This _ is BANANAS!

I don't have time to write a legit blog post today but my co-worker (and friend) Molly showed me this video today and I just had to share it with yall. Every single time I watch Toddlers and Tiaras I want to slap someone. This takes the cake. My mom put me in a few pageants when I was little and she always told me it wasn't for her. We did win 2nd runner up for Little Miss Ft. Stewart once. That was the extent of my pageant career.

Anyway.. this video is craaaaaaazy and well worth the 6:00 minutes of your life.

Enjoy.

Jesus > Religion

Last week on Facebook a video about religion took over. I kept seeing it on everyone's profiles and just ignored it. Finally one of my closest friends asked forced me watch it. I was blown away. I feel so much like the words in this video.

3 years ago my life was different. I was raised in church. I went to church almost every Sunday. I spent my summers at my grandmothers going to youth camp and revivals. I'm filled with the holy ghost. I've seen miracles. REAL miracles. Then one day my world was tossed upside down. I put all of my faith (every. single. ounce.) into something, only to fail. It took me all this time to come to one conclusion. No one can predict Gods plan. I will not pretend to know why or understand why God lets things happen or why he doesn't answer all prayers. But I do know his love for me was big enough.. to let me be angry for 3 years.

During my struggle I stopped going to church. I stopped listening to God. I stopped talking to God. We sort of broke up for a while. I slowly started to realize that God is God. Who am I to question him? It doesn't mean I didn't or that I won't again. It just means I may not be meant to understand.

I started realizing other things too. One. I don't have to go to church every Sunday to be "saved". Its about a relationship not a building. Two. Having a glass of wine (or two) will no send me straight to hell. Jesus hung out in the bars, he drank the wine. Three. I don't have to cut all secular music out of my life to be "on the right path". Four. I am a Jesus lover, not a religion follower. I think people get too caught up in religion and forget about the purpose behind it.  I'm not condemning anyone who does believe these things to be true, I'm only saying.. "Why sweat the small stuff?"

Parts of the video that touched me the most:

"If religion is so great, why has it started so many wars."
"Religion might teach grace, but another thing they practice." -Has anyone else ever been hurt in church? Or by a fellow Christian? Sometimes Christians can be more judgmental that a non Christian.
"Because if grace is water, then church should be an ocean. Its not a museum for good people, its a hospital for the broken." - Wow.. is all I can say to that.
"Religion says DO, Jesus says DONE"
"Religion makes you blind, but Jesus makes you see."
"Salvation is freely mine, and forgiveness is my own. "

If you haven't already watched this video I strongly encourage you to do so. It may not speak to everyone like it did to me. It may have a negative effect on you.. and that's OK. We're all entitled to our own opinions and beliefs.