Seek and You Will Find January 11, 2012

So I had a month off of school. I decided at the beginning of break to ask God to just show me his love. I wanted to develop a love for Him so much deeper than I have ever known before. It has been an amazing month. God is so incredibly amazing. He delivers. If you seek him you will find him.

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. – Jeremiah 29:13

If you ask Him to reveal Himself to you, he will. He is so faithful. The more you press into Him the more he will reveal.

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. – Matthew 7:7-8

One verse that has parcicularly stuck out to me is this:

The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you. – Psalm 32:8

Not only will he guide me, he will give me the BEST pathway for life.  I have no idea what the future holds for me, but I know that HE does and that is all that matters. I can put all of my trust in Him.  He wants the best for my life.  He will advise me and watch over me to make sure I go along the BEST pathway for my life.

Tonight was All Worship Night at my youth group. These nights are always awesome. God always shows up in a big way. I realized tonight that I am just so happy. I am overflowing with joy and peace. God has been doing awesome things in my life during this time off.  We sang the song “Solution” by Hillsong United. The words really stuck with me.

“Politics will not decide if we should rise And be your hands and feet , God be the solution.” – With the upcoming presidential election, this hit me. This is probably obvious to some people but no person running for office can fix our country, only God can. God is the solution to every problem we face. (click the picture below to hear the song)

“We will be your hands
We will be your feet
We run this race for the least of these
In the darkest place we will be your light, We will be your light “- I want to run this race so everyone can hear about Him. I want to be a light so bright that no one can put it out.  I want people to see something different about me. I want them all to know of my love for God.

Tick, Tick, Tick…. December 6, 2011

 

How can time go by so quickly?  It seems like when I have a lot of things to get done time just flies by, yet when I am waiting for something it takes forever.  Somehow I am almost done with my first semester of college. I look back and woner how this can be.  I remeber applying to colleges and not being sure what my future held.  It feels like I just blinked and here I am.  To make things worse, people say time goes by faster as you get older. What am I doing with my time here?

Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days;  let me know how fleeting my life is.  You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.  “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.   – Psalm 39:4-7

Our time is so short.  How can I not spend every moment living fully for God.  There are so many people to be reached and our lives are but a blink.  We may live to be 80 years old, maybe more or less. We are not guaranteed any amount of time. There is no time to just be lukewarm.

I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!  – Revelation 3:15-16

Control November 15, 2011

I like to be in control of things in my life. However, it doesn’t always work out for me. Lately, I have been struggling with being in control and knowing where I am headed. The thing is I don’t knw, but that’s okay. God does know.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
Jeremiah 29:11-13

God knows where I will be in one hour or one year from now. His plans are for my good. They will definitly turn out better then anything I could do on my own. It seems that everywhere I look I see a verse or someone is talking about letting God be in control.

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.
James 4:13-16

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105

When this verse was written lamps were not like a flashlight. The lamp would only light a small area. You could only see one or two steps in front of you. It was complete darnkess around you except for those few steps that were illuminated. I don’t need to know everything God has planned for me right now. I just need the next step and to know that He is in complete control, not me. The only I can do is just trust Him and follow Him, not try to make things work out my way.  I have also had the song “Let it Go” by Tenth Avenue North stuck in head for about a week.   Listen to Let It Go

 

Digging Deeper September 26, 2011

This is my first year at college. I had no idea what to expect. Would I be the same person? Would my faith stand the test? Would people like me? I have only been here for 5 weeks, but I have already discovered a lot about myself. One thing is that I am so much more confident than I was in high school. I am not as shy as I thought I was either. Also, I have met so many amazing people. I have an even greater peace about the school I chose than ever before. I could not imagine being anywhere else. This is where I am supposed to be.

As to my faith, I am discovering that it is growing. I have heard a lot of stories about people back sliding at college and I am determined not to be one of those people. With each new challenge I am pursuing God even more. He placed me here for a a reason and He knows that I can do it. While I am here I am taking this opportunity to dig deeper into God. I want to learn as much as I can about Him.

“When you come looking for me you’ll find me. ‘Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” Jeremiah 29:13

“If you are living and breathing your purpose has not yet been fulfilled. No matter what youhave done or what has been done to you, God has a plan for your life.” – Renee Swoe.

I am not totally sure what God has for me in the future, but I know that I haven’t done it yet. I am beyond excited to see what He has planned for me while I am here and after I graduate. And I discovered a new song that I enjoy so much….

Click the Picture

Southwest Believer’s Convention: Impossible August 9, 2011

In July I went to the Southwest Believer’s Convention.  This is a huge event that is held every year in Texas by Kenneth Copeland Ministries.   If you are not familiar with them it is definitely worth checking out.  The convention lasted for a week with 3 meetings a day.  The speakers included : Kenneth Copeland, Gloria Copeland, Jerry Savelle, Jessie Duplantis, Creflo Dollar, and Keith Moore.  It was definitely a great week.  A lot of the speakers preached on the impossible.  It was not planned that they would preach on the same thing at all, it was God.

Some highlights from what they said are:

• You are not really successful until people hate you, because you are stirring up stuff.  They are afraid of you.
• The idea came from God, so it has to work.
• Time is very important.  It may just be the wrong time slot.  The right thing in the wrong time is still the wrong thing.
• To build a dream or a ministry you must go outside your comfort zone. Fertile soil is not in your comfort zone.
• If there is something that I can’t do, but God says it can be done it is a lack of faith.
• When you are under the greatest attack the victory is the closest.
• Jesus overcame the world.  Overcome the world= deprived of its power to harm me.  This means fear, failure and defeat are not in my future.
• When you can’t see something working you should be rejoicing!! The devil can’t see it either.
• Revelation without manifestation is a missed opportunity.
• Dreams have no expiration date!
• God wants to hear what you say about what he said.  The angel left Mary as soon as he heard her response.
• God commanded me to prosper.
• Everything the Lord says is impossible.  It keeps him employed.
• Most people who have seen great success with God have not been perfect, they have been faithful.

This is such a small portion of the wisdom being imparted.  I hope that some of it makes a difference to you.  The messages are here: Southwest Believer’s Convention.

Open Doors March 28, 2011

Watch this video on the size of the universe

Watch this video. It puts things into perspective.

If God created all of that, how could we not be absolutely in love with him? He holds the universe in his hands and even more that we don’t know about, yet he cares about us.

Revelation 3: 8 I know what you have done.  See, I have opened a door in front of you that no one can shut.   You only have a little strength, but you have paid attention to my word and have not denied my name. 

God already knows everything we’ve done!  The good news is that He forgives us. He even gives us opportunities.  He opens doors in our lives that no one can shut! This is huge.  He wants to bless us and give us friendships and opportunities that no one else can. What is God doing in your life right now?  What doors is he opening?

Who are you living for? January 23, 2011

Each day that you wake up you make a choice, will I live for me today or for God.  Our life is about so much more than just us.  If we were put on this earth to get saved and nothing else we wouldn’t be here after we accepted Jesus.  There must be more to this life.  What about the people who are hurting?  Maybe we should step outside our comfort zone and help them.

“If we live, we honor the Lord, and if we die we honor the Lord.  So whether we live or die we belong to the Lord.” - Romans 14:8

Everything we do is for the glory of God, so why aren’t we living that way?  What people think of you doesn’t matter.  Instead of focusing on what people may think of us, we should focus on the people who are hurting.  What if we help them?  We weren’t put here for us.  Our talents and gifts aren’t for our benefits, but for everyone else.

“The person who tries to preserve his life will lose it, but the person who loses his life for me will preserve it.” – Matthew 10:39

We have to consciously make a decision to live for God.  When we stop living for ourselves, we find who we really are in him.  When we live for him we build up eternal treasure.  When we die we don’t get to take anything with us.  I want to have a treasure in heaven, an eternal treasure.  So my question for you is who are you going to live for today?

Strength January 4, 2011

It’s a new year.  Most people make resolutions, mine is to put more trust in God and more time into our relationship. I know that I will face challenges this year.  But I know that God is on my side and I can do anything.  I never have to be afraid or worried.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17    God our Father loves us. He is kind and has given us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope. We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father will encourage you and help you always to do and say the right thing.

   God loves us! He will always give us hope and the strength we need.  There isn’t anything that we cannot face with him on our side.  This year decide to trust God, don’t hold back.  He holds the world in his hand, yet he thinks of you.  God wants to see you succeed, all you have to do is trust him and let him lead you. 

 Psalm 84:5  Blessed are those who find strength in you.  Their hearts are on the road that leads to you.

Make a decision this year to get your strength from God.  He will encourage you every step of the way.  He will never let you fall out of his reach.  He wants you to seek him.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year December 13, 2010

It is Christmas time!! “It’s the most wonderful time of the year. There’ll be much mistletoeing and hearts will glowing when loved ones are near.”  As the song says it is supposed to be a time to gather with family and friends.  However, with the shopping and the cooking is it really just a joy?  The holidays can be stressful.  Take time this year not only remember why we celebrate Christmas but to also just spend time with God.

Luke 2: 16-20 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 Do you find yourself being too busy? Maybe too busy to spend time with God.  I know I had this thought recently.  Then I wondered what I was living for if not the God who gave me life. The birth of Jesus was a miracle in every aspect.  This Christmas don’t forget about the reason.  Take time to just remember what he has done for us and just spend time with him.

Battle Field October 18, 2010

We all have to fight battles in our lives. I have been involved in a seemingly endless  battle.  Of coursethe enemy does not attack our stengths. .  The enemy attacks the weak spots of our armor. One of my weak spots is trying to accept my calling and knowing that I can do it. 

John 15:16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

The little voice in my head tells me that I can’t do it.  Who are you to think that you are special?  The voice says that someone else could do it so much better.  God could not possibly have chosen you. You are ordinary and average.  No one likes you.  He does not attack my relationship with God but who I am in God. 

The simple answers like I am a child of God, he chose me and paid highest price for me don’t cut it in these battles.  The enemy does everything it can to get inside my head.  I must put on all of my armor and stand my ground.  The victory is already mine. 

 Romans 11:29 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.

When the enemy comes to battle we must be prepared.  If we do not have ourselves ready it will not end well.  We must have our armor on.  The enemy’s weapons are thoughts and ideas.  We must be armed with God’s word.  God is on our side.  You will never encounter more than you can handle.  Keep fighting the good fight of faith.