Moved

There are so many times where I'm moved by something specific. Whether it be the encouraging words of a friend, a hug from a family member or a situation in which a friend doesn't have any say. Whatever it is, there are days that I am just moved. Today I was moved to tears on several occasions.

What was it that moved me?
A friend growing up and proposing to his girlfriend soon.
A little brother shining with Jesus' love.
A friend walking with the world.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. 
Deuteronomy 31:6

Praise God for his faithfulness. If it weren't for him, my heart would be so weighed down. Watching the pain that people are walking in is so sad. But so real. And all I can do is wait, and pray. Pray I shall.

Most Important

The most important relationship in your life is you and God.

[I know I may talk about relationship a lot but it's because it is something so near and dear to my heart that I can't help but talk about it. So forgive me, now keep reading]

The most important relationship we can have is with Jesus, our Father, our Savior. But even when that isn't the most important in our mind, he is STILL faithful! It just amazes me how much God seeks us and loves each one of us. I can't help but be grateful for the faithfulness he shows us constantly.

It's the father/child relationship that God has instilled into us as humans. We need that.
"...the basic common denominator inherent in all relationships is man's relationship to God, the father/child relationship...that was lost at the fall."
-Be Transformed, Lesson 4

"For a child of God to know God as Father brings that child into such intimacy with God, producing such worship of God and service for God..."
-Be Transformed, Lesson 4

It is not about MY failings, it is about HIS faithfulness. It is not about MY insecurities, it is about HIS security. It is not about MY faults, it is about HIS perfection. It is not about MY Godliness, it's about HIM. Him. God. My love. My hearts desire.

That's what relationship looks like. God is never absent. He is ALWAYS around. He gives love unselfishly. He eagerly desires to serve us. But more than that, He is our Father. When we look at our relationship with God as a father/child relationship, we are able to grasp and the intimacy we can have with Him. If we look at His attributes alone, it is a sterile, non-emotional relationship. We live by rules and regulations; we live by what we should do out of duty. He wants us to live out our walk with him out of love, devotion, and worship to Him.

Judgement

Sometimes we feel judged, not respected, and put down. Who are you to judge anyone's relationship with God? That is between them and God. Who am I to judge? No one. We do not get that privilege. If we did, we would have to come up with the difference between right and wrong. We'd be taking on the entire world and saying that our view on life is right and everyone else has a wrong view. We would try to take on the role of God. Personally, I don't want that. I get so fed up with the world and people sometimes that I just want to run. Just go and be with God. Not have to work or to do anything. I definitely do not want to be God. But I want to serve Him. To worship Him. To do His will. To seek Him. To know Him. And ya know what, God desires us to know Him. Yeah, it's kind of a big deal.


"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." 
Luke 6:37

"If anyone hears my words, but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it."
John 12:47

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. "
Luke 19:10

How can we not live in grace? Everything around us is trying to pull us down. We are on earth. But this is not our home. Our home is heaven. This time, right now, the present, has given to us as a gift to show those around us His love. We are to live in such a way that is glorifying to our King. But be careful, seek His wisdom. Do not bogged down with the "should's." Do what you know God is asking you to do. Be confident in that freedom He gave us when He sent His son.

My friends, go out into the world and preach the good news. Be a dynamic expression of Jesus. For that is who you were created to be.
 

Defeat

Tears stream fluidly

Hurt, pain, grief, anguish, defeat

Where has the hope gone?

I wish you could see my heart break for you. I wish you understood that you don't need to live in each lie. I pray that one day you'll see your beauty in the ashes. I pray that God will bring you from defeat and give you hope. Because that hope that is from the Lord is abundant and rich. 

Proverbs 23:18

There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. 

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all the joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

I don't say this for you to feel bad, I don't say this for sympathy. I merely want to express to you that you are loved, you are cared for, you are valued, you are wanted, you are beautiful. I want to encourage you, to uplift your spirits. But I know it's not me that is capable of that. For now, I watch, I wait, I pray. I pray fervently for you, my friend. 

Don't accept defeat.

Don't believe the lies.

Don't give in. 

Stand up.

Take courage. 

He is with you. 

He is for you. 

He will never, ever be against you. 

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, be gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31b-32, 37-39

My words don't come close to what I want to communicate to you. 

But I feel so deeply for you. 

My heart aches for your pain. 

I want to take it from you, and take it upon myself. 

Then I could feel like I'm helping. 

For now, I watch, I wait, I pray. 

For the hope that one day, you'll see hope once again. 

I love you.

Aching

My heart aches...

when I see the pain of a friend

when I feel their pain

when there is nothing that I can do for them.

when people don't see how beautiful they are

when they don't understand how God has created them

when they choose to believe the lies

when nothing will change their mind.

when all I see is God moving in them...

and they just don't. 

Looking at each person, seeing their story in a different light

understanding it from my perspective. 

How different is mine from the next person? 

How do people see me? 

My story?

Does their heart ache for me? 

"The scariest thing a woman ever offers is to believe that she is worth pursuing, to open her heart up to pursuit and to continue to open up her heart and offer the beauty she holds inside, all the while fearing it will not be enough. You were intricately made, woven and spun. You are radiant, you shimmer, you shine, you are a treasure of a woman, a gem, and worth it."