<< Restarting >>

Trials. Seasons of our lives when our faith is being tested. Well I have had mine and I have been failing.

And yes it has to do with me not writing blog posts. I would like to say that it has to do with being busy with finals, work and just life… but that is not the reason. I still do not even how it happened but the truth is that I put my relationship with Christ on the back burner.

LOVE

It is so incredibly easy to fall away for brief moments into the worldly nothingness of life. This is what I was doing. I was not pursuing the Lord. Because of that I did not have anything to write or talk about. I had not been in the Bible searching for truths to share with you all. I am so amazed how much reading the Bible had impacted my everyday life. Now I see the results. I am looking forward to restarting my journey.

I want to apologize to everyone for letting my selfishness to get the better of me.

I’ve always considered myself a “good” Christian and a woman who follows Christ but the truth is that all of us fall short. We have and will never be perfect. But thank God for His grace, mercy, patience and forgiveness with us. We are a fallen people and He knows that yet He still loves us all the same.

I am so thankful for Christs’ forgiveness.  

Micah 7:18-19, “Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possessions? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”

No matter what terrible, horrible or hurtful thing you have done in life Christ is ALWAYS there for you. Once you are a blood bought child of His nothing can take you out of His hands. If you truly want forgiveness, He will forgive you-- no matter what you have done. No sin is too big for Christ. After He forgives you, your sins are all cast away, never to be mentioned again. Now that is true love.

Here to finishing that last few days of 2015 strong! Merry Christmas everyone!

A Different ThanksGIVING

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is focused on others and expressing how blessed we are. I was sitting here thinking of how I can put Thanksgiving in a different perspective. I looked at the word Thanksgiving and it donned on me. Hey, there are two words here: thanks and giving. Obviously, but it hit me differently…

The First Part of the Word: Thanks.

Usually that is what we associate Thanksgiving with— being thankful for what we have. Calling ourselves blessed for what God has given us on this earth. (Notice that turkey and football are not mentioned, although they are things God has given us.)

It is wonderful to have one day a year devoted to recognizing how absolutely BLESSED we are. Being thankful for the people in our lives and the things we have. Pretty straight forward.

The Second Part of the Word: Giving.

This really hit me hard. When this holiday was created they named it and for some reason they put the word “giving” in there. When I first recognized that I thought it was very interesting because we do not usually think of this holiday as a “giving” holiday. Usually that is Christmas. Maybe they just switched the order so that it will still be one word but the meaning is: give thanks. However I took these words a step further and added on to the traditional meaning of “give thanks”.

Giving is an act of worship and appreciation… to who? To God. God has given each and every one of us so much. Far more than we deserve.

For me this was an awesome reminder that I have been given so much. I have been so very blessed with the things I need and some of the things I want.

The other day my dad and I were having a heart to heart and he asked me what he could give me that would make me happy (there is more to the story but this is the part that matters). I was stumped. I honestly could not answer him. I thought and thought but I could not come up with anything that would make me happy.

It was then that I realized that my happiness didn’t come from material things but only from the one who gives it all—our Father God.

That was just a side note. If our hearts are in the right place we should be content and truly thankful for what we have and not wanting more than God has blessed us with.

Since God has blessed us, we do not need to hoard and keep all that blessing hidden safely away for no one else to partake in. We need to GIVE IT AWAY. We need to pass along what God has blessed us with to others so that they might see the power of giving and see Christ through us.

I do not know what your blessings are… but you do. They come in many forms, sometimes in the form of time, people, words, material possessions, wisdom, money, anything that is of value to you that God has given to you. Take that “thing” or “idea”, whatever it is and give part of it away. Use it to further God’s kingdom. Use it to bless someone else. This is an act of you giving thanks to God for all that He has done for you.

I love this leaf. It is a blessing and reminds me how simple yet fulfilling life is when your heart is in the right place.

#CONTROLFREAK

In His Arms

Accept it or Deny it—You Want to be in Control of Your Life

This has pretty much been my attitude towards life. I have to be in control of everything-- whether I know it or not. I have not really recognized it however, because I know other people who are super control freaks and I always considered myself “better” than them and “less” of a control freak. I always said, "Yeah, lay it all at the feet of God. Surrender it all to Him." But I still wanted to be the super star.

It was not until these past few weeks that everything in my life has been turned a bit sideways and I could not do anything to prevent it.

I Needed to Let God Take Over

We recently found out that my little sister has Type 1 Diabetes. It has been a struggle. I felt so bad for her but there was not one thing I could do to make her better. It was simply not in my power. She was in the hospital sick for a few days and I realized that the only thing I could do for her was PRAY. I had to surrender myself to the Lord and let Him handle the situation.

Giving everything to the Lord was hard at first, but I eventually found joy knowing that she was being taken care of someone who was far more capable than me.

1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (NIV)

God cares so much for us and He only wants the best for us. But He cannot do that if we still want to have our own agenda. We need to allow God to guide our path. We need to humble ourselves and be willing to be His hands and feet and let His Spirit lead us.

Pray Always

After we put God first in our life we cannot not completely step out of the picture and think that God is just going to do great things. We need to pray. Petition. Ask God to grant us our request. Ask for wisdom in a situation or just pray out of thankfulness. God has done so much for us. He wants us to pray to Him. It is one of our only ways of communication with Him. He longs for us to draw close to Him and to talk to Him as a friend.

Part of the way we are able to get rid of our control freak attitude is through prayer. Prayer is so powerful. It works in huge ways and small ones.

Just the other day my dad was working outside in his garage and sometimes it is kind of a mess. He was looking for this one tool and had been trying to find it for at least 5 minutes. He was getting frustrated and finally stopped for a moment and asked the God to show him where the tool was. Within 5 seconds my dad remembered where he put the tool and found it momentarily.

Yes, this is an example of a very small way that God answered a prayer, but God uses prayer to show His power even in small ways like He did with my dad.

Leave the Results Up to God

Regardless of what happens or what we ask God to do, we must praise Him in all situations. We must surrender ourselves and our lives to the Lord. Everything that has happened, is happening and will happen is a part of God’s plan for our life. I know it sounds cliché but it is true! Whether we want to admit it or not.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (NIV)

He uses every situation to His advantage and for His glory. We need to get off our high horses and realize that there is someone else who wants to do life with us.

Psalms 18:2, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (NIV)

God is always there for us. We need to lay everything at His feet. He is our ROCK. He can handle all of our “stuff". He will never fail us. Never leave us.

We need to throw away our control freak self and turn our eyes to our fortress and deliverer-- our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

A Nebraskan Adventure

Because Life is worth jumping for

I have decided to go a little out of the norm and write about Fall because it is one of my favorite times of year!!!

Adventures are the best part of life. They are the event and things that help form us into the people we are today. They make us stronger. They can be trials, times of uncertainty or times of joy. Good and bad things. Happy or sad. But let’s be real, without any adventure, life is just an existence, it’s not actually a life being lived to its fullest potential.

Since I live in Nebraska and do not have all the money in the world to travel wherever I want, Nebraskan adventures are the Best option right now.

And fall is the PERFECT time to go exploring. My favorite aspects about fall adventures in Nebraska are (btw the following pictures were taken by me and are all, of course, in our beautiful state of Nebraska:)

Nebraska Sunrises are BEAUTIFUL

1.)    The air is crisp. Probably my FAVORITE part. No bugs. Just you and the refreshing sun during the day and freezing, freezing weather at night (and yes I am speaking from experience of sleeping in a tent when it was 39^o F with only a sleeping bag). One of my favorite things to do is just pause outside and deeply breathe in the glorious air, it is so reviving. Also, this makes hiking and being outside so much more enjoyable than all the hot and sweaty summer months.

The train. The trees changing colors. The river.

2.)    All the different colors are plainly breathtaking. Every stunning shade of red, orange, and yellow are differently and uniquely shaped and shaded. Although the grass is turning brownish and the plants are fading, beauty I still everywhere.

 

^ This is Nebraska ^

3.)    The noises of autumn. The everlasting crunching sound of leaves under your feet wherever you walk. Birds sailing south forming V's as they go. The wind creating its peaceful wistfulness.

 

4.)    The unwavering smell of any and everything pumpkin spice. Cookies, cakes, pies, and drinks. You only get to have pumpkin things once a year, might as well take complete advantage of it. The sweet, homey aroma of coffee drinks and apples. Something apple or something pumpkin is all you need for fall.

5.)    Clothing. Yes I love fashion and fall is the Best time of year for fashion! It so fun and versatile. Scarves. Vests. Sweaters. Flannels. Boots. And everything together at once, just to keep warm... actually don’t do that, you’ll look like a clown. But they are practical items that can be outdoorsy and keep you warm and comfy while exploring.

Whether you live in Nebraska or not, take advantage of this time of year! It is so perfect for traveling through God’s lovely world full of surprises.



And yes we all love Colorado! Like a ton. :)

Dig deeper. Go a little farther that a mere 2 second encounter with nature on a walk to and from your car. This does not mean you have to go hundreds of miles away to the ocean or way up in the mountains to find beauty (as much as we would like to sometimes go to… say… Colorado, one of my personal favorite places ever, for a week and hike in the endless majesty of the mountains, we need to be embracing where God has put us and what He has placed in front of us—that would be good old Nebraska). 




Be Still

Dig your head out of the books for a few moments and go out into your surroundings. It’s in front of you.  Beside you. Below you. Out your window. At your door step. And encompassing you outside. Waiting, just waiting to be discovered, recognized, and embraced. Take a moment to recognize the simply beautiful world God has created for you to dwell in.



Feet on their way somewhere

 

 

Psalms 46:10a, "Be still and know that I am God." (NIV) 

 

^ Look Up ^

This poem by Gary Turk is a bit lengthy but you MUST READ IT. You HAVE to read this. NOW. His words speak truth about the society we live it today. I hope this will challenge you and possibly change your whole perspective on life.

 

 

Look Up

by Gary Turk

I have 422 friends, yet I am lonely.

I speak to all of them everyday, yet none of them really know me.

The problem I have sits in the space in-between

Looking into their eyes or at a name on a screen.

I took a step back and opened my eyes.

I looked around and I realized that

This media we call social is anything but;

When we open our computers and it’s our doors we shut.

All this technology we have it’s just an illusion;

Community, companionship, a sense of inclusion, yet

When you step away from this device of delusion,

You awaken to see a world of confusion.

A world where we’re slaves to the technology we mastered,

Where information gets sold by some rich, greedy… [person],

A world of self-interest, self-image, self-promotion,

Where we all share our best bits but leave out the emotion.

We’re at our most happy with an experience we share,

But is it the same if no one is there?

Be there for your friends and they’ll be there too,

But no one will be if a group message will do.

 

We edit and exaggerate, crave adulation,

We pretend not to notice the social isolation.

We put our words into order till our lives are glistening,

We don’t even know if anyone is listening.

 

Being alone isn’t the problem let me just emphasize

If you read a book, paint a picture, or do some exercise,

You’re being productive and present not reserved and recluse.

You’re being awake and attentive and putting your time to good use.

So when you’re in public and you start to feel alone,

Put your hands behind your head, step away from the phone.

You don’t need to stare at your menu or at your contact list.

Just talk to one another, learn to co-exist.

I can’t stand to hear the silence of a busy commuter train

When no one wants to talk for the fear of looking insane.

We’re becoming unsocial, it no longer satisfies

To engage with one another and look into someone’s eyes.

We’re surrounded by children who since they were born

Have watched us living like robots and think it’s the norm.

It’s not very likely you’ll make world’s greatest Dad

If you can’t entertain a child without using an iPad.

 

When I was a child I’d never be home,

I’d be out with my friends, on our bikes we’d roam.

I’d wear holes in my sneakers and graze up my knees,

Or build our own clubhouse high up in the trees.

 

Now the park is so quiet it gives me a chill,

See no children outside and the swings hanging still.

There’s no skipping, no hopscotch, no church and no steeple.

We’re a generation of idiots, smart phones and dumb people.

So look up from your phone, shut down the display,

Take in your surroundings, make the most of today.

Just one real connection is all it can take

To show you the difference that being there can make.

 

Be there in the moment as she gives you the look

That you remember forever as when love overtook,

The time she first held your hand or first kissed your lips,

The time you first disagreed but still loved her to bits,

The time you don’t have to tell hundreds of what you’ve just done,

Because you want to share this moment with just this one.

The time you sell your computer so you can buy a ring

For the girl of your dreams who is now the real thing,

The time you want to start a family, and the moment when

You first hold your little girl and get to fall in love again,

The time she keeps you up at nights and all you want is rest,

And the time you wipe away the tears as your baby flees the nest,

The time your baby girl returns with a boy for you to hold,

And the time he calls you Grandad and makes you feel real old,

The time you take in all you’ve made when you’re giving life attention,

And how you’re real glad you didn’t waste it by looking down at some invention,

The time you hold your wife’s hand, sit down beside her bed,

You tell her that you love her, lay a kiss upon her head,

She then whispers to you quietly as her heart gives a final beat,

That she’s lucky she got stopped by that lost boy in the street.

 

But none of these times ever happened.

You never had any of this.

When you’re too busy looking down,

You don’t see the chances you miss.

So look up from your phones, shut down those displays,

We have a finite existence, a set number of days.

Don’t waste your life getting caught in the net

Because when the end comes, nothing’s worse than regret.

I am guilty too of being part of this machine,

this digital world we are heard but not seen,

where we type as we talk and read as we chat,

where we spend hours together without making eye-contact.

 

So don’t give in to a life where you follow the hype,

Give people your love, don’t give them your “like.”

Disconnect from the need to be heard and defined,

Go out into the world, leave distractions behind.

 

Look up from your phone, shut down the display.

WOW. I read this and was convicted about doing this in my own life, but realized how every single day we do this without even knowing.

We base our lives on how many people like our Instagram photo or how many comments we have on a Facebook status. How many “followers” or “friends” we have on these social media sites.

Honestly, when you really, really think about it, it’s ridiculous. We value the opinion of people on a screen that sometimes we have never said more than a sentence to in real life than the people who we are surrounded by each and every day. We get so sucked into our screens that we MISS OUT ON LIFE. Literally.

We spend countless hours and time involved in this "world of screens” that we do not see the beautiful Life Scene that God has laid before us.

We need to be people who embrace the lights in life. And who do not try to be the light in life. Christ is our light. We are not. Each moment can be described as a light. We are to live in them, embrace them and make the most of them. We are not supposed to try and make them reflect us as we do on social media. They are to reflect our awesome Creator.

 

Take your phone, ipad, ipod, computer or whatever screen is in front of you and put it down for a long while. Do not look at it. Trust me, you will survive. Go outside and just sit. Or take a walk. Read a book. Sip some tea. Invite a friend to come over and talk about life. Invest your time in someone one. Some idea, organization, something eternal. It is the small things in life that matter. The moments you spend doing Something.

ESCAPE THE ORDINARY. When I first saw this saying, I loved it. It reminded me to live original and be my own self. Who cares that everyone else is wasting their life on social media. Sure doesn’t mean I have to. Be the person in a room who wants to talk to real people. Or just listen to the voice of a human. Not some stupid automated voice on a screen.

Life is so beautiful. It is EXTRAordinary. Look up. Acknowledge it. Believe it. Live it.

 

Turk, Gary. Can find this poem here: http://sfglobe.com/?id=12751&src=bottomxpromo&ro=1&xs=686_12751_0_1a8ef70ed644fdae07b3e28b428ec29c&xas=686__1444258942&eid=686&pid=686

Don't Wait. The Clock is Ticking.

In my last post about “moments” I feel like I was super broad in my discussion. There is SO much I can say on the topic of time and I will be writing this as much for me as I am for you; it is a struggle making the most of my time and choosing priorities.

Therefore, in the next few posts I want to dig a little bit deeper into what I snapshotted into the post, They Only Come Once. If you did not have a chance to read that post yet, please do before diving into this one.

These next few weeks I will (tentatively) be writing more in depth explanations about the following topics below:  

• Embracing each moment you are in
• How to Embrace life
• Do not worry about tomorrow or the future
• What does investing really look like and how to I live intentionally?
• The power of words

So here it goes. . .

Don’t Wait. The Clock is Ticking.

Time… time, time, time. What is the first thing that pops into your head when you think of the word time? Something that is restricting. Something that gives you deadlines. Something to squander. Or a gift. Something precious. Something that is given to you each and every day should you choose to embrace it.

God has left us precious time on this earth as His people. Part of our duty is to be good stewards of that time. ↓↓↓

Many of us end up walking through life wanting time to go by so we can get to the place in life (in our opinion) that is the most exciting. We are waiting for that concert to come. Waiting until we can drive. Waiting until we can have that one pair of jeans, that one shirt or pair of shoes that will supposedly make our life perfectly happy again. Waiting for responsibility. Waiting until we can move out of the house or apartment we are in and to a new location. Waiting until our kids are out of the potty-training stage. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Never wait. Never waste time.

When we look back on those moment that we just waited, we will see them as selfish and meaningless minutes, days, or months. We wasted that time. We did nothing useful during that time besides want something that we could not have and did not have. And to make matters worse, sometimes the things that we were waiting for did not fulfill our expectations and we are often disappointed.

If we want to go through life living it to the fullest, we need to LIVE IN THE MOMENT. Not in the future and definitely not in the past. /// Side note— we all regret things we have done in the past, whether it be one small action or a whole previous lifestyle. Well, that was yesterday, that was the past. It’s gone. It happened. It’s not happening; therefore, do not dwell in it. Forgive and forget.

Hebrews 8:12, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." (NIV)

God has forgiven you, do likewise./// Move on to the present. Wake up each morning with an attitude of joy, thankfulness and excitement. You have been given another glorious day to live. Another day to walk through and treasure each moment as it comes. They may not all be perfect but that’s life for ya.

The best you can do is simply GIVE LIFE YOUR ALL. Let every breath you take be filled with passion. Christ wants you to put your whole heart into whatever task, person, or idea He has placed in your way.

1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (NIV)

Embracing the moment involves passion not apathy. Its Christ living and dwelling inside of you and filling you up with Himself so that you can bring Him glory in whatever you are doing.

Stop waiting. Stop wasting this precious gift that is ultimately slipping away from you. Devote yourself to the present. Even in a situation that you might be feeling a little downcast by, do not let it get the best of you. Make the most of every situation God has placed you in because it is a treasure that if it is not uncovered soon, it may never be.

"Be a moment embracer not a time waster." (Btw, I very terribly and non-artistically drew this)

P.S. PLEASE share your thought and comments about this post in the comments section below. I would love to hear what you think about it!!!

They Only Come Once

As humans, we have a tendency to want what we don't have. Or we are always looking forward instead of looking down at our feet as to where we are at and what we are doing in that very moment. Sometimes I have to remind myself more than once to be thankful for today, even if it does not seem to be the best day I have had, and focus on making the most of the moment I am in.

 

Even just the other day when I was at World's of Fun with my family (having a blast btw), I had to remind myself to enjoy the moment and take in the each minute of the passing day as it came. I found myself looking onto the next day, kind of dreading it because it would be another start to a week of school, work and the business of life. What I decided to do was make the most of the precious hours I had left spending quality, fun time with my family, not looking ahead to tomorrow.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/446349013045557428/



I love this quote because it challenges me to get the most out of a day.

 

Each moment you take a breath is precious. But once that moment is gone, it can never be retrieved. Every word, action and expression can never be taken back once it leaves.

 

Time can never reverse.

 

Therefore, invest. Spend time building, rebuilding and strengthening relationships with the people you care about, or with those you feel God has laid on your heart to pursue.

 

Christ has given you another day to live in His beautiful world for a reason, don't miss that. He has given you more moments to further His kingdom. Think about how you can serve someone for Christ today since He has given you the ability and resources to do so.

 

One day you will wake up and regret never taking the time to really invest in the people around you-- the ones specifically placed in you life for a reason; because you were preoccupied with selfish interests. Please, please do not spend all your free time in a corner playing XBox or scrolling through meaningless news feed on your phone (yes we have all done it before and I am guilty of it as well).

 

Romans 14:12, "So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God." (NASAB)

 

Therefore, Be intentional in everything. Take the time to do something worthwhile-- something that at the end of the day you can look back and smile upon. At the end of a day, you never want to look back and see that you did nothing for someone else. You did nothing unselfishly. Nothing giving of yourself. Nothing sacrificial. Nothing that will matter the next day. Ultimately, it does not matter how many hours you spend on social media. Usually, its a waste of time.

 

Instead of putting yourself in front of a screen, pick someone you know and send them an encouraging note or meet up with them to talk about life. The things you can do for someone else is limitless. There is a good chance someone around you is hurting. While you may not feel perfect yourself-- that's ok. If you are waiting for the perfect moment to be a good person or friend to someone, trust me, it will never come. ACT NOW.

 

You only have so much allotted time on this earth. You want it to have purpose and meaning and you do not want to throw it away by wasted moments, heedless decisions or comments.  

 

Matthew 12: 36-37, "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment."For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (NASAB)

 

Talks. Conversations. Words. The tongue is such a powerful part of you. In one minute you can make someone's day by saying a kind word or tear them apart by a negative comment. Think before acting. Be a encourager not a destroyer.  

 

Every moment that passes you either lost something or gained it. Be constantly gaining, not for your own interests but for Christ. Trust Him in His plan and live life to the fullest.

 

1 Corinthians 10:31, "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the GLORY of God." (NASAB)
 

Blessings During the Storm

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/446349013046773128/

 

I kept asking God why? Why now? How in the world could we have gone through that much work and in 20 minutes our 11 hours of labor was literally washed away, completely destroyed. I was feeling sick to my stomach and trying to fight away the headache that had been nagging at me all day while I was in the heat.

I was walking upstairs completely drenched in muddy water, exhausted, burnt, and on the verge of tears when I somehow remembered James 1:2-4 which says:

          “Consider it all joy brethren when you encounter various trials knowing that the testing
           of your faith produces endurance.” (NASAB)

How can I find joy in this situation? Putting a 24’ round pool in the ground is not an easy task. We had it 90% completed when a downpour came with about 6” of water and hail and crazy winds that destroyed literally everything. Yes, it is a trial, but finding joy? I’m havin a hard time with that.

I was leaning on my sister’s bunk bed with these thoughts were bouncing around in my head. I picked up my phone and cleared all the apps off. I glanced at my screensaver and it caught my eyes.

~ Train yourself to find the blessing in everything ~

Bang. That hit me upside the head. I still wanted to ask God WHY, WHY, WHY in the world did this happen to our pool, but I was then able to realize that instead of having a crappy attitude and cursing or being angry at God for this I need to thank Him for what I do have.

Do I NEED a pool? No. It would be nice to have but it’s not a necessity. Will we have one eventually, yes so I’m thanking the Lord that we will be able to reconstruct it. It was a fairly dangerous project. It is a BLESSING that none of us were injured in the process. I am blessed that we are not in a drought. We have rain. I am sure there are several places and people around the world who would give their right arm to have the rain we just had. Furthermore, I am blessed to have wonderful, healthy siblings and parents who are able to put a pool in by ourselves. These are just an example of a few things that came to my mind. The list can go on and on.

I do not know all the plans of the Lord (I hope our pool fits in there somewhere). But I do know that He give us trials so we will rely on Him for our strength.

Psalms 55:22 says, "Cast your burdens upon the Lord and He will sustain you;" (NASAB)

If life was easy 24/7 we would be proud people who didn’t know they had a need for a savior. Instead, Christ gives us struggles to make us more like Himself.

I hope you realize that whatever trials you are experiencing now Christ wants you to call out to Him in faith. He is your rock. Rely on your rock, not some dirt and sand like that which we used for our pool. It can be washed away in seconds. However, Christ will never leave you once you put your life in His hands.

And wherever you are in life ALWAYS remember to be thankful. God created you, a beautiful person and He has given you so much. It may not be everything you wanted but you are blessed.