Earbuds.

Sorry fellow millennium kids. Turns out our parents were right. Remember when you used to hear your mother tell you, "Garbage in garbage out"? You wanted to kick her and explain thoroughly how you are the exception and how just because you were listening to a rap song about a man stealing an Escalade doesn't mean you are going to grow up to steal an Escalade. Yeah, I'm with you. 

I'll never forget jamming out in my pink polka-dot room listening to "This is Why I'm Hot" on my boom-box. It feels like it was yesterday when my dad marched up to my room and said, "Brianna! Turn off that song, 'I'm hot, I'm hot I'm hot I'm hot!'" Wrong lyrics dad, but who am I to judge that. {Side note: I used to think the song "Can't Touch This" said "Kingchesters".....Please don't ask me what a kingchester is because I do not know...} 

So, at Auburn I live in a wonderful old house that is about a 15 minute walk to campus. Just long enough for your mom to tell you that you don't need a bike. Not bitter. Anyways, I always listen to music on the way to class. Ninety percent of the time it's a playlist I made on Spotify that is sheer gold. Last week though I was told about a podcast I needed to listen to. It's funny because I didn't even know, but on an i-phone we have a permanent app titled, "Podcasts." Low and behold, they are all free too. 

So instead of my usual playlist, I popped in my earbuds and listened to Louie Giglio. Sure I could only hear 15 minutes of it, but it turns out it's a 15 minute walk home after class too. Crazy how that works. So after two different walks to class, that was a sermon. 

I was suddenly struck with the fact that so much knowledge was flowing right into my head from my earbuds. I was so encouraged just walking to class because Louie Giglio was chilling in my ears. It got me thinking about earbuds. They are such a small thing but how cool is it that they can be used to glorify God and how scary that so often we use them for harm.

We so often talk about glorifying God with our bodies and our actions and yes that is all well and good, but have we ever thought about the small gifts in life God gives us? Earbuds. Auxiliary cords for our cars. What if we used these small blessings to pour the word of God back into our lives. 

I'm not saying every single time I walk to class or drive somewhere I am going to listen to a sermon. To be honest when I'm on the way to formal I'm not gonna say, "LET'S GET PUMPED! CRANK UP THAT TIMOTHY KELLER SERMON!" No no. That's when my good friend Kid Cudi comes in. But, I am saying that if we purposed to use the materialistic gifts God has blessed us with for a more beneficial purpose, we will begin to see growth in our spiritual lives. 

Whether we want to give our parents the credit or not, they were right. When we laugh at movies that insult the Lord and no red flag goes off in our head, that's an issue. I may not steal an Escalade, but if all I fill my head with is crude words and objectifying phrases, that stuff slowly seeps into my soul. Sounds dramatic, but I'm serious. The more we listen to that, the more we become okay with the idea of those things and that my friends is a dangerous place to end up.

I was reminded by a friend the other day of this quote: "Beware of what you dwell on, for that you shall surely become."

I don't care if you're 14 or 45 years old, what you dwell on, what you spend your time watching or listening to, that is what you will become. I challenge you to ask yourself what you dwell on. What do you laugh at when you watch T.V.? What songs do you know every word to? 

Let's challenge one another to live in the world without becoming like the world. Let's use things like earbuds to encourage our souls. Let's use them to challenge our spiritual walk with God. It may not be comfortable at first and it may take some reorganization, but oh friends it is so worth it. 

“Radical obedience to Christ is not easy... It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.”-David Platt

Satisfying a Craving

Ask me where I will be in five years and come up with an answer. Got it? Great. Now send me a personal message with that answer because I could use all of the help I can get. I graduate from Auburn in December 2015...a lump in my throat just developed as I was typing that. I have two more semesters until I am a graduate from college....no more school....ever. Okay ew. It looks worse every time I write it.

I don't want to graduate early. Mainly because I'll miss running into random fraternity houses dressed in banana suits while wearing roller-skates...also because I have no clue what my future holds. Annnnd now the lump in my throat is back.

I think now that it is 2015 it is finally hitting me. This is the year I graduate. Next year I will be done being a student and quite frankly, that scares the crap out of me. It makes me anxious. And the more I stress about it the more I have begun to realize how much of my joy and fulfillment I put in my future.

Will my job make me happy? Will it be that job that I have always wanted? Will I live at home in Birmingham or will I move to L.A.? Will I finally be discovered, become a famous actress making millions of dollars, buy a boat and move to Europe? All plausible options.

I seek to find my joy and fulfillment in what my future looks like. I seek to find my joy and fulfillment in the things of the world. It's no wonder I am left anxious and with stress zits.

I have this visual of God standing in front of me, waving his arms around. The entire time he is yelling, "HEY! Brianna! I am your joy! I am the only one who can calm your anxious heart! Stop stressing and come to me!" Meanwhile I am leaning to the left and the right of him, trying to see what the world has to offer.

Every day Christ is there, waving us down and wanting us to come to HIM.  What a waste of time for us to think the things of the world will give us that peace we all so desperately desire. The moments I focus on HIM instead of where I will be in five years, are the moments my heart is calm.

I'm not saying I'm never going to stress about my future. I will. I'm human and I'm a girl so that combination sets me up for failure. However, my prayer is that when I am anxious about my future, I will be slapped in the face with the hard realization that I am in sin. Not trusting Christ is sin. Not laying my anxiety at the foot of the cross is sin. Plain and simple.

The world is kind of a screwed up place and when we start turning to it for our joy we are setting ourselves up for disappointment. The peace that the Lord gives is what we all so desperately crave.

2015 is going to be a year of trust. Let me rephrase that. 2015 is going to be a year of me constantly praying that I learn to trust. I am choosing this year to take advantage of the perfect peace Christ offers me daily. I am choosing to satisfy my craving with the only one who can, Christ.

"God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from himself because there is no such thing." - C.S. Lewis

Half the Battle.

Usually waking up at 9:45 a.m. would be a treat, but when you're on Christmas vacation waking up at 9:45 a.m. feels like 6 a.m. But let me just say that when Jackie Basik tells you to be awake and ready to go to the gym at 9 a.m., you wake up at 9 a.m. dagumit. She's scary when she's mad...

Needless to say today we woke up and headed to Lifetime Fitness to attend a lovely cardio fitness class. Personally, I don't love classes. I feel pressure to keep up and to hold the lunge position for just a little bit longer then the lady next to me so that I feel like America's Next Top Model.

So that's exactly what I will do. I'll hold that lunge positon until I realize as I'm in the lunge position that I can't feel my legs anymore and proceed to make that "AUUUAHHHHHH GAH" sound while trying to stand up. Then quickly soft smile to the instructor so she knows I'm not going to pass out.

I always secretly hope the instructor isn't going to show up, but let me tell you something....she is ALWAYS there. It's the worst.

I also figured out today as I was in the middle of struggling through my tricep dips that I never regret doing these classes. I get a way better work out doing these classes because I have an instructor to listen to. I realized that I want the results without actually going to the classes.

I want to be more fit without going to the gym. I want to look like Taylor Swift simply by sitting on the couch watching One Tree Hill. After years of trying that method, I have come to the sad realization that that method ain't gonna fly.

Similar to my quiet times, I have realized that showing up is half the battle.

Once I'm at the gym I walk straight to the room and begin the death class, I mean cardio class and within an hour I'm done. I'm in better shape at the end of each workout and I feel closer to my goal. I listen to what the instructor tells me to do, do it, and that is when I begin to feel my body change.

So often I pray that I will grow closer to the Lord and get to know him on a personal level. Then, I proceed with my week and choose to ignore my alarm clock that wakes me up for my quiet time so that I can sleep 30 minutes longer. It's the same thing as working out, I want the results without putting the time in.

I am never going to know Jesus better if I am not pursuing a relationship with him daily. Similar to a workout instructor, Jesus is never not there. Often times we don't show up, but don't think for a second Jesus isn't wishing that you would.

In the same way I won't get fit if I don't go to the gym, we will never strengthen our relationship with Jesus if we don't purpose to make time for him.

After I spend time in the word and actively pursue the Lord I NEVER regret it. I feel closer to my goal of knowing Him on a deeper level every time. Once I open my Bible and begin my conversation with Jesus as if he is sitting right next to me, the results come. The relationship deepens. Doors open and prayers are answered. I think the real issue is putting aside our own wants and desires in order to pursue Christ.

It may take effort to get there, but once you're there you never regret it. Showing up is simply half the battle.

"To have found God & still pursue Him is the souls paradox of love." -A.W. Tozer

The knot in my back.

I am just slightly confused right now. This entire week I have not had much to do. No big tests or group projects. No meetings. I had so much free time that yesterday I cooked! Okay well... I made a salad for dinner. BUT do you know how much effort it takes in college to make a salad? Okay not that much, but still. I had time to make food. Mind blown.

Usually each hour of my day is strategically planned out down to a solid 2 minute bathroom break. Okay I'm being dramatic (are you surprised?), but for real my days have become a mass collection of places I need to be or things I should be doing. Don't get me wrong. I absolutely LOVE the things I'm involved in at Auburn. It's what keeps me proactive and it also allows me to appreciate the days I get an hour to watch Grey's Anatomy on Netflix.

But it's weird not having anything to be doing and I found myself feeling guilty for not being busy. How messed up is that? It's like the constant stress of having somewhere to be is keeping me sustained and that my friends is what is wrong with our society...or maybe just me.

We have got to stop the glorification of busy. 

Yes, life is busy. I get that. And oddly enough I really do love how busy my days are. They are full of some freaking cool people I get to surround myself with and organizations I feel blessed to simply be a part of. These things are good. These things are the Lord's small yet incredible blessings he puts in my life.

It's when the idea of being busy becomes our idol and constant focus that we are in sin.

These things become a problem when we begin to glorify them and not the Lord. When we become so obsessed with the next hour of today, instead of becoming obsessed with the one who gave us today. I have found myself glorifying the idea of being busy all the time. Blahhh. 

But wow I am so glad for days like today. Days where I can breathe. Days that I don't have a knot in my back from being stressed out. I forgot how wonderful it is to not be busy. Glorifying the idea of being busy is such an easy trap to get caught in. Trust me...I'm in college too. I get it. But how sad would it be if we looked back at our lives and only remembered the stress of life and brushed over the quiet, simple moments that God places in front of us?

The moment we stop putting the Lord first over our busy little lives is the moment it all stops mattering. None of the awesome things you may be doing is relevant if God isn't the one being glorified throughout it all.

Wouldn't it be nice if we would all just slow down and breathe? Maybe if we glorify HIM instead of the constant focus on being busy our lives would look different.

So stop going and doing and stressing constantly. Stop dwelling on what your GPA is going to be or the four different meetings you have on Friday. Stop making the phrase "I'm just so busy" a part of your everyday vocabulary. Stop idolizing the blessings God gives us and focus on HIM.

Acknowledge the fact that it's OKAY to be happy with a calm day and thank the Lord for the days where the knot in your back is gone.



"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they are busy doing things they THINK are important. This is because they are chasing the wrong things." -Morrie Schwartz

"Half an hour's meditation with Jesus is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed." - Saint Francis de Sales

21 & Invisalign.

Last week on Monday I turned the big 2-1. Let me just say, it was fun. Don't worry mom, not too much fun. It was the perfect way to spend a 21st birthday. My friends planned me a "surprise fiesta" and after a good bit of fun chaos, some of us ended up sitting on the front porch playing cards until 1 a.m. I realized after that night I have never felt more mature...which is ironic because the entire night I ran around with a tiny sombrero on my head and a fake mustache on my face.

Anyway, I felt old. Not your, "let's play bingo and watch The Golden Girls until 10 p.m." old. But the old like when I walk past the alcohol aisle in Kroger I want to yell " I CAN BUY YOU AND YOU AND YOU! (followed by an evil laugh of course). I think subconsciously I began to think I was cool. Little did I know what God had planned.

About 2 months ago I got fitted for Invisalign. Essentially braces, just clear and removable so you can eat. Can't get much better right?! Yeah, that's what I thought too. So last Friday, my trays came in. I turned 21 on Monday and got a lisp on Friday. I kid you not I feel like Darla from Finding Nemo. That is quite dramatic, I'll admit. It is clear and from five feet away you can't even see them. But, my words have become harder to say and my mouth feels full...all the time. I feel like a football player who always has to wear his mouth guard. Zero fun sir. (Remember the Titans reference...#neverforget)

The same year I'm legal is the same year I feel like I just got braces put on. Don't get me wrong. I'm thankful that in a year I will have straight teeth, but I've decided this year is going to be a humbling year.

If I have learned one thing lately it's this: don't pray for something if you don't want it to be answered. Within the past month I prayed a prayer. I prayed that God would become my security and humble me. I thought it got lost in the crowd up there in heaven or that maybe God just forgot about it. But God doesn't play around with prayers y'all and I've decided I'm glad.

The moment I got cocky is the same moment God said, "Hey Brianna, you're not all that and a bag of chips." The moment I got cocky, is the moment God showed me He is my only source of security. The moment I got cocky, God gave me a lisp. The moment I got cocky is the same moment God answered my prayers.

He is my security. He is the only thing I can take pride in. 21 and Invisalign. Look at that combination, and just when I thought God didn't hear my prayer.

"True beauty comes from a person who boldly and unabashedly knows who they are in Christ."

Belly Laughing.

Did you know that it is statistically proven that if you smile or laugh (even when you're not watching Elf) that something in your brain happens and you actually become happier? Can you tell I'm not a Neurologist...?

Within the past week of sorority rush I have cried laughing and woken up with some seriously sore abs. I'm not gonna lie to you though, there were many moments I did not feel like laughing or even smiling. Waking up at 5 am is not my cup of tea. To many people rush is dumb and just all fake conversations and smiles. And yes, there are moments that seem to be that way. But I will say, it's a process that works. Don't ask me why or to explain it because I can't. Honestly, I don't even know how I got into a sorority considering my severe lack of a filter during conversations. And yet as cliche as it may sound, rush is such a perfect example of God's sovereignty.

It is a week where there is no other choice but to acknowledge God's presence and his perfect placement. Boo hoo Brianna, you didn't get your "rush crush" (if you're a guy you just said HUH GAYYY). But that's why I have a love/hate relationship with rush. I get so worked up, but then quickly realize that my "rush crush" ended up in a sorority where she will thrive. Why? Because that is where GOD wants her to be and suddenly I shut myself up and rush is SO cool again.

Another thing God taught me was to smile, and smile often. Even when you don't feel like it. Let's be honest for moment. Many days during rush I wanted to scream and yell "HEY GUESS WHAT? I DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR MAJOR IS BECAUSE I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT MY BED FEELS LIKE!" But they highly discouraged that... So instead I smiled and gradually it not only became natural and comfortable, but genuine. I'm not saying I was fake half the week and real the other half.  I'm saying that God taught me that when we smile, no matter what the circumstances, HE sees us and HE smiles too.

So in a bizarre way rush started my junior year out in a positive way. Because of rush I am going to make my goal for the year to smile, and smile often. I want to make God belly laugh this year. I want to make sure when he looks down at my life he is overjoyed with how I am living. Even when life throws unappetizing situations in our lap, let's make it our goal to smile, and smile often.

"I want a life that sizzles and pops and makes me laugh out loud. And I don't want to get to the end, or to tomorrow, even, and realize that my life is a collection of meetings and pop cans and errands and receipts and dirty dishes. I want to eat cold tangerines and sing out loud in the car with the windows open and wear pink shoes and stay up all night laughing and paint my walls the exact color of the sky right now. I want to sleep hard on clean white sheets and throw parties and eat ripe tomatoes and read books so good they make me jump up and down, and I want my everyday to make God belly laugh, glad that he gave life to someone who loves the gift."

Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist

Stories to Tell.

Studying abroad in Italy or maybe working at a Young Life camp. That would have been the answer for my ideal summer. But I can 1000% guarantee you that eating a subpar Zoe's salad with an 83-year-old lady from church would be nowhere NEAR my summer plans. Not even in the same proximity. I would have been trying really hard to tan somewhere on a beach in Italy in my ideal summer plans. It's funny the way God doesn't abide by what we have planned and boy am I glad.

One afternoon lunch with this precious lady from church has altered the way I go about life.

Marcie. Last week Mrs. Marcie May invited my mother, my aunt and I to lunch at her home. This woman is 83 and made me laugh harder than any Chris Farley SNL skit. (...when SNL was good) Also she was just plain cute. Picture the little old wife from UP and then add like 5 golden retriever puppies sitting around her and that is how cute Mrs. Marcie is. It just doesn't get much cuter.

She became a Christian when she was in her 40s and since then has woken up every morning saying, "Abba, what are we doing today?" Every. Single. Morning. She looks forward to waking up every morning and listening to Jesus' instructions for her day. She told me how she has had the most FUN days of her life by just waking up and walking daily with Jesus. And she has stories. She has SO many stories about her encounters with the same people me and you encounter daily, but in her stories... she shares Jesus with them.

I think we make Jesus boring in our minds. Okay fine, I make Jesus boring in my mind. Maybe not good to admit, but it's true. I put Him in a box. But after talking to Mrs. Marcie I could feel the walls beginning to fall. I walked away so incredibly PUMPED about Jesus! I want to be a funny, spunky, Jesus-loving 83 year-old lady sharing Christ with the bakers at Publix.

I was sitting next to her eating lunch and I felt like a sponge. I felt like Jesus' love was literally pouring out of her and strait onto me. At one point I got so excited/inspired by Mrs. Marcie that I wanted to pick her fragile little body up and squeeze her as tight as possible...but she is on blood thinners so I opted not to.

My mom asked Mrs. Marcie what was the biggest regret she has. Her answer? She wishes she wouldn't have been so stubborn towards God.

So no, I didn't go to Italy or get the chance to go to a Young Life camp, but I consider myself honored to have gotten to enjoy one afternoon with Mrs. Marcie May. What a humbling reminder that it doesn't matter how old I am, I should be waking up daily saying, "Abba, what are we going to do today?" Oh how glad I am that Mrs. Marcie has helped break down the boring box I put Jesus in and shown my the FUN I get to have by waking up with Him each morning. I can only pray when I'm 83 I will have had endless encounters with Jesus and dozens of stories to tell.

"They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, "The Lord is UPRIGHT; he is my rock, and there is no wickedness in him."

Psalm 92:14

Turn and Run.

This summer I have made a new friend. Clive. Clive Staples Lewis. You may know him as C.S. Lewis. Well, regretfully I doubt we would've been friends. He probably would have spoken five words to me and I would have walked away scratching my blonde hair in confusion. The man was brilliant.

I never thought one dead man could affect my walk with Jesus so much.

This book, "The Screwtape Letters" is written from one demon, Screwtape, to his apprentice, Wormwood, giving Wormwood advice on how to destroy mortals. Everything is backwards. When he writes, "the Enemy" he is referring to God. When he writes, "the Kingdom" he is talking about Hell. Did I mention he was brilliant?

This book has changed the way my mind works. It has given me perspective into the mind of Satan and let me tell you something, he too is also brilliant. Satan is sneaky and manipulative. He is smart and ruthless. He is deceptive and unpredictable.

But let me tell you another thing I have learned, he is NOT unstoppable.

Satan does whatever he can to distract us from having an eternal perspective. He does whatever he can to turn our minds away from Jesus and toward the desires of the world.

The more this book makes me aware of his tactics, the more I begin to see the importance of our foundation and depth in our relationship with God. The deeper our foundation with Jesus is, the more challenging it is for Satan to accomplish his goals. Satan's tactics WILL work if we are not rooted in the gospel.

C.S. Lewis reminds me of the power we have through Jesus. Sure, Satan is powerful, but oh how much more powerful we are when we have Jesus on our side.

We can't let Satan win. Even the small things. We must refuse to skip church because we are "too sleepy." We must refuse to spend an hour watching T.V. before bed when we could be diving into the word. We must refuse to laugh at the things Jesus cringes at. We must refuse to be silent in the opportunities Jesus would seize! What a POWERFUL GIFT it is to have Jesus on our side!

What a wonderful warning he has given me through this book. Satan is active. He is moving and working and doing things daily in our lives. He is not just a mythical red-horned man with a pitchfork. It's ironically fantastic though because the more aware I am of Satan, the more aware I am of the constant work Jesus is doing in my daily life.

What a needed challenge to all of us to look for the signs of Satan, turn from them, and run into the arms of God.

"Indeed the safest road to hell is the gradual one-the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones and without signposts." -Screwtape

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Eph. 6:10-13

Finding the GOOD.

Finals. Lol. Am I right?

Everyone keeps saying, "One test at a time" or "Just don't stress about the future! Be in the moment."

Halt. Halt right there.

Can we just be honest for a split second? Brace yourself because you are about to take a glimpse into what I like to call Brianna's stream of consciousness during the week of finals:

You're supposed to focus on the moment, on that specific test, yet all that matters is how that test will effect your GPA... and how your GPA will effect what job you get...and how if you get a low paying job you won't be able to eat....and if you can't eat neither can your dog...and then you're running around the house trying to feed your animal and you slip and bust your head open....oh but guess what?! You can't afford an operation!!! So now you're sitting in your shack, alone...very alone (don't kid yourself, you can't afford to date someone), with a dead starved dog and a busted head. DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN.

Yeah live in the moment my butt.

After my thoughts snowball out of control, the simplest most genius thought someone once told me comes to mind. You know when you are complaining and moaning about your problems/worries/(cough cough...FINALS) and you list all your worries then end by saying, "...but I trust God's plan!" FALSE. Oh so false. You cannot worry and trust God at the same time. It is just not a thing. Wait, I'm wrong, it is a thing some like to call a oxymoron.

Trust me, I don't have my head buried in the Jesus sand. I know it's hard to trust God with all the little things, especially exams. Feels impossible sometimes. I mean the entire reason we are in school is to succeed in the future and if you don't do well on exams how is this possible? Okay, yes this is true, but think about the fact that God already knows your grades and they are perfect. Maybe not a perfect A, but the perfect grades for you. No matter what circumstances happen in your lifetime, God is doing what He knows is best for you at the time. May sound cliche, but I don't care because that truth has carried me through difficult days.

Maybe God created finals week to see which of his children will praise Him during a week where there seems to be little to celebrate. (I'm pretty sure it's not to boost sales for Starbucks coffee and Five Hour Energy Drinks...)

So take advantage of finals week. Look at this as a week to praise Jesus for friends to pull all nighters with and Diet Coke that still tastes good at 4 a.m. Most importantly, use this week to be the person who exemplifies God's faithfulness. Be the person people look at, but immediately see a glimpse of Jesus' calm and trusting personality. Be a light this week that glorifies Christ even when you're borderline B/C in Marriage and Family (like WUT...I'm smart I promise). TRUST that God thought out your life down to this very moment you would be reading this blog and stop worrying because that just won't help.

God is good. His plan for you is good. Life is good. Okay say it with me...FINALS ARE GOOD.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the GLORY that is to be revealed to us. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for GOOD, for those who are called according to his purpose."

 Romans 8:18, 28

Rain or Shine.

Seven in the morning. That is when my eyes shot open today. Trust me, it was not voluntary. I would've bet money a tornado was whirling about outside my window. It was just rain, yet suddenly I was in a bad mood. I was going to have to walk to my classes in RAIN?! (Like OMG. I just like can't even..)  Literally had not even started my day and already I was slightly ticked off because the weather conditions.

It's just funny to me how the smallest things can happen and all of the sudden your entire day is snowballing into "the worst day ever". Maybe it's just me and my slightly fabricated spin I put on things.....nah. It's you too. You know it's true. When you start complaining to someone about how bad your day has been you probably add in your long list of complaints, "AND it's raining."(How dare God not make every single day sunny...)

If you believe in God's sovereignty then you believe that God is 100% fully aware that it is raining outside right now...AND not only did he make it rain, but he allowed it to rain for a reason. Maybe God wanted to see how many people would wake up like I did and complain for 5 minutes before getting out of bed in comparison to how many people would wake up and say "Thank you Jesus for another day to serve you and jump in rain puddles." (called OUT)

Why do we let such minuscule things in our life have such a tight grip on the happiness of our day?

Music. It's a beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky. Finish classes. Just ate Panda Express. Feeling good. (Maybe not that good...)You get back to your dorm room and no one is in there. Lights are off. You turn on your computer and tap that Pandora button. First radio station on is Coldplay. Don't even think about getting me wrong, I love me some Coldplay, but nothing brings the mood lower than that band. One song and suddenly all you wanna do is watch movies all day and Instagram coffee with a sappy quote.

Same day happens, but instead of Coldplay playing first, who pops up? Uh oh.......it's yo guh KE$HA! And just like that you're painting your face and feeling like P-Diddy. The rest of your day is most likely gonna be full of spunk.

It's just comical to me how things like music or the weather can be so influential because they shouldn't matter. God sent Jesus to die on a cross so that we can live. We make that previous sentence way too casual. Jesus DIED a painful, long death for YOU. He was thinking of YOUR name. He was dying for YOU. And He didn't have to. He had zero obligations. You didn't do anything to deserve it. He did it strictly out of love. THAT, that right there should be our constant joy everyday.

We need to quit letting our joy be determined by the tiniest events in our day. Maybe we start looking at why God allows for little things to happen instead of complaining about them.

He has a reason behind EVERY single thing he allows in your day. Whether it's you cracking your phone or tripping in class, He has a hidden agenda. ("Sneaky brown noser with a hidden agenda" #LizzieMcguire....you SO were thinking that too.)

I like wondering what God is doing. Why he allows what he allows in my life may not make sense and may seem pointless, but I am quite sure it is important in some way, shape or fashion. I think he likes keeping us on our toes.

God is in control of it all. Period.

If our joy is truly found in the cross, we have NO excuse to not be full of JOY everyday...rain or shine.

“For you shall go out in JOY and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."
       Isaiah 55:12

Thanks Webster.

Webster's dictionary defines the word average as: A level that is typical for a group, class, or series. Stop. Stop now. I know what you are thinking. What a TERRIBLE way to start a blog post. I couldn't agree more. But really, I think I just put myself to sleep.

Average is how I feel like I am often described. "You're an average student." If I had a dollar for every time I was told that I think I could buy the freaking Eiffel Tower...or maybe just a lot of baguettes. I'm never the kid in class with the 99 on a test, but I'm usually not the one who gets a 30 on the test either (...that was only ONE time). I AM an average student. At first I hated that because in my mind average is usually forgotten and not important. But, that my friends is what my mama calls, "a lie from the pit of hell."

I think for me I begin to subconsciously think that God doesn't have time for the "average" people. I get stuck in my mind that God only focuses on the super smart super important people. You know...those people we all secretly hate who get 500 likes on their instagram (kidding). I start to think God will use only them because they are not what Webster defines "a typical group or class." What a bunch of lies. Every single person God creates has meaning and by NO means is forgotten by God. Whether you are failing school or doing fabulous, He has called YOU. He made YOU perfectly the way he wanted you. Quit questioning God.

He didn't just put people on this earth for kicks and giggles. He is going to use you and me, but the moment we start to doubt that is the moment we get overly focused on what the world says about us. It doesn't matter if the world defines you as average. Who gives a rat's butt...(thought about using another word...then thought eh better not.) I have this feeling God is going to be so frustrated if we waste all our time here focusing on what others think, as oppose to what He thinks.

Honestly, not one of us is "qualified" to be used by God. However, if you are a Christian, you are able. We gotta stop having a pity party and pull our big girl pants up. Start each day with this, "God I know it is only you who makes me able. Show me today how you can use me to further your kingdom." BOOM.

He calls the people who think they are not qualified. He WILL use you if you let him.

For now, I will wait each day to see where God wants to use me. How dare I begin to get frustrated that I am the way God made me. If the God that created every single aspect of the UNIVERSE wants me to be average then by all means, i'll rock the "average student" title. I don't deserve anything God gives me. The fact he gave me a brain to think with is a blessing. I am fully confident that God knows what He is doing up there. So honestly, I think i'll survive being called average.

"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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me... For when I am weak, then I am strong."
        
         2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Concourse Hours.

Do you ever have a moment that describes your entire life perfectly? Maybe that one thing you say or do and you walk away thinking how that single moment pretty much summed up your entire life. For me most of these happen walking down the concourse to class, and I quickly come to the conclusion that as always...this is as good as it's gonna get (thank you Mia Thermopolis).

Let me explain. Usually when you are walking to class many others are also walking to class. So the odds of me walking past someone I know is oddly high. Well actually wait, half of the time I think I see someone I know and make eye contact with them for just long enough to realize it's definitely not anyone I know.

I kid you not many times I have started to wave and MID-WAVE I realize once again, I have never seen them before. Let me just describe to you what my mid-wave looks like...it's that awkward half smile where you don't show your teeth and raise your hand up to wave, but right when you realize it's a stranger, you drop that hand like Beyonce' dropped her new album. Awka-awkward.

Just to snowball off that story..then there was the moment I was walking to class and I saw a girl I actually did know. She was walking right by me. She waved. I waved. Things were going smooth. Until I went to say "Hey! How are you?!"  (...as if she is going to say "Terrible my dog died" in 10 seconds?) and instead of actually saying it, I mouthed it...we were 5 feet away from each other. Son of a nutcracker. WHY?! NO WORDS CAME OUT, but my lips moved! I walked away and immediately wanted to turn around and yell "I can speak I swear!"

And those are just a few of the awkward encounters I have had...sooo there's that. But the more I think about it the more I love these painfully awkward encounters. I truly think it is God's way of saying "Laugh a little and don't take life so seriously." Walking to class or to take a test can be such a mood killer. Rarely do you see someone pumped to go take a test. It's funny to think about how stressed we get before a test. I mean yes, tests are important, but when you look back at life are you gonna think "Man...I remember this one test." No, I would bet big bucks you won't.

So to me, these awkward moments are good for the soul. I think God is cracking himself up in Heaven watching me walk down the concourse. Gosh I'm so glad God has a sense of humor. I love to think about how it's the days like today when I have a test and I'm not feeling to peppy, God knows how to lighten the mood. So... next time you do something that is so awkward you wanna curl up in fetal position, just laugh it off and thank God for the little reminder that life just isn't meant to be so serious.

Inside Voice

Getting grounded is a funny thing. Anyone reading this that has been grounded is sitting there like...uh no, actually it's not. However, in my family it is. Reasons I have almost been grounded include the following: driving too fast and making everyone in the car feel sick, being crude at inappropriate times, and my personal favorite talking too loudly. Sounds odd huh. Well APPARENTLY I speak at a loud volume...if by loud you mean a soft, delicate whisper than I will agree. Ok ok, I guess it is kind of loud. The time I decided to accept this was when my dad almost grounded me for not "using my inside voice." For the record, I was in the kitchen which echos like a freaking 60 foot dome AND to be frank my mom sounds like she uses a mega phone, so naturally I had to be louder than her. So sue me.

Any hoo, I started to think about how at certain times I can be the loudest person in the room. Then, at other times I act like I forgot how to form a normal sentence. Most of the time it is when I am in a public setting and something about the Lord comes us. It's like I just don't know what to say. How embarrassing as a believer. I have no excuses whatsoever to not speak up. I'm not a shy person. I think anyone who knows me would agree with that statement. However, when an opportunity to do the right thing or share the gospel with someone presents itself... often I pass it up. 

It made me wonder why the HECK do I do this (or I guess not do this)?! I have nothing to lose. And same with you! If you are a believer, you have absolutely NOTHING to lose. One Sunday I was listening to David Platt speak and he said something to the effect of this: "If we are truly believers, if we truly love the Lord like we all proclaim, then why are we not sharing this life changing news with those who don't know it?! We should be telling everyone." He said it in a way that made me feel like it was just me and good ole David sitting in that sanctuary.

 It's selfish to NOT tell others about the good news. A little boldness never hurt nobody (I just wrote that in the tune to "A Little Party Never Hurt Nobody"... I am aware that was improper grammar). It could change where someone spends eternity. But no no no! We can't be late to work or take the extra 20 minutes to get coffee with someone who needs Jesus. This is ETERNITY PEOPLE! That means forever...like never ending. We need to put away all our crappy excuses explaining why we don't have time to be bold today. What if you are the vessel God wants to use to bring the same lady you see in the Starbucks line to Him, but you are "too tired" today. And I'm talking to myself too, trust me this is a daily struggle. Hash tag convicted.

So in this sense, don't use your "inside voice." Quit getting all shy and awkward when an opportunity knocks on your door. If you are a follower of Jesus part of our duty is to pass his love and faithfulness along. What good does it do to anyone if you know the truth and don't share it? Nada, zippo, zero, it does the world NO good. Use the loudest voice you have. I'm talking yell it at people! Chase them down and pull their hair until they accept it...ok maybe don't do that. But maybe just, maybe just WE could be the generation to change the world for Christ. So I pray we will not be afraid to be bold and to do the right thing in a world that is so full of the wrong things. 

"I wonder how many of us will look back over a lifetime of wasted opportunities and ineffective witness, and weep because we did not allow God to use us as He wanted. If ever we are are to study the Scriptures, if ever we are to spend time in prayer, if ever we are to win souls for Christ-it must be now."  -Billy Graham 

And hey, arn't you glad that the person who shared the gospel with you was bold and didn't take the easy way out?

Rise and Shine.

One day. All we had to do was make it through one more day of class without our phones going off. Pause. Let me explain. So I am in this huge class with about 200 students and our teacher is...let's just say strict. She's one of those teachers that gets up there the first day of class and gives the "rules", and by the time you are walking out of there you are wondering how many breaths you are allowed to take. Seriously...I don't think I blinked for a solid 2 minutes walking out of her first class. I try to avoid all eye contact with her...I think the girl next to me peed in her pants a little (Jokes...however there was a wet spot...). BUT! Then by the end of the year you are so thankful you had her as a teacher because as bloodcurdling as she may be, you actually know what the heck you are talking about when it comes to that subject.

So one of her rules from day 1 has been if ANY phone makes ANY noise in class at ANY time, the final exam is comprehensive. DUN DUN DUN. And I kid you not she is so serious about this. I live in so much fear that I turn my phone completely off. Mainly because most mornings Beyonce' is my alarm and as fun as it would be to hear "YOU PUT MY LOVE ON TOP BABY" in the middle of class, I would rather not be that girl.

This morning she started class and told us that if we made it through the entire class period today with no phones ringing we would be safe and the final wouldn't be comprehensive. So naturally I was dead asleep when I heard it...someones alarm went off. The amount gasps in the room was actually comical. Bless her heart. The sweet girl simply forgot to turn her phone on silent. I'm not kidding you if stares burned that girl would've been a pile of ashes. Long story short, the dictator of a teacher gave us a free pass. She wasn't mean. She wasn't rude. She simply kept teaching and at the end of class said, "You all have made it this far. The final is not comprehensive". I seriously considered rising from my chair, marching on the stage, and hugging that tiny lady as tightly as possible. Then I realized how weird that would be and I stayed seated.

As I was sitting there in awe, I couldn't help but think of how accurate a picture of God's grace this is. God knew this was gonna happen. It's not like it came as a shock to him. He wasn't chilling up in heaven like "HER PHONE WENT OFF?!!?!" No no. He planned this. He planned for that girl's phone to ring on the last day of class. But he also planned and planted a seed of grace in my professor's heart. She easily could've made it comprehensive. She's not taking the final. Why should she care?! But God used her to demonstrate his immense amount of grace he shows us to this huge lecture class of 200 students.

How cool right?! I mean the girl whose phone went off was merely a tool in God's bigger and much grander plan for this morning. It makes me wonder how many times throughout the day God shows me grace and I don't even notice it. I guess it took someones phone going off to literally wake me up and acknowledge the grace God shows me daily. So, in a weird way I am thankful for her phone going off. Not only did it keep me from drooling on the girl next to me, but it has now challenged me to keep my eyes peeled for any way God reveals himself to me throughout the day. Challenge accepted God, challenge accepted.

P.F. Changs

A bucket list is a funny thing. I decided a few years ago to start mine. Let me preface before I continue...I promise you I DO know what a bucket list means. The reason I feel the need to say that is because one time I started to read my list to a friend and they stopped me and said as if I was a confused 7 year-old, "Brianna...I don't think you know what a bucket list is..." I wanted to flick her in the nose. I know what a normal bucket list looks like! I mean just cause I'm blond..sheeesh. A normal bucket list would be something like this, "Skydiving, wear a beautiful wedding dress, skinny dipping, blah, blah, blah." Mine looks quite different. So here we go, bring on the judgement. 

I'll just tell you a few, because I would prefer for people to keep reading this without thinking "Sweet moses what happened to her as a child." Okay, before I die I WILL sit on a horse outside of P.F. Changs. Don't ask me why, but every single time we go to that restaurant all I wanna do is jump up on that horse and take a good look around. I mean have you seen how big it is?! 

This one... it's probably unhealthy how excited I am to do this. Brace yourself. I'm going to stand on the street corner wearing a shirt that says, "LIFE" on it and hand people lemons... ALL. DAY. LONG. Only because it is physically impossible to have a crappy day after that happens. I mean why not watch people laugh when they finally put the pieces together and then awkwardly walk away holding a lemon.

Okay. You know on movies when you see the grand openings of random things? Like when a Zoo opens...or an amusement park and they use those GIANT scissors to cut the GIANT ribbon? That. I wanna do that so passionately. I don't even care if it is the grand opening of a baby goat farm. I just want to cut the ribbon using giant scissors..(see now you know why I had to preface).

So...now you are sitting there reading this wondering why I chose to write all about my dumb bucket list. But, I was reminded of bucket lists this past week when a precious young girl named Jordan got taken to be with Jesus after battling cancer. I didn't know her, but everyone who did went on and on about her sweet and loving spirit. It's heart breaking when someone so young passes away, but oh how much JOY to know that she is celebrating in heaven with our King. 

I think it's easy in life to sit back and complain about school or work and not take advantage of the life the Lord has put right under our stuck up noses. Often for me it's me complaining about how monotonous my days are. The same meals at village dining or the same classes Monday, Wednesday, Friday. But how rude of me. This week it has really hit me that it is by God's grace and God's grace alone that I woke up this morning. Jordan would be glad to be here studying for a test. So instead of me whining because my Thursday night will be spent in the Library, Praise the Lord I have the ability to study and Praise the Lord I am even breathing right now! 

So check things off your bucket list! I don't know what yours looks like (probably a little more normal than mine), but if it's on your bucket list it's because YOU wanna do it before your life is over. I wanna be in a flash mob before I die (that's cool and you know it). You may wanna bungie jump. I don't care just start DOING and most importantly do it all for His glory. God has you here for a reason and He is going to use you! Thank you Jordan for influencing me in so many ways and being such a beautiful image of the Lord's joy no matter what the circumstance. So stop complaining and waiting around. GO! Live out your bucket list and thank Jesus for that breath you just took. 

Y the L not.

Biggest blessing in my life. Biggest challenge in my life. And it has definitely provided some of the MOST awkward moments in my life. I know the suspense is just killing you... YOUNG LIFE. Easily the coolest ministry I have gotten to be apart of. To sum it up Young Life is when you combine hundreds of college students who go out to high schools and show kids Christ's love. And I don't just mean your little sister's best friend you have grown up with all your life or the adorable kid you have baby sat since you were younger...because let's be honest, loving those kids are easy. I mean the kids that are gonna yell at you and say "GIMME YO PHONE HOE. I GOTTA CALL MY MAMA." And you have to smile and hand them your phone. It's a daily prayer that God will help you love those who may be hard to love. But that's why I love this ministry. It challenges you in all kind of ways. 

I got placed at a local private Christian school...which has only been my life growing up. BUT like I said, it will still challenge you. Let me guess...you are sitting there thinking... how hard can it be to form relationships with girls in high school right? UM freaking hard. Try walking into Junior/Senior lunch and trying to start a conversation with girls you have never met. Keep in mind WHILE awkwardly standing behind them at the lunch table...I'm over here like "Heyyyy girl. That ham and cheese looks tasty...?" (smooth, I know). But it's hard! My thoughts go a little something like this as I'm walking into the school..."Alright Brianna, pull your self together. Just BE COOL and for the love of all that is good and holy DON'T say something dumb...Crap is something in my teeth?!" That's my usual train of thought. But, then I usually have one of those moments when I think...why the heck am I nervous?! I don't care what they think of me because the God of the universe has my back and when focusing on that I cannot fail. 

So how cool is this... the gist is, you get placed at a local high school in your area and just begin showing up at the school to form relationships with these high school girls. I'm talking whatever you gotta do to show up in these kids life. Whether it is waiting outside the school with popsicles just to talk to them like a creepy stalker (GET IN THE VAN...jk) or just showing up at the Friday night football games and eating a funnel cakes with girls. It's our job as YL leaders to be a light to these high school kids. It is not easy whatsoever. In fact it may be one of the most challenging things I've ever done. Real talk, sometimes it's disappointing and feels like the work you are doing is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. But, then I stop and remember that no matter how bad of a stare I get from a girl or how awkward of a conversation I have, God is working and doing big things. I may not see them, the girls may not see it, but God is working in these girls lives. So for now, I will laugh at the awkward sandwich covos I have at lunches and smile at the cheerleader who looks so wicked intimidating because God is sovereign and when remembering that, I can fully trust in Him.  

1 John 3:18

"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth."

 

Holy rush week..

If there is one thing I have learned from rush week it's this...Are you ready? Cause I mean this with every fiber in my body. It's deep, so if you don't wanna think to hard just stop reading. Here goes...when in doubt.... twerk it out. Yes I said twerk. That is currently a dance move that this white girl can NOT do. During rush it's usually those moments towards the end of the week when everyone hits that point where you wanna curl up in fetal position and yell anytime someone looks your way. Dramatic? I think not. If you have been through rush you know what I mean. For AOII it was in these stress filled moments when suddenly a twerking frenzy happened. And all of the sudden you are laughing to hard to think about the drama of rush, and instead you are holding your side because you can't stop laughing. (one of the many reasons I am way too obsessed with AOII)

It's not that rush itself is horrid because it can actually be quite fun...especially when you get to dress up in an abnormally large panda suit and wake up your roommate while dancing to "Candy Shop"...or when you play dodgeball down your sororities hallway...(not that we did any of that?...)  Im 68% sure it is just the combination of the lack of sleep along with the hundreds of hormonal girls who start randomly crying for no apparent reason. It's almost as though no males even exist on the week of rush. Like every single male specimen living on Auburn's campus teams up and decides "HEY let's leave hundreds of girls for a week to fight each other for other girls". Cool guys...real cool.

For me my therapy was driving around Auburn listening to Mumford and Sons for about an hour to clear my head. It's like I was annoyed with myself. I was mad I was letting myself get too worked up about the whole entire thing. I just focused on the line from "Ghosts that We Knew"that says "So give me hope in the darkness, when I can't see the light". I got so focused on myself and the negatives. It's like I had to pull myself out of the equation and realize that no matter how badly I wanted a girl in my sorority it's not MY decision. It's ultimately not the girls either. It's all in God's hands and that is what I had to focus on. And in focusing on that all my stress went away and a peace came over me that could only be from the Lord.

I mean I could be off..but I think when we get to heaven God is not gonna ask "So what sorority did you go?!" In the grand scheme of life it sooo doesn't matter what sorority you end up in!! Don't get me wrong, God cares about what is happening in our lives. But, he cares more about our heart more than anything. Which sounds like a DUH comment, but just trust me...when you have been doing rush for a week all your priorities get out of whack. So oh how thankful I am for rush being over, but oh how much more thankful I am for the perspective God has taught me throughout this challenging week.

First World Pains.

It's somewhat comical to me how ironic I make my life. So it's like this, first I'm groaning and griping about how boring this summer has been and how I don't get enough hours at my job. Then an amazing thing happens...I get hours at work. And what do I do? Royally complain about how I hate being at work all day and I'm 19 years old and my life is just oh so terribly hard. I just hate how bipolar I am...It's awesome.

HA. I mean real talk...sometimes the most difficult part of my day is having to get off the big leather couch to get the pistachios and remote control off the OTHER big leather couch. Yeah I'm a problem I know. And yet it's funny how I religiously count all the frustrating moments in my day so I can tell my friends just how emotionally draining my day was because...well, God forbid someone take my parking spot at Anthropologie (bless my heart).

 I'm suddenly wondering how different my day would sound if I counted all the good things that happened in one day as apposed to the bad. It's like that old saying goes, "What would you have left if God took away everything you didn't thank Him for?" Yep...I know what you're thinking. All you would have left is the cold air in your car and your venti latte from Starbucks. News flash! LIFE IS GOOD. Yes, I am aware I don't know your life, but I guarantee it is better than others. Be glad! Especially if you are a believer because this life you are living right now is your Hell. It only gets better from this point on and THAT is something to be glad about. "For me to live is Christ, but to die is gain."(Phillipians 1:21)

 So quick, take one small break from getting your nails done or that golf game that you just gotta finish, and thank the Lord for the many blessings we don't give him credit for. It's like Max Lucado says, "Instead of complaining the wait is too long, thank God for extra minutes to pray."(Unless you're in line at the DMV, because those waits are long.) I don't know if this sudden revelation is because it's raining outside and I'm listening to John Mayer, but boy am I humbled at the immense amount of grace God has shown me. Take a few minutes and I bet big bucks you will be too.

My flesh and blood.

So I'm not sure what your typical family looks like, but I'll give you a glimpse of mine because let's face it...pretty much everything in my life good or bad is because of these goons. And if I do say so myself, we are KINDA a big deal (see that's funny because we actually arn't...at all). SO:

--Dan- Actually a superhero..ok well he basically is. Just your everyday hard working dad... just 4 inches shorter than you would imagine (he makes up for it with his killer banana pancakes and love for Christ)

--Jackie- The overdramatic yet spunky mother you wish you had (her cooking is so good it would make Paula Dean say bad words...oh wait.) She is also kinda a MILF, which provides steady competition for her daughters (jokes..kinda).

--Brett- Oldest therefore he is clearly the favorite although the parents would debate me for hours on that. Don't believe me? This is a classic morning:
"Brett we made you scrambled eggs, an omelet, bacon, toast with butter, toast without butter, every flavor of cereal every created and coffee brewed from 15 different countries."
"Brianna, Kaitlyn...here is half a pop-tart to split."

[OK OK....maybe it's not exactly like that...We each get an entire pop-tart.]

--Kaitlyn-Ah the middle child. Probably one of the weirdest people I have ever met which explains why we are pretty much best of friends. Seriously though there are few people I know who can handle my concerning sense of humor, let alone respond in a way that makes me look tame. After having a conversation with the both of us is when you would say "GOSH YALL ARE SO RELATED." But really...we shouldn't be allowed in public together.

--Bailey- No way could I leave out the pup of the fam. She often responds to the not so normal names we call her such as "sweet baby muffin breath" or "SLUT!" (kidding!) She is shedding an ungodly amount of hair that is the cause for my mother losing her sanity... but she can't help it! She is losing her winter coat sheesh!

Then I guess I should be addressed. Not much needs to be said except the important things...Pranking people gives me an unhealthy amount of joy (stories to come), I will back hand you so hard if you hate on my friends and family, and the joy of the Lord is what gives me hope each and every day.

Sooo combine all of us and BAM...you have one big, weird yet flipping sweet family that I will (most the time) proudly claim as my flesh and blood.

What's really in a name...?

Yes..you caught me. My last name is Basik. I know clever huh. Well, I will say having this last name does have some perks...like starting a Blog called "A Very Basik Life". I mean I thought it was kinda clever. Anyways, so I recently decided I really don't have a cool enough life to start a Blog. Then it hit me. It hit me hard as a rock. I mean it was almost like an actual rock was flying mid-air and just smacked me in the face..(enjoy that visual). No ones life is THAT interesting! Sure, some people live in New York City and write about a super cool French painting they watched be painted that day...but average bloggers don't I repeat don't have that cool of lives. So I guess that's why I started this. Because I thought "Well...why the heck not blog?". I'll see how this whole "blogging about my life" thing goes. Acutally...I guess WE will see how it goes because if you are reading this you are about to either watch me make a complete and utter fool of myself (which let's be honest...may be fun to re-read and laugh at) or watch me write wicked cool stuff. So for the time being, this is my way of hopefully adding a tiny bit of spice to the most ordinary and basic moments in life. Anyhoo, enjoy or go to the top left and hit that tiny red X button and no hard feelings. Oh and one last thing, Jesus Christ is easily the most important thing in my simple little life. So, If it's gonna bother you when I write about Him, than go ahead and just stop reading...you heard me. Stop reading, and like I said earlier, you can just tap that tiny red X and be on your way. But if you're still reading...well than by golly looks like God has a hold on you too friend.