Top 5 all time favorite youtube videos (continued)

Number 2: 

Everyone has their favorite youtube cat video. Here’s mine:

Number 1: (drumroll please…)

Stretches for the Holy:

Top 5 all time favorite youtube videos

Number 5: 

I may have watched this video 50 bazillion times when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 came out:

Number 4:

This video doesn’t have many views, but for some reason, I find any good Star Wars parody vids HILARIOUS:

Number 3: 

What would a list of youtube videos be without a cute baby video? Here’s my personal fav:

Top two will be up soon!

All the Single Ladies

This subject has been near and dear to my heart for a long time.

Especially in Southern culture, women are put under a tremendous amount of stress and pressure regarding their dating life and when they get married, settle down, and have children. Single ladies- this isn’t how it’s supposed to be!

In the past, women got married at a far younger age. The transition from child to adult woman happened almost literally overnight. Fathers would watch over their daughters until they were given to their husbands, who then became their protectors. However, in today’s society, women are perfectly capable of leaving their father’s homes and taking care of themselves before settling down with the husbands. In fact, this gives them a chance to grow and truly learn the woman that God’s called them to be!

It breaks my heart to see women feel unwanted, unloved, and unworthy all because they didn’t get married by a certain age!

Ladies, you are a daughter of Christ. That means you are a PRINCESS in His eyes! Don’t ever give into the lie that you’re not good enough.

“Don’t wish you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God’s place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life“

- 1 Corinthians 7:17 (MSG, emphasis added)

Don’t let me fool you into thinking I don’t believe the lie myself… I do sometimes. Also, I’m not saying that women who got married at a younger age are wrong. I’m just PASSIONATE about this subject because I know one too many women who would rather put their identities in whether or not they are dating and/or on their way to marriage than put them in CHRIST!

Ladies, you’re beautiful. Don’t forfeit your position as a daughter of the King to run away from the stress and pressures put on you by others opinions. HIS opinion is the only one that matters.

3 Reasons Why God is After Our Todays, Not Our Tomorrows

I believe this to be one of the culminating themes of my life and my walk:

Life is made up of Todays, Not Tomorrows

Often in my life, I find myself wanting to procrastinate and put things aside. I had a hard time keeping a steady quiet time, or I couldn’t seem to find the time to volunteer at my church. One day, in January of 2009, God revealed something to me as I was wrestling through my purpose and what my plans were going to be after I graduated. (At this point in time, I was a Junior at Anderson University). In fact, that something was the backbone of why I started this blog in the first place.

I felt God tell me He was sick of my tomorrows, and instead wanted my todays.

This simple sentence gave my life purpose, gave me hope, and gave me passion. It was crucial to my growth in Christ during a tumultuous period in my life.

Here are 3 reasons why I believe God is after our todays, not our tomorrows:

1. God’s never promised us a tomorrow

• James 4:14 tells us that in God’s eyes, we are nothing but a mist that appears for a while and vanishes. Even so, most of us act as if we have all the time in the world to get things done or make an impact for God.

2. God never said it would be easy

• James 1:2-3 tells us that we should be joyful in trials. God hasn’t called us to a life of ease, He’s called us to the life He wants for us to have. He even sent his son Jesus to a cross. However, He has said He will be with us every step of the way.

3. God ALWAYS says He’s equipped us

• If we’re in Christ, our number 1 priority is to bring Him glory. He has given each of us gifts to use to carry out his will. God wants us to use the gifts he’s given us today, not tomorrow. Romans 12:4-8 speaks to this.

Proverbs 6:6-11

⁶ Go to the ant, O sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise.
⁷ Without having any chief,
officer, or ruler,
⁸she prepares her bread in summer
and gathers her food in harvest.
⁹ How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
¹¹ and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.

Why I’m revisiting this blog…

Well, it’s been almost 2 1/2 years since I’ve posted on this blog. During that time I’ve been through some spiritual peaks and valleys. I’ve taken up things and cast things aside. Through it all, I feel as if I’ve grown in faith and wisdom. God has drawn me closer to him and I believe I can do significant things for Him in this place.

Mostly, I’m praying this will be a place where I can post the struggles and triumphs in my walk, in the hopes that I can look back on it one day and see where I’ve come from. I’ve enjoyed reading some of the more “interesting” posts from a few years ago. Its amazing to look at where I was then and where He’s brought me now. It brings me so much joy to see how He was impacting my life then.

To God be the glory! I’m excited to be back.

What’s the reason for that?

Sometimes I sit and wonder why I do the things I do.

Matthew 6:1

Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

 

So this brings me back to the purposes I carry out my daily life. I know I reference this book a lot, but in the book I read by John Eldridge, Walking with God, there is a section entitled, “Motives”. Eldridge makes the arguement that “Everything we do has motive behind it.”

We’re all born with the desire to please ourselves.

I wonder what would happen if we all really understood the concept that every day our own selfish motives consume our thoughts, and then took that relevation and gave it to God. How much different would our lives be if we stopped trying to show off in front of others. I know I am convicted of this sometimes… Why did I just wait to write out my tithe check during the service and around my friends… Couldn’t I just give online? Why did I just talk about volunteering on Sunday… Am I trying to brag? Granted, these things are all good- giving through tithes and serving others. But am I doing it for the right reasons?

Matthew 6: 17-18

¹⁷But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Notes on Matt. 7: 7-12

“7Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

I recently went back home to visit my mother and sisters. My small yorkie lives with them, and one of my favorite things about seeing my family is getting to see her. What blows my mind is how she seems to love me, even when I haven’t seen her, talked to her, or loved on her for months. She always puts me in a great mood after I see her. On the drive home that night, I started thinking. When was the last time I’ve talked to God, seen Him work in my life, or told Him how much I appreciate what He’s given me?

Lord, forgive me for not talking to you on a daily basis.

Your love is so great. Your power is so amazing.

Because Christ is in me I am able to ask, seek, and knock.

Thank you.

Joy

Have you ever met someone who was just completely happy most the time? Have you ever met someone who always had something nice to say, or could find the good in anyone and anything? Have you ever met anyone who truly had joy?

In the book I’m reading, Walking with God, by John Eldridge, he explains that his biggest battle in life is the battle “against his joy.” 

God wants us to be joyful in life. I believe that’s one of the reason’s he’s created us. In homegroup over the summer we went through all of the fruits of the spirit from Galatians 5:22-23. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Joy is a fruit of the spirit. 

Our joy can be taken from us by stress, sin, or anger, but take a little time out of your day today to experience the joy that God wants to offer you.  Having joy will bring you one step closer to become whole and holy, and therefore, one step closer to Him.

My purpose, my prayer…

Paul says in Colossians 2:2

“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and unified in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

• God is calling us to encourage others in the Faith. We are the body, and we are called to lift one another up because we are unified with the message of the Gospel. 
• Because our feet are planted in Christ, we do not waver. We are called to build each other up on this foundation of Christ. When we do, we both will receive “wisdom and knowledge” that comes from being more like Him.
• When was the last time I said something that encouraged someone? Am I consistently striving to be more like Christ? Do I see His creation the way He does? 

God, I am thirsty for You. Fill me up and allow me to be closer to You so I am able to show others your love and mercy that you freely give to me daily, even when I don’t deserve it. Teach me to see as you see.

Which comes first?

So, earlier this week, Seth Godin added this post about which comes first- the product or the marketing? 

Today, on Church Marketing Sucks Website, they added this post disagreeing with Godin’s opinion that the product must be made first before marketing can happen.

In my opinion, the product and the marketing needs to be working together. The product won’t be heard if there is no marketing, and the marketing doesn’t work without a product. 

In the church, the message and the people need to work together. It needs to be consistent, unified, and delivered in a way that reaches people.