Monkey See. Monkey Do.

From the time we are babies, we are imitating the actions of others around us. From walking to chewing to laughing to clapping to using baby sign language.

Whether we want to admit it or not, we (sometimes even as adults) immitate the behavior of others in our social circles and we do so (sometimes completely unaware) for many different reasons.

We do it to form bonds with the person.
We do it to learn.
We do it to show the person we care about them. (Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.)
And sometimes we just do it to annoy them...can't be mature all the time!


 But more important than WHY we imitate is WHO we imitate.

You have teens girls getting knocked up because they see it celebrated on TV (Can you say "Teen Mom" and "16 and Pregnant")
You have people using profane language because it is so freely used in most of today's entertainment media.
 You have young girls wearing provocative clothing because that what all the models wear.
You have more fighting and violence because that what young boys are watching.

Now don't get me wrong, not EVERYTHING that comes out of Hollywood is filth...but MOST of it is.

Hollywood also isn't the only thing we imitate.

We imitate the behavior of friends, coworkers, and family as well.

Do the people you associate with and try to be like better you?

The Bible says multiple times through out the New Testament that we should be imitators of Christ.

              "Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children." Ephesians 5:1

              "Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus" Philippians 2:5

              "For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps." 1 Peter 2:21

So, if the Bible wants us to imitate Christ, then anyone else on earth we imitate should be people who are also trying to imitate Christ. 

Paul told us that 1 Corinthians 11:1.
He told the Church at Corinth to "Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ."

Easy enough to understand, right?

Imitate Christ, but if you need someone fleshly to imitate...imitate those who are following Christ.
Forget Hollywood.  

The part where is gets hard is when you realize that, like we said, imitating is a natural itstinct of human nature. 
People are watching you. 
Did you hear me? People are watching YOU. Whether you like it or not. 

Are you being someone worth imitating? Or do you simply talk the talk but refuse to walk the walk?

If you children, students, friends, or family members picked up your good habits...how would that make you feel? What if they picked up your bad ones?

To be able to say what Paul said takes a lot of efforts. Looking at your life right now, would you be able to tell the people around you, "Hey yall. Do everything the way I do it because I am doing everything like Christ." 
I don't think I could. You may be thinking, but Paul couldn't be doing everything right. And you would be correct in that statement. Even Paul said in Romans that even when he tries to do good he still does bad because of his flesh. You know what the difference is. He TRIES. He doesn't say "I'm a sinner, I'm not perfect. Might as well just do whatever the heck I want." No he says, "I'm not perfect, but I try. I still screw up, but I follow Christ and he leads me. When I mess up I'll make it right. I want to be an example to others in Christ."

Are you imitating people who are worht imitating?
Are you being someone worth imitating?

Don't cause others to stumble. 
All you have to do is try. 


"Man's natural character is to imitate; that of the sensitive man is to resemble as closely as possible the person whom he loves. It is only by imitating the vices of others that I have earned my misfortunes."

 Live...Laugh...Love
Until Next Time, 
Racheal <3

Keep Going

How many times in life do you just feel like throwing in the towel.

Waving the white flag of defeat and yelling, "I'm done! I surrender!"

Everyone feels that way at one time or another, and if you say you haven't...knock on wood sweet heart cause you will sooner or later.

As humans, we can sometimes become easily frustrated and discouraged.

Life can be hard.



Our boss is driving us crazy.
Our parents/kids are making us want to pull every last piece of hair out of our head.
Our dreams seem to just crumble to pieces around us as we watch.
We get stuck in a rut and have no idea how to make it out because we are in too deep.

We feel abandoned. We feel weak. We feel defeated. We feel helpless.

We just want to slap a big fat period on the end of our sentence of life and say "The End" (at least to that chapter)

But something that caught my eye today was a simple picture of a girl with a tattoo of a semicolon, and the caption was "keep going".

Not being much of a grammar person, I decided to look up the significance of the simple (yet sometimes feared) semicolon.

What I found really made me pause in amazement.
It said, "a semicolon is used when a sentence could have been ended, but it wasn't."

That's when I realized this often over looked and neglected piece of punctuation holds a lot more value than one could even possibly imagine!

You may be thinking, "That's great Racheal, but how can that be applied to MY life. I'm not just a sentence. I'm a person"
You can be right in saying that, but in order to apply it...we must first identify what in our life can be used as a semicolon. 

Many times through out scripture we see people (just like us) who seem to have come to the end of their sentence and then out of no where...a semicolon appears.

The first example that comes to my mind is the story of Lazarus. 

Lazarus was DEAD. That's the ultimate period if there ever was one.
But God didn't want Lazarus's sentence to end there, so He just placed a semicolon there and brought him back to life :)

You see guys, that's the Christian's semicolon. It's God's power, purpose, and protection over our lives. 

When you feel like giving up just remember, God is on your side. He is your strength. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will uphold you with His righteous right hand. He might let you bend, but He won't let you break. He is your safe place, your refuge, and your protection from the storm. He is the giver of rest.

              "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

             "But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

             "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

            “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 

           “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalms 46:1

           "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28


And when it comes to scripture, I saved this one for last because it has to be one of my personal favorites:

             "He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it even unto the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

God has begun a good work in each and every single one of us. And He wants to COMPLETE something good in each of our lives. 
Who are we to place a period where God intends for there to be a semicolon?

Don't lose heart. Don't give up.
That's what Satan wants to happen, but God is pleading with us "Don't stop. Keep going. Trust me."

I don't know about any of you, but I am kicking myself right now as I type. 
Too many times I give into the lie that I can't do something and that I'm better off a quitter. 
But the next time Satan tries to tempt me with a period, I'm going to slap a big ole semicolon in his evil little annoying face and say "God's not finished with me yet. I have a purpose to fulfill!"

I have a brand new respect for the semicolon. wouldn't my high school English teacher be proud?

What about you? 
Do you feel like giving up?
Are you falling for the lies that you can't do this anymore?
Do you feel alone? helpless? abandoned? weak?
 If you are, cry out to God. Ask Him to pour out his strength and healing on you life and whatever you do, keep going. God has great plans for you :) 


"What winning is to me is not giving up, is no matter what's thrown at me, I can take it. And I can keep going."

“Never give up,keep going,don't quit,die in your tracks before ever giving up.If we back down every time we are faced with something tough,we are complete failures.” 

 “If you are going through hell, keep going.”

 “When the world says, ‘Give up,’ Hope whispers, ‘Try it one more time.’”
 

Live...Laugh...Love
Until Next Time,
Racheal <3

PS. Here is a song which I believe fits in nicely with today's topic. It's Called He Said by Group 1 Crew...give it a listen :)