Monday, April 30, 2007
The Answer to the Question

A couple days ago, I was wondering how I could become righteous...and I found the answer: I already am. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). The one who trusts in Christ becomes “the righteousness of God in Him” as Christ becomes a part of him. Because of Christ, anyone who trusts, has faith, and believes also becomes all that God requires a man to be, all that he could never be by himself. That is amazing; that is grace.

Labels: Spiritual Life

Sunday, April 29, 2007
Cleaning Up

Once again, my mom is on my back about cleaning my room. I know I should just obey her and do it, but I really don't want you. Anyone who knows me well will know that my room is often not the neatest place in the world. This statement seems to surprise most people, who simply say, "but you're so organized at school and everything...how could your room be messy?" That is reason enough for my room to be messy, and not neat.

I always have to be neat and organized at school, because so much is expected of me, and I have a lot of responsibilities. At the end of the day, I just need some place to be messy and creative...and most times when my room is messy it is because I haven't been writing or drawing or doing anything creative...I need my messy place! My mom doesn't understand this...she likes it when everything is clean...but I don't. But most of the time I love her, so I guess I'll clean my room.

Labels: Erika's Life Updates

Tuesday, April 24, 2007
This Morning

This morning I woke up really early (5:00) and heard the birds chirping. Don't ask me why, but for some reason, this made me extremely happy this morning...

Labels: Erika's Life Updates

Sunday, April 22, 2007
Righteousness

Once again, I'm finding it quite interesting how everything, from every aspect of my life seems to tie together. Just last week, I came across this verse in Romans that really struck me...and then Shaleen mentioned it to me in small groups. And then Mr. Nickel brought up the same subject in Christian Ethics. I love how God works!

That being said, I am actually finding this verse quite confusing:

"For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith." (Romans 1:17).

What exactly is righteousness? I looked it up in the thesaurus and got "virtuous" and "pure". I know that God is both of these...but how can I be? I am flawed, imperfect, unfinished...

I long to be righteous, just like described in Isaiah 61 where it says: "[I will] bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."

To me this verse paints such a beautiful picture: a lush, green tree with its branches spread wide under the sun. Kind of like the picture on my blog. I want to be a tree like that, evidence of God's redemptive work.

Hmm...this is just a thought, but maybe this is where Stellar Kart got that weird song, "Tree Climber" from...or you know, it could just be totally random!

He takes over my scars and I put my life in His.

Labels: Spiritual Life

Saturday, April 21, 2007
Renovations

So, if anyone out there reads my blog religiously, you have probably seen that I have been trying out different templates in the past week! I have finally found one that I think is perfect! Tell me what you think!

Labels: Erika's Life Updates

Thursday, April 12, 2007
Lioness

So, this is Spring Break? I can't believe it snowed again, but I guess that's what you're in for when you live in Saskatchewan! At least it seems to be warming up now. So, it's been a little while again (where does the time go?) and I've got a bunch of ranting to do!

If two people are "in love", why do they have to continually progress farther sexually? I know it can feel different when you're in "the heat of the moment"...but can't we (especially as girls) have enough courage to stand up for our purity?

I know that one day I want to be able to give my whole self to my husband; to say to him, "I saved myself for you." This is proving to be more and more difficult, it seems, for anyone in such a sex-crazed culture. It is extremely easy to get sucked into a deeply physical relationship. I say this because I know some people who are there right now.

Personally, I don't think I want to go past holding hands, light kissing, etc. in any relationship I'm in. I don't think I would feel good about making out with someone I knew I wouldn't spend my life with. So if I get into that, I give everyone reading this permission to slap me across the face.

Temptation plays a big role in sexual purity...and it can be hard to overcome. But look into the Bible and you'll see that Jesus overcame temptation by praying and with scripture in Matthew 4. Later in Matthew 26:41, he tells the disciples to "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Isn't that true? I know what I want to do, and I'm always trying hard to do good...but I'm so weak! I give in so easily sometimes.

I really like this verse in 1 Corinthians 10:13:

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Isn't that amazing! I don't know about you, but that gives me so much hope! While I'm on this topic, I thought I'd throw in some lyrics from Dead Poetic. Enjoy!

She's a god in her own right
She dims the room light
As she moves closer
We all move slower.

Tracing white lines
Sipping fine wines
We remember when purity wasn't dead.

In this darkness I can't remember when
We were stable, we were able!

The sex is the lioness,
"Queen of the Temple"
I look right in her eyes
Then down to her level.

She'll play unstable and let you get away
You get her faded but not her name.
You've taken something sacred and made it a game
Your perversions are wicked and fanning the flame.

The sex is the liar.
The sex is the LIAR.

He takes over my scars and I put my life in His.

Labels: Lyrics, Rant, Spiritual Life

Saturday, April 07, 2007
Happy Birthday, Elissa!

Sweet sixteen! Wow! Hope it was a good one...

Labels: Erika's Life Updates

Monday, April 02, 2007
To A Mouse

I finished reading Of Mice and Men this weekend...and I have to say, I enjoyed it, but what a sad, depressing tale! It is pretty much only about how the "American Dream" cannot be fulfilled, at least not often, although it may easily come into reach. John Steinback based the book on a poem by Robert Burns; I found a copy of it translated into modern English:

Small, sleek, cowering, timorous beast,
O, what a panic is in your breast!
You need not start away so hasty
With hurrying scamper!
I would be loath to run and chase you,
With murdering plough-staff.

I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
And justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth born companion
And fellow mortal!

I doubt not, sometimes, but you may steal;
What then? Poor beast, you must live!
An odd ear in twenty-four sheaves
Is a small request;
I will get a blessing with what is left,
And never miss it.

Your small house, too, in ruin!
It's feeble walls the winds are scattering!
And nothing now, to build a new one,
Of coarse grass green!
And bleak December's winds coming,
Both bitter and keen!

You saw the fields laid bare and wasted,
And weary winter coming fast,
And cozy here, beneath the blast,
You thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel plough past
Out through your cell.

That small bit heap of leaves and stubble,
Has cost you many a weary nibble!
Now you are turned out, for all your trouble,
Without house or holding,
To endure the winter's sleety dribble,
And hoar-frost cold.

But Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes of mice and men
Go often askew,
And leaves us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!

Still you are blest, compared with me!
The present only touches you:
But oh! I backward cast my eye,
On prospects dreary!
And forward, though I cannot see,
I guess and fear!

I find that poem really interesting...quite thought-provoking anyway.

Labels: Just a Thought, School