Prom daydreaming and the peace of prayer

Right now, the only thing on my mind is prom. :) Tomorrow is going to be AWESOME!!! The orthodontist said I can start wearing my retainer only at night on May 1st. How perfect - just in time for prom pictures! I'm going with this Chinese exchange student (a friend of my friend), which will be fun. But the most exciting part is wearing the gorgeous red dress a friend let me borrow, and taking a lot of pictures! ;) But... despite the excitement (and loads of homework and studying for AP exams - yeah I haven't started that), I've still been making prayer a priority in my life. Why? Because I will never forget how AWESOME God is. That will never change, and so far, I've been amazed at what prayer can do.

For starters, I guess the number one, most pivotal and perfect product of prayer is peace. Talk about a lot of "p"s in one sentence! But I love alliterations. ;) Anyway, the following verses amaze me every time I come across them. It brings me to my knees and makes me want to raise my hands in praise to God!!!

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Read that last line again: the PEACE of God, which TRANSCENDS all understanding will GUARD your hearts and minds in CHRIST JESUS. A talented writer may write eloquently, but I am convinced that nothing can compare to the Word of God. It can speak to us in miraculous ways, and is the power of God. In 1 Corinthians 2:1, Paul says, "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God." He continues, "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." Can I hear an AMEN to that? Really, when it comes down to it, the only thing in life that matters is the cross, and what was accomplished there.

Today during orchestra, this guy was basically attempting to discredit the cross - what it symbolizes. He said that technically, the cross is a bad depiction of death - that people who hate Christianity should wear it, not the other way around (he even included examples of celebrities wearing the cross to mock it). You know what I said to him? The cross is a symbol of love. It's a symbol of grace and forgiveness, and everything that Christianity stands for! Jesus DIED for the world's sins. He bore it on the cross, just because He loved us. He defeated death. I will continue to wear the cross until the day I die, despite influences around me. Because I know that it symbolizes Jesus' great love for me, and I will never let go of that beautiful grace.

On my way home from school, the song "Oh Happiness" came on the radio, and I couldn't help but sing along. Something inside of me was genuinely happy. Why? Because of grace. The lyrics go: "Oh happiness, there's grace enough for us and the whole human race." AMEN. :) The definition of happiness is grace.


(Picture taken by Bubbly - it's a close up of my prom dress!!!)