Well it's finally here. The year I've been waiting for throughout my high school career. 2011. GRADUATION YEAR. Don't get me wrong, I've loved high school, but I am SO excited about graduating and starting college (War Eagle).
As I sit and ponder about what has happened this past year and what all is to come in the next one...spring break mission trip to South Africa, graduation, going to Auburn....I am beginning to see that every year brings a new chance for change. I know everyone has probably realized this WAY before me, but I'm not talking about a little change, I'm talking about LIFE-CHANGING differences that happen through decisions you make from year to year. I was also thinking about New Year's Resolutions and realized that so many times, as we all know, we make goals and don't follow through with them. But, if you made a goal or resolution with sincerety, you have the power to impact not only your own life but the lives of others around you. And I sincerely believe that the only way to follow through with a sincere goal is through a goal that will please and honor God.
My challenge to you for this new year is to think about the things you wish you'd done differently this past year and the hopes you have for this upcoming year and make some goals that you strongly believe God (and only God) will help you achieve.
Have a wonderful and blessed 2011!
* "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." -Proverbs 3:5-6*
Grace and Peace.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
thankful.
I'll make this short and sweet so you can ponder on it yourself...
Have you ever started thinking of the things you're thankful for and then realize you can't even put a number on the amount of blessings you have? Today was one of those days for me. I can't even begin to tell you how much God has blessed me. As I look back on this year, I am just in awe of how God was able to piece together so many things in my life that I never could have figured out. Of course, that's because He's God and I'm not, but sometimes (a lot of times) I need to be reminded of that. I continually have to remind myself that I cannot do anything on my own and that God is always there for me, no matter what. Where's the proof, you may ask? Try counting your blessings...then ask that question again.
*..."Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Eph. 5:19-20*
Grace and Peace.
Have you ever started thinking of the things you're thankful for and then realize you can't even put a number on the amount of blessings you have? Today was one of those days for me. I can't even begin to tell you how much God has blessed me. As I look back on this year, I am just in awe of how God was able to piece together so many things in my life that I never could have figured out. Of course, that's because He's God and I'm not, but sometimes (a lot of times) I need to be reminded of that. I continually have to remind myself that I cannot do anything on my own and that God is always there for me, no matter what. Where's the proof, you may ask? Try counting your blessings...then ask that question again.
*..."Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Eph. 5:19-20*
Grace and Peace.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
I AM Loved...the deeper meaning
Well, here goes. First blog post.
I tend to ramble when I write so I apologize in advance to anyone who gets easily confused in a whirlwind of words.
I decided to write my first blog post about my blog title, just to give a little explanation.
This summer, I decided to read a book called "i am not but i know I AM" by Louie Giglio (which is one of my favorite books I have ever read, by the way, and I highly recommend it) and although several things stood out to me in that book, this phrase stayed with me the most. "I Am Loved." When I first read it, I thought, "okay, he's just trying to give me a little self-confidence and remind me that people love me no matter how crazy I can be" but, no. There's a deeper meaning in that phrase. You see, a long time ago, God appeared to a man named Moses through a burning bush. God proceeded to tell Moses that He had big plans for him. HUGE, in fact. Despite Moses' stammering problem, God wanted Moses to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to free the Israelites. Moses thought, "There's no way, I'm not capable of that!" But the Lord's simple, yet strong response was, "I will be with you." Moses then asked God, "What if the people ask me who sent me? What should I tell them?" And the Lord responded, "I Am Who I Am." This incredible name for God can be used to show that not only is there NO OTHER like Him, but also that "I Am" is always with us. In the phrase "I Am Loved," I learned that not only am I loved by my friends, family, and the creator of the universe, but God HIMSELF is LOVE and He loves me enough to pursue me even when I flee from Him, to love me even when I think I know better than He does. I actually have a keychain that hangs from the mirror in my car that reminds me daily that "I Am" loves me. Life is a journey, filled with its ups and downs, but I'm learning that I can always turn to my Father.
I am already feeling more at peace for writing like this, which I haven't done in quite some time, and certainly not publicly, so I'm looking forward to sharing more from time to time, hopefully to remind you of your blessings as much as I need remind myself of mine.
Grace and Peace.
I tend to ramble when I write so I apologize in advance to anyone who gets easily confused in a whirlwind of words.
I decided to write my first blog post about my blog title, just to give a little explanation.
This summer, I decided to read a book called "i am not but i know I AM" by Louie Giglio (which is one of my favorite books I have ever read, by the way, and I highly recommend it) and although several things stood out to me in that book, this phrase stayed with me the most. "I Am Loved." When I first read it, I thought, "okay, he's just trying to give me a little self-confidence and remind me that people love me no matter how crazy I can be" but, no. There's a deeper meaning in that phrase. You see, a long time ago, God appeared to a man named Moses through a burning bush. God proceeded to tell Moses that He had big plans for him. HUGE, in fact. Despite Moses' stammering problem, God wanted Moses to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to free the Israelites. Moses thought, "There's no way, I'm not capable of that!" But the Lord's simple, yet strong response was, "I will be with you." Moses then asked God, "What if the people ask me who sent me? What should I tell them?" And the Lord responded, "I Am Who I Am." This incredible name for God can be used to show that not only is there NO OTHER like Him, but also that "I Am" is always with us. In the phrase "I Am Loved," I learned that not only am I loved by my friends, family, and the creator of the universe, but God HIMSELF is LOVE and He loves me enough to pursue me even when I flee from Him, to love me even when I think I know better than He does. I actually have a keychain that hangs from the mirror in my car that reminds me daily that "I Am" loves me. Life is a journey, filled with its ups and downs, but I'm learning that I can always turn to my Father.
I am already feeling more at peace for writing like this, which I haven't done in quite some time, and certainly not publicly, so I'm looking forward to sharing more from time to time, hopefully to remind you of your blessings as much as I need remind myself of mine.
Grace and Peace.
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