Afternoon Devotion

My favorite thing in the world is when you just randomly open up the Bible and read what you first see. Whenever I do this, God always directs me to what He wants me to hear right at that moment...

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemny.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..." Matthew 5:43-44

Role Model(?)

So this morning, I wake up to a text from a younger friend of mine. It talks about how much she looks up to me and was thanking me for being a friend and a role model in her life. Now the text made my morning, my whole day actually, because I love this girl with my whole heart. But it got me thinking, I didn't even realize I was being a role model to this girl....sure, we were friends, but a role model?? That's huge.
So how many people are you modeling yourself too? Sometimes we are making an impact on someone's life without even realizing it. Check yourself. Are you living a life that others would want to copy? That Jesus would be proud of?

Thanks KL <3

REMEMBER

Javonte Clanton: A son, grandson, brother, friend, team-mate. Javonte passed away last March 18 on the way back home to Ohio after a loss to Augusta State. Javonte was an amazing student, friend, and person. I was blessed to know him personally, and he had a great impact in my life. I miss him greatly but I know that God has a plan for everyone and I am proud of what all he did while he was here.
Monday, Jan 25th the Pacer's play Augusta State for the first time since 'Te's death. We are all wearing cardinal shirts with his name and number in the back. I am excited for a great game, but more excited that it will be in memory of him.

Love and miss you Javonte. 22 forever <3

Just My Week...

God works in such amazing ways, but unfortunately a lot of times we are going about life to fast to notice the things He is doing in our lives. We sit waiting for some huge miracle, when a lot of times He is calling us in small ways. And then, when He does perform something huge, we are too caught up in ourselves to notice it.

So the past few weeks of my life have been seriously life-changing. I have prayed for God to take toxic out of my life; basically anything that I was focusing on, instead of focusing on Him. Turns out, that was a lot. People, things, ideas, He took it all. God doesn't want us spending our time on silly things, when we could be spending it telling others about Him or praising Him.

Well when God takes something bad out of your life, He always replaces it with something better. So I sat for days, weeks, and months waiting on that something good. Then He told me that it was not my time, it was HIS. You see everything that means something to us, means nothing to Him. And a lot of times, everything that means something to Him, means so little to us. Why is this?? Why is He not first and foremost in our lives? Because I have definitely learned that when He is not first, He will fight to be first. He is the only one that deserves us, yet we do not deserve Him. He wants us, desires us, yet we do not desire Him (like we should).

All of this has been going on in the past 7 days of my life. All these thoughts and realizations and prayers have opened up my eyes like nothing before. When God calls us, He does whatever He needs to get our attention, and He most certainly got mine! And would you believe it, when I prayed and waited patiently on His answer, He gave it to me. BODLY He has been answering my questions. Not in my time, but His. Because while we are on this earth we are not living for ourselves (shocker, I know!) but we are living for Him! He placed us here to spread His word. Spread His salvation. Spread His love.

So when we go through hard times, we have got to remember that He has a plan. While we are here, the Lord is refining us and until He takes us to Heaven, He will try to make us more like Jesus. We must remember this. Yeah, we all say that we have faith, but when hard times come, where does that faith go? Much too often we question and get angry, when we should really just praise God.

So I know this post was all over the place, but tonight, so were my thoughts and prayers. Church and Sunday School were just such a blessing today and I hope that some of what I have said, will bless you as well.

And if this post wasn't reason enough to just trust in Him throughout it all, just remember this verse...."If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." John 15:7

God's Bold Reply

I called. I prayed. He answered.


"I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." 

Isaiah 49:6

Every Penny Counts

As I sit watching hopeforhaitinow with my 9 year old sister, Kendall, we log on the website to donate money for the relief fund. I have not yet done this, praying over the amount I should give and exactly how/where I should give. I looked over at her as I had typed in the amount, and said "Do you think this is enough?". And she of course replied, "Well every penny counts". This is so true. We should all give what we can, even if it is only $5 because every penny does count. These people of Haiti need anything we can offer. We should give because it is what Jesus would have done. 

<3 Haiti

a best friend.

So this blog is going to be dedicated to one of the most beautiful people I have ever met. Kelsey Joy Church has been one of my closest friends for a few years now and this is for her :-) Love you Vegasbaybee.

From the moment I first met Kelsey, we were not fans of each other. Of course, being in high school, the new girl is never one to be accepted and I was new into the church. However, over the course of time we have become best friends. In ingroups together is where it all started. We became prayer partners and automatically had so much in common. We prayed together that first night on the swing and it was so beautiful. God always just brings people into your life just at the right times :)

Kelsey and I have been on many adventures together, good and bad, but mostly just very fun. Going in Las Vegas together and many Atlanta trips, movies with good soundtracks and music to just die for ("you have to hear this song, it will change your life forever", talking about boys and moms and realizing we have the same problems with both. Kelsey and I were always able to get right in track with each other's lives even if we didn't talk for weeks. Mis-communication and petty fights were never a problem. 

This girl has never let anyone bring her down or mislead her from her dreams. She is actually going to Kentucky now for a school for photography, which is her love. All the way, far away, all by herself. No one will stop her. That is a brave girl. 

She might not know, but she's always been a role model in my life. A hero of mine. Always standing up for herself, family and friends, and what she believed in. This girl is a true, true person. Realer than most.

So Kelsey, I love you and I hate that you are leaving me here in little ol' Aiken, but so crazy excited for this new adventure for you. Remember that you can do anything and nobody can take you down. 

"look at the stars, look how they shine for you, and everything you do, and it was all yellow"

None But Jesus

So Christmas and New Years has come and gone, sadly, but it's definitely been nice to be back to real life.  Everyone is always complaining about having to go back to school and work, but I think it such a blessing to even have a job AND have the privilege to go to college! It's not a right, or guaranteed, like so many people think today. People take so much for granted.

I think God has been teaching me a lot lately, through different people and situations. Ever pray for God to take away everything in your life that keeps you from Him? Well, I did. And He's doing it. Scary, but very exciting at the same time. I know He has huge plans for me, as He does for everyone, but lately I've been too scared to really follow those plans. Too scared of what the future holds and who may be there, or may not be. Seems like everybody got engaged over the Holidays, which is so exciting, congrats guys :), but yet again shows me that I am so close to the "real world" as everybody has been calling it. So close to graduation, and husbands, and kids, and jobs, but seriously so far away still. Am I even ready for that? Am I mature enough for all these things? Am I ready to follow God's will? Seriously, and I mean seriously, just put Him first and foremost? Trust Him with everything and stop putting my life in shelves and only letting him have a few of them? I am ready. I am soooo ready. I want to do whatever He wants, go wherever He calls, share the good news of His son with whomever He leads me to.

Lately, He has been taking people out of my life that were once very close to me. Putting new people in, not to replace, but to cherish differently. Every person in your life was put there for a purpose and I think everything really does happen for a reason. Events always happen in such particular order in my life, which always reminds me that God is in control, of everything, forever.

Just like, as I am writing this, the song "None but Jesus" comes on. Geezzz God, you are too good :-) Thank YOU Lord!

"In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that you are God
In the secret of your presence
I know there I am restored
When you call I won't refuse
Each new day, again I'll choose

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos, in confusion
I know you're sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do your will
When you call I won't delay
This my song through all my days

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

I am yours and you are mine...

All my delight is in you Lord
All of my hope
All of my strength
All my delight is in you Lord
Forevermore"