While maybe most months seem to go by fast, was I the only one that found that January didn't really? It wasn't that it was slow in a bad way, but things just seemed to be pretty steady this month, at least for me. Maybe it's because I did alot of the same things during each week of it. It's nice to know though that every month, whether it's varied or filled with alot of the same activities each week, is time that we can use to please God, and He's the One Who orders them. Which means that even a day that might seem mundane to us is still designed perfectly by Him. Meaning that the day doesn't have to be so mundane after all. Pretty neat thought, huh? Anyway, here are some of my favorites from the month! Head to the comments to let us know what some of your favorites from the month were. Some Favorite Events
A Favorite SongA Favorite Verse"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." ~Philippians 2:4 I quoted this verse to myself at least several times this month. It's important to remember to care for other people and not just ourselves. But then I found myself thinking thoughts like "Does God want me to start thinking about something else, since this thought is about me? I can't process my emotions, because that's thinking about me?" But then it was like God let me realize something. I was focusing on the first part of the verse: "Look not every man on his own things..." But in the second part of the verse, there's a word that can be easy to overlook: "also." It's not that God never wants us to think about and work through how we feel or that He wants us to completely deny ourselves any attention; it's that we don't need to be wrapped up in ourselves or only ever thinking about ourselves when we consider a situation. I shouldn't completely deny myself mental room to think about what's going on in my viewpoint or in my head or emotions, but I also shouldn't let those things become too important to me or forget to focus on the things of others too. Like with alot of things, it's about balance. A Favorite Book
What were some of your favorites from January? Have you ever read or thought about reading The Pilgrim's Progress?
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Screens have become such a huge part of our lives, especially for those the age of most people reading this blog. How do you let someone know something quickly? What do you do when you have ten extra spare minutes before it's time to leave the house? What do you do at night when you've finished everything you have to do? What do you do when you're wondering whether you should wear a coat or light jacket the next day? What do you do when you're wondering if the balance in your checkbook matches the bank's? It all involves a screen! If you're like me, some of your work and school is even on a screen! There isn't anything wrong with this. The age of the internet and more access to affordable devices makes our lives more efficient and productive. If we let it anyway. But that's our choice. Do we let them make our lives more efficient? Or do we let them make our lives slow, unproductive, and (in the end) depressing? It all comes down to small choices. I think we've probably all been there, where we find ourselves sitting in front of our phone or laptop looking at random things just for the sake of looking at them. We're bored with it, but it sure is easier than finding something else to do. So we just go ahead and do it anyway. Then we look at the clock and realize that an hour and a half has gone by. And we feel guilty and unfulfilled, like we've lost out on part of our day. It doesn't have to control us though. We can choose to use our screens for our benefit, a bit of entertainment at times, and forgo the bondage that it places our mind in. Let's look at seven ways to help us do just that! Find the Root of the ProblemWhen we need to lessen our screen time, the problem usually isn't that we spend too much time on a screen. That's a symptom of the problem. The problem might be that you feel lonely, so you're turning to online relationships. The problem could be that you're feeling unfulfilled about your life, so you're reading an excess of articles and tips on how to make it better. The problem could be that you want validation and are seeking it from people, so you're posting on Instagram and then constantly checking to see your likes and comments. For me, I've noticed that the problem could be that I'm bored and, instead of finding a goal to work towards and accomplish or seeking out a sibling or parent or someone to invest in and in turn have fun with, I'm being lazy and finding entertainment from a screen (and then in turn, I don't get to what I actually want to do because I'm being lazy in the moment). So, get together with in-person friends. Seek God for fulfillment and help in your life, and then move on trusting Him. Remember who you are in Christ instead of looking for validation from social media. Schedule your free time. Treat the problem, not just the symptom. Eliminate What You Do on a ScreenThis is something that I found helpful. I used to write alot on my laptop. But a friend of mine really liked writing on an Alphasmart NEO, which is basically like a keyboard with a tiny little screen that looks like a calculator. It did cost some money, but it was totally worth it. Now I can still write my stories, but I'm not on a screen when I'm doing it. It actually makes writing more fun! Another thing I used to do alot on my laptop was talk with writing friends online through email or another platform. I eventually switched to primarily writing letters. Now I'm still getting to talk with them, but I'm not a screen doing it. Once again in this example, writing letters ended up being more fun anway. It might look different for you. It could be switching to reading the paperback edition of a book when you can rather than the ebook. It could be choosing to study only certain classes on an online platform (like Quizlet). It could be asking your parents about getting a physical textbook rather than doing all of school on a screen. It could be handwriting your to-do list in a planner or on a sticky note instead of typing it into your phone. These changes can make a big difference! Take a Fast from ScreensThis is easier for some than others. Some people mostly just use screens for entertainment, while others work on them or text frequently with family to keep in touch. Whatever the case may be, it can be helpful to cut down on all screen time that you practically can for a set amount of time. This could be fasting from social media, or it could be cutting out everything you do on a screen except work and school. Taking a break from being on a screen as much as you normally are can not only help you to realize where you want to turn to a screen instead of something more productive, but it can also help train your brain to find something else to do. Then, when you do go back to whatever it is you chose to fast from, you know better how to combat the urge to jump on a screen for entertainment too often. Make Specific GoalsA goal for cutting down on screen time like "Spend less time on screens" might not be the most helpful. Consider making a measurable goal or a plan for when you will be on the screen and when you won't. For instance, set aside a time of day for looking at certain sites or social media, and then don't get on them for the rest of the day. Or you could plan to only spend so many minutes looking at certain things or to only check email or whatever a certain amount of times. (You'll likely find that looking at these things will be more fun when you only do it once a day; it can end up being a time that you look forward to but don't necessarily miss during the rest of the day). Having a measurable plan is often the best way to succeed in this area. Use an Internet BlockerSometimes blocking the internet or certain sites altogether can be the most helpful. When you don't have the option to get on it, you can't even consider getting on it without realizing you can't. And, in the end, it makes your mind feel clearer and happier. There seem to be more internet blocking apps for phones, but the free version of Cold Turkey Blocker is one that I use and like for my laptop. (With Cold Turkey Blocker, I find it really helpful to just have it block certain websites during the hours that I'm most likely to be distracted by them, like when I'm doing school). Replace Screen Time with Other ActivitiesI don't know about y'all, but I find that I tend to struggle with being distracted by screens when I'm feeling bored and looking for something more fun to do than what I have to do. So, like we talked about earlier, treat the problem and not just the symptom. Find a fun activity that you'll feel more productive with than being on a screen to busy yourself with. Craft, learn an instrument, keep an entertaining book by your bed to read whenever you want, or start going on a walk when you feel that urge. (A book can be a good thing to take along with you to do when you're waiting in the car or in a waiting room and want something to do!) Avoid Screens at NightNight seems to be the time most people find it the most easy to make excuses and be on a screen more than they actually want to be, likely because we're tired. Maybe for you it's another time of day though. Whatever time of day that is, it can be wise to just avoid screens or certain distracting things on them during that time of day. (Though avoiding screens at night anyways does help your mind to feel more clear, and it's easier to meditate on Scripture or pray while falling asleep if you haven't been on your phone or whatever!) Cutting down on a screen time can feel daunting, but it really comes down to diagnosing why you are spending too much time on them, take the steps to change that, and then sticking to some simple habits. It's worth it to keep our minds clear and focused on what we need to be focused on! Is there anything that you've found helpful when thinking about cutting down on screen time?
We all tend to look for identity. Often, we find ourselves looking for it in the wrong things: other people, our hobbies, our personalities, our work, or even in the way we look. We want to be something and to be confident in being that. But in the midst of all that searching, we forget that, well, we don't have to search at all. Our identity is secure. If we've called on and trusted Christ as our Savior, we're a son or daughter of the Most High God. That's secure, and there's no higher calling, purpose, or identity than that. God tells us alot about who we are, but here are a few of those things. It might encourage your heart to look these things up and remember who you are through Christ. Let's live as His child and not try to find our purpose or identity in something of this world.
Are there any other things that we are in Christ that you thought of?
Happy new year, and welcome back to the blog! This week I figured I'd do the December round-up (even if it is January now, haha), and then we'll see what's in store for next week! December is a different sort of month, huh? Christmas tends to be on our minds the whole month round as we celebrate Jesus' birth, go to various Christmas parties and gatherings, and feel the joy of the season. When I looked at my original list of some of my favorite events that had happened this month when I was brainstorming for this post, it was interesting to me that all of them were things having to do with Christmas! I suppose that's to be expected though. ;D (After some thought, I remembered some other things though :P). So, here are some of my favorites! (And I'd love to hear what some of yours were down in the comments! Were they mostly Christmas things for you too?) Some Favorite Events
A Favorite SongA Favorite Verse"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." ~Matthew 7:7-8 A Favorite StoryI don't think I actually read an entire story during December besides an unpublished one that a friend wrote, but I was thinking that for this, I'd say the story of Joseph in Genesis. I'm almost done reading it in the Bible, and I've thought it's special to note what kind of leader he was, how God prospered him and helped him and gave him favor even in difficult times, and just how young he was. I've read the story before, but I think some things have stood out to me more this time. <3 What were some of your favorites from December? Did you read any stories? What was something you got to do to celebrate Christmas?
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