Filed under: Deep Thoughts, Life | Tags: Love, Pornography, Rachel Durban, Real, Romance, Romantic Comedies
So this has been on my heart for a while…it’s not as fun as the last post.
Okay, so as girl, all of us watch these lovey-dovey cutesy romantic comedies about the guy who is “prince charming.” While I completely realize that they are all fiction and that the guys playing these roles are reading the script that some brilliant writers wrote, I find myself comparing guys to these unrealistic roles that are so commonly seen in movies. I know it sounds completely weird, but I think it’s dangerous. I see girls oohing and awing over Edward in “Twilight” – [which I have NOT seen; and refuse to. 
], or gushing over One Tree Hill, but I think it gets to a point where it’s obsessive and potentially scarring on future relationships.
I’ll admit, I have a crush on Patrick Dempsy on Grey’s Anatomy.
Here’s the thing though, I’ve heard from several different people who were addicted to pornography say that it has been a huge problem in their marriage. They have an unrealistic view of what their husband or wife should be…and it’s skewed by worldly things. I’m not saying that pornography and romantic comedies are the same thing, but I do think both can lead to scarred relationships and difficulties down the road. I think this is a topic that many people are wrapped up in, and they don’t even realize what they are potentially doing to their future relationships.
I don’t want my main desire’s in a husband to be “tall, dark, & handsome” – but rather “Godly, respectful, loyal, courageous, loving, etc.” I want a husband that will courageously lead our family in God’s will and take God-sized risks.
I want my future husband to desire a Proverbs 31 woman.
Filed under: Awesome, Life, Random Thoughts | Tags: Friends, Nap, Rachel Durban, Relax, Rest, Ross and Joey
Mmhmm, today I took the best nap in the history of…EVER. It was a glorious 6 hour nap.
This week is kind of stressful because I had a speech I had to present today, and then I have an Algebra test Wednesday, and then a History test Thursday.
This post is completely random and doesn’t have much to do with ANYTHING, except for the fact that I slept my entire day off and now it’s 1 AM and I’m wide awake.
And, here is an awesome clip about naps – Enjoy and have a great day!
Filed under: Books, Deep Thoughts, God, Life | Tags: glass half empty, Glass half full, Mark Batterson, Nehemiah, Positivity, Rachel Durban, Wild Goose Chase
I have those days where I’m not as happy as I wish. I can pick out the negative in situations really easy. I always wished I could be more optimistic naturally, but it’s a struggle for me to not be negative. Today has been one of those days. I get to thinking about school, degree plans, homework – and honestly – it makes me go crazy. Sometimes I wish I could be done with school, on with whatever God has planned for me next. But here’s the thing:
I’m where I am for a reason.
God has me here at this moment for a reason. I was reading Mark Batterson’s Wild Goose Chase just a few minutes ago and read this
“Don’t whine. Don’t complain. And don’t check out. Make the most of the situation. Do little things like they are the big things. Keep a good attitude…One of the greatest acts of worship is keeping a good attitude in a bad situation.”
Wow. Hello, that knocked me right in between the eyes. I never thought of it as worshiping when we keep a good attitude. That’s a big deal. I think the word worship gets thrown around a lot, but really think about it.
The book talks shortly about the story of Nehemiah: “Nehemiah was passionate about Jerusalem, but he was stuck a thousand miles away in Babylon. He did the best he could with what he had where he was. If you are faithful in Babylon, God will often bless you a thousand miles away.”
I’m going to make it my daily effort to look at things like this from now often:
Filed under: Awesome, Church, Conferences, God, Life, Trips | Tags: Australia, Hillsong Conference, Psalm 37:4, Rachel Durban, YAY
So it’s always been a dream of mine to go to Australia – more specifically Hillsong church. The other day I was looking at someone’s blog and saw the link to the Hillsong conference…I decided to go check it out and just SEE when it was and how much it may cost. I went to the website and my heart jumped with excitement. It is this summer…ON MY BIRTHDAY!! It’s July 5-9…and my birthday is on the 6th! I looked into flights and stuff…and YA’LL – I think this is gonna happen! I have been praying about it and I really have been clinging to this verse:
Delight yourself in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
I feel like God has placed desires in my heart and placed opportunities in my life and I refuse to skip them and grow up and look back and regret not taking opportunities. Going to Australia is going to be a faith step. It costs a lot of money, but I know God will provide. If it means I have to eat cereal for a year, I’m going to do it. I am asking you guys for prayer, as I make this decision to go to the conference. So many of my favorite people are going to be there! Nancy Beach, Andy Stanley, Nathan & Christy Nockels, Tim Hughes, annnnnnd the Hillsong team. It makes me so excited to even think about going. I’m praying! And I’d love for ya’ll to join me in prayer!
Filed under: Deep Thoughts, God | Tags: Compassion, Giving, Homeless, Jesus, Love, Rachel Durban, Realization
Recently my heart has been broken. I have prayed and prayed to see the world like Jesus does, to have compassion for people that I normally have been quick to judge; and oh my has he shown me. The other day I was driving to work and there was a homeless man underneath a bridge…my wallet was right beside me and I knew I had like four bucks in there – so I figured what the heck. No, I don’t know that guy’s story, or why he became homeless and begging on the side of the road…but here is what I DO know. He needs Jesus’ love just like the rest of us. Jesus didn’t spend his time with the “perfect people” who seemed to have it all together. Who did he spend it with? The prostitutes, the crooked, the ones who were at the bottom of the social chain.
We are called to be the light of Jesus to this dark world and for so long, I’ve judged the people in situations like this man. I used to always think “Well, they got themselves into this situation, their problem..not mine.” Wow. I’m in tears thinking about how quickly I was to judge and completely turn the opposite way in the past. I’m so glad God has broken my heart. See, I was wrong. They are my problem. They are yours too. Jesus loves them just as much as the rest of us all – AND WE SHOULD TOO.
I’m not writing this to pat myself on the back, I’m praying that this opens someone’s eyes to the fact that there are people out there that we need to show love too. So many people in the world just need to feel loved. These people could be right down the street from you, right next door, at the grocery store…we don’t know. Every single person we come in contact with should be able to see Christ radiate from us – that’s my prayer. To change the world by DOING what we say we believe.
I now have a little compartment in my car with cash hoping I pass this precious homeless man on the way to work often…not just to give him money, but maybe, just maybe, be a glimmer of hope – be the light of Jesus to him.
Filed under: Life, School | Tags: college, College Tests, Excited, Tests, UNT
MY FIRST WEEK OF TESTS IS OVER! **insert happy dance here**
I just finished my history test and I am feeling pretty good about it. The only thing I’m not so sure about is my map skills, so that may have not been so good…but oh well! I’m done! Yesterday I had my Communications test and then my Algebra test; I think those were pretty easy too! So, this is my random post about how excited I am to be done for the week! I’m still sucking at blogging…but what can I say, I’m a college student.
Filed under: Church, God, Life | Tags: Calm, Driving, Grace Fellowship Church, Prayer, Quiet, Rachel Durban
So a lot of people have been shocked that I drive 40 miles from school to work a few times a week. I can honestly say that I love it. I didn’t expect it to be so peaceful, but wow, it is. It is a time that I am FORCED to sit still and be quiet. I can’t do homework, I can’t multitask, I can’t watch tv…I’m just there. Me & Jesus. It’s so great. Sometimes I put on podcasts, sometimes I blare my music and dance like a 7 year old, and other times I just drive in silence. I definitely have needed this.
Oh yea, also…sometimes I take pictures while driving. It was just too pretty to pass up. Think about this…the same God who made this stunning sky made YOU. Dwell on that. Find comfort in that.
Do you ever think about what love really is? I’m not talking about movie love, or the love a kid has for a pet, or the 7th grader who loves her boyfriend because he bought her nachos at a football game love. I’m talking about LOVE. Real, true love: Christ’s love. The unfailing, steady, perfect love. We are called to share that unconditional love.
When I really think about unconditional love, I realize I put conditions on it. As long as you aren’t a punk or a jerk, then I’ll love you. Well guess what? Last time I checked, the Bible doesn’t say “love the people you want to love when you feel like you want to love them.” Haha, good thing too huh? I need to really focus on taking away the conditions I place on love because each and every day I mess up, but God’s love never stops. It’s pretty amazing if I do say so myself…
Filed under: Random Thoughts, School | Tags: college, Eagle Camp, North Texas, Rachel Durban, UNT
So a week before school started I went to Eagle Camp which is basically a way for new students at UNT to get connected and meet new people. I was very skeptical about going, but it turned out to be a pretty good time. Here are some RANDOM pictures from the camp. Oh yea, be looking forward to a video blog of the dorm room coming up soon.
My group leader looks like Chris Rock and my friend Noah looks like Andy Samberg – fun huh?
I told them I don’t really dance…they tried to teach me. I was seriously laughing so hard.
