Handing Jesus the Keys

     Today my family watched a sermon together by Pastor Francis Chan.  If you haven't read any of his books (Crazy Love, You And Me Forever, or Forgotten God), then you really should check them out.  But what I want to mention here is an powerful analogy that he used in his sermon, Why Are We Here?


     Imagine that you are driving a car.  It represents your life.  You are in control of your life, zooming down the highway.

     Now imagine that you see Jesus standing on the side of the road, waiting for you.  His eyes are locked on yours, waiting to see what you will do.  Will you leave Him standing there?  Or maybe, will you maybe pop the trunk and call to Him to get inside, thinking to yourself, It will be handy to have Him around when I go through a trial or hard time.  Better safe than sorry.   Of course Jesus, the Creator of the universe, doesn't want to get in your trunk.

     So maybe you open the back door?  Nope.  He doesn't want to sit behind you.  He doesn't want to be your "last option", the One whom you turn to when life gets bad.  

     Maybe you go and open up the passenger door, thinking to yourself, Jesus can be my buddy!  He can come with me, and we can talk together.  But He can't have 100% control of my life.  He can help me when I need help, but I will rule my own future.   

     Jesus is better than that.  Do you know what He wants?  Jesus wants you to stop the car, get out of the driver's seat, and hand Him the keys.  Jesus wants to drive the car for you!  He wants to take you where you need to go.  You need to get in the passenger seat, strap on your seat-belt (even though Jesus would never crash, it's still the law) and go where He wants you to go. Don't lean over when there is a sharp curve and help Him steer!  He can do a much, much, much better job at driving than you ever could.  Let everything go, and give Him the keys.  Let Him control everything.  Sit back in your seat in faith.

     So...where is Jesus in your life?  Is He in your trunk?  Is He in the backseat?  Is He your "buddy" in the passenger seat, chatting with you?  Did you leave Him on the side of the road?  Or maybe...is He holding the keys to your life and steering where He wants to go?  You don't need to give me your answer.  Just think about it for a little while.  Be honest with yourself.  Where is He sitting?  The God who created this whole world.  The God who created you.  His plans are much better than yours.

5 Ways to Become a Helpful Blog Reader

     Every blogger loves to have helpful readers!  I know...I am a blogger!  If you are subscribed to 1 blog...3 blogs...10 blogs...or more, it is still a good idea to let the blog author know that you read and appreciate their blog.   I have added several blogs to my reading list that I read often and try to be a helpful subscriber.  So here are five ways that I try to be a helpful blog reader and how you can as well!

1. Read the Posts! 
This probably sounds silly.  Of course if you are interested in a blog you will read the posts!  But some readers will look at a long post, or one that they are not really "interested" in, and they click "delete." (trust me...I've done it before!)  If you want to be a helpful blog reader, your top priority to help the author that you follow is to read their posts!  They spent time writing the post for you!

2. Comment on Posts!
Blog authors like to know who really is reading what they write.  By commenting on their posts, you can give your opinion, and interact with both the author and fellow readers!  Giving your opinion of their post, and adding your own thoughts, is really what makes having a blog fun!  It is also fun for you, as the reader!

3. Enter Surveys/Polls/Questionnaires!
If a blog is having a poll, or any other kind of interaction with the readers, please enter it!  You can tell the author what you really think!  And trust me, authors LOVE to know your thoughts!  They want their blog to be the best it possibly can, and we, as readers, can help them!

4. Give honest opinions!
Even if you know the author and are worried about getting on their bad side, it is super important to leave honest answers.  Tell them what you really think.  This is the only way that the author can improve their work!  They will really appreciate your critical answers.  (as a side note, however, don't just give negative answers...be encouraging as well!  Tell them what you like and dislike about the blog/work/whatever you are commenting about)

5. Recommend to Friends!
This is the best way to spread news about a blog that you love!  Tell other people!  If you have your own blog, you can advertise your favorite blogs on it.  If you go to my page "Blogs That I Read" you can see some of the blogs that I enjoy.  Publicizing the blogs that you read will allow other people to enjoy them too!


Have other ideas of what a helpful blog reader should look like?  Or do you have some favorite blogs to recommend?  Comment below!!

2016 Blog Updates

Warning! Changes Ahead! =) 

Thank you so much to everyone who submitted their thoughts in my blog questionnaire! Because of all your help, I have updated my blog! Please check it out and comment below on your thoughts! Here are some of the changes I made..

1. The Blog Background! I hope you would have noticed this on your own (smile), but I changed the look of my background to a less distracting one! My banner is the same, so the look isn't totally different. =)

2. Movie Reviews! I added a page where I will one day soon put some reviews on for good (or maybe not-so-good) movies that my family has seen! I will post what I liked and disliked about them, and what to watch out for if you decide to view them for yourself.

3. Blogs I Read! I added a page with the links to some of my favorite blogs. Currently, I only have two listed, but I will surely add more later! 

4. My Blog Button! On the side bar, you can now view my blog button! This is for if you have a blog of your own and would like to put my button in your "blogs I read" page. If you don't have a blog, then it doesn't affect you. =)

Those are my main changes to Having a Heart Like His! 

Have other suggestions for adjustments to my blog? Comment below!