Walking with Jesus

So, it has honestly taken me twenty minutes to start this blog. You ask, why? Umm..well for starters, I basically sucked at keeping my blog updated this semester.  I literally hate to admit it too. Personally, I get stuck in my weekly routines and think about writing something up, but then I actually never do it like I initially tell myself. Next, I'll tell myself I'll do it tomorrow. But If I'm being 100% honest, I forget and it never happens. The saddest thing of all is that I started this blog to keep me accountable for reading my bible.  At this rate it just sounds like I'm making excuses for myself, which is absolutely terrible.  I make it ok that hearing the bible at church, CRU, bible studies is enough. But is it really?  I settle with not seeking it more than I should. But why? Not enough time in the day? I'm already too busy? I'd rather spend my time watching Netflix? I'm too lazy? Now, that just sounds awful. But how do I fix this? La...

  HI FRIENDS!! Today has been a GREAT today.  It all happened before noon. God told me something. {Back Story} Recently, I have been obsessed with reading World Race blogs. It is a Christian mission organization that enables people to travel the world evangelizing and servicing others.  I have been intrigued by these blogs and amazed by the opportunities these people have experienced. A few weeks ago, I saw a flyer for a care break trip to Jamaica in a campus building. A few days later a friend of mine was talking about the trip.  I continued to see flyers in various buildings around campus.  I felt like God was telling me something.  I ended up mentioning something to my parents.  They encouraged me to submit an application to just see what would happen.  Knowing they take a small group of people and wondering how many people applied, I had no clue whether or not I would be selected. A week later, I got an e-mail from o...

Hi Guys!!!! It has been a solid couple months since I have written a blog post. It has not been my intention to wait so long, but summer came and went. I have been back at school and finished three weeks of classes.  When people say time flies, it really does flash before my eyes - most days. Junior year fall semester.. Where has the time gone? It is honestly crazy to think that I am more than half way done with college. Classes have been wonderful, work has been marvelous (feels great to be making money), friends have been extraordinary, and my walk with Jesus is through the roof. It is amazing to witness the support I have here at school as being an out of state student. Recently, my grandpa had a couple obstacles with his health.  My friends were there for me through it all making sure I was ok and praying with me and for my family.  I cannot treasure my friends enough through this difficult process. I am so glad God...

Have you ever struggled with seeing perspective or realizing something really cool happened and you looked at in a new way? Well, this past Wednesday a light bulb went off in my head, no doubt.  Here is my story. This summer my job is babysitting for a family three days a week.  Our movie theater in town has a summer special where you can go see an already out of theater movie for $1 either Tuesday or Wednesday at 10:00.  On Wednesday, we took the opportunity to see the movie Max.  This movie is about a service dog named Max who is too traumatized to remain in Afghanistan after his partner Kyle dies in war.  Kyle's family ends up adopting the dog, and Kyle's brother Justin takes responsibility to care for Max.  Throughout the movie Max and Justin learn to get along, and Max looks out for Justin when put in certain situations.  Justin trusts Max that he will be able to get Justin out of trouble.  Their relationship reminds me of how God looks ...

Welcome summer vacation!!!! I am taking a two week online class that started yesterday, but this summer I am continuing to devote time to seeking the Lord more and more.  I have chosen some devotional books to read this summer, and I am just going to blog on what I discover and find important that applies to my life and my walk with God. The first book I have chosen is Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Women's Soul by John & Stasi Eldredge.  This book was recommend by a good friend of mine at school, and I am now finally finding the time to read it.  I am super excited to see what I learn from it. I have been on the go these last couple days visiting family, so this morning I took some time (too much time) to watch hallmark movies.  They are my favorite, but when I watch them I always get in the state of mind that I have to be someone I am not or I need a boyfriend to be happy.  It is a feeling that I need things or someone in my life to feel good ...

Hello Friends! Yes, I am blogging on the last Saturday of the semester.  I can't begin to think that my sophomore year is coming to a close.  This year has been a complete uphill journey.  I have met so many terrific people, got to be with my family for all the holidays, experienced a fabulous trip to Sweden, but more importantly I continued to grow stronger in my relationship with God. It has been a complete blessing to be a part of a bible study (bstud) this year.  My leaders have taught me so much.  I think my favorite lesson was that we are perfectly imperfect, and it is ok to be a confident godly woman no matter where life takes me.  I will miss them like crazy, but I know God has great plans for them as they get ready to graduate. My bstud girls have truly become apart of my family.  I have learned that it is ok to share my personal life with them because that is the only way to grow our friendship.  I know these ladies will have my ba...

Hi guys!!! So, I know it has been awhile since I have last blogged.  It is that point in the semester when everything is supper hectic. I decided after lent that I would continue my blog, but only do it when I had the want or desire to write it.  I don't want it to feel like it is something I drag doing. Anyways..enough about that! 13 days ago I grabbed dinner with a close friend of mine before the CRU weekly meeting.  We began to have a spiritual conversation about our "story" because our last two bible study nights are for giving our life story or most known as our testimony.  While we were talking, we came to the same conclusion.  The conclusion that we feel we don't have an ending to our story or if we even have a story at all.  We feel we are too scared to be vulnerable because we know we may be judged by what we have to say or our story might not be good enough. As time went on, we realized we have a story in our own personal way.  God has ...

1 Peter 4:1-2 says.. Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. Dear God, Through the Easter season we remember the death of Jesus Christ.  I pray we continue to think of you during this holiday season and not just what our world thinks of. Thank you for continuing to share your love for us.  I pray all these things in your awesome name. Worthy Is The Lamb by Hillsong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz5F4ntVKvn

Did you know today is Good Friday? It is the Friday right before Easter Sunday. Good Friday is the day Jesus was crucified on the cross. Romans 5:6-10 says.. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 1 Peter 3:18 says.. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit. Jesus paid it all. God's one and only son Jesus Christ died on the cr...

God is our savior.  He is the reason we are here today. He is the one who created this beautiful world. Our God is three in one.  He created the resurrection.  Jesus Christ is Lord. Do you believe all these things? Matthew 21:22 says.. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Mark 1:15 says.. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news." John 1:12 says.. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God John 14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. God is all things powerful.  We praise the most amazing God that will never fail us.  Things may not always go our way or even according to our plan, but it's God's plan that matters.  It's his plan that we should be living in our day-to-day life. He gave us a purpos...

Do you ever feel you are not good enough? Are you too busy pleasing others? Are you too concerned about your outward appearance than what's inside?  Are you constantly running around and not taking enough time to focus on your relationship with God? I admit I sometimes go through these things.  I wish I didn't think about these ridiculous things, but I'm human and you are human, so it's second nature to think such things. Now, I urge you to listen to the song! (Yes, go ahead and listen to the song ASAP!!!) Don't forget to listen to the lyrics!!! This song reminds us how quickly we can get back on track with God.  He takes our brokenness and closes that door, so our hearts can beat again. 1 Kings 8:61 says.. But your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at that time. 2 Corinthians 4:6 says.. For God, who said, "Let light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the gl...

The lyric "Is this how we're really meant to live" in the song Be One by Natalie Grant ties in with the sermon I heard Sunday morning.  The sermon series right now is I AM.  This past week the topic was I AM The Resurrection and The Life.  Pastor Paul gave us these two things to think about. How you think about death determines how you live your life. Has your understanding of the resurrection changed your life? 1. Faith in the Resurrection changes how we live. (John 11:1-3) Lazarus of Bethany was sick.  His sisters Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their loved one was sick.  The women had faith in Jesus that he would heal their brother. If we have faith, then we should not fear.  There is good in everything even though we may not see it right away. 2. Dependence in the Resurrection changes how we live. (John 11: 4-7) When Jesus heard the news, he told the sisters their brother will not die. We must accept God is always on our side, and...

Happy Monday! Last week was a little rough for me.  I battled a severe migraine, cold, and too much classwork.  I'm glad that week is over, and I'm looking forward to what comes my way this week. While in Sweden, I could feel God working within me.  It was great to see the beauty of his presence somewhere else than my usual surroundings.  I think there is so much for my to share about my trip, but at the same time I don't think I can put my experience into words. God could not have put a better group together to experience such an amazing trip.  Each and every individual on the trip was great to get to know.  These people helped me understand why I want to go into the field of education. There is a reason God pushed me to want to go on this trip.  Not only did I absolutely fall in love with the schools, but also the students I met were terrific.  English is apart of their curriculum, so it was quite easy to communicate with people...

Words cannot express how awesome my week was during spring break.  I had the opportunity to go to Sweden with the college of education through my university.  The trip was a very eye-opening experience.  The first couple days were for site seeing and the rest of the week was for going into different types of Sweden schools. It was a true blessing to see another country's education system.  Not only was this a learning experience, but I also gained new friendships.  It is truly amazing how God works in our lives when we least expect it.  It turned out I actually had a class (intro to environmental problems) with my roommate from the trip.  It is crazy how different things cross our path in our day-to-day life. After this trip, I realize God is on the move in my life.  I believe God pushed me to go on this trip, so I could see the click that I am met to be a teacher.  As a teacher, I will be able to be a blessing to students who will be abl...

God is forever our comfort. Psalm 119:76 says.. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. God is always with us.  His presence lights our world, and we cannot deny his love for us. Dear God, I thank you for loving us with unconditional love.  Thank you for giving us comfort through our good and bad days. Light Up The Sky by The Afters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LQH6UDi15s Unfortunately, you will not be hearing from me for a few days.  I am going on a university-sponsored trip over spring break, but I can't wait to share with you how God works in my heart while I am there after I return.  God Bless!

I am constantly struggling with trust even though I know God is the voice of truth.  It is hard to commit your self to something greater than yourself. John 8:31-32 says.. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 14:6-7 says.. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. We should never fear anything because God is all trusting, but it is the devil that places fear in our hearts. Dear God, I pray your love works in our hearts, so we will confidently trust you everyday of our lives.  Even though we doubt sometimes, we know you are with us 100% of the time.  Thank you for loving us forever and always.  Please guide us as we continue to precede our journeys with you. ...

John 11: 23-27 says.. Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Yes, Lord, "she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." Romans 3:22-26 says.. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his ...

God's light gives us the strength to soar like eagles. Isaiah 40:28-31 says.. Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. God's strength gives us the energy to be strong in everything we do.  His power is everlasting upon our souls. Dear God, Your love rises up within our hearts, which allows us to soar like eagles. Thank you for lifting us up when we fall.  I pray we continue to grow stronger with you everyday.  I pray all these things in Your awesome name.  Amen. Soar by Meredith Andrews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WiAv9Egh...

Are you living in the darkness or the light? 1 John 1:5 says.. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 2: 8-11 says.. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. Dear God, I just pray you lead us through darkness to the light.  You are the light that carries us to live our life for you.  By faith you gives us grace.  Please allow your light to be the brightest in our storms because you are our lighthouse. I pray all these things in Your awesome name.  Am...

So something really cool happened to me this evening.  While, I met a friend of mine for dinner I asked her about her go to Christian song right now.  She mentioned O Come to the Alter.  As soon as we were done eating, we opened our Bibles to do our own devotion. I opened my Bible to 1 John because I finished 2 Peters last time we met. 1 John 1:1-4 says.. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and his appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. These verses gave me a connection to the lyrics of the song. Then, this song was ...

I believe I can say we all go through temptations.  Temptations are things we think about doing, but may not actually do them.  They are things that we know are not good or they can be things God would be disappointed in us about.  Am I right? I have good days, and I also have bad days.  Sometimes it's easy to recognize temptation and other times we cannot see it. James 1:2-8 says.. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is double-minded ma...

Do you have that one place where you go and feel God's presence right away?  Well, that place for me is a place where I am completely surrounded by nature.  I enjoy seeing all the beautiful things God has created.  I also like to be silent, but I listen to the breeze and animals that are nearby. I think nature is a good place to reflect on all the wonderful things God provides us with. Genesis 1:10 says.. God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. Psalm 19:1 says.. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. It is still so amazing to be that God created everything.  It is just so mind blowing to me.  But I cannot deny how awesome it is. I challenge you to think about where you feel God's presence the most. While I was home for winter break from college my parents and I had a movie night.  We watched the movie War Room, and it is a Christian movie...

Happy Monday! God is refining us into diamonds.  He is making our stories perfect through his eyes.  Isn't that awesome? Zechariah 9:16 says.. The Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. It is amazing how much God loves us even though we sin over and over.  We must always remember to forgive our sins.  He is the way and the light of the world. Dear God, I thank you that you see us as perfect diamonds.  I pray you continue to lead us through the dark.  Please be with us as we continue to live our lives for you.  I pray all these things in Your awesome name. Diamonds by Hawk Nelson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf1ARbpB0gA