALOT of efort. my fafvorite thing that brian has ever said is “when our maximum effort meets god’s power miracles happen”. Lets make some miracles. I love you, thanks for the encouragement