Psalm 37: 7-9

I haven't posted lately because I've been waiting to be led to a topic. Tonight I opened up my devotional book Magnetic to where I last left off. Patience. The thing I love about this book is how broad its interpretation for each fruit of the spirit is. This chapter wasn't just about waiting but how to demonstrate patience to others, yourself, and God. It's so relevant to girls my age.
I was getting close to finishing up the segment on patience and it led me to Psalm 37. I encourage you to read the whole chapter because it focuses on waiting on God's timing. My book was mainly centered around verses one through nine. I read those nine verses several times. Seven through nine really pulled at my heart.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him, do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret- it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land."

So many times when I feel like I'm treated unfairly, I get angry and try to take things into my own hands. I feel sorry for myself. I throw myself a pity party. Then I begin to build up anger, envy, and hatred. A lot of the times people that are doing wrong are continuously getting away with it. This frustrates me more. How can others get away with doing so much wrong and treating others so unfairly?

 First off, I'm not their judge- God is. I have no place to be mad about others' sins. I should only be worried about being the best me I can be and God's plan for me.

Here's what Psalm 37: 7-9 showed me tonight:

1. Be still, wait, and don't fret. It tells us to be still and wait on the Lord. So many times we panic and try to fix things ourselves instead of resting in God's presence waiting for the plan He has. If we wait, He has a better solution. That requires us to be still. Sit and ask God for guidance in unfair situations and pray to react in a Christ-like way.

2. Don't worry about those doing wrong. Like I said, we are not the judge. Sometimes it's so hard not to get frustrated because we think it's unfair and no one is ever going to see their true colors. But God promises in verse 9 that they "will be destroyed". Of course it may not be as soon as we want, but we must trust in this promise and wait on His timing. We can't get caught up on those who are going unpunished.

3. Don't repay evil with evil. Verse 8 says "refrain from anger and turn from wrath. . .it leads only to evil". Most of the time when we take things into our own hands, it's not out of brotherly love but out of anger and envy. Just because someone has done us wrong doesn't mean we have the right to hate them and react in anger. We are stooping the same level as them. That is not who Christ has called us to be. He wants to see us turn the other cheek, react in love and forgiveness, and flee from evil. Yes it is hard, but when we do this we are waiting on God's timing. Verse 9 also holds another promise. "Those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land." What a beautiful, reassuring promise!

 

God will deliver us if we just wait on Him. He has so many great things in store for us but we can't get impatient when we are treated unfairly and try to fix the situation ourselves. It's so hard to let things go sometimes, but it takes surrendering our will to God's will and trusting He will take care of it. "The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me." Trust in God's perfect promise!

 

Please take the time to read Psalm 37. I hope it blesses you like it blessed me!

A Week Full of Jesus!

So I had an amazing week from start to finish and I wanted to share it with you all!

To start the week off, I was assigned to do a speech in Oral Com about a person, event, phrase, or just something that defined me or shaped me into the person I am today. I couldn't really pin just one thing to define me, so I decided to use the song "Thrive" and basically talk about how I wanted others to identify me with Christ. On the morning of my speech, I wasn't super sure if this speech was going to be all that great. I was driving to school listening to Spotify in on my phone. But an ad stopped my music on Spotify so I angrily switched to the K-Love and guess what song was playing. Yes, Thrive. I know for a fact that God was reassuring me right there that my speech was what it was supposed to be. God continued to work in Oral Com and did a few other things that I believe He's still working on in that class.

All throughout the week, God was evident in many ways and it was so refreshing!

Then came Amplify! Hannah and I left after school and drove to Holland Baptist Church to spend the weekend at a free Christian music festival. I cannot put into words how AMAZING it was! The first performer was Colton Dixon who was one of my favorites if not my absolute favorite! I loved his performance because he was so sincere in the way he worshiped and it could have easily been an actual worship service! Plus I've always been a fan of his and all of his songs.

 

For King and Country closed out that night and they put on a show! They were probably the most talented band I've ever seen. There's no telling how many instruments they incorporated and how many each member could play! They put on the best show for the weekend! If I was to go see anyone again, it would be for King and Country.

 

Saturday afternoon, Alex Edmonds and Dan Bremnes each put on a short show and were very good! Unspoken came on next and they were just really neat to listen to! I wasn't really looking forward to Plumb, but once she hit the stage I really enjoyed her! I only heard a portion of her testimony but from what I heard it was a really moving one! Next was Matt Maher, and he had the best worship for Saturday. "Lord I Need You" has always been one of my favorite songs and when that song started playing, you could feel God moving everyone there. The last performer was Tenth Avenue North, and their lead singer was FULL of energy. They did awesome and closed the festival perfectly. The night ended in a beautiful firework show.

 

 The best part about Amplify was getting to see everyone worship. It was so beautiful to look around and see everyone lifting their hands and voices up to our amazing Savior. I was in awe in how many people were there. Both nights God gave us a beautiful sunset that went down right behind the stage from where we were standing. This picture of Plumb was my favorite from the weekend.

 

 

 

One of the few times we actually sat down!

We made it home about 1:30 in the morning but it was all worth it!

 

I closed out my weekend with my church family, watching Do You Believe? If you have not seen this movie, I highly recommend you do! This movie reveals how God works in ways beyond our understanding. It was very moving!

 

To say I'm pumped or on a Jesus high, would be an understatement. God is good all the time!



 

 

 

 

 



I Am Not Perfect.

I started this blog because I wanted to share Jesus. I wanted to share the love and joy I have found in Him in hopes someone else might find that joy. I wanted to share my trials and temptations so maybe someone would read this and realize they aren't alone in their struggles. I want every single one of my posts to be uplifting and encouraging. This blog doesn't make me any better of a Christian or any less of a sinner. However, I feel like God led me to do this and can and will use it for His good. I still struggle with the everyday sins and temptations of this world. I don't always walk as close to God as I should. I don't always show His love to others, forgive like I'm called to do, or behave like a Christian should. I am a sinner. Me being saved doesn't mean I'm not going to mess up, but that when I do, I have a merciful God that will forgive me the instant I ask. What a blessing!

I have grown closer to Christ this past year, and blogging allows me to share to more than just the people I come in contact with everyday. It is out on the internet for any of my Facebook friends to see or anyone else who stumbles upon this website.

No one is perfect. I am not perfect. Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, "For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not." This verse is saying there is not one person that will ever walk the face of the earth and not mess up. The only one that ever will is Jesus Christ, Himself. That is the whole reason we have Jesus Christ. He came and lived the perfect life none of us could live and became the ultimate sacrifice when He died and rose again.

We should not expect perfection out of anyone, and no one should expect perfection out of us. As Christians, it's not our jobs to judge the way others Christians are behaving. God is the only righteous judge. It's our job to encourage them to get back on the right path and pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Galatians 6:1- "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness....."
Romans 14:19- "So then let us pursue what make for peace and for mutual upbuilding."

I know I am not perfect. I know I never will be perfect. I mess up EVERY SINGLE DAY. I will never achieve perfection. The only thing I can do is ask God to lead me every single day. I know there will be times I stray. Sometimes I may not be the witness I should be to those watching. But I hope and pray that any of my brothers and sisters in Christ have enough of His love inside of them to accept and forgive me rather than condemn me. The devil is always working to ruin a testimony. We should not allow the devil to use us to discourage other Christians. Be uplifting. Forgive.

This blog is not what qualifies me as a Christian. Christ knows my heart. This blog should not be the only thing that testifies to my salvation. My actions, words, and daily walk with Christ should portray Him just as much. However, I can edit my blog. I can't edit my words once they've come out. I can't edit my actions once they've been acted. Therefore, I am going to mess up ALOT, and I can't "delete" it. I have to live with each mistake I make. I have to put forth the effort and pray for God to speak through me and for my actions to represent Him. Thankfully, when I don't, God has already paid the price.

God has been so good to me and I know He wants me sharing what He's done and is doing in my life. "...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..." (Luke 12:48) Whether it's through my blog or through my actions, if someone sees Him, it's something of worth.

I want everyone to experience salvation and the joy of it! I cannot put into words how great God's love is and how amazing it is to have a friend in Him! I enjoy writing and I definitely enjoy worshipping Christ. God has given an opportunity to collaborate the two, and I'm going to keep on until He is the one who leads me elsewhere.

Mr. Right needs a Mrs. Right

Every girl has a dream guy. We have this "future husband" designed in our minds that possesses special personality traits and physical features. Three years ago, our girl's bible study began a study on purity using the book And the Bride Wore White by Dannah Gresh. In this study, we designed our "Mr. Right". Being a Christian in today's world, it's hard to date and find someone with the same morals and standards. We didn't create our "Mr. Right" to plan how attractive we expected our future husband to be, but the standards we expected him to meet. Some of my qualities listed... "spiritual leader, good listener, confident, pure, has Godly friends, giving, etc.". It's so important to have a set of standards you expect your future spouse to have, and it's important to go by those standards when choosing who to date.

About a week ago, I purchased Magnetic by Lynn Cowell after my friend recommended it. The book focuses on how to become a girl that attains all the fruits of spirits that's "magnetic" to the right type of guys that God wants us to be interested in. After starting in on the first few pages, I took my "Mr. Right" out of my bedside table.

 

For those of you who don't know, I have been in a relationship for almost three years now with Dustin Forsythe. We both love Jesus Christ and want others to see Him through us and our relationship. When I started in on Magnetic I began feeling very guilty. I want Dustin to be my "Mr. Right" and I had caught myself getting upset and reacting in anger when Dustin upset me or maybe couldn't come see me due to uncontrollable situations. I wasn't loving and forgiving the way I expected my "Mr. Right" to love and forgive me. It's so easy to get caught up in what we want and need and forgetting how we should be meeting the needs of others.

I looked at my little paper-made "Mr. Right" and imagined a cut-out "Mrs. Right" created by Dustin. What Godly qualities does he desire her to have? Would I meet them all? He may not have it written down on paper but I know in his mind he a has his "Mrs. Right". Instead of striving to be a virtuous woman of God that acted in love, kindness, joyfulness, and forgave, I had got caught up in what I wanted and when I didn't get my way, I let myself act bitter and angry.

The point of this post is the "Mr. Right" needs a "Mrs. Right" and vice versa. While we plan for this great Godly person to come into our lives, we need to allow God to transform us into the Godly person that will attract the right person. We can't put the expectations on someone else and go about living a secular life. That's not going to attract the man/woman of God we want. We must put our faith in God's timing that He will bring us to that person. Maybe we are already in a relationship. Work hard to build that relationship on the foundation of Christ, but we should keep focusing on ourselves individually too. Show the Christ-like love we long to receive. If we begin to ask God to give us the love, patience, and forgiveness we need, it's amazing how He can change our attitude about everything. It's so much easier to let go of the little things and react in love and forgiveness versus bitterness.

I encourage everyone to have a set of standards to go by when dating and if making your own "Mr. Right" helps, create one for yourself! But don't stop there. I made myself a "Mrs. Right" that night, that listed the qualities that I should pray for and strive to possess. Challenge yourself to love deeper and wider, forgive quicker, and be more patient. It starts within ourselves. Before you start searching, be content with your relationship with Jesus Christ. We will never be satisfied if we expect our "Mr. Right" to completely satisfy us. True satisfaction comes from the love that can only be given from Christ alone. Don't put pressure on yourself to become perfect, because we can never be perfect for anyone either. If someone is expecting you to be perfect, they haven't been satisfied completely with Christ either. Remember Jesus is the only perfect being, and we are all going to make mistakes. That's why it's so important to be able to love and forgive. Don't work to achieve perfection but work to become as Christ-like as possible.

This was so eye-opening and God really showed me what I could start doing to better myself for me and how I could become more "magnetic" for Dustin. Christian people are drawn to joyful people. Instead of only thinking of "Mr. Right", think of what you can do to become "Mrs. Right" and attract that person God desires you to! "Mr. Right" needs a "Mrs. Right"!

I highly recommend Magnetic by Lynn Cowell and And the Bride Wore White by Dannah Gresh

Another Blessed Summer

Since school is right around the corner, I thought I'd share the experiences God blessed me with this summer. Summer break is never really a break for me, however, I love staying busy, traveling, and having fun. I kicked off my summer with cheer camp with my squad only a day after school let out!

The week after I came home, I started my first job as a waitress at Little Italy. I also got help out with our Mini Basketball camp in the afternoons and our basketball team attend team camp at OBU during the evenings.

Next was my favorite part of every summer. West Central Camp at Bogg Springs! My first year there I was only 6 months old. I wouldn't miss it for anything. This year was my second year to be brave and ride the zip line, and our church's volleyball team ended up getting runner-up in the tournament. God never ceases to amaze me. His presence is EVERYWHERE at that camp. It's so refreshing to see souls saved and be somewhere where everyone is on fire of God. It's like a slice of heaven.

Right before beating Athens!



After so many years you begin to make friends and expect to see them every year. It's always great getting to see Alli and Caleb!

I had about a week of just working and being home with the family, and also celebrated Dustin's birthday before leaving for the beach. I got to vacation a week with my best friend Brennan and her family. It was a week full of eating tons of sea food, kayaking, sun bathing, and enjoying our four flights of stairs that led to our bedroom.

After my first helicopter ride. Definitely not my last! Favorite part of the trip!

Kayaking with Brennan.

The day after coming home from the beach, my family loaded up the camper and I got to spend another week in sun at the lake. Then I attended my last ever basketball team camp at Arkansas Tech. This is by far my favorite camp! I cannot believe my years of team camps are gone!

I left from Tech and repacked my bags for a weekend in Alabama for our annual family reunion. I love getting to visit my family there! If I couldn't live in Arkansas, Alabama would definitely be next choice!

Maggie, Carlan, and I at the family reunion.

After Alabama I spent my last couple of weeks at home working, hanging out with friends and family, and our church also had an AMAZING revival.

We got to go to the Blue Hole twice this summer! I stuck to holding the air mattresses while everyone else jumped.

We had one last pool party at Jade's after football and cheer practice!

We went bowling a few times this summer. The boys may have been a little bit better than us girls, but we managed to bowl a few strikes!

This summer was another one full of camps and traveling. I love getting to go places and spend time with my friends and family. I am so fortunate to have had so many opportunities. It's really sad knowing at this time next year I won't be going back Centerpoint, but headed to college. Back to school is always challenging for Christians, and we often get pulled back into the world. I encourage everyone to stay close to God by staying in constant prayer and by digging into His word. I can't wait to see what God has in store for this last year of high school. Be bold and be courageous! You never know who is watching and what type of impact you're making!

Be Careful Little Tongue What You Say

Before opening my Jesus Calling this afternoon, I had Pandora playing and one of my favorite songs "Fall Afresh" started playing. This time the lyrics "pour into me to overflow" really spoke to me. I wrote it down in my journal to save for another day because I had already planned on what I would write about. Then I opened up my Jesus Calling to "Watch Your Words Diligently" and the song Multiplied started playing. In a weird way (that makes complete sense to me) the three things all tied together in my mind and I realized God didn't want me to save this for another day.

I am so fortunate. I'm not trying to be proud or boast in this fact, but it is true. I am blessed beyond measure. God sent His son to die for me and gave me eternal life. While that should be enough, God decided to bless me with an amazing family. He gave me parents that don't allow church to be optional. They don't just expect church to teach me, but they also lead by example every single day of the week. I was also blessed with a very rare and special church family. One that loves like Christ. It has so many members that lead by example- from past teenagers that I once adored, all the way to older couples that show what marriage should really look like and also show love and care to the youth. But that's not all. I was also given friends in and outside my church family that are also my sisters in Christ and stand for the same things as I do. I attend a school where it is still accepted to pray and speak of Christ. I have a boyfriend that loves the Lord, accepts my flaws, and stands for the same things as I do. As of right now, I am in good health and God has blessed me with the ability to play sports. Again, I'm not bragging but counting my blessings. Yet when I see all that I am so fortunate to have, I feel pathetic.

How often do I complain and groan about the little things that don't go my way? Why do I choose to get consumed by the way of every teenage girl and continue to gossip? How often do I say hurtful things that don't portray Christ? If I am so blessed, I should be overflowing with His love and joy. God has a purpose for me. That purpose could be to "pour [blessings] into me to overflow" and give others the love and joy they aren't given elsewhere, and when I complain and gripe I'm failing to fulfil that purpose.

Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

To edify means to "instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge". Not only should our words not be corrupt, but they should be uplifting and improve others knowledge in Christ. God has provided each of us with so much. First off eternal life. That should be enough to speak in praise of God and God only! But most of us have been blessed way beyond that. I know I have. This post is speaking to me before anyone else. Those blessings should allow us to speak praises and "minister grace" to all that listen.

For me, the school year is the hardest time to be that uplifting person. I'm around others who nag and complain, so I begin to have the same outlook. I want everything to go my way and if it doesn't I'm going to complain because it just isn't fair. I begin to let things make me stressed and I start reacting in anger. I get so caught up in my "problems" that I'm not being a Christ-like example that uses edifying language. James 1:19 tells us to be "swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath".

Last year before getting out of my car each morning and entering the school, I tried to remember and ask God to help me be slow to speak, slow to anger, slow to judge (another big problem I struggle with being a teenage girl). It's so important what we say. God gives us so many reasons to praise His name. There really is no reason for us to complain over temporary discomforts.

See how it all added up? God has blessed me with so much. He has poured His love and blessings into me, and I'm called to share that love I'm overflowing with. When I speak negatively, that is not pointing to Christ and showering His love over those listening. If I am always complaining, how will that draw others to Christ? It could even potentially turn people away. They might think "well she's not that happy, I can find more happiness in the world than that." Don't take God's blessings for granted. There are those much less fortunate than us and we never know when we might not have all the blessings we once had. Before speaking negatively, stop and think of all the things we have to be thankful for. Is complaining going to help? Is this really a problem or is it just not going the way we want it to? You never know who is watching and listening. Allow yourself to be led the Holy Spirit and pull others to Christ rather than turn them away.

It does matter what we say and what words we use. Count your blessings and examine yourself to see if your words and language portray Christ and all the blessings He's given you! Be overflowing with joy and love!

Words- Hawk Nelson
Fall Afresh- Jeremy Riddle
Multiplied- NEEDTOBREATHE

Made to Thrive

When I first started my blog I titled it "Made to Thrive". It comes from Casting Crown's song "Thrive". I had kind of made it my "motto" the last few months so I wanted to incorporate it in my blog somehow.

"We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives. It's time for us to more than just survive. We were made to thrive." This part of the song really stuck out to me and made me really fall in love with the idea to live by it. It's so easy to get comfortable in our everyday lives and to be content with just going through the motions. We can sit back and not stand out because standing out could risk losing friends and being ridiculed. But God didn't create us for that. He calls us to be a light in the darkness. To be a light, we can't be ordinary.

I attended a Casting Crowns concert last summer at Magic Springs and the lead singer spoke of the story behind "Thrive". The song talks bout a tree planted by the water. When you think of a tree thriving, you think of big huge branches, that reach way up and way out, but for it to be stable it needs a firm foundation. That requires a strong root system that reaches deep into the ground with very big roots to hold the support. When you think of a thriving Christian, you think of someone that is bold witness, that reaches out to all people. The same is required for the Christian. He or she needs a firm foundation. That foundation is Jesus Christ, and comes from digging deep into His word and into prayer.

So how exactly do we become this "thriving" Christian? Our evangelist answered that with three short verses last night. Psalms 1:1-3.

Verse 1
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful."
This verse tells us what NOT to do. While it's good to try and reach out to those around us that don't know Christ, it shouldn't be the people that influence us the most. It is SO very important to have Christian friends that build our faith up and encourage our relationship with God. It's not wrong to have lost friends, but it's important that our Christian friends are our closest.
We need to rid ourselves of the sins, people, and relationships that are toxic to our relationship with Christ. If it's not bettering us then it is NO good. If we want to be someone who thrives, we can't have things hindering us from being close to God.

Verse 2
"But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
This verse is telling us what to do. The law of the Lord is His word. It says to meditate on it day and night. That doesn't mean reading a Bible Verse once a day and thinking a split second about and then going on about with the rest of our day. Meditate is to think over. Really dig into God's word. There's always something new to be learned. And then pray. Pray over our readings, and that God would give us wisdom to understand His word and find ways to apply it to everyday life.  

Verse 3
"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Verse 3 tells us what to expect. We will prosper and produce fruits. We will THRIVE. This doesn't mean life will be perfect and easy. Life may even be hard and full of trials, but God's rewards are eternal. Whether or not we're rewarded for our works on earth, God has promised eternal rewards which are much more precious than temporary rewards on this earth.

God doesn't call us to be ordinary. We were called to be different. Instead of just getting by from day to day, we should be overflowing with God's love. He died for us so we should strive to LIVE for Him.

 Check out Thrive and Casting Crowns full story behind it here!

God is the perfect B.F.F.

I was having trouble deciding on which topic to do my next blog post on and narrowing it down to just one topic. I have this problem where I can jump from one idea to the next and before long I've thrown several topics together making a confusing mess of thoughts.

Tonight was the opening of my church's revival. Evangelist, Bro. Tommy Oglesby brought a very powerful message from John 1:1-5. Verse 1 really stood out to me. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Part of the message was centered around that verse and the complexity of God. Well God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Except they are also one together, as God. And the Word has always existed. It was with God. Only it WAS God, too. That's a lot to understand. I believe every word of that and I understand it to an extent, but there's no way I'll ever completely comprehend it. God is way too complex and intricate for any human to be able to comprehend all of His wonders and capabilities.

Tonight I was skimming through the Bible, just looking for something to stand out to me. I began to get frustrated. I had so many thoughts that I couldn't put into words in a way that anyone could understand exactly what I wanted to get across. I feel like this a lot actually. Not one person knows every single thing about me. Different people know different things. But no one understands all my experiences, joys, and pains. There's so many sides to me that no one can ever fully comprehend.

Then I flipped back over to read John 1:1. My study bible had a footnote that read, "Do you ever feel your life it too complex for God to understand? Remember, God created the entire universe, and nothing is too difficult for him. He created you..."

There is one person who knows each of us. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He designed us each to find joy in different things. To feel pain from different things. He created us knowing our fears, our loves, and knowing what trials we would be faced with. We are complex. Because we were created by a complex God. No one can ever fully understand us. But it's so refreshing to know that the Creator of the Universe does. He's holding the entire earth in His hand, yet He still knows the desires of your heart, and every single thought or feeling that occurs to you. This leads to my conclusion.

I believe God intended for no one to be able to completely understand us, besides Him. He created us to rely on Him. God is powerful and He is to be feared and respected greatly, but I've also found Him to be a best friend that no one else can compare to. There's been many times I can't fully express my feelings to even my closest family and friends, but I can feel the Holy Spirit wrapping me up, acknowledging and understanding the depths of me. It's simple to God, and I can't imagine not having Him to lean on. We were made to need a relationship with Christ. If you haven't accepted Christ you are missing out big time, and I encourage you to accept Him as your Savior. Even some Christians lack this relationship with Christ. God wants to hear from us more than just on Sundays. We need a personal relationship that requires to rely on Him all throughout each and every day. And some Christians already have this relationship with Christ, but John 1:1 proves God's complexity. There's always more to learn about God and His word. Make God your best friend. He knows you better than anyone.

Check out this song!
Steffany Frizzel- You Know Me

Following Christ or Following The Rules?

I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was only in the third grade. I knew I was lost and bound for hell and I needed Jesus to save me. That was the greatest day of my life. As I said, I was only in the third grade. I continued living how my parents had raised me to behave and how I knew a Christian should behave. Church was not an option. I attended every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, and was always at vacation bible schools, church camps, and revivals. I tried to pray every night before bed and I knew mostly every Bible story. Up until last year I thought I was doing everything right....

Then I came across Mark 10:17-31. It's the story of Jesus speaking to a rich man. The man approaches Jesus and tells Him he has observed the law since his youth but still wants to know what he can do to receive eternal life. Jesus tells the man he lacks one thing. He needs to give up everything he has and "take up the cross, and follow [Him]". The man turns away from Jesus because of his great possessions. Jesus didn't want the man to just follow the law, but for him to desire a relationship with Christ so much that he would be willing to surrender his heart and follow Christ Himself.

God spoke to me strongly through these verses. Yes, being a Christian was about living a life that was an example for others to see. I needed to make the right choices and do what was right. But that wasn't where I was supposed to stop. For so long I depended on myself not breaking the rules to be the core of my walk with Christ. But God has called us for so much more. He desires a true relationship with each of His children and willingness to submit to His plan and will.

That night God showed me He wants more. It opened me up to a completely new prayer life and relationship with Christ. God created us to need Him as our ultimate desire. If anything is reigning above Him in our hearts, we need to give them up and put God where He belongs. The rich man followed the law, but failed to put his possessions below Christ and follow His call. Following the rules is great, but there is so much more to being a Christian than just that. We are to take up our cross and be willing to follow the will of Christ no matter the cost.

I encourage you to check out 

Mark 10:17-31 for yourself!  

Why Wait?

I am currently about to start my senior year of high school. This is a memorable year for many reasons but it is also a year spent of planning. Almost stuck in "the waiting". I have found myself thinking and even telling people that I can't wait to get to college and get my life started. I can't wait to join MBSF or any other Christian group I'm led to, get involved in a huge youth group, and just get on fire for the Lord. I plan on becoming more bold in my faith, start bible studies with friends, and have a better prayer life.
It occurred to me other day while planning all of this, I hadn't prepared for THIS school year and how I could be a witness and be on fire for God. I overlooked the year because I've already fit in to who I am and who everyone expects me to be. I'm comfortable. It finally hit me. Why wait? There's no one telling me I can't start praying not just over my far off future but also this upcoming school year. There's no reason I can't be more bold, start encouraging friends and engaging in God's word together NOW. God doesn't call us to take action a year from now. He wants us to serve, starting the second we are called. Whether we are in "the waiting" or not God still has a plan and purpose for us all, each and every day.
 It may seem like our lives are at a standstill but God can and will still move in us and through us if we allow Him to. God is often making us wait to build our patience and put us through situations that will allow us to grow and prepare us for the future we are so looking forward to. God isn't making us wait to torture us.
This "waiting" period does not mean waiting to be a shining light and a bold witness, and that's what I turned my waiting into. In getting so excited about how I want to serve the Lord in college and how He is going to use me, I allowed myself to think that this year I could just sit back and dream about all these big plans. This is the most selfish and ridiculous thought that I could have. How could I think I am just going to sit back and be comfortable for a year and when I'm ready and starting over, then I will be on fire and expect God just to jump in and take control again. I know God can, and I am praying He does, provide all these openings and blessings in college but He also wants me NOW. I still have a WHOLE year to leave a testimony. I have a school full of lost souls that need Jesus and after this year, I may not ever have the chance to be a light to them. I have teammates that need to see me giving honor and glory to God on and off the field/court, that need God's love, and need to see an example of sportsmanship (which I also struggle with because of my competitive personality). When God gathered His disciples He didn't say, "Follow Me and I will make ye fishers of men, next year when you're most ready." He called them immediately.
God makes us wait and sometimes the wait can seem unbearable. But as we wait we shouldn't be so blinded by our plans to serve Him through the wait. With all this being said, God has really opened my eyes to the here and now. There are so many ways I can serve Him and show His love each day. I pray now that God not only consumes me when I get to college but becomes my focus during my last year of high school, too. This is my last year to maybe impact someone's life and while I wait for all the amazing things God has planned for me, I will do my best to serve Him and be a light this upcoming year.
This is also my first post on my first ever blog. What inspired me to do this? I had planned on starting a blog when I began college, but as harped on previously, God doesn't want us to just wait to serve Him, and He led me to this and provided the perfect way to start my first blog.