ONE STEP AT A TIME

For the first minute of opening this blog post, I could only keep hitting the space bar. I didn't know what to write about, or what was on my mind.. In a way, this reflects my life. I always procrastinate important changes, and keep hitting the space bar. Time keeps moving, but I'm not making any changes to the blank page. 

It's easy to say, "God has a plan for you," but how are we going to hear His plan unless we listen? How are we going to listen to Him, unless we make time for Him? 

I've decided to stop wishing I was somewhere else, and I'm going to start listening to God. 

I may believe that I'd be better at home, but for some reason, God has me somewhere else. 

His plan is greater than mine, and He knows what's best for me. 

During my time of confusion, I need to grow closer to God. He will direct my path, and there's no greater plan than one made by the Creator. 

Perhaps I need to view my current situation as a fresh start. From this day forward, I'm starting from scratch. I'm going to tell myself that God has placed me where I am, therefore, I will appreciate it. 

In order to make a change, you must start making marks on the paper. 

PS: I wrote this at midnight at the end of a hectic week...ignore all grammatical errors. I am exhausted. I just had to get these thoughts out. GOODNIGHT!! Hello bed:) 

Be Beautiful

For some odd reason, girls have a problem with seeing the fact that they are beautiful. 

Of course there are mean souls in the world, but some girls don't give themselves enough credit. 

Just because Hollywood has set the standard for being "beautiful," does not mean they're right. 

Instead of comparing yourself to the temporary standard of Hollywood, compare yourself to the type of woman God wants you to be. Throw out the world's opinion, and replace it with Proverbs 31: 10-31. 

It may be a lot to read, but each word gives great advice for girls to follow. 

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I hope this encourages girls out there to be reliant on God. There's is nothing more beautiful than a Proverbs 31 girl. 

In order to stay alive, we have to breathe.

Have you remember God today? If not, take a moment. Breathe. For just a moment, put all of your responsibilities on hold.
Close your textbook, put down your phone, and log off of Facebook. Close your eyes and have peace with the fact that God loves you. He loves you more than you can imagine!
The Creator of LIFE loves you, and wants your attention. How can we let petty responsibilities take over?
John 15:914 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one that this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

I love the lyrics of this song by Jaimie Grace, "You Lead"

Maybe you're concentrating on the negative in your life right now. If so, take note of the good. If you don't notice any good, then you're not realizing that your have an endless love from the Creator of Life. Grow to understand it- grasp it. He's waiting.

Romans 5: 1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith in to this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. No only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 

It's time to get serious.

Have you ever felt empty?
Have you ever felt apathetic towards your relationship with God and people?
Have you ever wanted to fall so completely in love with God, but couldn't catch the "feeling?"
Have you ever had everything you could ever ask for in life, but still felt empty, you're not alone.

First, it is important to know that our relationship with God should not be based off of a physical feeling, but through faith. It is also important to realize what the term "relationship with God" means.
God is real.  He desires a real relationship. Not a structured relationship, when people forget to talk to him, go to church because they "have" to,  follow the laws because they "have" to,  or tell people about Him because they "have" to. What person wants a relationship when they feel like they feel obligated to do something.
People want to have a relationship where others want to be with them.  God wants the same.
We must carry our crosses, and do God's will.
Sure, our lives can seem great without God, but a life without God leads to an empty end.
Society has changed the way Christ wanted Christians to be.
We are meant to be a group of loving Christ followers.
People who are serious about their faith.
If Christians showed confidence, and loved God more than anything, the world would desire that love.

Are you willing to leave everything behind. Just as Christ commanded us to do.

When we run to Him, everything else will fall into place.
Rejoice! For He is good. & His love endures forever

What are we doing?

I cannot put into words how lazy I have been for the past year. By lazy I am referring to my relationship with God. It is easy for me to get annoyed with people, or frustrated that they are not being perfect. I am far from perfect. & I have no right to be annoyed with anyone. Have a forgotten what God has done for me? How selfish have I become? Why am I standing still in my faith? The Creator of life, of EVERYTHING, not only provides for us but loves us more than we could ever love. Jesus put Himself last. He did not live in a mansion (he didn't have to come to this corrupt world in the first place), he did not boast about how perfect he was, he did not say he deserved anything- when he deserved everything! He put us first...our filthy sin put Him on the cross. Jesus had a choice to be on that cross. He did not have to come to this world, he could have avoided the cross in many miraculous ways. But He chose to save us....we are nothing, but he loves us. More than we could ever love.  Have you ever sat back and put yourself in Jesus's position? Not only was he NAILED to the cross, and brutally crucified, but he was also mocked during his whole lifetime. Jesus is the Son of God, yet people accused him of lying. People mocked, ridiculed, and laughed in his face...never once did he kill them, but he reacted in love. Jesus had the hardest life out of anyone who has lived. And He chose to live it, all for us. His resurrection saved us, He beat death. How selfish can we be by forgetting this? All of the "why" questions or pity me stories have to stop. Life on earth is going to end, thanks to Jesus we can have the gift of eternal life.  I am not on a spiritual high right now, I am far from "feeling" uplifted. But I have joy. Happiness is a temporary feeling, joy is an eternal promise. I have joy knowing that I have a Savior who I do not deserve. I have joy knowing that His blood covers my disgusting sin, and that I can have eternal life by following Him. Jesus has given us a free gift. An eternal gift. The best gift possible....for free. I will not base my relationship with God on emotion....emotions can change, and the Devil can have complete control over them. Just because I do not feel "happiness" right now does not mean I am far from God. We cannot base our spiritual life on physical emotions. But we can have joy in all circumstances. Therefore rejoice in your trials. May Christ's church come together as one, and move towards spreading God's word. It is all we are called to do. Life on earth is only a dash in our lifetime, so why not focus on eternity?

One of them days

I've always been the person to say, "get over it." 

The older I get, the more I realize that by saying, "get over it," I'm actually just ignoring the problem. 

I've messed up in the past, I have my mistakes, I try not to upset people, I try not to get upset. 

The truth is....I can drive myself crazy always trying to please everyone. 

I should not let my past interfere with my present.

I should not worry about anything, after all....I do say I follow in Christ. 

I use to be against serious relationships, and I ignored falling for people. 

But maybe that's my problem. Maybe I need to let myself fall. 

I shouldn't be hesitant to fall, because I am capable of picking myself up. 

I don't need anyone to pick me up, so why am I hesitant to fall? 

I always use to promote "fun" relationships, with no serious talks or emotions.

But maybe I want to be loved, and to fall in love. 

You can't help falling in love,  I've done it, and I'm finally going to admit it. 

I'm not going to turn into a sappy girlfriend. 

I'm not going to let my past mess with my head.

Because what's meant to happen will happen. 

So I'm focusing on Christ, and being myself. 

I'm going to face my problems, and brush them off. 

Every girl would like the assurance that the guy they love will "catch" them...but I'm not going to worry about that. Because I can catch myself if I have to. (cheesy, but true). 

So I'm dropping my guard, and living for today. 

There's no reason to plan for tomorrow- I may not be here then. 

Today was a good day.

I'll end at that. 

Dear patience, HURRY UP?!?!...oh, wait.

    In a matter of seconds your life can be altered in more ways than one. In one week you can lose someone you loved, be forced to make sacrifices, and take on huge responsibilities. When events like these occur it is very simple to ask, "Why?" or "How is this fair?"......truth is, what is fair exactly? & since when do we decide how our lives should go. Proverbs 16:9 writes, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Everyone has a sad story, but it's not about who has the hardest trial, or who has a "reason" to cry. Life is about how you deal with your trials and standing firm in your faith. I could easily put all my faith in my family, friends, boyfriend, or a job....all of those blessings are amazing to have, but they can be taken away from me within seconds. Therefore it is important for me to put my identity in Christ....that is much easier said than done. It is simple for me to say how much I love God, but looking at my actions...it's a different story. I could love more, forgive more, lose my selfishness, or master the impossible task of patience. Tonight I opened my bible (a rarity) and read 1 Thessalonians 5:13: "And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone." It's amazing how sometimes we can read the bible and unexpectedly find what we need to learn. The past few months I have been very impatient- expecting everyone to react as I would in situations that I've never experienced. Tough Love is easier said than done, so I really need to learn how to stop using it. I must become patient and loving, and let Christ do the work. We have to let Christ take control. Tomorrow I will try to let go, and spread patience- hopefully it's contagious.