W.

By Him, we can have boldness and not repay evil for evil. By Him, we can share who He is with someone we know is lost and in desperate need. By Him, we can saturate the world around us, and change it forever. We are the salt of the earth, and we are flavored with Jesus! We must bring the essence of who He is to those in the world around us! “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot” (Matt 5:13).

He knew how or why everything happened; He knew the disposition of every single soul.

He wasn’t going to let anything happen by accident! Nobody was going to go to Hell by mistake. This was His world, all this! He had complete control of it; His justice, His mercy—were not our justice or our mercy. What folly to even imagine such a thing.

I didn’t have to know how He was going to save the unlettered and the unbaptized, or how He would redeem the conscientious heathen who had never spoken His name. I didn’t have to know how my gay friends would find their way to Redemption; or how my hardworking secular humanist friends could or would receive the power of His Saving Grace. I didn’t have to know why good people suffered agony or died in pain. He knew. - Anne Rice 

 So Profound. 

After making my decision last night, I’m so very happy that I have people that’s already supporting me. 

Just this morning I woke up to a text from Blake that was Joel 2:12-13.
Even though he is one person that doesn’t really understand my decision right now, he is still being very supportive. 

One of the hardest things I had to do last night - besides really listening to God inviting me to do this- was asking my big to be sort of like an accountability partner for me during this time. I was in tears telling her my decision and how I know we don’t have the same exact beliefs, but she is the only person that I know that can help me through.

There’s so much I need to learn about myself and to grow with God without the distraction of guys, or male attention, or wondering why he isn’t texting me. Because from the age of 14 that’s what my life has been full of and I’m honestly sick of it. After I heard the message, something changed in my heart and I knew that I needed to make a change in my life. 

I want to become the woman I was created to be. 

I want a story from God that is bigger than the one I would have written for myself. 

A love story, a life story. 

Lead me. 

This will be a tough but rewarding year and I invite all of you to join in, in supporting me. I will need prayers, devotional ideas and books, funny jokes for the bad days, love on the good days, call me out when I am struggling and hold me accountable. I hope you all will cry and laugh with me as I go through this because for the first time in a while, I finally feel like I am doing something right.

“Giving up something now for something better later is not a sacrifice. It’s an investment.”

Watching the messages, especially episode 3, I was in tears, writing notes  in my bible fiercely. Just like the lady that wrote the letter, I was slapped in the face and my shallowness of my relationship with God was revealed. 

The message really spoke to me and I feel in my heart that it’s what I need to do. I have no idea how I’m going to do this, but with God all things are possible 

The next relationship I will have, will be founded on friendship and Christ.

It will be difficult, but I know God has a bigger plan for me. And I know He will be there every step of the way 

I’m going to take this year to “become” the woman of God that He’s called me to be. I’m going to pursue things that help me “become” the woman of God that He’s called me to be. I’m going to desire Christ above all else in my life. 

Thanks to Andy Stanley I have realized that the guy that I’m looking for- I’m not worthy of. He has a lifestyle that I desire, but I don’t deserve…. not yet.

This isn’t part of Andy Stanley’s ‘one year challenge’ but i’m also making a commitment of no alcohol consumption for a year, at all. Period.

I will be using Tumblr to document my days and to help me along the way.

“I want to become someone worth catching and someone worth pursuing. I want to be ready so when I meet, if I am to meet that person, am the person they’re actually looking for.” - #Andy Stanley 

It’s so cool how in the busiest times of my life, God’s presence is so tangible. I’ve been working two jobs lately. It’s taken up so much of my time and energy, but there are those moments that I get away.

I just went on a quick, little walk outside with Dexter. It was a perfect temperature. I just sang to the Lord under the darkened sky by a quiet lake. A few people were out tonight, but they were at a distance. I finally got some quiet time with God.

It only lasted a few minutes, but it was beautiful and really fit the need I had in my heart.

Even during the busiest time in my life, God is all I want and need. The job will get done. The homework will get done. The classes will be passed (hopefully). Graduation will come and go, but God will be my ever foundation. The constant source of life that springs from within.

Thank God for the little things. Thank God that He alone is reality. Apart from Him, I am in a realm of unreality filled with despair and hopelessness.

1. Obvious Bicycle: Beautiful

2. Unbelievers: Gorgeous

3. Step: Resplendent

4. Dianne Young: Invigorating

5. Don’t Lie: Ecstatic

6. Hannah Hunt: Transcendent

7. Everlasting Arms: Awesome

8. Finger Back: Manic

9. Worship You: Sweeping

10. Ya Hey: Elevated

11. Hudson: Entrancing

12. Young Lion: Nostalgic

I want a faith so powerful that people immediately know me by that. I wonder if Paul would have written a letter to me, had he known me, saying “We ought always to thank God for you, [sister], and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more and the love [you] have for [others] is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the prosecutions and trials you are enduring

Keep honoring God with your life, stay in peace, trust his timing and God will open doors that no man can shut.