"Be Still, and Know that I am God"

     Sitting at the computer, essays, essays, and more essays, warm coffee, unfinished books piled high, assignments overdue, checklists half completed, busy household, 13 chapters behind in my bible reading, no space to think, no fresh air to breath, and no time to complete all that is upon me. 
     I'm sure you've felt this way before. 
     Amidst all the busyness, I decided to take time to breathe and remember my King is much more worthy of my time. Of all the weeks God has asked of me to give up my time to devote to prayer, it is this week. "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness" (2 Corinthians 9:10). As I am in the second week of my challenge, I am doubling my time in prayer each night. 
     So I wanted to ask, is there any way I can be praying for you this week? 

My New Scarf! :D
Knitted by a girl with a smile

Faith Proclaimed

Today I can't help but worship God for who He is. God's spirit is making me still today and reminding me that in the midst of a crazy, fast paced world, I need to be still and worship Him. This weekend I had the opportunity to go with a group of students to South Dallas where we delivered care packages to people in the neighborhood. My group was able to present the gospel to two men who had never heard it's message preached. And in that time, I think to myself, what is more important in life than people hearing the gospel, the good news proclaimed? Nothing, absolutely nothing. Now I don't want to sound discouraging. I am  one of those people who have been called into full time ministry and I get so passionate about the work of Christ. But I want anyone reading this to be encouraged that wherever you are in life there are endless opportunities to share your faith. I will be the first to admit, I get a little shaken up when it comes to sharing my faith.  But as I sit still before God today, I think of how silly it is that I can fear for the one thing I should live for. Our youth minister presented a four week challenge and I want to share it with whoever is reading so that you too might join with me.

Week one: Be in the Word every day 

Week two: Double your time in prayer

Week three: Make a video testimony and post it on facebook (or your blog!) 

Week four: Make one appointment with a person who responded to your testimony

Hope you all reading might join me in this challenge. :)

Aftermath:

Living In The Aftermath

       I am excited beyond belief for this new album by Hillsong United called Aftermath. My love for this band began almost two years ago and I would say my life was truly deprived prior to those two years. It's the true worship that captivates me. I dream to be apart of a worship team like Hillsong United one day. Oh yeah, and possibly marry Joel Houston who is only about 12 years older than me. haha. I know, big dream right?
       Getting back on track, I love what Joel says in this video that, "We live in the hope of the light of the Aftermath, we know that God is with us." If we are able to fix our minds on the eternity ahead we can live with confidence in God's will for us each and every day.

    "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away,our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Mountaintop Experiences

       After an amazing weekend of seeing God's spirit move in my church and bring many students to Christ, I am fired up! This feeling of revival in my soul is the result of an insanely impactful church retreat called Freedom. However what seems to happen (and I'm sure most can relate to) is that we find ourselves on the mountaintop and as the weeks go by, we begin to travel back down the mountain and settle in to where we are most comfortable. This pattern seems to happen a lot with students just like me. It can seem like a roller coaster sometimes. But it doesn't have to be that way and I am going to prove this right. A retreat or mission trip with friends is something that takes you out of your life for a weekend or several weeks. But once you get back to your "normal" lifestyle, the impact of what you experienced begins to disappear. This is because following Jesus Christ is HARD. Yes, it is very hard. So what is one to do about this?


Here is a list I came up with and am following in order to stay on the Mountaintop:
1. Share about your experience with everyone! People are willing to hear and sharing will remind you of all the great ways God moved in your life.
2. Go over what you learned. If you read through a certain passage of scripture read through it again, or write down what God showed you that retreat or mission trip.
3. Read God's Word daily. May seem like a normal point, but when we get back to our busy, hectic lives we forget this one over time.
4. Consistently pray for whatever God put on your heart.
5. Lastly do something. Go out and share your faith, serve in a local ministry at your church, or start a bible study. Living your life on mission is the best way to stay on the mountaintop with God. 

       If you can stay on the mountaintop, I promise, with an unveiled face like Moses, people are going to see the difference and you are going to bring revival among those around you.

P.S. Reading through Leviticus right now. I am officially farther along in my bible reading than last year! :)

A Childlike Love

       I am just about finished reading through Exodus. I love looking back at these passages reminded of the stories I once read about through the mind of a child. Remember those days when you once sat in Sunday school singing songs like Father Abraham, or Jesus Loves Me? I know, it seems just as long ago to me. Sometimes I miss that childhood simplicity; that joy that overlooks sorrow. As God's people were suffering in the land of Egypt ruled by Pharoh, God saw their suffering and had compassion for them and promised to deliver them into the Promise Land. This story might sound familiar. As I child I found Joy in this story knowing God protected the people of Israel and brought them to the land He promised. We love those happy endings as children and delight in the classic movies like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. There is nothing better than a "Happily Ever After" right? As children we look at the happy endings but as we grow to be adults we struggle to look past our predicament. But I am encouraged today as I look through the eyes of a child once again and see the Love God has for me. So much love that He will one day deliver me from this world to be with him in eternity. So I encourage to look past the struggle you're facing today and see the "happily ever after" before you. 
       As Valentines Day comes before us let's be reminded of the greatest Love we have through Jesus Christ. Here are some quotes from children telling us what Love means to them. Hope it brings a smile to you're day as it did mine. :)

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is ok."

age 7

"If you want to love better, you should start with a friend you hate."

age 6

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."

age 4

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."

age 7

"Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken."

age 5

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My mommy and daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss."

age 8

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.

age 6

A Love So Angelic

"Angels are transparent. If an angel stands before you with a man behind him, the presence of the angel does not keep you from seeing the man. On the contrary: Looking at a man 

through an angel makes him more beautiful. I see my torturers through an angel. 

In that way, even they become lovable."

Ivan "Vanya" Moiseyev

Martyred in the U.S.S.R., 1972

  

       "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so, people have entertained angels without knowing it."

Hebrews 13:2

Pleasant Memories

       I am starting to wonder how long it will be till I step foot on my high school campus again. For the past two days I have been iced in, unable to do nothing but clean, catch up on homework, cook, and read. This is definitely a nice treat being out of school and having time to myself, but then again it is so strange for Texas to remain freezing cold all week long with power outages and cars stuck on the roads. Cringing at the thought of leaving home, I find myself trying to stay as preoccupied as I can. I even cleaned my room!!! A huge feat for me. While in the process of cleaning, I opened up a few old journals and scavenged through old photos. Everything is a wonderful reminder of the work God is doing through my life. It's funny because there are moments in our life where we feel God working and moving and other times when we're in the desert. Reading through the journal entries showed me that God always remained faithful. I guess you could say I've been in the desert for a while, where God is surely testing my faith, but today the memories of how God has been moving in my life these past years is a great reminder for me to keep going. And last night, God answered prayer!!!
      
       "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
Isaiah 43:19

My Journal <3