God, I've given you my life

As my time for going to Mexico nears I have been thinking a lot lately. What does God have in store? How will my life be changed? How will God work through me to bless others? How will others react to what I and my team have to share? What will I go through? How will I know what to say?

So many things to think about but why worry. God promises us that He will give us the words. He promised that we can trust Him and that His mercy is made new each day (Lamentations 3:23). I know that God will use me because I am going to serve Him and He uses those who are willing. I know God will protect me and I know that because I have given God my life, that whatever happens will be for His glory and praise so that others may see His goodness and mercy. I am very excited to go but I know that Satan will try to destroy us. We must be ready at all times and be able to counter the devil's attacks. We will be strong in Him but only if we are weak. We must put aside any pride, any fear, any wants, any desires, any anger, anything that would hinder the work of God. Only then will His anointing flow through us. Only then will Christ be glorified. We will edify His name and show others how to edify the Name of God. We will show others what it means to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father and we will not fail in anything that we do because we do it for God. God bless!!!!!!!

Praise in the Silence

There have been times in my life where I have gone for months without hearing from God. It's not that I have done anything wrong or that God doesn't care, because He does, it's that I am being tested for how strong my faith is in God. Sometimes I need to just trust Him that whatever He has planned will work out for my good and those around me.

Sometimes we really need God in some situation and we go on our hands and knees and cry out to God but all He answers us with is silence. If this has ever happened to you then know this, "God will never leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5). God hasn't turned His back on you, and He never will turn His back on you. What we need to do when our faith is tested is to continue to praise God and believe in the promises He has given us in His Word. Lift your hands up and worship God for you've done nothing wrong. God will come through no matter if you can hear Him speak to you or not - and never forget that. God bless!!!!!

Trust God

One thing my mom is always telling me is "Don't do anything based on money." When God told me that I was to go to Bethel I knew there was absolutely no way that I could pay for that and medical school. So I started praying and I kept believing "where God guides He also provides." What this means is that when God calls you and you respond in faith then you can trust Him that He will provide for your every need. So after two years of praying for provision God came through with a job opportunity for my mom. Well, she got the job and now I get tuition break after her working there for two years. Which means that I only need to worry about paying for the first year of college then the second year I get 65% off, then the third year I get 75% off and then if I stay for a fourth year then I get 85% off that year. I'm not telling this story to brag and say that I got more money than you do but I'm saying this as an example of what it means to trust God.

When I had to raise the money for my Mexico missions trip this summer I knew God would provide. Well, He did and even made my "cup overflow." I am currently over by about $270. I know God wants me to go on this trip and I know that family and friends are even now lavishly blessing/covering me in prayer.

If your in a situation that you think that there's no way out of then remember to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6). God will always come through for you because He loves you dearly. God bless!!!!!!

Garden of Friends

Friends come in all shapes and sizes, but they are all special and hold a place in my heart. I just got back from Volleyball practice and I realized that I have been blessed with some of the greatest friends. "Iron sharpens iron, so does [a friend] to another" (Proverbs 27:17). I have quiet friends who remind me that I don't need to raise my voice to be heard. I have energetic friends who remind me that joy is wonderful to have and that I need to keep my body in shape. I have funny friends who remind me that laughter is the best medicine. I have friends that I only see at school but they remind me that I have friends in "high places." But the greatest friend, and my best friend, is Jesus. Jesus is a friend to the sinner, the broken, the lonely, and the righteous of heart. He is the greatest friend I could ever have and I don't know what I'd do or be without Him. I pray that Jesus is your best friend too, and if He isn't than know this that He wants to be your friend and His arms are open, ready to catch you when you fall into them. God bless!!!!

Being at the Center of the Perfect Will of God

As a Christian I want to always do what God tells me. I want to be an obedient and faithful servant. Sometimes, though, I mess up. I learned a lesson tonight from a three year old girl. I was watching them and this girl was very hyper and I was trying to quiet her down for bed and she didn't want to. The next thing I knew she ran into the wall and comes out with a big gash in her knee. Sometimes we want to just do what we want to do and not listen to God - who has our best interests at heart. Like I was wanting that girl to quiet down and start getting ready for bed she went outside what I willed for her and ended up with a gashed knee. When I know that I step outside of the will of God I end up in a more difficult situation. Remember, always seek God first and He will give you the desires of your heart and your life will be much better. God bless!!!!

Seek First the Kingdom

Throughout the years I have learned that I can never do something important without God backing me up. If I have a big decision to make, or a big event, I need to spend time in prayer seeking the throne of God and asking for His wisdom and guidance. "Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33). The reason why this works is because it is only through Him that we can prosper, and it is only through Him that we are made new and whole. God wants us to come into a loving relationship with Him and for us to get to know His heart. Sometimes we go through times where we're pushed for needs and we worry - but we shouldn't. See, God's given us not a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). He also says that He knows every hair on our heads and when every sparrow falls. He also gives sparrows the food that they need. Since we are more important than sparrows that means that God will surely provide everything we need. Place your trust/confidence in God and He will definitely come through for you. He has given you His love and a chance at salvation, He will absolutely give you your needs and the desires of your heart - but you have to seek His kingdom first. God bless!!!!

Life in Your Day!

As I traveled around to different Open Houses today and volunteered at the hospital and finally have a chance to relax and sit back for a couple hours before I go and babysit again I remembered that I hadn't taken time out to be with Jesus. My day was so busy and stressful in a way - not that hanging out with friends was stressful but all the driving and rushing to different places was. I remembered how the rest of my week was calm and quiet and I had gotten a chance to be with Jesus at least 10 minutes in my day. But that was 10 minutes of gaining more life in my day!!!!! To think, all our days could be full of life, and life more abundantly if only we took those few minutes out of our day to be with Jesus. All He asks is a little bit of our time, and sometimes we can't even get that. God wants us to know Him, He wants us to have the life that He intended for us. So, tomorrow when you wake up remember to spend some quiet time, alone, with Jesus and your day will be so much better and full of life!!!! God bless!!!!!!!!!

Beauty

Everywhere we look there is beauty. Beauty of creation, beauty of an appearance, beauty of an the soul and divine beauty. Today I went to the hospital for volunteer work and I held a little baby girl today. Her fingers were tiny, her legs were small, and her head fit nicely in the palm of my hand. As I was rocking her and praying for quick healing in her little body I realized something. The beauty of the situation she was in is that she was weak, but that in her weakness God was made strong. Through her being tiny and unable to care for herself God was healing her entire body a little bit with every beat of her heart, every tiny breath that she made, every inner workings of the various systems. I realized that this little baby girl's situation was surrounded by divine beauty. The beauty of the crafting of the Workman's hands, the beauty of God's strength being made known through her weakness.

I think to myself how amazing it is that God always comes through with some sort of a miracle in our struggles, how he mends our situations, and how man realizes that they cannot run their life by themselves but they need someone guiding them through the storms. As I remember that baby's face tonight as I continue to pray for her healing I know that God will always come through in my situations and in the end His Divine Beauty will be made known through my weakness. For it is by His grace that we can be saved and not all the stress, all the worry, all the struggle that I put into my life but it is God who saves the day (deus ex machina - more like Dio ex machina). God bless!!!!

Lonesome Dove

There are some of us who today might feel very lonely. Maybe you're parents aren't around as much, or your friends haven't called in a while, or you just want to go out and do something. Since summer started my days have been very lonesome. The one thing that I know that has helped me so far, instead of being selfish and whinny to everyone you know, just take more time out of the day to spend in prayer with God. Dive into the Bible and listen closely to what God says.

Yesterday I was the most lonesome day I've had in a long time and I almost broke down. Then I realized God wants to spend more time with me so I sat down and listened to Him. He told me to go and buy a journal and in that journal write down how much I mean to Him, then I also wrote down how much He means to me. You know what He said? He said "My darling, you are precious. Your worth is more than 100 million diamonds and 100 million pearls. When I was up on that cross I saw your unformed face and I voluntarily spilled every drop of blood just for you. I love you so very much my sweetie."

Just take time out today to listen closely to God's heart. God bless!!!!

The Arms of Love

One thing I know is that I wouldn't be who I am today without the grace and unconditional love of the Heavenly Father. He picks me up when I am down. He turns my weakness into strength. He gives me the inward peace, and the much needed patience to get through life. When I'm in a pickle God's grace is sufficient to get me through any circumstance. His arms are always open for us to run to them, and He'll hold you tight.

I've gone through some pretty difficult stuff in my life. I remember the first day when fear entered my life when I was two years old. I had accidentally caused a baby to fall down a flight of stairs and after that I feared of dropping every baby I was handed. That first time that I babysat and I had to carry a baby down the stairs I was terrified but God held my hand all the way down the stairs. Whether that baby survived or not I don't know but I know that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

God is a God of second chances. He never condemns you for doing something wrong but He forgives you and gives you another chance to make things right. When we sin God provides forgiveness and salvation through His Son Jesus Christ who died on the cross to take away YOUR sins. Jesus was completely innocent but it had to be done.

Come to Jesus and let Him hold your hand, let Him take you through every step of the dance. Let Him whisper in your ear how precious you are to Him. Feel His arms around you. Lift your arms to heaven and feel the mercy drops fall down and cover you in love. There's always a spot for you at the Banqueting Table, and it's right next to God's seat.

Run to Jesus and He'll make everything right. God bless!!!!

The Desert

Right now I'm going through a desert. Since my mom got the job I have been spending my entire day at home, all by myself (something I've never done). But sometimes we go through deserts in our life, everything is dull and dry. But the fact is that God is preparing you for something grander! I've been "pulled" away from my family and friends to find who I am in God and to listen closely to his heart. You know what he says? He says "My Princess, come and sit with me. Let me tell you how much you are worth to me. I love you so much. You take my breath away. Come let us become good friends and lovers." So, I get to spend my day in a quiet place with God. Some day soon I'll "go back" to my friends and family. There's a verse somewhere in the Bible that says "I will lure her into the desert and speak softly to her." If you're going through a desert right now understand this, you're not being punished. God just wants to spend time with you. I know when I come to the end of my desert I will be a changed person - changed for the better. God bless!!!!!