Violet (warning: long post.) (:

Some days I feel like Violet from Incredibles. Whenever she doesn't want to be noticed by the world, she will turn invisible. Have you ever felt like that? Like seriously. Some days I will put on a mask and become just this girl who isn't me. I am Julia Schemmer, full of random thoughts and a love for God my Savior, the Rock Eternal. I am not some girl who walks around wearing short skirts and hates her best friends, then when they are looking love them (e.g. the movie Mean Girls). I am not a girl who cares about the people who try to mold her into clay, I am not my hair color. (credit to http://imnoplain-facedgirl.blogspot.com/ for the inspiration to write the things I am NOT.)

Why do I mock these people? Am I any better then the people I see everyday? No. I am a sinner lucky enough to be saved by God's grace. I am not ANY better then those whom I mock. If you have a giant pimple, and then you see someone with four giant pimples on their face does that give you the right to mock them? No. No. No. I repeated the "no" three times because I really need to stress that we are just like them, whether one giant pimple or four giant pimples. Does someone mocking you give you the right to gossip about them later? No! If anything, we should be kind and loving to them, and believe me I know how hard it is. I have done that way more gossiping then a shopaholic goes shopping in a day. Trust me, I am not over exaggerating. That is my fault. I have no right, at all, to blame God. It was a sin I committed that was preventable, (internal sin) so I am at fault for all the sin I do whether it was lying,etc.

Maybe sometimes it will feel good to be Violet. I mean you can be invisible and have a force field lol. But God teaches us in the Bible (please turn your Bibles to Matthew 28 16:20 as this is what my message is all about today). Basically what is going on Jesus is about to go up to Heaven and the disciples are all on a mountain and Jesus is talking to them about what is going to happen and their mission AKA the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:16 says
"When they saw him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted."
Have you ever heard of Doubting Thomas? In the book of John chapter 20 and verse 25 people are exclaiming about Jesus' rebirth. Then Thomas says (verse 25)
"...But he said to them ,"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
Some times we will feel like Doubting Thomas, that you need to see to believe. Believe me, I know what that feels like.
But in verse 26-27 Jesus teaches us that believing is seeing.
"A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Through the doors that were locked , Jesus came and stood among them and said,"Peace be with you!". Then he said to Thomas,"Put your finger here, see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
"Then Jesus told him,"Because you have seen you have believed, blessed are those who have not seen and believed."
Still having doubts? I encourage you to check out the Apostle's Creed, it is really cool. It provides verses that supports common doubts. It's a feature in my Bible, but if you don't have it I am pretty sure you can find it on the net. Please also note that it is NOT wrong to question God. In Acts, people were praised because they made sure that what Paul was saying was true and authentic. They didn't want to be spoon-fed, they really dug deep into the word of the Lord and I encourage you to do so. I have been trying to do so myself.

Matthew 28:18 says
" Then Jesus came to them and said," All the authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to me."

Wow. That truly to me means not to put the trust in mortal men (Psalm 146 3-4). It means to me to put all my trust in God, because He knew all the hairs on my head before I was born...wow! If the maker of Heaven and Earth who made you and knew you before you were born...don't you think that He will know the best way for you and not anyone else such as fortune tellers and tarot card readers, who do it for money only? God loves you and knows the best path for you, you just have to trust that God will help you. I am willing to give Him all my authority and love. I won't trust the world for this is temporary, instead I will trust in God, the Rock Eternal. The one who won't perish or fade away.

Matthew 28:19
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

If you read only this verse of the Bible, I bet you would think why me? Why not someone else? And how will I do it? This verse reminds me of Jonah.
It reminds me of Jonah because he was called to tell the people of Nineveh about God, instead he tried to escape and went on a boat. Eventually, he got swallowed by a big fish (The book of Jonah does not once mention he got swallowed by a whale) and then realized that God is a God of second chances. After praying for three days and three nights, he was spit up. Encouraged, Jonah told the people of Nineveh about what they were doing was wrong. The important part of this story is that sometimes you will feel that it is hard to tell the word of God. But never forget that God is a God of second chances.
Jonah thought that it was to hard to even tell the Word of God to the people. We all make mistakes. But God is a God of second chances.
But in Matthew 28:20 Jesus says,
"and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you . And surely I am with you always, to the end of age."

Even though it may seem impossible to tell the world about God, remember that He is there supporting you. This verse brings me so much comfort and encouragement not to be like Violet from the Incredible, as easy as it seems. God instructs us to step out of our comfort zone and tell everyone about the Word of God. It may seem hard, but God is with us wherever we go. He will help us and He will never ever ever ever forsake you, even if it sounds hard to do. Jesus has been through it all. He was mocked and persecuted , hated among the people. Nobody, and I mean nobody, knows hurt like Jesus does. He will be with us and hold us and put His Hand over us. God is our forcefield, and we can depend on Him for whatever we need! He is our Savior and our Redeemer and will help us throughout anything we go through.

I am just going to say a quick prayer over this,
Dear God,
I just pray that the readers of this blog become encouraged not to be like Violet and be invisible, as easy as it may seem. We need to grow and have a thirst for your Scripture. I pray that we have a burning desire to be more like You and grow in your Scripture, for you can raise the dead and heal the broken hearted. I just pray that we will live out the Great Commission and not think it will be a history book for prophecies are lived out everyday, for we are not here to live on this Earth afraid, but to trust that you will protect us when we tell the world about you. I love you Lord and just pray over all these things, for you are mighty and amazing. I pray that we are drawn in awe because of your great love, and that we just want more then a fluffy friendship with You. In all these things I pray,
Amen.