No Compromise
Its so funny, how God wrapped up every cry of my heart, every song i have ever sung to him, and the deepest desires of my heart all up in this melody. The bridge to this song, is my life song to him.
Trinidad & Tobago
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This Spring Break my sister and I are heading to Trinidad and Tobago with 150 other students to preach the Gospel of Love to 15,000 people! Read about it by clicking the link above! Below are pictures of what we will be doing on the Island. They were taken by "Every Home for Christ"
Intimacy
BEAUTY UNVEILED
I wasnt planning on writing anything but im so inspiried at the moment. I have a void in my heart, as we all do, to find adventure, to find thrill. Last night I watched a documentary on two guys who specialized in climbing un summited peaks all around the world. The movie was about their travels up and unreached summit in the Andes. During the accent the videography was thrilling, clouds all around and they would look around and see the detailed cravings of the moutains covered with fresh power, it was absolutely stunning! My hearts racing just writing about it. On the Decent though one of the climbers broke his entire leeft leg, and split his femur in two. Obviously this created tremdous struggle to get down. The two men created a advanced roping system and they would each decent 300 feet and then switch. The injured climber would slide down while screaming in pain, and the other would signal for him to take his weight off the rope when the 300 feet was up. To their Terror the injured climber wasnt able to catch himself during one of his turns and ended up falling in a glacier! i dont know about him but if that was me I would seriously debate just lying there and die. The healthy partner assumed his buddy was death and left. Then the injured friend decided to go down in the glacier and a miracle happend, there was an opening on the other side.
These kind of stories always muster up a hype in me. Look at these mountains. ITS BREATHTAKING! I mean FOR REAL the beauty of the Lord astounds me! He designed everything to pursue our hearts. He created mountains and the ocean and space for people like these mountaineers to enjoy Gods playground, to feel his pleasure as the climb, as the dive, and discover. Ive always wanted to travel to remote places like the andes, and remote islands and victoria falls because their seems to be such raw beauty hidden away in those treasures, but now even pictures of rome and italy just amaze me. I am thanking God for things Ive never thought to thank him for before. Things like my eyesight. I have a four year old brother who is blind in his right eye and little sight in his left eye. It makes me more thankful to expirience the delight of color, and masterpieces like coral reefs. His world world and universe is a big painting. Each morning and evening God slashes the sky with mercy and love. Last night here in Colorado it was raining fire. Seeing the beauty in little things like a sunset or huge things like the andes are what makes life. Its the beauty of falling in love, the trancendent sound of the ocean. the trees clapping their hands, praising the one who planted them their. Thats what fills me with joy. Its like looking directely into the heart of God. Hes so creative.
Girls can relate.
Its lovely being a girl isnt it? I love being a girl, I love pretty things, I love my girlfriends, Im learning to love pink, I love being fancy, I love sweatpants and movie nights, and I love giggling :) Am I right??
All pictures from: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/7Xjhxo/theberry.com/2011/08/12/its-a-girl-thing-27-photos/
All pictures from: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/7Xjhxo/theberry.com/2011/08/12/its-a-girl-thing-27-photos/
Keith
I just got back from Birmingham, Alabama my most favorite place on Earth. Imagine why, 25 of my best friends and five of the greatest leaders pack into two vans for two days in order to work and sweat our lives out to love Gods children. This is the third Alabama trip I have ever been on and it is defenitely my favorite trip to be on. I have so many awesome memories from these two weeks but one of my favorite was meeting, listening to, and working with a man named Keith. Keith was in his early to mid 60s, a man who has lived lots of life. Men ,typically, in the same spot of life as Keith are men filled with regret, cold hearts, and stubborn spirits. Men who walk headstrong to there graves filled with regret of the things they have done and the things they have not done that they now cant do. Keith was not like these men. Keith had one of the softest hearts I have ever encountered. He has been working much with the tornadeo relief process down in Alabama and simply speaking of the devistation brought him to tears. When we first arrived in woodlawn (the most dangerous neighborhood in Alabama, and one of the top most dangerous in the nation) Keith began to thank us generously ,with tears in his eyes, for volunteering our time to love on people. You could see his whole heart pouring from his tear ducts. All his humility, love, graditute, devotion, and hope spilling over his eyelids and down his face. Keith has such a soft heart, as I already said but i cant get over it. Sometimes you see elerly men tearing up about the war or a lost loved one, but this was a man who was broken by the brokeness of the young people around him. He could have been retired by now doing a million other things with his time but instead he was working his tail off to serve and love the people of Woodlawn and of Alabama. A man who didnt watch other people do the heavy lifting but he was the hands and feet to his own brokeness and prayers. He was such an inspiriation to how I aspire to be in 25 years. He was a man wholeheartley pursueing the spirit of God. He knew Jesus, you could tell by the love seeping through every part of him. On one of our last days in Alabama we got to meet his wife. His wife also had such humility, and a soft heart. She was such a bold women of God as well. I also aspire to have a marriage like the marriage they displayed in the short time i talked with them. Keith and his wife have been prayer walking through Woodlawn, for a long time now. When God first asked Keiths wife to get out of the car and pray she said she panicked. But that she trusted the Lord and to this day is still claiming the neighborhood for Christ. They are now trying to move into Woodlawn to settle down and be Gods vessels. What bold souls. Its hard to wrap your mind around how crazy these two are without seeing and expiriencing Woodlawn for yourself, but think about how much trust they are putting in our good God? so admirable. Those two will stick with me for the rest of my life.
"How bold one gets when one is sure of being loved"
++Sigmund Freud
BELOW: the kids church at the Dream Center in Woodlawn, some of these kids parents dont even know they are here but look at the love all over there face. Destiny awaits each and everyone of them
"How bold one gets when one is sure of being loved"
++Sigmund Freud
BELOW: the kids church at the Dream Center in Woodlawn, some of these kids parents dont even know they are here but look at the love all over there face. Destiny awaits each and everyone of them
This has no title.
I have been so inpired by some many people in the past hour in a half. C.S. Lewis, Tyler, Annie, Clay, The fantastic poets of the bible, needtobreathe. I needed to write about something.
I went Cliff Diving yesterday. Well actually I jumped once. I dont remember a time that I was more scarred. My knees were knocking, my teeth chattering, and all I wanted to do was crawl into the fetal position. Im not usually afraid of heights but the water had to be 40 degrees. I finally jumped, and that split second that both feet have just left the ledge and you realize that there no turning back, was the most exilerating feeling of the whole expirience. After that was followed by pain from the cold water. totally worth it. But there was another girl, who wasnt apart of our group that has really stuck in my head. I talked to God about her today and prayed for her. She changed my week. She couldnt have been older than 19. Beautiful skin, pretty pigtails, and a large strong build. The hair under her arms and on her legs was long and thick, and she was with a man. A man old enough to be her grandfather, easily in his late 60s, with the same combat boots on as her and a full black and grey beard. He referred to her as his girlfriend, which was odd considering the appearence of a incredible age difference. He was all over her kissing her and being rather raunchy, and she seemed to enjoy him, in a very tormented kind of way. It makes me think how sad life has become, and I realize how hungry we really are for love and assurance. The girl was with the man, not because she was attracted to him but because she needed a daddy. Someone to assure her that they would love her and keep her safe. She needed assurance that someone would protect her and remind her, who she was.
Father, why do we dream so little?! why cant we see you for who you really are? crush the ideals we have of you and replace them with your fathers heart for us. Show us, this generation that we have the arms of the maker of the universe to run into. CAPTIVATE us! Let rest against your chest and listen to your heartbeat until the pulses of our worlds beat together. Make us children again. Children who believe their daddy can do miracles, that he will always keep us under his wing, that he will sing us to sleep, take away the nightmeres, and remind us that we can do anything with the power he has given us. Make us something more than a generation bleeding for these lies offered to us. Our dreams are so small, our love is so weak, and we lack courage. Make us real men who know what real masculinity looks like and who can battle against darkness, and make us women who fight on our knees and who know how to love sincerely.
"It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." C.S. Lewis
Grow our hearts in order to hold more glory, more love, and more brokeness. All of you is our hearts cry.
I went Cliff Diving yesterday. Well actually I jumped once. I dont remember a time that I was more scarred. My knees were knocking, my teeth chattering, and all I wanted to do was crawl into the fetal position. Im not usually afraid of heights but the water had to be 40 degrees. I finally jumped, and that split second that both feet have just left the ledge and you realize that there no turning back, was the most exilerating feeling of the whole expirience. After that was followed by pain from the cold water. totally worth it. But there was another girl, who wasnt apart of our group that has really stuck in my head. I talked to God about her today and prayed for her. She changed my week. She couldnt have been older than 19. Beautiful skin, pretty pigtails, and a large strong build. The hair under her arms and on her legs was long and thick, and she was with a man. A man old enough to be her grandfather, easily in his late 60s, with the same combat boots on as her and a full black and grey beard. He referred to her as his girlfriend, which was odd considering the appearence of a incredible age difference. He was all over her kissing her and being rather raunchy, and she seemed to enjoy him, in a very tormented kind of way. It makes me think how sad life has become, and I realize how hungry we really are for love and assurance. The girl was with the man, not because she was attracted to him but because she needed a daddy. Someone to assure her that they would love her and keep her safe. She needed assurance that someone would protect her and remind her, who she was.
Father, why do we dream so little?! why cant we see you for who you really are? crush the ideals we have of you and replace them with your fathers heart for us. Show us, this generation that we have the arms of the maker of the universe to run into. CAPTIVATE us! Let rest against your chest and listen to your heartbeat until the pulses of our worlds beat together. Make us children again. Children who believe their daddy can do miracles, that he will always keep us under his wing, that he will sing us to sleep, take away the nightmeres, and remind us that we can do anything with the power he has given us. Make us something more than a generation bleeding for these lies offered to us. Our dreams are so small, our love is so weak, and we lack courage. Make us real men who know what real masculinity looks like and who can battle against darkness, and make us women who fight on our knees and who know how to love sincerely.
"It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." C.S. Lewis
Grow our hearts in order to hold more glory, more love, and more brokeness. All of you is our hearts cry.
"Beautiful Things"
A guy from my Colorado Springs just came out with his new EP, and here is one of his songs! Download his EP its really really awesome, its on Itunes and its called "Eating my wallet". He is a christian and recentely through an awesome night of worship in one of our downtown parks here in the springs, so just check him out cause I came across him today and loved his music! CIAO!
Bliss of Nothingness....
I have nothing interesting, though provoking, deep, or spiritual to write about.... I really wish I did though. But no, the past week has just been nice. Sitting by the pool with my best friend, spending time with my family, reading great books, listening to good music, learning to drive, catching up with old friends, eating too much food, loosing all my motivation for working out, finding BEAUTIFUL things in the bible (thank you GOD!!!! soooo much for showing me your treasures)...... see its just been nice. but I need that right now. right now I just need to laugh... ALOT. I need the prescence of God to drench my days, and I need pretty and beautiful things to dazzle at. I dont do boring. life is slow right now, but never boring. Boring makes me want to puke. Its unattractive on everyone, and it gives me headaches. This summer I am desireing and pursueing to make things all about God instead of me. This is his summer.... Its sending me into this bliss of nothing I believe, hence the title. Relaxing with God, just hanging out. Discovering about HIS heart is all something new to me. I love it. Finding out how he feels about life, and seeing through his eyes is sooo crazy. He is becoming my best friend. its not a super hyped up feeling, or super emotional. Its just passionate, and nice, and fresh, and reassuring. Its lovely :)
BLISS- n.
1. Extreme happiness; ecstasy.
2. The ecstasy of salvation; spiritual joy
BLISS- n.
1. Extreme happiness; ecstasy.
2. The ecstasy of salvation; spiritual joy
Sounds of freedom
beautiful music ( that has nothing to do with America) on our beautiful independence day :) have a happy 4th!
French Apartment in Moroccan style
I got these pictures from a online style blog which i came across while using stumle! Stumbleupon.com is sooo great and I for sure recomend it! I love this house soo must, its so romantic, and free and beautiful and its just so pretty so I thought I would share it, The blog I found it on, is called 79 ideas.
I have not blogged in awhile, so i though I would just start off with something i am in the mood of :) Today were just cleaning the house, and I plan on having some great bible reading time! I read this the other day and really enjoyed it as well!
Song of Songs 7:10
"I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me"
Deuteronomy 33:12
"Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him. For he shields him all day long and the one the Lord loves rest between his shoulders"
ahhhh it is good to soak in the word :)
Song of Songs 7:10
"I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me"
Deuteronomy 33:12
"Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him. For he shields him all day long and the one the Lord loves rest between his shoulders"
ahhhh it is good to soak in the word :)
New Heartwork Page!!
Watch this video! And go to my heartwork page. My old church started this organization called heartwork and I was apart of the youth group _tag that raised the 9000$..... Now at my dads church in denver we are doing the same. Working hard to raise the money! Check out my heartwork page to see how Im trying to get money and how you can help!
ISAIAH 58
ISAIAH 58
Media
Dear Life-stealer,
let me tell you something I dont just eat carbs, I LIKE them and I will NOT feel guilty about it! You know why? Because I am BEAUTIFUL. Maybe not by your standards, but who asked you anyways.
Everyone has opions sure ,but how about for once you keep yours to yourself?
Im sick of your controling behaivor. Im sick of the bullying, of the ruthless rules, and trends, and codes you force me to live by. GET OUT OF MY FACE! Why do you insist on always being there when I am at my lowest? Its not like your helping anything, you hurt me dont you get it! I felt good. I felt alive, I had dreams. But one by one, piece by piece you tore ME away. I cant turn right or left, I cant run far enough, and dig myself deep enough........... oh no you always find me. your always right there telling me "eh its good, but you could do better. you could look better, walk better, sing better, BE better!"......................... WHO MADE YOU THE BOSS?! Who gave you the throne, the pedastal over me? Isnt NOW when freedom is suppose to be most evident? but Im in chains.
You made me believe, Ill give you that. You made me believe in beauty. Airbrushed, photoshoped, pixle perfect beauty. Isnt much to live for, not now at least, not when Im STARVING because of this "beauty" I cantt aquire. Never enough, not for you. well im done. Done with you, Done with your unsatisfying, lowsey, shallow monster you have made me to be!! I am more, than you expect me to be.
I AM beautiful. I AM attractive. I AM worthy. I AM enough. HE tells me everyday how beautiful I am. How PROUD he is of me! HAVE YOU EVER BEEN PROUD OF ME?!?!?! I mean......... do you even remember my name?
He thinks I am worth his time.Everyday. He never leaves, never rushes, never gets bored and moves on.
Captivating, he called me. I am enough for him. And that will do, NO MORE of you, no..... WE are done. over with, through.
So leave me alone, you cant tell me what to do anymore, or what to wear, or how to act. I am me, and you aint ever gonna find another one of those ever agan.
sincerely,
Elizabeth
P.S. On behalf of every other girl on the planet, we dont need you anymore. We are the beheld.
let me tell you something I dont just eat carbs, I LIKE them and I will NOT feel guilty about it! You know why? Because I am BEAUTIFUL. Maybe not by your standards, but who asked you anyways.
Everyone has opions sure ,but how about for once you keep yours to yourself?
Im sick of your controling behaivor. Im sick of the bullying, of the ruthless rules, and trends, and codes you force me to live by. GET OUT OF MY FACE! Why do you insist on always being there when I am at my lowest? Its not like your helping anything, you hurt me dont you get it! I felt good. I felt alive, I had dreams. But one by one, piece by piece you tore ME away. I cant turn right or left, I cant run far enough, and dig myself deep enough........... oh no you always find me. your always right there telling me "eh its good, but you could do better. you could look better, walk better, sing better, BE better!"......................... WHO MADE YOU THE BOSS?! Who gave you the throne, the pedastal over me? Isnt NOW when freedom is suppose to be most evident? but Im in chains.
You made me believe, Ill give you that. You made me believe in beauty. Airbrushed, photoshoped, pixle perfect beauty. Isnt much to live for, not now at least, not when Im STARVING because of this "beauty" I cantt aquire. Never enough, not for you. well im done. Done with you, Done with your unsatisfying, lowsey, shallow monster you have made me to be!! I am more, than you expect me to be.
I AM beautiful. I AM attractive. I AM worthy. I AM enough. HE tells me everyday how beautiful I am. How PROUD he is of me! HAVE YOU EVER BEEN PROUD OF ME?!?!?! I mean......... do you even remember my name?
He thinks I am worth his time.Everyday. He never leaves, never rushes, never gets bored and moves on.
Captivating, he called me. I am enough for him. And that will do, NO MORE of you, no..... WE are done. over with, through.
So leave me alone, you cant tell me what to do anymore, or what to wear, or how to act. I am me, and you aint ever gonna find another one of those ever agan.
sincerely,
Elizabeth
P.S. On behalf of every other girl on the planet, we dont need you anymore. We are the beheld.
my friends
Every person is in dire need of at least one faithful friend or mate who will look them in the eye and say "I will never leave you. You may grow old and gray, but Ill never leave you. Your face may wrinkle and your body may ruin, but Ill never leave you. The years may be cruel and the time may be hard but Ill be here. I will never leave you.
-Max Lucado.
Fill your friendships with good things. Dare to be honest. Dare to end the sarcasm and be NICE. Be there for them, really there, in the room and in the moment. Love, sacrifice, and spirituality make friendships flourish. Everyone needs friends to push each other and keep each other accountable. We all need friends to cry with, and laugh till we pee our parents. We need friends to sit on the couch and eat empty carbs with and watch tv all day long then go workout cause we feel guilty. We all need friends that are encouraging. We all need someone to call you their best friend.
Best friends cannot fit inside a exact quo or mold. I have a friend who we have been together since 4th grade, we adopted our baby brothers together and we have been through so many fights and also good times together. We got saved together, went through huge trama together, and are moving on in life together. I also have a best friend whom I just met last October, but we have soooo much in comman and I love being around her all the time! She is encouraging, and raw, and challenges me in my faith all the time. Best friends are essential and such a beautiful thing in life.
My besties.... all yall know who you are and I love you from the bottom of my heart.
hang loose :)
-Max Lucado.
Fill your friendships with good things. Dare to be honest. Dare to end the sarcasm and be NICE. Be there for them, really there, in the room and in the moment. Love, sacrifice, and spirituality make friendships flourish. Everyone needs friends to push each other and keep each other accountable. We all need friends to cry with, and laugh till we pee our parents. We need friends to sit on the couch and eat empty carbs with and watch tv all day long then go workout cause we feel guilty. We all need friends that are encouraging. We all need someone to call you their best friend.
Best friends cannot fit inside a exact quo or mold. I have a friend who we have been together since 4th grade, we adopted our baby brothers together and we have been through so many fights and also good times together. We got saved together, went through huge trama together, and are moving on in life together. I also have a best friend whom I just met last October, but we have soooo much in comman and I love being around her all the time! She is encouraging, and raw, and challenges me in my faith all the time. Best friends are essential and such a beautiful thing in life.
My besties.... all yall know who you are and I love you from the bottom of my heart.
hang loose :)
The right time
I watched the right thing at the right time. Luck? Heck no. My beloved is pursuing my heart. watch the link below.
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/4cXnnf/thebeheld.wordpress.com/
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/4cXnnf/thebeheld.wordpress.com/
FIANLLY!!!!!!!!!!!!
ITS SUMMER FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am done with my current school for forever and am moving on to bigger things :)
Heres my playlist I have been listening to lately.
-Jj Heller- Kingdom Come (and pretty much anything by her right now :)
- For the love of you- Audrey Assad (and anything else by her!!)
- king of anything- sara barrielles
- closer- shawn mcdonald
- strong enough- stacie orrico
- the space between us- shawn mcdonald
- sweet home alabama (ONLY TWO MORE MONTHS!!!!)
I cant wait for this summer, I cant wait to go back to Alabama, I always want to reffer to it as home :) I fell in love with the people, and the place and what God is doing there and my heart beats faster when the name comes up so I am very exctied to leave there this summer. And nashville :)
"Do what you always do make me oh so new taking the space between us and filling it with more of you"
I am giving this summer to God. It is his, lets see what happends :)
I am done with my current school for forever and am moving on to bigger things :)
Heres my playlist I have been listening to lately.
-Jj Heller- Kingdom Come (and pretty much anything by her right now :)
- For the love of you- Audrey Assad (and anything else by her!!)
- king of anything- sara barrielles
- closer- shawn mcdonald
- strong enough- stacie orrico
- the space between us- shawn mcdonald
- sweet home alabama (ONLY TWO MORE MONTHS!!!!)
I cant wait for this summer, I cant wait to go back to Alabama, I always want to reffer to it as home :) I fell in love with the people, and the place and what God is doing there and my heart beats faster when the name comes up so I am very exctied to leave there this summer. And nashville :)
"Do what you always do make me oh so new taking the space between us and filling it with more of you"
I am giving this summer to God. It is his, lets see what happends :)
Truth
The Lies: You are to Plain.
You are to ordinary.
You cannot hold their gaze.
You reflection does not suffice.
You are too awkward.
You are too fat.
You need to be trendy to be noticed.
You need tan skin, fit body, perfect hair, great face, straight teeth, AND make it all look natural in order to be BEAUTIFUL.
A boy will NEVER like you.
You are so much less than those other girls. They just have something you dont.
You are too complicated.
You are not healthy enough, pretty enough, or thin enough to happy.
I can throw up or stop eating only until Im thin.....then Ill stop
I am the only one hurting
I am gross
I cant tell anyone, because no one will believe me.
TRUTH:
"The king is enthralled by your beauty........"
Definition of Enthralled: held captive.
Not only do you hold his gaze, he cant look away. You amaze him with you heart and he is so proud of you every single day.
Spending time with HIM will make you bright
"Those who look to the Lord are radiant they will never be covered in shame"
He , inside of you makes you beautiful
He, calling you out makes you beautiful
You are to ordinary.
You cannot hold their gaze.
You reflection does not suffice.
You are too awkward.
You are too fat.
You need to be trendy to be noticed.
You need tan skin, fit body, perfect hair, great face, straight teeth, AND make it all look natural in order to be BEAUTIFUL.
A boy will NEVER like you.
You are so much less than those other girls. They just have something you dont.
You are too complicated.
You are not healthy enough, pretty enough, or thin enough to happy.
I can throw up or stop eating only until Im thin.....then Ill stop
I am the only one hurting
I am gross
I cant tell anyone, because no one will believe me.
TRUTH:
"The king is enthralled by your beauty........"
Definition of Enthralled: held captive.
Not only do you hold his gaze, he cant look away. You amaze him with you heart and he is so proud of you every single day.
Spending time with HIM will make you bright
"Those who look to the Lord are radiant they will never be covered in shame"
He , inside of you makes you beautiful
He, calling you out makes you beautiful
JUST DRINK DEEP; therapy
"And to know the love of Christ." Eph. 3:19
Just say yes....
Man, is God trying to hit me upside the head or what???? Just say no, beat your flesh, surrender your life to me everyday, Let the holy spirit guide you and lead you..... i mean JEEZ! haha I have just been struggling with temptations lately, and my head just has not been in the game at all lately. First it started with lust. Lust sucks ,because its just a manipulation from the thrill killer (devil) of something God created to be holy and pleasing to him. But ya it started with lust and just being trapped by it. Lust is ALWAYS followed by conviction, especially when you have asked the holy spirit to live inside you. SIDENOTE: If its guilt it isnt the holy spirit, its the thrill killer making you feel far from God and tempting you to run in shame. The holy spirit convicts, he doesnt shame. EVER.
anyways so I surrendered my spirit to God last night and now thats where I am with him. Learning to surreneder to his spirit everyday and begging for his grace to not pick up my life and try to live it alone again. but as i have been struggling with temptations not only with lust but with breaking my fast, and giving up on goals i have set for my self and believing the thrill killers lies he has constantely been speaking to me just say no. First is was the verse thats something along the lines of Keep your mind kingdoms things not on the things of this world. and Then it was through a Matt Pitt (my favorite) sermon. He was preaching on beating your flesh and not only just saying NO but saying YES to the things of Christ. Today I went and had smoothies after school with an awesome friend of mine and she said the exact thing. Dont worry so much on just say NO to sing but instead Just say yes to righteouness and avoid sin altogether. Its like "flee from sexual inpurity..." I think it applies to all sin. JUST FLEE. and the word flee doesnt mean beat around the bust, comprimise, and make excuse or sneaky little ways to get what you want... it means RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE away from evil. Then I have been researching health lately and thinking of this whole vegitarian dealy (getting obbsessed is actually the right word but i have decided that I am totally ok with it) and I was reading a blog from Rebecca Barlow ( a christian rock artist and vegitarian) and what was she talking about??? . "If every time we were presented with the menu of the world, we followed our feelings, and did what felt right...I’m telling you, you will become spiritually dead in a short amount of time." SAYING NO TO YOUR FLESH! Hears how it is for me. My flesh is saying take the world, take the cheap counterfeit but deep down i know i am having an out of body expirience almost and my soul is crying out PLEASE PLEASE GIVE ME MORE GOD GIVE ME MORE HOLINESS! because i have asked to be baptized in the holy spirit and not that is what my soul craves. So how do we go from struggling with out flesh to living righteous and in sync with the king? we kill our flesh. we dont serve it, we dont apologize to it, we dont just feed it everyonce in awhile but we STARVE it. cause whatever we starve will die and whatever we feed will become healthy and strong. becoming starving hurts...... killing hurts. have you ever been killed? No. But you can imagine with me that that would hurt. But only for a little while. And same with your flesh... as you are saying no to yourself it hurts at first, it may involve tears and you will have to say NO ALLLOOTTT. But then you start to look like christ and you begin to expirience break through and its all worth while. And eventually this whole point on christianity anyways is becoming one heart with the Lord. Eventually we began to expirience freedom that we have only dreamed was possible.
anyways so I surrendered my spirit to God last night and now thats where I am with him. Learning to surreneder to his spirit everyday and begging for his grace to not pick up my life and try to live it alone again. but as i have been struggling with temptations not only with lust but with breaking my fast, and giving up on goals i have set for my self and believing the thrill killers lies he has constantely been speaking to me just say no. First is was the verse thats something along the lines of Keep your mind kingdoms things not on the things of this world. and Then it was through a Matt Pitt (my favorite) sermon. He was preaching on beating your flesh and not only just saying NO but saying YES to the things of Christ. Today I went and had smoothies after school with an awesome friend of mine and she said the exact thing. Dont worry so much on just say NO to sing but instead Just say yes to righteouness and avoid sin altogether. Its like "flee from sexual inpurity..." I think it applies to all sin. JUST FLEE. and the word flee doesnt mean beat around the bust, comprimise, and make excuse or sneaky little ways to get what you want... it means RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE away from evil. Then I have been researching health lately and thinking of this whole vegitarian dealy (getting obbsessed is actually the right word but i have decided that I am totally ok with it) and I was reading a blog from Rebecca Barlow ( a christian rock artist and vegitarian) and what was she talking about??? . "If every time we were presented with the menu of the world, we followed our feelings, and did what felt right...I’m telling you, you will become spiritually dead in a short amount of time." SAYING NO TO YOUR FLESH! Hears how it is for me. My flesh is saying take the world, take the cheap counterfeit but deep down i know i am having an out of body expirience almost and my soul is crying out PLEASE PLEASE GIVE ME MORE GOD GIVE ME MORE HOLINESS! because i have asked to be baptized in the holy spirit and not that is what my soul craves. So how do we go from struggling with out flesh to living righteous and in sync with the king? we kill our flesh. we dont serve it, we dont apologize to it, we dont just feed it everyonce in awhile but we STARVE it. cause whatever we starve will die and whatever we feed will become healthy and strong. becoming starving hurts...... killing hurts. have you ever been killed? No. But you can imagine with me that that would hurt. But only for a little while. And same with your flesh... as you are saying no to yourself it hurts at first, it may involve tears and you will have to say NO ALLLOOTTT. But then you start to look like christ and you begin to expirience break through and its all worth while. And eventually this whole point on christianity anyways is becoming one heart with the Lord. Eventually we began to expirience freedom that we have only dreamed was possible.
Its not easy. The poeple you look up to? They didnt just become that. They were refined by fire. Fire burns people, and burning hurts but it makes you beautiful in the end. Look all Im saying is I want to become the one God origianlly dreamed me up to be and I know FOR CERTAIN that I am not that one now.... But I also know that God is never giving up on me and that he is inside of me and that he is making me into who he created me as. Its a long process but i am for sure done trying to live out the fruits of the spirit on my own, my life is his now. I will fail. Im learning to except that. But I also have felt a sense of freedom since the revelation last night that true freedom is complete surrender. I cant even surrender by myself, I have to ask God to help my surrender and to help me not live on my own again. Its a growing process but He wont give up and neither will I.
On another note. I am going to art museums tomorrow with my great friend and I cant wait to wear my new romper! That is.................... if I can walk tomorrow. Told you I was becoming obessed with heath and stuff? Ya well I worked out for the first time since cheer season so like two months ago. I feel like a noodle. ugh.
On another note. I am going to art museums tomorrow with my great friend and I cant wait to wear my new romper! That is.................... if I can walk tomorrow. Told you I was becoming obessed with heath and stuff? Ya well I worked out for the first time since cheer season so like two months ago. I feel like a noodle. ugh.
Oh ya.......... my friends are better than yours. so hah
Homesick
I dont really know why lately i have been hungering so much for my childhood. Its like a pain that I can tangibly feel. haha I just google earthed my grandmas house. the one the picture on the banner of this blog is take from. you turn left onto her street and you cross a one way brigde over a bunch of swamp. then her house is all the way at the end. you turn and drive for awhile are the roundabout in her driveway. I miss it so much. the breeze, the loud rain. the way it smells, there are millions (yes millions) of flowers and Florida is THE most beautiful place on earth no question about it. Maybe me heart is just acheing because this is the time of year that we usually go there and this year we are not. I have been listening to so much pacific ocean music (i know florida is the atlantic, and yes its pathetic because i have never even seen the pacific ocean. ha)...... I miss sitting on the dock and spraying the manatees. I miss riding the boat for an hour just to turn into a swamp land and find a crab shack dead in the center of the bayou. its captivating, the whole lifestyle of the river my grandma lives on. Super rich which is nice for awhile but the actually river is what I miss. Aligators on the side, and on both sides are tall, huge gree trees. Manetees swiming in the water, turtles and crabs shallow enough for us to walk out and catch them. I miss laying my head down at night and feeling the coolness of the pillow on my sunburn. I would pay someone to make me sunburned......... I dont think I have ever been this white in my life ever before.
Come see my world
above.... on the one way bridge. to the left... my turtle friend on the river St Johns :) see him??
everydays a different mystery....
I get so excited when talking about my home, and I love even the dumbest of pictures of Florida because it really is the greatest thing to me. It doesnt bore me to look at a million pictures of our deck or of the crabs, because to me this place is a dream. Its home, its my happy spot, its where I am perfectely myself. This is the home of adventures. I miss it so much and I just wish everyone got to have the memories i have. I was talking to a friend that is from the south and that recentely move here and she aggreed. Its not enought just to take someone there to see the beauty, because our excitement and glory of our homes comes from our memories. |
This is just venting but no its just me throwing up my heart to you :) just being real.
besides being a TOTAL florida girl (most people dont take that seriously when i say that...so i usually dont) I am a real redneck and my dad never lets my forget it. I have always wanted a huge rough jeep for my car, I LOVE wearing hats, I wear a leather jacket, My legs are totally beat up, I say yall, am super loud, and after dinner with my cousins in florida we do this :) we all watch my cousins snake eat! (bottom of blog entry) haha soo redneck. but I love it. I love not wearing shoes... I love living in my bathing suit. I love dirt, and I love being tan, I love riding my bike through swamps, I HATE lizards and frogs (surprising) and worms kind of freak me out. Food always needs about a stick of butter in it no matter how big the portion size and I do believe that fear is just in the mind and that the scars will heal............ so just go ahead and jump of the top tier of the dock. Go ahead and jump off the roof and hope that you dont slip off the rope swing. Go ahead and fall in love, go ahead and dive into the waves, the sharks are more scared of you than you are of them (ya freaking right). So what if I am free- spirited?
besides being a TOTAL florida girl (most people dont take that seriously when i say that...so i usually dont) I am a real redneck and my dad never lets my forget it. I have always wanted a huge rough jeep for my car, I LOVE wearing hats, I wear a leather jacket, My legs are totally beat up, I say yall, am super loud, and after dinner with my cousins in florida we do this :) we all watch my cousins snake eat! (bottom of blog entry) haha soo redneck. but I love it. I love not wearing shoes... I love living in my bathing suit. I love dirt, and I love being tan, I love riding my bike through swamps, I HATE lizards and frogs (surprising) and worms kind of freak me out. Food always needs about a stick of butter in it no matter how big the portion size and I do believe that fear is just in the mind and that the scars will heal............ so just go ahead and jump of the top tier of the dock. Go ahead and jump off the roof and hope that you dont slip off the rope swing. Go ahead and fall in love, go ahead and dive into the waves, the sharks are more scared of you than you are of them (ya freaking right). So what if I am free- spirited?
50 foot rope swing? i dig it...
He had never seen the ocean before........
Anyways............ theres my home, and I miss it alot obviously. I hope your not bored. Cause I am in love with this place. See yall :) Heres the video of our snake below :p sooo redneck.
Venting
I might seriously never get to a point tonight.
but i know I wont sleep if I dont get all my thoughts out.....
1.) one... i just sneezed 5 times (lterally) in the matter of 12 seconds.... wait..... ya 5 times. i hate allergies. And I am sick of living with them.
2.) I love interesting people. I am becoming scary addicted to facebook stalking because i just love digging into people hearts. everyones story. The story of their hearts letting down guards and expiriencing new rainbows of emotion and adventure. its so mesmerizing to just hear someone tell you their heart. a persons heart is their being, its what makes them beautiful.
3.) i seriously cannot find the right words to express how i feel. i feel exhausted.
but i know I wont sleep if I dont get all my thoughts out.....
1.) one... i just sneezed 5 times (lterally) in the matter of 12 seconds.... wait..... ya 5 times. i hate allergies. And I am sick of living with them.
2.) I love interesting people. I am becoming scary addicted to facebook stalking because i just love digging into people hearts. everyones story. The story of their hearts letting down guards and expiriencing new rainbows of emotion and adventure. its so mesmerizing to just hear someone tell you their heart. a persons heart is their being, its what makes them beautiful.
3.) i seriously cannot find the right words to express how i feel. i feel exhausted.
Im really learning lately to wait on the Lord. All things I thought I wanted and the life had planned out that I thought would make me happy and the person I thought I was, I had to give back to God, becaue they were never mine.... I was holding onto them way to tightley. Now i find myself asking God if I surrender to you my dreams now... will i ever get them back? will i ever dream again?
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
HIS timing will put things back together again. I will fall in love, when he opens my heart to it, I will know what to do with my life when he wants to show me the path, I will begin to recieve love and see more of his beauty in me one day at a time as I walk with him and let him do work. He has all eternity planned for me, plans to prosper and not to harm. I thank him that I have such an adventure ahead of me that it is ungraspable.
" It is safer for you to plunge into the unknown holding the hand of the savior than to walk in the light on your own"
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
HIS timing will put things back together again. I will fall in love, when he opens my heart to it, I will know what to do with my life when he wants to show me the path, I will begin to recieve love and see more of his beauty in me one day at a time as I walk with him and let him do work. He has all eternity planned for me, plans to prosper and not to harm. I thank him that I have such an adventure ahead of me that it is ungraspable.
" It is safer for you to plunge into the unknown holding the hand of the savior than to walk in the light on your own"
Resting in the arms of God for now
top picture from baileymariephoto.blogspot.com
bottom from lataisoakia.weebly.com
top picture from baileymariephoto.blogspot.com
bottom from lataisoakia.weebly.com
Everything this heart longs for other than you i will let die take all I am cause nothing really matters right now.
Dear Lord,
Heal me............ save me.
take away my pride. humble me.
Steal my heart, Steal my gaze.
Help me to keep making war in my heart. Help me to fight the lies, fight the hate, fight the sin.
Be my all in all, be my everything. Sincerely..... please dont let me fall away.
your servant
Dear Lord,
Heal me............ save me.
take away my pride. humble me.
Steal my heart, Steal my gaze.
Help me to keep making war in my heart. Help me to fight the lies, fight the hate, fight the sin.
Be my all in all, be my everything. Sincerely..... please dont let me fall away.
your servant
Most Precious Design
Tyler ward :) If you dont already have him downloaded from Itunes than do it ,cause this dude can sing :)
I cant stop listening to this song... but thats a side note.
These past few months I have been fighting with myself. You see I never thought I had ever had regrets until lately. I regret the hearts that I have hurt, that have now forgotten my name. I regret being so impulsive. I regret using the excuses "Im only human". I regret not loving to the fullest and I regret letting so much love get away from me. You see, something I have been learning is that our hearts are the most precious design in the eyes of the Lord. And each heart has a story. A persons heart could dazzle you if you just take time to open up and look inside. Sounds cheesy but God has been showing me this simple idea so much! Just about my heart, and his heart and he is showing me how they are becoming one. I never thought that could happen. people, please. My whole life I have been articulate, and have been able to tell you what my problems were.Often I just feel consumed with the fact that there are soooo many things wrong in my heart. I covet. I am bad at loving people. I have so many walls surrounding me. I am insecure. I am angry. My passion is windled. I am prideful. I am SO IMPERFECT. But the bible says that when the perfect comes the imperfect leaves. And so day after day we must search the heart of God and plead, ask, and BEG that both hearts can unite. I cant remember when I began putting all the walls, and defenses over my heart. I dont remember when my heart began to become so hard. I never had terrible parents or a crazy childhood. BUT. I do remember the time when all the lights turned on and I realized what I had been running into. A friend of mine, knew how to love and open their heart so wide to people, not even giving the risk a second thought that someone could hurt them. I spent the day with them and probably only spoke two words. God was working something in me.
I cant stop listening to this song... but thats a side note.
These past few months I have been fighting with myself. You see I never thought I had ever had regrets until lately. I regret the hearts that I have hurt, that have now forgotten my name. I regret being so impulsive. I regret using the excuses "Im only human". I regret not loving to the fullest and I regret letting so much love get away from me. You see, something I have been learning is that our hearts are the most precious design in the eyes of the Lord. And each heart has a story. A persons heart could dazzle you if you just take time to open up and look inside. Sounds cheesy but God has been showing me this simple idea so much! Just about my heart, and his heart and he is showing me how they are becoming one. I never thought that could happen. people, please. My whole life I have been articulate, and have been able to tell you what my problems were.Often I just feel consumed with the fact that there are soooo many things wrong in my heart. I covet. I am bad at loving people. I have so many walls surrounding me. I am insecure. I am angry. My passion is windled. I am prideful. I am SO IMPERFECT. But the bible says that when the perfect comes the imperfect leaves. And so day after day we must search the heart of God and plead, ask, and BEG that both hearts can unite. I cant remember when I began putting all the walls, and defenses over my heart. I dont remember when my heart began to become so hard. I never had terrible parents or a crazy childhood. BUT. I do remember the time when all the lights turned on and I realized what I had been running into. A friend of mine, knew how to love and open their heart so wide to people, not even giving the risk a second thought that someone could hurt them. I spent the day with them and probably only spoke two words. God was working something in me.
That was one of the days that changed my life. Nothing profoud was said, nothing out of the ordinary, but God works and mysterious ways. Ever since that day, my life has been an adventure. He is showing me that its okay to let other people see my heart, that its ok to let people in. He began giving me revalation of how he created me. I was sooo SO scared to let others close to me. I would be transparent when it came to my mistakes, or to maybe my feelings, but never about my HEART. never about my desires, never about my self worth, never about my ideas or passions. That was too sacred, to breakable. I thought I didnt like the idea of intamacy, but really my heart was dying without it.
Still, since 8 months ago on that day with my friend, I literally tremble when letting people inside my heart. Its so hard, but an expirience to brute through and trust God with. I always thought that quote about us not being scared that we are not enough but that we are too great was conceited and stupid, but im starting to understand it. We like ourselves, we are just unsure how people will respond when we show them who we are. I become terrified to let people see my beauty. And that sounds terrible and horribly worded and conceited even but I dont know how to say it any other way. For someone to look into my eyes and say I love you, your beautiful, or for my dad to come up and hug me and say im proud of you..... it makes me vunerable. I dont know how to handle it. Im surprised. Am I wierd? I crave love, and adoration but when it comes I freeze up. That cant be the way it was designed. God is the only person I can come to and show my heart to without feeling sick. But I think after spending time on the road with him, we start to believe him. We start to believe him when he says, YOU ARE LOVED. We begin to believe, that WE ARE BEAUTIFUL. That WE ARE CHOSEN. After hearing him say it a billion ka-jillion times, I AM ALMOST, starting to believe that I AM WORTH IT. I am worth looking at. I am worth hearing. I am worth dying for. I am begining to believe, that I am not alone. I am begining to believe that there is a future for me. And I am beginging to believe that I no longer need to carry these burdens.
You are NOT a slave to fear. You are NOT a slave to the lies that you are not enough. The lies that tell you, you cant hold their attention. You are NOT a slave to your past. Your failures DO NOT define you. The king of the ages, seated on a throne surrounded by a rainbow, who created the Ocean and the fish and the sharks, and the thunder, and the mountains, and the sunset........ says that you are more beautiful than it all. He is enthralled with your beauty. Held captive. He is in love with you.
"Amazing grace How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me."
"Amazing grace How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me."
I want to grow old with you
Melody and Scott Robinson.
When I moved to Colorado I was only seven years old and Melody became my babysitter. We had a few babysitters that my parents would pick from but we would beg for Mel.
Ever since then Melody has been my role model for beauty and living a Godly life, but now she has been one of my role models for following through with a Godly marriage.
Melody is 25 now and I went to Melodys wedding, and cried. It was a vison and I cant wait to meet the man of my dreams and have my own beautiful wedding :) I talked to Mel about her and Scott :) soooo cute.
When I moved to Colorado I was only seven years old and Melody became my babysitter. We had a few babysitters that my parents would pick from but we would beg for Mel.
Ever since then Melody has been my role model for beauty and living a Godly life, but now she has been one of my role models for following through with a Godly marriage.
Melody is 25 now and I went to Melodys wedding, and cried. It was a vison and I cant wait to meet the man of my dreams and have my own beautiful wedding :) I talked to Mel about her and Scott :) soooo cute.
Mel and Scott met at the end of summer of 2009 and when they were paired together to lead a mission trip down to peru. They became really great friends, but they got together when the plane landed back in America. They became official after the trip and once Scott had asked both Mels brother and fathers permission ( the only way to go guys. respect). She said that she highly suggest you REALLY get to know the person you are interested in as friends first before you make it offcial. I asked her how she came to know that Scott was the one for her. She said that she prayed a ton. and that it actually was on of those things that the world calls "fate" but we as christians call destiny. She knew she could be married to him the first time she noticed him.
"I am a believer that women (and men), especially those who walk in the Spirit, can have a sense of knowing without yet knowing." - Melody.
She spent lots of time with him and his friends and both of their families and then became confident in this character and walk with the Lord.
"I am a believer that women (and men), especially those who walk in the Spirit, can have a sense of knowing without yet knowing." - Melody.
She spent lots of time with him and his friends and both of their families and then became confident in this character and walk with the Lord.
Seeing the details in someone.... the faults, the failures, the beauty, the things that make them unique, the things that make you smile, the things that make them happy, the things that make you hate them, the things that make you want to scream, their past, their faith...... all the bad things, the fights....and wanting to be with them forever anyways. that is love, I am sure of it. I have heard marriage is hard, but I have also seen my parents walk through 16 years of it, and successfully. Melody had a list of requirments and wants that she wanted to see in a husband. I find myself writing and revising this list of mine like everyday.... literally. its a journey, of finding yourself, and finding Gods plan for your life at the same time.
"Before Scott and I got married, I wrote him a booklet with the story of my heart and how I’d come to fall in love with him. It was neat because we guarded our hearts in stages throughout the relationship (opened up more as time went by) and it was a great way to finally be able to tell him all that God had been doing in me. At the end of the booklet I included my “list”. It was so honoring to him to be able to read it and know I hadn’t settled and was so grateful for the man of God he is." -Melody
Melody dated one person before Scott, and I think that that is admirable. Its something special to save yourself for one person. I have such a burning desire to kiss one man. its just something special to me, that on the day I say I do, I seal that promise with all of me. I dont think however that a person is any less honorable, adored, and whole in the body of christ because of their past. I think that everyone goes through their own journeys and this is mine. I love melody very much and I love her and scott toghether. She is so the definition of beauty and grace and deserves so much, the husband of her dreams.... Scott. A man to cherish her and fight with her. A man so worth the wait.
Me- What is love? so broad.... sorry.
"I think because no one knows quite how to answer it or at least, when you’ve found it, you can’t stop describing it. Hmm…for me, it was the series of moments when I would just look at him and think “Gosh, who is this man? He is just wonderful.” Love is not just attraction, although we do admire each other, it is simply not enough to keep you going 50 or 60 years. Love is not just a list of qualities- if it were, life with them would very quickly get boring. " Mel
"Before Scott and I got married, I wrote him a booklet with the story of my heart and how I’d come to fall in love with him. It was neat because we guarded our hearts in stages throughout the relationship (opened up more as time went by) and it was a great way to finally be able to tell him all that God had been doing in me. At the end of the booklet I included my “list”. It was so honoring to him to be able to read it and know I hadn’t settled and was so grateful for the man of God he is." -Melody
Melody dated one person before Scott, and I think that that is admirable. Its something special to save yourself for one person. I have such a burning desire to kiss one man. its just something special to me, that on the day I say I do, I seal that promise with all of me. I dont think however that a person is any less honorable, adored, and whole in the body of christ because of their past. I think that everyone goes through their own journeys and this is mine. I love melody very much and I love her and scott toghether. She is so the definition of beauty and grace and deserves so much, the husband of her dreams.... Scott. A man to cherish her and fight with her. A man so worth the wait.
Me- What is love? so broad.... sorry.
"I think because no one knows quite how to answer it or at least, when you’ve found it, you can’t stop describing it. Hmm…for me, it was the series of moments when I would just look at him and think “Gosh, who is this man? He is just wonderful.” Love is not just attraction, although we do admire each other, it is simply not enough to keep you going 50 or 60 years. Love is not just a list of qualities- if it were, life with them would very quickly get boring. " Mel
"Simply put, I knew I loved Scott because he is a man I can look up to, respect, enjoy being around, who pushes me closer to Christ and who somehow knows how to be the friend and partner I need. " Mel
"your my wife" -scott
Who the heck am I?!?!
Elizabeth Joy Ramsdell. I LOOOOVVVEEEE to laugh, its one of the most incredible feelings next to the presence of God, falling in love, and snowboarding. The one who makes me laugh steals my heart......... ive always said that.
I think Im the bomb............ I know its really bad.
I LOVE worship and my passion is growing for it everyday. I also love to dance and expirience life to the FULLEST BEBE
I am my happiest when before the throne of grace, I am prettiest with the sun on my skin and I HATE when I pour my cereal then go to the refrigerator and theres no milk. literally it makes me freak out i hate it. I could talk about it for hours haha.
I love any music that sounds good. If it sounds bad I dont want to hear it.
I am IN LOVE with my future husband and I love saving my whole self for him. I know I have little to offer when we meet but I have been redeemed, made whole and love him more than any chick on this planet thats for sure.
I love my family, and we adopted my incredible baby brother almost two years ago and I love him more than life it self.
I obviously talk about myself WAY to much but its more for me than you. Im still figuring this stuff out.
I love listening to people talk about themselve, that why i like reading blogs so much because i like just asking people questions and getting into their heads! I love it so much but rarely do it........... it freaks people out I imagine.
I was born in florida and I miss it so bad it hurts, although i love the mountains and went snowboarding for the first time this week and it was freaking AMAZING!
I LOVE worship and my passion is growing for it everyday. I also love to dance and expirience life to the FULLEST BEBE
I am my happiest when before the throne of grace, I am prettiest with the sun on my skin and I HATE when I pour my cereal then go to the refrigerator and theres no milk. literally it makes me freak out i hate it. I could talk about it for hours haha.
I love any music that sounds good. If it sounds bad I dont want to hear it.
I am IN LOVE with my future husband and I love saving my whole self for him. I know I have little to offer when we meet but I have been redeemed, made whole and love him more than any chick on this planet thats for sure.
I love my family, and we adopted my incredible baby brother almost two years ago and I love him more than life it self.
I obviously talk about myself WAY to much but its more for me than you. Im still figuring this stuff out.
I love listening to people talk about themselve, that why i like reading blogs so much because i like just asking people questions and getting into their heads! I love it so much but rarely do it........... it freaks people out I imagine.
I was born in florida and I miss it so bad it hurts, although i love the mountains and went snowboarding for the first time this week and it was freaking AMAZING!
you dont have to like me, ill live and be great still but it sure would make me happy :) haha night world.
What im feeling
Oh this adventure of finding yourself...............
Often I find myself ashamed to be my happiest cause Im afraid that its not what others want to see on me. I am so afraid of being misunderstood. I love LOVE LOVE to sing, and dance. Its been apart of my life since as long as I can remember, seriously. But lately I have had lots of oppurtunitys every single week to be on a stage and use my voice to lead people in worship. Something happens inside me where Im afraid to sing what the overflow of my heart is really calling forth. Im afraid people will think of me as haughty or showing off onstage instead of someone who is struggling with myself to give my all to the Lord....... like everyone else. I am learning though that I cant and will not continue to apologize for who I am and what I have to offer.
Often I find myself ashamed to be my happiest cause Im afraid that its not what others want to see on me. I am so afraid of being misunderstood. I love LOVE LOVE to sing, and dance. Its been apart of my life since as long as I can remember, seriously. But lately I have had lots of oppurtunitys every single week to be on a stage and use my voice to lead people in worship. Something happens inside me where Im afraid to sing what the overflow of my heart is really calling forth. Im afraid people will think of me as haughty or showing off onstage instead of someone who is struggling with myself to give my all to the Lord....... like everyone else. I am learning though that I cant and will not continue to apologize for who I am and what I have to offer.
Ive always been the youngest out of my class and all my friends. So with that I have some really great wisdom surrounding me (most of the time) but I feel insecure alot because thoughts slip in that im too loud or annoying or just..... not good enough. LIES. WHO SAID THAT? Who said that I wasnt worth it? Who said I was the only one who was hurting or feeling this way? Who said I wasnt beautiful? thats me quoting Selena Gomez but for realz now. Psalms 139 says that God knows our every feeling, particle, insercurity, shame, and desire. We are not misunderstood at all and we are loved SO dearly. God is ENTHRALLED with my beauty.
Definition of enthralled= to be held captive. (Thank you webster). Ok so Ive held someones gaze after all. The king of the universe who has eyes like blazing fire, and who is seated on a throne surrounded by a rainbow (literally) of perfection day and night being praised has seen me.......... and cant get away. and because of that, because HE is enthralled..... We can laugh as loud and as long as we want! we can wear sweatpants, and afford to get a B on our next math test. We dont have to steal the heart of mister super hot leather jacket over there, and we certainly do not have to be size 2, long blonde hair blue eyes in order to be beautiful. We can dance as crazy as we want to dance, dream the craziest dreams, sing off key, wear baseball hats, and drive a jeep. We can hurt and be heartbroken and run to him with all of it because he understands our entire being. SMILE. LAUGH.DANCE. enjoy life knowing you are beautiful. knowing you are understood. and knowing that you are adored. Be a rockstar ;)
Definition of enthralled= to be held captive. (Thank you webster). Ok so Ive held someones gaze after all. The king of the universe who has eyes like blazing fire, and who is seated on a throne surrounded by a rainbow (literally) of perfection day and night being praised has seen me.......... and cant get away. and because of that, because HE is enthralled..... We can laugh as loud and as long as we want! we can wear sweatpants, and afford to get a B on our next math test. We dont have to steal the heart of mister super hot leather jacket over there, and we certainly do not have to be size 2, long blonde hair blue eyes in order to be beautiful. We can dance as crazy as we want to dance, dream the craziest dreams, sing off key, wear baseball hats, and drive a jeep. We can hurt and be heartbroken and run to him with all of it because he understands our entire being. SMILE. LAUGH.DANCE. enjoy life knowing you are beautiful. knowing you are understood. and knowing that you are adored. Be a rockstar ;)
LIZ AND LATAI
Two of my close friends that are SOOOOOOOOOOO freaking beautiful and who know how to live life.
Bailey Packard.
"Well here it goes...... haha"-Bailey
I was kind of interveiwing Bailey and asking her all these questions to write about because she comes to my mind when the topic of beauty comes up. Bailey is the Eldest of 4 kids. She is 17 years old and will be turning 18 soon. Bailey is a photographer. And a good one. She has a keen sense of the reality of the beauty of the Lord and attempts to capture it everyday behind the lense of her camera.
I love doing this (writing and talking with people) because I love hearing about the deep parts of people and learning what makes that person interesting and what makes them, them. I asked Bailey the very broad question.
Me: Whats beauty?
Packard: Beauty, as the world perceives it, is fleeting (Proverbs 31:30 "charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a women who fears the Lord is to be praised") but eternal beauty is not visible on the outside. Beauty is the condition in which you keep your heart. Reflecting the light of christ. Beauty, is not only pleasing to the eyes, it is a reflection of the life that is in your heart
I asked her also what makes someone beautiful.
Packard: What makes something beautiful? Well the sound of a violin or the way colors change in a sunset, what makes them beautiful? they appeal to our senses, whether it be our eyes or our ears. they differ from the ordinary. seriously, when thinking about a sunset, we have the whole day where the sun is just up there in the sky, its ordinary, shining down with heat. but then, for a brief time, it changes, it differs from the ordinary and we begin to see colors that weren't there before, that's why its so beautiful.
I was kind of interveiwing Bailey and asking her all these questions to write about because she comes to my mind when the topic of beauty comes up. Bailey is the Eldest of 4 kids. She is 17 years old and will be turning 18 soon. Bailey is a photographer. And a good one. She has a keen sense of the reality of the beauty of the Lord and attempts to capture it everyday behind the lense of her camera.
I love doing this (writing and talking with people) because I love hearing about the deep parts of people and learning what makes that person interesting and what makes them, them. I asked Bailey the very broad question.
Me: Whats beauty?
Packard: Beauty, as the world perceives it, is fleeting (Proverbs 31:30 "charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a women who fears the Lord is to be praised") but eternal beauty is not visible on the outside. Beauty is the condition in which you keep your heart. Reflecting the light of christ. Beauty, is not only pleasing to the eyes, it is a reflection of the life that is in your heart
I asked her also what makes someone beautiful.
Packard: What makes something beautiful? Well the sound of a violin or the way colors change in a sunset, what makes them beautiful? they appeal to our senses, whether it be our eyes or our ears. they differ from the ordinary. seriously, when thinking about a sunset, we have the whole day where the sun is just up there in the sky, its ordinary, shining down with heat. but then, for a brief time, it changes, it differs from the ordinary and we begin to see colors that weren't there before, that's why its so beautiful.
She went on to explain that what makes a person beautiful goes deeper. Yes there is the obvious girl who is beautiful on the outside and recognizeable from a distance but that that isnt true beauty. She said " A women is truly beautiful when she reflects the love of Christ to those around her." I think as women ,and well, as humans in general we have this desire to be known, to be seen and to be desired. We want someone to pick us. One of our biggest fears that may go completely un thought of is that we dont want people to pass us over. yes theres all this talk about "Oh well I just want to fit in" but I think that really we want to be our own person, we want something that makes us different from the last girl. We want to catch there eye. For someone to see the options and say "Her".
Packard: In my pictures, which are basically all of my best friends, I just try to capture their beauty the way God created it. Getting a still image of the beauty and life that they reflect everyday is priceless to me.
Bailey simpley sets the stage to let beauty take its place.
Packard: In my pictures, which are basically all of my best friends, I just try to capture their beauty the way God created it. Getting a still image of the beauty and life that they reflect everyday is priceless to me.
Bailey simpley sets the stage to let beauty take its place.
Packard: my faith changes everything about my understanding of beauty. if i didn't understand the bible and what it says about true beauty, i would only believe in beauty the way the world portrays it, which would be hopeless and depressing, constantly bringing myself down with comparisons and negativity. but, since i know the truth, i know what is beautiful in God's eyes, and that's what truly matters.
I asked her about who her beauty role model in life is and she said her mother
Packard: while my mother is my mentor and the example of beauty that i look up to everyday, misty edwards is another role model of mine. she is one of the main intercessory worship leaders at IHOP in kansas city and she is beautiful. not because of her looks, but because she spends hours before the throne of God and it shows. I want that. its a glow, a confidence, and most of all, a wisdom that she has. a revelation of God's infinite love is evident in her face, and in the way she lives her life. that's why she's beautiful.
Bailey grew up in a great family who pushed her in her faith and showed her what beauty was but she said that for girls who dont have that at home, to look in the Word of God,. the holy bible, because God shows us great examples such as Esther and Ruth. She said also pray and ask God for mentors in your life. Bailey is an incredible photographer, big sister, and friend but most of all she is a beautiful women of God. And thats where its at.
I asked her about who her beauty role model in life is and she said her mother
Packard: while my mother is my mentor and the example of beauty that i look up to everyday, misty edwards is another role model of mine. she is one of the main intercessory worship leaders at IHOP in kansas city and she is beautiful. not because of her looks, but because she spends hours before the throne of God and it shows. I want that. its a glow, a confidence, and most of all, a wisdom that she has. a revelation of God's infinite love is evident in her face, and in the way she lives her life. that's why she's beautiful.
Bailey grew up in a great family who pushed her in her faith and showed her what beauty was but she said that for girls who dont have that at home, to look in the Word of God,. the holy bible, because God shows us great examples such as Esther and Ruth. She said also pray and ask God for mentors in your life. Bailey is an incredible photographer, big sister, and friend but most of all she is a beautiful women of God. And thats where its at.
Heres me.
I hope Im not boring you :)