DTS

  So, it's been over month since I've updated. I didn't mean for it be so long without updating, but it just happened. It's been a busy month!

  A couple weeks ago, I sent in my application to do a DTS(Discipleship Training School) with YWAM (Youth With A Mission). I had decided that if it got turned down, God was sending me a different direction. But, I got accepted.

   God is leading me to YWAM next September. I am so very excited to be able to do this. I know it's going to be hard, but I also know that it's the best possible thing I could be doing with my life for now...

  The next step for this is raising money... The entire cost of the DTS is $5300, not including outreach airfare ($800-$2000). I am asking that you would not only pray for me during this time, but also please prayerfully consider sponsoring my DTS.

   I have set up a couple different sites to help keep you up to date if you feel like following my DTS journey.

  Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sendmedtsjourney
  Donate online: http://www.myywamdts.myevent.com/3/donate.htm
  Follow my blog: myywamdts.blogspot.com

  Thank you!

Wrapped in Grace

   Being a human, as we all are, we sometimes have to remind ourselves to give others grace. We have to remind ourselves to give others that undeserved love and forgiveness. Do we always do it? 

   No.

   We don't always do it. It's a process. We all get impatient, we all yell sometimes, we all get mad. We're human. It's going to happen. But, the Bible says to be an example of Christ. Jesus walked this earth and gave us so much grace that we didn't deserve. 

   Jesus, a perfect human being, came down to our sinful earth. He showed us what grace is on the cross. While he was beaten, mocked, and tortured.... While blood was dripping down his aching body... While thorns were being jabbed into his head.... He never complained. A few of his last words on the cross were, "Father, forgive them." 

"Father, forgive them." 

   That's grace. We didn't deserve what he gave, but he gave it to us. He gave us grace, to show us who He is. He gave us love. He took OUR punishment that we deserved. He took all of our sins with him to the cross. 

   The perfect human being that ever walked the face of the earth, died for us. He died for everyone. We just need to accept his free gift of salvation. With salvation comes grace. It's a package. 

   Salvation is wrapped in grace.

   If grace is just the wrapping for salvation, how much better can the inside be? Salvation is eternal life with Jesus Christ. Grace is undeserved love and forgiveness, and Salvation means eternal life with Jesus. What a great gift! 

   Have you opened your gift yet? 

Something for today~

   Everyday I find myself questioning God's authority. Every time I question it, whether it be once or a hundred times a day, God always responds back with a question.

Do you trust me?

   Every time that question is asked, I find myself pausing and doing a quick check through me. Every time I answer yes. I do trust Him. I trust His plan for me. 

   To say that I never get frustrated hearing that question over and over on a daily basis, well, that'd be a lie. 

But, I realize that the reason that God asks me that, is because I was questioning his authority in the first place. It's my fault that he asks me that over and over, and I have no right to get mad at Him because he asks it. 

   We all need reminders. Sometimes just simple notes or kind words like, "I love you." or "You can do it, and I'll be here to encourage you every step of the way." 

Simple things usually mean the most. 

   Try it. Do something sweet and simple for someone who needs it today. Whether it's a kind word, touch, or smile. Just do it. You won't regret it. 

    

Faith > Fear

   Fear is what holds you back from experiencing life to the fullest.

   Faith is what pushes you forward and lets you experience life to the fullest. 

   Fear pulls you down. 

   Faith pushes you up. 

   Fear takes away joy.

   Faith lets you experience joy. 

   Fear may seem strong and intimidating, but in reality it isn't. 

   Faith is greater than fear. Faith is stronger than fear. 

   True faith is found in Christ. Faith is believing in something that is unseen. 

   Too often, my fear of opinions and of failure hold me back and keep me from doing what God wants me 

    to do. If it keeps me from doing it, and I don't do it, regret is what happens. 

    Regret happens when we know that we've missed an opportunity that we should have taken.

    ~

    We need to get over ourselves. We need to let our faith in God conquer our fear of failure. 

     It's easier said than done. I know. A lot of things in this world are easier said than done. 

    Our fears of doing what God asks of us tend to hold us back from doing what God asks of us. 

    We need to stop thinking about what might happen or go wrong, and just do it and give it to God. 

    Once we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, our life is His. We are God's hands and feet in this 

    world. We are his children. We can choose to obey or disobey. 

    

     Disobeying God usually means we just missed an opportunity to grow and be stretched through Him. 

     But when we actually choose to obey God, we are blessed because of it. 

     There is a verse in Matthew 5 verse 11. It says, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you 

     and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." 

     We are blessed when we obey God and if we obey and are insulted and persecuted because of it, we 

      are also blessed. 

      Letting our faith conquer our fear is such an amazing feeling. When we have fear about doing something,       but know in our hearts that we're supposed to do it, and we do it, we are blessed. If we don't do it, 

      we've missed out on an opportunity to grow closer to God and depend on Him more. 

     Dare to let your faith and trust in Jesus Christ be bigger than your fears. 

    

Eucharisto

Eucharisto~ It means grace, thanksgiving, and joy.

~

   This entire year has been a learning year for me. I've been learning how to accept God's free gift of life and with that comes unending, overflowing, grace. I've been realizing through a couple different people who have really challenged me with things this year, that gratitude is very important. Lastly, I've been learning to find the joy in any and every circumstance of everyday.  

   This year's word seems to be eucharisto.

   Resting in the open arms of Jesus and being filled to the brim with grace, thanksgiving, and joy. That's what God wants for each one of us. He just wants us to run to him and learn to rest in his safe arms that are always open.

   Doesn't that sound glorious? It does. If you're anything like me, you like to be in control of things. Have your own plan. You worry about things that haven't even happened yet. You might rerun conversations in your head before they even happen. You sometimes have a hard time staying in the present time instead of dwelling in the past or focusing on the future.

   One thing that I've been learning this past year is how important it is to remember the past but don't dwell in it, think about the future but don't focus on it. Instead, live in the moment.

  I know how hard living in the moment can be. I still struggle with that every day. But, I've realized that every moment holds so much joy... We just have to be willing to search for it. In the midst of dark day, there is always joy. Learn to search for it.

  God gave us this earth to live on for a reason. He gave us so many little simple gifts of joy on a daily basis, and I realize now how little credit we give him. Giving thanks to God is so very important. He loves to hear us say, "Thank you, God."

  Even if it is just as simple as bubbles glimmering in the afternoon sun. Or maybe it's something like the purring of a kitten. They don't have to be big complicated things. Just simple little joys in the midst of darkness.

   

   

My dream, and God's dream.

As a young child, dreams often come in all sorts of shapes and forms.

Maybe a firefighter, Subway worker, nurse, or electrician...

As a child, dreams seemed endless. They all seemed possible.

It seemed impossible to choose only one.

Given the chance, we would have jumped at the opprotunity to live our dream.

But, just because it's our dream for our life, doesn't mean that it's God's dream for

our life.

Having a life-long dream can be changed in what seems like an instant.

Seeing something, being broken, feeling changed, and knowing love can change everything

you thought you knew.

Everything you thought you knew you wanted for your life can disappear in an instant.

It just takes a situation, a broken heart, being changed, and knowing love.... But most of all,

it takes God working in your heart.

What I wanted for my life wasn't what God wanted.

My lifelong dream was taken away, and a new one was laid.

I was given an excitement and a peace that I had never experienced before.

It was an excitement for a greater purpose. An excitement that God had given me, and peace in

knowing that it was God working.

My life took a turn into a road that I never would have taken... A road that I used to have no desire

to enter.

God changed all that, and he changed me.

He loved me, and revealed to me that he had a different plan in mind for me.

My dream for my life would have eventually led to a dead end, and a feeling of uselessness. I realize that with this changed dream that was God-given, I would be happy. I would know that I am doing what God wants for me.

My dream change wasn't painful, it was peaceful. I felt content. I felt loved. And, I felt like everything that I've been through and am going through is for a greater purpose.

I knew that my purpose in life was found. I also knew that God was doing this all for the greater good.

My dream change was necessary so that I could live a better purpose in life. A purpose that would be far more fulfilling than my life-long dream ever would.

My eyes were opened, my heart was broken, my mind was changed, and my dream was found...

Waiting.

   Getting back into my daily 'normal' routine is seeming impossible right now. The things I used to be able to ignore, I can't anymore. I feel a deeper longing to help in someway... To love more. To help more. To encourage more.

   God has placed me in the States for this point in my life. I'm trying to remember that what I want for my life is no longer what I want. I want to follow God and strive for perfection in my relationship with Him.

   I know that at some point in my life, I am going to be living a life on the mission field. I'm praying that God will guide my steps as I continue to pursue His purpose for me. If I go right after high school, that's fine. If I have to wait any amount of time for God's timing, I'm praying that he will give me the patience I need to wait and the heart I need to accept it.

   This past year has been really hard, but I can look back now and realize that it really has all worked together for good, and I know that it will continue to work together for good.

   "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

   That's the hope I cling to. I have to constantly remind myself lately that my life isn't mine anymore, it's God's life. He can use me as he wants, and I know that he will give me what I need to live it out.

   Despite how hard coming back from Ecuador has been on me, I know that there was a reason for that trip, and that reason was to show me that my dreams for myself weren't God's dreams for me.

  I love the country of Ecuador, and the many people I met. I loved the sunrises in the morning, and the sunsets at night. I loved the breezy days and the chilly nights. I loved the simple way of living. I loved the kids. I loved the vibrant green jungle. I loved the sound of the rain on the roof at night. I loved it. Every minute seemed unreal. I want to go back to Ecuador at some point, but it's up to God. If he calls me back, I will go. But if not, I know that something even better awaits.

I saw what I saw

 

I saw what I saw and I can't forget it

I heard what I heard and I can't go back

I know what I know and I can't deny it

- Sara Groves (I saw what I saw) 

~

   I recently just got back from my first missions trip to the country of Ecuador. I'm going to be honest, I didn't think I would like it, but I went just because God told me to go. So many things happened there, and none of which I will soon forget. 

   My eyes were opened to the world of poverty and the need to know Jesus in the world. One of the things we did was go to the village of Santana, about 5 hours away from the city of Lasso (where we were based). 

We did a children's program for the kids in the village, and that's where God began to take away my life-long dream for myself. He took it away. 

   I realized that there is so much more to the world than the States...

   One of the things that hit me hard was how happy the kids were. Even though they owned basically nothing of their own, they were happy! Even though I don't speak Spanish, I was touched that the kids loved me anyways. I learned so much from them. It was so easy to love them and help them. 

   As I was growing relationships with the kids in the village, who had lived in poverty forever, I felt God whisper, "You aren't going to be going on the path you thought. This. This is what I want you to do. I want you to live a life of missions for MY sake." 

   At first I didn't believe it but I soon began to realize that my dreams of going into child-care weren't there anymore, and instead a brand new one was there. My dream wasn't to go into child care anymore, my dream was to live a life of missions. 

   I think that was probably the most life-changing part for me. If the only reason I was supposed to go on this trip was to realize that my dreams for my life weren't God's dreams for me, then I'm glad I went. 

   Another thing I realized was with the amount of poverty that I saw. 

   You can know that poverty exists in the worlds. You can watch all the movies, read books, and see pictures, but until you actually experience it... It means nothing. It's when you experience poverty and are able to see for yourself that God changes you. 

   Coming back has been really hard. I never expected coming back to be so hard. I've experienced so many emotions. I've been angry, sad, guilty, and frustrated. But, I have also come to realize that I am in the USA for a reason right now. God will place me where he wants me, and he wants me right here for now. 

   I'm just starting my senior year of high school, and hope that this year is a growing year for me. I know that God is going to put more people into my life, and the people that are already always there for me are going to continue to encourage me in my journey to pursue God's amazing plan for me. 

   

   

Totally backwards.... But Why?

I was talking to friend today, and it was about this quote... 

   I started laughing about it when I read it. All I could picture was me being the passenger on the train. I pictured me... Throwing away the ticket and jumping off the train when it just went through a dark tunnel.

How silly is that?

   ---

   In a couple weeks, I will be headed to the unknown lands of Ecuador to minister to some of the people there. I will be with a team of eight other people...

  We will be flying there. We trust the pilot to get us to our destination safely. Why?

  The pilot is a human just like we are. We fail. The pilot can fail. He can make a mistake in flying...
Yet, we trust the pilot...

   How come then, we can't trust God like that? God loves us. The pilot doesn't really care about us. God knows us. The pilot doesn't. God has an amazing plan and NEVER makes mistakes in his planning. The pilot of the plane can.

   Does that seem odd to anyone else besides me?

  We can put our faith and trust into people... Perfect strangers... Yet, how come we struggle with putting that same faith and trust into God?

   God never makes a mistake in his plans for us. Every plan is different and flawless. If we put the same faith and trust into him as we do into perfect strangers (like the Pilot), imagine how different our lives would look.

   Doesn't that seem backwards?
 
   Shouldn't we be more afraid of perfect strangers that we are trusting than we should be of God?

   It is backwards. It never will make sense until we get to heaven. But, I do know this. Even though we fail every day at trusting God with something in our lives, God is always there when we need him. He still loves us, and he still offers us the free, undeserved, amazing grace...

   Some encouragement today:
   Accept God's outstretched hand. Have peace in knowing that God's grace is enough. Know that you are not a failure. God still has an amazing plan for you!! Even though his plans may seem to go against everything you've learned or your way of life.... Go for it! It is the best.

A daily reminder

How many times a day are you afraid?

If you're anything like me, a lot. I'm afraid of losing my reputation, failing... I'm afraid of losing a friend or a family member. I'm afraid.

One thing that I think is pretty cool is the number of times that the words, "Do not fear" and "Do not worry"
were each said during the Bible. Both phrases were said 365 times apiece.

That's a daily reminder. Three-hundred sixty five days in a year and each day you have that daily reminder.
Is that not cool?

~

Have faith.

Faith is believing in the unseen. 
When we have faith in God, we are believing in him and have faith that he will take care of us. 

Because we believe this and know that it is true, we can fully depend on God.

Even though we constantly fight his amazing love and outstretched hand to help, he is always there... He's there, waiting. Waiting for us to realize that we don't have to fear about the future, or worry about today.

Just live in the moment.

Have peace in God. Let yourself rest in his unending, overflowing, amazing grace and love.

Know that it will be okay.

Your God is the God who created the universe. He made every star and knows each one by name.
He knows you, inside and out. He knows your heart. He knows what will happened in the future, and he also knows that it is a good plan just perfect for you.

I'm not perfect. In fact, most of the time I feel like I fail at anything and everything.
But, then I am reminded by a friend or through the Word of God, that I am valuable. I am not a failure.
I am loved. I am created for an amazing purpose.

I'm on a mission from God. 

Do I know what that mission is? No.

But, I do know that if I follow him, listening to his guidance, that I will end up where he wants me to be.

I shouldn't fear the future. I shouldn't worry about today or tomorrow. What I should do is this: Trust God in any and every circumstance. Love him and love others as he loves me.

I know that God's plan is best, but that doesn't mean I'll always trust him.

Sometimes I wander and think I can do it on my own... But, after awhile I realize that it isn't working.
I need God in my life. I need him to guide me.

We're all humans... Which means, even though we know what we should do, we won't always do it.
Even though it is proven to us over and over again that we can't do things without God, we still wander away from him.

It's okay.

God will always be there for you. He loves you. He wants to change you, and in that, let you see how he works in the lives of those around you.

Two daily reminders for your life today are these:
1. Don't worry about anything, instead PRAY about everything.
2. Don't fear today or tomorrow or the future. God has complete control.

And you know what? Those promises from God are still true this afternoon, tomorrow, next week, and forever....

Learning to Smile

I'm learning to smile. 

Learning to find the joy in every circumstance,

 in every day. 

I'm teaching myself that life doesn't have to be perfect,

and neither do I. 

All that really matters is trusting in God

and finding the joy. 

~ 

   Let's face it, life is difficult 99% of the time. Some days it may feel like a total uphill climb, and you find yourself wondering if that climb to the top is worth it. 

   Your life is worth it. 

   Every trial and every heartache, every tear and every plea.... It all helps you grow and change into the person that God wants you to be. 

   In the past month, I have been getting lots of inspirations from my daily life that I hadn't noticed before. 

For instance, thunderstorms. 

   I, personally, enjoy thunderstorms and love hearing the pitter-patters of rain on the roof. Seeing the shadows caused by lightening and feeling the shake caused by thunder. However, some thunderstorms aren't enjoyable. They are scary. 

  But, have you ever noticed that there is a calm before the storm hits and also after? The calm when the world stops. Time seems to stand still. Then the storm hits, and it feels like complete and utter chaos. The wind is strong. Branches fly and trees may fall. 

   Then, all of the sudden, there is calm. 

   Relief. 

  It's the same way with life. When your life seems to be going pretty good and it all seems calm, the storm hits. It makes you feel like you are in the middle of a battlefield where everyone is against you. 

  The storm becomes strong. You become frightened and sometimes may even lose your focus on Christ. 

When you lose your real focus, Christ, life is worse. 

  Having God by your side and trusting him through any storm in your life is going to be the best decision you could ever make. It doesn't make life any easier, but it does make it bearable. 

  Storms are a given in life. They will always exist. It's your choice on how you will handle them...

   

A million little things~

 

A million little things. 

Dreams. 

Hope. 

Simple. 

Happy. 

The list goes on. 

Too often I would worry about finding the joy in my everyday life.

I was just worried that maybe I am not really grateful for things and 

was just trying to find something to be grateful for. 

When I truly realized what gratitude is, it became easier for me to find it. 

Gratitude comes in the simple things. 

There are so many everyday things that I have been missing. 

Simple things. Like the smile on a child's face, or a beautiful display of citrus. 

Gratitude is finding the JOY in the simple. 

There are millions of little things that we missed every day. I am realizing

that it is the simple things that are usually the best. 

A smile. 

Hug. 

Giggle. 

Flower. 

Sunsets. 

Time. 

The list could go on forever. 

I have learned that I need to be more observant of the world around me. 

I have learned that the quiet of the day is simple, but is needed. 

A smile or a word can change a day. 

A simple flower can make a smile. 

A giggle helps you forget your struggles. 

It goes on....

 

Learn to find the joy in the simple. You won't be disappointed.  

Joy in the pain

This past week has been really hard for me. I have dealt with a lot of things that I never would have thought that I would ever had to deal with. I have had many emotions during this time, and sometimes it was very hard to control.

Anger seemed overwhelming. 

Sadness seemed to reign. 

Fear lurked during every hour. 

Defeat was closing in. 

Regret was a constant reminder of what 'could have' happened.

Yet, LOVE was always there. 

Even though this week has been hard, I have felt the endless amounts of love, and have been able to give and show the same kind of love that I have been getting. Undeserved, unending, love. 

Love. 

I have never been the kind of person that can find joy easily. During this week, I have somehow felt the amazing peace of God and have been able to find joy pretty much all the time. 

That is God. 

That amazing peace that I have felt during this entire week of anger, sadness, fear, defeat, and regret, was God's amazing LOVE. 

God's love is always bigger than anything you might be dealing with. 

His love offers you peace, comfort, purpose in the pain, reassurance, and encouragement to keep going... 

I have truly felt God's love this week. Instead of being caught up in this trial, I have been able to find joy through God's amazing, unending, and undeserved love.

He has given me the courage to talk to the right people about it. He has given the words I need to say during this situation. He has given others the right words to tell me when I needed them most. 

That is my God. 

Though this trial isn't over yet, I have a peace. A peace that I wouldn't have if I didn't know that God has a purpose in all this pain. A peace of knowing that God is control... And, a peace that it will be okay. 

God is amazing. His love is unending. 

You can never do something so bad that God won't love you less. That's what we call, undeserved grace.

None of us deserve it, but yet God offers it. He offers us the free gift of salvation. Freedom from sin and freedom from death. 

God's love is always there for you... 

Breathe

Have you ever had that amazing moment when a song comes on a radio and it bring back such vivid memories from your childhood?

There is this one song called Breathe by Michael W. Smith that comes on the radio every now and then. Every time I hear it I start remembering only one thing.

I remember getting up in the early morning and I would go to the bathroom or something. My mom would always have a Micheal W. Smith CD in the CD player and she would be bustling around in the kitchen... Usually cutting up fruit or scooping cantaloupe.

It's not a big deal, but every time I hear that song it bring back memories of her standing the kitchen with that song playing softly in the background.

It's not that big of a deal, but it is a memory. A sweet, simple memory that I will not forget.

Do you have any of those small simple memories that are sometimes triggered by a certain song or movie?
Take a minute out of your day, and breathe. Remember... And, smile.

Memorial Day

Today is a holiday that I think tends to get buried under the excitement and activities that we do on this day.
From going to an early morning parade to having BBQ's in the backyard, the true meaning of what Memorial day is really about is buried. Forgotten.

I too, forget what Memorial day is really about. Memorial day is a day that was created in purpose to honor the missing in action, the ones who paid the ultimate price for their country, and to remember them and realize that we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them.

If you really begin to think about it, Memorial Day is one of the saddest days during the entire year. Yet, it is a reminder...

A reminder that our freedom has a price.

A price that was paid by thousands of people who were willing to stand up and protect their friends, family, and country. They paid the ultimate price.

Maybe that's why this holiday has gotten buried under excitement and activities. Because it is a sad holiday, but it is also a holiday filled with hope, pride, and selflessness.

Hope for the country of America. 

Pride for those who were willing to sacrifice themselves for us. 

Selflessness for the ones who were willing to put their own lives in the path of the war... 

They weren't doing it for themselves. They were doing it for the ones they love. They were doing it for their friends, their family, and their country. They were doing it out of love for all of us.

Memories

You never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory
                                           - Unknown 

I have many memories of my childhood. From going to never-ending softball games to water-coloring with my Grandpa in his dining room. I have memories of going on vacation with my family, but the memories I have only highlight certain areas of the vacations... Like seeing a wild bear!

I never knew the value of those moments then, but now I realize how simply sweet they really are.

We all have those kinds of memories, but we also have bad memories that we would probably rather forget... I'm realizing that all the bad things that happened during my childhood, not all of them stay within my memory. Why?

Because we simply don't need some of them, so we forget them. Not on purpose, just over time we forget.
The memories are still there, but not within our remembering. But then, I have also realized that the perfect time they are usually brought back to the surface.

Maybe we are trying to help a friend with something and all of the sudden God brings back a memory that you had forgotten, and it totally relates! God does use everything you experience.

Your memories are stories and lessons. 

In the Bible, Jesus spoke in parables. Parables are stories, but with lessons weaved in. As a Christian, God gives you all your memories at the right time and then you are able to tell them your story and what you learned from it.

Your memories, good and bad, have meaning and aren't in your life by a mistake. 

Some of your memories are meant just for you. Whether they were a lesson personally for you, or just a sweet memory that God has given you to keep and not share. There are also memories that God gives you to share with others so that others may benefit from them.

I don't know about you, but I learn a life lesson best when I hear a story. I think a lot of people learn that way. That is probably part of the reason that Jesus always taught in parables.

I'm not saying share all your memories that you can possibly think of of. I am saying, listen to God and see which memories that God wants you to share. Some of the memories you have, you won't share. That's because God gave you those sweet, simple memories for you and not for others. There are other memories that God wants you to share so that others can be encouraged and learn from them.

The first quote at the top of this post is one of my favorite.
You never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. - Unknown

Love it.

You never know. You might think that your life is dull and boring and never filled with anything but boring things, but then you will look back one day and remember the small things and realize that those are the big things. Those are memories. 

God has a way of using the smallest, unwanted things and making them beautiful memories. He has a way of using even the least of people and using them to do big things. God does that. Never give up hope.

God will use you too, if you let him. The question is, "Will you let God use you?"

Is life fair?

Too often, I find myself in the middle of a sibling argument. I find myself listening to my younger siblings argue about how unfair certain areas of their lives are. I find myself joining in with them, but not realizing it until later. 

While I sit here writing this, my mind is wandering to the 'fairness' of life. Truth is, life isn't and never has been fair. Ever. 

Was it fair to Adam that Eve sinned and ruined the world? Was it fair to God that he created this world and later Eve ruined it by disobedience? 

No. It's not fair. 

What if life was fair? Life wouldn't be much a surprise. We would all be doing the same thing and growing up the same way and learning the same things. Basically, if life was fair, we would all be exactly the same because if we weren't the same life wouldn't be fair. Right? 

God made life unfair for a reason. He made life unfair so that we each can have our own special surprises in our life. He made life unfair so that we can all grow up differently and learn to be the person he wants us to be. 

If we all grew up the exact same way and did the exact same thing, there wouldn't be any special surprises or twists to our story. God loves giving us twists. He loves giving us surprises. That's why he made life unfair. He made life unfair so that we don't have to be the same as everyone else. 

Instead of "Life isn't fair." Think about, Why life is unfair. 

Life is unfair, and that's okay.

The reason life is unfair is because it is. It just is. Life isn't fair or perfect, but God is okay with that. All he wants for you to do is enjoy the ride of life. He wants you to enjoy the special twists and turns that he puts into life. He wants that. He doesn't want for you to not be content, he just simply wants you to be content with where he puts you at this time. 

Stop thinking about how you wish life was fair, instead think of the reason behind why life isn't fair. 

What am I supposed to do?

I often get caught up in the chaos of life and end up forgetting what I really am supposed to be doing. 

What am I supposed to do? 

God gives us freedom to do whatever we want, but he also gives us a choice to listen to him or not. It's up to us. We have to make that decision on a daily basis. It's not just a one time decision, no. That question will come up again daily... What am I supposed to do? 

Often, God reminds me in the little things about what life is really about who I am reflecting. God's voice is heard anytime and anywhere, it's just my choice whether to hear him or not. Sometimes I can hear God's voice in an email from a close friend who is encouraging. Other times it just comes like a gentle whisper while sitting alone by the river. Still other times, in the midst of trials and yelling I can hear him. 

There are so many different ways that God speaks to us and uses us to speak to others. 

For me, it is hardest to listen to God when I just cannot see anything. No light at the end of the tunnel. When I feel hopeless and lost. That's when it is hardest. Yet, he usually is still there reminding me of who he is. He is the God of the impossible. He turns darkness into light. Ashes into beauty. That's my God. 

We still have hope. 

God is hope. He is the hope in our lives. He promises something better will come. Even during the trials of this life, God is working that together for your good. He always makes brokenness whole. He works the trials and tears of our life together for good. For his special plan. 

After thinking about all that while listening to God, I realize what I am supposed to be doing. 

I'm not supposed to be too caught up in making the grade or trying to please everyone. I am just supposed to try to please one person, God. God is taking my life of ashes and turning it into beauty. 

He is there listening to my every frustration and seeing every tear I cry. He is hearing my pleas and is calming me when life hurts. I am supposed to obey him. If I obey him, I know my life will be okay. God is my daddy. He wouldn't do anything to hurt me. He might discipline me, and during that it might hurt, but it is for the best. 

God is my daddy.

God took me as I am. My brokenness, my disobedience, my non-perfection... He took it all, because he loves me. And, he loves you. 

You are special to him too. God wants you! God is your daddy and wants a relationship with you. He wants to be the one to calm your tears and to remind you that it will be okay. He loves you.  

Accepting Jesus Christ and what he did for you on that cross, isn't hard. It doesn't require perfection. It doesn't require knowledge. It just requires acceptance. 

Undeserved Grace

  
Have you ever had that sudden feeling that you don't feel 'good enough' for the kingdom of Heaven? 

I have felt that way. 

It is then that I am reminded of God's amazing, undeserved grace that he gives to us on a daily basis... 
What is grace?

Grace simply means undeserved love and forgiveness. 

As humans, we are sinners. We sin on a daily basis and we will never be perfect. There only ever was and only will be one perfect person who walked this earth, Jesus Christ.

God, the maker of everything, the ultimate perfectionist, loved us. LOVED us. We are the ultimate sinners. We are far from perfect. So why does this God love us if his standards are perfect? 

Grace. 

God created us perfect, and yet even after we disobeyed him and caused his perfect world to be ruined,
he still loved us. Total undeserved grace.

We don't deserve God's unfailing love and forgiveness. We don't meet God's standards by a long shot.
Yet, God loves us. We don't meet his standards of perfection, but that is why God sent his only son, Jesus.

Jesus was perfect. That made him the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus died willingly for us on the cross.
He took the punishment we deserve. Three days after his death, Jesus rose again. Jesus Christ conquered death.

He showed us that by his conquering the grave, there is NOTHING that can keep us from the undeserved love and affection that God gives to us... Not even death.

God loves you. He wants you.

God already has your free gift of eternal life waiting for you, you just need to accept it. You aren't good enough, but you know what? God loves you anyways! 

That is Grace. God undeserved grace for us. He loves us even though we fail him on a daily basis.
He wants to help us. He wants us.  Just accept his free gift of grace and eternal life.

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

-Isaiah 41:10

This is a short, but powerful verse. One of many verses that encourages us to go on. 

To keep trying. It also reminds us that God is in control of everything. 

He is holding us up when we feel like we are falling down. 

The verse says, "I will strengthen you and help you;"
It doesn't say, "I might strengthen you and help you." 

God will give you the strength you need to continue. Don't be afraid of the future,
but be excited and eager to see what God has waiting for you!

Stepping out in Faith

                                One of the most amazing miracles in the Bible, happened to Peter. 

                                                              Peter walked on water...

This was an amazing miracle that Jesus performed, and it didn't just happen to anyone, 

it happened to Peter... One of the twelve. 

Peter was a fisherman before Jesus called Peter to follow him. 

Peter knew that walking on water was impossible, but yet when

Jesus called him on on the water, during a raging storm, Peter did it. 

Peter kept his eyes on God. He was trusting that God would help him.

Peter did walk on water! 

Then something happened. Peter took his eyes off Jesus and started to realize

all the trouble around him... The swirling waves, dark clouds, and raging rain.

Peter began to sink. 

Jesus then pulled him back up out of the waves that wanted to swallow him. 

They both got back in the boat and Jesus calmed the waves. 

~

This is a great story, and a good comparison to life. 

We have our comfort zone in life, and we don't like going beyond it. 

Yet, Jesus normally calls us to get out of our boat and trust him. 

We might start out trusting him, and keeping focused on him, instead of all the chaos around us. 

Then we look around. We notice that life is scary. The waves are intimidating. The clouds seem so 

dark. The rain seems relentless. We forget or begin to ignore that we need to keep focused on God. 

We begin to sink. 

Yet, Jesus still  comes over to us if we ask and he will lift us back up and encourage us to try again. 

~ 

I admire Peter's willingness to dare to step out in faith. 

No hesitation. 

Jesus called, and Peter answered.

Peter was a fisherman. He know the that walking on water was probably impossible, but yet, Jesus was doing it. 

God has a way of taking the things we thing impossible and turning them into miracles. 

Just like Peter was called to walk on water, we are called to step out in faith on a daily basis.

But we fear stepping out of our comfortable boat... We don't know if it's safe. 

Something to remember: If God is calling you to do something that seems impossible, do it. You will probably witness a miracle. Dare to step out in faith. 

Dare yourself today to make a difference. Dare yourself to step out in faith when God calls you to

do so. Dare yourself to have more faith and trust in God. Will you take that dare? 

Overflowing with Gratitude

Gratitude: The quality of being thankful.

There are days, when life seems hopeless. When life seems to run over you and you just feel like you can't get back up. That is when you just want to give up. 

It's during the darkest days, when it's easy to forget how much God has already blessed you with. 

Instead of daring yourself to look up, you continue looking down. 

Dare to look up, child. 

Think of your life as a giant puzzle. You are staring at it and cannot even begin to comprehend the whole picture. All the vibrant colors and scenes... Then you see one little piece that looks really bad, and you wonder, "Should I do this puzzle?" 

If you didn't do that puzzle, you would never know how that piece that looked bad fit into your amazing puzzle. Worrying is the opposite of gratitude. 

When you worry, you get so caught up in what MIGHT happen in the future or what you want to get in the future that you miss what is going on today. This moment. Now. 

Worrying isn't gratitude. 

Worrying says, " It's not going to work. You don't have enough. You want more." 

Gratitude says, " This is enough for now. Enjoy it. " 

God doesn't promote worrying. God promotes love. Love leads to gratitude.
When you love someone, you are grateful for them. You are filled with gratitude for them. 

When you are filled with gratitude for one thing, you begin to realize how precious all things are.

Gratitude makes you realize how much you already have. 

Maybe it's not big things you are grateful for. Maybe it is just an old rustic Radio Flyer wagon that holds memories of long walks with your family. Maybe it is just a simple piece of fruit. Maybe it is a smile or a hug from a friend.  

Gratitude might be hard focus on some days, but it is important. God loves it when we take time to recognize the things that he has already given to us. 

It really isn't the big and bold things in life that make the most difference. It is usually just something simple. 

A smile, hug, or a kind word... 

The simplest actions can make the biggest most positive difference in a person's life.

God has blessed you, even when it seems you have nothing. Remember: God has given you the breath of life today! Enjoy it and use it for his glory. God has also given you a purpose in life- until that is done, you will remain. 

Things happen that might not have been your plan. That is when God is usually flipping your life plan upside down and saying, "There, that's better. Look my child!" 

God has a way of doing that. A way of taking our plans and flipping them upside down and saying, " There, that's better." 

A few months ago, I was scared. I was scared that if I tried finding the gratitude in my life, that I would do it wrong. I always wanted to, but I always had second thoughts.... "Maybe I'm doing this wrong. Maybe I'm not really truly grateful for this orange or the grass... That would be lying. Am I grateful for these thing or not? I now I am blessed to have them, but you know, I don't really like oranges and grass is pretty but I hate walking in it. So maybe I'm not really grateful for the grass. Maybe I am just trying to come up with something that I'm thankful for... Ugh, nevermind. I have to think about this more. 

That was my thought process... Every time I found something that I thought I was grateful for, I always freaked out and turned into perfectionist mode. Then I realized.... 

Gratitude. True Gratitude, isn't like that.  Sometimes it is just the simple things. Don't over think gratitude. Recognize things, and then take a moment to imagine your life without them. 

One of the things I don't like about summer is the wasps and the bees. I hate bees. I hate the thought of getting stung. I just don't like them.

Earlier today, I was wandering around outside and I stopped to look at one of the few tulip buds around our house. 

As I was just examining the bud, I looked down and saw this (right). This bee was helpless. It was almost frozen by the cold breeze. It was struggling for survival.

My first thought when I noticed it was, "Squish it!" 

I didn't want it to sting me, not that it could... But IF it just suddenly had strength... I was about to just step on it, when I heard a whisper in my ear. It said, "Stop." 

I stopped. I paused. Still staring at this helpless creature, I started thinking. I started wondering what my life would be like without bees. Not just bees, but maybe the memory that the bee made. I remember getting stung for the first time, by a bee just like this. I cried. I was hurting. Then, I cuddled with a friend who wiped my tears and told me it would be okay. 

Memories like that, with soothing voices and warm cuddles don't just happen. They are usually a result of pain. 

I didn't hurt the bee. Instead I moved it gently underneath a canoe... It was not protected. 

When something painful happens, know and believe that something good will come afterwards.

Just like I had to get stung by a bee first in order to get cuddles next, that is how life is. You will always have pain, struggles, and sadness. But you have a hope. A greater hope.

Knowing that God is in control of your life.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11 

Be grateful that you have a purpose and that God knows the plans he has for you. Be grateful that he is in control. -- When you realize that, then that is when you are overflowing with gratitude towards him. You cannot even begin to express your gratitude towards him. It just overflows... 

Dare yourself to live a different life. Dare to be filled with gratitude...

Finding the Joy

Joy. Pure relentless joy. 

That is the joy that God is calling us to have.

Joy that doesn't fail and is always available. 

Seeking joy is hard. Sometimes it might even seem impossible during the darkest days.

Joy is there though. You just need to drive yourself hard enough to find it. 

Sometimes the simple things in
life bring you the most joy. 

                            Remembering to seek joy is easy, but do you want to seek joy?

For me, I sometimes feel guilty seeking joy if something bad is going on. I feel like someone else might think I don't care or am too proud or too good for that bad thing. -- That's why it is so hard for me, personally, to try to find joy in everyday life.

That's not the way God wants it to be though... God specifically says in Romans 12:12, "Be joyful always."

That is so hard to do. Especially when it seems like your world is crumbling beneath your very feet. When your life seems to be spinning out of control... God still says, "Be JOYFUL."

Joyful of what? What has God given me that I should be joyful about? -- God has given you so much. It's just your job to learn how to find it and then be filled with gratitude.

Someone once told me something that I have clung to ever since I heard it...
"As long as a person is still alive, their purpose on earth isn't done yet."  

We should be excited! We still have a purpose!!

As long as you are still on this earth, God's purpose for you isn't done yet. You are special. Irreplaceable.
LOVED.

Even during your darkest days, you are loved. When you feel alone, know that you aren't alone. When you feel defeated, know that you still have hope. When you feel worried, know that it will work out.

God has your life in his hands. He has always walked before you. Prepared the way. You will have decisions, but God will be with you every step of the way. He loves you, my child.

God has clothed the flowers with beauty, how much more will
he take of us, his best creation? 

Matthew 6:25-34 talks about worrying. Verse 25 says, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life. What you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food , and the body more important than clothes?" 

Jesus goes on by comparing the flowers of the field and saying, "If that is how God clothes the grass of field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you?" 

Let go and let God. Don't worry. Worrying doesn't add you to your life, it only stresses you out more.
It makes you panic and want to take your life into your own hands instead of letting God do his job.

Worrying also takes away the joy that God tells us to find. If you're worrying, how can you realize what you have already been given? You can't. You get lost in traps of Satan.

Finding the joy in your daily life is what is inspiring. When you start realizing how blessed you are, you start acting differently too. It's not pride to be joyful. You're just training yourself a different way of living.

A way of living that changes the way you think.

Seeking joy is a way that challenges everything you think you want, and reminds you of the things God has already given to you. 

To all my readers: I am praying for you. Praying that you will learn to find the joy in the simple thing ordinary things. Praying that through whatever struggles you are facing, that you will feel the hand of God moving over you. Praying that you will show Jesus Christ to others, and be an imitator of Him. 

Learning to find joy is one of the hardest things to do. Especially when there seems to be none... I know.
You can do it. Train yourself to be filled with gratitude. Thank God for the things he has already given to you.

Someone once told me, "Life isn't supposed to be easy, just joyful." This is so true. Train yourself to find the joy in any and every situation that comes your way.

Dare yourself to live differently than maybe you have been. Dare to take a different stand. Dare to find the joy, not for the benefit of others, but for yourself. 

Extraordinary

Each and every person on this earth is made extraordinary. 

You are special, and created for a specific purpose. A purpose that will only be revealed through God. 

You are extraordinary. You have your own unique flair to life. You have your opinions, but maybe you're too scared to voice them. You have your thoughts and emotions, but maybe you're too scared to express them...

Maybe you have been the 'good girl' all your life. You want to try your hardest to please others. 

Sometimes, when you try to please others, your unique flair settles for less. You bury your talents in the world. You are scared to be different. To voice yourself. 

Maybe you have buried your extraordinary and settled for something ordinary. 

I understand. That is me. 

The world doesn't welcome different. The world hates change and tries to destroy it. The world doesn't like unique people, because that usually means change. 

As a believer in Jesus Christ, that is the biggest change anyone could ever experience. You go from being 'dead' to being 'alive' in Christ. 

That is the best change you will ever experience, but at the same time, maybe the worst.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ and what he did for you, so many other things tie in. Now, instead feeling lost and hopeless, you have a purpose. You want to know what your purpose is. You know it's out there. Somewhere. 

You just need to depend on God for the answers.

God loves you. He is the one who made you extraordinary. He is the one who knows everything about you. He is loving Father who will never turn you away. His arms are always open for you. 

God is perfect. You aren't perfect. You never will be. So how can you meet God's standards? Reality is, you can't. God's standards are perfect and you won't be perfect. Ever. But, God loves you. He wanted to give you the chance to accept him. 

That's why he sent his own son, Jesus Christ, to die for YOU on the cross. 
You just need to accept God's gift of eternal life willingly. Accept that Jesus DID die for you and that God does love you. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When we turn our extraordinary selves into just more ordinary people because of the world, we are turning away what God has for us. We bury ourselves and pretend we are someone else. 

So our extraordinary turns into something ordinary. Do you want to know something? God loves EXTRAORDINARY. He loves you, for you. He doesn't want you to be someone you aren't. He made you for a purpose. A purpose that will only be revealed if you trust in Him and him alone. 

Don't worry about what others think. Stop trying to please the world. You will never be able to please everyone. 

A friend once told me, "The need isn't always the call." 

Meaning, just because someone wants you to do something, it might not be your job to do it. It's okay to say no. 

One of the most amazing things about learning to follow God, is you can't hide anything from him. 

God has a sense of humor that funny, but might seem annoying too...  
God will more than likely use your greatest fears and weaknesses to show you who he really is. 

Mine is public speaking. I don't like doing it. I avoid as much as is humanly possible. I am realizing now, that God is probably going to use that greatest fear of public speaking and show me more of who he really is.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

In other words, God LOVES it when we depend on him, because then he will show us how much we are capable of. 

In our weakness, he is strong. 

Our extraordinary cannot fit in the box of ordinary that we try to cram in. So instead we just leave it alone. Toss it aside. Forget. 

Don't do that! You aren't supposed to be on this earth just to please others. You are supposed to please God! You are supposed to follow his instructions and trust him for guidance. Does that mean you can't please others?
No, it doesn't.

You just need to realize that God is in control and that he is the one you should focus more on pleasing. With God, just be your extraordinary!

Dare to live differently and just be you. Extraordinary, creative, you. Stop trying to hide yourself. Just because the world might not like you, doesn't mean you should shut you out and be someone else. God is the one who matters. He loves you for being the person he made you. All your quirks, included! 

Dare to live a different life than the rest of the world. 

Dare to take a step into the unknown extraordinary life God has for you. 

Born to be Creative

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them. - Genesis 1:27

We were made in God's image. Think for a moment...

We were created AFTER God made everything. We were created special and unique by him! God likes different. 

When God created the heavens and the earth, he made it perfect. He was 
creative in the way he made it. 

Not one single tree was exactly the same. Each and every animal was unique. No two were the exact same. When God made man, he made the male first. 

He continued to create another one, but this time female. He made the female out of the image of the man, but yet they were different. 

Each were created for a different purpose to be used by God. 

Life was perfect. Literally. God created us perfect! He created us to be imitators of him. Since he was creative when he made the world, are we supposed to be creative? 


God wasn't afraid that someone would not like something that he CREATED.
He didn't care. He gave us the choice to accept him and his creativity or not.
He created the world for us to enjoy, not to make us unhappy.  

Why are we so scared to be creative and different? 

After God made Adam and Eve, the first humans, he gave them rule over everything on earth. It was their job to take care of it and everything in it. 

God gave them their very own Garden, in which he told, "You may eat off of any tree in the garden, but off of the tree in the middle of the garden you must not eat." 

One tree. 

Temptation is a risky thing. Eve was tempted in the garden to eat from the one tree that God said don't eat. 

That's how the devil works. He takes both strengths and our weaknesses to tempt us into the web of sin. 

Eve gave into temptation. 

She ate from the one tree. From that first bite of fruit, the world was no longer perfect and never would be again. 

Sin came in, and destroyed God's perfect world that he made so creatively. 
Destructively crushing creativity, sin entered. 

Sin isn't the world, but it is in it. 

The world today isn't very welcoming to creative people. The devil likes to use other people to try to destroy creativity and wants everyone to be the same following him instead of God. 

I do know something. 

God LOVES every single person. He loves creative people. He loves different people with opinions. He loves it most when we use our differences to work together for the glory of Him. 

Creativity is good.

Don't let your fear of failure rule out your creativity. 

Dare yourself to live differently. Be creative. 

We were born in the image of God. Born for creativity. Born different from every else. Just like there is no tree exactly alike and no animal exactly the same, we are all different. We have our own unique twists on life. 

We are meant to do something the same, though. 

We are meant to glorify our Creator, Lord Jesus Christ, in everything we do. 
Creatively is how God made us. He made us. We just need to glorify him 

We glorify with using our creative personality for God.

How are we supposed to use our personalities if we are scared about other peoples' opinions? 

We need to let our faith in God be bigger than our fear of failure and not meeting the standard. 


Dare yourself. 

Dare yourself to live a different life than others live. 

Will you take that dare? Will you train yourself to use your creative talents that God has given you? 

God's opinion is the only opinion that matters. You just need to glorify him. As long as you are using your God-given abilities and talents, he is being glorified. He is proud of you for taking that dare. The dare to live a different life and follow Him.