Tattoo

"Anyone, then, who know the good he ought to do and doesnt do it, sins."

James 4:17

I know a lot of people don't like tattoos, and that is totally fine, but I got one anyways. haha. I never thought I would ever get a tat! It just didn't seem like something I felt the need to have, but then I got one. Haha. So, I figured here is a great place to go into why I got the tattoo, and the reason behind this verse! It all started in November 08. Just as a catch up, I had just transferred to MSU, and was really involved in Campus Crusades. We went on a retreat one weekend and challenged each other to start getting into the Bible more. Anywho, I was really starting to dig into the word of God for the first time in my life. Which is another sad story in itself, that I was living this life claiming to follow the Lord, but not relying on his word, or seeking him in that way at all. I started going to Starbucks on campus at 7 every morning, and truly studying the Bible and fellowshipping with amazing people. I started to see the scripture in new ways. I found a true desire to read his word. Then I came across James 4:17 (James has always been my favorite book because it is so straight forward, and I am so ADD; it really hits me hard). As many times as I have read this verse it never stuck out like it did that day. It did more then hit me hard, which it did, pretty sure I got a bruise! But it changed me. It didn't really change my lifestyle all that much, but it changed my heart. I have always been a "good girl", and certain things have never been a big struggle for me. However, I was choosing to do and not to do certain things based on what people thought of me, not based on the word of God and what he wanted of me. I started to realize a lot of things about my life then. Now, a little over a year later, I have seen that verse play such a huge role in my life. When I was in high school there were certain things I considered sin in my life, and that I struggled with, including pride, selfishness, gossip, etc. And all of those things I still consider struggles in my life, however, the Lord has changed my heart so much in the past 4 years. I have seen that the things I once saw as ok in my life, I am now seeing as sin or the things that I still see as sin in my life, I take more seriously and am convicted more strongly of. The Lord will always be changing and working in our lives if we just allow him to do so. He has shown me that the sin and convictions I had as an 18 year old are going to be different then the ones I have as a 21 year old and a 25 year old and so on, FOREVER. The amazing and cool thing about it all, is that this verse, not only is it so so true, but it reminds me as I grow in the Lord, I still have sin, it will just be different. It wont go away, and I need to seek him in everything to conquer it!! (Romans 8:37) One of my biggest struggles in my life (and don't go try and confirm this with my family, because they could go off for days about this, just trust me) is my laziness. I am a very lazy human being, however, suprisingly I have a good work ethic. This verse has convicted me of so much in the month it has resided on my wrist. I get up every morning, and look at it (or the HUGE canvas I have it painted on in my room) and I remember that the Lord has called me to live for him in EVERYTHING I do!! If I choose not to do something that I know I should be doing, because I am lazy, then it is sin. Simple as that!! And praise the Lord for his grace and mercy on us when we do sin!! Anyways, I hope I didn't bore anyone. I am just very passionate about it (which is a good thing, cause it will be there forever!). Hope this inspires someone (not to necessarily get a tat, cause I could have some angry parents attacking me) but to live your life for the Lord (hopefully then I will have parents happy with me.)