Waves

Wow. This month has been crazy busy with school, and needles to say its been stressful. Like I said in my last post, I don't even know where the media would fit into everything. All this preoccupation with school, grades, sports, family, friends, etc all seems to come before my sole purpose of this month: dedicating to God. Even mornings, where I usually spend time in the word, have been cut short because of lack of sleep, sometimes this time is even completely forgotten.

Today everything just started to build up inside me so I went for a run when I got home to clear my head. I blasted my Christian music (of course) and didn't stop. While running, my lungs burning, I found that when I tried to focus and look at everything going on around me, I was distracted and it became harder to focus on breathing. When I got home and had a chance to cool down, I realized that God used this to show me something very important: He said focus on me not all the distractions going on around you. Yes, it is still going to hurt but when you focus on me I am in control. Its just like Peter walking on water. Though the waves are always tossing around you, trust in me.

Media fast half way

This is one of the hardest things I have done in a long time! Baseball keeps me very busy, but it doesn't consume all of my time. It's awesome that I get to spend extra time away from media, and focus my life directly on God! I can't wait to see what these last couple weeks have for me.

halfway there!

Sorry about the late post. I've just been so busy with all my theatre commitments and Beauty and The Beast rehearsals (which you should all come see!) 16 days down, 15 to go. almost exactly half. The first half hasnt been so bad, and im hoping the second half wont be either. Craig's message today was really powerful, and hit home a little bit, so I've spent all of the day so far, playing tag, hide and seek, etc (thanks, Matt) and dwelling on the allegories of the sermon. So far a pretty good day. Hope all goes well the rest of the month and I praise God my brother, Matt, arrived safely home from CBU. Praying for you!

Halfway

This is my second year doing the media fast so I knew what to expect.  I think this year giving up my music has been much harder than last year.  I love finding new Christian artists to listen to.  I love Britt Nicole, TobyMac, and Capital Kings.  They have great songs and even better messages in the songs.  I'm very unsure how I feel that the media fast is halfway over.  I am excited to watch my shows that have been recording all month.  I can't wait until VBS and the missions trip!

Giving Up Your Gleaming Sheep

"What if I told you that every sin you are struggling with, every discouragement you are dealing with, even the lack of purpose you're living with are because of idolatry?"
-- Kyle Idleman, gods at war

Recently I read the book by the author above, gods at war. The book deals with the subject of idolatry, and it touched my heart in a way I wasn't expecting.
     I admit, this year I was a whole lot more reluctant to do the media fast than I was last year. I had just started rereading the Harry Potter series again, and I wasn't ready to just let go of my books, among other things, for a month.
     This problem arose much earlier than February, however. I remember how excited I was to find out one of top ten favorite books, Divergent, was going to become a movie. My best friend had just started reading the trilogy, and she and I had plans to see the movie at midnight for my birthday, because it came out in March. It took a while for that problem to kick in, however. I had forgotten March was media fast month, which meant no movie for Jael and I.
     And when I realized that, it reminded me that the only TV show I had ever shown enough interest in, Once Upon a Time, was coming back in March.
     I told myself there was no way I could do it this year. It would be too much work. I was making idols of these things, and it took me too long to realize that. A conversation with my mom helped me understand.
     In our lives, we have dirty, helpless sheep that don't mean much to us, and then we have beautiful, award-winning, gleaming sheep that we put on our top shelf to admire. Remembering that love is sacrifice, and the incredible sacrifice Jesus made for us, I realized that in order to get closer to him, I first had to give up my gleaming sheep that was taking God's place. In my case, I would have to give up my books, my show, and my movie.
     This month, I am so happy to have made the right choice. I want -- need -- God to be the center of my life, and he can help me sacrifice that beautiful sheep for Him.
     Thank you all, and I pray everyone will have a great last half of the media fast!

Halfway There

I know that I should have posted one of these forever ago, but I didn't, so I guess better now then never. Tomorrow marks the halfway point in the media fast and I can honestly say that this has been my most successful media fast I've ever done. Each year I've been successful in the fasting part of it, but this month I've read my bible so much, which is super exciting because that's always been one of my goals. These media-less Saturdays have given me plenty of extra time to spend in God's word. This month I've really focused on 2 Corinthians 5, so if you guys have any extra time you should check that out. Well, congrats on finishing the first half of the media fast and good luck to everyone in their final half! 

Almost there!

It's hard to believe that we're almost done with the media fast!  It has been pretty hard, and I have messed up a few times, but even then, stay strong.  It has been fun to think that I haven't played video games for two weeks without it being a punishment.  I think that even though it's almost halfway through, it will still be just as hard as the first half.  It'll also be fun to contact our sponsors and tell them how we have done.

Half way

It's half way and I feel like I have grown closer to God. I enjoy finding new music to listen to and looking for verses that are influential also I found the picture that really caught my attention it said "with God we can face our giants" I can't wait to see the new movie coming out on the 21st called Gods Not Dead. 17 more says to go!!!

Half way there!!!!!

We are half way there!!! So far no media has not been a huge deal but the thing I miss most is music I have to constantly remind myself to not reach for my MP3 player but for my devotions instead. So far I am enjoying this month of no media. I have been going through a devotional called fashioned by faith. This devotional is about a Christian women who is a model. She wrote the devotional to not only tell her stories but also to inspire girls to model Christ in everything we do and say it has been  inspiring to hear her struggles that led her to become the women she is today. I am looking forward to continuing this journey and seeing what God has to teach me.

Same things so far!

This is my second official year doing the media fast. So far I have enjoyed looking through my bible for verses that grab my attention. I think that the verse that has stuck with me is Philippians 4:13 I can do all thing through Christ who gives me strength. Songs that I have enjoyed listening to is Scandal of Grace and Oceans by Hillsong. Thank you for all the support!!!!