New York City, Bible Study, and My Walk of Faith

Hi Internet!! I'm in New York City this week, and it's FABULOUS!!! It's exciting, and different, and I'm really loving it! My sister lives here, and I'm visiting her for my spring break. Anyway, I've done lots of fun things, like going to one of her classes, and seeing some of the sights (like Times Square and Macy's and the Rockefeller Center), and we'll be doing a lot more of that in the next couple days before I head home. I'm super excited to be spending so much quality time with my sister, in the city she loves.

Anyway, another thing I've done with her is go to her Bible Study. That was actually tonight. And it was really amazing. It was my sister, myself, and two other girls. We talked about how we are Redeemed. We're called "the Redeemed." It's really a wonderful realization, and something to think about: are we living our lives like we're Redeemed?

Also, though, I just saw God in each of the girls who were there, who asked me about my Walk of Faith. And truthfully, my Walk has seen better days. I've really just not had my head in the right place. I haven't focused on God, nor put the time in to a quiet time the way I've needed to. But these women encouraged me in my Walk, instead of looking down on me for it.

But anyway, it was really an amazing, God-filled day. And I can't wait to see Him through the rest of the week!

Good Friends

Good friends are such a valuable asset to life. My friends have made me who I am today. They support me and love me, and give me guidance and direction.

 Like I said the other day, I'm kind of in trouble. I'm in ISS today, because I have a ton of late work to finish. And that's where this story begins.

Well, I have several friends who know what's going on with me. Whenever I apologize for being an idiot, most of them tell me, "It's okay, Becca, you're not an idiot! It's all okay." And yeah, that kind of makes me feel better, but it's not really the truth. It's not okay that I procrastinated to the point of being put in ISS. It's not okay that I didn't do something that I was supposed to do months ago. And I have one friend, one of my two best, who tells me that. She isn't being mean or harsh about it, but she's made it very clear that what I've done is not okay. And that's good. I need someone who I respect, who I love, who I see as an equal, (aka one of my friends) to tell me that I'm not "OK." Now, I still appreciate those who don't judge me, and who are trying to be kind to me, but tough love? That's real friendship.

Proverbs 27:6 says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy."

Proverbs 18:24 says, "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

I'm really lucky to have good friends. Actually no. Scratch that. I'm really blessed to have good friends. And grateful too.

What do you fear?

Hey Universe! I hope life's going well!

So I had a kind of tough day today... My principal pulled me out of class today, and I'm kind of in trouble. . . But the thing is, she's scary. Really scary. And she's not the only thing. I'm afraid of a lot of things. I'm afraid of:

• My principal
• ISS
• That other kids will mock me
• Biology
• My parents
• My brakes failing on the way down the mountain
• My chorus teacher on a bad day
• Having to room with someone I don't like in college
• My best friend's boyfriend
• My friend never forgiving me
• Being too screwed up
• Never falling in love

That seems like a long list, and some of those things I should probably not be afraid of, like my parents, or my best friend's boyfriend, or never falling in love, but the truth is, that in the circumstances I'm currently in, I am a little afraid of them. It sucks, but I guess, the important thing to remember is that, despite my fear, I know that no matter what, God is always with me, even in the particularly sticky situations, like the one I'm in now.