Goals for 2016

    Ah, it's that time of year. Everyone is posting what their New Year's resolutions are, really determined to actually see them through until January 2017. People everywhere are resolved to finally shed off that extra ten pounds this year, and really crack down on that healthy eating. All of it lasts for a solid month or two before we're all back to our old ways of life, deciding that maybe we can lose the extra weight next year. I decided to make some goals for this next year and really pray that I can make them permanent changes to my life. Growing closer to God is obviously the aim in everything I do, and it's something I should resolve to do each day of my life. Here are some specific things I would like to make a point to work on through this next year.

1. Be nicer to people.

I can be super rude sometimes, I'm ashamed to admit. Sometimes my first judgements of people can be harsh and cruel. I examine things from my own perspective and often forget to "walk in another person's shoes." I definitely want to work on being kinder to people, both the way I think of them and the way I talk to or about them. The Bible has a lot to say about kindness and I know it's a big step in showing God's love to other people.

2. Go out of my way to help others.

Sometimes it's so easy to walk away when someone could use my help. If there's some trash on the floor clear on the other side of the hallway, it's my tendency to just keep walking. Someone down the hall has an armload and I sometimes I reluctantly hold the door open when I should be happy to do it. I want to work on going out of my way to do little things that make a difference eternally. I want to be LOOKING for ways to help. People don't have to notice every little thing we do, but we should be going out of our way to do good for other people. God notices it all. Look at things through the scope of eternity. God blesses busy hands, whether that's emptying a full trash can at work or helping an elderly lady put away her groceries. I pray that God will give me the heart and desire to look for more ways to lend a helping hand.

3. Avoid the "bad mood" mindset.

I don't know about the rest of you, but at the end of a long work day, sometimes I get hit with a really bad mood. When that happens, I am super negative and I extend very little grace to people. Quite obviously, this is not a godly attitude nor is it one that encourages others. I pray that I can be more cognizant of how my moods are affecting my testimony. When we're in a bad mood, we could say one small thing to someone that could altar the way they think of us from then on. Honestly, we really don't have any excuse for a bad mood. Nowhere in the Bible does it excuse sin when we've had a rough day. Those are times when we can really show the light of Jesus by getting through it with kindness and smile. I know that's something that I definitely want to work on in this next year.

4. Be a better listener.

I like to talk. Anyone who knows me knows that. I could probably talk faster than an auctioneer on double speed. To my shame, there are times when I get so caught up with my talking that I forget to listen. I know that being a good listener is a vital part of being a godly friend. A person must have ears sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and it's hard to hear that soft whisper when my own voice goes right over it. To be teachable one must have ears to hear. One of my favourite verses is 1 Thess. 4:11-12, and it talks about "studying to be quiet." Listening has never been a skill I've been talented in, but it's something I know I most definitely want to work on.

5. Don't take any moment for granted.

None of us know when our last breath will be. There was someone from my church who died last year in his early 30's of a heart attack. Nobody saw it coming and we were all completely shocked. We are not immortal nor are we untouchable. Each day, each hour, each minute we have is a gift from God that needs to be used to the fullest for His honor and glory. Our lives belong to God, we can't just allow Him to have His way when we're in a convenient location. It doesn't matter if we're at church, work, Walmart or on family vacation in Florida, we need to cherish every moment and do as much for God as we can. We are given life to further the gospel, not to further our own fame, fashion or success. It's easy to get caught up in the love and luster of life, but it's all about the cross and what Jesus did to make us free. I want to make every moment I have count for eternal value because I am not guaranteed my next breath.

     I pray that throughout this year I will be able to really work on these things and grow closer to the Lord. I'm so excited to see all that He's going to do in my life and in the lives of those around me as we learn and grow more and more. I hope all of you reading this have a very happy new year!

Stay excellent!

What I Learned in 2015

     It's crazy to think this year is already at it's end. In some ways, I feel like it flew by. In other ways, it drug on slower than a turtle running a marathon. I finished spring semester of freshman year, spent a month home for summer and then went back to school to work, and now fall semester of sophomore year is at it's close. Of course lots of crazy things have happened in between! Needless to say, God has taught me so many things in the last 12 months. Some lessons I definitely didn't want to learn, but they were so important in my life. So here are just a few things that I've been able to learn in the year 2015!

1. I definitely don't know it all.

This is not easy to admit, that's for sure. It's fun to think I know everything, that I know what's going on all of the time. But as God has shown me time and time again, I don't know hardly anything, and that's a good thing. Trusting Him becomes a lot easier when that's the only choice you have. A lot of times I would be frustrated because I didn't understand how God would work things out, but He is all knowing and all powerful. It's not my job to have everything figured out because the person who created me already does.

2. "Have you prayed about it as much as you talk about it?"

I've heard this quote a lot of times, but it still holds really true. Sometimes when problems arose, the first thing I wanted to do was text my best friend or rant to my roommate. But the more different situations happened in my life, the more I realized how much I NEEDED God. Yes,  talking to council and godly friends is really important, but we can see so many times in the Psalms, David first cried out to God. There were times when going to God was the only option, but that was the best option. I started to go to Him when little things happened or when there were things I didn't understand, and it was amazing how much God was able to work in those situations. He wants us to go to Him right away, and cast our burdens on Him. A lot of times, I would pray and talk to God about it right away, and it was easy to just let it go after that. I pray that I will be able to continue working on my prayer life in the next year because it's amazing how much power prayer has.

3. Being alone doesn't mean you have to be lonely.

Sometimes I had to chill by myself in my dorm room, or I would be surrounded by people but so solitude in my thoughts. Just because God has brought you to a place where it's just you and Him one on one, it does not mean that you're exiled into perpetual loneliness. God brought many people to a place of solitude to have them learn - Moses, David, and Job for example. It's not a curse to be single or alone for awhile, it's actually  a blessing. God can do a lot with a person when they allow Him to have their full attention and full heart. I'm thankful for the times I was alone because I got to accomplish a lot, not only in doing things like school or piano, but because those are times when I can talk to my best friend and get to know Him through His word.

4. Sometimes nobody will understand you, and it's okay.

We all go through our own personal struggles and battles. God allows us to go through things because He knows we can conquer them with Him on our side. We are going to have times when people won't understand what we're going through or what we're thinking. We have to go through seasons, we have to be chiseled to grow. Someone I really admire told me a few months ago that I will look back on this season of life and be thankful for all it taught me, but I have to stand strong through it. I really kept that in mind. Hardship and struggles don't last for forever. Heartbreak will cease and trials will end. It's the unchanging word of God and the unchanging character of God that you can rely on. Friends and family aren't always going to understand exactly what you're going through, but we have a creator and best friend who knows our hearts better than we do.

5. Be thankful.

I heard a sermon many months back, and I wrote in my Bible, "Don't forget to thank God for the small, everyday miracles." I started writing something I was thankful for everyday in a little journal. It really opened my eyes to all that God does for me every day. Throughout the day I would keep my eyes open for things I could write in the journal. Whether it's a hug from an adorable preschooler, an encouraging text from a best friend, or the reflection of a beautiful sunset in the pond, there are always things to be thankful for. Praising God is a big part of our Christian walk, and I know that even now I don't do that enough. Making a point to write what I'm thankful for every day showed me on a very small level how much God does for me and how good He is. In the next year that's definitely something I want to keep doing because it made a huge difference in my life.

Of course God has taught me so much more, but those were a few of the big ones. I'm so grateful that He allowed me to live another year to learn and do more for Him. I'm excited about all the things that He has done in my life and in the lives of those around me, and I can't wait to see how much more He will do in the next year. My year verse for 2015 was 1 Cor. 2:9, "As it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither enter into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for those that love Him." Staying faithful and giving my full heart to the Lord is something I have to work on on a daily basis, but I know that there is no other way to live than to live for Him.Thanks for everyone who have stayed faithful to reading my posts. I have such a passion for writing and I pray that God will be able to use it someday in a big way, but you have been a blessing in my life by supporting something I genuinely love to do. I hope you all have a VERY HAPPY NEW YEARS!

Stay excellent!

Merry Christmas!

     Happy Christmas Eve all! I am so amazed that it's already December 24th...this year flew by. I don't know about you, but I definitely think it's the most wonderful time of the year. I listen to Christmas music year round with absolutely NO SHAME. Well, this is just a cliche reminder to remember why we celebrate Christmas. We all love the presents, fudge, family time, and carols, but it's so important to remember that we celebrate because Jesus was born to die. He came humbly as a little, vulnerable baby when He deserved to break through the clouds with light and anthem. He showed us the true heart of a servant. He had one reason to come and that was to show US the reason to live - for Him. We have daily access to the GREATEST gift of all, salvation. I don't know about you but that's definitely better than anything we can wrap and put under the tree. 

Wishing all you friends and family have a merry & bright holiday. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT

Stay excellent!

Enjoy these goofy photos of the lovely ladies in my family ;)

Complete in God

"The only one who can truly satisfy the human heart is the one who made it - Jesus."
     I was reading a book the other day and it was talking about dating, but it brought up a really good point. It said that any person who does not understand that they are complete in Jesus is susceptible to idolatry. That really got me thinking. A lot of people look for a significant other to complete them, but we can only compliment them, not complete them. When a person finds something or someone to complete them that isn't the Lord God, they are placing that person or thing into a spot that only God Himself should be in. Therefore, if we're honest with ourselves, we have made idols.
    The Bible says so many times that we are to love the Lord with all our might, soul and strength. He should consume us, everything we do should be to honor Him and maximize the glory of the cross. Whether we're at Walmart buying groceries or talking to a preschool parent we see everyday, our thoughts, intents and actions should all be pleasing the Lord. When we allow other things to be our source of satisfaction or completion, we are consciously left desperate for more, whether we know it or not. It's a thirst that can't be satisfied by anything the world has to offer.
     My favourite chapter of the Bible, Psalm 139, talks a lot about how God sees us. He knows every word on our tongue, He is everywhere that we are no matter where we go, He compasses our path, and He thinks more wonderful thoughts of us than there are grains of sand. He desperately loves us and has even before we were brought into this world. Why are we allowing other things to complete us when we have a creator who deserves our full attention?
     Psalm 62:1-2 says, Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence, I shall not be greatly moved. One source describes this sort of rock as a permanent place of refuge, a symbol of faith. We must be permanently finding refuge and satisfaction in the Lord, He is truly our only source of completion.
     It's so important that we look to God to complete and satisfy us - don't allow people or things to become idols by taking that place of Him. He deserves our complete attention and adoration, and it's our privilege to get to spend our lives fully and deeply satisfied by the One who created us.

Stay excellent!

Extend Grace

"The only way to be better rather than bitter is to extend the same grace to others that God extended to us through Jesus Christ." 

      It's so easy in our human pride to get carried away with our own selfishness! I decided to write about this topic because it's something that I have found extremely difficult, but so life changing. Extending grace to others is definitely one of the hardest things to do when we're upset, but really, it's the very least we can do. We can be such vile people sometimes, seriously so so cruel and mean. Even though we might wear a mask of kindness, often there are times that our hearts act out in not-so-lovely ways. The Bible calls our heart desperately wicked for a reason! 

     Imagine if Jesus didn't extend us grace - none of us would be on our way to Heaven. Grace is the free, unmerited favor. Do we deserve His salvation? No way. Do we deserve His forgiveness? Absolutely not. But does He still freely offer it to us? Praise God the answer is yes. So why is it so easy for us to get all angry and bitter toward people when they do things that bother us? I can speak for myself when I say that it's ridiculous how often I let myself get all rude and upset when someone says something or does something that rubs me the wrong way. If Jesus kept a written record of all my wrongs, the list would start at the ground and reach higher than the Empire State Building. We should be taking on the same mind as Christ in all we say and do, therefore we really and truly should be extending grace to our friends, families, coworkers..everyone, as much as we can. 

     Now I get that a lot of this is easier said than done, but God tells us in His word that we are to take on the mind of Christ. If it was impossible, He wouldn't have asked us to do it. Here are a few things that have helped me as I'm learning the lesson of extending grace. 

1. Stop complaining to other people. 

     When someone upsets us, isn't it so easy to run to whoever may listen and complain to them? We want people to relate to us and justify our nasty attitude. If you need to go to someone about the situation, go to a godly friend who won't just agree with your bad thinking. Earlier today I was upset about something pretty dumb and I brought it up to someone I was working with, and she reminded me that I shouldn't let the silly situation spoil my day. That was something I was so thankful for because it was just what I needed to have that reality check - that we live each day for the glory of God so why should little things bother us in the first place? I needed to remember that I needed to extend grace to the person who wasn't extending grace to me. When people do things that irritate you, don't run to the closest listening ear to justify your bad mood. Try praying that God would help you understand all sides of the situation and that you would be able to let go things that aren't worth holding on to. Sometimes it's good to talk to someone about it, but make sure it's a person who will have godly advice.

2. Remember that you're not put on a pedestal.

     Sometimes we want our own way because we think we are better than anyone/everyone else. Although this isn't something we do on purpose, we often put ourselves on pedestals that we have no right to be standing on. Maybe someone cut in front of you in line...okay, yeah, it's annoying, but I know I've done it to people before. Usually when people bother us, they're doing it totally unintentionally. We often do to others the exact thing that we're annoyed about when other people do it to us. Ok, so there's no good way to word that sentence, but basically if someone cuts in front of me in line, I need to extend grace because I know I have accidentally cut in line before. Nobody put us on a higher level or made us any more important than anyone else walking around in this universe. Keep that in mind.

3. After all, having a bad attitude is a sin. 

     When we're not extending grace, we're usually sulking around with a bad attitude. We might lash out at someone, give someone a dirty look, or go and gossip about them. If this is the case, we are NOT representing attitudes that are anything close to Christ-like, and we are in the wrong. It's very easy to explain away our sin because of what other people are doing, but that's a behavior that wont help us grow as Christians. We have to have the heart that understands when our attitude is bad, and have the willingness to ask God to extend grace towards us and forgive us for it.

     These are just a few things that have helped me the last few weeks as I've been working on this. Obviously it isn't easy, and it's something that takes time and effort. Do unto others as you would have them do to you is such a commonly used phrase but so often we flippantly disregard it's true importance. EXTEND GRACE as freely and often as GOD extends it towards YOU. :)

Stay excellent!