The Lords Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we
forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and
The power, and the Glory.
Forever. Amen.

How Beautiful a prayer example this is. But, do we think about what it is saying as we are praying it? Maybe you're like me and learned this prayer as a child in AWANA in the KJV for awana points (or whatever we got). But let's break this prayer down and see how beautiful it really is.

OUR FATHER: mi papa. daddy. The perfect father, despite what your earthly father is like - He is the #1 Worlds Best Father (even if your dad has the mug). He is not only your sustainer and creator, this term is intimate and personal.

WHO ART IN HEAVEN: away from me for now, preparing a place specifically for me.

HALLOWED BE THY NAME: may Your name be lifted higher. may Your name be made hallowed or holy in my life and may I regard it as such. may I put Your name above all else in my life.

THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN: let this world, be Yours. the acknowledgement that this world is temporary and despite me Gods will, will be done. may I be a part of His will. may His will be fulfilled through me. may the world praise and serve You, just as the heavens do.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD: God provide. like You did for abraham, noah, moses. Lord help me trust in Your provision alone.

AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS: cry out for Gods forgiveness, not only for us but give us the power to forgive those who have come against us.

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION: God you say no temptation will come against me but what You provide a way out from. allow me to trust You in that and find freedom and deliverance in You.

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL: for You alone can do that.

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM: Yours alone
AND THE POWER : Yours alone
AND THE GLORY : Yours alone

FOREVER,
AMEN.

I'm Free

Tonight at church we sang a song -- "Freedom" by Darrell Evans.
and it's crazy when we do this song because we dance and get down on the ground and have crazy motions and there's 150 kids in the gym singing this song and it's super fun... Anyways so a friend of mine drags me down to where everyone is to dance (instead of being crazy by myself, why not do it with other people?)

So singing this song when we sing "I'm Free... I'm Free" We spin in a circle.

All I know is that was beautiful for me. For a moment in a gym, with a bunch of kids that I have the great opportunity to minister to and learn from weekly, I had something really beautiful with God.

I am spinning and just thinking about FREEDOM in Christ. Like seriously ya'll... FREEDOM. can we think about this for a second. We are Free. We have no bondage to sin. no bondage to the devil. We are FREE. -- I can't even wrap my mind around it.

I'm Free to follow Christ.
There is no condemnation.
There is no power that can stop me.
There is nothing I cannot overcome, through Him.
There is nothing.
Nothing but Freedom.

I wish I could explain to you how exciting this is for me. I don't have to worry about anything except using my freedom to follow in the footsteps of Christ. To embrace my freedom over embracing my chains. I wish everyone else was so excited about Freedom. I will Boast in my Lord, In HIS marvelous power, for He alone set me free.

In the words of worship leader, Paul Baloche:
" will boast in the Lord my God.
I will boast in One Who’s worthy.
I will boast in the Lord my God.
I will boast in the One Who’s worthy.
He’s worthy.
I will make my boast in Christ alone."

What if?

What if we actually believed what God thinks of us? What if we believed He was real, that He genuinely cares about us and what we are doing, that it's not about doing the right things or saying the right words or appearing to have it all together. It just kind of hit me while reading this tonight, nowhere in the bible does it say 'thou shall appear to be perfect' or 'thou shall wear a mask'. No! we are called to be different from the rest of the world and that is not a call to perfection - that is a call to be real, to not be afraid to show that we are hurt, struggling, human. for goodness sake why am i so afraid to appear to be human?

What if I believe who God said I was. What if i lived out of who God says I am. --Blessed, Adopted, a royal priesthood, LOVED, cherished, close to God, chosen, holy, a princess, promised great things, forgiven. What if i believed these things were true, I stopped living in my past, believing those things defined me. I stopped living with who I've been believing i need to 'fix things up' before i let God back in. What if i just stopped.

I always say i'm tired. It's not physical or emotional or mental per say. It's an i'm tired of pretending that everything is okay when really it's not. i'm tired of putting on an act for everyone, including myself. i'm tired of not knowing who i am -- but really what that is, is an aching, a longing for God. a need to be filled by the only thing that can encompass everything i have ever needed and leave me satisfied. It's not exhaustion from life. It's exhaustion from sin and the need to be loved by the one who can tell me who i really am. His.

Imagine if we believed God when He says: "What if I tell them who they are? What if I take away any element of fear in condemnation, judgment, or rejection? What if I tell them I love them, will always love them? That I love them right now, no matter what they've done, as much as I love my only Son? That there's nothing they can do to make my love go away?
What if I tell them there are no lists? What if I tell them I don't keep a log of past offenses, of how little they pray, how often they've let me down, made promises that they don't keep? What if I tell them they are righteous, with My righteousness, right now? What if I tell them they can stop beating themselves up? That they can stop being so formal, stiff, and jumpy around me? What if I tell them I'm crazy about them? What if I tell them, even if they run to the ends of the earth and do the most horrible, unthinkable things, that when they come back I'd receive them with tears and a party?
What if I tell them that if I am their Savior, they're going to heaven no matter what - it's a done deal? What if I tell them they have a new nature - saints, not saved sinners who should now 'buck-up and be better if they were any kind of Christians, after all he's done for you!' What if I tell them that I actually live in them now? That I’ve put my love, power, and nature inside of them, at their disposal? What if I tell them that they don't have to put on a mask? That it is ok to be who they are at this moment, with all their junk. That they don’t need to pretend about how close we are, how much they pray or don't, how much Bible they read or don't. What if they knew they don't have to look over their shoulder for fear that if things get too good, the other shoe's going to drop?
What if they knew I will never, ever use the word 'punish' in relation to them? What if they knew that when they mess up, I will never 'get back at them'? What if they were convinced that bad circumstances aren't my way of evening the score for taking advantage of me? What if they knew the basis of our friendship isn’t how little they sin, but how much they let me love them? What if I tell them they can hurt my heart, but that I never hurt theirs? What if I tell them I like Eric Clapton’s music too? What if I tell them I never really liked the Christmas handbell deal with the white gloves? What if I tell them they can open their eyes when they pray and still go to heaven? What if I tell them there is no secret agenda, or trapdoor? What if I tell them it isn’t about their self-effort, but allowing me to live my life through them?"

What if we actually let Him?

Harder

Life may be crazy

And seem so out of control

But listen little baby

There’s so much you don’t know.



Though the storm seems hard in the moment

The sunshine is coming i know it

When it seems like no one’s there

Just look around. I’m right here.



You’ll never know how much you mean till you’re gone

How many fights you stepped between,

How many battles you have won.

You’ll never realize that the world was a better place

With your smiling face, to light up my day.

And Love, I know life was hard,

But life gets harder with you gone.



I think it’s crazy

That at fourteen you felt unshakeable

The world got to be too much

the pressure was un-takeable.



I wish i could’ve been right there

to hold your hands, dry your tears

I wish you would have know your needed now

right now.



And I can see the darkness in the world, reflecting,

You’re eyes were the greatest strength i’ve ever seen.

I’ve seen you smile, i’ve seen you laugh

I realized it was just an act,

but i prayed every day that your world would change.

and here you’d stay.

Cause life gets harder when you’re gone.



They tell me it’s not my fault

You’re in a better place.

They tell me that the world can’t change

from just one life.

But you were so capable,

through every obstacle

and now there is no one else

to call on.





You will change the world

Even without life

I know, I’ve seen your heart

Through your crystal eyes

And you never realized that you meant the world to me.

Turned my life upside down made me start to believe

You made a difference, love, even though you were fourteen

and now its crazy to think,

you thought you were nothing.

Crazy now to think

you finally got your wings…

And I know life’s hard

But it gets harder with you gone.

Inspired by: Matt Hobby 1/23/97-10/4/2011

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd = that's relationship
I shall not want = thats's supply
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = that's rest
He leadeth me beside still waters = that's refreshment
He restoreth my soul = that's healing
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = that's guidance
For His name's sake = that's purpose
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = that's testing
I will fear no evil = that's protection
For thou art with me = that's faithfulness
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me = that's discipline
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies = that's hope
Thou annointest my head with oil = that's consecration
My cup runneth over = that's abundance
Surley goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = that's blessing
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = that's security
Forever = that's eternity

How Great is Our God

A friend of mine, Kayleigh, has been in the hospital for over a week now. Whenever I would pray, it would be for her, her parents, and her older brother: for them to have peace in whatever new situations arise and for her to ultimately be healed. I never really thought about her two younger siblings until tonight. Her little sister, Paige, is 8 1/2 years old, too young to understand, or so I thought. But she ran up to me and church tonight and I had the God given opportunity to just love on this little girl and give her some much desired attention and affection. As I was holding her in worship she started to tell me that her sister was in the hospital and they didn't know when they we're going to be home, but somewhere in the jumbled half conversation I had with this little girl, she said "but it's okay, God will take care of her". I did not really know what to say from that point, I nodded my head and smiled, and she proceeded to worship the God who was taking care of her sister.

Kids amaze me all the time, which is one of the reasons I love them so much. The way they look at the world, and troubles. They know that they have absolutely no control over situations, so they have total trust in the ones who do, in this case, God. I, as a seventeen year old girl, was pulling out my hair a few short days before in fear and worry over my best friend being sick and me not being able to 'be there for her'. I do not know what I thought I could do. I have no medical degree, I do not even know half the things that were going wrong and I would have no idea of where to even search the index of a medical book in order to diagnose anything. But even knowing that, I could not bring myself to stop worrying and just trust that God knows what His plan is and He does not need my help. But this 8 1/2 year old girl grasped that concept of trust that I could not even begin to understand.

I stood there holding Paige for a while longer while she and the rest of my youth ministry worshipped this wonderful God who I cannot even begin to comprehend. She was, singing, "How great is our God," admits the stress she was going through with her family and sister. It was such a blessing for me to be able to hold her and worship with her. Then later to hold her and try to comfort her when she was feeling weak because she missed Kay. And it was a blessing to see her brother fight back tears to tell her everything was going to be all right. By the end of the night, she was surrounded by teenagers and adults that were crazy impressed by her strength. Moreover, me, who was crazy impressed and humbled by her ability to understand and trust God, even in the middle of a storm.

Remember Me?

To a friend... And the child said:



Do you remember who i am?

we used to be so close...

i used to be the one

the one that you relied on

the one you told everything to

What changed in your life?

why'd you throw it all away?

you left me feeling worthless,

like i'm not enough,

like i couldn't keep you safe.

and maybe you were too far gone,

but i had hope and believed

that maybe if you let me in

life would get better...

but it was spoken, and i failed

i couldn't make it all okay

now i don't even know myself...

How could you remember me...



--



To HIS child... And HE said:



Do you remember who I am?

we used to be so close...

I used to be the one

The One that you relied on

The One you told everything to

What changed in your life?

why'd you throw it all away?

I know he left you feeling worthless

but I'm enough

I can keep you safe

and just know you're never too far gone

if you just hope and you believe

my love, if you just let Me in,

life would get better.

and I can't tell you that you'll never fall

but I'll let you know, without fail

that I'll catch you, I'll be with you

I'll let you know who you are.

You'll find yourself in Me.

I'm not the God of your past,

I still heal, Remember Me?

Amazing.

...I find it amazing that just when I need it God intervenes and puts people in my world that say exactly what I need to hear.

I have felt the strong calling to be a missionary for about a year now but it seems like every time I bring it up it is shot down, people telling me it is impractical and I should get a "real job" first and other discouragements. And I have let them get to me. Secretly, I still have the passion to go into the mission field. But when people ask me what I want to do with my life, I usually just simply say teach now. Though that passion is still there, Satan has been really working on that and telling me that its not going to happen and I don't have money for bible college and I HAVE to go to bible college before I can be a missionary, and just that it will not happen for me and I should just become acceptant of my secular career in the future. It really hurts to give up that dream and it has gotten me pretty down and at a point where I had become almost complacent with God because I did not have faith in Him for my future anymore, I had believed the lies that He could not do it.

Anyways, what I was getting to. In sunday school, a man who was going to Botswana for God came to speak.. through him God just really spoke to me and told me that my passion and life will not be fulfilled without his ministry as a part of it. and though he will use me wherever I go, He has put a specific calling in my life to the people of other nations and that no matter what the cost, whether pride or popularity, or my life savings (which is $0 at this point) His plan will always be better then my own. And He will always provide for me when I have Faith in him.

He apologized at the end for going off on tangents.. but it was in those moments that we got to see his undisclosed passion for God and God got to speak through him most freely... It was pretty amazing and brought tears to my eyes. For the first time in a while i realized that God is good and faithful and His plans really are greater then my own, no matter what anyone says. If i follow His will, everything will turn out for His glory.

You are More.

P.S. God is awesome, like so very awesome, He orchestrates things so wonderfully that it amazes me.

This morning i woke up at 6:30am, to find my TV on a channel/show i had never heard of. It was called "UP TV", a channel for 2 hours of Christian Music. Soon after waking up, and not being able to go back to sleep (much to my dismay). Mike Donehe (lead of tenth avenue north) comes on the television and says these words, exactly what i needed to hear right at that moment, and then follows it with the song "You are more". I rewound and played it 3-4 times cause i was so amazed at how God could use a music video and commentary at 6:30am on a snow-day in January

--

Who you are isn't summed up by your choices
It's summed up by what Christ has done for you.

If we're in Christ, our choices don't define us...
We're defined by what Christ has done in our lives.

If we're in Christ, we're not struggling to be free,
we're free to struggle.

--

You can't live for God unless you learn how to live because of God
You can't make good choices for God unless you learn that your choices don't make you who you are.

--

Where we end up is not the Gospel
Who you are isn't what we do.. It's what is done for us.

--

You're more then your Successes
You're more then your Failures
You're more then your Choices
You're a sum of your Fathers Love.

So you wanna change the world.

If I try to make a difference would it help anyway?

--

July 4, 2010

After this week...
I don't want you to remember me.
I don't need you to know my name,
my face,
my life.
I don't need a letter, a call, a note.
I only ask one thing of you as i go...
I want you to remember that
Jesus came
and shared a moment
Serving You.

--

I wrote this is my journal the third day i spent in Jamaica, along with a saying that I have made a personal goal to live out.

"You may be the only Jesus somebody ever sees"

This journal filled with snipbits of my life and things that ive heard that have touched my life and shaped my relationship with God. Things that have impacted my life, my world. Experiences that i don't think i could ever relate to anybody else, but they changed me. I wish that everybody in the world had a experience like this, a book almost completely filled with 5 months of life... falling apart but holding my life together.

--

I want to change the world. I want to not be afraid to stand up alone for what i believe in. No matter what the cost. "For God did not give us the spirit of fear, but the spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity" 1 Timothy 4:12

God,
I want to have the courage of David, a boy so young, and yet so strong. Risking his life, his dignity, everything to stand up against the giants in his life for your Glory. God I know I will face giants in my life in the next few years, maybe even months. I've overcome some before God, you've been faithful to your word before, and you will be faithful again and i know that. Give me the serenity i need to trust in you. Give me wisdom to follow your path no matter the cost. God i want to change the world, but not for me, for you. If thats your calling for me, let it be God. Wherever you want to send me, give me the courage to say "Here I am Lord, Send me."

--

So you wanna change the world,
What are you waiting for?
Say you wanna start right now,
What are you waiting for?
It only takes one voice,
Common now and shout it out
Give a little more
What are you waiting for?

Mothers Cries

an original poem --

a man walks up
five stars on chest
envelope in hand
it's opened;
heard
"i'm sorry ma'am"
as the color left her head

"i promise ma,
i'll be home safe
but, keep me in your prayers"
his last words,
thought i asked you God
to keep him in Your care.

a flag procession
men in black
shots heard far and wide
his blood shed
his promise broken
to let his flag wave high

a purple ribbon
now adorned
atonement for his life
shown with pride
near stars and stripes
at cost of life
and mothers cries.

Shifting Shadows

‎"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, -- Who does not change like shifting shadows -- " James 1:17

It's good to know that no matter the changes and decisions and circumstances in my everday life, my heavenly Father never changes, His love never fades, and His mercys are new every morning ♥

--

All the decisions i make can impact every moment of my life, some things are trivial such as what i will wear, others can impact me tremendiously, such as which college to pick. Though i know i will change my mind many times with the big decisions in life, I know that i have a God that will never change His mind, and no matter what my life is in His hands and nothing can change that (Jer. 29:11)

Faithful

You were faithful before, You'll be faithful again. I'm holding your hand ♥
So let the waters rise, if you want them to, i will follow you, i will follow you.

--

God,
No matter what happens in life i know that it is part of Your plan and though i won't understand it sometimes, i will put my faith and trust in you and realize that you hold the whole world in your hands and you will never let me go no matter what. Help me to remain in you and keep my faith and my eyes on You Lord.

Still Believe

Even when i don't see... I still believe.

--

So God, even when you do things i really don't understand, You were faithful before, You'll be faithful again. I'm holding your hand

--

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. ♥ Deut 31:8

Bigger

You are bigger then we let you be. You are strong enough to set us free.
By the pain of the Cross, You Bring LIFE to the lost.
You are Love, You are Love, Our GOD is Love.

hmm that line always gets me. How many times have i pushed God into a little box, instead of letting Him be the One over all things. Its like what i heard once. "If God were small enough for our heads, He wouldn't be big enough for our knees" -- Maybe we should start letting God be big enough to take care of eveything in our lives, and just give Him the glory and the praise.

--
So many times I have brought out my God box, a little place i push Him away when i feel like taking my life into my own hands. I tell Him he can come out on sundays or when something goes totally wrong, but i got the rest.
Even when i know i can't handle something by myself, my pride steps in and i don't want to admit to God that i had messed up and i can't do this.. SO i try to cover it up. God is definitly always bigger then i let Him be. He is big enough to make the world and hold it in His hands, yet sometimes i won't even let him hold my fragile heart.

--
God,
Don't let me try to fit you into my God 'box' anymore. or try to push you away and hide you from view. I know i cannot do anything without you, don't ever let me forget that. God you are so huge and big and sometimes i forget that. Hold my heart, Keep me in your care God. Though you are huge, you still take the time to know everything about me, down to the number of hairs on my head. Never let me forget that. Thank you for caring so much and helping me humble myself and lose my pride in Your presence Lord. Don't let my selfish pride get in the way of what you are trying to do in my life God.

--

[[The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you]] It's good to know the Author and Creator of everything is fighting on my side ♥ Deut. 1:30

Youth Dinner

Theres no situation so chaotic that God cannot, from
that situation, create something surpassingly good...

--

Take tonight for instance. If you want to see chaotic and insane. Please be behind the scenes before/during a youth dinner at my church. I'm glad God gave me a dose of adrenaline in the form of Eggnog and NSync before i got there because if not i don't think i would have been able to make it through the night. Between the insanity of trying to fit 300+ people into our gym (and the VIP Hallway) to eat dinner and having 25 middle/high school kids serve them dinner (with side options) we all made it out alive (and relitively clean)and the line that from what i heard streched around the entire lobby of the church, and the moments where even our drink maker was starting to stress. I think we all kind of got a sense of what that quote means. you know. There is no situation so chaotic that God can't bring it peace.

Finnally at 7:30 (or what felt like 10:30) we we're all able to take a short breather. Looking back on the night, even you know... 3 hours later. I don't really think about chaos or stress or not having enough tables. I think about looking around and seeing the smiling faces of our wait staff and (wonderful) cooks just sharing the joy and humility of Jesus by serving other people. It was really awesome to see the tables rumble with excitement when they saw their food coming and they wait staff just light up when they got compliments. Looking back a whole 3 hours, it was really awesome to see what God did through the chaos.

--

Thinking about it doesn't He do the same thing with our lives?
You know at first in the moment it seems totally hectic and like there is NO possible way this will all get done. and just kinda hopeless when it seems like your trying to squeeze 300 things (or people) into such a small space. But looking back on the 'chaotic' times in my life i don't remember the stress or everything that went (or could have gone) wrong. Rather i rememeber the grace and the peace that i recieved when i just placed the situation in God's hands and stopped stressing about it. Just trusted Him enough to know that He could handle it without my help.

Maybe we should treat every sitation like a Youth dinner. Pray before we start, try our best with what we are told to do, and just let God have the chaos and insanity while we hold onto the peace and smiles. <3

Autumn

Still I notice You when change begins, And I am braced for colder winds. I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come... ♥
--
Autumn has always been my favorite season, The changing leaves and colors and weather, but until reciently thats all it was, tangible changes. But you know God have really been working in my heart, Now not only in autumn a season of natural changes, but spirital.
--
Hmm.. yes, theres been a lot of changes in my heart lately. or at least attemptive changes, God's been trying to do great things in my life. But me allowing Him to freely work in everything is a different story. You know i have the desire to grow closer to God and let Him have every aspect of my life and work in and through me in great ways and i know in order to do that i have to be willing to lay eveything down at the cross and just COMPLETELY SURRENDER and let Him have it all. But i think that is the part that i'm not quite ready for yet. You know... I just i feel like if i let everything go then i have nothing to really hold onto. and i know every time i say that the first thing that i hear back is God saying "Hold onto me, You'll always have me" But for some selfish prideful reason i can't let everything go.
--
"If you wanted me to love you only, Why'd you make these hands able to hold on.. So tight"

Sometimes i question this. You know i see that God is trying to change things and i'm mostly okay with that. i know they will turn out better and give Him more glory when He has full control and i definitly want that but sometimes i just question. You know God if you wanted to be number one in my life, if you wanted to be my first and only love... Then why did you bless me so much, why did you give me people and experiences that i don't ever want to let go of? I understand that God blesses us because He loves us, but sometimes i think it would be so much easier if He just let it be only Him we had to hold onto and we had to rely on His lone power and love to sustain us. If we were weak all the time we would have no trouble trusting God with everything, because it would be the most logical and reasonable step. But you know when God lets us be strong. and lets us have the free will that we can choose what to do it is soooo hard to make the right choice. Hmm.... i guess it's just hard sometimes. I know that God is the right answer and the only one that will bring me joy and everything else in the world is going to fail me. But you know sometimes, my flesh and worldly desires just take over and i dont make smart choices.
--
You know in seasons of change, especially the huge one coming up in my life. There has to be a leap of faith. There has to be something that you can stand on that will sustain you. You have to have Jesus or everything is going to fall apart. Life can take unexpected turns. I never dreamed of wanting to go to Texas or thought about going into ministry, but right now it seems like thats what God is pointing me towards. I always thought that i had my whole life figured out. But its when i started looking for Gods plans and not my own that i realized that everything i was building up on my own, was falling down right before my eyes.
With seasons of life comes changes, we all have to accept that and learn that no matter where God leads us or what we are doing, If we trust in Him and give Him the power and glory in our every moment, We are doing well.
--
In this season, we all need to remember to thank God for whatever He has or is doing in our lives, and start changing and learning to give Him complete control and surrender to Him not only daily, but in every moment <3
--
I will offer thanks for what has been and whats to come. You are Autumn

You may be the only Jesus someone sees

You may be the only Jesus someone sees.
How are you exemplifying his beauty and glory and making him famous?
Are you shining Him through every word and action and thought in your life?
Are you a mirror reflecting Him or a wall hiding Him?
Do you let your light shine for ALL to see, or are you hiding it somewhere deep inside?
Do people see you for who you portray yourself to be or do they forget your name but remember seeing something different, seeing Jesus?
Do you blend in with the crowd or do you stand up for what you believe in, do you stand up for Him even when your standing alone?
--
This has been really convicting me lately, I mean, I don't try to stand out in the crowd, i don't really want people to notice me because if i'm noticed for something that they don't like or agree with then i'll be rejected, and frankly being rejected as a senior in high school is no fun. You know i dont want to be friendless and alone at school and feel like i'm the only one standing up. But what i've come to realize is that Christ never said it would be easy; but, he overcame the world so that we would be able to stand up (John 16:33). To give us that freedom and capibility. We don't have to run and hide our light from the world because we are saved (and will be safe forever) from the devils schemes.
Jesus says, Blessed are those who are persecuted for my sake.(Matt 5:10) We should count it as a blessing to be looked down on by the world for the sake of our Savior.
--
It's hard to stand, especially when it feels like your alone. But when your tired (and you will get tired). He promises rest for your sould (Matthew 11:28).
Peace. Quiet. Rest.
Our hearts will break. Our souls will hurt. We will be broken and scarred and tired and scared sometimes. But think about it, we are given REST. When you are worn out and tired, who do you turn to? who calms you? (do you believe the one who is able to calm the storms is able to calm your heart?)
Do you look to your Savior and Father, or something faltering in this world?
--
You may be the only Jesus someone sees.
Not everybody is going to take the time to know your story or current situation.
Not everybody is going to make excuses for you like your friends do.
Not everybody is going to understand you.
Now I'm not saying to put on a 'perfect' act for the world to see to make yourself look like everything is alright.
but think about this: Do you give the glory to God in every moment and every situation and every circumstance (good or bad) OR is HIs glory and your reflectant light deterrent based on your current status, mood, or trouble.
--
Jesus wants to (and will) Shine through you at every moment.
Good or Bad. Troubled or Peaceful. Crazy or Calm.
Will you allow him to turn your:
Ashes to Beauty.
Your Tears to Joy.
Your Brokenness to Wholeness.
For His Glory.
So that in every moment He can be seen through you. <3

What Does Christianity Mean to You? -- College Essay

I could feel the sweat dripping off my face from the second I climbed on that roof. The sun beat down as I looked down on the herd of teenagers crowding below. The simultaneous sounds of hammers, shovels, and feet moving almost seemed like a symphony to me. As I joined in the melody, rhythmically moving cinder blocks up the ladder, I stopped noticing the sweltering heat. The only thing I saw was the hearts of fifty kids and the song that they proclaimed. As we headed back to camp for the last time, I thought about all the things had been done over just eight short days. We had physically served the community, but they had spiritually filled us up. I could have never dreamed of seeing God’s face so evidently in Jamaica; yet, in every drop of sweat and every gleaming face, I saw the evidence of His hand.
Though we saw the white beaches and the crystal clear waters of Jamaica; that is not the imagery what will remain with me forever. Rather, I will take with me the faces of all the lives I came in contact with. I saw the smiling face of Jesus manifested into little children and in the faithful followers of His service. I do not think I can accurately describe the feeling I received knowing that these people knew the saving power of Jesus, in such a dark place. On this journey, I was not just another Christian, none of us we’re, rather we were the embodiment of Jesus Christ ministering to the forgotten people of Manchester, Jamaica, and I think that is what Christianity is all about.
This summer I learned that being a Christian does not mean setting a couple hours aside every Sunday, to sit through a long, sleep-inspiring service. Christianity is a full out, intense, lifelong, awe-inspiring, indescribable journey that leads you through places of joy and peace that you could never imagine. The journey that God took me on this summer brought me to an infirmary where I observed the faces of the forgotten, “throw-away” people. Though their lives were full of pain, the only thing they could talk about what the saving power and grace of Jesus. These are the kinds of occurrences I experienced as I let my God take control and lead me to Jamaica. Though I had to go through immeasurable fear and doubt to get there, I came out willing to give up all the comforts and treasures of this world just to get a morsel of that feeling again. However, Christianity is not all about that feeling; it is about the commitment and calling that leads to it. It is the willingness to give up everything, so that, in turn, you can gain so much more. Through those things, God leads you into a mind-set of total freedom that you could never imagine.
My Trip in Jamaica held sleepless nights, long days, and straining work; but it also brought, unimaginable joy, inconceivable peace, extraordinary comfort, and implausible closeness to my Savior. For me, that is what Christianity is all about, the journeys. It is the moments that you are given by Christ that make everything else worth while.

Famous One.

okay so i'm sitting here at my computer desk chillin.

Know what i've realized lately.. Life isn't about me.

Life is about glorifying God in everything i do, making His name famous among the nations, not my own. It not about what people will remember about me when i die, its about what people will remember about Him.

i guess its just hard trusting in something i cant see even when i feel it. i mean for real.. its hard for me to trust someone i do see...

honestly i strive to be his masterpiece. its just hard when the world around me is so. just not. you know i really just wish i could just start over with everyone, you know start in a new place where no body knows who i am, cause it would be so much easier to be... idk.. me there. but i mean i dont have the luxery to run away, and even if i did thats not what God has asked us to do, he asks us to make his name Famous is every situation were in. we need to strive to make christ known where we are right now... no matter what.