Proud to be an American

As many of you know, last week I attended an International conference in Iowa about world hunger. It was a great experience, but what stuck with me the most was not what the speakers said, but the conversations that I had with people. There were students there who had traveled from all over the world and I tried to talk to them as much as I could. 

I talked to a kid from China about China’s strict rules and laws. It was interesting but also terrifying.

I talked to a kid from South Africa about the extreme racial issues still in South Africa today.

I talked to a kid from Mexico about the mess that Mexico is in because of corruption.

And you know what? After talking to them all and spending time thinking about it, I realized how grateful I am to be here in the United States. We are the wealthiest people in the world, we have food to eat, clothes to wear, technology, and we don’t have a whole lot of strict regulations. Yes, our government has problems... it’s not perfect. BUT… compared to all those other places around the world, we are SO well off. I tend to get upset with the government a lot because they keep passing laws that infringe on the rights of Americans. But when I do get mad at the government, I tend to overlook and not be grateful the freedom that we still DO have. Compared to other countries we are so BLESSED to have the freedom and rights that we do have and we are also blessed to live in a country where corruption and bad leaders aren't NEARLY as bad as they are other places. People are equal here and we have the liberty to do almost anything that we want to. And I think that’s pretty amazing. 

After hearing about what it’s like in other countries, I have a much greater appreciation for my country, America. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

God bless the U.S.A.

Wait on the Lord

Sometimes God speaks to me from the most unlikely places. Today, in my English class, we were reading through something in the textbook and there was a devotion from Charles Spurgeon in the textbook. The teacher asked me to read it. 

Wait on the Lord

Psalms 27:14

"It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God's warriors than standing still. There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desirous to serve the Lord, knows not what part to take. Then what shall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, or rush forward in presumption? No, but simply wait. Wait in prayer, however. Call upon God, and spread the case before him; tell him your difficulty, and plead his promise of aid. In dilemmas between one duty and another, it is sweet to be humble as a child, and wait with simplicity of soul upon the Lord. It is sure to be well with us when we feel and know our own folly, and are heartily willing to be guided by the will of God. But wait in faith. Express your unstaggering confidence in him; for unfaithful, untrusting waiting, is but an insult to the Lord. Believe that if he keep you tarrying even till midnight, yet he will come at the right time; the vision shall come and shall not tarry. Wait in quiet patience, not rebelling because you are under the affliction, but blessing your God for it. Never murmur against the second cause, as the children of Israel did against Moses; never wish you could go back to the world again, but accept the case as it is, and put it as it stands, simply and with your whole heart, without any self-will, into the hand of your covenant God, saying, "Now, Lord, not my will, but thine be done. I know not what to do; I am brought to extremities, but I will wait until thou shalt cleave the floods, or drive back my foes. I will wait, if thou keep me many a day, for my heart is fixed upon thee alone, O God, and my spirit waiteth for thee in the full conviction that thou wilt yet be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower.""

^^^All of that really spoke to me. I like to be in control and I like to have things when I want them. I am not patient. Oftentimes, instead of waiting for God's will, I just try to get done what I think is best for me. it's all about me. Me, me, me. There are times when I couldn't care less what God's plan is. But that is not ok-- I should learn to wait for GOD to do what is best for me. Because He knows what's best, and He also has a master plan in mind. :) 

::determined::

Sometimes, people try to destroy my dreams.

But every time someone tries to do that, I just become more determined to achieve my dreams and make them reality.