Illuminate

Have you ever heard the phrase "no strings attached"? We all know that when we hear this that is usually a gimmick. But there is a word that means no strings attached and it will be freely given to you, unconditional. The word unconditional means that you don't have to do anything to receive it. Katy Perry has recently released a song called unconditionally. It talks about a love that has no conditions and will love through anything. Here is a few quotes from the song. Oh no, did I get too close oh? Oh, did I almost see what's really on the inside? All your insecurities All the dirty laundry Never made me blink one time Unconditional, unconditionally I will love you unconditionally There is no fear now Let go and just be free I will love you unconditionally Come just as you are to me Don't need apologies Know that you are unworthy I'll take your bad days with your good Walk through this storm I would ...

This past week I saw a movie called The Hunger Games, Catching Fire . I enjoyed the first one and it has increasingly become more and more popular. As I watched the second one I realized I was watching a teenager that is being portrayed as a leader, hero, and someone who everyone looks up to. How was she able to do that and can God use teenagers in the same way? In the movie Katniss Everdeen is a simple girl who never wanted to be in the lime light. What was so incredible about her was her courage and her willingness to always stand up for what was right. I love  what symbolized this the most was the scene where she had the flaming clothes coming back into the capital. Everyone starting calling her the "girl on Fire" and wanted to be just like her! What would it look like if students and young adults were looked as the girl on fire or the man on fire? Students and young adults that were brave, had courage, and always stood up for what is right. Romans 12:11 says, ...

There is a song that I heard recently that caught my attention. The song is by Imagine Dragons and it is called Demons. In the song the artist explains that no one is perfect and how we are all dealing with something that may haunt us or keeps giving us trouble. When you feel my heat Look into my eyes It’s where my demons hide It’s where my demons hide Don’t get too close It’s dark inside It’s where my demons hide It’s where my demons hide We all have our so called demons inside. It may be a temptation that we can't get past. Maybe it was a past event that we cannot forgive. Whatever it is on the outside we look like we are doing ok but in the inside it is screaming out.  So what do we do with these so called demons? It is simple, lay them at the feet of Jesus. You see the Bible says that he is our high priest and everything we have experienced he knows and understands us. Hebrews 4:15-16 says "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with ou...

Sarah and I were watching a a pretty funny and interesting show called Duck Dynasty. Maybe you have heard of it. One of the funny parts in one of the episodes was when the CEO of Duck Commander, Willie, said he feels like the Little Red Hen and the rest of his guys that are working for him are like the farm animals because they are always up to something besides work. That made me scan my childhood memories and try to think about what that story was a about. Then I remembered. The Little Red Hen was about a hen that decided to plant some wheat seeds so that she could have some bread. She asked her barn yard friends to help and they did not want to because of different reasons. Finally, after a lot of work she asked who like to help her eat the bread. Well everyone wanted to but she told them because they did not help, she was going to eat it herself. You can read the full story here if you want. Even though this is a kid's story I believe there is still truth in it....

A couple of weeks ago History channel started a new unique series that got me excited. It is called "the Bible" and it looks at important stories from across the Bible. In the first episode they follow the life of Moses as he frees God's people from Egypt. When Moses first talks to the people about God's plan there was a quote that stood out to me that I think would be good to remember and know but so many of us forget. "Have you forgotten God? Even if you have, he has not forgotten you." Moses the Bible I am sure the Israelites felt abandoned after years of slavery but was it because God abandoned them or was it because they abandoned God in their hearts and minds? The amazing thing is if they did abandon God he did not abandon them. He had a plan to free them and he put a plan into place that freed them. I know that sometimes I forget the most important things. I am so glad I have a calendar or I would forget so many things. The incredibl...