Sunburns.  You know that you should put on some sunscreen before you go outside, but you don’t.  You tell yourself-  I don’t need that, I’ll just get a nice tan.  Then after 4 hours of floating the river, you end up with a nasty burn that leaves you looking like a lobster and unable to move for a couple of days.

There are even signs that  you need sunscreen: your pasty skin for example or even the fact that the heat index is over 100 degrees. If you’re like me, you ignore the signs because you really want that summer glow that only the sun can give you.  Whats the worst that could happen?  You take the chance and end up burned.

Asking God for help and ignoring the signs….spiritual sunburn.  I bet you never thought of it that way (that’s alright, I might be slightly insane to have come to this conclusion.)   Let me explain.. I am a prayer warrior. I fight my problems with prayer, knowing that God has my back.  Sometimes though, I get stubborn.  This summer, I asked God for a sign to help me decide what to do in a nasty situation.  I got several very direct signs including a complete stranger telling me point blank, what I should do, without even knowing the situation.  I ignored the very signs that I had asked for and got burned (heartbroken) by the situation.  God was willing to shelter me from the heat and I said, “eh, maybe I’ll get a nice tan”.  I took the chance knowing that God’s plan for  me is always best.

I have no idea what it is that makes us as humans so stubborn.  I know that in the Bible, God reserves free will for us, not interfering with our choices, but offering guidance and forgiveness for whatever we do.

For future reference: put on the sunscreen, the burn isn’t worth the chance to tan.

Listen to the signs you ask for, God won’t ever lead you down the wrong path.  He knows the chances worth taking.

I don’t know if my parallel makes any sense, maybe the heat went straight to my head.  I do know that I put all my trust and faith into our savior, in hopes that maybe next time, I will be more willing to follow the path that was set out for me.

God Bless.

For R.H. and M.K.

Often we are discouraged or even angry when things do not go our way.  We blame others for altering our direction/plan and feel sorry for ourselves for not getting what we want.  I am sure that most people have heard the story of Joseph (the one with the technicolor dream coat…. yeah, now you know who I am talking about.)  You probably know the basics of his story: he was a shepard in his father’s fields and had several brothers, who hated him because they thought he was the favorite, so they sold him as a slave in Egypt and told their father that he had been killed in the fields.  While Joseph was in Egypt, he was starved and worked.  (At the time, Egypt had been enduring a terrible famine and only the nobility had enough food to fill their bellies while the common folk and the slaves were left to starve.) Joseph eventually became the leader [savior] of Egypt and ended up saving his brothers from the famine.

If I was the one in control of the Egyptian empire, I would probably get some mad revenge on my brothers for selling me into slavery.  I would make them work with little food in their bellies.  An eye for an eye, right? But Joseph actually told his brothers not to be hard on themselves for what they did, because it was not them who made the decision alone, it was God’s plan all along.  God put Joseph in that position of hardship so that he could rise up and deliver Egypt from the famine.  Wow.  That takes a really big person, to recognize a blessing that was wound so tightly with pain and suffering.

“And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry  with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.  For two years there has been a famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping.  But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.” -Genesis 45:5-8

C.S. Lewis said,” When we lose one blessing another is often most unexpectedly given in it’s place.”

When Joseph was taken from his loving father and put into hardship, God already had a plan in mind.  Joseph became a savior to the people of Egypt (including his owners) and to his brothers (who if you asked me, deserved nothing.) 

The next time  you are upset because you didn’t get the job you were hoping for or get into the school you have dreamt of since freshman year, remember that the path you are headed down may be far better and impact more people than you ever imagined.  Joseph stayed positive and never lost his faith in God’s plan and look what he accomplished.  That could be you.

 

God Bless.

I was spending time with The Word tonight. I have felt very alone lately and I found a verse that truly spoke to me.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalms 33:18

It is not that my heart was broken, but sometimes I just feel blank or empty. Surely I cannot be the only one that gets this feeling. Not sad or unhappy. Just there, like a state of being that really has no emotion.

I began to analyze why I was stuck in this state. I came to the conclusion that I was “watering the weeds in my life, instead of the flowers.” I hadn’t been reminding myself how bless I am.

Then, while surfing around on Pintrest, I found a “Lilo and Stitch” quote that just made my heart melt.
“This is my family. I found it. All on my own. It’s little…and broken. But still good…..yeah….still good.” – Stitch
How does this apply? Well Stitch could have felt bad for himself for not having a family of his own, but he found something just as good and he was blessed. He could have stayed in the empty state of not knowing what it was like to be loved, therefore not missing anything, but he wouldn’t have gained anything either. By focusing on our blessings, we are able to find the warmth within ourselves again.
Yes, I know its an animated movie…so what?

God Bless.

We live in a social media run world. As a college student, I get my “news” from the “newsfeed” on Facebook. I keep up with my loved ones via pictures on Instagram and I communicate with friends by tweet or snapchat. I remember when the end of the world was upon us because teenagers preferred texting over talking on the phone. Now we don’t even directly contact one another, instead, we “subtweet”.
Social media has grown from a neat way for us to keep track of little life moments, to our identity. We are classified based on what we post. Companies research their employees, universities check out prospective students, we creep on our ex-boyfriends/girlfriends (you know you’ve done it.)
Last year, I was scrutinized for a picture that I posted on Instagram. Before your mind wanders, I was fully clothed. I felt beautiful in the picture and wanted to share that with my followers. I was also criticized for posting song lyrics in my Facebook statuses and even hashtags on Twitter. It is so much more difficult to explain rational for posting whatever it is that we post to others because they are not in our heads… they have no idea what we are thinking, how could they. So songs that spoke to me, may come across as depressing to someone just reading the lyrics on my “wall”.
In response to all of this… concern… I deleted all of my social media outlets. I wanted a fresh start with the resolution that I would not be posting anything without thinking of how it may be interpreted. With that thought in mind at all times, I recreated all of my accounts and posted modest and conservative material only after deep thought,
My following was much smaller than what I had, had before. People thrive on assumptions. It is far more satisfying to try and figure out what someone is thinking and then to judge people based on those assumptions.
Here’s the thing…God communicates with us frequently and indirectly… I have heard people talk about “signs” from God, where you get just a glimpse of something that is meant to guide you down the path that God has laid out for you. Doesn’t that seem kind of like a puzzling Instagram picture? Where you don’t have the whole story, just a piece of it? You can assume whatever you’d like. But what if you’re wrong? That would suck. You could set yourself in a totally different direction, one that was never intended for you. Then what?
Option 2: you could remain unbiased and wait for the next picture [sign]. One that just might help you put the pieces together. Patience and Understanding could do wonders in both situations.

Mini lesson: it would probably be smart to consider what you’re posting before you post it. For the sake of your dear granny who is trying to figure out Facebook and thinks that melancholy song lyrics must mean that you’re suicidal. Poor little grams….

God Bless.

It is so easy to put someone down. As humans we tend to see the negative in things (and people) before we see any positives. We compare people, to ourselves and to others. But here is the secret….we were all made to be unique and unlike any other creature on the planet.

There is a movie called “To Save A Life”. It is about a kid who commits suicide because no one took the time to look at what was going on in his life before they judged him. No spoilers here…I don’t want to ruin it for anyone who would like to watch the movie, but I do recommend it especially for teenagers who are in middle school or high school.

I went to see the movie with my youth group in Kentucky. I remember feeling like an outcast in the group because I was new to town and my parents had pushed me into church activities to make friends. After watching that movie, we were all trying to get the door for one another because the film shows just how much a small act of kindness can affect a person. You never know what someone has to deal with on a daily basis. Why would you try to bring down a stranger? We all do it.

For months after watching To Save A Life, I wrote TSAL on my wrist as a daily reminder to myself that I was no better than anyone around me and that I should do my very best to make sure everyone knows that they have a place in this world. Now, where I used to write those letters, I have a white ink cross tattoo that was meant to be the same reminder. I still find myself making unfair judgements and flipping off drivers when they cut me off (yes it’s annoying…no it’s not okay) among other things.

I struggle with depression. I was diagnosed almost 7 years ago. Sometimes I am just sad for no apparent reason, but when someone compliments me, makes me feel appreciated, or even just holds a door open for me, I start to perk up. Faith in humanity restored. Along with the depression, I think about suicide frequently. I am too much of a pansy to ever do anything about it, but just thinking that there would be people who would be happier if you were no longer around is enough to tear a person down completely. I don’t go around telling all my friends that I have these thoughts or even that I have depression (who wants their weaknesses out on display for everyone to see?) but it goes to show that you never know what demons people are battling every single day.

TSAL my friends.

God Bless.

For: J.N., C.G., S.M.

I read somewhere that women remember every mean thing that was said to them, but often look past or don’t believe the compliments they receive. TRUE. To this day, I can remember every time I was called “fat”.
In sixth grade, a hate website was created, bashing all of the girls in our class. Under my name, the creators wrote “COW.” Talking about my weight will get me to tears quicker than anything else (I am sure this is the case for a lot of women.)

I saw my family for the first time in eight months and one of the first things my grandmother said to me was, “I love you so much, but I really want you to lose some weight.” Talk about instant heartbreak. Then at the end of my visit, my dad said, “I really want you to focus on losing weight.” Kill me now.

Tonight, I was called, “hefty” by a complete stranger.

I envy the people who are my size or bigger and have high self confidence; those men and women who walk around with zero cares about what the rest of the world thinks of their bodies. In the Bible we are told that our bodies are our temples and we are to treat them as such. Some people think that those words mean don’t tattoo or pierce your body, maintain a certain weight, etc. I think this means love your body, unconditionally. Praise what God gave you.

It is so easy for me to tell myself: don’t lie, pray for those in need, love others, thank God for everything…..you’ll be in His good graces.
But no matter how much I think/write about loving my body, I just can’t do it. I pray about it, but I can’t look at myself in a mirror and not see only flaws. What’s heart breaking for me is that there are young girls, who think this way. Girls in elementary school, who have eating disorders because they can’t see how beautiful they are. That is what’s wrong with the world we live in.

The next time you go to insult someone, or think to yourself how someone really let themselves go… assume that they already heard something like that today… they probably did. Why not instead tell them something they probably haven’t heard in weeks or months. You’re beautiful because God made a perfect you.

God Bless.

It has been brought to my attention through my experiences this past year that through every struggle we are given tools for survival. This has had me thinking about innovation and the progress of humanity. People were starving so they somehow came up with the idea to make a spear, they were cold until they discovered and utilized fire. Today, we have some amazing technology, but nothing that has made such a drastic change in our lives as the inventions and discoveries of the original human beings.

We are blessed. Now survival (in America and other developed countries) does not involve hunting down our food and battling the elements so much as getting a good score on the ACT, finding a job, finding a spouse, not killing that spouse……while we are not always successful in these endeavors, we have been given all the tools we need to succeed. ACT study guides, career fairs and social connections, match.com, and for the latter of today’s survival list….medication and therapy.

I can’t even count how many times I have gone to the Lord with issues that seem so minute when you consider that some people are still struggling with extreme poverty and homelessness. But God doesn’t not discriminate when it comes to prayer. You could ask for strength and focus on your ACT or courage to propose to the love of your life, and He smiles down on us for recognizing that we get all that we have from Him.

Right now there is great strife in the Christian community. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are being persecuted for their prayers. It breaks my heart to know that while I am asking for perseverance to survive my college classes, someone on the other side of the world is asking to be spared or for their loved ones to make it out alive. While this doesn’t seem like our problem because it is happening in countries that have been fighting religious battles for centuries, it is our problem.. Those are our family in Christ.

I hate hearing the phrase, “All we can do is pray” as if prayer is a last resort when nothing else works; like a hail Mary in a football game that may work or it may not. Have faith in the power of prayer, for when you pray, you are speaking to the Creator of all things. No task is too big, all we have to do is ask and His will, will be done.

So I am asking that tonight before you go to sleep or the next time you are stopped at a red light, you take that time to pray not just for your business meeting or your safe travels, but for those whose prayer must be done in secret, those whose lives could be taken just for claiming that their Savior is Jesus Christ. Every prayer makes a difference, we just have to ask.

Be Blessed always.

For: All those struggling in the Middle East & the Prayer Warriors who enjoy their freedom of religion here in America.

I don’t really believe in Karma. I do however think that God has a sense of humor which may sometimes be interpreted as such. Yesterday I had an experience that cannot be explained as anything other than God finding the choices I make humorous.
The spring semester of my first year of college, I was blessed with an amazing friend, we will call him “C”. C wanted to be more than friends and was quite possibly the most chivalrous man I had ever met. He brought me a bouquet of lilies, my favorite movie, as well as his own, and a book he thought I would enjoy (and I did, it was fantastic) from the genre that I love most. He listened to whatever I had to say, and gave respectful input. He never judged. He was ALWAYS there for me, even if it meant staying in the dorm lobby all night long, because I didn’t like my roommate. He was also a man of God. I loved him, so much, but never gave him a chance. He moved back home (5 hours away) when the semester ended, and I lost my chance with him.
Yesterday, I went on a date with, “T”. T looks almost identical to C…..same height, body shape and size, hair color…everything except for their facial features are the same. T also brought me a bouquet of flowers, which also included lilies. There were many differences in their mannerisms. But they looked the same and were both gentlemen.
While driving to dinner with T last night, I looked out the window and saw a McCoy’s sign illuminated. It was the only sign that I could see outside. McCoy’s is where C worked when he lived here… I thought of him the entire night. I know that God is having an “I told you so” moment with me. I have never missed someone so much as I miss C, now.
I know that there is probably a message in all of this, but I don’t know whether it is a second chance with a different guy who treats me well. Or maybe, I am supposed to reconnect with C. So confusing these moments we have in life. But once you have met a man like C, who would do anything just to see you smile, and you lose him, you never want a repeat event.
I will always love C for being the greatest man I have ever met. Showing me how to be a better person myself, even though at the time I didn’t understand that. And, I am forever grateful to T, for showing me that there is always a second chance. Now I just have to decide which path I should take. Maybe this time God will point me in the right direction. I could definitely use the help.
For “C” (C.G.) and “T” (T. G.)
Oh check that out, even the last initials match…..coincidence? I think not.
God bless.

For the first time in months…I opened up my Bible. I went to Luke 1:37, which states, “For nothing is impossible with God.”  The verse doesn’t say that it all things are easy….just possible.  Lately I have found myself worrying about my path, and if the one that I am on will lead to my happy ending.  I found a quote on Pintrest (my favorite bible study companion) that summed up a prayer that I need to send up.  “Lord if it’s not your will, let it slip through my grasp and give me peace not to worry about it.”  It’s so hard not to worry, especially when you are a college student, stressing about summer classes, relationships both with family and otherwise, and jobs.  I cannot wait to see what the future holds, but I am not to excited about the wait, or the unpredictability.   And I have found that the “everything will be okay” cliche, no longer works for me, because it is a prediction, not a known fact.  But that verse granted me the assurance that I had missed so much. Deep breath…everything Will be……..as God wishes it to be.  His Will Be Done.

So this weekend, I was reminded how truly lucky I am to have such a merciful God.  My mom flew in (from Missouri, to Texas) on Thursday to be with me for Easter weekend.  We enjoyed a nice quiet girls night on Thursday and went out shopping on Friday.  While heading down a four lane street, we were in (my first) car accident.  My mom’s first words to me after the accident were, “you’re okay.”  The accident was deemed a fluke, I changed lanes just as the other vehicle decided to pass.  My car has a couple minor dents, but nothing major, but most importantly, everyone involved in the accident is okay! Not a single injury.  We are so lucky, so blessed. No citation was issues, which is always great.  

My mom forced me to stay positive, and not let the accident ruin my weekend.  She helped me buff out the marks left by the other vehicles tires, it was a tricked out jeep, with a lift kit, and mudding tires……freakin’ awesome, if you ask me.  The dents and my fear of changing lanes, are the only damage left from the accident.  

My mom flew home today, and I can’t help but think about how terrible it would have been if I had lost her this weekend.  Her and my sister are in a bad place with one another, and she is my only family member who is there for me on a daily basis.  I would be so lost without her. But we are both okay, perfectly fine. 

I think I need to figure out what my deal is with road issues lately, the ticket, and my accident, maybe I’ll stay off the road for awhile…haha….if not, anyone in west Texas, look out!

God Bless! Drive safe.