Work-In-Progress

Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character.

Deuteronomy 8:2

Pride is the root of many, many of my sins. I think it's true for everyone, and so goes the common saying, "Pride gets in the way." It's terribly true! We are a prideful, sinful people, needing of a Savior and redeemer to rescue us from our sin. 

Even in the verrrrry beginning, when Lucifer fell, it was his pride that made him fall - nothing else. In the same way, the majority of my sin is found my pride. My belief that I am better than others - and that leads me to being selfish and doing my own thing.
Getting rid of the pride is the same thing of admitting that you need a Savior. I love it. 

This verse is super encouraging though. It is saying that God is humbling the people and testing them... but for a purpose. There is a reason behind it all. I like that. God works on my heart and tests me, and it is all for a purpose that may someday be revealed (or it will happen and I won't even notice it). He works in miraculous ways. 

So even now, as I drudge on through hot days and busy classes - they are for a reason. They are working and shaping me into the person I need to be for later on... it's a curious thing.  

No Regreats.

**I've realized after reading and re-reading that this just turns into a giant rant. But that's what I need right now. **

This school year, one of the big things I'm working on is having no regrets. More blatantly, being careful with what I say and do so I won't have any regrets. This is so much easier said then done. Thinking before doing is such a mental battle. It's a constant everyday thing.

I've really regretted a lot of things that I've said in the past, whether it was to my parents or friends or whomever. I say things in the heat of the moment that really hurt people. Close friends have confided in me and then when we're in a fight I know exactly where to stab that will hurt the most. Thankfully, I haven't done this recently because after that type of thing happens I'm a wreck because I feel so terrible.

Within that, I'm working on judging as well. I've been working for a while on not judging people, but this year I'm mainly working on not judging couples.
I judge couples like there is no tomorrow. It's so terrible. I mock endlessly. Couples with their 'oh babe i love you.' all over each other's wall and the HUNDREDS of couple pictures. Honestly man, I don't want to see that. I have to watch you and your little boyfriend or girlfriend make out all over the place on campus, I really don't want to see pictures of it. No thank you. If you would like to reminisce about you and your lover making out, go ahead, take all of the pictures you want. Just don't put them on facebook. No one else wants to see that.
That's the least of the evils of couple-dom though. I could go on for days about the annoyances. Basically, if you would be uncomfortable watching someone do the thing you are doing in public, DON'T do it. The end.

I think the fact that I just completely ranted about couples was something I should have thought out about before I wrote it. But at least it is well phrased. 

In times that this when I honestly just need a little more patience I have to pull out the God card and just look at my Bible.
Psalm 121 helps. I don't feel like quoting it. Look it up. SWORD DRILL :D

Or... here it is. Courtesy of Biblegateway.com

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

My pledge: No regrets. I will have no regrets. I will think about my actions before I do them. I will think through my thoughts before I say anything. I will listen to advice and accept the wisdom of others.

Maybe after all this school year is over, I'll be a little wiser. One can hope.