It's funny how this season, although filled with uncharted territory and new routine is similar to many of the previous ones where I knew exactly what the next step held. I may walk without knowledge of what the future holds but that is not to say that I walk in uncertainty of who holds it. Jesus, you are the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. You were the same when You gave me the map to my current season and there was no doubt in what my actions were or meant. Jesus you are the same today when questions of my very being and purpose cross my mind. Jesus you will be the same when I finally meet up with whatever tomorrow contains. I trust in you. I know you have hopes, plans, and steps for my future that will not bring me pain. Sorry if I ever thought otherwise and let my self-created fears get the best of me.
5 Lies I Used to Believe About Being A Christian
It’s not only those outside the Church who have misconceptions about Christianity.
It’s so easy to get caught up in what we think Christianity means that we end up basing the truth on our own perceptions. Let’s see Christianity for what it really is.
This was such great read from Relevant Magazine. I encourage everyone to take a look at it too.
A Message of Compassion
I am sure that you all have heard of the story about how Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 with only 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. If you haven’t, can I encourage you to do so? It’s in Matthew 14. It was a great miracle Jesus preformed that day but that is not the main focus of what I am writing about now. While reading this story I was really touched by a certain line:
"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick."
Now to fully take in this moment you have to know about the one prior. Jesus had just heard His friend John the Baptist was murdered and because of that He left his disciples to be alone. It’s not many times in the Bible when you hear about Jesus venturing off to be by himself so for the times that He did you know it must have been something serious. Although Jesus had a heart for all those who died John the Baptist hit a little closer to home. Not only was John the one to baptized Jesus, they were also cousins. So to then hear John died due to a selfish king’s senseless actions made it even harder to bare.
Whether troubled times are up ahead, you are in the midst of them, or you just got through them, to continually stand firm like He did is a thing many of us wish we could do.
That is what truly snags at my heart strings. Jesus gave up his own personal time to be with the people. He had a heart to see beyond himself and reach the helpless. Imagine if everyone - me included - just gave up a little of their time instead of justifying it to fit their needs. Imagine how much lovelier the world would be.
Despite feeling upset and wanting to be alone, Jesus put his emotions aside for the need of others. How does someone do that? The death of any loved one makes focusing your mind on anything else one of the most difficult tasks in the world. Nonetheless, Jesus still HAD COMPASSION when the people came seeking him out. Everyone would have understood the circumstances had He chosen to say He couldn’t help but He didn’t. In His grief Jesus saw that He was still able to bless and help others so He did just that. In his sadness He still had a heart for everyone.
Your grace and compassion know no end. Thank you Jesus for being the purest form of love this world has ever known.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cboH_vVyvE?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]
Guest Blogger: March
I used to work in a shoe store; you would know that if you saw my wardrobe. They say that if you own 2 pairs of shoes then you are in the top 10% of the wealthiest in the world, well given my collection I could possibly be the 1%!
I worked there for 2 years whilst studying and made some great friends. Generally my work mates were all girls, they ranged from 18-23 years old, I love them all, they are generous, funny, caring and beautiful but the one thing they all have in common is that they are obsessed with cosmetic surgery! A lot of the conversations they had with each other were about what they were getting done, what they’ve had done and what they are hoping to get done. Which for me, coming from the Church bubble really really surprised me.
What I realised is that we are all broken people, and we’re all searching for something. What I’ve noticed, not just about them but myself is that we are looking for approval and acceptance, and I saw this in my friends from work. Maybe it was approval from themselves, maybe from each other, maybe from boyfriends, other friends or maybe from society as a whole.
I tend to have this same cry as well, that I “need” to be liked by everyone, that if I’m not, then there is something wrong with me, and it needs to be fixed. But what I believe as a Christian is that Jesus fulfills every single one of our needs, whether it’s comfort, security, approval, acceptance or anything else we can come up with. The reason why Christians are, and should be, so counter-cultural is that we are simply fulfilled by Jesus, that we don’t need the things of this world.
So what I decided to do was put my thoughts to paper, on this idea that it’s quite obvious we’re not all “perfect”, there are things about ourselves that we don’t like or that we wish we could change, and it’s not just physical things but also our personalities and fixing our broken relationship with God. I want these girls to understand about the God that created them, what he thinks about them and that through Jesus they have ALL the approval they could ever need and ALL the acceptance they could ever want.
This is a revolutionary idea, and it’s a challenge, when the whole world is going one direction, it’s not the easiest thing to take a step of faith and decide to go the opposite direction. There isn’t always an instant pay off, sometimes we may not see the fruit of our choices but it is a game changer when we can get to a place as Paul did in Philippians 3:8 when we can say “I consider all things as loss…that I may gain Christ”.
What a life we have been called to live!
_______________________________
For the month of February I’d like you all to meet Josh Hawkins. Not only does he inspire but he’s just an all-around chill and funny guy with a great story to tell. Don’t believe me, just click on the word funny and you’ll see what I mean. After you have been thoroughly convinced head on over to his blog, Hi Josh for some more cool stuff.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
22 years. 264 months. 8,030 days. 192,720 hours. 11,563,200 minutes. 693, 792,000 seconds. Add all that up and you still couldn’t even come close to the number of ways my life has been blessed. I’m so extremely grateful for every moment that has led up to right here and now.
Although this life is solely mine to live, it is not solely mine to own. The thing is, I have felt the enormity of an undeserving, gracious love given to me by Jesus - I have the family, friends, and a life full of memories to prove it. However, it would be a little too selfish if I kept all that goodness to myself. While I cannot physically relive them all with you I made a list (as one does when something grand like a birthday comes along) that was inspired by all the things I’ve learned, experienced, and been blessed with over the years. I hope it finds and/or leaves you well.
1) Work for it. The easy way will get you nowhere. My dad once said, between climbing a mountain and jumping on the spot, both will get you off the ground but only one way will actually keep you up.
2) Be present. There is no other way to live because anything else is not living.
3) Sleep is like a jealous partner, ignore it and your whole life will be affected in ways you never thought possible.
4) Keep your hands busy while you’re waiting on God. Don’t forget He’s waiting on you too.
5) GRACE ABOUNDS - Oh God, how grateful I am to have such a perfect thing and how blessed am I that it is not circumstantial but ever-lasting.
6) Don’t air your dirty laundry but don’t air all your good either. Not every moment needs to be a status, not every situation needs to be instagramed, keep a few for the treasure box of your mind. With that being said, pictures from other people’s social media are no indicator of the value of your social life - you are.
7) Your age should be no teller of the things you ought to be doing. Don’t let expectations cap your greatness or make you feel worthless.
8) Let God go. I mean literally let Him go… and work wonders. Trying to control everything around you will do nothing but consume your own life.
9) You will always have wealth as long as you always remember it’s not limited to dollar bills.
10) Live to the fullness of your years. Not just to 70+ years but to 70+ FULL years.
11) I am beautiful. Everyone is beautiful, and not just in “their own way”. Each person is just plain beautiful. We all need to see that on a daily basis.
12) Always take pride in Jesus.
13) Double check… everything. .
14) Don’t let what you see blind you from what has yet to be seen. Remember, it’s not at first glance but what can be done with at the first chance.
15) Love is not a a simple word or emotion but an action we must CHOOSE to show daily - yes, love to some extent love is a choice.
16) Invest in your future by taking the time to pray now.
17) There is always room for new friends
18) Be a missionary. You don’t have to travel to Guam or Mexico to be one. God can send you to your own university or place of work to go preach the gospel with not only your words but mostly with your actions.
19) Learn to accept gifts, love, compliments, and advice. It not only benefits your life but the giver as well.
20) Being fearless is not a pre-req for any action in life. Fear always likes to rear its unwanted ugly head no matter who you are so you might as well go ahead and do whatever it is you have your heart set on anyway.
21) We cannot change other people, the only thing we can do to them is accept them for who they are.
22) Your actions will outlive you.
22 years. 264 months. 8,030 days. 192,720 hours. 11,563,200 minutes. 693, 792,000 seconds. Add all that up and you still couldn’t even come close to the number of ways my life has been blessed. I’m so extremely grateful for every moment that has led up to right here and now.
Although this life is solely mine to live, it is not solely mine to own. The thing is, I have felt the enormity of an undeserving, gracious love given to me by Jesus - I have the family, friends, and a life full of memories to prove it. However, it would be a little too selfish if I kept all that goodness to myself. While I cannot physically relive them all with you I made a list (as one does when something grand like a birthday comes along) that was inspired by all the things I’ve learned, experienced, and been blessed with over the years. I hope it finds and/or leaves you well.
1) Work for it. The easy way will get you nowhere. My dad once said, between climbing a mountain and jumping on the spot, both will get you off the ground but only one way will actually keep you up.
2) Be present. There is no other way to live because anything else is not living.
3) Sleep is like a jealous partner, ignore it and your whole life will be affected in ways you never thought possible.
4) Keep your hands busy while you’re waiting on God. Don’t forget He’s waiting on you too.
5) GRACE ABOUNDS - Oh God, how grateful I am to have such a perfect thing and how blessed am I that it is not circumstantial but ever-lasting.
6) Don’t air your dirty laundry but don’t air all your good either. Not every moment needs to be a status, not every situation needs to be instagramed, keep a few for the treasure box of your mind. With that being said, pictures from other people’s social media are no indicator of the value of your social life - you are.
7) Your age should be no teller of the things you ought to be doing. Don’t let expectations cap your greatness or make you feel worthless.
8) Let God go. I mean literally let Him go… and work wonders. Trying to control everything around you will do nothing but consume your own life.
9) You will always have wealth as long as you always remember it’s not limited to dollar bills.
10) Live to the fullness of your years. Not just to 70+ years but to 70+ FULL years.
11) I am beautiful. Everyone is beautiful, and not just in “their own way”. Each person is just plain beautiful. We all need to see that on a daily basis.
12) Always take pride in Jesus.
13) Double check… everything. .
14) Don’t let what you see blind you from what has yet to be seen. Remember, it’s not at first glance but what can be done with at the first chance.
15) Love is not a a simple word or emotion but an action we must CHOOSE to show daily - yes, love to some extent love is a choice.
16) Invest in your future by taking the time to pray now.
17) There is always room for new friends
18) Be a missionary. You don’t have to travel to Guam or Mexico to be one. God can send you to your own university or place of work to go preach the gospel with not only your words but mostly with your actions.
19) Learn to accept gifts, love, compliments, and advice. It not only benefits your life but the giver as well.
20) Being fearless is not a pre-req for any action in life. Fear always likes to rear its unwanted ugly head no matter who you are so you might as well go ahead and do whatever it is you have your heart set on anyway.
21) We cannot change other people, the only thing we can do to them is accept them for who they are.
22) Your actions will outlive you.
22 years. 264 months. 8,030 days. 192,720 hours. 11,563,200 minutes. 693, 792,000 seconds. Add all that up and you still couldn’t even come close to the number of ways my life has been blessed. I’m so extremely grateful for every moment that has led up to right here and now.
Although this life is solely mine to live, it is not solely mine to own. The thing is, I have felt the enormity of an undeserving, gracious love given to me by Jesus - I have the family, friends, and a life full of memories to prove it. However, it would be a little too selfish if I kept all that goodness to myself. While I cannot physically relive them all with you I made a list (as one does when something grand like a birthday comes along) that was inspired by all the things I’ve learned, experienced, and been blessed with over the years. I hope it finds and/or leaves you well.
1) Work for it. The easy way will get you nowhere. My dad once said, between climbing a mountain and jumping on the spot, both will get you off the ground but only one way will actually keep you up.
2) Be present. There is no other way to live because anything else is not living.
3) Sleep is like a jealous partner, ignore it and your whole life will be affected in ways you never thought possible.
4) Keep your hands busy while you’re waiting on God. Don’t forget He’s waiting on you too.
5) GRACE ABOUNDS - Oh God, how grateful I am to have such a perfect thing and how blessed am I that it is not circumstantial but ever-lasting.
6) Don’t air your dirty laundry but don’t air all your good either. Not every moment needs to be a status, not every situation needs to be instagramed, keep a few for the treasure box of your mind. With that being said, pictures from other people’s social media are no indicator of the value of your social life - you are.
7) Your age should be no teller of the things you ought to be doing. Don’t let expectations cap your greatness or make you feel worthless.
8) Let God go. I mean literally let Him go… and work wonders. Trying to control everything around you will do nothing but consume your own life.
9) You will always have wealth as long as you always remember it’s not limited to dollar bills.
10) Live to the fullness of your years. Not just to 70+ years but to 70+ FULL years.
11) I am beautiful. Everyone is beautiful, and not just in “their own way”. Each person is just plain beautiful. We all need to see that on a daily basis.
12) Always take pride in Jesus.
13) Double check… everything. .
14) Don’t let what you see blind you from what has yet to be seen. Remember, it’s not at first glance but what can be done with at the first chance.
15) Love is not a a simple word or emotion but an action we must CHOOSE to show daily - yes, love to some extent love is a choice.
16) Invest in your future by taking the time to pray now.
17) There is always room for new friends
18) Be a missionary. You don’t have to travel to Guam or Mexico to be one. God can send you to your own university or place of work to go preach the gospel with not only your words but mostly with your actions.
19) Learn to accept gifts, love, compliments, and advice. It not only benefits your life but the giver as well.
20) Being fearless is not a pre-req for any action in life. Fear always likes to rear its unwanted ugly head no matter who you are so you might as well go ahead and do whatever it is you have your heart set on anyway.
21) We cannot change other people, the only thing we can do to them is accept them for who they are.
22) Your actions will outlive you.
22 years. 264 months. 8,030 days. 192,720 hours. 11,563,200 minutes. 693, 792,000 seconds. Add all that up and you still couldn’t even come close to the number of ways my life has been blessed. I’m so extremely grateful for every moment that has led up to right here and now.
Although this life is solely mine to live, it is not solely mine to own. The thing is, I have felt the enormity of an undeserving, gracious love given to me by Jesus - I have the family, friends, and a life full of memories to prove it. However, it would be a little too selfish if I kept all that goodness to myself. While I cannot physically relive them all with you I made a list (as one does when something grand like a birthday comes along) that was inspired by all the things I’ve learned, experienced, and been blessed with over the years. I hope it finds and/or leaves you well.
1) Work for it. The easy way will get you nowhere. My dad once said, between climbing a mountain and jumping on the spot, both will get you off the ground but only one way will actually keep you up.
2) Be present. There is no other way to live because anything else is not living.
3) Sleep is like a jealous partner, ignore it and your whole life will be affected in ways you never thought possible.
4) Keep your hands busy while you’re waiting on God. Don’t forget He’s waiting on you too.
5) GRACE ABOUNDS - Oh God, how grateful I am to have such a perfect thing and how blessed am I that it is not circumstantial but ever-lasting.
6) Don’t air your dirty laundry but don’t air all your good either. Not every moment needs to be a status, not every situation needs to be instagramed, keep a few for the treasure box of your mind. With that being said, pictures from other people’s social media are no indicator of the value of your social life - you are.
7) Your age should be no teller of the things you ought to be doing. Don’t let expectations cap your greatness or make you feel worthless.
8) Let God go. I mean literally let Him go… and work wonders. Trying to control everything around you will do nothing but consume your own life.
9) You will always have wealth as long as you always remember it’s not limited to dollar bills.
10) Live to the fullness of your years. Not just to 70+ years but to 70+ FULL years.
11) I am beautiful. Everyone is beautiful, and not just in “their own way”. Each person is just plain beautiful. We all need to see that on a daily basis.
12) Always take pride in Jesus.
13) Double check… everything. .
14) Don’t let what you see blind you from what has yet to be seen. Remember, it’s not at first glance but what can be done with at the first chance.
15) Love is not a a simple word or emotion but an action we must CHOOSE to show daily - yes, love to some extent love is a choice.
16) Invest in your future by taking the time to pray now.
17) There is always room for new friends
18) Be a missionary. You don’t have to travel to Guam or Mexico to be one. God can send you to your own university or place of work to go preach the gospel with not only your words but mostly with your actions.
19) Learn to accept gifts, love, compliments, and advice. It not only benefits your life but the giver as well.
20) Being fearless is not a pre-req for any action in life. Fear always likes to rear its unwanted ugly head no matter who you are so you might as well go ahead and do whatever it is you have your heart set on anyway.
21) We cannot change other people, the only thing we can do to them is accept them for who they are.
22) Your actions will outlive you.
We Pray Too Much
Just a few moments ago in the middle a talk to God I realised something, I think I pray too much. Weird right? How does one pray too much? Aren’t we supposed to in fact go to Him without ceasing, day and night? I mean that’s what the Bible tells us to do.
However, in the midst of my constant mind babbling God interjected and said you’ve got it all wrong. It’s not that you pray too much but that you either waste your time praying about all the wrong things, spending too much time on one thing or sometimes you even do both. You pray for such things like strength to continue your day or wisdom to go about certain situations but you do it so constantly. It is as if you’re reminding me like I’m going to forget. Either that or you yourself have forgotten that I have already given you all the things you need to go forth. I love the fact that you come to me and that you trust in me to deliver you need to trust more. Pray with honest faith in my abilities to be your God. Once you are standing in the midst of the situation you have prayed for, go and complete the task as if nothing can stop you because you know what, nothing can. Stop asking for my presence when I never left you (Deut. 31:8). Stop seeking out strength when I’ve already given it (Psalm 73:26). Instead ask for something that will always help you to remember all the things I have promised you with. Ask that you never forget who am and who I have made you to to be.
According to Plan
I didn’t read my bible today, oh no…not. More like big whoop.
Faced with getting into a new routine this morning I underestimated the time it would take for me to get a “its a school day so I want to look casual and still remain put together” look. Although I had a general idea of what I wanted to wear the night before I think that only added to my stress of actually getting dressed. Besides that plan - which failed - I had also mentally written out how my morning was going to go:
-530 Wake up and take a few minutes to grudgingly get out of bed
-540 Shower and the be dressed and ready by 630.
-630 I knew I had to be out of the house by 7 so that meant 30 good, solid minutes to spend in the word with the Big Guy upstairs.
Reality:
530 My alarm rings
545 Let’s see how many more times I can hit snooze today
550-605 Man, the warmth of that shower was too hard to depart
605 Five minutes behind schedule but I can make up for it because I know what I want to wear.
610 Outfit is on, now to hair and face. Wait a minute… ew. Who died and made me stylist of the year? This outfit is not cute. Safe to say that multiple shoe changes and shirt alterations later it is now 635 and I still have not done my hair or makeup.
640 Ahhhh God Im so sorry. Ill be with you in just a second. All I have to do is a simple ‘do and apply eyeliner. Ill be right there.
645 and that “right there moment” is finally here… Only to have my cousin tell me that we need to leave earlier than expected.
Long story story short, my day is a few moments away from being done and I have yet complete my daily devotionals.
If my situation sounds familiar it’s probably because you’ve been through something like it yourself. However the point of this is not to sit around and reminisce with each other on how we’ve failed to put God first but to remind us that mistakes happen but grace abounds.
We are humans, yes. We will make mistakes but don’t let that stop you from coming back to the heart of worship. God knows our hearts - each and every one of them personally. He knows that it’s not intentional when we slip up and fall down. With that said, come tomorrow and I will get right back at it and continue doing my daily devos.
This is how we should address every situation. It may be difficult to grasp because no other being has ever been -or will ever be- as forgiving as He is but once we understand God’s unyielding and unconditional love for us it also becomes a humbling experience. Just looking back on today I noticed how He was still with me in every single moment - bible study or not.
Don’t allow room for your slip-ups to continually slip you up. Know that He has already forgiven you. All He wants you to do with your mistakes is to grow from them.
Red Bottoms, Sports, and Jesus
Jesus is like your favorite sports team in the midst of a winning season. For every point they scored you would probably post about it; for every game you attended you would instagram it; and when they finally make it to the championships and win, I bet your twitter feed would be longer than Dick Vitale’s. Your love for the team would probably cause a few of your social media followers to be slightly annoyed but you still wouldn’t care what other people think.
Or maybe Jesus is like buying a pair of Louboutins that were on half-off. Wouldn’t you be so excited you would want to tell everyone about it? You too would be instagraming and tweeting about those red bottoms as much as possible to the point where anyone that didn’t have a pair would probably find it a bit excessive.
For me, there is no other way to best describe Jesus. I love Him so much that I can’t stop talking about Him. Only this time the chatter is not limited to a good sale or the on-season for whatever team, it expands to all areas of life. Whether I’m catching the train to class; hanging out with my friends; spending time by myself; eating breakfast; watching TV with my family; finding the perfect outfit for the day; whatever have you, I find God’s grace in everything. So it is with everything that I will bring my attention to glorify His name. I am so thankful for my life and all that lies within it because I know that none of it would be possible without Him. Too much good has happened for it to be a mere coincidence. As for the bad, I still find myself rejoicing because I know it’s not the end but a glorious beginning (James 1: 2-4).
So I leave you all with this: Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed to praise Him, to thank Him, or to talk about Him. Doing that is the most normal and natural thing to do to anything or anyone has done you good - it should be no different when it comes to Jesus.
To whom much is given.
For the first time in a long time I don’t feel homesick in the slightest. I have my my aunt, uncle, cousin, and a few close friends to thank for that. Thank you guys. Thank you God. I love you all.
Designed this little fun finder for the kiddos at my church today as a surprise. Can’t wait to give it to them! However, for the rest of yas, I put up a special link here just so you could download one for your kiddo (or inner-child) to complete.
Designed by Teniola Komolafe
Designed this little fun finder for the kiddos at my church today as a surprise. Can’t wait to give it to them! However, for the rest of yas, I put up a special link here just so you could download one for your kiddo (or inner-child) to complete.
Designed by Teniola Komolafe
Designed this little fun finder for the kiddos at my church today as a surprise. Can’t wait to give it to them! However, for the rest of yas, I put up a special link here just so you could download one for your kiddo (or inner-child) to complete.
Designed by Teniola Komolafe
Designed this little fun finder for the kiddos at my church today as a surprise. Can’t wait to give it to them! However, for the rest of yas, I put up a special link here just so you could download one for your kiddo (or inner-child) to complete.
Designed by Teniola Komolafe
Easter Sunday
Happy Easter everyone!
To say that I love Easter would be an understatement. I saw a quote last night that said,
"Friday taught us to love. Sunday taught us to rejoice. But Saturday, a cold tomb, no angels, no answers, His silence taught us to trust." Wise words said by Jack Sitorus.
Yes, chocolate -especially 70% dark cacao - is good and all but what’s even greater is knowing all the things my Savior completed during his 30-some years on Earth. All that He did, it still amazes me even until today. At my age He traveled far to see the masses, healed the sick and fed the hungry. Then He unselfishly died for me and many others. His life was short but it sure was powerful. Thank you Jesus.
* The Three Crosses is an image taken from Google.
I’m surprised that Starbucks allowed this but I LOVE IT. I’m not for forcing my beliefs or extremely grand gestures but I will never deny who I am and that is a daughter of Jesus Christ. So for Starbucks to put this out there… yeah, this means a lot to me.
I’m surprised that Starbucks allowed this but I LOVE IT. I’m not for forcing my beliefs or extremely grand gestures but I will never deny who I am and that is a daughter of Jesus Christ. So for Starbucks to put this out there… yeah, this means a lot to me.
I’m surprised that Starbucks allowed this but I LOVE IT. I’m not for forcing my beliefs or extremely grand gestures but I will never deny who I am and that is a daughter of Jesus Christ. So for Starbucks to put this out there… yeah, this means a lot to me.