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!

The Seasons of Life

I'm almost finished with my 5th semester of college and the time continues to fly. It can't possibly be close to Thanksgiving. Where has the time gone? I apologize to my readers for the lack of blogs recently. Juggling school, softball, and extracurricular activities has left little time for writing. 

One thing, God has continued to share with me this fall is that He is so faithful. ("But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." - Thessalonians 3:3) Seriously y'all, He continually amazes me. 

Before coming to Union 3 years ago, I declared my major as accounting. After changing my major 5 times, frantically meeting with the Vocatio Center, enduring a month long internship, and taking a multitude of different classes… my major is now officially accounting again. Going into my final years of college, not knowing when I would graduate, when my classes would be, or even if I could get into the classes that I would need. I was definitely #stressed. But the one thing that's for sure, God has been so faithful. My classes lined up, I love what I am studying, I can graduate on time, and I have made plans to attend grad school. It still amazes me how everything worked out. I cannot thank Him enough. His mighty hand has been placing me exactly where I need to be.

My freshman year I wasn't ready to commit to God's plan and accept that I was growing up. It’s taken me two years of college to realize I'm about to dive head first into the real world, but with God’s love and grace I'm now ready for what the future holds.

Just as the seasons must change, life must change. New roots must take place and new life must grow. If a season of your life is changing, don't run from it like I did. God is faithful and He will be faithful through it all. Trust Him. (He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. – Psalm 1:3)

Ignite Your Fire

Well, I'm back at Union University for my junior year and I'm excited to see what God has in store. Looking back at the summer, it was definitely one for the books. I'm thankful for all that I learned and the opportunities God provided me.

One of my favorite things to do this past summer was to go to our family farm and build a campfire. There is something about sitting around a campfire and looking at the stars that calms me like nothing else. Every time we built a fire, the cutest little frogs came out of nowhere and sat along the rocks.  They would sit just close enough to the fire to feel the heat, but never actually jumped in the fire or touched it. It fascinates me how they all came out of nowhere as soon as the fire was built in order to bask in the heat.

I couldn’t help but see an interesting analogy between the frogs, the fire, and a relationship with the Lord.

Sometimes I feel just like the frogs. I talk to God long enough to know that he’s there and feel his presence, but I never really ignite my fire for God. “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” (Matthew 15:8-9) I don’t know about you, but I don't want to be a lukewarm Christian. Now is not the time for me or you to be halfhearted in our faith. Let’s ignite like a burning piece of wood! Let’s set the Kingdom on fire! GOD IS NOT DEAD.

That being said, I leave you with a question that I have been frequently asking myself: Are you like the frogs sitting just close enough to the fire to feel the heat or are you a piece of firewood burning bright for all to see?

“…This is what the Lord God says: I am about to ignite a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you.  The blazing flame will not be extinguished, and every face from the south to the north will be scorched by it.” (Ezekiel 20:47b)

For tips on how to keep your faith on fire for God, check out the links below:

http://www.charismamag.com/life/women/18697-6-ways-to-keep-the-fire-of-god-burning-in-your-life

http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/how-to-ignite-a-fire-in-your-soul-11608346.html

7 Tips for Maintaining Meaningful Friendships

In the midst of the high-tech world things are constantly changing and close friendships are hard to keep. I have 357 followers on Instagram and over 500 Facebook friends, but I can only think of a few friends that I would really want to call in a time of need.

If you’re like me, then their's only a few people that you would really consider your “close” friends. With people moving, getting married, and growing up; friendships aren’t easy to start or to maintain.  I’ve come up with a collection of things that I have learned over the years. Hopefully, these tips will help you create lasting friendships as well! “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:  If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

1.      Make an effort. Nothing can replace seeing people in person. Go to the wedding, go to the party or shower, enjoy the movie, make the date for lunch, and stop by someone’s apartment. You will be thankful you took the time to do it when it’s over. Friendships are good for you!
2.      Stay true to yourself. In college and even in the workforce, everyone is trying to fit in and conform to those around them. Dare to be different. It is impossible to have a real relationship if you are pretending to be something that you aren’t. I guarantee people will love you just the way you are.
3.      Don’t expect too much. People are busy. They have their own lives with a busy schedule that has little room for additions. Don’t feel rejected if you ask someone to hangout and it doesn’t fit his or her schedule.
4.      Be vulnerable. Nobody wants to sit around and talk to a brick wall. If you want to have meaningful relationships, being vulnerable is key. Open your heart. Open your mind. Express yourself.
5.      Let go of the past. Whether you like it or not, some of your friends will break your heart. They will make decisions you don’t agree with and friendships may fall apart, but don’t let the outcome of one friendship change your attitude on all friendships. Let go of the past and put yourself out there. In order to have good friends, you have to weed out the bad ones.
6.      Admit your mistakes. If something is your fault, fess up! Be mature enough to admit your faults and take responsibility. Ask forgiveness when it is needed. Others will respect you and love you through your faults when you are brave enough to admit them.
7.      Love like God loves. God loved us enough to send His one and only son to die on the cross for us. That’s a love that can’t be put into words. Love others the way He loves you and He will guide your friendships. 

You Are Beautiful

This week I was scrolling through my twitter feed and saw a picture of what I saw as a beautiful model in a cute swimsuit. When I looked at the caption it said, “Looking Good: Plus-Size Supermodel Robyn Lawley Models Her Own Swimwear”. For those of you that haven’t seen it or don’t know about it, the picture is below.

 



If you’re like me then you might be thinking “WHAT? This girl isn’t plus-size?” But sadly enough in the modern world she is deemed “of a size larger than the normal range”.  I did some digging and discovered that Robyn Lawley used to be a “regular” size model, but she chose her health and eating as she pleases over modeling in the mainstream world. You go girl! I can’t help but view her as an inspiration to many people struggling to see beauty in their size.

If you’re reading this, I ask you to please take care of your body. Don’t let the modern, anorexic models that define our culture be your inspiration. Stay healthy, fit, and happy. Love your body the way God loves it. You were created in the image of God, and God knew what He is doing when He made you! God sees you as a masterpiece; and when you look in the mirror, He wants you to "know that full well." Do not let anyone tell you that you aren’t beautiful.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14)