2.23.2015

Do Something


I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down
How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”


Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did, I created you”


If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something


I’m so tired of talking
About how we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”
Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire
I wanna be the one who stands up and says,
“I’m gonna do something”
.....
We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill (shine shine, shine shine)
But we’re never gonna change the world
By standing still
No we won’t stand still
....

  
    I just spent this past weekend volunteering at one of my favorite places, the animal shelter's adoption center. It was an exciting weekend filled with hours of walking, playing, and helping adopt out some of the sweetest dogs I've ever met. To those who don't know me, I am a huge dog lover. If I could, I would spend every day of the week volunteering at the shelter. I love to make a difference for the animals in need and to protect and help them during their temporary home in the shelter. It is a calling that God has placed on my heart to do and a passion that has started a growing flame in my life.
 
   The words of Matthew West's song, "Do Something", are so convicting and meaningful. It has reminded me of the importance of stepping out in faith and love to those around me. There is so much pain, so much hurt, so much sin in this world. Yet, it's so easy to sit back and place the blame on God for all the wrong in the world! God's desire isn't for us to be broken, hurt, or consumed in sin. Yet He helps and uses us despite our condition. His original purpose for every one of us was to live a life of holiness with Him forever, but the inevitable consequence of Adam and Eve's sin has placed a curse on the rest of mankind. Through His great mercy and grace, He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the debt for our sins, and in the future, evil will be defeated once and for all as God completely transforms the world into what He originally had planned for every one of us. But in the meantime, He doesn't sit back and just watch us as we suffer. He is moving. He is with us. Most of all, He wants to use us to do something.

   He created you to make a difference. Is there a growing passion that God has laid upon your heart? He wants us to use what He has given us to answer His callings for our lives. Sometimes we can't see it, but He is doing something. He is moving. He is using His people to make an impact for His Kingdom. He is calling us to use our God-given gifts and passions to serve in the community for His glory and the healing and help of His creations. He wants us to make a difference, but it starts with a heart and mind that is open and willing to be used.

   It may be easier to leave the job to someone else. But why do that when God wants to use you to impact lives? We are the light of the world. We are a city on a hill. We are here to bring glory to the name of Christ! How can we bring glory to God in standing still? We must shine His light, proclaim His Name, and answer His callings!

Via Pinterest
   Making a difference doesn't always mean mission work. God wants to use you right where you are, with the passions and talents He has blessed you with, to bring glory to His name. That might mean being kind to the girl without friends or letting someone else go first in line at the grocery store. It just might mean a simple smile or a wave. It could mean using talents, such as singing or writing, to change lives.

    Even further, it might involve taking a step out into the community and serving those you have a passion for, whether feeding the homeless, helping out the sick, caring for the elderly, or taking care of His creatures at the animal shelter. 

     This life was meant to be lived to the fullest, to be lived with and for Jesus. It's time to bring glory to Him in everything we do and shine His light in every circumstance. It's time to change the world.

Don't wait any longer. It's time to do something.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

2.19.2015

Top Music Recommendations

 I am a huge music fan. I love music that inspires, that encourages my heart and my soul to live life to the fullest, to live life with love, righteousness, and a growing faith in Jesus. My music choices are constantly changing, but here are my current favorites (in no particular order!)! I encourage you to check some of them out!



 Forever-On-Repeat Songs:

1. "Day One"/Matthew West
2. "Drops in the Ocean"/Hawk Nelson
3. "Light It Up"/Building 429
4. "This is Living"/Hillsong Young & Free
5. "Take This City"/Everfound





Image via Pinterest


 Top Albums:

1. Jeremy Camp: I Will Follow
2. For King & Country: Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.
3. Blanca: Who I Am
4. Dara Maclean: Wanted
5. Building 429: We Won't Be Shaken







                                                                                   
Dara Maclean; Image via Pinterest
      

Love these individual artists!

1. Dara Maclean
2. Francesca Battistelli
3. Moriah Peters
4. Blanca Callahan
5. Mandisa
6. Kari Jobe
7. Jamie Grace
8. Jeremy Camp
9. Colton Dixon
10. Matthew West






For King & Country; Image via Pinterest

Inspirational Bands:

1. Anthem Lights
2. For King & Country
3. Hillsong Young & Free
4. MercyMe
5. Tenth Avenue North
6. Building 429
7. Hawk Nelson
8. Royal Tailor
9. Hillsong United
10. Everfound






2.14.2015

A Different Kind of Love

Via Pinterest

You are loved.

Really, you are loved more than you can imagine.
  The God who put the stars in the sky, who created the birds of the air and every creature on the ground, the God who knew Your name before the universe even began, loves you. 

   He doesn't just love you with a human kind of love. His love is so much greater, so much bigger, so much different. He loves you with a love that is perfect, a love that is sacrificial, a love that is never-failing. He loves you so much that He sent His holy Son, His One and Only Son, Jesus, to die for your sins. Jesus is completely holy, fully God but fully man. He never did wrong.


    Yet His love for you is so strong. He desired reconciliation with the Father for all of us, redemption and new life in Him. He bled and died a horrible death on the cross in our place. Oh, how undeserving He was to die on that cross! Yet, He died.


Really think about it.
Somebody died for you. Jesus died for you.

   The story isn't over. Not only did He die, but He rose from the grave! No power, no love, NOTHING can stop the God of the impossible! We are given new life through Jesus, because He truly is who He says He is!


   His love is a different kind of love. A love that is strong enough to save you, to change you, and to make you truly complete and satisfied. Nothing in this world will satisfy. His love is the only love that will satisfy.


    With that being said, it doesn't matter what your past is or how many sins you have committed. Jesus didn't die just for a select amount of people that meet a number of standards. Everyone is sinful. He died for you. Nothing can separate you from His love.


    This Valentine's Day, no matter what your relationship status is, remember that the greatest love that exists not only in this world, but out of this world, is the love of Jesus Christ. No love from any human is as great as the love of our God.


    And if you're single and wishing you had that special someone, then fix your eyes on Jesus. When you fix your eyes on the One who already loves you, the One who calls you by name, you live life with purpose. He is all we need, no matter what the magazines tell us or what the rest of the world believes. When we live life for Him, we will be truly satisfied. And if He provides that special someone, which He most likely will, in the midst of living for Him, then accept His gift! But in the end, remember that no matter what happens, life is temporary. Jesus is all we need. His love is all we need.


You truly are loved. Don't forget it!

2.08.2015

Designer Plans

Via Pinterest
  Last night, I was talking to a friend about God's plan for our lives. That conversation has been dwelling in my mind, a conversation that has enabled me to truly think about the power, the love, and the amazing plans God has for each and every one of us.

  God's plan is so exquisite, so thoughtfully designed by a perfect Creator who knows us better than we know ourselves. We look at simple, everyday events and don't even ponder the possible events God will place in our lives because of it. He really does work for the good of those who love Him.

  As for my friendship with Kara, it's funny how, looking back, I can see the beauty of God's designer plans for my life. One event led to another. Meeting my friend, Megan, in third grade turned into a virtual world craze. Fast forward 4 years, I met my twin friends at the YMCA. A virtual world craze turned into me asking my friends what websites they play, and I soon dove into the wonders of the CEF Ministries and Wonderzone.com, which God used to change my life and to truly come to know Him. It was on that site that I joined a tween/teen Bible club, where I met my friend. Although we live miles and miles apart, my family and I have been able to take a vacation with her and her family twice. It's funny how God and His plans work. He is so, so good.

   Since then, times have changed so much, but through it all, I have witnessed the surpassing power of God and His love in every situation I have faced. I have met amazing people and have experienced amazing things. I'm so excited to see what God has in store for the rest of my life!

   On another note, what would happen if we looked at the events of every day as a part of a beautiful plan designed by an Almighty Creator? That maybe things aren't turning out as planned because God has a will for our lives, a plan that is so much better than we could ever imagine?

   Whatever you are going through, let this be a reminder that God is good, He's on the throne, and He truly does care about you. His plans for your life are out of this world. Trust in Him, and He will take you places you could never imagine.

Trust me, it's been quite an experience!

2.02.2015

It's a Heart Problem: Do Your Choices Pass the Phil. 4:8 Test?

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Via Pinterest
     Thoughts are the breath of life, the power behind words, and the force behind every action. When we think happy thoughts, we have happy days. When we let sadness reign, we let depressed thoughts stay. Beneath everything we do, our mind is the powerhouse. Whatever we let consume our mind will take control of our thoughts, dictating our words, actions, and even our beliefs.  May every thought we think strengthen our faith, not lessen it! We must work to take control of our thoughts and use them for the glory of God.

    As Christians, we are set apart, chosen by the grace of God and destined to share His love to the world. In order to fulfill His calling over our lives, we must avoid the ways of the world and conform to the standards of God's Word. When we truly live a life that is pleasing to God, a life that does not live to please the world but to please God, the Holy Spirit will transform our thoughts and renew our minds and hearts. It starts with a simple question:

Who are we living for?

   When we live for Jesus, our thoughts will take after God's ways. When we live to please the world, the sinfulness of its ways will be reflected in our minds. Joy arises when life is lived in its true purpose: the glory of Jesus.

   Are our thoughts true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy? Our thoughts start with our hearts, hearts that are dependent on what we allow inside its closed doors. First, it begins with whether our hearts are focused on Jesus or whether they're focused on the world. Once we get our hearts right with God, allowing His grace to sweep over us and transforming us by the power of His Spirit, giving us new life, it is our responsibility to stay strong for Him and conform to His ways, rather than the world's. What are we letting into our hearts? Our hearts are like a keepsake, special and reserved for Jesus.

 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

    God commands us in His Word to guard our hearts. We must protect our hearts, guard it, and lock every single one of its doors. If a stranger comes, don't open the door! Only let the ways of God, the One who formed us in our mother's womb and who knew our name before He created the universe, consume our hearts. Everything we do in life will result from the condition of our hearts. When Jesus is Lord of our lives, our hearts are His, no longer stuck in sin, imitating the world. It is a heart that has been made new in the sight of God, a heart cleansed by the blood shed by Jesus as He died a horrible death on the cross for our sins. We should not partake in worldly activities any longer, unless they truly won't hinder our relationship with God!


    Are our choices, what we're allowing ourselves to see and hear, reflective of the Philippians 4:8 test? What we surround ourselves with will impact every part of our lives. When we get caught up in the ways of the world, we begin to be trapped in temptation, leading to sin, which will then affect our hearts, then our thoughts, and finally, our words and actions. Before listening to music, watching a movie, reading a book, surfing the Web, or any other activity, we must ensure that everything we do passes the Philippians 4:8 test. Is this song pure? Is it true (and we know that the only Truth is the truth of God's Word)? Is it praiseworthy? Most of all, does it lead us closer to God?  Do movies like 50 Shades of Grey contain ideas that are excellent, honorable, pure, and praiseworthy? What we let into our hearts will determine the way we live our lives. When our hearts are focused on Jesus, everything we do should reflect our faith and our desire to live to know Him and become more like Him.

    That doesn't mean we can't watch any movies unless it's Noah or Son of God. It just means we have to monitor our choices and take responsibility for our actions. It might mean eliminating every popular movie a teenager today would watch. It might mean taking a break from pop radio, music that defines love and romance through the lies of the world, and rather placing our time into positive music that encourages and leads us closer to God, whether it's For King & Country, Francesca Battistelli, or MercyMe. However, we each have our own personal convictions from the Holy Spirit, so what is right for one person might not be for another. Rely on the promptings of the Spirit, not what other people, even Christians, say it is okay or not okay to do.

    In the end, life is about Jesus. What are you letting into your heart? Don't let sin crawl back into the chambers of your heart. Your thoughts will be filled with joy when you allow yourself to partake in activities that bring joy and encourage. Do your choices, and therefore thoughts, pass the Philippians 4:8 test?