Have you ever felt that God has left you? Have you ever felt that God would never let this happen to you unless He was gone? Have you ever prayed and had it seem like nothing happened? God hasn't left you.
Last night, I was thinking about Adam and Eve. (I do this kind of stuff when I'm just about to fall asleep; I think a lot.) Do you remember when God kicked Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden for sinning? If not, let me freshen your memory:
Genesis 3: 23-24
23 So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. 24 After sending them out, the Lord
God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he
placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to
the tree of life.
I was thinking about this, and I realized that it said nothing of God putting them in a spiritual time-out. God didn't forsake them, even though they messed up. How amazing is that!
I see the story this way: Two kids decide that they want to eat this potentially poisonous fruit, even though Dad forbade them from eating it. A snake comes slithering down the branch to the girl and tempts her, seduces her, cajoles her, until finally she eats a piece of the fruit. Yummy! She hands a piece of it to her brother who-- mmm!-- thinks it's so good, too. In an instant, they realize what they did, and also begin to realize that they would have to pay for their disobedience. The rose colored glasses have been thrown off, and they see the truth in every possible way.
After a while, Daddy comes in, and He looks around for his children. They are hiding from Him, and He calls for them. They say, "We are hiding because we are ashamed." The Father knows what they did, but pretends to be surprised. The children blame each other, but the Father knows what happened. Daddy doesn't want to punish His children, but He told them what would happen if they ate the fruit, and He needs to keep His word. The Father banishes His beloved children from the paradise He made for them. He made them mere mortals, and stripped away all the special things He gave them. He placed a guard at the east of paradise to keep anymore beloveds from coming in. But He stays with His children. He does not stay in paradise alone. He does not make His children suffer without His presence. The special bond between them has been broken forever, but He still loves them more than anyone else ever will.
Let me repeat, this is the way I see the story, not biblical fact. However, I don't think that the Father would forsake His children in the wild with no experience, and no presence of Him. God never leaves us, even when we can't feel him. God loves us, and sees us as His children. A heavenly Father would never forsake His children; not matter how they've sinned.
Even if you feel desperately alone, forsaken, and unloved, God is always there and He will never leave you. He is your Father, who is perfect, loyal, and everlasting.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Monday, January 4, 2016
Hi, I'm Dolly
Hello! My name is Dolly. I blog for fun. I eat 'cause it's yummy. I drink coffee because I can. Welcome to me.
I am a homeschooled high schooler, lover of Jesus, and my family is my rock. I am a glass-is-half-full kind of person with a touch of OCD. I like classic clothes, classic music, classic movies, and classic fun. I find Star Trek to be amazing . I am willing to spew my opinions to anyone willing to listen. You just entered the no spin zone.
I am a homeschooled high schooler, lover of Jesus, and my family is my rock. I am a glass-is-half-full kind of person with a touch of OCD. I like classic clothes, classic music, classic movies, and classic fun. I find Star Trek to be amazing . I am willing to spew my opinions to anyone willing to listen. You just entered the no spin zone.
Friday, January 1, 2016
Post Christmas Depression
I'm quite sure that I'm not the only who is fairly depressed by the time January 7 rolls around. Christmas and New Years is over, everyone has taken down their lights and Christmas decorations, and the next holiday to look forward to is composed of waxy chocolates and over (over) priced flowers. Bing Crosby has stopped crooning "Silent Night" and Nat King Cole's "Christmas Song" has been silenced. The whole world seems dark and cold, and everyone is trying to get back to routine. And work off the all-too-many Christmas cookies.
I come to dread this time of year, because it seems like you're gonna be stuck in it forever. Have you ever felt this way?
What I've come to realize this year, is that the New Year is a fresh start. Change is scary, and sometimes, I think that we'd like things to stay the same for a while. Maybe that's why we get depressed at this time of the year. Continuity is comforting and predictable, but sometimes, even if we don't want it, we need change.
Christmas is a magical, joyous, and wonderful time of the year. Maybe in stead of mourning its departure, we should spend that extra energy on thanking God for Jesus and his birth.
Step to Take to Get Over Post- Christmas Depression:
1. Rearrange
First, you may want to try rearranging your room or house. Create a new environment to have new thoughts and ideas. The great thing is, this doesn't cost you a penny!
2. Reinvent
Try doing something that you've never done before! Are you artistic? Try out a new form of art that you've never gotten the chance to do. Is their something you've always wanted to learn? Take a class on it!
3. Reconnect
Reconnect with someone you haven't talked to in a long time. Chances are, they will be happy to hear from you, and it might even be a chance to rekindle a friendship that you lost.
Giving yourself new opportunities and things to do will help keep your mind off being depressed. Happy New Year!
I come to dread this time of year, because it seems like you're gonna be stuck in it forever. Have you ever felt this way?
What I've come to realize this year, is that the New Year is a fresh start. Change is scary, and sometimes, I think that we'd like things to stay the same for a while. Maybe that's why we get depressed at this time of the year. Continuity is comforting and predictable, but sometimes, even if we don't want it, we need change.
Christmas is a magical, joyous, and wonderful time of the year. Maybe in stead of mourning its departure, we should spend that extra energy on thanking God for Jesus and his birth.
Step to Take to Get Over Post- Christmas Depression:
1. Rearrange
First, you may want to try rearranging your room or house. Create a new environment to have new thoughts and ideas. The great thing is, this doesn't cost you a penny!
2. Reinvent
Try doing something that you've never done before! Are you artistic? Try out a new form of art that you've never gotten the chance to do. Is their something you've always wanted to learn? Take a class on it!
3. Reconnect
Reconnect with someone you haven't talked to in a long time. Chances are, they will be happy to hear from you, and it might even be a chance to rekindle a friendship that you lost.
Giving yourself new opportunities and things to do will help keep your mind off being depressed. Happy New Year!
Book Review: Billy Joel by Fred Schruers
Billy Joel: The Definitive Biography by Fred Schruers truly lives up to its title. As a big fan of Billy Joel's work, I was excited to read about him. This book did not disappoint. I found this book interesting, real, and even a bit raw.
Billy Joel is a famous singer whose work was made popular in the late 1970's. Even though his music may be considered "old", it still resonates with listeners from every generation it's heard by. His music is creative, poetic, and honest.
Shruers goes into detail about Joel's family line, what his childhood was like, his first loves and first heartbreaks, the entrance into show business, rise-ups and down-falls, faith, friends, politics, and, most importantly, his music.
I found the pictures in the book interesting, as well. They were in full color, and I found that a picture truly does say a thousand words.
This book is a must- read for Billy Joel fans. It is clear, concise, and compelling. Five stars!
I was sent this book in exchange for my honest opinion by Blogging for Books.
Billy Joel is a famous singer whose work was made popular in the late 1970's. Even though his music may be considered "old", it still resonates with listeners from every generation it's heard by. His music is creative, poetic, and honest.Shruers goes into detail about Joel's family line, what his childhood was like, his first loves and first heartbreaks, the entrance into show business, rise-ups and down-falls, faith, friends, politics, and, most importantly, his music.
I found the pictures in the book interesting, as well. They were in full color, and I found that a picture truly does say a thousand words.
This book is a must- read for Billy Joel fans. It is clear, concise, and compelling. Five stars!
I was sent this book in exchange for my honest opinion by Blogging for Books.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Media's War on Intelligence
When I get up in the morning, I grab a cup of coffee, and sit down to take a look at what is happening in the world via my computer. I often go to Yahoo, to check my email. There, I am bombarded with stories like "The One Word Kim Kardashian Used to Silence Fat Shamers", or "Lana Del Ray Lives in Her Garage", or "Hillary Clinton Seen Driving a Scooby Doo Van". I know I am not the only looking at this, and thinking Kim's at it again. Lana was weird anyway. Hillary's new campaign.
These stories are so ridiculous. They are. And WE KNOW IT! Here's a question I've been asking my self lately. Why do we do it?
The media has turned it self into what we might call culture. They see themselves as "reporters". Sometimes they are, but sites and magazines like Yahoo and Us Weekly are posers. They are "reporting" Kylie Jenner's new hair color for the week. They are "reporting" Taylor Swift's new boyfriend. They are "reporting" Justin Beiber's current mental state. Notice they don't spend hardly anytime on what really matters, like presidential candidates (this doesn't include "reporting" Scooby Doo vans), shootings, the war, among other things. They don't report it, because they don't want us thinking about because it's not fun to read.
My generation is being raised off of "news" that doesn't affect them at all, where as things like like politics and national safety certainly does. This is frightening, because before we know it, we aren't going to be the future of America anymore, we will be America. All the while, the media knows precisely what they are doing: they are dumbing us down.
How To Avoid Being Dumbed
1. Get off the computer
The average American adult spends 11 HOURS online, according to mashable.com. ELEVEN. Pause, for a second. I do understand that a large portion of that time is for work purposes, but you also have to wonder how many of those hours is spent on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, et cetra.
The first rule in the avoidance of dumbage (yes, I made up the word, stick with me here.) is, obviously, get off your device, whether it be a phone, PC, laptop, tablet, you name it, throw it out the window. Okay, please, not literally, just proverbially.
2. Be Un- Cool
Yes, I know it's hard, and you'll look "dumb" but you'll be very, very smart. Picture this:everyone's talking about George Clooney's wife's dress and how, oh no (!), it looks just like T. Swift's! GASP!!!!!!
Now you walk in as everyone is hyperventilating, and asks what's wrong. KittyKat305 (You don't have real names, because after all, you rarely talk to each other; you chat on Twitter) says, "Amal Clooney is wearing the same dress as Taylor!" She passes out.
You ask them, "Who the heck is Amal Clooney?" Eyes widen, jaws drop, terrible, horrible laughing ensues.
Well, my dear, you just accomplished two things for the price of one. First of all, you friends wonder why you don't know who this Clooney chick is, and you have also succeeded in being very smart for not knowing who she is.
(This is not a bash on those who like to keep up with pop culture, because, I'll admit that I have ((and sometimes still am)) one of those people who get all hot and bothered by something silly like that. The only point of this is to show how shallow and meaningless it is, not to make fun of you.)
3. Stop the Haters- Hating and the Shamers- Shaming
Everyone is offended by everything. Yes, people can be mean online, yes, they have no life, and no, don't call them names. I hate phrases like "body shamer" or "hater". It is like fingernails on a chalkboard.
So very quickly, I am not, under any circumstances, condoning jerks on the internet. They are mean, rude, and disrespectful. I do get that. People, for whatever reason, feel it's okay to be animals toward each other online because they can't see each other. I know that cyber bullying is real, and that it does hurt. However, we don't need to be so sensitive. Unfortunately, people are mean online, but chances are, they wouldn't say it to your face.
We are entitled to our own opinions, so you can call me a hater and a shamer all you want, but name calling is characteristic of a six year old. It does not fly as an adult. You sound like a small child not getting your way when you do it. Please. Stop.
4. Please Limit Videogame Activity
Videogames are one of the most frightening threats to my generation. Teen boys and videogames seem to go hand in hand. Unfortunately, this is prohibiting them from being realistic, and they live in a fantasy. Because of violent games like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, they result in horrific crimes like the Sandyhook shooting.
Videogames are fine if they are not played all the time. It's like eating chocolate, it's fine if you have some, but if you eat steady diet of it, it will make you sick.
Don't let the media dumb you down. Their goal is to make us a bunch of docile couch potatoes. The only question I have left for you is, will you let them?
These stories are so ridiculous. They are. And WE KNOW IT! Here's a question I've been asking my self lately. Why do we do it?
The media has turned it self into what we might call culture. They see themselves as "reporters". Sometimes they are, but sites and magazines like Yahoo and Us Weekly are posers. They are "reporting" Kylie Jenner's new hair color for the week. They are "reporting" Taylor Swift's new boyfriend. They are "reporting" Justin Beiber's current mental state. Notice they don't spend hardly anytime on what really matters, like presidential candidates (this doesn't include "reporting" Scooby Doo vans), shootings, the war, among other things. They don't report it, because they don't want us thinking about because it's not fun to read.
My generation is being raised off of "news" that doesn't affect them at all, where as things like like politics and national safety certainly does. This is frightening, because before we know it, we aren't going to be the future of America anymore, we will be America. All the while, the media knows precisely what they are doing: they are dumbing us down.
How To Avoid Being Dumbed
1. Get off the computer
The average American adult spends 11 HOURS online, according to mashable.com. ELEVEN. Pause, for a second. I do understand that a large portion of that time is for work purposes, but you also have to wonder how many of those hours is spent on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, et cetra.
The first rule in the avoidance of dumbage (yes, I made up the word, stick with me here.) is, obviously, get off your device, whether it be a phone, PC, laptop, tablet, you name it, throw it out the window. Okay, please, not literally, just proverbially.
2. Be Un- Cool
Yes, I know it's hard, and you'll look "dumb" but you'll be very, very smart. Picture this:everyone's talking about George Clooney's wife's dress and how, oh no (!), it looks just like T. Swift's! GASP!!!!!!
Now you walk in as everyone is hyperventilating, and asks what's wrong. KittyKat305 (You don't have real names, because after all, you rarely talk to each other; you chat on Twitter) says, "Amal Clooney is wearing the same dress as Taylor!" She passes out.
You ask them, "Who the heck is Amal Clooney?" Eyes widen, jaws drop, terrible, horrible laughing ensues.
Well, my dear, you just accomplished two things for the price of one. First of all, you friends wonder why you don't know who this Clooney chick is, and you have also succeeded in being very smart for not knowing who she is.
(This is not a bash on those who like to keep up with pop culture, because, I'll admit that I have ((and sometimes still am)) one of those people who get all hot and bothered by something silly like that. The only point of this is to show how shallow and meaningless it is, not to make fun of you.)
3. Stop the Haters- Hating and the Shamers- Shaming
Everyone is offended by everything. Yes, people can be mean online, yes, they have no life, and no, don't call them names. I hate phrases like "body shamer" or "hater". It is like fingernails on a chalkboard.
So very quickly, I am not, under any circumstances, condoning jerks on the internet. They are mean, rude, and disrespectful. I do get that. People, for whatever reason, feel it's okay to be animals toward each other online because they can't see each other. I know that cyber bullying is real, and that it does hurt. However, we don't need to be so sensitive. Unfortunately, people are mean online, but chances are, they wouldn't say it to your face.
We are entitled to our own opinions, so you can call me a hater and a shamer all you want, but name calling is characteristic of a six year old. It does not fly as an adult. You sound like a small child not getting your way when you do it. Please. Stop.
4. Please Limit Videogame Activity
Videogames are one of the most frightening threats to my generation. Teen boys and videogames seem to go hand in hand. Unfortunately, this is prohibiting them from being realistic, and they live in a fantasy. Because of violent games like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, they result in horrific crimes like the Sandyhook shooting.
Videogames are fine if they are not played all the time. It's like eating chocolate, it's fine if you have some, but if you eat steady diet of it, it will make you sick.
Don't let the media dumb you down. Their goal is to make us a bunch of docile couch potatoes. The only question I have left for you is, will you let them?
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Rising Darkness by Nancy Mehl
Rising Darkness's main character is Sophie Wittenbauer aka Sophie Bauer aka Emily McClure. Sophie escaped her Mennonite hometown, Kingdom, Kansas, when she was eighteen, and reinvented herself. She achieved college, and is now an aspiring crime writer/ journalist. In the story, she tracks down a murderer named Terrence Chase to a small town, Sanctuary, Missouri, where she thinks he's hiding out. There she finds some ghosts from her past, and memories that won't stop haunting her.
After trying to maintain a cover and alias for all of two days, she is confronted by the sweet, elderly woman she is staying with. Sophie soon begins to realize that everyone in Sanctuary has a not-so-perfect past, and that maybe if she makes the choice to trust, she could finally feel grace.
This was a very good book. The characters were deep and emotionally three dimensional. Mehl did a fantastic job pulling the reader in, keeping them interested, and ending the story in a satisfying fashion, but also let the reader formulate the next chain of events.
Though I thought I knew who the criminal was, I was, of course, mistaken. The end of the mystery was an outcome that I never would have considered!
All in all, I loved this book, and I highly recommend it!
DISCLAIMER :I was given Rising Darkness in exchange for my honest opinion by Bethany House Publishers.
After trying to maintain a cover and alias for all of two days, she is confronted by the sweet, elderly woman she is staying with. Sophie soon begins to realize that everyone in Sanctuary has a not-so-perfect past, and that maybe if she makes the choice to trust, she could finally feel grace.
This was a very good book. The characters were deep and emotionally three dimensional. Mehl did a fantastic job pulling the reader in, keeping them interested, and ending the story in a satisfying fashion, but also let the reader formulate the next chain of events.
Though I thought I knew who the criminal was, I was, of course, mistaken. The end of the mystery was an outcome that I never would have considered!
All in all, I loved this book, and I highly recommend it!
DISCLAIMER :I was given Rising Darkness in exchange for my honest opinion by Bethany House Publishers.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky
A Refuge at Highland Hall is a romance about a young British woman and a Royal Naval Air Service officer during World War I.
Penelope (Penny) Ramsey lives with her sister Kate, and Kate's husband, Jon. She takes on the role of nanny to Kate and Jon's adopted children and loves them very much. One day she meets Alex, an aviator in training, and there is an instant attraction for both of them. They develop a friendship after a German Zeppelin raid, where he saves the youngest of the children, Irene. Just a few days later, Alex is stationed in St. Pol, France, where he quickly forges friendships, makes successful bombings, and continues his and Penny's relationship through letters.
At the risk of sounding harsh, the characters weren't believable, the story idea itself was unoriginal and predictable, and the dialogue was unrealistic. "He had a duty a to preform. And he wouldn't let anything stand in his way... even his own traitorous heart." (Page 12) Are there really grown men who talk like that?
I may not have enjoyed the aforementioned things, but I really did like Alex's missions. They were exciting, fun (for the most part), and I found myself on the edge of me seat during them.
I wish I had liked the story more and given it a better review, but I can't.
I was sent this book in exchange for my honest opinion by Blogging for Books.
Penelope (Penny) Ramsey lives with her sister Kate, and Kate's husband, Jon. She takes on the role of nanny to Kate and Jon's adopted children and loves them very much. One day she meets Alex, an aviator in training, and there is an instant attraction for both of them. They develop a friendship after a German Zeppelin raid, where he saves the youngest of the children, Irene. Just a few days later, Alex is stationed in St. Pol, France, where he quickly forges friendships, makes successful bombings, and continues his and Penny's relationship through letters.At the risk of sounding harsh, the characters weren't believable, the story idea itself was unoriginal and predictable, and the dialogue was unrealistic. "He had a duty a to preform. And he wouldn't let anything stand in his way... even his own traitorous heart." (Page 12) Are there really grown men who talk like that?
I may not have enjoyed the aforementioned things, but I really did like Alex's missions. They were exciting, fun (for the most part), and I found myself on the edge of me seat during them.
I wish I had liked the story more and given it a better review, but I can't.
I was sent this book in exchange for my honest opinion by Blogging for Books.
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