Extra Grace Required

If you know me at all, you know that I absolutely adore my momma. She is my favorite person in the world because she has stuck by me through good times and bad. Some of you guys may not believe it, but I wasn't the easiest child in the world. In fact, I was what you would call a "difficult child", or "a handful". The thing that impresses me to this day is that despite all that, my mother still had a tremendous amount of love and grace for me. 

She and I were talking about a week ago, and she told me something that really has stuck with me. She told me that God's timing isn't always convenient, and sometimes the most important things God has for you to do are the ones that you want to do the least.

That struck a chord. We live in a world where we are so self centered and focused on what we want that we put ourselves on a pedestal. Is something inconvenient? We don't do it. Hear that whisper in your heart to help someone but you'd rather do something else? We ignore the whisper. We put way too much emphasis on us and not enough emphasis on others. 

You might not wanna hear it, but at some point, you were one of the difficult people, just like me. And my bet is that someone gave you a little extra grace, and went out of their way to help you. It may have been bad timing or they had something they'd rather do, but they went and showed Christ's love to  you. Now it's your turn.

Galatians 6:9 instructs us to do what is right and bear one another's burdens without growing weary. I'm imploring you, look around. See who you can help. If you hear that whisper in your heart, or feel a nudge at your spirit, don't ignore it. Do what you are called to do. You never know what kind of impact you are making. Never miss an opportunity to further the Kingdom of God, or be His hands and feet here on Earth. Extend grace as He does. Show unconditional love like He does. Reach out to the hurting. I'm not saying it will be easy, but I am saying that it will be worth it. 

Surrender

*Hey, y'all! Hope 2015 has been blessed and wonderful for you and yours so far! Sorry I've been absent. Life's gotten a little hectic around my neck of the woods, but I do believe we are back on track for weekly posts. Thanks for sticking with me, friends!*


Life is crazy, plain and simple. Some times in life are smooth sailing, and that's wonderful. Some seasons in life are confusing and painful. Those times are less than wonderful.

If you are in a "smooth-sailing" season, I am so happy for you! Enjoy the great things that are happening, and praise God for what's going on in your world.

If you're in a "choppy-sea" time in your life, it's okay. I'm right there with you, friend. It's tough to keep fighting sometimes. Some days, you don't feel okay (and that is okay. Whatever you are feeling is okay.) and you struggle to make it through the day. Been there, done that. But, it will get better. It's hard to be hopeful with an uncertain future, isn't it? There is hope. Our hope is in Christ Jesus, who has overcome the world. He is stronger than sin, stronger than death, and stronger than whatever you are facing. Your future is in His hands.

God is for you, not against you. He is with you, and He will be your strength. He will not leave you. Not now, not ever. Even in your darkest time, He is faithful. You are His beloved child. He cares so deeply for you. He is all-knowing, all-sustaining, and loves you more than you can fathom.

I'll be completely honest with you: I don't have all the answers. I don't understand His plan right now. I don't know why I am facing these specific trials, and enduring this pain. I don't know your situation, or why you're enduring these struggles either. I don't know what's gonna happen next. But I earnestly believe that God has a plan, and His plan is perfect. I know He will work all things for our good and His glory.

It's okay to hurt. It's okay to be sad. It's okay to cry. It's okay to be mad, or confused. It's okay to feel. Just don't get stuck in the sadness, the pain, the tears, or the anger. They'll knock you down. You gotta get back up again. Don't stay down.

So, dear friend, I encourage you to keep strong in your faith, and lean on the Lord. Depend upon Him. He cares for you. He will sustain and provide. Give your worries, fears, and doubts to Him. Just surrender. Hold tight to His promises, and keep fighting a good fight. This situation is just temporary. It won't last forever. There's light at the end of the tunnel. Life isn't easy, and some times are tougher than others. But have faith. It'll get better.


"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." -James 1:2-4

Great is Thy Faithfulness: 2014 in Review

Hey, y'all! Hope you had a most joyous and blessed Christmas! :) It has been a whirlwind season for me! 2014 has been a crazy year. I won't bore you with the details of everything from this year. I just wanted to share some lessons I learned this year with you! Here we go:

• There's Beauty in Everything: This year has been simultaneously the best and worst year of my life, to be honest. The best in the aspect of my spiritual life. Worst in terms of it being an emotional roller coaster. With the loss of my grandfather, I felt so helpless. I was a mess. Like for real, if you saw me at all during that time, you know I reached a low point. But God was there to be my safe place, comforter, refuge, restorer of my weary heart, and the one to put my broken heart back together. I got to know God in a way I never had before. I had to completely rely on Him and hold nothing back, and He loved me so fiercely in a way I never deserved. He revealed a glimpse of His heart and undying and unfathomable love to me. He made beauty out of the ashes of my heart. 
• FOCUS: In the storms of life, you can focus on your problem, your fears, your anxieties, your flaws, or God. He is bigger than anything life throws at you, my friend. He is bigger than any fear or worry. Reset your sight on what matters most.
• I don't need to have control: I'm a planner. It's just what I do. If I'm stressed, I make lists. I like to know exactly what's gonna happen. The events of this year taught me that isn't the way to live. In reality, I can't plan for life. I can't know what's gonna happen. My life isn't gonna be tied up in a pretty bow. Life is gonna be messy. Life is gonna be chaotic. It's gonna hurt. It's gonna be incredible and wonderful. My life is not in my hands. It is in God's hands. He knows what will happen tomorrow, next week, next year. He knows every single detail about my life. All I need to do is trust that He has control, because I sure don't. 
• I am not alone: God's faithfulness is beyond words. Not for a second has He left me on my own, even when it feels like it. He has worked everything for good in my life this year, and He will continue to do so. He will never leave me nor forsake me, and I don't have to fear. He knows my heart like no other, and regardless of what I do, He will stay with me. He keeps His promises to me. 

I hope and pray great things for all of you in this coming year. Thank you so so so much for going on this journey with me. See y'all in 2015!

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint." -Isaiah 40:31

"But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness". So I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." -2 Corinthians 12:9

Fix My Eyes Upon You

My life has been kind of a whirlwind lately. Between writing final essays, staying up cramming for finals, going to work, prepping for Christmas, unexpected bumps in the road, and fulfilling commitments, I feel stretched pretty thin.. You could say I'm a little stressed. Maybe overwhelmed is a better word.

I've let my priorities get all jumbled up. I find myself juggling more and more the closer it gets to Christmas. And that's just ridiculous.

The best way I can say it is that I feel like Peter on the ocean. At first my focus was all on Jesus. And slowly, my stress, doubts, fears, worries, and obligations started to pile up. And I fixed my eyes and mind on that instead of Jesus. And just like that, I started sinking. I just kept sinking as more worries and things piled up in front of me. I was letting temporary issues have too much control over me and become an anchor tied to my feet while I was trying to stay afloat. Honestly, I really don't like the feeling I have and the person I am when my focus isn't centered on Christ.

So I'm adjusting my gaze. Because Jesus is greater. He is bigger than my insecurities, worries, stressors, doubts, anxieties, conflicts and confusions. He is the only thing that is eternal, and the thing that matters most. He is my life source. I'm drained without Him.And I don't want to be a drained out, stretched thin, shadow of who I am meant to be. In fact, I refuse to be that anymore. It's time to get  back to balance.

 It's so easy to focus on the buildup to Christmas that we forget to meditate on the miracle of Christ. So, enjoy the season, enjoy the festivities, enjoy the baking, shopping and wrapping. Enjoy family and friends and the joy the time of year brings. Sing those Christmas carols loud. Snuggle up with a blanket and some hot chocolate and watch some Christmas movies.  But don't forget to keep your eyes fixed on the King of Kings and the reason for the season.

Unanswered Prayers

I'm a big country music fan. I grew up on a ranch with George Strait as the soundtrack. If you are ever in the car with me, there's a pretty good chance we will be listening to country radio. If there's a country concert in town, it's a safe bet I'll be there. One of my all time favorite artists is Garth Brooks. I've been singing (and occasionally mishearing lyrics to) his music for as long as I can remember. One of his songs is "Unanswered Prayers". Garth, I love the sentiment of the song, but you are way off.

There's NO SUCH THING as unanswered prayers. That would imply that A) God doesn't hear our prayers, B) He ignores our prayers, or C) He simply doesn't care.

Let me assure you, God hears EVERY SINGLE prayer you've ever prayed, He NEVER ignores you, and He DEFINITELY cares.

So often if God doesn't give us the answer we want, we just say the prayer went unanswered. Guys, God isn't your genie. He isn't a wish-granter, or a Magic 8 Ball, or anything of the sort. He is the sovereign Lord of the Universe who has a plan or a calling on your life. He intimately knows your heart, your needs, your wants, and your deepest desires. He loves you way too much to give you something that isn't right for you, or isn't what you need.

When He answers our prayers, sometimes the answer is "Yes". Sometimes it's "No". Sometimes it's "Wait a little longer". Sometimes it's "I've got something even better for you". But He is ALWAYS making it all work together for our good.

Girl Talk

I love spending time with young ladies, be it at church, work, tutoring, etc. They are so special to me. But my heart breaks for them. It breaks for the current generation of girls. There's so much pressure, so many mixed signals, so much confusion. So, I write this to all the beautiful young women who may come across my blog. To my nieces. To my students. These are the things I want you to know.

1. You're a Treasure
  You were made so special, handcrafted by the maker of the heavens and Earth. He took so much time on you. You are His masterpiece, His beloved, His work of art. And nothing can ever change that. I wish you could see yourself how I see you, and more importantly, see yourself through God's eyes. Because you are a sight to behold. You are a gem. You are so sacred, so precious, so priceless. And you always will be. Please never forget that. And please never let anyone tell you otherwise.

2. You're Beautiful
   It's true. You are truly a beauty! It doesn't matter how your hair looks, what clothes you wear, how many freckles you have, how big your feet are, if you have a few pimples. You are a one-of-a-kind, unique and have your own special and captivating beauty. You were made to shine. So rock your look, have confidence. You are spectacular.

3. True Beauty
   Can I let you in on a secret? Make up doesn't make you beautiful. I know you have heard the "beauty comes from within" bit. I know it sounds cliche. You know what else I know? It's totally true. Your beauty stems from  your character and who you really are. Good looks will fade, but a good heart will last.

4. Relationships
  Boys are a fun mystery. Talking to guys can be fun. Friendship with guys is fun. Relationships with guys can be fun. But, never let that come before your relationship with God. That relationship is the foundation of your life. If it's weak, everything else will start to crumble too.

5. Don't Compare Yourself
  People are like snowflakes. No two are the same. We are all made special and for a purpose. We aren't gonna all be good at the same thing. We aren't all gonna look the same. We aren't gonna act the same. And that's awesome! Instead of comparing yourself to others or wishing you looked like her, or had her hair, or her clothes, or anything like that, find out who YOU are. Put your energy in to finding your talents and your purpose. That's what will matter in the long run. Be content with what you have, and embrace who you are, darling. Love yourself, flaws and all.

6. Don't Be a Mean Girl
  Bullying has become an epidemic in our society. But you don't have to be part of that. The best thing we can do as girls is build each other up and make each other feel good. We are all facing the same struggles, and tearing someone down or bullying them doesn't make you better. Support each other, encourage each other, and be kind! It will go a long way. How you treat others says a lot about who you are.

7. Have Faith
 You're gonna have bad days. There's gonna be bumps in the road. And that's okay. I promise you, it isn't the end of the world. So, sweetheart, don't sweat the small stuff. It's not gonna matter in the long run. Have faith in yourself and faith in God. Keep your chin up. We're in this together :)

It's Not About Me

I have a confession to make... I have a tendency to be a selfish person. I think about myself more than I should. I put myself higher on my priority list than is necessary. I can kind of have a princess attitude sometimes. I'm not proud of it. Is it because of my age? Human nature? The world we live in? I don't know. And, honestly, it doesn't matter. They are all just excuses. What I do know? It's not about me. It never has been, never will be. And that's okay.

This life? Not mine. I was a prisoner,held down by the chains of sin, ransomed at such a high price. The King of All gave His life to save mine. The least I can do is live it for Him. Our lives are far too precious to be wasted on things that are solely for our benefit. Jesus came to serve, not be served. We need to have that same approach. I am not shining God's light and showing His love if I'm constantly preoccupied with me and my wants and being served. We are to take care of others, and love our neighbors as ourselves. Not to love others almost as much as ourselves, or take care of them when we have time. God didn't put qualifiers or stipulations on reaching out and loving people. He didn't say to do it when I feel like it. He didn't say to love people who love me, or help people who help me. He made it pretty clear what we are supposed to do. So let's go do it. And do it JOYFULLY.

Confession number two: I can be a Grumpy Gus more than I like to admit. It's so easy to have a bad attitude. It's easy to fall into the pit of attitude issues. And it's hard to get out. I get that. However, us being negative isn't gonna win anyone over or bless anyone.  We have been given such an awesome opportunity. We have the chance to bring a little bit of the Kingdom down on Earth through serving and loving and actions and words. It's such a privilege! Why not take advantage of it and enjoy it and give it our everything. And the reward is so great. God blesses our obedience and love, and plus, the joy that will fill you up is amazing.

I'm not saying to neglect yourself. If you don't take care of yourself, nobody else will. What I am saying is we should never pass up an opportunity to love someone else.