Do Hard Things

This past weekend, my mom, my brother Ryan, and I had the privilege of attending the "Do Hard Things" conference in Gaithersburg, Maryland. First of all, I am so thankful that I was able to attend this conference, and second, I am amazed to see how the Lord is working in the lives of so many young people. Roughly 3200 people attended! Alex and Brett Harris, the twin brothers who founded The Rebelution website and lead the conferences, have a message that is applicable not only for teens, but for adults as well. Their message is simply what they stated in the video above: to encourage teens to "rebel" against the low standards society has placed on them by doing "hard things".

Alex and Brett took turns speaking during each session, and their dad, Gregg Harris, also spoke. Most of their topics came straight out of their book, Do Hard Things, so it was pretty easy to follow along with each session. I encourage everyone to read the book, but I do want to write about some of the main points from the conference.

Use Your Teenage Years

Instead of reaching our full potential to grow and learn, many young people (including myself!) sit back and let other people do the work for us. Push harder, aim higher, and do hard things.
I really like these five points that they covered through some of the sessions. They're also in the book in chapter 4, but I'll list them here.

Five Hard Things

1. Reaching outside our comfort zones (this is a tough one for me!)
2. Going beyond what is expected or required
3. Accomplishing big things alone
4. Doing things that don't earn and immediate payoff (small hard things)
5. Challenging the cultural norm

Are these hard things for any of you? They are for me! I hope and pray that I won't be so afraid to push myself to better serve God by aspiring to do all I can for Him!

So let's all do what's right...

Even when it hurts.
Even when it means ridicule.
Even when it means losing friends.
Even when it means making an unpopular stand for Christ.

Let's all challenge ourselves to make right decisions even thought they're hard to make. Christian teens are especially faced with pressure from peers to do all sorts of things they know are wrong. They also may not be respected because of their age. The main verse Brett and Alex use for the Rebelution is so fitting, "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (1 Tim. 4:12)

I want to push myself to do hard things, and by the grace of God, He will help me accomplish this every day. Thank God that there are Godly young people around the world who truly want to make a difference as well and push themselves to be all they can for Christ.

Do Hard Things

A Teenage

Rebellion

Against

Low Expectations

You Give and Take Away

"The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Job 1:20

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

Some dear friends are in need of prayer right now. The ways of the Lord are so hard to understand sometimes, but even though He gives and takes away, blessed be His name.

Random Questions

I thought I would post a little quiz to get to know my readers and friends a little better. I know many of you are busy, so only fill it out when you have time! I'll fill out the quiz first, and you can just erase my answers and copy the questions in my comment box. Have fun!

1. What is your occupation? Dental assistant for now
2. What color are your socks right now? I'm not wearing socks right now- it's summer!
3. What are you listening to right now? the hum of the computer
4. What was the last thing that you ate? a doughnut-yum!
5. Can you drive? Yup
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? red- because it's so cheery
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Ummmm...I've been leaving a lot of messages lately. I think I last talked to one of the patients at the office I work at when I was confirming appointments.
8. How old are you? 19
9. Favorite drink? Green tea
10. What is your favorite sport to watch? football...sometimes basketball
11. Have you ever dyed your hair? I've highlighted it, so I guess that's considered dying it
12. Pets? 3 kitties and a hamster
13. Favorite food? seafood and Italian
14. What was the last movie you watched? Mansfield Park
15. Favorite holiday of the year? Christmas
16. How do you express yourself? Through the piano, photography, writing, or just talking
17. What was your favorite toy as a child? that's tough...I had a lot of favorites. I loved my barbies and stuffed animals. But I don't think I had just one favorite
18. What is your favorite, fall or spring? again, this is tough. Each season has something different. I think I like fall a tiny bit more than spring because of the leaves changing color and all the holidays to look forward to.
19. Hugs or kisses? both, but I LOVE hugs :)
20. Cherries or Blueberries? blueberries
21. Do you have a house phone that is not cordless? not anymore
22. Who's your favorite football team? I'm not much of a sports person, but I guess either the Philadelphia Eagles or Penn State
23. Ever driven motorcycle or heavy machinery? I've driven a tractor and a four-wheeler once-do those count?
24. Living arrangements? at home with my family
25. When was the last time you cried? a few hours ago
26. What is on the floor of your wardrobe? my purse, books, shoes
27. Favorite day(s) of the week? Friday and Sunday
28. Favorite smells? honeysuckle on a cool summer night, cookies or anything sweet baking in the oven, autumn smells, Christmasy smells, Bath and Body fragrances (certain ones)
29. What did you do last night? watched an I Love Lucy episode, checked email
30. What inspires you? a beautiful melody, nature
31. What are you afraid of? stepping out of my comfort zone, rejection, spiders(!!!)
32. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Cheese hamburgers all the way
33. Favorite dog breed? Golden retrievers
34. How many years at your current job? 1 year this July
35. Favorite place you've ever been? Niagara Falls

Closer to You

Closer to me I'm tired and I'm weak

And every breath within me is longing just to be

Closer to You

So I face the road ahead

Cause I know there's no comparing

To what's waiting at the end

So let the rain start falling where it will

And I will run through this valley

Just to climb to that hill

And if they ask why I'm smiling

After all I've been through

It's cause I'm just a day closer to You

Closer to me I hear You whisper on the wind

You say although my life is ending

A new one will begin

Closer to You

And I know I'm not alone

Cause I can hear You in the distance

Saying, you are nearly home

So let the rain start falling where it will

And I will run through this valley

Just to climb to that hill

And if they ask why I'm dancing

Though my days may be few

It's cause I'm just a day closer to You

Closer to me You're in the laughter and the tears

Of the ones I leave behind me

Who have prayed me through the years

Closer to You

And I know it won't be long

Till You're running down the pathway

Just to take me in Your arms

So let the rain start falling where it will

And I will run through this valley

Just to climb to that hill

And if they ask why I'm singing

Though my life's almost through

It's cause I'm just a day closer

I'm just a day closer

I'm just a day closer to You

~Mark Schultz

Isn't this a beautiful description of a Christian's walk with God? I especially love this line-"I know there's no comparing to what's waiting at the end." I know this song is about a believer who is dying, but to have the assurance and faith that God is there with him or her every step of the way is such a wonderful testimony to the love of God. He never leaves us, even when we are afraid and unsure of what is happening in our lives.

Summer Fun