Sunshine Notebook by Abigail Rater

The Storm Before the Calm

“Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

John 19:28-30

This is quite possibly the lowest point in all of the New Testament, if not the whole Bible. It certainly looks like it, at any rate. These were Jesus’ final words, His last breath that He took while hanging on a tree like a common criminal. This was the Savior everyone had been waiting for. This was the One everything had been leading up to. And He was dead.

It seemed that things couldn’t get any worse, and the truth is, they didn’t. Things didn’t necessarily get better right away, either, though. At least not for the believers. Jesus’ body was taken down and preserved, and He was sealed away in a tomb for three days. That was when the light began to shine through. Many of us know the story; Jesus didn’t stay in the tomb. He didn’t remain dead. Our Savior rose from the grave to new life, not only atoning for our sin through His death, but defeating death itself in His resurrection. This is the entire foundation of the Christian faith, and yet it wouldn’t have been possible without the cross. Without the blood and scorn, and the utter injustice and hopelessness that was felt that day, we’d never experience the miraculous life that we see today. Often, this is how God works. The lowest lows lead to the highest highs. He uses sinful people and painful circumstances to bring His people to exactly where He wants them to be, and we can be sure that, “. . . In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

We go through scary and painful things every day. These issues aren’t as dramatic or world-changing as Christ’s death, but they often follow the same pattern on a much smaller scale. Whenever you’re tempted to feel discouraged or hopeless, just remember the cross. God always has a plan. Sometimes it hurts to get there, but the end result will always be worth it.

In Ten Years

In ten years, I’ll be who I am today, but a little bit older and a little bit better. In ten years, I’ll still be writing. In ten years, I’ll still make art. I’ll still love my family and friends, still enjoy all of the little things about life. I might be busier than I am now, but I’ll still enjoy the journey. I’ll probably be out of college, with a budding career as a journalist. Maybe I’ll live in New York City, and I’ll go out every weekend to share my art in Central Park. I might have a part time job and a small apartment while my career is still getting started. I’ll probably share the apartment with my sister–we’ll take on the city together and travel when we can. It won’t be perfect, but it’ll be amazing. In ten years, I’ll still be me.

Fridays Good and Black

“How come Good Friday is called Good Friday and Black Friday is called Black Friday? Shouldn’t they be switched?” I don’t remember who asked that in Sunday school, but it seemed like a good question to me. Good Friday is a solemn day, a day to commemorate Christ’s death, and black is usually the color of mourning, so that made sense. There didn’t seem to be much that was black about a bunch of sales.

The idea behind the name “Black Friday” is that storekeepers used to write profits in black and losses in red. All of the deals after Thanksgiving drove sales up, adding more black to the record books. This isn’t the actual origin of the name, but it’s the modern reasoning.

As for Good Friday, if you know the significance of Christ’s death on the cross, it really isn’t hard to understand why it’s called “good”. If He’d never died, our sins wouldn’t be forgiven, and we’d need to continue making animal sacrifices forever, or die in our sins. Death is tragic. It was also the greatest sacrifice Christ could’ve possibly made for us. Because of His death, we live and are saved, as long as we believe. I don’t know about you, but I’d call that pretty good!

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:5

As it turns out, the names aren’t the confusing part. What sometimes is a contradiction is how people treat Black Friday. Let’s back up for a moment to what precedes the big sales: Thanksgiving. This is an entire holiday dedicated to giving thanks and appreciating everything that we have. It’s a holiday of family, feasting, and general goodwill. How on earth do we go from this to elbowing others out of the way to get to the last discounted appliance? One day we’re celebrating everything we have, and the next we’re fighting others at Walmart to get more, more, more. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we read, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The thankfulness shouldn’t end on Friday, and it doesn’t have to. Even if you decide to go shopping, and even if there’s something you really want to find, it doesn’t have to be all-consuming.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with buying something for yourself on Black Friday, or any other day, for that matter, but it’s important to remember what you have. Even if you don’t have as many physical possessions as you’d ideally want, or you weren’t able to have a nice dinner this year, or even if you don’t have anyone to celebrate with, you can still be thankful. Black Friday might tell you that you always need more, but Good Friday says that you already have all that you need. All you need to do is believe, and Jesus saves your life. This is all the motivation we need to be thankful every day; everything else is just an added blessing.

Biblical Friendship

Why did God make friends? What does it mean to be a friend? Friendship is when two or more people care about each other and spend time together. Good friends are always there for each other, but there are also many instances in life when so-called “friends” betray us, or lead us into sinful situations. What does it really mean, then, to be a good friend?

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” This verse is speaking to a body of believers, saying that they should encourage one another because they’re made alive in the hope of Christ’s salvation. As Christians who are saved, we should always build our friends up with encouraging words, even if those friends aren’t fellow believers. Since we have this hope in life, it’s important to share it with the people we care about. This doesn’t always have to be something big, either. Being kind and positive towards your friends in small matters is enough.

Another important part of friendship is honesty. Have you ever seen those videos on TikTok comparing friends to best friends? The friend will ask if something looks good on them, and the person will say it does, but when the best friend askes, they get a “No, go change.” These videos are exaggerated, and they’re supposed to highlight the fact that best friends are comfortable enough with each other to joke around, but they also show that people are more honest with their closest friends. No, you don’t always have to tell your friend they look stupid (even if they do), but you should be open with each other and honest about what you think and feel. 1 John 3:18 says, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

Jesus gave us the greatest example of what it means to be a friend: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). We should always follow His example when attempting to be a good friend. 1 John 3:16 puts it clearly: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” The truth is, we’re never going to be able to do this perfectly. No matter how hard we try, there’s always going to be some area where we fail, some issue we’re too small to fix, some step we’re afraid to take. The trick to being a good friend isn’t doing it all perfectly, but following Christ’s example as closely as we’re able to and turning to God to heal what we can’t. Christ died on a cross to forgive the sins of those who believe in Him. By doing this, He saved us. Ultimately, God is the best friend any of us can ever have. All we can do is follow His example.

Friendship can be difficult. Being a good friend means being encouraging, honest, and following Christ’s example. Ultimately, being a good friend means trusting in God when we fail, and leading our friends to do the same. Proverbs 18:24 reads, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Is it Ok to Spend Time Alone?

Do you ever just want to be alone? It's not like we crave loneliness, particularly, but sometimes people can be overwhelming. Sometimes we want to let loose by ourselves. Similar to how it's uncomfortable having someone watch you sleep, many find it difficult to fully relax when there are other people around. As a result, they like to spend time alone. This alone time is beneficial to the person, but it might mean doing less to help those around them, or not seeing loved ones as much. As a result, some people feel guilty for spending time alone. Does God really frown upon alone time, though?

God is a loving Father. Fathers always want what's best for their children, and God is no exception. Our heavenly Father wants what's best for us. Another indisputable fact is that some people need to be alone to recharge. Because of the fall, people need rest, and God designed us to do that in different ways. Human nature is deeply flawed, which is why we get tired in the first place, however, God doesn't have anything against the natural way we counteract this tiredness. Jesus even says specifically that He wants us to rest in passages like Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

You might be thinking that the above verse doesn't apply, because Jesus was speaking of coming to Him, not hiding away by ourselves. The truth is, for a Christian, the two things aren't far apart. The Holy Spirit is always with us, so even when we're alone, He's still with us. Obviously there's a difference between coming to God in prayer and just lying in bed and staring at Facebook, but God is with us through it all. Psalm 139:7-8 says, "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!"

God is always with us, and we were actually created to serve Him. This means that we don't live our lives for other people. We live them for God. One way we serve God is by serving others; helping them out and brightening their days. Another way to serve God, though, is to take care of the body and mind that He's given us. Oftentimes this means taking some time by ourselves. Of course, the main way we praise God is directly; by talking to Him, reading His word, and spreading the gospel. Our calling does require us to have contact with other people to some extent. In fact, Christian fellowship is very important. Still, there are many aspects of serving the Lord that can be done alone and even work better that way.

Throughout the Bible, people have talked to God and met with Him when they were otherwise alone. In the Old Testament, Abraham and Mosas were by themselves when speaking with God. After receiving His message, they'd pass it on to others. In the New Testament, Jesus Himself went off alone to pray. "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there" (Mark 1:35).

Alone time in itself is not bad. It is a valuable tool given to us by God for rest. As important as it is to spend time with others, it's also important to take care of our bodies and minds. Ultimately, our purpose is to serve God. As people, we could stand to spend more time in God's word and less time doing anything else we may want to do alone, but even these things aren't sinful. The most important thing is to balance the way we spend our time, taking rests alone when we need it, and making room for God in our day.

Fantasy Vs. Reality

Don't you love getting lost in a good book? Isn't it fun to text back and forth with your digital friends? Do you enjoy putting headphones on and letting yourself be transported to a different world through music? Maybe you're online playing video games or watching a video of your favorite celebrity. Besides being enjoyable, these activities all have something in common. Digital friends, celebrities, books, games, and music all take us out of the ordinary reality that’s right in front of us. They do this either by connecting us to something or someone miles and miles away, or by opening the door to an entirely fictional world. It’s undeniably fun to get lost in these fantasies, but can it go too far? At one point does a temporary escape from reality become a disconnection from the real world?

In the twenty-first century, it isn’t uncommon for someone to have friends that they’ve never personally met. Thanks to social media and online gaming, individuals who have never met can communicate with each other and form friendships. There are many benefits to this. Online friendships are often easier to start than in-person ones, as many people tend to be more outgoing online than they are in person. They’re more likely to reach out, and once they do, a bond can often grow faster than it would in person, as it’s easier to discuss serious topics and personal issues over text. An article posted on Psychology Today states that, "Another benefit of online friends is the freedom we feel to share information with those that we are unlikely to ever meet in person as we don’t fear later shame or that feeling of ‘retroactive embarrassment’ . . . We are unlikely to be seeing this person on a frequent basis, so we won’t be reminded of our vulnerability and personal revelations. Our ‘confessions’ are limited to a containable space and shared with people we actually never have to engage with again, if we choose not to," (Degges-White). While this is a true benefit, the flip side is that you don’t need to be committed to an online friendship. It’s easy to lose friends made online, as they can easily block you or switch accounts, or disappear for months with no explanation. A connection may be built through self-disclosure online, but that doesn’t mean that the other party feels that connection as keenly, or that the connection will last. Of course, this can also be the case with real life friendships, but it’s a lot harder to leave a friendship that’s been built up over a long period of time, and it’s difficult to avoid someone who you could easily run into at the grocery store.

Even if an online friendship is felt genuinely on both sides, that doesn’t necessarily mean it would work out in real life. Quoting the same article as above, "The three most common ‘motivating factors’ for friendship development include shared interests, shared activities, or proximity," (Degges-White). When building friendships online, the focus is mainly on this first factor: shared interests. However, a person’s life isn’t usually encompassed in just one interest, and they might even grow out of this thing they enjoy which originally sparked conversation. Some online friendships can withstand this change as they grow and develop, however, there are times when the entire connection relies solely on this one interest. In addition, people have complete control of what they share online, and so they can very easily hide some aspect of their personality, an aspect that could potentially end negotiations for a real life friendship. Basically, when you meet someone over the internet, you might not be meeting the full person. Again, this can happen offline as well, but it’s much easier behind a screen.

An article on The Guardian points out: "The expectations that online friends have of one another are also different. I am more understanding of the fact that a virtual friend has a whole life outside our friendship. My online friends can pick up their phone, be there for me and then put their phone (and me) back down afterwards," (Floyer). If these boundaries are understood, digital friendship is a beautiful thing. It’s a way to easily communicate with others about shared interests or everyday struggles, and maybe learn new things about different people or cultures. That said, online friends can be disappointing when too much is expected of them. The same article comes to the conclusion that individuals should have a healthy balance of online and offline friendships.

Following a celebrity online is similar to an online friend in that it's someone far away that you feel a connection to over the internet. The difference, however, is that this connection is one-sided, as most celebrities have no idea you even exist. This can result in a parasocial relationship if someone gets too obsessed with a favorite celebrity, however, appreciating someone's talent or beauty and even feeling as if they're one of your friends isn't unhealthy in itself. Celebrities can have a wonderful impact on their fans, teaching them important lessons and acting as a positive influence, or a comfort during difficult times. It doesn't need to be a two-way friendship, as long as it isn't substituted for that type of interaction.

Following a celebrity isn't always a good thing, though. Celebrity Worship Syndrome is a condition where someone is so obsessed with a famous person that it affects their daily life in a negative way. This is when the obsession begins to prevent real-life experiences. The condition often brings narcissism with it as well. Celebrity Worship Syndrome is thought to be caused, or at least helped along by, preexisting mental health issues. Instead of turning to celebrities for happiness, people with mental issues should turn to those around them for real help (Maltby, John, et. al.).

Even when it doesn't become a disorder, following celebrities can often cause other problems for young people. Celebrities can be a positive influence, but they can also promote dangerous or unhealthy activities such as smoking, drugs, and extreme diets. Furthermore, while some celebrities are very open about body image and mental health issues, others can be very damaging to the confidence of young people. Studies show that about 80% of teenage girls compare the way they look to celebrities. Of this number, about half of these girls feel bad about how they look in comparison (Mannino). Celebrities present an overly-perfect and highly stylized version of themselves that everyone wants to look like, but few actually do. While following celebrities can be wholesome and fun, it can also do psychological damage to young people if it goes too far or is focused on the wrong things.

Sometimes if it’s a musician someone is obsessed with, the focus isn’t on the celebrity as much as it’s on their music. Like people who are far away, music can connect us to other people’s reality. It can also create an entirely new fantasy world. Many people use music as an escape, as it has been shown to increase positive feelings. It’s scientifically proven to preserve pathways in the brain that make people happy. In fact, music activates your entire brain, preserving numerous important pathways that would otherwise be weakened by lack of use. That said, listening to the wrong music can be damaging, as certain music has been found to increase angry feelings and violent behavior. Music can be counterhelpful if it distracts from important activities that require a high level of concentration, but it can also aid in productivity. Whether music is helpful or harmful to an activity depends on the activity and the listener. Overall, music is beneficial in its place, and actually aids the mind in many ways. Still, the wrong music at the wrong time can do more harm than good to an individual.

Video games actually help the brain in many ways, similar to music. Despite this fact, certain circles still regard video games in a negative light. This is because of the problems that occur when a video game becomes an obsession. Besides taking away from real life, a gaming addiction can cause problems with sleep and mental health, and could cause one to gain unhealthy weight. Like with music, the wrong games can also promote violent behavior. Despite these issues, there are many benefits to gaming. It’s actually wonderful exercise for the brain, and helps with problem-solving skills and planning. In addition, gaming can increase an individual’s hand-eye coordination as well as their reflexes. Online games can also provide the chance to connect with an entire community of gamers, besides simply being a fun way to relieve stress. An article on the subject by Andrew E. Budson concludes, "In short, playing video games can be fun and a social activity when integrated into a healthy lifestyle that includes plenty of sleep, exercise, and good nutrition, rather than letting the game become your life," (“Why is Music”).

Unlike games, books are commonly accepted as beneficial. There is some bias against certain novels, but most reading is considered good. Reading fiction is certainly a worthwhile activity, and the action of taking in words is beneficial to the mind. Still, even reading has its downsides. Some books may contain scenes or ideas that are harmful or inappropriate; it’s never a good idea to insert this into your mind. The main problem, however, comes when reading interferes with the responsibilities and enjoyment of life. One article puts it this way: "Living in a world of dreams populated by fictional characters, readers miss out on the enjoyment to be found in real life and real people," (Dali).

The push and pull of fantasy and reality is capitalized in a certain psychodramatic technique, the magic shop. To start off, psychodrama is defined as, "A method of group psychotherapy in which participants take roles in improvisational dramatizations of emotionally charged situations," (“Psychodrama”). The magic shop in particular is an imaginary storefront where the therapist plays the shopkeeper and customers can purchase certain traits or behaviors instead of actual objects. The shopkeeper guides the transaction, and through the process customers learn what they really need to change in themselves; what qualities they have too much of, and what ones they need more of. The idea is to leave the exercise with a better understanding of who you are, and to apply the imaginary trades and purchases to real life.

Leni M. F. Verhofstadt-Denève divides the magic shop into several steps. First is the warm up, where the therapist playing the shopkeeper describes the shop. After reflecting on the imaginary shop's appearance, the shop opens. Customers enter the shop in search of a certain quality, and they do a skit, or mini-drama, which demonstrates why they need the quality. After the skit, customers return to the shop and “try on” the quality, which leads to another mini-drama with the quality. After that they return to the shop and negotiate what could be given for this trait, or which trait may be a better fit than this one. Once a decision is reached, the imaginary transaction is made and the customers return to the main group to reflect. Once the shop closes, the group as a whole discusses together and shares what they learned or received from the magic shop (“The ‘Magic Shop’ Technique”). This exact format might not be followed by everyone who uses this exercise. Some magic shops may be more relaxed than others, but the general procedure remains the same.

Fantasy is the foundation and driving force of the magic shop. Earl Koile puts it this way: “Fantasy is a prime source of creative and innovative thinking and behavior. Fantasy can break us out of the prisons of conformity, fixed and rigid ways of thinking and being, and can lift us to new ideas and more imaginative alternatives in dealing with “real” problems and in arriving at solutions and resolutions. Fantasy not only allows but also nourishes thoughts and feelings that may be against the rules or represent forbidden territory,” (“The Magic Shop: The Therapist”). Fantasy gives free realm to explore the uncharted, to see our issues in a different light. When we feel stuck on a problem, it often helps to view the issue differently, and this is exactly what fantasy allows us to do.

Even with a very basic understanding of the magic shop technique, it’s obvious that self reflection must take some role. As it turns out, there are six dimensions of self that come into play in several areas of psychology, including the magic shop. The six dimensions are self-image, ideal-self, alter-image, meta-self, ideal-meta-self, and ideal-alter. These represent how you see yourself, who you’d like to be, how you see others, how others see you, how you’d like others to see you, and who you’d like others to be, respectively. An article cited above states four actions of the magic shop that help people to understand the different dimensions: “(1) The activation of self-reflection on the six Self-Dimensions; (2) a growing awareness and integration of interdimensional and intradimensional oppositions, and discovery of alternative interpretations of oneself and one's environment; (3) the recognition and acceptance of existential conditions; (4) a strengthening of self-confidence through self-appreciation and positive evaluation by significant others," (Verhofstadt-Denève). Basically, the magic shop allows participants to see themselves more accurately by targeting specific psychological dimensions. The magic shop encourages self-reflection over who we are in relation to everybody else. It also draws attention to different interpretations of the same people as well as conditions that exist beyond argument. Finally, the exercise strengthens self-confidence through a positive and appreciative environment.

There are several ways in which the magic shop represents a balanced scale. It is a serious exercise, however, humor is often an integral aspect, as the exercise is performed in a lighthearted group setting. "Although the actual implementation of the magic shop may differ considerably among authors, they all proceed on a common basis, notably a remarkable combination of playfulness and seriousness, humor and pain, of dream and reality, which constitutes the distinctive healing power of this psychodramatic technique," (Verhofstadt-Denève). Balance can also be seen throughout the steps of the exercise, particularly in the mini-dramas, which are exaggerated. “The reality of the situation is not as dire as it was in the first drama and not as delightfully harmonious as in the restructured one. Real life is somewhere in between and can be considered as the integration of the two extreme mini-dramas," (Verhofstadt-Denève). A third form of contrast and balance in the magic shop is between differing qualities. “To the extent that someone is a particular kind of personality, he or she is not some other, different personality. To the extent that we have some outstanding, positive personal traits, we will also lack other particular personal traits,” (Barbour). To become one thing, we often need to give up something else, since nobody can be everything at once. The purpose of the magic shop is to evaluate the importance of all of these qualities and decide which are most important for any given individual. In any case, the magic shop is full of games between opposing forces.

While the Magic Shop is just pretend and nothing is actually bought or sold, the problems being talked about are very real, and the qualities given to fix them are indeed needed. The only step left is to learn to use the "purchased" traits. Although this exercise isn't guaranteed to make a difference beyond the time when it's performed, if the lessons learned don't transfer into real life, it isn't a Magic Shop at all, but just a decorated game of pretend. In other words, the Magic Shop is really the bridge between fantasy and reality at its core. The solutions wouldn't be reached without pretending, but they wouldn't be of any use if not taken back to the real world.

To sum it all up, there are many fun activities that transport us out of the world right in front of us and into a different reality. Things like digital friends, celebrities, music, video games, and books can be beneficial to many areas of the mind and of life, but they can be harmful if they become an obsession. How can this be avoided? The answer is shown in the magic shop: fantasy is helpful when used as a means of learning, and when we take the lessons with us back into the real world.

Works Cited:

“Are Online and Real Life Friendships the Same? How the Internet makes a Difference.” Regain, BetterHelp. 17 May 2023. Web. 17 May 2023.

Avramova, Nina. “How Music Can Change the Way You Feel and Act.” CNN Health, Cable News Network. 20 Feb. 2019. Web. 21 May 2023.

Barbour, Alton. “Purpose and Strategy Behind the Magic Shop.” JGGPS–Fall 1992, JGGPS. 1992. Pdf. 16 May 2023.

Barone, Ryan. “Yes, Video Games are Good…For Your Mind and Body.” iD Tech, iD Tech. 8 Jan. 2023. Web. 22 May 2023.

Budson, Andrew E. “Why is Music Good for the Brain?” Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School. 7 Oct. 2020. Web. 21 May 2023.

Charrani, Bader, et. al. “Association of Video Gaming with Cognitive Performance Among Children.” National Library of Medicine, National Center of Biotechnology Information. Oct. 2022. Web. 22 May 2023.

“Connection Between Celebrity Worship Syndrome and Teen Mental Health.” Newport Academy, Newport Academy. 6 Apr. 2021. Web. 19 May 2023.

Dali, Keren. “On the Dangers of Reading.” NoveList, EBSO. 1 Aug. 2014. Web. 23 May 2023.

Degges-White, Suzanne. “Do Online Friendships Differ From Face-to-Face Friendships?” PsychologyToday, Sussex Publishers. 29 May 2020. Web. 17 May 2023.

Floyer, Yasmina. “‘I was Lacking Deeper Connections’: Can Online Friends be the Answer to Loneliness?” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media Limited. 17 Sep. 2022. Web. 17 May 2023.

“How Celebrities Influence Teens and Why it Matters.” Newport Academy, Newport Academy. 28 Aug. 2022. Web. 19 May 2023.

“How Video Games Can be Beneficial for the Brain.” MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT, MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT. 30 Oct. 2013. Web. 22 May 2023.

Koile, Earl. “The Magic Shop: The Therapist Masquerades as a Shopkeeper.” Voices: Spring 2011, Voices. 2011. Pdf. 16 May 2023.

Maltby, John, et. al. “A Clinical Interpretation of Attitudes and Behaviors Associated With Celebrity Worship.” The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, PubMed. Feb. 2003. Pdf. 19 May 2023.

Mannino, Brynn. “TODAY/AOL ‘Ideal to Real’ Body Image Survey Results.” Today, Aol. Feb. 2014. Web. 19 May 2023.

“Psychodrama.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com. Web. 16 May 2023.

Verhofstadt-Denève, Leni M. F. “The ‘Magic Shop’ Technique in Psychodrama: An Existential-Dialectical View.” The International Journal of Action Methods: Psychodrama, Skill Training, and Role Playing, Volume 53, No. 1, Heldref Publications. 2000. Pdf. 16 May 2023.

Glorify the Creator

This month I visited New York City with my Dad and my sister. We were three out of several thousand people roaming the streets surrounded by tall buildings and bustling businesses. Looking up at the sky, framed in by metal and windows and colorful billboards, my Dad remarked, "It's crazy when you think about it. God created people, and He gave us these minds, and we can build all of this." New York is a prime example of the wonders mankind can build with their minds and hands, and that makes it a pretty good example of what God can do, too. He created the people that built the city, and every individual life traversing its streets. This might not be where most people's minds instinctively go, but once the thought is there, it's undeniable. We serve an amazing God. When faced with something spectacular, or interesting, or exciting, we have two choices. We can enjoy the experience without a second thought for the God who made it possible, effectively turning a good thing into an idol, or we can take the opportunity to worship the Creator.

James 1:17 puts into plain terms why we should glorify God whenever we see something impressive here on earth: "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Everything comes from the Lord. Even if it's built by human hands, the glory should go to the One who formed the hands. This is like the difference between praising a machine for a product it makes and praising the inventor who made the machine and keeps it running. Earlier in this chapter, in verse 11, God gives a warning to those who build up earthly riches and don't remember to praise Him for it: "For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business."

Romans 1:18 is another passage that speaks about the destruction of the sinful: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness." Verses 21-25 of that chapter go into greater detail about these people: "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. . . . They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen." Unfortunately, this is the same mistake that many of us make today–worshiping the thing created instead of the Creator.

This has been a problem since Old Testament times. Most children have probably learned about the Tower of Babel in Sunday school. This commonly taught story might just be the most catastrophic example of people worshiping their own work instead of God. "Then they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth,'" (Genesis 11:4). Because the people were coming together to worship earthly things and seek personal glory, God confused their languages to prevent them from understanding each other. By doing this, He stopped them from building the sinful tower. "So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city," (Genesis 11:9).

God created each and every one of His people with certain capabilities. People have been able to do some pretty amazing things with these capabilities, but the glory should always go back to the Lord who makes it all possible. Scripture says that destruction will come on those whose eyes are on worldly things. As Christians, we shouldn't be distracted from our Creator by impressive or exciting experiences in this world, but we should instead use everything as a chance to glorify Him. We should obey passages like Psalm 100:1-3, which says:

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture."

The Answer

Life is unpredictable. A couple doesn’t expect to have their baby born dead. My friend never planned on waking up in the middle of the night to find her family’s barn on fire and the animals lost. My mom’s cousin never wanted her digestive system to fail. Routine check ups turn into life-changing diagnoses. Everyday drives become fateful accidents. Life is dangerous.

With problems that could appear at any turn, it’s easy to wonder: “What’s the point of any of this?” Where’s the silver lining that makes this fearful life worth living? I’ve written devotionals on similar topics before, but it’s an important question to ask. Everyone has felt hopeless at some point in their life. God is the only One with the answer.

I’ve never been great at memorizing Scripture, but there’s one verse I always used to think of when I was upset, or felt like the world was falling apart: Matthew 24:35, which reads, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” In context, this verse doesn’t mean quite what I thought it meant. Here Jesus had just finished speaking of the end times, and the judgment that will fall on unbelievers. This means that one day sin will be judged, and the world will be made new. The problems we see in the world today won’t hurt us any more.

While the Matthew passage is speaking about end times, it’s also true that every word spoken by the Lord or through the Holy Spirit will last forever. In fact, Isaiah 40:3 says, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Later in that chapter (verse 31), we read the encouraging words that, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Psalm 91:4 says, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” These sentiments are repeated in multiple passages, including Isaiah 43:2 (“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze”) and Joshua 1:9 (“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”) These words were spoken to the nation of Israel, but they still hold true for believers today. In Matthew 28:20b, Jesus says, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Here, “you” is referring to the disciples, and all believers who are sent out to evangelize the nations. Are worldly problems really significant when we have the eternal God of the universe on our side? Of course, we may still hurt, but we can take comfort knowing that we’re never alone, that God is always right there beside us.

1 Peter 1:3 tells of the greatest truth in God's word: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” I’ve quoted this verse frequently, as it’s probably one of my three favorite verses. Humanity was dead in sin and hopelessness, but God sent His own Son, Christ, to die so that we didn’t have to. (Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”) The world may be in shambles now, but it won’t be forever. No matter how hard things get, we always have this living hope that one day we’ll be in heaven, praising God forever.

A third promise made in God’s word is that He always has a plan. It may be hard or even impossible to understand now, but one day it will become clear to us. In the meantime, we should trust that God knows what He’s doing. Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” In context, He was speaking to the nation of Israel, exiled in Babylon. If He was with them, working to a much larger plan than they could ever imagine, why wouldn’t he do the same for us today? Paul gives a reason for his own suffering in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, saying, “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong..”

Suffering is never enjoyable. Hard things happen in life. It’s difficult to comfort people who we know are going through these types of problems, and even harder for those actually in the situation to endure. Through it all, though, God’s word remains the same, as does His character. No matter what happens, God is always with us. He’s already sent Christ to save us from our sins. One day He’ll make all things new. In the meantime, He still has a plan for our daily lives. His strength is made perfect in weakness.

What the Bible Says About Rest

When it comes to work, whether it's at school, in the home, or at a professional job, there seem to be two kinds of people: those who are extremely motivated at working hard for the best result, and those who do the bare minimum that’s required of them. Of course, most people lie somewhere between these two extremes, but almost everyone leans towards one side or the other. There are several Bible passages, particularly in the book of Proverbs, which condemn laziness. God wants us to live productive lives, serving Him and others. However, some people take this way too far. So here’s the question: what does the Bible say about overworking?

God rested on the seventh day of creation to show us how to regulate our work. Obviously God didn’t need rest, as He is all-powerful. He rested on the seventh day to set an example for us. This example was solidified with the law of rest on the Sabbath, as well as other religious holidays that prohibited work. Leviticus 23:28, 30-32 gives us one example of this: “On this particular day you are not to do any work, for it is a Day of Atonement to make atonement for yourselves before the Lord your God. . . I will destroy among His people anyone who does any work on this same day. You are not to do any work. This is a permanent statute throughout your generations wherever you live. It will be a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you must practice self-denial. . . .”

Because of the new covenant in Christ, the old law, including its rules for the Sabbath, is no longer in place. However, God’s advice on rest is still the same. An example can be found in Luke 10:38-42, when Jesus visits Mary and Martha. While Martha is busy with her many chores, Martha sits at Jesus’ feet and listens to Him speaking. Martha complains to Jesus that her sister isn’t helping with the work, and this is Jesus’ response: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her” (verses 41b-42). Fellowship with Jesus is far more important than earthly chores. This passage and those in the Old Testament both indicate that a relationship with God is far more important than physical work. Even if you’re working for something good, if it gets in the way of your Christian walk, it will harm you more than it will help you.

Work can mean many different things, from efforts to reach personal goals, to chores done around the house. Many people’s motivation to work, however, is to earn an income and provide for themselves or their family. In any case, it isn’t really our job at all to provide. In Luke 12:22-24, 27-30, Jesus tells His disciples: “Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds?. . . Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will He do for you—you of little faith? Don’t keep striving for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.” In practical terms, there should be a healthy balance of God’s provision and our effort in terms of day-to-day life. Still, He cares about us, and His plans are always perfect, so He can absolutely allow us to prosper without working ourselves to death every day.

I’m not suggesting that anyone should quit their job or give up on everything they’re striving for, but God does tell us that He will provide, and that a relationship with Him is far more important than anything else we can work for here on earth. God wants us to bring honor to Him. He wants us to work hard, but He also emphasizes the importance of rest. What is the point of achieving anything if, at the end of the day, we’ve forgotten to allow time for the One who gave us the abilities to achieve it? God didn’t create us to be machines. He wants us to work, yes, but He also wants us to slow down and appreciate the world that He created and the life that He gives us. Most importantly, we must slow down to appreciate Him.

Anne of Green Gables Response

When I first read Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, I was immediately interested by Anne’s unique personality. There are aspects of the character that I will never understand, which is part of the fun of reading, but there are also times when I know exactly what Anne is feeling. I think she is a character that understands me deeply, though she isn’t even real! This particularly stood out to me in chapter 20 of the book.

Near the beginning of the chapter, Anne is walking through a beautiful place that she calls Violet Vale. She says that she doesn’t worry about school as much there. I can relate to this because I find nature very calming. Blooming flowers and gentle breezes seem to wash my worries away, even if they all come back in the rush of everyday life and schoolwork. I’m not concerned with staying ahead of an annoying boy in my class like Anne is, but I get the same feeling just competing with myself and the answer book.

In this same passage Anne says, “There’s such a lot of different Annes in me. I sometimes think that’s why I’m such a troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne it would be ever so much more comfortable, but then it wouldn’t be half so interesting.” Sometimes I feel like I have too many different personalities, too. I’m calm and thoughtful but also fun and energetic. It’s definitely confusing and “troublesome”, as Anne puts it, but it does make things more colorful.

Another thing I loved in this chapter was the description of Anne’s room. “It was as if all the dreams, sleeping and waking, of its vivid occupant had taken a visible though immaterial form and had tapestried the bare room with splendid filmy tissues of rainbow and moonshine.” My bedroom is a special place for me because, even beyond the decorations and posters, it is full of me. The walls are full of my hopes. The sentiment is even more powerful to Anne because this is her first real home. The thought makes me thankful for my special place.

I can relate to the way Anne is a scatterbrain, too. I don’t starch handkerchiefs and forget to take pies out of the oven, but I do get distracted imagining like she does. Sometimes I decide to make up stories in my head about the people I see at the store. When I do this, I often get distracted from the rest of reality. It takes a moment to get a hold on what’s happening around me. Anne also mentions how she and Diana made up the Haunted Wood to add some excitement to their little world. I understand the urge for thrill. I try to invent interesting things, too.

The most memorable part of the chapter was when Anne had to walk through the Haunted Wood at night. I had a similar feeling of senseless dread a few months ago when I decided I had to draw thirteen pictures for an art contest with a deadline two days away. I knew I didn’t have enough time, but I felt like I had to do it, so I felt anxious about the entire situation. It was a problem I created for myself, but I was still upset about it. This isn’t the same as the situation Anne put herself in, but I think the feeling is the same. It’s like when you’re in line for a scary roller coaster and all you want to do is run away.

There are many scenes in just this one chapter that I can relate to deeply. This is mainly because of the character and her emotions, but setting also plays a part. Besides these, the way the author writes brings me even closer to the story.

Spreading His Love

A rock hard sky glares down on a busy parking lot. People run for their cars to avoid the coming rain. The scene looks ordinary, but someone bursts into tears as soon as he’s safely hidden in his car. His thoughts are as dark as the sky. He watches the raindrops on the window without moving. He doesn’t have a home to turn to. “What’s the point, anyway?” he’s tempted to ask.

This is a made up scene, but many people who feel hopeless might ask the same question. The good news is, God has an answer. He created people with the purpose of glorifying Him. For Christians, our mission is more specific. We’re here to glorify God, and to recruit others to do the same.

This isn’t an end-all answer. It can be hard to glorify God when everything seems to be a mess. One way to practically walk through a valuable life is to pay attention to the little victories. Oftentimes it helps our mental state when we focus on the easy moments and pieces of beauty that God gives to us.

In God’s view, everyone has value. Every moment until the very end is special, so the elderly can still honor God and take advantage of His joys. The same goes for the disabled. More struggles simply means more chances for victory. Every life is important, even those that haven't started yet. They can see it all one day, too. With the right view of God, anyone and everyone can come together in peace and hope.

Maybe the sun begins to break the clouds and the depressed person smiles despite himself. The rain stops, and he exits his car to the smell of clean air. He might notice a soaking wet paper stuck to the pavement. He gently picks it up to see a Bible verse. Suddenly his world is full of hope.

What's the Point, Anyway?

My Goal

Do you have something that you really want to accomplish in the future? Everyone has some sort of goal, even if it isn’t big or impressive. I have a page-long list of goals that doesn’t even come close to summarizing the dreams in my head, but I’ll focus on just one: I want to share my artwork with people. Not just drawings and paintings, I want to share poems and stories and anything else I can make. I want to create a bright future for myself, going on adventures and connecting with all sorts of people through the things that I love.

I’ve had to ask myself before why I want this. I think God gave me the passions that I have for a reason, so I want to use them to spread hope and to honor Him. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Besides, I have a craving for adventure, and this sounds like the best way to satisfy it. Leaving an impact on people is the most thrilling thing that I can do.

Everyone has to start somewhere. Right now I’m posting pictures and blogs on a personal website, sharing them with a few

people on Instagram and my parents’ friends on Facebook. I’m learning all I can and trying out new things. I’m taking in the people and the world around me and enjoying it all with wide eyes.

I’m already on the first step to reaching my goal. Another part of this step is entering contests to gain exposure. From here, I’ll try to get featured in some blogs and magazines, and sell some of my work. I’ll work on writing my book, and when it's ready to publish, I’ll work on that. Once I’m a little older and have more money, freedom, and experience, I’ll go for bigger things; art galleries and exhibits, book signings, and who knows what else. The sky’s the limit!

When I think about it, my goal isn’t very specific. That doesn’t matter; I don’t need to know everything when I’m only fifteen years old.The important thing is that I have a goal, even if it’s outlandish. I’m going to try my best to achieve whatever form this dream will take.

Exploration

Have you ever felt like you were simply going to jump out of your skin if you didn’t do something exciting? I think everyone has at least a little craving, a pressure in their chest to accompany every heartbeat, a longing for adventure. Everyone has that small part of them that wants to explore. Buzz Aldrin once said, "Exploration is wired into our brains. If we can see the horizon, we want to know what's beyond." For some people, the desire is stronger and it prompts them to go on wild expeditions.

Of course, there are practical reasons to explore the world besides just a feeling. Motivations for past expeditions have included finding new land for people to live on and more resources for people to live by.Gathering information on the earth as a whole has also been a key motive. The reason for Russian submarines to visit the bottom of the Arctic was to claim the frozen land and use its resources and strategic battle position.

Exploration does have its difficulties. It’s impossible to prepare for everything in an unknown place because the place is just that: unknown. Unexpected challenges may arise, and the proper supplies to combat those challenges may not be available.

Mandatory things that may go in short supply include light, oxygen, and food supplies. One example is the near starvation that the first settlers in the Jamestown colony faced. Navigation is also a major concern if a mistake is made.

If the challenges are overcome, however, exploration has many benefits. Some people have found peace and freedom in new lands, while others have simply found a place to spread out and stop overpopulation. Natural resources are always valuable finds for countries both to use and to sell. Research expeditions provide useful information that can be used in places we’ve already settled. Exploring God’s awe-inspiring creation can also be a means to get closer to Him, as was the case for some of the astronauts involved in the mission to the moon.

Exploration is a great and dangerous thing. It takes someone who is brave and determined to go where no one has gone before. As life continues and more and more is explored, finding these unknown places becomes harder and harder. That doesn’t mean people will stop, though. We’ve still got that spark, the urge to find more.

Who is God?

Take a moment to picture the kindest person that you know. Now think of the worst thing you’ve ever seen them do. It might not be terrible depending on what you compare it to, but I’m sure it isn’t good. That’s because they’re human. Only God can be perfect all of the time. What does that look like?

Two of God’s attributes are His mercy and His patience. Here’s the thing: the human race should’ve been wiped out a long time ago. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us,” (1 John 1:8). Furthermore, every sin deserves death (Romans 6:23). God wants more for us, though, so He gave us a way to be saved by sending His Son to die in our place (mercy). He gives us way more time than we deserve to repent, too (patience).

Another attribute of God that might sound contrary to those two is His justice. God isn’t a willy-nilly ruler, letting us do whatever we want whenever we want. “For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish,” (Psalm 37:28). He is firm and powerful. He extends His offer

of mercy to the evil to take or leave. If they take it, they will naturally change for the better (1 Corinthians 5:17). Leave it, and they will be firmly punished. They had their chance.

God does everything that He does out of love. He loves His creation, despite everything, so He shows us mercy. He loves His children who accept mercy, so He punishes those who are still guilty. His love is resilient, like a bulletproof wall shielding us. God loves us with a passion, though we don’t deserve it. 1 Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

Think of your person again. Now imagine all of their faults taken away. Imagine them with all of the power and authority in the world. They still don’t look at all like God. One essay hardly comes close to describing His majesty. He is the definition and source of every good thing. He is great and wonderful. He is like the sky above our heads; magnificent and always there, yet impossible to physically touch, feel, or comprehend.

Preserving My Woods

Trees stand tall around me like proud warriors, spears piercing the sky. The air feels open and crisp. The tingley sound of the creek fills my ears. The leaves above my head sparkle against the deep blue sky. Birds are singing; a soft squirrel chases his friend up a tree. This is the scene in the woods behind my house, about half a mile back.

The area really doesn’t stretch too far in any direction. I can just make out my house, and I can see more the opposite way if I squint. The woods only extend a little less than half a mile north to south and just under a mile east to west before you run into houses, after all. The land directly behind the houses is included as their property, and the rest is owned by Harborcreek Youth Services. Though I’ve never seen anyone else out there, four wheeler tracks and a tree stand show evidence of its use. There’s one tree with the initials ‘JM’ carved deeply into it. That tree makes me feel a connection to the people who use the woods now and those who used them in the past.

Because the woods aren’t really my property, it isn’t my job to preserve them. The owners seem to be doing pretty well at

that. Some trees are marked off with ribbons. The woods are protected wetlands, so nobody can come in and wreck the place. I can still help in little ways, though, like by picking up the litter that blows out of people’s garbage cans and ends up in the creek.

There are still problems, though. The aforementioned litter is mostly ignored. My neighbors cleared out the trees in their section of the woods. A lot more trees have fallen simply because of their shallow roots.The muddy banks of the creek easily get eroded, especially with four wheelers driving over them.

Even if they aren’t mine, the woods are my special place. They make me feel at home. In the woods, I’m alone, yet more connected to God and the people around me, whether I know those people or not. This is why preserving the woods is important to me. I’m going to do all I can, even if that isn’t much. After all, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it,” --Psalm 24:1.

Facing Fear

Fear is a confusing thing. It can help us or get in our way. It all depends on the situation and how we react to both the fear and the situation. Fear of fire keeps us from getting burned. Fear of things we can’t control, however, only hurts us. I admire Kent and Amber Brantly and Nancy Writebol because they must have felt this kind of fear, but they didn’t let it stop them.

I’m sure all three knew the risks the moment they started working in Africa, but they served in the hospital anyway. They may not have had much recognition at that time, but they did big things to serve God and others regardless. Philippians 2:3-5 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” They weren’t thinking about themselves when treating Ebola Virus Disease. Of course they took precautions to avoid catching the virus, but every system has flaws, and they knew that.

When Kent and Nancy both caught the virus, they had to persevere. Amber had to do the same, as she was stuck back in the U.S. worrying about her sick husband. They all trusted God to bring them through, and He did just that. The event of the virus and recovery behind them, what did they do? They continued in ministry and eventually returned to Africa. They were like Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

It would have been easy to let fear take over and give up hospital work altogether after the scare they had, even if the two were likely immune. Amber hadn’t gotten the sickness, after all, so she was still vulnerable. They didn’t look at it that way, though. Kent saw his close call as motivation to work even harder for others. He knew that his life was valuable and fragile, and he had to make the most of it. Ephesians 5:16 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

What are you afraid of? Is this a healthy fear, or does it stop you from doing what God wants? What are you doing with your life right now? I’m inspired by the way that these three people put their fears away for God’s glory. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”--Isaiah 41:10.

Why Study Geography?

Bright leaves sparkle in the sun as I wander aimlessly through the trees. An orange butterfly passes my ear and I consider following it. I can go anywhere I want to go; the world is wide open with possibilities. That’s why geography matters to me. I want to discover all that there is to know about the earth and explore everything out there.

First, I want to learn about where I am in the world and why that matters. There’s something special in everyone’s hometown. I live in Harborcreek, Pennsylvania. When I go to the beach, I am swimming in the eleventh largest lake in the world, which touches three other states: New York, Ohio, and Michigan. How different is the same lake from one of those places? I want to know how things here compare and contrast with the rest of the country and even the world. That way I can really appreciate what I have and know what else is out there.

Second, I’ll need basic knowledge of geography to plan for my future. I’m going to travel the world with my friends when we’re older, and it will be helpful to learn all I can first. I read the quote by Lao Tzu, “A journey of a thousand miles begins

with a single step,” and I think that step is to get ready. I can’t exactly pack up and fly to France this second, but I will someday. Right now all I can do is prepare. The more I know about the world, the better equipped I’ll be to enjoy it. Abraham Verghese says, “I’m a great believer in geography being destiny.”

Lastly, I want to make the most of everything around me. God created this entire world, the very least I can do is hear about what’s out there. God describes His followers as, “The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise,” in Isaiah 43:21. What better way to proclaim His praise than to appreciate His amazing works? God must be honored when we marvel at His creation, the same way I like it when someone compliments one of my paintings.

I didn’t have much of a choice about studying geography this year, but I’m happy to get the opportunity. I can’t wait to see what I can learn. This is about God’s breathtaking world, after all. “The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.”--Psalm 24:1-2.

Carefree Friendship

Friendship is your go to for fun. The person who can turn you into a total goofball. You’ll do stupid things on purpose just for the sake of it. Friendship is how you really live. The moments together are the inspiration to get you through the moments apart. Life can get crazy, but playing truth or dare and making cookies at 2am together makes it ok. Your love doesn’t even need to be spoken. Friendship: the meaningful yet carefree ticket to laughter.

Love Yourself

We all have those weird things we said as kids, right? I know I could fill an entire book with my funny childhood quotes. One thing I did every night when my family prayed before bed was thank God for each of us in turn and then say, “Don’t fowget to love youwsewf!” when I got to me. That is now a family joke, but the three year old goofball that was me actually had a point.

My cute younger self probably drew you in, but now that you know my topic, some of you are probably getting bored. Yes, the love yourself idea may seem a bit overused, unless I’m the only one who gets the suggested posts on Instagram about how “you are enough.” Honestly, I used to think self love was just an overrated trend. Now, however, I feel it’s important to really understand the movement, what it means, and how it can go too far.

I never really knew anything about self love until I started doing yoga with my mom to relieve the stress of school and living

in a house with six kids. We followed Yoga With Adrian on YouTube and she talked a lot about making time for yourself and accepting your body as it is while finding ways to improve that feel good. In one video she said, “Self love; an ongoing regular practice, not something we tap into when we’re down and out, or when we’re in that kind of fight or flight mode, but rather a regular practice.” I took in some of what she said and I thought it made a lot of sense, but to be completely honest, I really just liked doing the poses. I definitely didn’t make self love a regular practice, at any rate.

A few months ago, however, my sister and I started listening to the popular k-pop group, BTS. The band is big on self love, and their songs are what finally helped me get it. This translation from one of their songs, “Answer: Love Myself”, really caught my attention: “Loving myself might be harder

Than loving someone else

Let’s admit it

The standards I made are more strict for myself

...

Now let’s forgive ourselves

Our lives are long, trust yourself when in a maze.”

When you think of yourself, what is the first word that comes to your mind? A few people might respond to this question with “unique” or “creative” or “funny”, but a lot might say “ugly” or “fat” or “stupid”. Now, how would you answer this question about your best friend? If you’re being totally honest, some of you will think of outward flaws first, but, chances are, you’ll quickly slap yourself and focus instead on said friend’s good qualities like kindness or love. What exactly is the difference between you and your best friend that your bad qualities are worse than theirs? Why is the scale different when it’s you? To me, self love is about looking at yourself the way you would look at anybody else because, the fact is, we’re all humans.

Some people might argue that they really don’t have anything to love about themselves. That is untrue. I believe that we were all created by God, who knows what He is doing. To quote Genesis 1:27, “So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them. Male and female He created them.” He made you just the way He wants you. Just like there are flaws in any human, every one of us has something worth loving, too. You just have to try a little. Work to find something about yourself to love and then grow that.

In a speech to the United Nations, RM of BTS said this: “Maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday’s me is still me. I am who I am today, with all my faults. Tomorrow I might be a tiny bit wiser, and that’s me, too. These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the brightest stars in the constellation of my life. I have come to love myself for who I was, who I am, and who I hope to become.”

Other people may avoid self love because they don’t want to become, well, selfish. This is actually a legitimate concern for some. Self love can go too far. We can start seeing ourselves as perfect and stop trying to improve. It’s important to remember that you are sinful and imperfect, but so is everyone else. It’s about what we focus on, and how we handle ourselves with the flaws. Some people might feel entitled. You don’t deserve the entire world, you deserve what you can get for yourself. Hard work is crucial. Finally, you could become self centered and love yourself more than you love anyone else. This is neither healthy nor kind. The key is balance. Know who you are and who everyone else is. We are all humans. We all have good qualities and bad ones. Treat yourself the way you would treat any other human, no better and no worse.

Self love can be hard and confusing, but it’s worth the effort. I was inspired by the music made by seven people who are all the way across the world from me, so I hope you can be inspired by me, a random teenage girl behind this random post. If nothing else, I hope this can at least be to you what the soothing voice between downward dogs was to me: a start. Remember to look at yourself in the right light, and keep making more things to love.

To be an Artist

My dream is to be an artist. I have it all planned out from entering contests now to art college to selling my work in my own store that preferably influences the entire world. That's a pretty big dream, I know, but I know I'm unique so I might just be able to make it happen. I've always had this idea about being an artist in my mind, but I think I started to take it seriously around sixth grade. There was this mini art contest at my homeschool co-op that I entered a painting into. Nothing came of that, but it put the idea in my head. I thought about it for a few months and began to make my plan. I remember one night I was supposed to be sleeping but I couldn't stop thinking about my future art career. I got this random burst of excitement as the idea became real in my mind. I was cuddling with a stuffed cupcake dog and all I could do at that moment was squeeze it as tightly as possible. I hugged my dream and my heart right into that dog. It sort of became my good luck stuffed animal after that. If I'm not mistaken, that same dog, Pugsy, was there when I opened my email two years later and read the words, "Congratulations, your work has been accepted for publication!" At that moment the dream was really real. My heart skipped a beat.

Characters

"The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams, which was very popular when it came out, is still a classic today. One thing that made people love the play so much was the characters. Though the story is fiction, it was based on Williams’s real life, and the characters were basically his family with different names. Because they were so heavily based on real people, the characters felt very real, too.

First there's Tom, the narrator. Tom is probably the most relatable character since he was based on the writer himself. Tom, the youngest in the house, is also the main provider since he’s the only man. He works at a factory to help his mother and older sister, but it's obvious that he's restless. Tom is constantly arguing with his mother, Amanda, about how much time he spends out at night. Near the end of the play, Tom doesn't pay the electricity bill and the lights go out. This shows that he finally gave up on his family because his need for independence was so strong. I think Williams was admitting to his own regrets with this character’s portrayal.

Laura is Tom's crippled older sister. Throughout the play, she is presented as a bit odd and hard to understand. This reflects how Williams felt towards his real sister. Like her glass collection, Laura is fragile. Her entire character is very nervous and anxious. She was enrolled in college but dropped out because everything stressed her out so much that she couldn't do the work. Laura seems stuck in life, but she's content with that position.

Amanda is their mother. She is very picky, opinionated, and controlling. As I mentioned before, she argues with Tom a lot. She also has a habit of holding on to the past. She is always talking about all of the "gentlemen callers" she had at Laura's age. She regrets marrying their father, who left, and takes her feelings out on Laura by constantly pestering her about finding the right man. The climax of this behavior is when she makes Tom invite one of his work friends over to meet Laura. She acts over-eager and ridiculous the entire time, right up until the man, who Laura actually liked in high school, leaves after revealing that he already has a girlfriend. Then Amanda is able to squeeze out some genuine concern for Laura.

All of the characters in this story are unique. Tom is a hard worker who just wants to be free. Laura is an usure, gentle piece of glass. Amanda is an overprotective, controlling mother. As I said in my introduction, the characters are real to the audience because they were real to the writer.

Word Choice

"Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice."

These are the opening lines in Robert Frost's poem, "Fire and Ice." It might seem hard to write an essay about twelve words at the beginning of a poem, but there is actually a lot to look at because poets are so careful and intentional about their word choice.

First of all, the tone contrasts sharply with the subject matter. Obviously the end of the world is a heavy topic, but the wording doesn't fit that. It sounds like the narrator is just making a remark about the weather or some small thing like that. The tone is very offhanded. This is an interesting technique because it confuses readers and makes them think about what they're reading more. It almost offers a new perspective on the topic. This way of writing things also seems a bit sarcastic to me. It adds both weight and humor to the words, which is quite a skill.

The other thing about this opening is that it doesn't exactly sound like poetry. The tone is too casual. This is actually an effective technique because, while flowery symbolism can be ok, it's easy to get lost in some more poetic wording. Frost makes sure to get his point across so readers can understand it easily. The simple rhyme scheme throughout the rest of the poem helps with this as well. Casual language, especially when it has a meaning, is beautiful in its own way.

Overall the poem, specifically the opening, is very relatable to readers because of the wording. This just proves how important word choice is to writers and poets. I like Frost's style in this poem because it is unique and creative.

Personal Experience

Ethan Frome, a novel by Edith Wharton, is about a married man who is actually in love with another girl who is boarding at his house. He grows to despise his wife because of the other girl. Interestingly, Wharton herself was living in a difficult marriage when she wrote the book. They say, "Write what you know.” Is this really effective? Did Wharton's experience help the novel at all?

The first thing to consider is imagination. Nobody can write a good work of fiction without being at least a little creative. The idea is to take readers to another world and, while everyone does have a unique and interesting perspective on life, that is hard to do without completely making some things up out of the blue. If you write only what you know, things can get quite boring.

Next, I want to think about authenticity. Writing based on the author's personal experience definitely feels more real. The author knows what the character is feeling, so they can then put words to that feeling, and readers can feel it, too.

Imagination is necessary to fill in the cracks and make an interesting story, but that means nothing if readers can't connect to the character. An author's personal experience is what makes the work credible, so that readers can connect.

Finally, there are the emotions involved on the author's part. Sometimes it might not matter so much what the experience does for the novel, but what putting the experience in the novel does for the author. Once in a while when I have a question or problem I'm worried about, I'll give it to a character and write a story to figure it out. This is extremely relieving. If other authors also do this, then Wharton probably just started writing because she was frustrated and had nothing else to do about the situation. That is called writing for yourself first and then others, and a lot of stories come out better that way.

To answer the original question, writing what you know is very effective (although it's important to spice it up with creativity, too.) The personal life of an author helps shape the author and that shapes the author's work. Wharton's experience helped her novel by making it more credible and more compelling.

Responses to Sin

Imagine finding out that someone you know has robbed a bank. How would you handle the situation? What if you worked at the bank being robbed, would that change anything? If you yourself were also a bank robber? What then? As you can see, different people handle sin differently.

Let's look at The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, for example. In the book, Hester Prynne committed adultery and had to wear a scarlet A for the rest of her life as punishment. How did her community respond? Not well. Everybody acted shocked at her sin and they all said that her punishment was too light.

Now let's look at the Bible, in John 8. In this chapter, the people brought an adulteress to Jesus and said she should be stoned. Jesus responded in a very surprising way; He said that whoever had never sinned could throw the first stone. Of course, everyone in the crowd had sinned at some time, so they left. After that Jesus kindly told the woman to turn from her sin.

Needless to say, these two responses are dramatically different. Surely the people in Hester's community had all sinned, just like the people in John 8, but they chose only to focus on what Hester did, because it seemed worse. Jesus, on the other hand, pointed out that we are all sinners. Every small sin is despicable to God, and everyone deserves to die for their sin. We are only saved by God’s mercy, so we shouldn't condemn others.

I don't really have to say whose response was better. When dealing with someone else’s sin we should try to act like Jesus acted. As always, we get the best result when we follow His example.

Faith Compromised

What would you say is the most important thing in your life? The answer should be your faith in God, but that isn’t always what we put first. Even the best Bible characters let their faith slip at some point or another.

Let's take a look at Saul, Israel's first king. We know what happened there. Saul started out fine. He believed God and led well. He even looked like a king; he was very tall and powerful. So what went wrong? Saul started to love his own power way too much, and he wanted more of it. He thought David was a threat to that power, so it became his goal in life to kill David. Saul let power and greed compromise his faith.

David was the next king after Saul, and he loved God very much. David honored God, and he was also a good and just ruler. David's armies were also very strong in battle because they had God on their side. We think of David as a righteous king, but he wasn't always. Once he saw a beautiful woman named Bethsheba bathing. He wanted her as a wife, so he plotted to have her husband killed in battle. David committed adultery and it hurt his relationship with God. Solomon, David's

son, was the next ruler of Israel. God offered to give him anything he wanted, and he chose wisdom. God was pleased with this choice, so He gave Solomon wisdom and money. Solomon’s request proved that he was a selfless ruler, but he, too, sinned. He had many, many different wives and these wives had many, many different gods. Solomon himself began to worship the false gods, and that did not go well. He put idols in God's way.

These kings did some terrible things to take them away from God, and it really isn’t all that different from when we sin in small ways every day. Faith is the most important thing, but it is easier than we think to mess up. Good thing God is always there, ready to forgive us if we ask.

Christian Revolution

In the Bible, God tells us to obey what he says. The law is spelled out pretty clearly, but it isn't always the easiest to follow. In Romans 12, we are told to submit to governing authorities. Well, what happens if those authorities tell us to do something we think is wrong? Do we submit or rebel?

The first thing we must do is evaluate the problem. What does the Bible say? If the authorities are telling us to do something that the Bible specifically tells us not to do or vice versa, we should always follow the Bible. We should submit to governing authorities except when they contradict what God says. When this happens, we should try to protest in a peaceful, godly way while being ready to take more extreme measures if necessary.

What if we know something is wrong, but the Bible doesn't say anything specific on the issue? There are probably some verses there, but they might not mention the issue by name. In any case, we should defend what is right calmly, avoiding unnecessary trouble. In either situation, the Bible should be our primary weapon.

What about history? Were past wars worth fighting to Christians? Let's take a look at the Declaration of Independence, for example. Thomas Jefferson did give several good reasons for the colonies to be upset with the King of Britain, but did these reasons have to lead to wars? Something had to be done but I don't think the situation had to be as extreme as it was. They should have protested kindly, talked it out and consulted the Bible a bit more before starting a full out revolution.

What about now? Coronavirus obsession is still going on along with Black Lives Matter protests. With the election coming up, the level of crazy in this country isn't going down. Some people post their every thought and opinion on social media. Others throw rocks at cars and burn buildings. What should we do? Like in any situation, we should follow the Bible above all. If we have to speak out, we should do so in a way that is both loving and logical.

That was a lot of words, but here is the main point of it all: be thoughtful, be careful, be peaceful, and always look at God's Word first.

My Dad

"We should probably start to head back soon,” Dad says as we walk down various trails in the woods.

"I guess so," I agree sulkily, "Let's just see what's up there first." I point up the path to where it winds gracefully through a sea of ferns. Dad checks the time on his phone and agrees readily. He loves nature just as much as I do. Being out in God's creation makes us feel closer to Him.

Dad tries to always be close with God and honor Him. Whether he is at home caring for his family or at work making the money to provide for us, Dad does it all to honor God. He preaches at church and teaches all of us at home so that he can always be sharing God’s blessings. Dad does so much, and all of it is with a happy personality and a lot of love. Dad reminds me of Noah in the Bible because of his strong faith in God that makes him righteous, which also makes him stand out from the rest of the world. He always does God's will selflessly and he brings his family along the whole way.

I'm so thankful that God gave me this amazing father to laugh with and learn from. I hope I can be like Dad one day because he is a wonderful reflection of God, our Heavenly Father.

TV's Influence on Worldview

Do you enjoy watching TV? I know I do, and so does most of the rest of the American population. Watching TV is a fun way to relax, but we have to do so carefully because what’s on the screen can do a lot more than just entertain us, it can change our entire worldview.

Part of the reason TV is so popular is because it has something for everyone. For children there are educational shows that teach useful life skills, but then there are pointless ones that only make the kids lazy. For families there is harmless humor, and then there are spoiled kids doing dumb stuff and oblivious adults letting them. The most popular channel for adults is the news, which shows one depressing story after another. The point is, TV has a lot of bad mixed into the good. Some popular ideas seen on TV include kids dating and worrying way too much about how they look, and people, “Following their hearts,” which the Bible says is deceitful.

This is just one tiny bit of TV’s influence. There is so much on that screen and almost all of it affects our worldviews in one way

or another. Well, what do we do? I'd try cutting down on TV time and spending those hours in God's word instead. It's ok to watch some TV, but you need to guard yourself. You can do this by turning off anything that isn't good for your mind and making sure you do other things in life as well. Next time you pick up the remote, try to think about what you're doing first.

Old Testament Prophecies

Jesus’ ministry on earth was enough to show His power and authority, but what's even more amazing is that it was all predicted beforehand. According to most sources, Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies about His life. Research by Peter Stoner shows that the likelihood of even just eight of those prophecies coming true by chance is 1 in 1017. The prophecies were about a range of things from Jesus' lineage to strange miracles and even to the detail of His parents hiding Him in Egypt for a while after He was born, but they all came true. Only God could do that. The purpose of it all was described in the first prophecy about Him in Genesis 3:15. It was to crush Satan and save us from sin and death.

Obediah

Obediah is one of the seventeen books of the prophets at the end of the Old Testament. Though only two pages long, this minor prophecy is important. God told Obediah about Edom's destruction in a vision. Edomites were the descendants of Esau, who was forever angry after his brother, Jacob, cheated him twice. The Edomites were eventually destroyed, just like God said. This book shows God's justice and the punishment for sin. My favorite line is the last one: “But the kingdom will be the LORD’s.”

Ancient Chinese Kites

Did you know that the first kites were invented in China? It's hard to tell exactly who did it, but two big names are Mozi and Lu Ban. At first kites were used for military purposes to deliver messages and measure distances for attack strategies. They were also used by sailors sometimes in a superstitious routine to see if it was a good time for a voyage. By the prosperous Tang dynasty, however, kites were for entertainment, sentimental, and religious use instead of their original dark intent. Today kites are still a form of Chinese culture and art. There is even an annual festival dedicated to kites in the Chinese city of Weifang.

Ancient Egyptian Clothing

Fun fact: ancient Egyptians were just as concerned about looking trendy as we are today, and they weren't nearly as modest about it! Men usually only wore kilts made of linen. The women wore long tube-like dresses that provided much more coverage, but the higher classes of both genders used transparent linen for their clothing. Jewelry made of gold, silver, and precious stones was very popular, and even the poor wore necklaces and bracelets made from colorful pottery beads. People usually went barefoot, but sandals of leather and papyrus were worn for special occasions. The most modern obsession the Egyptians had was makeup!

Dreams in the Bible

In Bible times, dreams weren't always just a weird jumble of random events to laugh at in the morning. The Bible, mainly the Old Testament, tells of several times when people had significant dreams or visions. These often gave warnings for what would happen if a certain sin continued or showed events of the near future. Joseph and David were especially known for their ability to interpret dreams. One interesting dream in the New Testament was more of a nightmare that Pilot's wife had because she knew that Jesus was innocent. Although the Bible is complete, meaning we don't need to learn things through dreams anymore, it is very interesting to read about the way God worked in these people's sleep.

Yellow Mood

Sometimes I feel like I'm in a yellow mood. I feel very happy and I always smile when I feel yellow. Sometimes I can't help bouncing around like crazy. It is quite fun to be in a yellow mood.

How I Write

I listen. I think. Always when I hear someone talking about something other than video games, I listen. Always when I have a question, I think. And then inspiration strikes. Out of nowhere a careless comment or a silly question creates the basis for a short story of even a novel. They say writers are great thieves, and it's true. I wrote this all down. If it is too amazing to wait, I start working right away. Otherwise I save it to fight off any writer's block I may encounter.

I pull out a notebook, take it to my back deck, and start with that inspiration. I take that idea that fell from the sky, and then I build it out with creativity. I breath life into the characters by answering a list of simple questions about them, making them unique pieces of myself. I map out the plot, making it different from the story I found it in, adding my own bits and pieces until it can only be recognized as my own beautiful idea.

Next I write the first draft. I just get it out. I write a page or more and then I stop to think, to find more inspiration. Sometimes I need a chocolate break, or to take myself away from it entirely and play outside. However long it takes, I get it all down and then

the editing process begins.

I edit thoroughly, pausing to consider every detail and reworking many parts. I go through my checklist of aspects to pay attention to, and then I reread it again to get it to perfection. After this I type it into Google Docs, making little changed along the way. And then my baby is ready and I find a way to share it with someone.

This is how I work. Maybe it's different for you, but I love to write with the birds chirping around me. I pause occasionally to look towards the woods before turning back to my paper and pencil. I like to plan it all out first. Once I start the real writing, then it can just flow free without any hindrance. That is the best part.

Reasons to Smile

Dear Future Me,

How does it feel to be an adult? It feels weird enough to be 13! Today Mom was working on school for next year and I saw a paper that said 'Abigail Rater -- Grade 8' at the top. It just looked so big! Not as crazy as 'Kennedy Rater -- Grade 10', though. How about 'Mason Rater -- Grade 4' or 'Maddy Rater -- Grade 2'. I can't believe how old we're getting! Your well past all of those by now, though. Did you go to college like I plan to? Were you able to major in art and writing? Did you make a career for yourself? Enough questions. I've been trying hard to get my work out there and I'm sure the answer to all three questions will be yes! If not, well, I guess it's God's plan. No matter what, I hope you have, do, and will use the talents that God gave you for His glory. If not, it's never too late to start. 2020 has been a bit of a rough year for us, but there is still so much to be thankful for. God gives us new reasons to smile every day, after all.

Sincerely,

Your Past Self,

Abby Rater

Dear Baby Alives

Dear Baby Alives, Hello! I guess you think my name is Erica or Bella Ballerina. Well, I'm not really either of them. My name is Abby and it always has been. When we played together my sister (you usually knew her as Annalise) and I liked to pretend to be our favorite characters and those were some of them. Sorry about that confusion. Now I'm just Abby.

I remember the day I got you, it was a busy Christmas of rushing around celebrating with every single relative. I think I was very tired by the time we got to Great Grandma's house. I unwrapped the first four of you hurriedly and, I'm sorry, I wasn't too interested. I must have been distracted by all of the people talking and laughing, all of the sugary food (even though we had just stuffed ourselves at Nana's), and the wrapping paper flying everywhere! I spent the ride home crying over a stuffed bear because she had '2013' stitched on her paw and it didn't look or sound nearly as nice as 2012. After that I just forgot about you, so you lived on the kitchen table for about two months. I'm sorry.

Mom was actually about to donate you but, thank goodness, my sister and I got bored and decided to open you. Of course we instantly fell in love. Your faces were so cute and you were just the right size to take on any adventure. I was either very generous or incapable of playing on my own and I let my sister have Mackaila and Hailey, but I kept Ella and Lilly to myself. My sister got Sarina and Sydney for her next birthday and when Sarina hurt her neck we managed to meet the other Sarina and the other Sydney! I misread one of the boxes when the next two came along so someone called Louaou came with the other Lilly. Last to come was Lulu and our group was complete.

I'm sorry we doubled up on so many names and I'm very sorry that we named your home Baby Bikini World! We had picked up the word 'bikini' somewhere and we thought it was very fun to say (because it is).

We had some very fun times picking a "Cutest" each day to receive special treatment and swaddling up in old baby socks at night. Instead of going to sleep right away we would stay up late talking and pretending we were in dreams. Do you remember?

You were such a big part of my life and I owe so much to you! You were the models for a lot of my early drawings (my sister and I wouldn't hang any pictures up in our room besides the ones we made of you!) and now a piece of my artwork is going to be published in a real book. The first story I ever wrote was about you, and now I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't figure things out by writing about them. What about crafts? The experience of sewing tiny cloths for you has helped when a stuffed animal needs fixed or my favorite pants have a rip. Thank you for all of it.

We used to talk while doing math, but last year I worked hard to focus on my pre-algebra textbook (and I was only in seventh grade). We used to clean up our messes slowly using my brother's toy dump trucks, but now I fold laundry just because I like to be useful. We used to pretend that I was your babysitter, but now I can actually stay home alone with my younger siblings. I've changed a bit, I guess. I'm more mature now, but I'm really not that different.

I know I don't play with you every day like I used to and maybe I get embarrassed when I forget to put you away when my friends come over (sorry!) but I still love you. I love the sharpie smudge on Louaou's cheek, Sarina's wobbly head, and the loss of almost all of your shoes and binkies that reminds me of all our old fun. That's right, I'm still the same little girl with the poofy skirt and the constant giggle. I still love dolls and other babyish things and that's ok. I still jump at the chance to watch a Barbie movie with my little sister and that's ok. I am responsible and I am a child. Yes, I can have both. Nobody is stopping me from loving my dolls, not even maturity! I will always love you and any other harmless thing I like and it's all thanks to you. Thank you for being so lovable that I just have to be like this, because it makes life a lot brighter when the world is in chaos.

Sincerely Your Loving Kid,

Abby Rater

P.S.

If you see any Polly Pockets or LOL Dolls, please share that last part with them. The American Girl Dolls also say hi and thanks.

Two Worlds, One Place, One Me

In all of my 13 years of life, I've always lived in the same state in the same county. Though I used to live in what Mom now calls "the ghetto" my family has really always been country folks and that's my only cultural influence.

Although I only live in one physical world, I have another sort of fantasy world inside my head that is in some ways separated. When I was little I would get very concentrated on something that nobody else saw and Dad would say that I was in Abbyland. Nobody talks about Abbyland much anymore, but I still have a whole world up there. The only difference is that now whatever happens in that world gets spilled upon pages in either words or pictures, whichever suits the mood best.

My worlds are both equally real, and they help each other stand and make me who I am. I want to show this by bringing you into each of my worlds.

It's almost lunchtime and I sit at the dining room table waiting for Mom's help with my science book. She is busy

explaining some complicated algebra in front of the computer. She sits at the wooden extension on the end of our table. Her hair, graying at the tips but dark everywhere else, is pulled into a loose bun and her hoodie has a cross on it. Kennedy wears a look of annoyance and confusion with her eyebrows scrunched together on her tan face. Her greenish-hazel eyes keep darting towards the clock on the oven.

Meanwhile, Mason has already finished his schoolwork. "Hey Dad!" he begins.

"What?" Dad asks with a smile as he looks up from his phone. He had been working on a sermon with his brow wrinkled in two lines of concentration.

"It was funny, on Veggie Tales..." Mason begins explaining every detail of one little joke that he heard on TV.

"Well that's fun!" Dad says brightly, though I can tell he doesn't really care. With Mason's big mouth and glasses, I'm surprised there's any room left on his face for the fat Rater nose.

Maddy and Benjamin are in the living room playing with Frozen dolls and Mario stuffed animals. They also finished school. "Benjamin, make Bowser say, 'What are you doing?'" Maddy commands.

"What aw you dooen?" Benjamin repeats in a monster voice. The game continues on like that. Maddy brushes her messy hair out of her face and has a hard time getting her purple glasses untangled. Benjamin has a quizzical look on his face, I don't know why. His thin legs are just the right length to reach the couch, which is their play surface.

Gracie makes the scene even more chaotic. She is sitting on the table holding a board book and pretending to read when she sees our dog, Annie, trot by. Gracie's curls frame a face that is taken over by a giant smile. "Kit-ty, kit-ty, kit-ty!" she says in a high voice. Then she crawls over to look and ends up falling right off of the table! Everyone drops what they were doing and runs to see if she's OK. She is, and now she has seven family members comforting her and calming her cries.

This is my first world; my home with my big, caring family.

Now enter my second world. Wade through the questions I ask myself and the answers that are the foundations of my stories. Find the strings of ideas just waiting to fly off the tip of a pencil and feelings anticipating expression. Look around at the peaceful thoughts, hopes, and dreams weaving together into a beautifully calm fantasy.

I am sitting amidst whatever scene I wish to draw. Right now it is a bright green dome of leaves full of light and color. A notebook is in my lap and I am scribbling vigorously, pausing often to think and stare into the distance. My eyes light up with an idea and I send it around the test tracks in my mind before squealing in excitement. Then I turn back to my paper.

This is my second world, full of ideas and fantasies. It doesn't take as much explaining as my family, or maybe I just don't have the right words to tell any more, but it is just as crazy in a peaceful sort of way. Maybe nobody understands that besides me, but I love it nonetheless.

My two worlds are very different -- that you can clearly see -- but I need both of them and they both need each other. My family often serves as inspiration for what goes on in my mind and notebook, and my younger siblings are always glad to listen to my writing and share their opinion. My family is always supportive in my attempts to make my work into something big, and I am so thankful for that. On the other hand, when I have a problem with someone, art and writing help me to calm down and/or know how to deal with the situation. These are just a few examples. My worlds aren't like oil and water. They mix, but at the same time they stay two different things, so they are more like salt and water.

One thing, or being, really, permeates both my worlds and holds them together. That being is God. My parents have always taught us the Truth, and everything special about our family focuses on honoring God. Meanwhile, I try to bring glory to Him with all that I do in my fantasy world.

The First Painting

I get out the dollar store pallet of watercolor paint and the magenta cup full of all kinds of brushes and covered in all colors of paint splotches. I inhale deeply and find the comforting smell of paint like an old, musty friend. I take a piece of paper and place it on the wide area of newspaper put there to protect the already messy tabletop. Time to paint. I've always loved to draw and paint for as long as I can remember, and my parents say I'm really good at art for a third grader, but my paintings usually only consist of dozens of random blobs. I hope that that's about to change. I pick up an odd type of secret weapon, a thin-tipped brush, not considering the amazing power that it most certainly holds. I paint the outline of a dolphin in black. I color it in with blue and continue to paint all the other sea life I've studied in my co-op science class. I look at my handiwork with astonishment. A smile spreads across my face. This actually looks like something. I can hardly wait to show my mom, my science teacher, my grandma, everyone. This is only the beginning.

The Day she Entered Heaven

For a while Thanksgiving seemed to bring bad luck for my family. When I must have been about seven years old, Great Grandma got sick on or near Thanksgiving. I think we were at Nana's house when Mom told my sister and I, but I'm not absolutely sure. There might have been a lump of worry in my stomach, but I wasn't too concerned. Great Grandma had been sick before and she was always fine. Nobody I knew had ever died, so I guess it didn't seem possible.

It was probably a few weeks later that we took the drive that I don't remember in our dirty red van with Dora stickers on the inside of the windows to the hospital. There was a long wait in the clean but stale smelling waiting room with Grandma and Grandpa and a lot of other family.

Someone brought sparkly beads and pipe cleaners and I made a bracelet that I thought should be in a jewelry store. Kennedy (my sister) and I played with our baby dolls that we had brought on the sticky hospital cushions. Eventually I got board and got crayons and construction paper to make a storybook about those dolls. My first story. Kennedy's doll was the magic princess

named Makaila. The story was called "Magical Makaila". It was very heavily inspired by Sofia the First and Cinderella even made a special appearance in it. I was proud of my tiny illustrated book when it was finished and stapled together (though I'm not sure where I got all the supplies). I think it was Grandma who said that Great Grandma would love for me to read her my story and Dad who explained that Great Grandma wasn't able to talk so I knew she wasn't ignoring me.

So the two of them took me to the small room where she was. I think I got a hug from those weak arms. She looked so different laying there in some hospital gown instead of her usual big shirts with teddy bears and kittens on them in old lady designs. I sat down and read the story and she smiled when it was finished. I don't exactly remember what happened next, but in a while we were in our red van again, getting ready to leave. I remember most of the time I felt a little bit nervous but mostly indifferent about the whole situation. I didn't think she could die because I just couldn't imagine it. But then Dad was telling us about her last breath and how she had smiled, excited to see the Lord. "Don't say 'last breath,'" Kennedy said through tears. "It sounds too sad."

I love my Great Grandma, who, even while she was dyeing, listened to me yammer on about princesses. She heard my first story and I can picture her up there smiling about how far I've come. Great Grandma was an amazing Christian woman and I know she is in heaven praising God right now. I can't wait to see her again one day and read her another story. This one will be about God's grace.

Smelling Crocuses

When you smell something, nerves send that information to the brain. After continually smelling the same thing for a while, though, the nerves stop sending messages because the brain already knows about the smell.

I lived in a not great part of the city until I was nine years old. I always loved the crocuses that grew in our front yard, but I was also used to them coming up every spring. They smelled so sweet and fresh. The tiny balls in the most wonderful shade of deep purplish blue that made up the tapered tops of the flowers were so beautiful.

When I was nine and we moved out, I was sad to leave, but the flowers were no part of my concern. Now I'm grateful to live in a safe place with friendly neighbors and woods behind the house; however, while my yard and the woods have plenty of flowers, I haven't found any crocuses.

I miss the crocuses, even if I didn't always acknowledge them.

Abigail Olivia Rater

My full name is Abigail Olivia Rater. A lot of my personality can be told by this name. Any good story has a beginning, middle, and end so here I'll give the full story of my name.

Abigail. Everybody calls me Abby. I share this title with one of my best friends as well as about five other girls, though I wasn't named after anyone in particular. I also share it with the woman in 1 Samuel 25 who uses good sense to talk David out of getting revenge on her foolish husband. I don't think I'm quite as brave as that Abigail, but I am sensible and I hope my name reminds me to become brave. The name Abigail means father's joy, and I try to bring joy to my whole family. Abigail: It connects to friends, it is sensible and brave, and it spreads joy. I hope I can live up to my name.

Olivia. the part of my name that's all my own. My parents say that before I was born a lot of relatives disagreed about whom I should be named after. Annoyed, my parents pulled a random name out of the sky: Olivia. When I was little I thought my middle name was from a certain cartoon I liked. I asked my parents about it at least three times even though each time

they said no. I sure am glad I was wrong about that! Sometimes my brother and I would make up characters whose first names were our middle names and pretend to be them for fun. Olivia was always adventurous and brave. Olivia: It's all my own even if I have seen it in books and on TV a few times. Sometimes I wish my middle name was my first name.

Rater. Of course I share my last name with my family and this is really an honor. Dad says the name is German, which I find intriguing even if there isn't a second German thing about us. What matters more to me than where the name came from is what I inherited from it. My Dad's perfectionism that I got can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the situation, but I've always enjoyed sharing his knack for words. Something I hope to get from my family is their independence. My Mom homeschools my five siblings and I and my Dad is an elder and preacher at our small church which they helped start. Rater: it connects to family, and it gives perfectionism, writing, and (hopefully) independence. This one I really hope to live up to and I'll be sad to give it up if I ever marry.

So that is my name. I love the parts that are shared and that they still stay unique. My friend Abby and I are as different as night and day, and each of my siblings has gotten something different from Rater. Still, I like that my middle name is relatively all mine. So, the story of my name does tell a lot about me, but it certainly doesn't define me.

Grateful

Today I am grateful for my younger sister. It wasn't a great day and I got really grumpy and generally not fun to be around but she still wanted to play outside with me.

Today I am grateful for America, my country. I finished my history book for school today and I learned about Americans commemorating how our country started by celebrating the fourth of July. Throughout history, when any number of awful things were going on, people continued to celebrate our country. It really made me think about what America is. Why celebrate it? America was built on freedom. God created this beautiful land and placed on it people who He allowed to build a country where we can be free to say and believe whatever we believe is right. Now with the quarantine it may feel like our freedom is restricted, but we are still free to believe. I am thankful that my country gives me this right.

Today I am grateful for my Mom. We did our morning yoga as usual but this time my younger brother, Mason, did it with us. I was mad because it's sort of a special thing just for Mom and I, but she was calm and fair and kept me in good enough humor to enjoy yoga even if I did wish it was just the two of us. Later I did get some one on one time with Mom, though it was only at the grocery store. At the checkout she bought me a new flavor of chapstick (just don't tell any of my siblings). We also rented the movie of Little Women and something for the younger kids to watch. Mom read the book when she was around my age and she loved it and was excited for me to read it last year. I loved it just as much. So with our mutual love of the story we cuddled up to watch the movie after dinner. I am thankful for the wonderful time that I got to spend with my Mom today.

Today I am grateful for spring. It's been pretty cold out the last few days, but today wasn't bad. I did some art outside and watched three birds as they loudly squabbled and flapped their wings in a nearby tree. Later I took a walk at the edge of the woods and admired the many flowers preparing to open up any day now. I was cold when I got back from a bike ride with my brother, but it was so good to be outside! I am so thankful spring is here; I don't know what I'd do if it wasn't.

Today I am grateful for God. I could go on for hours with the reasons but I haven't got the time for that so I'll leave it at this: What could I be more thankful for than the One who made everything that is good?

One-Liners

The Best of Both Age Groups

I am like a mature child.

Thankful

Always pray, "Dear God, thank You."

How to Deal with Life

Always stay curious, courageous, and creative.

Simple Description

The word for me is dreamer.

Growing up Without Getting Bogged Down

Our passions still keep us youthful.

To Every Student: How Thankful are we for Education?

Students, consider your attitude about school for a moment. How would you feel if you heard that you get school off for a week? Most people would probably be excited about this. What if your school got cancelled for a month? What about the rest of the year? What if you weren’t sure when you could go back to school? What if it turned out to be never? These last two questions are the reality of many children living in poorer countries. Maybe you think that this sounds wonderful, but it’s not. School is important. It may not feel like it matters in the grand scheme of life, but it does.

Though most of the news is currently about the coronavirus outbreak, this does not dismiss other topics from importance. The lack of education in poorer areas, especially for girls, may not seem important to us now, but surely it affects those experiencing it. They are very real and so is their problem. While they are experiencing these troubles, we who can learn are likely complaining about how hard our school is or how long it takes. I believe students, myself included, should be more thankful for the ability to learn.

Research shown on youthtruthsurvey.org says that although a majority of students feel engaged in school, only about half actually enjoy going. I am homeschooled, but this still applies. This applies whether you go to public school, private school, homeschool, or cyberschool. There are differences, advantages, and disadvantages to each, but it is all school. All learning. All taken for granted. Here is an example:

I am doing my math at the kitchen table. I read the description of points and lines in my book for the second time, realizing I don't actually understand this explanation of the concept I've had a chapter on every year since second grade.

"Mom, can you please help me?" I ask.

"What do you need help with?"

"This doesn't make sense."

So Mom explains it to me carefully. I still don't understand. She explains again. And again. And again. I won't allow my mind to understand, by now I'm frustrated.

"That is so dumb!" I exclaim. I'm about to cry.

A week or two later I pick up my reading book, I am Malala. In horror I read the true story of a girl who's country is in conflict over many things, including education for girls. Schools were being bombed. Malala got shot in the head at age 15 for standing up for education. In one part Malala wrote, "When someone takes away your pens you realize how quite important education is." And here I am reading in my own bedroom near the window, perfectly safe. I shamefully remember my tantrum over math.

While we look at our books, frustrated that we don't understand it, another child somewhere else is looking at last year's books or a friend's books or the picture of books in their mind's eye, wishing they could be learning right now.

According to humanium.org, about 72 million children can't go to school and about 759 million adults are illiterate worldwide. These numbers are simply crazy, and much of the credit for that goes to poverty (though sometimes, as in Malala’s story, it has more to do with legal conflicts). Poverty affects education in a number of ways. This is proven by globalcitizen.org, which lists a few. The funny thing is, while poverty is preventing learning, education really has the power to end poverty. Concernusa.org says that if all children in countries experiencing poverty could simply read, about 171 million people could get out of poverty; if every adult had an education, poverty rates could be cut in half. Keep in mind that while this is going on we students are probably complaining about our own school. We have this weapon against poverty, why don't we use it?

It's all too easy to find excuses.

"My teachers are boring."

"This subject is too hard."

"School is tiring and I can't think when I'm tired."

According to spielgaben.com, there are legitimate reasons for students to seem to lose interest in school and not care about learning. It is the job of those running the school to minimize these things, however, that does not mean we students are allowed to stop trying. The main issue is attitude. With a good attitude and some effort, we can enjoy school, or at least be thankful for it, despite it's annoying problems.

Education is important in my life. Maybe I’m a bit of a nerd, but I love feeling smart. I am always excited when I find myself reminded of something I’ve learned while doing an ordinary activity. It is an amazing feeling to realize how naturally you can connect your textbook to the outside world. I also want to be an artist and a writer when I grow up and both of these things require education. Anyone can see how education is required to be a writer, but it may be harder to consider it a crucial part in becoming an artist. Art is a creative process, but facts and knowledge are necessary to share it and to make better works. Education is being used all the time in obvious or hidden ways to help people achieve their dreams. Because of this and since we have access to it, it would be simply foolish not to try as hard as we can to get as much as we can out of our education.

Many students who can learn don't want to, and 72 million children who can't learn wish they could. Students may have very good reasons not to like school, but they still need to try hard to learn. We students need to be thankful for the blessing of education. The least we can do is try to have a good attitude about our own learning. If we, as students, take our education seriously, we could help others with their education, too. Learning is very important and before those of us who can learn can help those who can't, we must understand just how much this matters and have a good attitude about it. Education can change the world.

A Stand Against Abortion

Imagine you are in a warm, dark, wet, cozy place. You are safe floating in the center of this circular room. You don't know much of anything yet, but you will soon enough. You don't do anything on your own, not even eat. You hear lots of muffled noises and eventually you can pick out specific voices that you recognize. You explore a bit by kicking at the walls. You love your little room but you are also excited to come out and meet the world. Unless you don't get to.

I'm talking about unborn babies. Abortion - the killing of these babies - is a serious issue in the world today. A law was passed in New York in January 2019 that made it legal to abort babies right up until the day they're born. What appalls me most is that people were happy about this law. I have a baby sister, Gracie, who is 15 months old. I remember my Mom going to the hospital a week or two before Gracie was actually born, thinking she was in labor. Gracie could have been born that night and she almost was. Do people mean to say that, if we lived in New York, Mom still could have aborted even after

that night when her baby could have been born?

I am a Christian and I am against abortion. Answers in Genesis, a Bible-based apologetics organization, says "Abortion is a battle between worldviews." Since I have a Christian worldview, I will use the Bible for quite a bit of my argument. If yo don't believe the Bible, please still try to be open-minded and consider what I'm saying.

Abortion is wrong. Answers in Genesis, couldn't say this better: "Since abortion destroys a human being fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image, it is murder."

Now think about this: we were all babies once, though we don't remember (and if we did remember I don't think abortion would be as widely accepted). Life can be difficult, but aren't you glad you at least get the chance to experience the good parts? What if you had been aborted? Don't you see that babies - even unborn babies - are humans, too! They are as alive as you and me and it is, of course, terrible to kill a living human.

Does it ever occur to the abortionist that God put that baby in it's mother's womb for a reason? Aborted babies never get a chance, but they deserve to live simply because God created them. Again I will quote Answers in Genesis from a certain article in which the writer says, "Our right to life is ordained by God." What right do any of us have to end a life that God created? Now, remember that God is in control and when something happens He either caused it or allowed it; however, this doesn't make abortionists any less guilty of murder. No matter what the circumstance, abortion is not right.

Someone who is for abortion might say, "What if a woman doesn't want to carry her child anymore? It is her body and her choice." True, it is her body, but it was her choice to run the risk of getting pregnant in the first place; so now it is her responsibility to carry the child, birth him, and make sure he is cared for. The time for choice has passed for her. If she is afraid of the pain, she should rely on her friends, family, and especially God; she should not rely on murder. If someone didn't choose to get pregnant she still shouldn't abort, instead she should try to be brave and if they absolutely can't care for the child they should try to find another good family to care for him since that baby is still there for a reason, even if it wasn't the woman's choice to get pregnant. What about babies that are likely to have health problems? If someone aborts there is 100% chance the baby won't get to experience a normal life, but if the baby is born, he at least gets some chance.

We were all once babies and all babes are made by God so nobody should kill them. Abortion is terrible. It is murder and it does not please God. Romans 12:2 says that God will transform the way we think to make us new and better people if we don't do things that we know are wrong. Now we know that abortion is wrong, but what do we do to help the problem? We spread the truth. We fight for the innocent babies who can't do it themselves. We fight the problem with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Living Hope

Why do we celebrate Easter? Obviously to honor some random bunny who hides colorful eggs full of chocolate. Makes sense, right? Ok, so that story is pretty random. If you aren’t a fan of creepy bunnies (how does he hide said eggs? Weird.), you might say that the holiday is about spring, growth, and new life. This is a lot closer to the truth, anyway. For Christians, Easter is a day to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection after dying on a cross for our sins. I want to share how I depicted that important message in my painting.

What you probably noticed first in my picture was the cloud near the center with a red outline of a heart on it. Most hearts we see are red. Why? Well, I don’t know if this is a real reason, but it clicked for me: blood is also red, and blood can represent sacrifice. Hearts of course mean love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 says this about love: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” The best kind of love is sacrifice. Jesus loved us so much, despite our sins, that He gave His blood for us. He sacrificed

himself so that He could die for our sin in our place. That’s real love. John 15:13 puts it clearly, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” I used the first cloud to represent that.

The second cloud, near the corner, is wrapped in some sort of ribbon. This is supposed to be like the wrappings Jesus was buried in. They are wrapped around the cloud because, well, they aren’t on Him anymore! Jesus was more powerful than the grave. He rose again! We read in John 28:6, “He is not here; he has risen!” In verse 12 of that same chapter, “Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.”

Finally, there is the sun in the other bottom corner. You may be thinking I just really like to paint sunsets. Well, I do, but that’s not all. It can be a sunrise, too. Thinking of it that way, it represents a new hope for a fresh start. Because of what Jesus did for us, we can have new life. To quote 1 Peter 1:3, the verse Dad used in his sermon this morning, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Maybe that’s why we celebrate the resurrection in spring. The sun also represents the Son, as in Jesus, the Son of God. He rose from the dead to give us light in this dark world. It represents the Son’s ascension to heaven, as well. Finally, if you look at it like a sunset, it could represent the end of the world. It will be beautiful for those who are saved with heaven waiting on the other side. Psalm 16:11 says this: “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” We only have that because of what Christ did for us, and because of His power.

So that’s what Easter is about, not sugar rush or oversized bunnies. It’s about new beginnings because of Jesus’ sacrificial love for us and His power over the grave. It’s about the joy we have in heaven someday, and about Jesus waiting for us there now. The words that really stuck with me from Dad’s sermon this morning are “living hope.” That’s what we celebrate today. As Easter comes to a close, let’s try to remember that every day throughout the year. I’ll leave you with this verse: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”—Isaiah 53:5

What Can't be Cancelled

Life is full of disappointments. That sounds like a pessimistic thing to say, but there is truth in it. People had big plans for 2020, but a pandemic began and then the only item on everybody’s calendar was to stay home. Even when this is all over, things in life will still be unreliable. Unfortunately, life will always be like that. The question is, what can we do about it? The answer? We simply need to focus on what is reliable. God has given us many things in this life that can’t be canceled and that brings us to the most important thing that can’t be canceled: God Himself. God and His love will always exist.

Let’s take a look at Psalm 136:1. It says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!

His faithful love endures forever.” God’s love endures forever. It doesn’t fade away or get old. No, God’s love is always there. God loves you, He always has loved you, and He always will love you. Nothing could ever change that.

God’s love for us is even more amazing when we consider how undeserving we are. That’s right, Titus 3:3-5 says, “They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone. Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”

What did God do that saved us and washed away our sins? “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” -- John 3:16. That Son is Jesus Christ, who died on a cross to forgive our sins and rose again to defeat death. (You can read more about this in Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24, or John 17-21.)

Can anything else be said? Love, love, love. God’s love. It will always be there to save us. Store that in your mind and remember it the next time you feel down and disappointed. Now all that’s left to do is give thanks to the LORD through prayer.

Joyful Mind

Have you ever felt lonely, discouraged, or angry? Of course everyone has experienced these or other troublesome feelings, but that does not change how terrible they feel for each individual person. It would be great if all of these problems could just disappear and we could always be happy, but that just isn’t how life works. Some people preach that the Bible can get rid of all of your problems and grant your every wish, but this is not true. This world is ruled by sin and it will be until Christ returns. So, if it depends on our circumstances, we can’t always be happy, but leave it to God and we can have something better than earthly happiness: joy. Let’s look at how we can obtain this joy.

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His

peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:4-8

This is one of my favorite Bible verses because it unlocks the answer to the important question: how do we find uncircumstantial joy? If we fill our minds with God and His word, it will fill our lives with His hope, peace, and joy. The way I see it in my mind and the way I chose to draw it, God’s word will wrap around us and comfort us as we are filled by Him so that we can shine through our difficulties.

How do we fill our minds and our lives with God and His word? By getting to know Him, of course! If we read the Bible and pray regularly with open hearts, then we will begin to know God. The more we learn about Him and interact with Him, the more we know him, look like Him, and learn to rely on Him. As we become more like God, we begin to produce the fruits of His Spirit, which fill our lives even more with Him.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 5:22-23

Sounds simple enough, right? All you have to do is trust and set your mind on the right things. It’s really that simple! Next time you’re feeling bad, be prepared. Fill your mind with God right now so that you always know where to look for comfort.

Beauty in the Unexpected

A few days ago I was painting with watercolors. I got very upset when some brown paint dripped onto the best part, which was a pink flower patch in the bottom right corner. After I calmed down, though, I was able to salvage the picture by blending the brown in with more pink and green paint. It actually turned out better than it looked before. See the picture above.

How does this relate to anything at all? Well, God can make good things come out of mistakes or bad things in life, just like even more beauty came out of the mistake in my painting. Let's see how.

First, we need to understand that God has the power to make good come out of bad things. He has this power because He can control all things. Verse 35 of Daniel 4 says, "All the people of the earth are nothing compared to

Him[God]. He does as He pleases among the angels of heaven and the people of the earth. No one can stop Him or say to Him, 'What do You mean by doing these things?'" This is basically saying that God is more powerful than anyone or anything else, He does whatever He wants (and since He is perfect and all-knowing, this is a very good thing), and nobody can stop or question Him. Isaiah 46:10 says something similar: "Only I[God] can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish."

Now we know that God can make good out of bad, but we need to know if He does. While God does sometimes bring just judgement on people, Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes everything to work out for those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." This means that Christians don't have to worry! If we truly love God and want whatever He wants for us, everything will eventually come together to help us in some way, be it obvious or unexpected.

Though it may not seem like it, God always has a purpose that will ultimately benefit believers. I am not saying that if we believe in God we'll get all the possessions we want and our lives will immediately be perfect, not at all! All I'm saying is that God is on our side and He knows what's best for us in the long run and how to make it happen, even if it makes no sense to us at the time.

Hope in the Cross

Things are pretty crazy right now with the coronavirus and the panic and precaution it has caused. Schools and businesses are closing temporarily. People are buying all the food, hand sanitizer, toilet paper they can get. Some may feel like the world is going crazy, or even falling apart. This is all scary, but the good news is that we don't have to be afraid!

Isaiah 40:8 says, "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever." This is why we don't have to be afraid, we can always trust the Bible, which never fails even when everything else in life does. "OK," you may say, "The Bible will always last, but what does it matter to me? How will that stop my fear?" Well, it isn't so much the book itself, but what God has written in it that should give us hope.

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," Genesis 1:1. When God created this world for us, it was perfect. There was no sin, sickness, fear, or death. God didn't want the humans He created, Adam and Eve, to be like robots, so He gave them a choice between good and evil. Sadly, with one sin, they chose evil. This is how sin, sickness, fear, and death entered the

world. Now everyone in the world is a sinner.

The penalty for sin is death but the good news is that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ (who was fully God and fully man, and therefore sinless) to die on a cross as the sacrifice for all of our sins. Now that Jesus died to forgive us of our sin, we can go to heaven if we trust in Him. We also need to ask God to forgive us of our sins and He will.

Heaven is a perfect place with no sin where God and everyone who has left this world trusting in Him lives. It is a paradise where God is praised all day long with joy. No matter how hard things get here, those of us who believe in God and all He has done can have the hope of heaven to chase our fear away. We know this world's problems aren't permanent and one day we will be in perfect paradise praising Him.

This is why I drew the earth flying apart with the cross in the middle, standing in one piece. If you look, you will see that there are lines coming from the cross to keep the world from completely falling apart. Jesus died on the cross so one day we can go to heaven, this hope can be what keeps our world from completely flying apart.

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