Wake Up Call

Wow!  So it has been forever since I have last blogged.  I am really sorry about that for all of you that read what I write.  It has been such a crazy summer and this was something that I just let slip away.  No need to fret though, I'm back and blogging!  I will warn you guys though, make yourself comfortable because you're in for a long one today!  I really do encourage you to and hope that you do read this one in its entirety though, so much on my heart that I just feel compelled to share.

AND GO!

A few days ago God really started doing some amazing things in my life/heart.  Throughout the summer I have strayed away from my daily devotions and a good bit of my accountability and I definitely felt it.  Now I just wonder exactly why did I let that happen?!

I feel like there are many times in a person's walk with Christ that we hit a type of rock bottom and that as our relationship continues to grow and flourish they become far and few between until there is the complete and utter surrender that we all long for as His children.  I would, at this point, consider myself towards the beginning of my walk with Him as I only recently (relatively, that is) grasped what it means to be in a relationship with Him and I'm just a wee baby of 20 so I have so much more growing to do.  However, I do feel as if I am growing fast and I really can't express how much joy and excitement that brings me.

Well this past week I would say that I hit a "rock bottom."  What with Zack moving away and not working much at all, I've had a ton of extra time on my hands.  Most of this time was spent completely horribly...watching TV, scrolling around on the internet (Pinterest/Facebook/Twitter), aka WASTING TIME!  Here is where the conviction came.  Why was I sitting here being miserable when I didn't have to be alone at all?  I could be spending hour after hour with my Father but instead I'm sitting here putting myself in the loneliest place I could be...out of His presence.

Ouch!  That one hit me like a ton of bricks.  I was excluding myself from time I had wished for many times before... time with my Father that I just didn't seem to have during the past semester.  However, I was in a rut and I was lazily hopeless thinking that I just couldn't get out of this rut.  It is far easier to sit there and feel sorry for yourself and all of the things that are going wrong in life than to take the one important thing, the only thing that matters, and grow in it.  That would be Father's unconditional love and unending faithfulness.

Man, had Satan done a number on me this summer, and the worst part is that I just sat there and let it happen!  But how many times do we do that?  How many times do we get "comfortable" and get into the habit of life?  How many times do we say, "He has always been there, I will spend time with Him later," and we never do.  Or how about, "  I know He will forgive me so it will be okay to lie or be lazy or neglect my relationship with Him altogether."  Here is the answer:  FAR TOO OFTEN.  This was my wake up call.

This summer has been all about working, making money, having fun with friends, and spending time with Zack before he moved to Jackson.  So who has time for the "God thing," right?  I mean a daily devotional EVERY day...in the summer?  Oh how wrong we are.  Money has been really tight for me lately and has caused a fair amount of stress.  I found myself bending over backwards and making my own plans in order that I could provide for myself well enough to be comfortable and make it through.  Did it work? Yes.  Could it have been better?  Absolutely!

So during my much needed time alone this past week, God has really opened my eyes to my own stupidity...things I needed to see.  I stepped back and I thought about things and realized that all of my thoughts began with..."I'm scared that," "I'm worried that," etc.  Instead of casting my fears and burdens on the Lord I was putting them all on my shoulders.  It's like going to the grocery store and you fill up the entire shopping cart (I mean, packed!)  and when someone (representing God)  says, "Let me help you and take care of that,"  you say, "Nope, my way is better.  I can handle it."  You're left getting all of those groceries by yourself.  Talk about some added stress!  You know good and well you can't handle that, and if you can, you're a hot mess when you are done!  Why push Him away?  Why worry?  He has it under control FAR better than you do!  Stop worrying how you're going to get through this or that and trust that His good and perfect will for your life will work out!  He has your back, He has it all under control, even if you don't!

So with this epiphany (one that frequents me...being a control freak and all...), I let go.  I cast it all away and embraced it.   One day at a time.  Let me tell you though, when you stop hogging the spotlight and let Dad show out...He SHOWS OUT and puts your now obviously pathetic attempts to control your life to serious shame.

Right after I decided to let go and get back on track with what I desired my walk to look life, He did it! He took control and took my breath away.  Someone offered to buy one of my paintings for a hefty sum.  How much?  Just enough to cover all of my textbooks and my groceries for a month.  He didn't stop there.  Within a few hours I had 2 babysitting opportunities lined up and got really busy at the photography studio.  And I felt in my heart my Jesus say to me, "I told you I could handle it.  I told you I would take care of you.  I told you every thing would be okay. All you had to do was let me back in."

While I"m still facing my own challenges, like we all will, I face them with no fear, no worry, but with confidence and hope.

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock,

in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Psalm 18:2

Things may not go how you planned them to go.  Things may change...they will change.  Times will be tough, but our God never changes or fades away.  He has you in that comforting and loving embrace.  He is reaching out His hand to you...take it.  Run towards Him with reckless abandon.  He will not let you fall.

He knows your name.  He knows your every thought.  He sees each tear that falls and He hears you when you call.  You don't have to do this on your own.  Its not worth it.  Give it all to Him.  You'll be amazed at what he has planned and in store for you.  All you have to do is trust Him.

Your Hands

Here I am at home for a little while catching up with my family; a little vacation from Oxford.  Not a vacation from blogging!  Its so nice to be able to come home and unwind a little bit, get away.  On my way home, I was listening to a variety of music.  (Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill, David Crowder, etc.)  Then I got to this song.  Your Hands - JJ Heller.  I have loved this song ever since I heard it a few years ago, but its funny how some songs come back and they really hit you when you need them most!  Enjoy!  


I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That you would take my pain away
You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

When you walked upon the earth
You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
Yeah, one day you will set all things right

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still
Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave you
When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave
I never leave your hands


There are so many things about this song that just really hit home for me.  It all starts with the first verse, of course.  Don't we all have things that we don't want to deal with.  Things that are inconvenient or painful' unwanted situations.  We ask over and over for God to take the pain away.  Just to make everything "sunshine and roses."  God never promised us the way would be easy.  As a matter of fact, He promised the road would be rough.  And here is where His amazing faithfulness and grace comes in...it may not be easy or fun, but it will be so worth it.  Follow Him.


When the road is long and the mountains are steep, and when we feel like everything is falling apart, He never moves.  He is unchanging.  "When my world is shaking, heaven stands."  Have faith and believe in His goodness and that His plans for you will be far greater than your own.  Like the song says, "One day you will set all things right."  He will.  We may not see it now, but following Him and trusting in His will will lead us to exactly where He wants us to be.  No matter how lonely we feel or how far we think He may be, we never leave His loving embrace.  He never lets go.  Just hold on.  

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice."  Philippians 4:4


"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12


"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."  Joshua 1:9 

Giver of Peace

So school is ending and I have way more time to blog and interestingly enough with less to do I have more to say!  Funny how things work!  Well here is what is currently on my heart for sharing...


Yesterday was an extremely difficult day for me, it took me hours to get out of bed and I honestly did practically nothing for the entire day.  I needed that day, just to let all my thoughts, feelings, and emotions out.  Sometimes its okay to do that.  One of my favorite books, The Shack, puts it this way:  "Don't ever discount the wonder of your tears.  They can be healing waters and streams of joy.  Sometimes they are the best words the heart can speak."

I have been praying constantly for direction, guidance, answers, and most importantly peace in where He is currently leading me.  Let me tell you guys something, GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS.  He says in John 15:7 "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."  My prayers are continually being answered and its such a beautiful things to see God's work going on in my life.

My main point is give it all to him.  Surrender it all.  Trust that He will do what He said He would.  Know that He will never lead you down the wrong path or let you fall. He has you in His loving embrace and with His will comes peace.  Here are a few of the things God has shown me in His word recently.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words.  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."  Romans 8:26-27

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."  1 Peter 5:10

"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  

Surrender

These past few days have been full of laughter and tears, but most of all full of incredible spiritual growth.  Its hard for me to keep it to myself because I know that when I'm faced with struggles its always helpful to hear of other people coping with theirs and making it.  And I believe that Christ uses our struggles for His glory.  Here it goes...


A life built on a relationship with Christ is one that is very sacrificial.  Now I'm not saying that if you're a believer you will automatically have to give up absolutely everything.  But as the Lord gives, He also takes away.  In Luke 9:23 He says, "If any man should come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me."  Sometimes when we deny ourselves, that means denying ourselves of things we want.  Hard lesson to learn, but I think it is one that all of us will eventually face.


One of the things that most believers struggle with is completely letting go and literally giving it all to Him.  That means putting your ENTIRE life in His hands.  Its not an easy thing to do, especially when His plan doesn't really line up with your own.  But His plan always overcomes and will always be the best.  Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  Maybe we should take the time to step back and realize that our plans aren't for our own good.  I mean wouldn't it make sense that the creator of the whole universe, the creator that knows exactly how many hairs are on your head and knows how many breaths you will take, wouldn't it make sense that He knows exactly what we need? Answer? ABSOLUTELY!  How great is our God?  I means seriously?!


Now this by no means makes it any easier, especially when He calls you to give up something that means so much to you.  Not going to lie, it for lack of a better term sucks.  But in this struggle God brings peace, sometimes not immediately, but He brings peace.  This lesson is not a lesson that is easy for me to learn, but the closeness that has strengthened between my God and myself this past weekend is so beautiful.  And how wonderful it is to know that it will only grow stronger and more beautiful!  Through times like this, it is so important to surround yourself with those who can build you up and lead you in His word and then surround yourself with His word and His truth.


"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."  Romans 8:18.  WOW!  Such an eye opening verse.  No matter how much I am suffering now, no matter how rough the pain gets, the glory He reveals in the end, the unravelling of His plan for my life will be so worth it.  I must, we all must, trust in the faithfulness of Christ because He will never lead us to harm or destruction.  He has such a good and beautiful purpose for each and every one of us!  "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28.  


My struggles and my pain are so small compared to the wonder and beauty that He has in store for me.  Let us worship him through EVERYTHING, the good, the bad, and the ugly.  


"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this that it should leave me.  But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  2 Corinthians 12:7-10


All I think I am trying to say is don't ignore God.  Follow Him. Simply follow Him.  No matter how difficult it may be, your joy will be far greater when you follow Him and deny yourself DAILY than if you try to do this your way.  You will be surprised where He takes you.  Follow Him and trust in His amazing love, grace, mercy, and faithfulness.


My song of encouragement right now:


He Said (Click Here to Listen)

Give it a listen :)

So Far So Good!

So last time I posted I had just found out that I have a gluten intolerance or whatever you want to call it.  Long story short, I am now living a gluten-free life!  Call me crazy, but its proving to have many upsides! (Or maybe I've just refused to stop looking at the negatives!)


Its hard to believe that its only been a week because it has been a super long week at that!  Every day has greeted me with new challenges, most of them being "well what do I eat now?"  So I decided I would take you along on my little journey, at least for today!  Throughout this transition there has been a whole lot of trial and error and admittedly a good many tears of frustration, but with the support I'm getting from friends and family, it has been such a blessed transition in my life.


Well the first few days were truly the hardest, but that is exactly what I expected.  However, I think I'm really getting the hang of it!  Here are a few of the things I have come up with! Enjoy!


Chicken, Rice, and Veggies
This meal has been a frequent one.  Its just baked chicken, brown rice, corn, sweet peas, and a little salt and pepper!  Not too bad!  Part of the diet is that I can eat mainly fresh meats, so that means no more frozen chicken nuggets, and for those of you who don't know, I eat those A LOT!  The great thing about this meal is that I can mix in different vegetables and experiment with flavors that way!  Its also very colorful, and who doesn't like a colorful lunch/dinner?!












Omelettes
This has also become a staple food in my diet.  This omelette was from last week and had chicken, cheese, and corn!  I've never really been much for eggs, but I'm actually starting to like them and they are a great source of protein!  Great thing about eggs is that you can also play around with this meal and have it so many different ways!  Last night I had some gluten-free toast, and orange, and a plain cheese omelette.  It was absolutely delicious and a glass of chocolate soymilk was the icing on the cake!  (Figuratively of course!)








Fresh Fruits
So thankfully I have such a sweet boyfriend who took the time to cut a fresh pineapple for me the other night!  I love pineapple and decided I wanted a REAL one!  Zack wasn't so trusting when it came to me and a sharp knife, but I was glad to have this task so graciously done for me. :)  Fresh fruit has become an every day thing for me and I absolutely LOVE it!  Bananas, pineapples, and oranges are so yummy and they're all so very good for you! Mix together a bowl of these fruits and you have a sweet dessert, breakfast, or snack!  I actually have chocolate covered banana slices in my freezer! Yum!


Quesadillas
This is also something that I'm trying out.  The first time I had some quesadillas, they were filled with cheese and corn.  Not so great the first go round, they needed a little flavor in them.  Maybe bellpeppers or salsa.  So tonight, I decided to try something new.  I did a cheese quesadilla with a couple of dollops of tomato sauce!  That was the ticket!  They were yummy!  (The quesadillas are made of corn, so I can eat them!)
With this meal I'm willing to sacrifice and stray from my dairy free diet.








Breakfast
Sometimes for me, actually most of the time, its hard for me to get a good breakfast.  Luckily I came across these yummy breakfast bars!  They are made from a gluten free rice cereal and real peanuts and drizzled with chocolate!  Definitely been a great start to most of my mornings!  Zack even tried one and liked them!  That is a plus!  I also found that most of the Chex cereals are gluten free so sometimes a meal is a bowl of Honey Nut Chex and a side of fruit!  I am so glad my breakfast has not been affected!




Sandwiches


This is a category that still needs a little work.  I have yet to find the perfect gluten free bread for a nice peanut butter and jelly, but this bread made from brown rice isn't too bad.  Now, I know that none of the breads I will be eating will ever be as good as the wheat stuff, but I can definitely get used to it!  I was most concerned about my grilled cheeses (one of my favorite meals) but this bread doesn't make that bad of a grilled cheese and has satisfied that craving quite nicely.  As for chips, I have taken a liking to the Kettle brand natural potato chips (salt and fresh pepper flavor)! Most Lay's flavors are GF too!

My Refrigerator
And this is what the shelf in my fridge looks like as of tonight.  As you can see its full of all sorts of yummy, FRESH goodies!  Eggs, oranges, pineapple, celery, yogurt, chicken, rice bread, peanut butter (because celery is unbearable without it) and soymilk (chocolate and regular).  Its a bit crazy, but its my new eating habit!




Overall this experience has more pros than cons!  Here are a few that I came up with!

1. Way healthier food choices
2. I have found a new love for cooking
3. I haven't been sick in a whole week! (major achievement)
4. Cooking meals = great fun with my roommate and boyfriend
5. Spend less money eating out

So this has been the center of my last few days, learning how to eat again!  Its been hard, but through prayers and support of my great friends and family, it has been wonderful and rewarding.  I have found that in these difficult times, when life throws you a curveball no matter how big or how small, God will always provide support and strength to make it through each day! :)

Are You Serious?

So I really haven't updated in absolutely forever!  I promise you guys that I am working on that.  I honestly wasn't too concerned about it until I had multiple people tell me that have been missing my blogs lately.  Sorry guys, this one is for you!


I feel almost like I have been out of touch with the real world for a really long time.  For about the past month I have been fairly sick, usually off and on, but frequent enough for me to realize that there is something wrong.  So Monday I finally got up the nerve to go to the doctor.  For those of you who do not know me, I HATE GOING TO THE DOCTOR!  I realize that is absolutely horrible and I'm for sure going to work on that.  


WELL.  Before deciding to go to the doctor I have been on an emotional and honestly, a spiritual roller coaster.  We have all heard it said many times that its easier to trust in God when things are going right then when they aren't going right.  Learned this lesson...again, accept this time was different.  Lately I have really found a growth in my passion for God's word like I believe we all should.  And I noticed that this time, as I have been struggling, the struggles may not have been easier for me, but there was so much more peace in these struggles. [Much of my stress has also come from it being the end of the semester!] 


I spent many nights in frustrated tears not knowing where to turn or what to do and let me just tell you GOD NEVER LEFT MY SIDE.  Even when I was physically and emotionally in pain, He was always there...holding me in His arms.  The night before I went to the doctor I was extremely distraught because I knew that it could be something simple or there could be something more seriously wrong with me than a bad case of the stomach virus.  It was difficult for me to face, but the Lord laid a passage on my heart:


Psalm 23
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.  He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER."


God gives us His word to speak to us in times of sorrow, pain, suffering, and even joy and happiness.  After reading this passage, I found that I was praying for the wrong things.  I was being selfish.  In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prays to God, "My, Father, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39) I was praying for my own will.  For God to use me, but as a perfectly healthy 19 year old girl.  I didn't want to go to the doctor and have anything wrong with me, I wanted it to merely be a bad case of the stomach virus.  But I didn't take into account how God could use me if something was in fact "wrong" with me.  And even when we aren't sick, and things are just not going how we planned them to we get so irritated.  I have found so much peace and comfort in asking for peace in God's will instead of pleading with Him to give me mine. [Newsflash:  His will is ALWAYS superior, and its wonderful (Jeremiah 29:11)]


Secondly, in sickness there is a lot of the times much fear, and for me there was mainly because of uncertainty.  Then I get to verse 4.  Even while walking through DEATH I will fear NO evil.  Why?  Because my God is WITH me?  Was/Am I dying? No.  But He is still so very faithful and He will never leave my side in my smallest fears.  And then finally, regardless of what was going to happen in the doctor's office Monday afternoon...I will dwell in MY FATHER'S house FOREVER.  How wonderful and how great!  


SO...after getting blood drawn, x-rayed, and passing out I find out that chances are I have a gluten intolerance.  So not fun, but I am so very thankful because it could have been so much worse.  As I sit here trying to deal with this new food allergy, (I'm already lactose intolerant)  I am trying my hardest not to dwell on what I can't eat, but instead find new, tasty things that I enjoy eating.  I know its going to take time and going to be very frustrating, but somehow God is going to use this for His glory, and I'm absolutely okay with that. 


Everything I have said in today's post applies to every day life, not just when we are sick.  When you are having a bad day, or a friend or family member hurts you.  It doesn't matter because God is always with us!
On and less serious note, anyone have some recipes? Ideas? I would love to hear from those of you with gluten free tips! :)

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." Isaiah 40:8

You Aren't Alone

So I haven't blogged in a while guys, but I am going to go ahead and warn you about this one.  Take a minute and roll your pants up because I'm about to get deep.  [For those of you who did not get that...major fail on my part...ignore my corny-ness]


These past few days for me have been pretty rough, to be honest.  I won't go into details because the details aren't important to my main thought.  I have been thinking for hours about what I'm going to write about in today's blog because I have been determined to blog today due to the fact that I really haven't blogged in at least a week!  So I'm sitting in my room, class, etc...and I have absolutely nothing.  Then after class today I went home, sat in my bed, and turned on the radio..KLove to be exact.  Now normally I do not listen to the radio.  I find it to be repetitive.  Today was different.


Because of some stress and things currently going on in my life I have been searching for answers.  What do I do? How do I react?  Who do I put in my company?  Just normal life stresses that always seem to come upon as all at once! Funny how that happens, right?!  Well for some reason I felt the need to listen to the radio.  As soon as I turn it on, I had my answer...my peace. (Don't worry, I will post a link to the song!)

I'm going to take the song verse by verse so to keep myself from rambling and going completely off track.


Cry To Jesus - Chris Rice


"Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!"


First off...wow!  What an awesome God! Sometimes in life,  things, for lack of a better phrase, they just suck.  Things do not happen the way we want them to and we are left in pain.  We feel alone.  We feel lost.  But in these times, so often we miss the beauty of God's love for us!  We forget that we are never alone and God will always be there to pick us up and clean away our dirt and wash our wounds.  We can't avoid wounds, but we can take off with reckless abandon towards the God who loves us unconditionally and LIVE in peace and absolute happiness regardless of the situation.  God is so good.


"Now you're burden's lifted
and carried far away
and precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus, Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!"


I know that I have a massive load of burdens.  But my God, OUR God gladly takes those burdens and places them on His shoulders.  He takes the deepest hurts and the hardest worries and carries them away.  Take the offer!  Lay them down!  Let Hims wash you clean!  Its such a beautiful and wonderful thing...something to sing about!  How beautiful is His compassion!


"And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when we walk 
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus, Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!"


Speechless.  How many times do we miss out on some of life greatest gifts because we are scared of pain and hurt and even rejection?  Put yourself out there and life your life fully in God's will and purpose.  He has such beautiful things planned for you!  "For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught." Proverbs 3:26.  He will NEVER drop you and let you fall.  Fall into His arms and live in Him!


"Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus, Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!"


It isn't always going to be sunshine and roses, guys!  Life is not easy, but I can promise you that my God, OUR God makes it so much more bearable.  He listens to our cries, He sees every single tear that we cry, He hears our calls.  There will be times when we are lonely and it seems like everything just hurts.  Cry to YOUR Jesus!  He will be the best comfort you will ever have.  He will calm your soul and hold you with loving arms.  How great is His love!


"O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus, Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!"


It's so easy to run to God when things go wrong, when we feel helpless and alone.  But how often when things are going wonderfully do we turn around and praise Him? After all, is He not creator of all things bad AND good?  Praise God for the wonderful things in my life!  He has truly blessed me with them!  May we all give him the praise, honor, and glory even when things are great!


"And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus, Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!"


IT DOESN'T END HERE!  My God is ALIVE!  Death is such a scary thing, but when that time comes, I hope to welcome it with open arms because I finally get to be in the presence of my FATHER, my God.  This world has nothing for us...but OUR God has everything. Just trust in Him... "If any man should come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me."  Luke 9:23.  Follow Him.  He loves you more than you could ever imagine. 


How great is OUR God!