satans a knock knock knockin'

Wow, one thing I have seriously realized here lately is how much I've been growing and wanting to grow closer and closer with God. Everyday I find myself learning something more, and realizing more. I find myself trying to handle situations the way Jesus would now, trust me that's not easy either. I fail that one constantly. What an incredible God we have. It's also amazed me at how much Satan has been knocking at my door. More than ever I have been overwhelmed, hurt, and just straight up angry. People have attacked me, for absolutely no reason. People have hurt me, for no apparent reason. People have been angry with me, for I don't know why. I've honestly felt very let down. I was thinking to myself and praying "God, I'm growing closer and closer to you but yet I don't feel protected. Why are these things happening to me?" I've realized that it's not God, its Satan. It's Satan trying to tempt me into leaving God, into not trusting him, into not growing anymore. There is nothing more that ticks ole Satan off. Satan doesn't like us Christians, and living a Christian lifestyle isn't easy.. it's actually a harder path to take. We have to deal with Satan, and sin, and rude/mean/hateful/jealous/(you catch my drift) kinda people. We have to deal with temptations. I personally have had to deal with the feeling of just simply being alone... growing in my faith, I have eliminated a lot of people in my life, all for different kinds of reasons. I've eliminated people who "sink my boat" as I like to call it, I've eliminated people who come to me about drama that I don't care about, I've eliminated people who tempt me to go out and drink and do stupid things that college kids do, I've eliminated people who simply just aren't good company, I've eliminated jealous people who want to bring me down (people throw rocks at things that shine) bye bye. With elimination I've realized how importanr it is to have people in your life that help you grow with a Christian lifestyle. I have my mom, a great aunt, and an awesome best friend, but other than that I'm alone. It's been hard, very hard. Deuteronomy 31:6 says " be strong and courageous; don't be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will not leave or forsake you" I've had to rely on that, and trust that God has a bigger and greater plan for my life, regardless of Satan's evil hold on it sometimes and regardless of feeling lonely in these times, he's with me. That's all I need too. Also Isaiah 66:9 says "I will not cause pain and suffering, without allowing something new to be born". This verse has extremely helped me through everything, I may be going through a lot of pain and suffering right now but in the end I truly believe that God is having something "new be born" in... me. I'm being born again, I'm growing and going to become a stronger woman and be a more faithful woman. I'm not a perfect Christan, no one is. I'm impatient in times of need, and I question too much. It's really hard to love EVERYBODY, everybody.... I honestly don't know how our God does it, but being a Christian that's one of my duties.. its hard though. I often want to do things my way, and forget what God is whispering in my ear. I sometimes want to just yell at the person being rude or mean, and give in. But yet I know that's not the way I should handle things. Its hard... simple as that. Its SO hard being a Christian. Kindness can change the world, kindness is a Christian duty. A huge part of my growth that I'm holding onto strongly is that

God doesn't give you people you want, he gives you people you need.

To help you, to hurt you, and to make you the person you're meant to be.

Yeah, so what I've eliminated a lot of people from my life. What did they do for me anyways? Frankly, just bring me down. I have family and  a select group of friends that encourage, uplift me, and help me grow in my faith. Whats better than that? I have an amazing God behind my back to helping me through everything.. He's just showing me more and more everyday who deserves to be apart of my life, who wont bring me down, who will be kind and gentle to me, who will get the same from me. That's all I need too. God have given me the people I need, and I'm thankful for that.

 

I've also realized the importance of....

 

In the happy moments thank God

In the difficult moments seek God

In the quiet times trust God

In every moment thank God

Its extremely hard to seek God in times of need and in difficult times, that's seriously to me one of the hardest tasks of being a Christian. During these times you get more of flee feeling. I'm thinking, God isn't helping me, this is just bringing me down. Why is this happening? These times though are God speaking SOOOO loudly to you, its almost unbearable... .these are the times when he is calling to us more than ever and is wanting his children to be closer to him and pursue him more than ever. It is just so hard though, but I'm learning and even though I'm going through difficult times, I have no doubt that there is light at the end of the tunnel that's blinding!

I'm not doing this blog to write about my perfect life, perfect faith, and perfect everything. I'm writing to grow in my faith, and hopefully help people who may be going through the same things. I'm writing to tell people its not easy, I'm going through Satan's knock at my door constantly and he's knocking right now as I type. I'm not perfect, I never will be. I don't want to be. I may be lost and angry right now in my faith, but I'm have to never loose hope and I'm having to remember to always trust in him.. I can't let Satan have a hand in the door or any body part frankly... I've gotta slam it quick before he brings me down even more. This has been tough, but I'm doing my best to turn to God and trust him. Know that he has greater plans for me than I could every imagine. I've found many verses that have helped me and that I have leaned on throughout these past few months and maybe even longer than that. So I've brought some examples of things that I've had to deal with recently and verses to apply to those kind of situations that I have learned from for future reference

When someone attacks you in any kind of form
Mark 13:13 And you will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.
Luke 6:27-28 But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 6:22 You are blessed when people hate you, when they exclude you, insult you, and slander your name as evil because of the Son of the Man
^that one is my favorite, what a great way to think about when you're excluded or insulted.. God says that is a blessing! Amen to all the haters ;)

staying obedient with the Lord & thus being rewarded
1 King 2:3 and keep your obligation to the Lord your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees. This is written in the law of Moses, so that you will have success in everything you do and wherever you turn
John 12:26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Being cheated by someone you love or just anyone in general
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap
^pretty much the saying "what goes around, come around". We don't have to worry about Justice being served or being upset.. people will reap what they sow every time
Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

Having a lonely day?
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit
Hebrew 13:5 Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you

Self control in situations
Proverbs 25:28 A man who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, kindness goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Proverbs 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man holds it in check.

Going through troubles?
Romans 5:3-4 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.
Psalm 34:19 Many adversities come to the one who is righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all

trusting in him.. through everything
Psalm 56:11 in God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Psalm 125:1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever
Psalm 9:10 Those who know Your name trust in You because You have not abandoned those who seek You, yahweh.

Those are just a select few things that I have had to deal with lately but one things I always keep on my mind through Satan's knocking is

  Rejoice in Hope, be patient in Tribulation, be constant in prayer Romans 12:12

This life on earth isn't easy, and its gonna seem like "Satan's team" prevails and exceeds more than Christians pursing an eternal life. But eternal life is far more rewarding than the short amount of time we spend here on Earth.

 

Dear lord, lead me the rock, help me be patient and trust in your timing, for you are all I need and I give it all to you. Amen

What is love?

What is love... exactly? I can tell you, its what God has for us. Without God, we wouldn't love (1 John 4:19). I'm having a hard time grasping that. I know what I want.. I also feel like God has been calling me to do something Greater or bigger, than the situation I am in. I also feel like many people find themselves in a very lifeless routine when it comes to love. You get stuck and comfortable in someone. Then eventually you stay there long enough to where you get dependent on the routine. You may not be happy, but your comfortable. You're afraid to leave that routine. You may even grow to hate it, but yet you feel like God is calling you out of it. I've been there. I see some women settle for things much less than what they deserve, and I've never realized that I'm probably doing the same. I definitely want that relationship where I have a man that prays with me and for me, and with my children. I've wanted the man that God describes to be the leader and emotional leader of the relationship, men are suppose to set the example. I want a husband that encourages me to become closer with God, rather than sleeps in on mornings when my children and I are on my way to church. There is scripture that says 'do not be unequally yoked'. (2 cor 6:14) Yoked means married, do not be married to someone who is not a believer. Finding myself closer and closer to God, I've realized the importance of that. My best friend Megan really helped me today too, she suggested that I study the bible and find things that God describes to be love and make a list... So I took it upon myself to study and do some research all about verses or scripture in the bible that is specifically linked to love. I figured that it not only would help me, but it would also help young women out there to see what God describes to be a healthy relationship centered around God. Here's what I found:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

Song of Solomon 8:6-7 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.
Ephesians 4:2-3 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Philippians 2:2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind

Psalm 63:3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

John 15:9-17 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

and here's my list of things that I felt like Love should be or have in a Godly relationship:
Love is....                                                          Love is not.....
patient                                                                jealous
kind                                                                    rude
gentle                                                                 arrogant
bears all things                                                   perishable
believes all things                               rejoice in wrongdoing
endures all things                                               irritable
truthful                                                                selfish
strong                                                                  resentful
pure                                                                     greedy
obedient                                                              cheating
abiding
a friendship
praying for the loved and enemies
floods cannot drown it
sacrificial
unceasing
fulfilling
strengthening
joyful
steadfast
fulfilling
understanding
EVERLASTING

so.. I could have went on and on. This is a short list of words that I took from not just the verses above but many others that would've just been overwhelming for you to read.. it would've taken two hours. The ones above are the ones that spoke to me the most and that I could abide in very easily.
So these lists, I've challenged myself and you to read through those and maybe check off words that might describe your relationship. One of the main things that I found was that Jealousy is as evil as the Devil, with jealousy you're not capable of having a relationship. Its like oil being put onto a fire. It can ruin a relationship. Jealousy is not healthy. Now not only have I challenged myself to check off things that my partner may not do, but I've also flipped the mirror around on me and looked at things that I believe I could change to make my relationship better and what a Godly relationship for a man and a woman would look like. Now I would hope that the list on the left would be more what you want, (whoever is reading this). Welp, I know its not much, but that my post about love and what I feel like a Godly relationship should look like and what it should feel.. now its time to us find that :)


xoxoxox,
Shelbs

Miss Teen North Carolina 2012, 3rd runner up!

I haven't shared any pictures from the Chicago national pageant! I can't believe I forgot, ever since I came home though I've been so busy. What an awesome and unforgettable week too. I got to meet so many incredible girls and make some great friendships. When the pageant actually came around at the end of the week I was a nervous wreck, but I knew that God already knew who the winner was and we were all here for a reason. The night they announced top 10, I was called out number 10! I dropped to my knees on the stage and started crying, haha and I'm not a crier. I was so extremely excited and blessed and grateful to just have been chosen in the top 10 numbers. I then competed again but added the on stage interview. Such a fun experience! Then I ended up top 5 and got 3rd runner up which I am so proud to have gotten. I was actually just pleased to get top 10, then to get 3rd was such an incredible feeling! Here's some pictures from the week, hope you enjoy :)

 

xoxox, Shelbs

 

Haywood County Horse Show

Hyder Mountain Horse Farm has put on an annual Horse Show locally where I am from for a few years now. I was extremely blessed to help with registration and handing out ribbon, and also being in control of opening and closing the gate. Which is actually a very important job at horse shows. I also was able to participate in a few classes and win some ribbons myself. Here are some pictures from the show, just wanted to share!

xoxox, Shelby

 

Hugging a Vampire

Romans 12:18

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone

We all have life sucking people in our lives, that we all have to deal with. Not only out in the real world, but we also have the virtual vampires.
We deal with people in our present, and people in our past.
So I made a list of real life life-suckers that get on my last nerve, you can do the same..

1 people who always make with drawls but never deposits
2 people who are constantly moody, and rude
3 people who do not follow through on commitments
4 people who think whatever their dealing with is the most important thing in the world, a TRUE EMERGENCY
5 people who talk, and never listen.... the kind of person where you don't even wanna ask how their doing because it'll last about 45 min about some ache or pain
6 people who don't want to put much effort into something,
7 people who brag about accomplishments
8 people who constantly complain about situations, when actually they have it pretty great

.... vampires

but the number one life sucking, blood sucking vampire I have to deal with... is me.
Loving the people who suck the life out of you, starts by realizing how much you suck too... ouch, but its true. I suck the life out of people, I'm just as needy as all the lists of people I made. I suck too. We all suck. It starts with a self awareness, that I actually suck the life out of myself.

Romans 7:24

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

Romans 5: 8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Timothy 1:15

Here is a trustworthy saying that deservees full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

Matthew 7:1-5
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."

When it comes to judging others and helping others, you gotta make sure you put down the magnifying glass and put up the mirror. They say you can't see a vampire in the mirror, that's why its so difficult to let god shine the light on our hearts.

1 The first step to loving someone who sucks the life out of you, is saying "god without you I am truly nothing, without you I fall".
When you realize that it not only fills you with the humility to help others and the compassion to see others through the eyes that god sees them through. it gives you a security in yourself to know that you're not a superhero, you're just a fellow sinner in need of the grace of God. Then Jesus can really begin to work through life.
2 Before you can really reach out to anyone else, you have to define your own property lines.
If you want to put up a fence, you can't just guess where the fence should be... you can't just put it up, your neighbors have a yard too. People do not see the proper property lines of what is and what is not their responsibility under God. Christians should not be using barriers to keep people out, Christians should use boundaries or else the love of God wont be protected in our hearts and our lives and then we wont have anything to give. There is a tension here because we are taught to be like Jesus, and Jesus served everybody and loved everybody. but here's the thing you can give unconditional love without giving unrestricted access to everybody. it is not unbiblical or unloving to restrict a relationship, or have boundaries. its not unloving or unkind. Boundaries are BIBLICAL.

Pslam 1:1 NIV

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

--> sounds like boundaries to me, this man who wants to be blessed has decided there are some people I can't be around and retain my relationship with God is saying there are some people that I can't give access to my heart or dreams or they will deter my destiny. . Its a boundary, its biblical.

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.

Being in college, I have had to establish many boundaries. Not only do I have my most important relationship with God, but I also have a boyfriend that I am serious about. People always call me to go the club or drink, but I can't keep answering those calls anymore if every time you call if you invite me to do something that is outside of the will of God.. Its a boundary. If I allow people to bring me down to where they are, into their dysfunction,  because i didn't have boundaries i couldn't have set an example for him, then that wouldn't be true love. That wouldn't be representing Christ, but because I put up a boundary up and said i love you, i will pray for you, i will be nice to you, and believe good things about you. but I can't come down there, I can't come into that drowning, thrashing life style many college people have created.

Matthew 18:15-17

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. (that means you don't need to text everybody, when one person offends you... you don't need an unlimited data plan to tell everyone, you go to them!) If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

--> that's a  boundary, Paul says that even stronger in Titus

Titus 3:10-11

Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.  You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

 

God commanded for you to love everyone, is not permission to mismanage the investment that he has put inside of you. and sometimes because your a limited resource, and your not god, you mismanage what god has put inside of you..Because you spend time helping people who need help, you can't help people who need help, you can only help people that want help. Say a new sex offender came to a church, would it be right for the church to love him? yes. Would it be right for him to be in the kids ministry? No. because we have to protect things that are valuable. Loving people equally, does not mean having equal access. Here's my point, you have to clearly define the perimeters of access because the boundaries that you set are determined on the nature of the relationship. SO there are certain relationship in your life that are permanent, you don't get to walk away because it gets a little tough. Jesus said what god join together, let not man separate. but you can contradict that and say what god has separated, let not man separate. You gotta have boundaries, you gotta learn to cut your grass. There are exterior boundaries. If someone is physically abusing you, you don't just call on Jesus, you call on the police! There's a manipulation that you're suppose to love them, but some people you can love better long distance. Jesus needs to hug that person for you, and it's for a purpose so that you can have a boundary in your life. If you can't put the boundary in the interior, you have to put one in the exterior.

Galations 6:1-5

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves (boundary), or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not (back to first point), they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions (your property line). Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, For each one should carry their own load.

Now wait, in verse 2 Paul said to carry each others burdens, you told me in verse 5 that I need to carry my own load. but the thing is it's both, because there are certain things you can do for people, and other things you could never do for people end wisdom is knowing the difference in the two.
I can help someone bury their burden but I can't carry the load for them.
cause that's all that will do is make you depend on me, rather than depending on God. That will make you weak, instead of strong.

 

 "Its not he load that breaks you down, its how you carry it."

3 you've got to stay full of God's presence yourself or you wont have anything to give to everybody else

Say I'm invited to a party or event or dinner and I don't know exactly what their going to be serving, I do something crucial before I leave. I eat enough food before so I wont be starving when I get there, in case they don't make enough, or they can't cook. So i don't want to run into a situation where they don't have enough to feed myself or I don't like what they cook, but that's alright because I already ate. So I'm straight for whatever I encounter when I get that event that's uncertain. that's what I try to do every day with my relationship with god. that way when I encounter these events that may drain me or deplete me, that way if they don't feed me any love, encouragement, support... that's cool, because I already ate before I got here.



people who are truly able to show the love of God, are people who believe the best about others, but need the least from them.
 

 

xoxoxo, shelby! 

 

Inspiration from Pastor Steven Furtick from Elevation Church, in his series How to Hug a Vampire 

 

 

 



hatas gonna hate

Well recently a crazy situation happened to me on Facebook. The ohhhh so dreaded Facebook, I definitely would not have one if it wasn't for the fact that I have to keep up with my Miss Teen North Carolina International 2012 page. Facebook is trash, sorry to say it to all you "obsessed, look every second, hope I have a notification" Facebook people out there.....I'm just not a fan, sorry.

So I'll kind of explain the story, it's no biggie. A guy messaged me asking, ya know, the ole "how you doing, I haven't talked to you in forever"
Then, I'm on the other side of the computer saying to myself... "ummmm who is this" (happens to me all the time, I'm AWFUL with names and faces and remembering frankly anything..)
Well and then my boyfriend gets on and types back "Because I have a bf, bye"
So, this guy didn't take it very well, actually he got pretty mad. Not sure why? Whatever I don't really care because first it wasn't me and secondly.. I didn't even know him.
Well long story short he ended up messaging me twice. The second message was quite longer than the first and I actually didn't even get to the second message with reading because it was a bunch of bologna and just plum rude when I didn't even know the guy. Needless to say, he actually said a lot of hurtful things just in the one message that I read, that's when I did my "you don't sink my boat" deal (cough cough, read the blog below) and just deleted them before I read any further and he is definitely not my "face book friend" anymore either. BLOCKED!

.... here's another story

At KFC one day I was waiting in line, and a lady was ordering her meal. She was about my height and just slightly larger than me. She said to the cashier I would like a bucket of chicken and one side, (I don't frankly remember the side, its okay though). The cashier then said, "is that for here or to go ma'am?" and she said, "for here"...
The KFC worker then gave her a very rude and questionable look and then said, "are you serious, you're going to eat all of that here?"
(This is my favorite part)
The lady put her hands on her hips, and shook her head while she said
"YOU DONT KNOW MY LIFE"
Wow, I was so ecstatic. I gave that woman a high five and told her "good for you" and she got her food and sat down to enjoy it.
I couldn't believe how rude the KFC worker was to her, and it's true he didn't know her life or had any right to judge her for just eating some good ole KFC.


Both of these things happened within the past week and it really got me to thinking how absolutely plum rude and judgmental people are on this earth. It amazes me. I've grown to realize that it is SO much better to have just a few real friends, than having a ton of fake ones. After that guy messaged me I was actually upset, I'm not sure why because I shouldn't have at all. I realized though no matter what, for everyone "be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can only be forgiven, not forgotten". I guess that is kind of what happened with me, I kept thinking to myself "what right does he have to judge me and say rude things to me when frankly I don't even remember the guy". It took my wonderful boyfriend and some words of encouragement and laughter to help me get over it.


So I came up with a conclusion to both these situations and just said to myself "hatas gonna hate" It is very true too. People only say or do mean things to someone because they are jealous.. It eats at people to see someone more successful than them. They will do anything to put people down, just to do it. Stupid, right? I did some research and looked up some verses for when you or someone you know may receive some "hate".. here's what I came up with

No matter what hardships the world may throw at you, you have in Jesus everything you need to preserve. Despair is a deep pit and sometimes you totter around its edges, almost falling in. I've definitely been to those edges. To keep from falling though I've realized you have to change your focus from your circumstances to Jesus. As a human we have a natural tendency to keep thinking about a difficult situation- trying to figure it out kinda. Though you may be hard pressed on every side, you shouldn't ever be crushed by your difficulties facing you and fall inn. Because guess what? we are not alone in our battles. Jesus will never ever abandon us. "I am the shepherd and guardian of your soul- the part that is indestructible". Also although he may bring grief, he will show compassion. No matter what trials you are enduring, you can count on his love and his compassion- neither of which will NEVER fail..
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair' persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed 2 Corinthians 4:8
A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones Proverbs 17:22 AMP (aka, KFC guy and message guy.. their bones are dry ha ha)
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great in his unfailing love Lamentations 3:32
Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far out weights them all 2 Corinthians 4:17
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah. Psalm 62:8

I pray and hope that for whoever is reading this you never let someone downgrade or lower you. Always surround yourself with people who will uplift you and make you happy. Never let someone be rude or judgmental to you, no one has a right to do that buttttt neither do you. You're not in someone else's shoes and their not in yours and it will always be like that, no matter what. I have a challenge for whoever is reading this, next time you come up to a situation or someone hatin' on you just simply say

YOU DON'T KNOW MY LIFE

and ignore it
:)

Redeeming Love

So I literally just finished a book and said to myself "I have to blog about this". It is called Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

Its based in California's gold country, in 1850. Angel absolutely expected nothing from men, she was sold into prostitution as a child and survived by that hate. She eventually meets a man named Michael Hosea. Michael is a man who seeks his Father's heart in everything and obeys God's calling to marry Angel. Despite all her expectations of men, her frozen heart begins to thaw. She gets overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear, thinking Michael deserves someone much more suited for a man like him. So Angel runs. It's all about her how her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does..

I would hate to spoil the whole thing, so all I can really say is if you're a woman and you're reading my blog right now... I expect you to go to Barnes & Noble TOMORROW and get this book.

If you have read it here is some things that I took from it:
It really opened my eyes a kind of love that any woman or good man deserves. Firstly though, you have to love the lord and be right with him. That's the main point of the story. Angel began to truly love Michael, she worshiped the ground he walked. Michael could never understand why she had left him, but God spoke to him and told him that she had worshiped Michael, not him and she needed to figure that out. Michael remained pure, and faithful for three years waiting for Angel to some day come back to him. When she did, he was there with open arms welcoming her back into his life. Angel had given her life to the Lord, and was now able to put her past behind and look forward to the future. Michael was a wonderful man. He resembled God in so many ways. He always forgave Angel, he was always patient and loved her with an endless love until "death do them part". That's exactly what I want.
We loved because he loved us first. 1 John 4:9

Another amazing part of the book was about a girl named Susanna. She simply used a shoe box and cut a hole in the top. She would then write down her prayers and put them in the box, signifying that she was giving her problem to the Lord and letting him handle and answer her prayers when the right time was. It made me want to do the same thing. She would date each prayer and when it was answered date it again, and see how God's timing had planned out. I thought it would be such a great way to give all your burdens, worries, thanks, and prayers to God. I loved the idea, so I'm going to start one here soon.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! Psalm 139: 15-17
God has timing for everything, you have to let him handle the things that are suppose to happen. Its not on you're time. Trust in him and he will lead you the right way, and answer you prayers when the time is right in his books. Always TRUST.