1. When it comes to friends, quality not quantity.
In high school, it's all about how many friends you have and what social status your friends belong to. When you get to college, no one cares who your friends were or what click you belonged to. Besides, the people you spend the most time building a healthy, growing friendship with are the ones who will stick around through college and will be there for you no matter what. 2. The name on your clothes doesn't define how "cool" or "real" you are. This one was a tough one to learn. In middle school I begged and begged and begged my parents to buy me the name brand clothing so I could be "cool" and "in." In high school, it wasn't as big of a deal but in order to be "in" you still had to have the latest clothes. Let me tell you a little secret...You are still pretty stinkin' cool if your clothes came from Walmart instead of Nordstrom. You are still pretty legit if your clothes are homemade instead of store bought! (PS: if your clothes are homemade, we need to meet so you can teach me how to make my clothes!) 3. Be yourself. It takes too much time and too much work to pretend to be someone you're not. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Take off that mask, girlfriend! The real you is strong, courageous, kind, loving, smart, generous, friendly, and just plain amazing! If I don't know you personally, I hope we meet some day so I can finally meet your amazing self! Plus, I really wish someone had told me the above in middle school and high school so I didn't have to keep trying so hard to be liked by everyone. 4. Your parents really do know what's best for you and really are the smartest people in the entire world. *GASP* Yes! I said it! My parents are smarter than me! (Here it is in writing, Mom and Dad.) Oh, and guess what? Your parents are smarter than you too. Everything that you have ever gone through, they've been there and done that quite a few times. They also have some pretty useful advice from their experiences. You might want to take some notes. Seriously. Take notes. I'm not joking. 5. Your family will let you down. You'll let them down. Remember that time when your parents promised you your favorite ice-cream if you got all A's and when you did, you got a good but far from your favorite ice-cream instead? Wasn't that disappointing? Or that time when you REALLY wanted that new whatever but you got something useful instead? Bummer. Something I can actually use. Your family = humans. Humans= NOT perfect. NOT perfect = mistakes, broken promises, hurt feelings, the whole nine yards. Guess what? You are NOT perfect either. As much as your family may disappoint you, you probably disappoint them just as much, if not more. You are still learning how to do this life thing and adjusting to these new stages in your life. Before you go and act on your feelings, remember this: Feelings are fickle. They don't last and will soon be replace by another emotion. And think, would I want my future son/daughter do what I'm about to do to my Mom and Dad? 6. Adults that you respect and admire will definitely let you down. It's hard not to be bitter about it but try hard not to. I say try hard because I'm trying hard to not be bitter. Yeah... I've learned to give all of my feelings of bitterness and anger and resentment to God. I can't control what other people do but I can control what I do. Do I want to be an instrument of Satan or an instrument of the Lord? I can't be an instrument of the Lord if I'm too caught up in being bitter, angry, and just plain old mad about whatever has happened. Can I get an "Amen!" 7. Your grades don't determine how smart, intelligent, witty, or clever you are. *GASP* Sorry parents, but it's true. Guys, grades do matter in high school so please work hard. But allow me to explain myself. That number is not as important as everyone says it is. What is important are these four questions: Did I do my best? Did I work hard? Did I learn something? Did I learn from my mistakes? If you answered yes to all of the above then you are fine. I'm the person that absolutely freaks out about a "B". So I constantly have to remind myself that my effort is most important and there are far, far more important things in life than my GPA. 8. Disappointments can set you back. The trick is to not let them set you back permanently. At some point you'll have to move on and you'll be stronger because of it. I know right now it seems like it is the end of the world but it really isn't. Keep moving on and keep getting stronger. Trust me, sweet, sweet friend, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. 9. Relationships are hard. Relationships are give and take. Relationships are also not one-ended. If you are putting a lot into a relationship (friend, significant other, doesn't matter) and not getting anything out of it, it's time for you to re-evaluate that relationship. Maybe you need to communicate your feelings and work it out. Maybe it's time for you to drop that friend. If I were a betting woman, I would bet that every single person reading this has someone in mind. Am I right? Let's do some soul-searching on this one together. 10. That drama that seemed like such a big deal last week, you won't even remember it in a couple of years. Seriously. It seems earth shattering now but wait six months or a year. It won't be a big deal AT ALL. Don't believe me? Write it down somewhere you'll remember and revisit it again in six months. If it is still earth shattering, let me know so I can revise my statement. 11. People come and go. God stays. Not only does He stay but He remains the same and His love lasts forever. Girlfriend, a relationship with a boy pales in comparison to the love and fulfillment you will find in Jesus. Trust me on this one. 12. You WILL get mad at God. It will happen eventually. Despite what all the "holier than thou" people will tell you, it is OK to be mad at God and ask why. Read Psalms. There are sooooo many Psalms where was not too happy and was asking God why. Let me say it again: It is OK to be mad at God. Just don't stay mad forever. Work it out with Him. He wants to hear your hurts, concerns, and every emotion in universe. He's a good listener, too. 13. At church, sing your heart out, lift up your hands, and give your all in worship. It's really not that embarrassing and your peers really don't care. In my early high school days, I didn't really worship like I desired to because I was too afraid of what everyone in my youth group would say about me and if I would still be accepted. Once I finally decided I didn't care what they thought and started to worship, I realized that they really didn't care what I did because they were too wrapped up in their own mess. So if you want to lift those hands, go for it, girl! It's just you and God and He is the one you really want to please. 14. Getting wrapped up in romantic relationships in middle school and high school is not the best idea. I will say that it's okay if you did/are dating in high school. I will also say that those years are the best time to really dive head first into your relationship in Christ and when you go to college, you are solid in your relationship with Christ and "ring by spring" won't be as big a deal. 15. If you live your life sold out for Jesus then people will notice. And a lot of times that attention will not necessarily be good or positive. This one is a tough one. It's not fun being different from everyone else and being made fun of generally comes with the territory. I was teased and all that. I wish I could tell you it stops but it really doesn't. My personal convictions still alienate me from my friends because I stick to them because I believe it is what God requires of me, personally. The Bible says that when we suffer because of Jesus, we bring glory to His name. So bring it on, people! By trying to destroy us, you are just bringing more and more glory to Him. 16. It is okay to be different. Embrace your inner nerd, artist, musician, or whatever it is that makes you happy. Don't try and be whoever your peers expect you to be. That's not you. God made us all different on purpose. You may think you're weird but, friend, you are the coolest thing since sliced bread! You are all that and a bag of chips because you are who God made you to be and God doesn't make mistakes. 17. Always, always, always remember that your family loves you and your God loves you more than you will ever know. When you feel like you are all alone and you have absolutely no one...You aren't alone. You have God (who is always with you) and your family (who will always love you). You can make it through, girlfriend. Just keep looking up. 18. Popcorn and M&M's can cure almost anything. If you've never tried these two wonderful items together...Do it NOW! You won't regret it. I promise. 19. Singing to the top of your lungs is the best medicine. The best thing about having a license and a car is that you go all these places by yourself. Which means no one else can hear you and you are totally alone with God. Sometimes I'm praying in my car, other times I threatening to hurt the car in front of me (just keepin' it real, y'all). Most times I have my praise and worship on and I am singing it as loud as I can. When I'm not in the best mood or my feelings are hurt, singing to the top of my lungs about God's love and faithfulness is all I need to turn my foul mood and hurting heart to a better frame of mind. 20. Jesus is enough. There is nothing in this world that could satisfy me and nothing that could make me feel more complete and whole. Friend, there is nothing in this world that could satisfy you more than Jesus. There is nothing that could make you feel more complete and whole than Jesus. You're just gonna have to trust Him completely and find out how absolutely breath-taking and marvelous He is. These 20 years have been on big roller coaster and I am so glad that it's not over yet. Here's to the next two decades.
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So…today is October 1st. WHAT?!
If you're like me, you're probably sitting back and reading this trying to figure out where September has gone. If you or your family is as busy as mine, your September has probably been full of long car rides, rushing to and from places, infinite to-do lists, missed appointments and missed opportunities because you were "too busy." Yeah…me too. This month has just been insane and I feel like every time I turn around, there is something else that I have to do, somewhere else I have to be, and things that need planning and doing. This week was supposed to be fall break from school and let me tell you, I had a list of at least twenty things that I wanted to accomplish over break. And then, BAM. I got sick. Not sniffly and sneezy, sick. Like bed rest for a week, sick. All of my plans = GONE. These past couple of sick days have not been fun but I have learned something really valuable from them. I am not in control. And honestly, that is so scary. I spend so much of time focusing on what I have to get done and the to-do lists of my week and the craziness that is just life in general, that I miss out on so many other things that I should be enjoying. Am I too busy rushing to class, thinking about all that I have to get done today to notice the way the sun is warming my face as a chilly fall breeze blows through my hair? Am I too busy checking email, social media, and texting people back that I don't notice someone who may need a friendly smile or someone to say hello? Am I too wrapped up in my to-do list that I can't find any room to be spontaneous or do something for myself like read a good book or paint my nails? Maybe none of those things apply to you but maybe you fill a sense of anxiety and a need to get things done in a timely fashion or you fill all hope will be lost if it doesn't get done today. So often, the heart of the problem is not that we are "too busy." The real problem is that we have lost our perspective. We have become the master and the planner of our own existence and have somehow forgotten that God is the one in control of our to-do lists. Not us. In Exodus 14, we see our good friend Moses who is finally leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Along the way, Mr. Pharaoh changed his mind about letting the Israelites go and was on his way with his massive army to get them back. Immediately the Israelites began freaking out because this was not going according to the way they had planned and it was scaring them. Then, Moses answers the Israelites concerns by saying, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:14 NIV) Be still. "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted among the earth!" (Psalm 46:10 ESV) "It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." (Lamentations 3:26 ESV) "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!" (Psalm 37:7 ESV) Here's one that really gets me: "For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling…" (Isaiah 30:15 ESV) All throughout the Bible, the Lord is telling us to be still, be quiet, and trust Him. He wants us to consult Him about our day and entrust our to-do lists to Him. He wants us to trust Him if He changes our plans and He wants us to be flexible and fret over our schedules. He wants us to be still and hear His voice and His guidance. How often do we stress ourselves out and overwork ourselves because we are unwilling to be still and rest in God's all-mighty power and control? For me, that answer would be more times than I can count. So, for the month of October, I want to challenge you and I am challenging myself. In the morning, before your day gets crazy, take five minutes to be still, pray, and listen for God's voice and guidance. I think we'll have much better days, weeks, and months if we start out with Jesus and His peace. 1. Religion taught me to hate the sin and the sinner. Relationship teaches me to hate the sin but love the sinner.
2. Religion taught me that I am better than everyone else. Relationship teaches me that my struggles are not better than yours and yours are not better than mine. 3. Religion taught me to always wear my religious mask. Relationship teaches me to be real, raw, and flawed with other and especially with Jesus. He already knows I how I feel, so why not just tell Him? 4. Religion taught me to not let anyone at church know that I am going through a tough time because it makes me "less spiritual." Relationship teaches me that struggling with something doesn't make me "less spiritual" and overcoming a struggle doesn't make me "more spiritual." It strengthens my relationship with Jesus. 5. Religion taught me that I can do what I want and ask for forgiveness later. Relationship teaches me that when I love Jesus, I want to please Him. Sinning is not something I want to do or set out to do. 6. Religion taught me that being hypocritical is okay. Relationship teaches me that being hypocritical is serious business, like, fall flat on my face before the King of the universe serious. 7. Religion taught me that everyone else is wrong, not me. Relationship teaches me that criticism (with love) helps me grow closer to Him. 8. Religion says, "Does the Bible really say that?" Relationship says, "Where did you find that Scripture?" 9. Religion taught me that mission work is only for the missionaries. Relationship teaches me that mission work is all the time, everywhere, and 100% mandatory. 10. Religion taught me that porn is not okay but reading/watching 50 Shades of Grey is okay. Relationship teaches me to "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (Proverbs 4:23) 11. Religion taught me that singing hymns like the most unhappy person is the only appropriate form of worship. Relationship teaches me that worship isn't just singing on Sunday but worship is everyday and in everything you do. Worship isn't an activity, it's a lifestyle. 12. Religion taught me to keep my hand raising to myself. Relationship teaches me that there is no right or wrong way to wholeheartedly worship Jesus. 13. Religion taught me that dancing sends me straight to hell. Relationship teaches me that David danced before the Lord in his undies. I'm not "too good'" for that. 14. Religion taught me that all youth members are loud, hypocritical, hormonal demons. Relationship teaches me that youth is the future of the church and we should love them and teach them the ways of the Lord and teach them to love the Lord. 15. Religion taught me that the budget of the church is more important than winning souls to Jesus. Relationship teaches me that winning souls to Jesus is the number one priority of the church budget. 16. Religion taught me that hymns are more important than winning souls to Jesus. Relationship teaches me that winning souls to Jesus is far more important than what style of music we sing. 17. Religion taught me that the carpet color or the paint color is more important than winning souls to Jesus. Relationship teaches me that churches all around the world don't have the luxury of choosing carpet color and paint color. Are we too busy arguing about it to reach those all around the world and in our community? 18. Religion taught me that how long the sermon is more important than winning souls to Jesus. Relationship teaches me that if in the last five minutes of the sermon won someone' heart to Jesus, does it really matter that the sermon was ten minutes too long? 19. Religion taught me that, "pride comes before the fall," is false. Relationship teaches me that pride and spiritual pride leads to spiritual apathy. 20. Religion taught me to say it, sing it, even if you don't mean it. Relationship teaches me that singing, "You give and take away my my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be your name," is hard. I need to sing it more that once to mean it. Religion without relationship is… Singing without glorifying Speaking without honoring Serving without loving Gathering without worshipping Teaching without learning Leading without following Planning without praying The cross without the resurrection Happy Thursday, all! If anyone is like me, you probably woke up this morning totally exhausted, with an achy body, and a headache. Thursdays can be tough but Friday is coming! And if you are anything like me, your life is 100% insane. This week has probably been full of wonderful moments where you think your heart could burst and there has been moments where it was all you could do to keep from crying or hurting someone. I hear ya. I am right there with you.
If anyone is like me, there is probably something going on in your life that is making you absolutely insane. It's sad, it's hurtful, and it makes you angry. If anyone is like me, right now the negative seems to be outweighing the positive. Your outlook on this situation is blurred by tears, emotions, and Satan's well-timed and well-planned attack. You're swimming in a fishbowl of dirty water. Like I said, I'm right there with you. Recently, I have been reading Ecclesiastes during my time with Jesus and so far, I have learned a lot. I have learned a lot about perspective and where I place all my worth. I have been challenged. I have been stretched. I have been changed. And then yesterday happened. I was in the middle of my quiet time with Jesus and I had just finished my extra-long, extra-bitter rant to Jesus about all the things going on in my life that made me upset, frustrated, angry, and just plain mad. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Then it was time for me to read a section of Ecclesiastes. So this particular portion was about money and riches and being grateful for what you have and the very last verse of this particular chapter said this: "He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart." Ecclesiastes 5:20 Occupied with gladness of heart. BOOM. Instant conviction. Just as I finished telling Jesus how justified I was in my anger, He tells me to be occupied with gladness of heart. So what exactly does that look like? "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 As soon as I read this I immediately said, "Do you really mean all circumstances?" And the answer is yes. So in a bad circumstance that makes you angry and upset, be thankful. What could you possibly be thankful for? People change, people let you down, people make mistakes but Jesus doesn't. Be thankful that you have entrusted your life to someone that will never "drop the ball" or hurt you. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God." Philippians 4:6 In other words, let go and let God. That is most definitely easier said than done. I want so desperately to be in control and I want so desperately for people to do what they say they are going to do and to do what they know is right. When they don't, I struggle big time. I struggle with completely forgiving them and forgiving myself for trusting them and forgiving myself for being so angry. When this happens my prayers can sometimes be filled with anger and wanting someone to do the same thing to them so they know how it feels and me wanting them to realize what they have done because I feel entitled to an apology. But according to this verse, my emotions are not wrong but my perspective is. My request should not be that someone else hurts them in the same way but rather that this circumstance would bring them closer to God. I should desire salvation and renewal, not vengeance. I should also be thanking God that He is in charge and not me. "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:15-17 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. When you are upset or angry ask God for His perfect peace. Sing praises to Him and give thanks to Him for His faithfulness. Whatever you do, do it for Jesus and with thanksgiving in your hearts. I want to challenge you. Anytime you are upset, frustrated, angry, hurt, or any negative emotion, make a list of all the things that you are grateful for and all the things that you have been blessed with. It won't take long for all those icky emotions to be replaced with joy and thankfulness. Be occupied with gratefulness of heart even when you feel like you are justified to icky emotions. Be occupied with gratefulness of heart even when everything goes wrong. Be occupied with gratefulness of heart when someone has wronged you. Be occupied with gratefulness of heart on rough Mondays and hard Thursdays. I guarantee you that someone will ask you why you are so happy and then you can share the love, joy, and peace of Jesus Christ with someone who may not know Him. "Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15 If we're honest…
1. we walk a fine line between wanting everyone to like us and not caring what anyone thinks of us. 2. we don't always want to go out of our way for someone else but we always expect others to go out of their way for us. 3. we don't appreciate what we have. We want the next best thing and we want more of the best. 4. we love comparing ourselves to people we think are "less" than us. It makes us feel better about ourselves. 5. we hate comparing ourselves to people that we think we could never measure up to. It makes us feel small. 6. we hate the sinner and the sin. We don't really have this "love the sinner, hate the sin" thing down. 7. we all think we are pretty awesome. 8. we love talking about how awesome we all are. 7. we don't like it when someone mentions our shortcomings and sins. It takes away from our awesomeness. 8. we hate braggers but we love to brag. 9. we talk about how much we hate wishy-washy people but in reality, we are wishy-washy ourselves. 10. we don't like change. At all. 11. we care more about the space we take up on the internet than the space we are sitting in right now. We would rather post a Facebook status than help someone right next to us, especially if it's a stranger. 12. we love being comfortable. We avoid being uncomfortable at all costs. Sometimes our comfort costs someone their salvation. 13. we'd rather talk about nothing than tell someone about Jesus. 14. we say "I'll pray for you," and then conveniently forget to pray for them. 15. we want to be in control. Always. It makes us uncomfortable if we're not. 16. we hate making mistakes because then we might have to take responsibility for them instead of making excuses. 17. we love making excuses. We are experts at excuses. 18. we hate not knowing the future. So we overcompensate by controlling every single aspect of our present so that we can predict our future. 19. we root for the underdog but worship celebrities. 20. we judge but no one should judge us. If we're honest… 1. we know we should read our Bible but we would rather not. It brings up the icky stuff in us that we don't want to deal with. 2. we know that Jesus has not called us to be comfortable but to be uncomfortable to bring others to Him. 3. we are the Church but we don't act like the Church of Jesus. We are like the church of "Me, me me." 4. we want to be more like Jesus but we don't want to face the worst side of ourselves. 5. we want to tell others about Jesus but we don't want to be considered weird. If we're honest... 1. we 100% realize that Jesus is the only way to survive this life. 2. we understand that the moment we die to ourselves is the moment we start to truly live. 3. we know it's not all about us but the one who has made us and is sustaining us. 4. we know that Jesus only wants the best for us. And the best for us is Him. 5. we know that the changing to be more like Jesus is hard and can be scary but it's worth it in the end. 6. we don't completely comprehend God's grace and love for us but the fact we can't understand it makes us love Him even more. 7. the future is scary but we trust the One is the Beginning and the End and everything in between. 8. we have learned the hard way that God's plan IS the best plan. Our way stinks and hurts and just gives us unnecessary headaches. 9. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. Even when we disagree with what He's doing and it doesn't make sense, He is still good. 10. we are drowning in an ocean of grace and it's the only thing that can save us. If we're honest, we're not perfect but we're trying to let Jesus come in and change us. It's not easy and it's not pretty but it's the only way to really live. On a gloomy, wet, and dreary day, it is easy to get caught up in the hum-glum feeling of the day. I am definitely guilty of this. If it's dreary and gloomy outside, I'm not the happiest person you have ever met. What I have learned over the years is that it's days like today when the devil tries to use your gloomy mood to his advantage.
The evil will use your gloomy attitude to invade your mind with thoughts that are not from God. He will push every single weakness and insecurity button possible to make you turn from God. And sometimes it works. Satan will bombard us with lies like "You're not good enough." "You're a horrible friend." "You're lazy and won't do anything productive or amazing with your life." "You're ugly." "No one really, truly loves you." Let me tell you, dear friend, these are the worst lies that have ever been told in the history of the universe. I could go on and on telling you all the lies that Satan has used on me to try and get me to turn against God and grieve His spirit. There have been days, weeks, months, and even years where Satan has set up camp in my mind. He spent every waking moment of my days filling my mind with his poisonous lies. Eventually, I had enough. I confided in my mom and told her what was going on in my mind. She told me that our battle with Satan is not so much physical as it is spiritual. Our battlefield is our mind. So, go with me on this one. Our mind is like an open field. It's a perfect place for an all-out war. Satan gets to the field first and sets up camp. It takes him a while to get settled and he slowly adds more and more weapons to his arsenal. When he first comes to camp, he only has a few soldiers with a couple of swords. A couple days later, there is a whole army that has taken over the field and set up tents all over the field. In a few more days, more soldiers arrive with guns and cannons and lots of ammunition. A few more days pass and more soldiers arrive with helicopters, tanks, and atomic bombs. Finally, Satan and his army is ready for battle. They have completely taken over the field and it looks like whoever opposes them will be crushed, blown up, and killed on arrival. Then, someone stronger arrives. Jesus is on the scene. He comes in and completely wipes out Satan, his army, and his weapons. There's absolutely nothing left. It's a waste land. "When a strong man, armed to the teeth, stands guard in his front yard, his property is safe and sound. But what if a stronger man comes along with superior weapons? Then he's beaten at his own game, the arsenal that gave him so much confidence is hauled off, his possessions plundered." (Luke 11:21-22 The Message) Satan comes to our minds and our hearts armed to the teeth. He makes it his home and stands guard. He wants to protect what he thinks is his. Then Jesus comes along with superior weapons. His weapons are not swords or guns or bombs. He comes with the power to make the oceans rage and the winds calm. He comes with the strength to move mountains and raise the dead. He comes clothed in holiness, power, and perfection. He has come to claim what is really His. Satan is beaten, his confidence is stripped from him, and his weapons are made defective. Dear friends, our minds do not belong to Satan. They belong to Christ Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. If you ever feel down and Satan has set up camp in your mind, Jesus can make it right. If we ask Him, He will fight for us. He will clear our mind of Satan's attacks. Jesus has also blessed us with weapons of our own to fight off the devil and his crafty schemes. In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul talks about the armor of God and what each piece of the armor does. It may seem like that armor might not make much of a difference when we first put it on but practice makes perfect. Satan will attack again. Sometimes, He attacks more than once a day. His attacks will give us plenty of chances to get good at using the armor of God and protecting our minds. The better we get, the less Satan will set up camp and take over everything. "Be strong in the Lord and in his almighty power." (Ephesians 6:10 NIV) She stands on the cliff’s edge waiting for reason.
Her breath short and her heart racing. The crisp wind blowing; fall always was her favorite season. Bird’s eye view but not really seeing The infinite hills and the cobalt sky. Her mind clouded her view and tainted her heart, Was there any value in her life? She wrestled and with all her strength she fought. She was determined not to cry. She didn’t want to look as weak as she felt. Her life was full of hurt and lies And moments that made her heart with fire melt. Why did all this happen? None of this was fair! A young life with a soul that was broken And a choice that no one should bear. She took a deep breath and inched closer. She was almost there now. For a moment she was stronger and braver. Her heart screaming and beating so loud She could hardly hear her thoughts. Another deep breath, And another. And silence. She walked away. On that cliff she found answers. Things that only the wind could say Something that only could be explained by wonders And strength that could go on one more day. She found hope and love so great and strong That could only come from someone she had never known She discovered that thing that all hearts longed To have but most had left it alone. She found a man who died so she wouldn’t He took her shame and hurt From the beginning of time, he knew that moment She would give him her heart. She walked away from the shame of her past And into the future with a hope that would last. "The thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in the fullest." John 10:10 So often in life my biggest fear is being alone. It's a terrifying thought for me. I love my friends and family and cherish them but I also know how human we all are. I also know that God has a plan for my life and it is truly perfect. Right now, that plan does not include a significant other….But will it ever?! During my Bible study today, almost ALL of the Bible verses including God telling us that we are not alone.
Deuteronomy 31:6 says, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified because of them for the Lord you God goes with you; He will never forsake you. (NIV)" The very first thing that God tells us is to be strong and courageous. Say what?! There are so many times a day that being strong and courageous seems impossible! We all go through situations and times that leave us shaking in our boots! But then, God tells us why we should not be afraid but to be strong and courageous. He goes with us. Isn't that amazing!! God doesn't say, "I'll be watching up here the whole time, don't you worry!" No. He goes with us. He is right beside us every step of the way. He is in the thick of our mess and right alongside us. Then He tells us that He will never forsake us. Praise You, Father! When things get hard or we let Him down, He will not leave us! He so desperately wants to be with us and will tough it all out when some people will walk away. He tells us this over and over in Scripture! He assures us that He is in this thing for the long haul! He is with us! He will not leave us! "David also said to Solomon his son, 'Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.'" 1 Chronicles 28:20 (NIV) "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said: 'Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you.'" Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) Also in Deuteronomy God says, "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV) So often our fear or whatever feeling is make us feel inadequate can consume us. I know it happens to me a lot! Dear friend, that should not be so! God wants us to live in freedom from our fears and anxieties! He wants us to trust Him with ever single emotion and circumstance. "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) Friend, He cares for you. He cares for you so deeply it is life-changing. He loves you so much that He was willing to die for you. He still is. Not only was He willing to die for you; He did. And He would do it again in a heart beat. "Don't be afraid…I've called your name. You're mine. I paid a huge price for you…That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you! I'd sell off the whole world to get you back, trade creation just for you." Isaiah 43:1,4 (The Message) Because of His radical love for you, He wants you to be free! Free from all of your sins, your hurts, and feelings that hold you back or keep you from Him. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 Slavery, friends. That is what Christ considers anything that keeps us from Him. So, dear brothers and sisters, be strong and very courageous. If you are feeling weak, cast those anxieties at His feet! He cares deeply for you. So deeply that He would never dream of leaving you! You are His! He paid a great price for you! Jesus longs to be our champion. Lord Jesus, be our champion. We surrender all of our anxieties and icky feelings at Your feet. We are wholly Yours. Have thine own way, Lord! All glory, honor, and praise be to You and You alone! As the new year approaches, I wanted to sit back and reflect not only on my year but also on the promises of Christ. Despite what this new year will hold, Jesus will love me. Despite what has happened, Jesus still loves me. Despite my humanness, Jesus still does and will forever love me. Knowing these truths, I wanted to make a list of how exactly Jesus views me. Just a few items into my list I was totally overwhelmed with Christ's radical love for me. This entire list is overwhelming. How on earth could a perfect Savior love me, a sinner, and see me this way?? I don't quite understand it but it's pretty amazing.
1. I am beautiful. Song of Solomon 4:7 2. I am sought after. Isaiah 43:1-2 3. I am strong. Philippians 4:13 4. I have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:12-16 5. I am cherished; every part of me. 1 Corinthians 6:19 6. I have a purpose. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 7. I am perfected in Christ. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 8. I am bought with a price. Galatians 2:20-21 9. I am no longer in bondage. Galatians 5:1;13-14 10. I am chosen. Ephesians 1:4-10 11. I am filled with Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23 12. I am alive in Christ. Ephesians 1:4-10 13. I have His peace. John 14:27 14. I am a warrior of Christ. Ephesians 6:10-20 15. I am chosen, holy, dearly loved. Colossians 3:12-14 16. I am brave. 2 Timothy 1:7 17. I am an example. 1 Timothy 4:20 18. Christ is not ashamed of me. Hebrews 2:10-13 19. I have been made holy. Hebrews 10:10 20. I am remembered. Hebrews 13:5-6 21. I am chosen. 1 Peter 1:2 22. I am radically loved. 1 John 3:1 23. I have been designed by Christ. Psalm 139:13 24. Christ understands. Psalm 139:1-4 25. I am God's masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10 26. I am His portion. Deuteronomy 32:9 27. I am His. Song of Solomon 4:9 This new year I hope that I remember this list every day and that I know and believe that despite my short-comings Jesus still loves me. I pray that you will remember this list and that you will believe that this is how Jesus sees you. Despite what you may say to yourself, you are beautiful. You are sought after by the King of Kings. You are strong and you have the mind of Christ. Dear friend, you are cherished; every single part of you. You have a purpose and you have been perfected in Christ. You have been bought with a price and you are no longer in bondage to sin. You have been chosen by a holy and perfect God. You are filled with Christ and alive in Christ. You have His peace that surpasses understanding. You are a warrior of Christ. You, my sweet friend, are chosen, holy, and dearly loved. You are brave. You are an example. Jesus is not ashamed of you. You have been made holy and you are remember by the one who holds all things together. You are radically loved. You have been designed by Christ, every part of you is His plan. Jesus understands you and understands your circumstance and what you are feeling. You are God's masterpiece and His portion. My sweet, sweet friend, you are His. In Christ alone, we can know that we are radically loved, chosen, and no longer in bondage to whatever was holding us back before. Praise you, King Jesus, for Your unending love and mercy. We may not be able to fully understand the way You love us but we worship you because You alone are worthy of all honor and praise! Well, it's that time in a college student's life… Exams.
Terrifying. On these exams rides all of my hopes of getting A's in all of my classes, having a fabulous GPA, and keeping my scholarship. Equally terrifying. While I was considering all of this today, I felt trapped. Trapped in the expectations that I put on myself. Trapped in this seemingly never-ending route of doing my best and trying to get the grade. Trapped and going nowhere. It kind of feels like being stuck in a fishbowl. A place with nowhere to go but in circles, doing the same thing over and over again. My mom always told that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result each time. Let me tell you, this fishbowl I'm in feels like insanity. Listen, I have put in the time studying. I have put in the time studying before for each test, each quiz and gave my 100 percent on every assignment. WHY AM I SO STRESSED? Because in the fishbowl the same things keep coming up over and over again and instead of a different result, I fall back to the same thing over and over again. Swimming in circles. Someone reading this might be saying, "Okay. I get it. What is your point?!" My point is this: Everyone has their own fishbowl. Everyone has that one thing that makes them so frustrated or stressed or upset that they start swimming in circles. Everyone has one. As imperfect, stubborn humans, we all probably have more than one fishbowl. The problem with the fishbowl is that the perspective is all wrong. In the fishbowl, swimming in circles, you can only see what is ahead of you. You're just looking at "What's next in this thing that makes me so frustrated, upset, or stressed?" You never take your eyes off of that thing. You just keep chasing it and swimming in circles. But God…. Two of the BEST words in the Bible. A phrase so small that means so much. Here is what God has to say about our fishbowls: "For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and of sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 "But we have the mind of Christ…" 1 Corinthians 2:16 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 God hasn't given us a fishbowl with a fishy perspective. He has given us quite the opposite. He has given us a spirit of power, love, and sound mind. He has promised to make our paths straight if we just trust Him. God doesn't put us in the fishbowl; our sinfulness, stubbornness, and pure humanity puts us in the fishbowl. But God has given us the mind of Christ. He gave us a vast ocean in all its infiniteness full of His marvelous grace, mercy, love, and glory! He wants us to swim in His ocean, in His waters. He doesn't want us to keep swimming in circles but He wants us to move forward. He wants us to have room to grow and to constantly ask, "What do you have for me next, God?" He will show you because He is the one who makes our paths straight. The best part is, when we get stuck in our little fishbowl, He will show up. He will take us out of that fishbowl and put us in His ocean. "They cried to the Lord in their trouble and He delivered them from their distress." Psalm 107:6 He delivers us. And because of that deliverance we are to worship Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He is so worthy! Thank you, Father, for your ocean of grace, mercy, love, and glory! |
Allison MozingoI am currently a teacher and life-long student of Scripture learning more about life and Jesus's marvelous love and boundless grace. Archives
December 2019
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