Decisions...

I have a big decision to make....
one that could change my life....
I know God is in control, and He will show me what to do.
So much stress, such a big decision, such little time....

Father help me and show me the path you have for me. You know best.

Proverbs 4:23

Such a simple verse, but so powerful and true. 

It's Time

It's time I made a decision.
It's time I start to get serious.
It's time I commit my life 100%.
It's time I give God my everything.

Sometimes God tells us to do things we don't want to do. But we have to learn to follow Him, because in the end, He will reward us. It's part of His plan. He knows exactly what he wants us to do. For us to see the plan He has for us, we need to give Him our all. Commit our lives fully and not slack. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus.

Heaven invites you to set the lens of your heart on the heart of the Savior and make him the object of your life.

"May be enlightened the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you." ~Ephesians 1:18

Short and Sweet and to the Point

We as Christians should forgive people...correct? We might say we do, but do we really? Our Father wants us to forgive each other. We are suppose to live a Godly life, so therefore, forgive....

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” ~Colossians 3:13-14

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” ~Matthew 6:14-15

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” ~Ephesians 4:32

Prayer

So I wrote a blog last week about prayer. Right when I submitted it, it disappeared. Let me be the first to tell you, I was so discouraged. I literally started crying (I may just be a little dramatic) But I couldn’t help it. Here I spent this time writing an awesome blog about prayer and then it was gone. So instead of getting all mad, I did exactly what my post was talking about and went straight into prayer. The more I thought about it, maybe there is a reason my post disappeared. Maybe God knew what He was doing and knew that the second time I wrote it, that it might just be that much better. I don’t know. All I know is that it happened for a reason and whatever that reason is, I know it was for the best. 

How many times have you said, “Ill pray for you” to someone? And let’s be honest, how many times do you actually pray for them? You say you will pray for them usually because they are going through troubles and they really need the prayer. I don’t know how many times in my past I’ve said, “Ill pray for you” but then never do. Most of the time, it just slips my mind completely. What if something really important slipped my mind and that one prayer that I forgot to pray, could have made a difference? I know I am not the only one that has done this before. My fellow Christians need prayer and when I tell them I will pray for them, I want to make sure I do it. I’ve decided that every time someone asks for prayer or I tell them I will pray for them, Im going to start putting it in my phone. Every night before I go to bed, I am going to check my phone and pray over the requests I have. I won’t let my brothers and sisters in Christ down. This is just one area of prayer that I think everyone needs to work on...

Why is prayer so important? Why is it that sometimes we can go days without talking to God? Would you go days without talking to your boyfriend or girlfriend? No, of course you wouldn’t. So why do we do it with God? The most important person in our life. We should be ashamed of ourselves. The one that cares so much for us, that He sent His son to die for us. How does God feel when we put Him off and ignore Him? We should be talking to our God as much as possible. Recently I’ve found myself talking to Him for no reason, and let me tell you....sometimes that's the best. I found that the more time I spend in prayer, the happier I am. I love knowing that wherever I am, I can always just start praying to God. In my dorm, in my car, walking to class, in Mcconn....anywhere. I don’t think some people realize how important prayer actually is....how are we suppose to have a strong, faithful relationship with God if we don’t pray and communicate with him.....we can’t....

“Those persons who know the deep peace of God, the unfathomable peace that passeth all understanding, are always men and women of much prayer.”~ R. A. Torrey

James 5:16

 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Colossians 1:3 

“We always thank GOd, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you”

1 Corinthians 14:15

 “So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind...” 

1 Thessalonians 5:17

 “Pray continually.”

Do Not Conform to the World

I used to wonder why God never helped me out with anything in my life. Everyone always told me, "God has a plan for you." But at the time, God wasn't showing that plan to me and I was lost and alone. Now I know why, God wasn't showing me the plan or will he had for me because I wasn't living the way He wanted me to. I wasn't following Him. 

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I was living the life the world wants me to live. I was doing exactly what God had said not to do, "Do NOT conform to the pattern of this world".

One way I was conforming to the world was listening to secular music ALL the time. I never listened to Christian music. I have deleted probably over 200 secular songs on my iPod and Im still in the process of deleting more. I never realized the effect it has on your mind and attitude. All I listen to now is Christian music and my mind is so much more cleaner and Im always happy for the most part. The world makes secular music so evil and filthy. The world also makes Christian music out to be boring, well I disagree with that completely. Listening to this Christian music was one way I renewed my mind. 

....so many people ask why God doesn't help them or why they feel like God isn't present in their lives. I was there, I know what it feels like. Give your whole life over to God completely. Don't hold back. Don't live for the world. Live strictly for God and give Him your everything. 

Yesterday was my 20th Birthday...

And let me just say, it was amazing! Grandma came to school and went to chapel with me and also took me out to eat! I love when she comes here! I've been getting a lot closer to her recently. I think it's because I finally share a spiritual bond with her. God has brought me closer to her. She doesn't realize how important she is to me and how much I need her in my life.

My birthday day didn't end there though....Kevin decided to plan a little birthday date and he did a very good job! I was completely lost the whole night because he wanted to surprise me with everything. We started off going to Olive Garden ( one of my fav restaurants) and it was absolutely amazing! Then I asked him what we were doing next and he said he couldn't tell me because "I would get mad". Well this kind of scared me. Next thing I know he is pulling into a bowling alley. And he was right, I was mad! If you know me at all, I HAVE to have my bowling ball and shoes otherwise I can't bowl. So I started freaking out. When he got out of the car he opened the trunk, and there was my bowling bag with my shoes and ball! Little trickster ;)
I opened my bag and there was a box in it....in the box was a beautiful bracelet! I can't believe that after dinner, and bowling, he also got me jewelry! He is so sweet!
Oh and we also went to Ju Ju Berries and ate some delicious frozen yogurt! :)

Birthday = Awesome!
By the way, I CANNOT believe Im 20 and no longer a teenager...it's weird!