You Are More

Lyrics:

There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide

She says, "How did I get here?
I'm not who I once was.
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love"

But don't you know who you are,
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

Well she tries to believe it
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight

She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's too weak to try

But don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made,

You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade. 

You've been remade
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.


The first time I heard this song, I literally almost started crying. A friend of mine had posted it on his Facebook, and I decided to check it out. The message is something that I had really needed to hear. There are so many things that I've done in my life that I am not proud of, and I've always felt so guilty. I knew it was wrong, but I did it anyway. So much of our sinning is done consciously, (meaning we know what we're doing when we do it) and that makes the guilt so much worse. I finally learned that God will forgive me, no matter what I've done, because He loves me. Do you have any idea how big He is? Because I don't. But that infinitely big God loves me, and He loves you. That's something that we don't deserve by a long shot. 

I went on my school "Advance" which is a time at the beginning at the year when my school goes to a camp for 2 days and we spend time getting to know each other and God. They showed this video during one of our sessions, and for me it just re-affirmed my knowledge that God will forgive you if you ask. But this isn't a free ticket to do whatever you want and then ask for forgiveness because you know you'll get it, but it is encouragement to do what's right and you know that if you do slip up, He'll forgive you.

For a long time, I doubted whether I really had been forgiven. I wasn't sure whether what I had done could really be forgiven by an all-knowing God. I felt so low and so dirty and so unworthy to be forgiven. And the truth is, we are low, dirty, and unworthy to be forgiven. But God loves us so much that He sent His only son to die for us. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16   If an all knowing, omnipresent God loves us that much, how can we not give him everything? He paid the ultimate sacrifice, and our all is a meager thanks for that incredible gift.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, 
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You've been remade.
~JustAnotherGirl~

Revenge

So there's a new TV show that I've been watching called Revenge. It's about a girl who returns to a summer home that she lived in as a child under a new name and plans to take revenge on the people that framed her father for something he didn't do. Her new life revolves around getting revenge. As I was watching, I wondered what the Bible has to say about revenge. Here are a few of the verses I found:

• “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." - Leviticus 19:18
• "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord." - Romans 12:19
• And on the Lords vengeance:  "The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation." - Numbers 14:18
• “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." - Matthew 5:38-39

It makes me realize how wonderful our God really is. He didn't just make us, then leave us to fend for ourselves. He loves us and cares for us and punishes those who are guilty. It is not up to us to take revenge on those who have sinned, it's up to Him.

When you think about it, revenge is so unpredictable. People taking revenge are usually so bent on getting what they want that most rational decisions are out of the question. It's better God deal with it than us. He can bend the very laws of nature, so why not let him deal with those who have sinned?

I personally don't have issues with grudges, so revenge is almost never on the forefront of my mind. But for some people, like the Hampton socialites on the show, revenge and "the next move" always take precedent. So for people who do have anger in their hearts and when someone hurts them are automatically thinking about "getting back" at the person, take my advice: Learn to let go. It might be one of the hardest lessons you learn in life, but it will get you the farthest. You are always going to have people in your life who are going to anger you and push you to your limits. You can't always get back at them and have it all work out. Sometimes they will be you boss and taking revenge could get you fired. They could be your in-laws, and taking revenge on them would make for some awkward family holidays. Just learn to Let. It. Go. Learn to get past whatever happens and to not let it affect your daily life. Your life is what you make of it, not what others define it as. 

What that doesn't mean though, is to let people walk all over you. When someone wrongs you, instead of telling everybody and getting back at them, talk to them. Let them know how what they did to you made you feel. Sometimes what happened wasn't even maliciously intended. But if it was, ask what it was you did to anger them and try to right the wrong. This way, everything is out in the open and apologies can be made. Revenge is just a vicious cycle that continues until one person breaks and gives up. When taking revenge, nobody wins.

Well I have school in the morning, so ta-ta for now!

~JustAnotherGirl~

P.S. - Despite what this post is about, the show is actually really good! Two thumbs up!

New Look!

Helllloooo internet! 
I am so sorry it's been so long since I've posted, but life has been craaaazyyy on so many levels. The last time I posted was right before my freshman year, so after that I was just so busy I even forgot I had a blog! (Crazy right?!) Well, since it's been forever I decided to change up the layout. Nice, right? Since not many people are following this blog right now, this post is more for future benefit. ;)

Since it's almost 4am, I'm going to sign off. I'll definitely keep posting and hope that this blog gets noticed :)

xoxo
~JustAnotherGirl~