Verse Of The Day!!

‎~Romans 12:17-18~
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes 
of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with 
everyone.

Virginia's Legacy

        As soon as I found out Virginia had died, I didn’t believe it and it still sometimes isn’t real to me. But when I finally realized what really did happen I had absolutely NO doubt where Virginia was and is now- in Heaven worshipping and glorifying our Lord!

For anyone who knew or just met Virginia could tell there was something different about her. Everyone said she was smiling and always happy. The reason she was like this, was because she had the joy of the Lord in her! She loved God more than anything in the world and He was her greatest delight! No matter what Virginia was doing whether it was school work, basketball, or hanging out with friends, she always gave any and all glory God like it says in Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all for the glory of God.” As athletes, students, and friends we are called to glorify God and enjoy him forever, and that is why we are here! Virginia knew this and took it seriously every day. Through doing this and her love for Christ, she changed and influenced so many people including myself.

I grew up with Virginia, went to church and school with her my whole life, played basketball with her for 6 years, and in the last year she was here, she spent it discipling me. She was indeed a sinner like all of us, but she learned from mistakes she made and used that to encourage others and give them advice, which is one thing I’m sure everyone misses. Virginia was constantly in the Word learning from it and teaching others through it as well. She has always been a role model of mine and still is! The life she lived and the legacy she left is one that we always will remember which is: to glorify God in everything and to lead other to Him by living like Christ did. Virginia was not perfect and she knew that which is why she clung to the Lord for comfort and strength, knowing He was the only hope she had!

So I challenge everyone to look at your life and see how you are living and to see what kind of a legacy you would leave for those behind you. Do you live your life to the fullest for the Lord and not yourself and are you a servant who loves Christ above all else? And finally, we need to ask ourselves everyday if we are glorifying God in all we do!

Servant For Christ

       As a believer, we are required to be a servant just as Christ was like in Philippians 2:5-7, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Christ came to the earth to save us and be a servant and he, being the greatest among all men and the Son of God, humbled himself to serve everyone around him. God uses us as his servants to touch other people’s lives.

       I know many people have said that Virginia Jacks influenced their lives, but for me, she not only influenced my life by the way she lived, but by leading me closer to the Lord. She walked by my side whenever things got tough and always encouraged me with scripture. One thing she would always tell me and write to me in notes was, "Keep shining in the beatiful image of our Lord!" I think about that one thing all the time, and I learned that when we shine in the image of Christ, other people DO notice it! Virginia showed me that , and I cannot thank her enough. Christ's light always was shining through her, which is why so many people were influenced by her- And the amazing thing about it is that, we can do the same! Which is one thing that Virginia desperately wanted everyone she knew and loved to do! Before she died, she said she really wanted something to dramatic to happen as an eye-opener for her grade, the basketball teams, and the school. Little did she know that SHE would be that eye-opener. If she knew she would die and that this many people's lives would change because of it, I know that she would gladly have accepted that and would have loved to know it. That just amazes me that her love for the Lord was that strong!

           When Virginia died, I not only lost a teammate, friend, and fellow student, but I lost my other big sister. Just thinking about that hurts so much, but I know that God used it all for a reason. And for me personally, to strengthen my love for Him. Which sure enough is exactly what happened and is still happening. Virginia lived life to the fullest as some would say, and she lived for her Savior and Lord!! God used her to strengthen, comfort, and draw others closer to Him. Vig knew that was why she was here and she didn't waste a minute of it! God took her home after 17 years, but compared to where she is now, in Heaven for eternity with Him, that seems so short. We don't know when we're going to be called home, but we need to be ready at any moment. "Live every minute like it's your last" is such a true statement, that we all need to keep in mind. Virginia's work on earth was complete after 17 years!! That is amazing! God wanted Virginia home with him so bad becuase she's His daughter and now, she is with her Heavenly Father forever and nothing can tear them apart! We have that to look forward to one day as well. I honestly cannot wait until then, but I have to continue her legacy and continue to do what God is calling me to do until then, like everyone else!

        The life and death of Virginia taught so many things and changed so many people and will continue to do so! She was such a humble and loyal servant of the Lord who shined His light on everyone! Are we servants of the Lord and do we serve in such a way, that peoples lives are changed and influenced by us? So once again, treat every second, every minute like it's your last.

Being A Leader

       When I think of being a leader and leading people, the first thing that comes to mind is basketball and sports in general. In basketball and all sports, your team needs a leader-someone who will influence a group of people towards achieving a goal. A leader goes first and leads the people who follow, by setting examples, and having love for people!

       Typically in sports, the leader is the one who knows the most, who knows what to do, and the one is able to teach others what they have learned. The knowledge of the game, understanding the plays, and mastering fundamentals are, of course important aspects a leader needs in sports.They also have to have true commitment to the goal that is trying to be achieved. Humility is the most important in my opinion. In Philippians 2:3-4 Paul says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." If a leader or any player on a team focuses only on themself and their own goals and accomplishments, then that can cause the team as a whole to struggle, "The best teams have chemistry. They communicate with each other and they sacrifice personal glory for the common goal" (Dave DeBusschere). By having this commitment along with trust, others WILL follow and be commited as well.

       So, if you are given the opportunity to lead, whether it's on a team, in you home, at school, etc., make sure that the way you lead is in a way that glorifies God as well as blessing and helping others. Be a leader who people will remember and be inspired by! Don't take it for advantage or be selfish, view it as an opportunity to serve others, touch their lives, and make a difference!

Virginia And Basketball

      Even though Virginia has been gone almost 5 months since Virginia's death, it's still tremendously hard living without her.  I was talking to one of my teammates earlier and we were just remembering how much Virginia loved basketball, practices, each new season, and her basketball "family". In one note she wrote me she said, " And I'm really excited that you'll be on the Varsity team this year, it'll be alot of fun!" Whenever I read that or think of that, I always think about the fact that we never got to do that, and it makes me so sad. But, it also makes me realize how encouraging those few words were! Everything she told me and encouraged with in basketball meant so much. She was the joy and 'smile' of your team, I guess you could say. Going into state this weekend, is something our whole team is extremely excited about and I know Virginia absolutely loved it as well: the bus ride up, walking into the gym, staying in the hotels, cheering for the guys, playing in the game, and encouraging her teammates were some of the many aspects she loved about the whole experience. I'm sad I won't get to experience that event with her.

     However, I am convinced that she has the best seat up in Heaven where she will cheer her heart out for us! Also, I'm so very glad and greatful that God's put me on this basketball team not only because we're good :) and I love the sport, but because of the wonderful girls that make it up. Walking into my first season of Varsity Basketball, I was actually really excited. But after Virginia, I just knew part of that joy the team had would be gone and that it would be a totally different team than it had been before. Once practices started, I noticed our team beginning to grow closer together and I think Virginia was the reason for that. When we all realized she was gone, we knew we were always going to be missing a part of our team. I have seen our team get closer every single day whether it's at practice, games, or at school and I cannot be more thankful or ask for a better team. Gary said that Virginia is the heart of our team- and I so agree! She has impacted the lives of every girl on this team in so many ways and always will!

     So, when I think of September 18, 2010 I don't think of it anymore as the day we lost a close friend, teammate, and amazing girl, but as the day that amazing girl came face to face with her Heavenly Father whom she loved with her whole heart. I think her legacy has challenged our team and everyone who knew her. Going to state this week will be such an exciting time but also a time that will be hard for us, because we feel like she should be there with us. I encourage my coaches and teammates: Gary and Sarah, KK, Mary, Izzy, Caroline, Hannah, Marg, Beth, and Crewe, to work your butts off and play these last few games with your whole hearts! But, don't forget the main reason we play-to glorify our Savior and Creator!  Love you guys so much! <=   

Make A Decision

            As I was talking with some friends, the subject of Virginia, her life, and her death came up. We began to talk about how we want our lives to impact others just like hers. For me personally when I die, I want people to look at my life and see Christ!! That is our goal in life and I want so much to complete that goal. I don't want people to say, "she was a good girl... she was so good at this and that" but I want them to say that the love for Christ I had was shown and that it helped them grow closer to Him! I want to leave this earth with a lasting impression on those who knew me. And that is exactly what Virginia did. Her passion in life was Christ and glorifying Him in all she did. I know that if she had the choice to come back to here, she wouldn't come. That may be hard for some of us to imagine, but if we look at it from a perspective of not thinking about ourselves we would see that, she is so much happier in Heaven then she ever way on earth. As much as we miss her and want her back, we have to understand that one day, we WILL see her and be with her forever and we will never have to worry about losing her again! I look at this trial that many of us have faced and have only been able to find one 'negative' thing that came out of it. That is the fact that I don't get to see her everyday, write notes to her, or play basketball with her. There are so many positive, happy things that happened because of it and I think that was God' plan the whole time! People's lives were changed, people started viewing life as an everyday opportunity to serve our Lord, and we're living for something now- our Creator!! This was what Vig wanted everyone one of us to realize and she spent everyday of her 17 years on earth, displaying that and showing us how to do it! 

        Trials are put in our life to test our faith and they force us to make a decision: turn away from God or run towards Him. I had another huge trial in my life similar to this one- when my mom died from cancer 4 years ago on Christmas Eve. I never thought anything like that would happen to me and my family. I did not run to Christ, but I turned away from Him and looked to people and worldly things to comfort me. I kept asking myself WHY? why would this happen to me? why would God take away MY mom? I was angry and even mad at God for doing this to me. I look back now, I realize that my relationship with Christ could have become so much stronger through that, but I made the wrong decision. I regret it too. I never, once again, thought anything else like that would happen to me. Then when Virginia died, it all was coming back to hit me again. But something was different this time: I was more mature in my faith and ran to HIM when things went wrong. Vig helped show me that He is the only one that will last forever and the only one that will bring me everlasting love and peace! I wish I had believed that when I lost my mom. I don't know when something else like this will happen, but I know that my faith is strong enough to see me through whatever happens in my life. Another best friend of mine, teammate, family member, or friend could die tomorrow unexpectedly. We HAVE to trust God when times are quiet and easy so that when the waves and storms come, we will be able to make it through with the power of Christ!! I challenge everyone to think about what decision you made when Virginia died: did you draw closer to Christ, or flee from Him? 

Our God

      God spoke the whole universe into existence. He spoke and it was created. He made the smallest organism, the largest animal, the most complex being by speaking. How amazing! The fact that a God so powerful and mighty could care for us, love us, and forgive us is so hard to comprehend. I sin so many times every day and each and every time I do, He forgives me. That is such a great comfort! We are sinners:full of hatred and sin. God absolutely hates sin and if fact, sin is what nailed His beloved Son to the cross! It seems like such a repeated fact but it is so true and we HAVE to believe it and let it impact our lives. I couldn't image having to sacrifice a sibling, child, or friend for a bunch of sinners. Christ even did this willingly! No one can even come close to examplifying grace and love like Christ did. Because of Christ's death, God now looks at us and sees his Son! That would never have been possible if Jesus hadn't given up his life for us. King Jesus is the ultimate example of love ang grace, so we should give our whole lives to Him. Live each day for him and his glory to one day see Him in paradise forever along with our loved ones. Don't take his sacrifice, love, and grace for granted. He didn't have to die and shed his blood, but he did and we can't help but be thankful towards him. Our whole lives and where we spend eternity depend on him!

Different With The Same Goal

    I was helping with Common Ground VBS today and was just watching all the kids playing and dancing and singing. I just sat there in aw. I was thinking about how creative God is! I mean, if I was given infinite resources and time to create anything, I never would have imaged to create anything like humans. I might have come up with a rock, but probably not! I mean, if you think about how complex and unique each person is, it's amazing! Each one of us is diffenent- even identicle twins are so different! Only someone as powerful and mighty as Our God could create that. 

   However, even though each of us is far different than one another, we are all loved by Him even though we don't deserve it at all! He gave us all differnet families, different gifts and abilities, and diffenet dreams and passions. But, he gave us all the same duty while here: to glorify him and further His kingdom to the ends of the earth! This duty and job we have brings so many of us together and it is amazing! A group of believers can walk into darkness and overcome the darkness with light. That is the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit! We can use our different gifts and strengths to help others and help them grow! So, even though each and every person is unique and different, we are all brought together by Christ and have the same goal. Don't wast your life and time by focusing only on yourself and your desires, but on the needs of others and the duty God gave us! 

~Enamored and In Love~

                Today me and a group of girls were hanging out and talking about random stuff and eventually, like all girls, got to the topic of guys and dating.  As we became deeper in conversation, we all realized the one thing that we want in our future husbands/ boyfriends. And that is, we want them to be enamored with Christ. We want them to be captivated and in love with us, but even more in love with Christ. That is one thing that I think people disregard now and days.  If there is a guy who is truly in love with Christ then it will be evident in the way he talks, what he talks about, and how he treats those around him. That is the first thing guys should look for in girls and vice versa. I mean, we hear this all the time but it really is important in relationships and friendships.

                Another thing we talked about was leadership. Girls want their guy friends to be leaders. Not meaning that they have to be serious and mature all the time. Cause how boring would that be? We want to have guy friends who we can trust with anything and ones that will confront us when we sin and are willing to strengthen each other’s walks with Christ. Guys are called to be leaders and when we see that, it’s so awesome and we love it! It’s amazing to see how many people who you go to high school with, fall and draw away from Christ after they graduate. If we make sure Christ is our focal point in relationships and friendships, then they will really last forever. Those are the ones that Christ smiles upon and he delights in them.

                This summer is a great opportunity for me and my friends to grow closer to Christ together and to challenge each other to do so. I have recently been learning how important this is. When you and your friends honor Christ through your relationship, there are so many benefits and so many more happy memories than if you leave Christ out of it. The girls and I were talking about how we don’t want to look back on any of our friendships and regret anything. God put each person in your life for a reason and we have to acknowledge that.  There’s a reason each one of your friends is here and use the time you have with them to show them Christ’s love and make your friendships glorifying to Him! When you do that, nothing can tear you apart and forgiveness is easier along with trust.

                All this to say, take a look at any relationship you have and any friendships you have and ask yourself if Christ is the focal point of it and if you are spiritually growing through it. Become enamored and in love with Christ!

"Yeah Karel! We get to play together!"

       I think about Virginia everyday and all the time. She was like my big sister and one of my closest friends. We played basketball together for 6 years at Upward and on Eastwood's team. I remember when Gary asked me my freshman year to come and play in the Varsity's Christmas Tournament. I was really excited at first and driving to Lee Scott I was pumped about it. We got in the locker room and Virginia said, "Karel. You better get excited! You get to play with the Varsity! And you'll love it and do great!!" Then, when we started warmups, I stayed with Virginia the ENTIRE time cause she was the one who kept helping me and reassuring me when I was getting discouraged or nervous. Gary called me over to the bench during warmups and was exaplainig all of Varsity's confusing plays and everything which did nothing besides make me more nervous. Finally, warmups were over and we were all "huddled" aroung Gary as he was showing the starters a few last minutes plays. As I was sitting on the bench, Maria and I were talking about the game and how much we wanted to go in and play and all my nerves were gone. Then, to my suprise, Gary comes over and says, "Karel. Maria. Yall go check in." I was like "No, No! I don't wanna go in!!" I checked in and I remember heading straight for my position-left wing. I looked around and saw Mary at point, and KK and Caroline in their positions. I was freaking out then looked across from me and saw Virginia. She was smiling of course! She quickly ran across to me and told me, "Yeah Karel! We get to play together!! All you gotta do is have fun and if you need help just ask me and I'll help you okay? Now, lets got have some fun!!" Once again, Virginia took all my nerves away and I had so much fun playing the rest of the game. I scored my first 2 Varsity points then too, and Virginia was the one who passed it to me for a lay-up. 

    I was reading through my hundreds of notes from Virginia and one she wrote me at the beginnig of this past school year said, "I love playing basketball with you... I can't wait for basketball season, I really like playing Tuesday and Thursday nights! And I'm really excited that you will be on Varsity team this year, it will be a lot of fun!" When I read that the first time I was so excited about playing my Sophomore and Junior baksetball season with her. But when I read it right after the accident, I just couldn't help by cry. I never had the chance to officially play on Varsity with Virginia which is really hard. After tryouts, Gary have us an A or B which told us if we were starting or not. I got an A. Which I was excited about since I would start. Then later I was talking to Izzy and then Gary later and realized that I was taking Virginia's spot. I didn't want to do that cause it was her position and I didn't want to take it from her. Gary then told me that it wasn't her's anymore and that she would love for me to play it for her. That really helped and I Know it's true. Now, whenever I step onto the basketball court, I think of her! 

    Like other people have said, many of my memories with Virginia have been during basketball and this past season was really hard without her. When we found out we were going to state, we were really exicted. Although,  some of us didn't really want to go without Virginia. But, we soon realized that Virginia would want us to go and have the best time of our lives and glorify God while doing it. The whole weekend pretty much I, along with the rest of the team, was thinking about Vig and how much we wanted her there but she had the best seat in the house up in Heaven!! At the basketball banquet, Gary gave each of us on Varsity a yellow rose. And he didn't leave out Virginia. Her jersey was hanging up in the front and he put a rose on it... right by #11. It made me tear up cause even though she isn't physically here with us she is and always will be the heart of our team! Each time I pick a baketball or play in a game I think of her and the modivation, love, and detecation she had towares the sport and how she spend each moment of her life, even during basketball, to glorify our Heavenly Father! She brought the ECS Lady Warriors Varsity Basketball Team 2010-2011 closer than we ever thought we'd be. And I thank her so much for that and I thank God for putting Virginia in each of our lives because if we hadn't known her, who knows where we would be! We are all so blessed to have had her in our lives!

     I was reading on this website some of the things people have posted on her facebook wall and some of them made me cry once again. Several said that even though they didn't know Virginina very well, she sitll impacted their lives and even they noticed her smile and love for Christ and EVERYONE around her. Goodness. She was such a miraculous girl who I miss like crazy and I cannot wait until I see her again. She was the most humble, sweet, loving, funny, beautiful girl I know and her life has challenged me in my walk with Christ! I Love you Vig!!