Thank You For The Trials

This time last year, I thought my world was over. I had reached the point where I felt that I would never overcome such sadness and hurt. I had always believed God would take care of me because after all He wanted the best for me, right? I thought so but it had been about two years of disappointment after disappointment. I wanted to give up. Clearly God was busy working with someone else. I accepted the fact that I would always feel this way from letdowns from school, and friendships. I shut myself out of everything. I’d wake up, go to work, and half way do my schoolwork because I had no desire. I grew accustomed to it. But eventually I decided that I was tired of living and feeling like that. Who wouldn’t? It was exhausting and I didn’t want my relationships with my family to burn out because they were/are all I have.

PSALM 91:14-16 – “The Lord says I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in My name. When they call on Me, I will answer. I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them My salvation.”

I am here to tell you that I even though I assumed God was working with someone else, I was wrong. He was and is still working on me. I had been walking down a never-ending hallway with doors all locked. I tugged and tugged trying to open them, but God would not unlock them. I am so thankful that He kept them locked. I wouldn’t be who I am today if I would have taken the easy way out. God was with me the whole time. He rescued me, and protected me. I called on Him and even though I didn’t hear Him right away, He answered me. He was and will always be with me in trouble.

“The deepest level of worship is praising God inspite of the pain; thanking God during the trials, trusting Him when we’re tempted to lose hope and loving Him when He seems so distant and far away. At my lowest, God is my hope. At my darkest, He is my light. At my weakest, God is my strength. At my saddest, God is my comforter.”

Without the trials of the past two years, I wouldn’t have known that my calling in life involved working in the ministry. I wouldn’t understand what it is truly means to trust God with EVERY little thing in my life. I wouldn’t have seen just how beautiful, absolutely wonderful and magnificent it is to have a relationship with God. There are not enough words to describe the feeling. It is one you must experience. Life isn’t 100% perfect and peachy for me, and I will face more trials but I am ready because God is on my side. He will rescue me like so many times.

And YOU reading this, whatever trial you are facing, God WILL rescue you because He loves you and wants the absolute best for you. Begin to thank God for your trials today even though you don’t understand now… one day you will.

JOHN 13:7 “Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but one day you will.”

Taking Up Your Cross

Matthew 16:24-27, "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?"

What does it mean to pick up my cross? This doesn't involve me. Nobody carries crosses anymore. He was talking to his disciples anyways, not me.

W R O N G. 

Does being in church every Sunday morning and Wednesday night make you a follow of Jesus Christ? No. Why not? Because you are just going through the motions. Being a follower of Jesus is not always an easy thing. Sometimes you are called to give up some of these worldly things such as a certain job, hobbies, even relationships are sometimes given up. 

Matthew 8:19-20, "Then one of the teachers of religious laws said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." But Jesus replied,"Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have their nests, but the Son of Man has no place to even lay his head."

Jesus didn't have a home, and by saying that he would follow Him wherever He went meant he was now without a home too. It isn't a job where he can be home on the weekends. He would now be living a life on the road sharing the gospel with others. Yes, you may have to give up your house and things you treasure, but the reward is far greater than if you would choose to stay. 

Matthew 8:21-22, "Another of his disciples said, "Lord, first let me return home and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead." 

This disciple wasn't completely ready to follow Jesus just yet, and Jesus knew that. By asking to return home first, Jesus saw he was putting it off. He wasn't going to have it either. Nothing should be put above committing your life to God. 

From personal experience, I have had to give up friendships because I decided to pick up my cross. It hurt, but I wouldn't change anything about it. When you live a life with God first, you could not want anything else. God has closed plenty of doors, but has also opened up very important doors as well. 

If you are willing to take up your cross...
1.) Be willing to let go of some of these worldly things.
2.) Be ready for persecution from others but remember that God is and will always be with you
3.) Pray for God to guide you through your life
4.) Read your bible daily as you seek to find His will for your life

Hide Your Love Away

As little girls and on to young women, we have always dreamed about a wedding and our very own happily ever after. From playing Barbie with Ken getting married to pinning obsessively on Pinterest our wedding ideas. Nobody can deny that. 



Earlier this month I was able to see Kari Jobe preform live. For those that don't know, she is a Christian music artist. She's beyond amazing and she has such an awesome testimony. I recorded part of her sharing some tid bits of it, but due to technical difficulties I was not able to upload it to Youtube just yet. However, because it is so powerful I have typed up everything she shares in the video....


"I wanted to get married. I wanted the Lord’s best for me. Through the years I would just date guys and realize we weren't running in the same direction, we were not passionate about the same things and that is something I learned in my marriage...we’re both passionate about the Lord. We’re equally yoked. And especially when dating a nonbeliever.. That’s one of the most dangerous things. You think that maybe you can change that person, but they’ll most likely change you more than you’ll change them. The best thing I ever learned  was my value in Jesus and that I had to wait for His best." 

* In a different video clip* 

"Honestly what I said before about finding my value in the Lord. It’s so key because if you think that you aren’t worth anything you’ll give everything away. But knowing that if you save yourself for your husband, it is the biggest gift you could give him. I learned that 5 weeks ago. Saving yourself for marriage is such a God given gift to be able to give your husband. To be able to say, ‘My heart might have gotten broken, but I didn’t give my virginity away. I didn’t give the deepest part of my life away." And God is such a redeemer too, if that did happen or has happened, then you can begin now by saying ‘God I wanna protect myself' and God redeems that. It’s amazing. But, just knowing that there’s a bigger picture that its not about being fulfilled now, it’s about having a Godly marriage later on down the road." Kari was married late last year and this was on of the photos taken at her wedding. One word: WOW! How powerful is this. This is what marriage is all about. 

I really loved what Kari said about finding our value in Christ, but I also really loved what was said about dating and how at times she would realize they weren't running in the same direction. I once read this quote that said, "Run as fast as you can towards God and whenever someone keeps up, introduce yourself." If we are running towards God, then we can fully trust that when the timing is right God will place the right spouse in our lives. 

Genesis 2:24 (HCSB) "This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh."

When you give your purity away to your spouse, you are giving them such a special gift. God intended for that action to be between one man and one woman who are married. It creates such a unbreakable bond between the three: God, man and woman. Waiting can be very difficult at times especially living in a world with so many temptations every direction we turn, but God will bless you in the end. 

Ecclesiastes 9:9 (NLT) "Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days God gives you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil."



1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT) "Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body."

Center Of It All

When did this...

Become this? 

Since when dating someone become all about him/her buying you such extravagant things? How did meeting your soulmate become a reality television show?

It is clear that almost everything we do in todays world is done completely different than it was done in the old days. People use to communicate through letters, now days it's texting. People use to learn out of textbooks at school, and today most schools are bringing in even more and more technology. But what about dating? What happen to chivalry? Or the guy asking parents permission to take a girl out? What happened to it being called "going steady"? Now days, people refer to their significant other as their "bae"

Being a teenager is tough. Especially in todays world. 

School -> Stress -> Acne -> More Stress -> More Acne

It's a never ending cycle! Teenagers today are faced with temptation everywhere we turn. I could go on and on about things our youth is struggling with today, but what I want to talk about now is dating.  Back in my sophomore year of high school, I started dating someone. We dated a little over a year. It was my first "serious" relationship, and also my last serious relationship for a while. My mom, and even my older sister had told me not to get into a serious relationship because I'm only in high school. It was a time for friends, not boyfriends. A time to find myself, not lose myself. A time to grow closer to God, not farther away. 

Fast forward three years..

Mom, you were right. Yes, you read that correctly. You. Were. Right.

• Over 70% of girls age 15-17 avoid day to day activities such as attending school on days when they feel bad about their looks.
• 7 in 10 girls feel they are not pretty enough.

Teen girls that have a negative view of themselves are 4 times more likely to take part in activities with boys that they've ended up regretting later.

Once a girl finds a boy who thinks she is pretty, she finally feels good about herself. We will do anything to keep him happy, and to keep him around because he makes us feel good. But why does it take a boy to make us feel good about ourselves?

Psalm 139:13-14

13 

For it was You who created my inward parts;

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 

I will praise You

because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.

Your works are wonderful,

and I know this very well.

We are beautiful. Why? Because our creator made us. 

Luke 12:6-7

6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. 7 Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows!

Never let a boy define you. You are beautiful and you are loved and until you see that, any relationship you are in will be an unhealthy one.

I feel that often times we begin dating someone we often get to a point where we can't picture ourselves without them. Everything has been revolved around them. Once your relationship loses God in the middle, it's a downhill spiral from there. 

2 Corinthians 6:14

14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?

As a Christian, it is important to surround yourself with other believers so that they can build you up and not tear you down. God did not intend for dating to be all about how they give you butterflies, or how big of a teddy bear you will get for Valentines day this year. If you are wanting a relationship with someone, ask yourself if he/she is a believer. If so, then pursue it. If not, move on. Dating is to find your future spouse. Someone you are going to make a life long commitment to. Once you are married, you are a team. Forever. Make sure your teammate is on the same page as you are. What are you two going to do for the Lord? How are you two going to serve? Isn't that what we're here for? To honor God in all that we do? Yes. We are. 

Before you start dating just remember...

Worry about what God thinks about you, not what your boyfriend thinks about you.

Lose yourself in Christ, not your boyfriend.

Keep God in the middle. 

Most importantly, pray. Pray that God will bring the right person into your life. God will bring him to you at His timing. Not ours. He is writing our love story. Not us. 

Handling The Temporary Setbacks We Face

I think that it's so easy for us to get caught up in the worldly things today. Situations that we face often cause us to lose focus on what's really important which is God's love. How come when times are tough or we have a tough decision to make we turn to people or other things instead of turning to the One True God who patiently waits for us to run to Him?
I have the privilege of leading the bible study on Wednesday nights at my church with the middle school girls. The past few weeks we have been studying Hebrews. We've been learning who Jesus is, how to stay focused in a world so full of distractions and etc. Yes, these lessons are geared to a younger age, but whether you are thirteen, twenty-three, or forty-three, we could ALL gain something from it.
Take a minute and think about some struggles you are facing. Don't say you can't think of one either. Your life is not all peachy. We all have hardships. It's just a part of life. What you are facing could be failing friendships, what to do with your life and who you want to be in the years to come. It could be a financial need. Your problems are not the real problem. The problem is how you are going about handling it. Are you Facebooking about it or praying about it? Are you fighting God everyday  because it's not what you want or are you thanking God for waking you up to another beautiful day? 

Matthew 11:28 "Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

So, tell me, why don't we come to Him? Is it because we feel that Jesus wouldn't understand? I mean, how could He? Jesus never sinned, we sin everyday. Or is it because the temporary setbacks we face are much different than the things that Jesus faced? 

Hebrews 4:14-16:
14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

The verses itself tells us that the High Priest (Jesus) sympathizes with our weaknesses, He faced all the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. 
Like I told my middle school girls last week, it is on of those "been there, done that moments. Believe it or not, Jesus understands exactly what we are going through and all our struggles. My challenge for you this week is to memorize Hebrews 4:16 and do as the verse says. He is waiting for you and I with open arms. Have a blessed week!

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Just last night both of my brothers phones were stolen. But why? What did they ever do to deserve having their phones stolen? Sunday afternoon I was getting out of my car to go to work and my nice large cup of Zaxbys sweet tea spilt over my dress and all in my car. Why did that happen? I was late walking into work because I had to change and clean up the mess I made. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why me? I mean, after all, I did go to church that morning. Was God not happy that I spent my morning worshiping Him? Shouldn't good things be happening to me?? 

I'm absolutely positive you can think of a time when you questioned why something bad was happening to you. We all do it. I don't know the exact answer as to why, but I believe that God often lets these things happen to us to teach us a lesson. Maybe he is teaching us to rely on Him in times of need. Maybe you've been praying for God to help you with your temper so when something happens God is testing you to see how you react. 

Sometimes when something bad happens we automatically question God wanting to know why but we forget that satan is also there making sure bad things happen to us all the time. We can't forget that satan is always waiting for us to stumble and fall. We need to be on our guard and always be sure to not let the devil get the best of you. 

"There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area. Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice. One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. “Where have you come from?” the LORD asked Satan. Satan answered the LORD, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.” Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” Satan replied to the LORD, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” “All right, you may test him,” the LORD said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the LORD’s presence. One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God." (Job 1:1-22 NLT)

"Satan replied to the LORD, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!” “All right, do with him as you please,” the LORD said to Satan. “But spare his life.” So Satan left the LORD’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot. Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong." (Job 2:4-10 NLT)

Let us strive to be more like Job! A man who praises our wonderful, loving, Almighty God even in the toughest times!!!

Have a blessed weekend! :)

If We Are The Body

Technically I do not graduate until this Friday (the 16th) but I've already finished and turned in all my school work so technically summer has already started, right?? Tonight I went to the gym, now I am back home with a bowl of popcorn, a Braves game playing on tv, and this computer screen right in front of me. I'd say it's a pretty relaxing "summer" night. :)

Isaiah 6:8 (NLT)

8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”

I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

I have noticed a trend lately, and not a good one. Just in the past two weeks I have met two people who have claimed to be agnostic and the other atheist. They are pretty much the same thing. Both mean they do not believe in God. What's up with that? We, as Christians, aren't doing our job. What? We have a job? Yes. We are called to be a witness to other people like the two people I have met. 

Before I continue, I want to make one thing clear: I am not judging or trashing either of these two people. They are both simply just two examples I have. 

Person #1- The more I talked to the person, the more he opened up. He said "I lived the Christian life for 14 years so I am kinda over it." Honestly, I didn't even know how to reply other than "I'm Christian." He mentioned how he doesn't like having Jesus "shoved down his throat" so I said I wouldn't be one of those people. However, all I could think about was how do I witness to him without being too pushy? The only thing I could think of was to pray for this person. So I have been. This person and I don't speak anymore, but I still continue to pray for him and hope that he may meet someone else who can witness to him again. 

Person #2- This person is about 4 years older than me and works in the same building as I do. I've talked to him before but this one particular day he was talking about a ex girlfriend he had that was a Christian and they didn't work out because he was atheist. Turns out this person had actually grown up going to a private Christian school. 

Are you noticing a new trend?? Both of these people know deep down that God exists and that He is real. They just choose to not believe. 

Person #2- I also found out that this person had cancer when he was younger. After hearing this I just wanted to ask him how he thought he got healed because the ultimate cure for cancer is God. God is the healer of all things. He healed multiple people in the Bible and He continues to heal and preform miracles today. 

Back to person #1- This person may have claimed to "live the Christian life" but did he really? When you truly meet Christ and develop a relationship with Him, it is a feeling you could NEVER get tired of. 

Matthew 9:37 (NLT)

37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.

The problem I see with the trend isn't because the people, claim to be agnostic or atheist. The problem is that we aren't witnessing to these people. You do not have to walk around with a Bible and read it to strangers you sit with on the bus (but that would be pretty awesome if you did that!). Witness to others simply by doing the right thing, sharing verses on Facebook/Twitter, praying for these lost people. They make tshirst at Lifeway (and other stores too) that you can wear to witness to others. I own a bright neon yellow "I <3 Jesus" tshirt. You can guarantee it makes some people stare some times, but do I mind? Not at all. I want everyone to know that I love God and I am not ashamed of it. 

Romans 10:14-15 (NLT)

14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

I have always been too shy to go up and talk to strangers, which is why I started this blog so I could witness to someone via social media. There are numerous ways to witness to others so why aren't we doing it?? I challenge you to help me witness to these people this week and the following weeks to come. :) Have a blessed week and finish up the school year strong! :)

Mark 16:15 (NLT)

15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.