Choose Joy

In the past 3 months, I have graduated college, ended my softball journey, and started a new career. It is a new and exciting time in life! That being said, I felt like it was the perfect time to dive into the world of blogging and writing again.

With any new phase in life their comes new opportunities, new challenges, and new adventures. I can honestly say that the past few months have been a whirl wind. Exciting, scary, challenging, fun, and confusing all at the same time. After having a busy college schedule being a student athlete, the reality of becoming an accountant and sitting at a desk all day wasn’t too appealing. I felt caged in and cut off from the outside world. Learning to find joy in my new role and create a balance between work, relaxation, fitness, social activities etc. was quite difficult at first. I’m sure many of you can relate to the crazy balance of things that make up our life.

If you are like me and going through a transition time in your life or just striving towards a goal, I can promise you that you aren't alone. Transition times are hard- for everyone. At this moment, you may feel like you are never going to reach your goal or get used to that new pace of life, but don't let yourself believe that lie. I can tell you from experience that it does get better. God has shown me how to truly embrace my role as an accountant and how to find joy throughout every moment of life. I know He will do the same for you!

Wherever you are right now God has you perfectly there. Choose to trust Him and to find joy even when it may be difficult. He knows exactly what's going on, He has a plan, and He is in control. Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Be encouraged today because even when we can’t see it God is making a way!

The Gift of Love

As summer wedding season comes to a close, I enjoy thinking back to all the beautiful weddings that I have been able to be apart of this summer. Pure, young love is truly a beautiful thing in the midst of a broken world. I may be a romantic at heart, but there is something truly special about two people committing to love each other for the rest of their lives.

Although beautiful, it’s easy for me to get caught up in the idea of the dress, the venue, the flowers etc.  As important as those elements are, they are just two small pieces to an ever-larger puzzle. I have to remind myself that true love isn’t shown in the number of bridesmaids you have or how expensive your dress is. It is shown by the way you share God’s love with others. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13: 34-35)

Love can come in many ways, but it isn’t easy to find. If you’re like me, don’t get lost in the beauty of the wedding. Remember the love behind it. A love adorned under God flowing directly from Him. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!” (Ephesians 2:4-5)  We are able to love others because God loved us first. We are saved by grace today and every day! Join me in thanking Him for the gift of love and the beauty that comes with it!

Dream Big

Dreams. We all have them. Some may be big and some may be small, but nevertheless they all mean something special to us. And no, I’m not talking about dreams you have at night when you are sleeping. I am talking about something you have always wanted to do but never thought it would be possible. Disney calls dreams “a wish your heart makes”. Some call dreams “a bucket list”. Others may call them a life goal. But no matter what you call dreams; they all come from a deep-rooted passion that burns inside our soul to fulfill a certain purpose.  This past weekend I got to hear Chris Hodges the pastor of Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL. He started a new series called “Dream Again” which inspired this post. (If this topic interests you, I highly recommend watching it online!)

Hodges discussed the importance of dreams in our spiritual lives and made it clear that dreams have the ability to be the language of God. I have always had dreams, but I never thought about writing them down or giving them a second thought because I immediately wrote them off as never being possible. The sermon today made me realize that God is a God with no limits who can do the impossible. “Jesus replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God." (Luke 18:27) His power knows no end. “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27) Who am I to put a limit on what God can do with my life and with my dreams?

If you get anything out of this, I want to encourage you to dream. Even if it seems silly and never attainable, let God use your dream to show you all the things He can do. Let Him speak to you through your dreams. Trust Him, Seek Him, and Dream Big. You never know what could happen ;)