This quote really hit me today!
The other day.. I was at a friends house and her mom was doing laundry, so I asked if she needed any help. She just stopped and looked at me and almost started crying because the question was so sweet to her.. and she asked me why I asked her that.. to be honest the first thing that came to my mind was not "because I am obsessed with Jesus." it was "because I wanted to be loving." I guess it can be the same thing.. if your heart is in the right place.. haha but for me I honestly just wanted her to know i was a nice person. I thought about this for like two days, and its still stuck in my head even today because, shouldn't we be living in such a way that people will know that GOD is a nice God? Shouldn't we be living in a way that people will feel and see HIS love and not something that comes from us?
I want to be obsessed with Jesus.
To the point where I do what He asks me without even thinking about it.. and because He is whats most important. I realize sometimes that I hardly know WHAT He asks of me at all.. I should know this! haha I should spend time learning it! so many other things I put my time into.. its seriously absurd! FOR EXAMPLE, I can recite every line to the movie "Aquamarine" because I have seen it so many times (for some reason I love that movie.. I know it's weird.. but its true. haha) But i can't recite every line to Romans 12 or 1 Corinthians 13 or Hebrews 12 because I haven't spent my time reading these important passages over and over and OVER...
I've traded God for ashes.
God has created PASSION in me.. I want every ounce of it to be used for Him alone. I want HIM to be my love and my life...
There is a song I got on a CD for Christmas this year.. and it's PERFECT for my heart right now.. the lyrics in the chorus say:
"Now that I see You I know
Your love commands my soul.
Now that I know You I see
There's no one else for me..
there's no one else for me."
and then it says "Open Our eyes! Open our eyes!" over and over and over.
There truly is no one else for me. no one else will do. NO ONE else can command my SOUL with their LOVE when I see them!!
I just want Jesus!!!
I just.. want.. Jesus.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Heavy.
ever feel like the silence rings in your ears?
ever feel like no words arouse more fears?
ever feel like wondering is worse than knowing?
ever feel like staying is harder than going?
ever feel like the weight wont even matter?
ever feel like being clueless makes your heart shatter?
ever feel like what you want just must be wrong?
ever feel like your heart ache doesn't belong?
ever feel like you want them to understand you care?
ever feel like they don't want to because they are scared?
ever feel like they should tell you since they've labeled you the "best"?
ever feel like you should just understand and let go of all the rest?
ever feel like "God's got it, i don't need to worry."?
ever feel like there's still a need to hurry?
ever feel like there is good reasons behind their protective walls?
ever feel like they're just up to block out their desperate calls?
ever feel like you're thinking about everything way too much?
ever feel like you should just be there as their crutch?
ever feel like calming down because you are there for them already?
ever feel like exploding because your heart is so heavy?
let me tell you that at the times when you do feel like this, put your hope in the Lord and your joy in His kiss...
this poem might not make sense to anyone.. but I know my savior understands every little detail. and maybe if you understand what I mean you could be encouraged that someone feels the way you do. and that you are never alone.
ever feel like no words arouse more fears?
ever feel like wondering is worse than knowing?
ever feel like staying is harder than going?
ever feel like the weight wont even matter?
ever feel like being clueless makes your heart shatter?
ever feel like what you want just must be wrong?
ever feel like your heart ache doesn't belong?
ever feel like you want them to understand you care?
ever feel like they don't want to because they are scared?
ever feel like they should tell you since they've labeled you the "best"?
ever feel like you should just understand and let go of all the rest?
ever feel like "God's got it, i don't need to worry."?
ever feel like there's still a need to hurry?
ever feel like there is good reasons behind their protective walls?
ever feel like they're just up to block out their desperate calls?
ever feel like you're thinking about everything way too much?
ever feel like you should just be there as their crutch?
ever feel like calming down because you are there for them already?
ever feel like exploding because your heart is so heavy?
let me tell you that at the times when you do feel like this, put your hope in the Lord and your joy in His kiss...
this poem might not make sense to anyone.. but I know my savior understands every little detail. and maybe if you understand what I mean you could be encouraged that someone feels the way you do. and that you are never alone.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Romans 12:11
"Do not be lazy. Be fervent in spirit and serve the Lord..."
the definition of fervent is: Having or displaying a passionate intensity; hot, burning, glowing.
Sweet Heavenly King... please make my spirit fervent for You alone.
the definition of fervent is: Having or displaying a passionate intensity; hot, burning, glowing.
Sweet Heavenly King... please make my spirit fervent for You alone.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
I will not take my Love away.
I will not take my love away
when praises cease and seasons change
while the whole world turns the other way
I will not take my love away.
I will not leave you all alone
when striving leads you far from home
and there's no yeild for what you've sown
I will not leave you all alone.
I will give you what you need
in plenty or in poverty
forever, always, look to me
and I will give you what you need.
I will not take my love away.
--love, Jesus
when praises cease and seasons change
while the whole world turns the other way
I will not take my love away.
I will not leave you all alone
when striving leads you far from home
and there's no yeild for what you've sown
I will not leave you all alone.
I will give you what you need
in plenty or in poverty
forever, always, look to me
and I will give you what you need.
I will not take my love away.
--love, Jesus
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
BE SET FREE...
these words never fail to soothe my soul.. Its like God is whispering them personally to my heart.. like.. " what are you doing, val? look no further.. look to me alone, and be. set. free."
Thank YOU my sweet loving heavenly Father.. for taking my burdens and my sin... and setting me free.
Thank YOU my sweet loving heavenly Father.. for taking my burdens and my sin... and setting me free.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Psalm 34
1I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.
3O magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
4I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.
8O taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
9O fear the LORD, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no want.
10The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
11Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12Who is the man who desires life
And loves length of days that he may see good?
13Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.
15The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
And His ears are open to their cry.
16The face of the LORD is against evildoers,
To cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20He keeps all his bones,
Not one of them is broken.
21Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
<3
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.
3O magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
4I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.
8O taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
9O fear the LORD, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no want.
10The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
11Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12Who is the man who desires life
And loves length of days that he may see good?
13Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.
15The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
And His ears are open to their cry.
16The face of the LORD is against evildoers,
To cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20He keeps all his bones,
Not one of them is broken.
21Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
<3
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Job 37
1 “My heart pounds as I think of this.
It trembles within me.
2 Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice
as it rolls from his mouth.
3 It rolls across the heavens,
and his lightning flashes in every direction.
4 Then comes the roaring of the thunder—
the tremendous voice of his majesty.
He does not restrain it when he speaks.
5 God’s voice is glorious in the thunder.
We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.
6 “He directs the snow to fall on the earth
and tells the rain to pour down.
7 Then everyone stops working
so they can watch his power.
8 The wild animals take cover
and stay inside their dens.
9 The stormy wind comes from its chamber,
and the driving winds bring the cold.
10 God’s breath sends the ice,
freezing wide expanses of water.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture,
and they flash with his lightning.
12 The clouds churn about at his direction.
They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.
13 He makes these things happen either to punish people
or to show his unfailing love.
14 “Pay attention to this, Job.
Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!
15 Do you know how God controls the storm
and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds?
16 Do you understand how he moves the clouds
with wonderful perfection and skill?
17 When you are sweltering in your clothes
and the south wind dies down and everything is still,
18 he makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror.
Can you do that?
19 “So teach the rest of us what to say to God.
We are too ignorant to make our own arguments.
20 Should God be notified that I want to speak?
Can people even speak when they are confused?
21 We cannot look at the sun,
for it shines brightly in the sky
when the wind clears away the clouds.
22 So also, golden splendor comes from the mountain of God.
He is clothed in dazzling splendor.
23 We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty;
but even though he is just and righteous,
he does not destroy us.
24 No wonder people everywhere fear him.
All who are wise show him reverence.”
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
All I need is you - Hillsong United
I love songs like this.. gives you 6 and 1/2 minutes to just pray while you listen to it. Get these words stuck in your head and live out that you know its true.
Friday, September 17, 2010
A child-like faith.
Mark 10:13-16
13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
THIS post is going to be a mess and all over the place.. but I just need to share this awesomeness of God with you all! haha
okay so Yesterday i was reading this book called "Essential truths of the Christian faith" and it was talking about having a child-like faith.. and what that really means. It said " when we are small children, we fully trust in the care of our parents. If we ( as children) were about to touch a hot stove our parents would say "No." There is no time to explain the intricacies of thermal energy, and such sophisticated explanations would be wasted on us anyways.." children can't possibly understand. They immediately back off and obey. They don't need to know why, they just do it because their parents said so. When they get older though, they start to ask questions before they stop. they try to figure everything out... they try to prove that we know better and they end up getting BURNED! haha
As I was thinking about this God brought a memory to my mind.
I was 15, and it was the day of my drivers "behind the wheel" test. My mom and I were going for a practice drive so that we were sure I knew what I was doing. We were stopped at a red light and I needed to make a left turn... but this was a "yield on green" which I had never heard of before. (or maybe I just completely forgot about it.. haha) As the light turned green I started to make the turn and my mom yelled out "STOP!".. but me, being my lame little self, kept going with my foot off the gas. I was looking around to see why she wanted me to stop! (we were in the middle of an intersection! haha) As soon as I could comprehend that there was a car coming RIGHT for us it was too late to do anything.. But God had moved me out of the way.. so the car JUSTttttttt missed us. I immediately pulled over on the side of the road... shaking, and realizing that.. I could have DIED! Or worse! my mom, who was on the side of the car closest to the oncoming vehicle, could have died. All because I did not trust and listen right away.
Now this incident happen for a lot of reasons.. haha but it just recently hit me that this is a very good example of why we need to have that child-like faith in our walk with God.
We don't need to know why He is saying "STOP" and "NO".. we just need to listen and trust that He is ALL knowing and ALL powerful and He does things for GOOD and not EVIL.. He wants to keep us safe.
I'm definitely not saying that we should just be ignorant and not try to understand anything! I am only talking about trusting here. 1 Corinthians 14:20 says "Brethren, do not be children in understanding.." God wants us to have wisdom! He wants us to learn how to serve Him! But He doesn't want us to think we know better than Him. Just to make that clear. haha
There are so many things though that we can't understand. No matter how much we want to. But God sees the bigger picture. He always knows best.. we can be SURE that when we put our trust in Him He will never let us down.
Thank You so much my sweet and wonderful Savior!!!
- Val <3
13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
THIS post is going to be a mess and all over the place.. but I just need to share this awesomeness of God with you all! haha
okay so Yesterday i was reading this book called "Essential truths of the Christian faith" and it was talking about having a child-like faith.. and what that really means. It said " when we are small children, we fully trust in the care of our parents. If we ( as children) were about to touch a hot stove our parents would say "No." There is no time to explain the intricacies of thermal energy, and such sophisticated explanations would be wasted on us anyways.." children can't possibly understand. They immediately back off and obey. They don't need to know why, they just do it because their parents said so. When they get older though, they start to ask questions before they stop. they try to figure everything out... they try to prove that we know better and they end up getting BURNED! haha
As I was thinking about this God brought a memory to my mind.
I was 15, and it was the day of my drivers "behind the wheel" test. My mom and I were going for a practice drive so that we were sure I knew what I was doing. We were stopped at a red light and I needed to make a left turn... but this was a "yield on green" which I had never heard of before. (or maybe I just completely forgot about it.. haha) As the light turned green I started to make the turn and my mom yelled out "STOP!".. but me, being my lame little self, kept going with my foot off the gas. I was looking around to see why she wanted me to stop! (we were in the middle of an intersection! haha) As soon as I could comprehend that there was a car coming RIGHT for us it was too late to do anything.. But God had moved me out of the way.. so the car JUSTttttttt missed us. I immediately pulled over on the side of the road... shaking, and realizing that.. I could have DIED! Or worse! my mom, who was on the side of the car closest to the oncoming vehicle, could have died. All because I did not trust and listen right away.
Now this incident happen for a lot of reasons.. haha but it just recently hit me that this is a very good example of why we need to have that child-like faith in our walk with God.
We don't need to know why He is saying "STOP" and "NO".. we just need to listen and trust that He is ALL knowing and ALL powerful and He does things for GOOD and not EVIL.. He wants to keep us safe.
I'm definitely not saying that we should just be ignorant and not try to understand anything! I am only talking about trusting here. 1 Corinthians 14:20 says "Brethren, do not be children in understanding.." God wants us to have wisdom! He wants us to learn how to serve Him! But He doesn't want us to think we know better than Him. Just to make that clear. haha
There are so many things though that we can't understand. No matter how much we want to. But God sees the bigger picture. He always knows best.. we can be SURE that when we put our trust in Him He will never let us down.
Thank You so much my sweet and wonderful Savior!!!
- Val <3
Thursday, July 22, 2010
love my life.
One thing that is always on my mind is how thankful I am for my life! Seriously, I cant picture my life any better than it is right now.
God has blessed me with an AMAZING family!!
I have three sisters who I would lay down my life for! They all help me grow closer to God in different ways. I love them with all of my heart! They are always there for me when I need someone to laugh with or cry with or dance around the house with or stand on the corner with signs that say "God is love" with, or cook with or sit with or smile at or sing to..ect..ect.ect!! I didn't always used to love my sisters so much. I used to not even care if they loved me..or even liked me, because I had friends.. and I cared for my friends wayyyy more because my friends were nicer to me. (it makes me sick to even dig up these memories..) But there came a season in my life where my friends weren't there for me when I had been counting on them. They weren't understanding me.. and I felt really alone. God did a work in my heart to be content with being alone, and then to love my friends and always be there for them anyways even when my heart felt so crushed. He taught me a lot about love. Then after that I prayed that God would help me to love my sisters in the way I had learned to love my friends! I don't even remember seeing a distinct change in things around here, but I can surly tell you that me and my sisters are now best friends! I always want them with me, and when I'm not with them, I miss them. I find myself not even wanting to get married and move out of the house because that would mean moving away from my sisters!!!! What a horrifying thought!!! haha They are truly the coolest girls I've ever known and I am proud to call them MINE.
My mom is also the BEST mom ever on the face of the earth! You may think that your mom is so much better than mine.... and in a way that's true, haha because God gave you that mom.. and God gave ME my mom, both perfect for us in their own ways!! Now, its really not easy to love, or even get along with your mom if you are expecting that she will be perfect, because she WON'T be... and she can't be, and this is just something that you have to understand. You aren't perfect either... at all. We all fall short and that's why Jesus died for us!! So, we HAVE to be forgiving. It's really not easy to love or get along with your mom if you aren't forgiving. Being unforgiving puts a blanket over our eyes and ear plugs in our ears, so that we can't truly see or hear what the truth is, and we listen to satan's lies!!! (1 John 2:9-11) This can apply to everyone and not just family. If someone ever hurt you, and you haven't forgiven them, then I urge you to!!! Right now! Ask God to help you forgive them! It's like a huge weight lifted off your chest!!!!
okay I'm getting side tracked... haha ANYWAYS.. my point is that if you are having a hard time really loving your mom, respecting her, and being proud to call her yours... then you probably need to forgive her, and ask God for forgiveness too. I am able to see now How amazing my mom is. If I wrote out a list of all the things I love about her it would take one hundred years!!!!! The biggest blessing that I know I have in her is that she BEARS MY BURDENS. God says for us to do this SO many times!!! seriously. One of my new favorite verses is Romans 15:1 which says "Now we who are strong are to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves." My mom is selfless in this way. She is stronger than me and she takes on everything that I can't handle.. before I even ask her to too! I don't even know that I need it until she is helping me and I realize I could NEVER do it on my own. She makes costumes for all my dance classes that I teach, she organizes my school work into the most convenient way possible, she takes me to all my doctor appointments and takes more time on top of that to try and figure out whats wrong with me by doing research, she cries with me, and for me, and she would never turn down a hug! She is strong. She has been through sickness with cancer before, and she knows how it is to be scared, in pain, and exhausted. Just thinking about this, tears roll down my cheeks! I am overwhelmed with feelings of pain for my mom having to go through all that... but I'm also REJOICING in the providence of our beautiful Savior!!!!!! He DOES have everything all planned out. He knows what we need. like I said it would take YEARS to write out all the things I love about my mom.. but just in general...I am beyond thankful for my mom.
I am thankful for my dad too and I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!!!! He makes me laugh and he always has something cool to say about the Lord. He cares so much for all us girls!!! He goes to work every day all day doing things that I have NO CLUE how to do and he comes home completely tuckered out, but he never complains! He cooks awesome foods and has an amazing singing voice! He inspires me, and lets me know its okay to be a dork, because its who I am, and life is way more awesome when you express who you are. He doesn't even have to say this stuff. its just the way he laughs at my silliness, and acts like a dork himself. haha
I never feel out of place in my house. We have a lot of love and understand going on around here. not all the time.. we aren't perfect, haha but for a lot of the time, we live aloha.
I love my life.
Val <3
God has blessed me with an AMAZING family!!
I have three sisters who I would lay down my life for! They all help me grow closer to God in different ways. I love them with all of my heart! They are always there for me when I need someone to laugh with or cry with or dance around the house with or stand on the corner with signs that say "God is love" with, or cook with or sit with or smile at or sing to..ect..ect.ect!! I didn't always used to love my sisters so much. I used to not even care if they loved me..or even liked me, because I had friends.. and I cared for my friends wayyyy more because my friends were nicer to me. (it makes me sick to even dig up these memories..) But there came a season in my life where my friends weren't there for me when I had been counting on them. They weren't understanding me.. and I felt really alone. God did a work in my heart to be content with being alone, and then to love my friends and always be there for them anyways even when my heart felt so crushed. He taught me a lot about love. Then after that I prayed that God would help me to love my sisters in the way I had learned to love my friends! I don't even remember seeing a distinct change in things around here, but I can surly tell you that me and my sisters are now best friends! I always want them with me, and when I'm not with them, I miss them. I find myself not even wanting to get married and move out of the house because that would mean moving away from my sisters!!!! What a horrifying thought!!! haha They are truly the coolest girls I've ever known and I am proud to call them MINE.
My mom is also the BEST mom ever on the face of the earth! You may think that your mom is so much better than mine.... and in a way that's true, haha because God gave you that mom.. and God gave ME my mom, both perfect for us in their own ways!! Now, its really not easy to love, or even get along with your mom if you are expecting that she will be perfect, because she WON'T be... and she can't be, and this is just something that you have to understand. You aren't perfect either... at all. We all fall short and that's why Jesus died for us!! So, we HAVE to be forgiving. It's really not easy to love or get along with your mom if you aren't forgiving. Being unforgiving puts a blanket over our eyes and ear plugs in our ears, so that we can't truly see or hear what the truth is, and we listen to satan's lies!!! (1 John 2:9-11) This can apply to everyone and not just family. If someone ever hurt you, and you haven't forgiven them, then I urge you to!!! Right now! Ask God to help you forgive them! It's like a huge weight lifted off your chest!!!!
okay I'm getting side tracked... haha ANYWAYS.. my point is that if you are having a hard time really loving your mom, respecting her, and being proud to call her yours... then you probably need to forgive her, and ask God for forgiveness too. I am able to see now How amazing my mom is. If I wrote out a list of all the things I love about her it would take one hundred years!!!!! The biggest blessing that I know I have in her is that she BEARS MY BURDENS. God says for us to do this SO many times!!! seriously. One of my new favorite verses is Romans 15:1 which says "Now we who are strong are to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves." My mom is selfless in this way. She is stronger than me and she takes on everything that I can't handle.. before I even ask her to too! I don't even know that I need it until she is helping me and I realize I could NEVER do it on my own. She makes costumes for all my dance classes that I teach, she organizes my school work into the most convenient way possible, she takes me to all my doctor appointments and takes more time on top of that to try and figure out whats wrong with me by doing research, she cries with me, and for me, and she would never turn down a hug! She is strong. She has been through sickness with cancer before, and she knows how it is to be scared, in pain, and exhausted. Just thinking about this, tears roll down my cheeks! I am overwhelmed with feelings of pain for my mom having to go through all that... but I'm also REJOICING in the providence of our beautiful Savior!!!!!! He DOES have everything all planned out. He knows what we need. like I said it would take YEARS to write out all the things I love about my mom.. but just in general...I am beyond thankful for my mom.
I am thankful for my dad too and I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!!!! He makes me laugh and he always has something cool to say about the Lord. He cares so much for all us girls!!! He goes to work every day all day doing things that I have NO CLUE how to do and he comes home completely tuckered out, but he never complains! He cooks awesome foods and has an amazing singing voice! He inspires me, and lets me know its okay to be a dork, because its who I am, and life is way more awesome when you express who you are. He doesn't even have to say this stuff. its just the way he laughs at my silliness, and acts like a dork himself. haha
I never feel out of place in my house. We have a lot of love and understand going on around here. not all the time.. we aren't perfect, haha but for a lot of the time, we live aloha.
I love my life.
Val <3
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Be my EVERYTHING!!!
This song is totally and completely my prayer right now! Ahhh!!! I love music! this song sings my prayers and my heart and brings me to tears!!!! I encourage you to listen to it and prayyy it! Oh please God be everything in us! Be in everything we do! Help us to see everything through Your eyes! Help us to LIVE OUR LIVES FOR YOU!!! Please, God I pray you would come and take over our hearts completely!!! CONSUME our thoughts with thoughts of YOU!!!! Fill our hearts with Your love!!!! Thank you Beautiful SAVIOR for being so compassionate and merciful to us! We don't deserve Your amazing Love!!! Thank YOU Jesus for dying for us! You deserve all the glory and praise!! You deserve every breath we take and every step we take! Oh Lord help us to live for you! "Christ in me, the Hope for glory!!" Oh Jesus You are WONDERFUL!! Thank You!
God bless,
-Val
God bless,
-Val
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tidal waves of mercy
Okay so, for those of you who don't know I hit my head pretty hard back in July and I got a concussion. About three days later I hit my head again and got a second concussion, and then the day after that I hit it again..resulting in, another concussion. I wasn't even doing anything dangerous, just all accidents. Running into things and not realizing that things were so close to me. Pretty lame actually haha, but my head started to hurt where I hit it.(Which all three times was directly in the back of my head.) I didn't say anything to anyone for a while, because I just figured that it was normal for it to hurt a little because I hit it so hard, but after about a month I told my mom that the pain had not gone away and that it had been getting a lot worse. So, we started trying lots of different pain killer medicines, but nothing even made a dent in the pain. Nothing was working AT ALL to take the pain away.
Through this time we were just asking people to pray for me that the pain would leave me, and I was being very cautious with everything that I did. It hurt pretty bad, just like it would if you hit your head really really hard.
My mom started looking up things that could be causing this head pain, and we went down the list trying to eliminate things that it could be, since we didn't have much money to go to the doctor.
My heart was in a place of selfishness, like that people should be feeling bad for me... it was sooo wrong of me to think like that! The thing is though that I didn't even realize that I was thinking like that. I wasn't even praying for it to go away because I liked getting some attention. I was being super lame and just all around dumb. not cool.
a couple weeks later, still in pain every single day with no breaks at all, I started getting really sick and throwing up from the pain. My mom took me to the doctors finally and I got tons of tests done, just trying to figure out what was going on. I was loosing a lot of weight and just not doing good at all. Every test was coming back completely normal!! Seemed like nothing was wrong at all besides the fact that I had a concussion, but the pain should have subsided by then. So they made me an appointment with a neurologist hoping that he would be able to help me.
By this time I had started praying a lot that this pain would go away, and that God would use it for something good in my life. I mean, a month and a half on nonstop pain was pretty brutal! When I got home from the doctors that day one of my awesome, lovely, friends, from my church surprised me and showed up to help take care of me. God was so merciful to put here there for me because a couple hours later, my parents came in and told me that my Aunt (Who I am very close with and who I love so much) is dieing from ALS. For those of you who don't know this is a disease that has no cure, and a disease that takes your life. I was pretty much a HUGE MESS after hearing that news. I am so thankful my friend was there to cry with me... God is so good. That same night I found out that one of my best friends was being hurt by something that I was doing...everything just was all going on and it was so much pain in one day, but...
God TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY humbled me through it. I just fell on my knees in tears asking Him to forgive me for being so selfish! I felt Him then more than ever before! His presence was INTENSE with LOVE AND MERCY! God rocks so much! I felt SO happy the next day! Still getting sick from pain, my aunt was still dieing, and I was still working things out with my friend, but I had so much peace! I could not get thoughts of God out of my head! What Jesus did on the cross just kept running through my mind over and over and over! I was in such awe of him!!! In such awe that He loved me first and that He treasures me and wants to spend time with me and that He STILL loves me when I am so awful!! I realized so much that I desperately NEED Him and I can do NOTHING without Him! Then I was in awe that He would even show me that and give me so much peace through all that I was going through! He is such an awesome God!
After that I was using every day of pain to try and glorify Him! I felt like I was going to die and I wanted to make every day count! haha..
I made these posters that said "God is LOVE" and "Jesus SAVES" and I went out on the street corner to hold them high above my head for all the passing cars to see!! That was totally ALL God in me to lift up His name like that.
We had the elders of my church come to my house and pray for the pain to go away. that was VERY encouraging! The pain did not go away though.
So now its about October, I had been going through all kinds of medicines for the pain and still, none of them were doing anything. The neurologist took me off sugar during the whole holiday season and told me to get some more exercise, but he was clueless to why the concussion pain was still hurting me so much.
I was growing SO much closer to God during this whole time! reading my bible more, praying, praising Him every second that I got, writing songs about how awesome He is! I was starting to feel SUPER blessed for this trial because it had brought me so much closer to Him! You have to go through the fire and pain to be more like Him and so much closer to Him! He is so faithful to open your eyes and show you that He is working all things together for your good and for His glory! I didn't even care if this unbearable pain lasted forever because of the sweet fellowship that I was having with God through it!
Every time someone asked me how I was, I didn't know if I should say good or bad, because I was in so much pain, but I was so happy resting in the Lord and trusting in Him! I found that saying "yeah my head still is killing me but, God is awesome.. everything is full of mercy!" worked the best, pretty much summed it up. My eyes were opened SO much to the MERCY in this whole situation! like seriously, I have NO reason to ever complain!!! It was so humbling to me that God would even show me that! I deserve horrible pain in hell forever but He saved me!!! so bring on this pain that will only last a little while!! It is so worth it so suffer for my savior!! I know that He is doing something amazing in my life through all this that is going to count for heaven and for His glory! I just have to keep trusting in Him through every day as I suffer this pain.
On Friday morning I was just a mess. the pain had gotten so much worse and I felt like I was going to be sick every other minute! I just couldn't stop crying! I was crying from pain and of the amazing feeling of KNOWING that God was with me through it. I just remember telling myself that God calls me to be strong, and that He has amazing plans for my life, and I am not to lean on my own understanding of what is going on but instead trust in HIM! I was just saying out loud over and over that He is AWESOME, and that I will still love Him no matter how hard this gets! I could totally FEEL that He was putting those words in my mouth! they were comforting me to the max! I just cried all day Friday and Saturday through the pain. happy tears and tears from being in pain. I couldn't eat anything or even move. it was miserable.
but God put so many amazing people in my life like my sisters and my mom staying with me every second, and friends who would text me and call me praying for me and asking how I was and letting me know that they are there for me! SO SWEET.
On Sunday I went to the worship service at my church even though I was not feeling good at all, and one of my dear friends came up to me during worship in tears and just held my hand! She got me crying too! We were just praising Jesus with EVERYTHING in us! I needed that so much to remind me why I am not killing myself because of this pain. Its because Jesus went through SO much more! Every minute of pain that He is giving me is NOTHING compared to the pain He suffered for my sin!!! It is only a glimpse of what He went through! Praise GOD for giving me this horrible pain to remind me every minute that JESUS ROCKS AND HE DIED FOR ME!!!! Our perfect amazing savior went through torture for me... and He holds my hand and carries me through every second of this awful pain! I am SO IN LOVE WITH HIM! what a GREAT and WONDERFUL God! On top of that, it is ALL HIS work in me that I can worship Him through this pain, and that I can see His love, and that I can raise my hands and never give up! so cool... I cant even explain it!
I went to the doctor yesterday, my best friend came with my to hold my hand. They gave me some shots and new medicines, so far I just feel super loopy! haha and very calm. which is good. I am getting lots of sleep, but my head is still hurting. Praise God that I have peace in Him though.
I would totally appreciate prayers from everyone that this pain would go away. Its been about nine months now with pain in every day.. but I am still smiling.. because it is full of tidal waves of mercy! I hope that this super long story can be an encouragement to you!!! God will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.. and he loves you so much.. the pain or trials that you may be going through are only going to mold you more into who you need to be to further His kingdom! Just keep trusting in Him and He will give you the strength to get through it!
God bless!
-Val
P.S. one of my awesome blog friends did a post on pain that really helped me out! here is the link!! http://footprintsinthesand365.blogspot.com/2010/03/when-we-suffer.html
Please check it out if you can! Thanks so much! <3
Through this time we were just asking people to pray for me that the pain would leave me, and I was being very cautious with everything that I did. It hurt pretty bad, just like it would if you hit your head really really hard.
My mom started looking up things that could be causing this head pain, and we went down the list trying to eliminate things that it could be, since we didn't have much money to go to the doctor.
My heart was in a place of selfishness, like that people should be feeling bad for me... it was sooo wrong of me to think like that! The thing is though that I didn't even realize that I was thinking like that. I wasn't even praying for it to go away because I liked getting some attention. I was being super lame and just all around dumb. not cool.
a couple weeks later, still in pain every single day with no breaks at all, I started getting really sick and throwing up from the pain. My mom took me to the doctors finally and I got tons of tests done, just trying to figure out what was going on. I was loosing a lot of weight and just not doing good at all. Every test was coming back completely normal!! Seemed like nothing was wrong at all besides the fact that I had a concussion, but the pain should have subsided by then. So they made me an appointment with a neurologist hoping that he would be able to help me.
By this time I had started praying a lot that this pain would go away, and that God would use it for something good in my life. I mean, a month and a half on nonstop pain was pretty brutal! When I got home from the doctors that day one of my awesome, lovely, friends, from my church surprised me and showed up to help take care of me. God was so merciful to put here there for me because a couple hours later, my parents came in and told me that my Aunt (Who I am very close with and who I love so much) is dieing from ALS. For those of you who don't know this is a disease that has no cure, and a disease that takes your life. I was pretty much a HUGE MESS after hearing that news. I am so thankful my friend was there to cry with me... God is so good. That same night I found out that one of my best friends was being hurt by something that I was doing...everything just was all going on and it was so much pain in one day, but...
God TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY humbled me through it. I just fell on my knees in tears asking Him to forgive me for being so selfish! I felt Him then more than ever before! His presence was INTENSE with LOVE AND MERCY! God rocks so much! I felt SO happy the next day! Still getting sick from pain, my aunt was still dieing, and I was still working things out with my friend, but I had so much peace! I could not get thoughts of God out of my head! What Jesus did on the cross just kept running through my mind over and over and over! I was in such awe of him!!! In such awe that He loved me first and that He treasures me and wants to spend time with me and that He STILL loves me when I am so awful!! I realized so much that I desperately NEED Him and I can do NOTHING without Him! Then I was in awe that He would even show me that and give me so much peace through all that I was going through! He is such an awesome God!
After that I was using every day of pain to try and glorify Him! I felt like I was going to die and I wanted to make every day count! haha..
I made these posters that said "God is LOVE" and "Jesus SAVES" and I went out on the street corner to hold them high above my head for all the passing cars to see!! That was totally ALL God in me to lift up His name like that.
We had the elders of my church come to my house and pray for the pain to go away. that was VERY encouraging! The pain did not go away though.
So now its about October, I had been going through all kinds of medicines for the pain and still, none of them were doing anything. The neurologist took me off sugar during the whole holiday season and told me to get some more exercise, but he was clueless to why the concussion pain was still hurting me so much.
I was growing SO much closer to God during this whole time! reading my bible more, praying, praising Him every second that I got, writing songs about how awesome He is! I was starting to feel SUPER blessed for this trial because it had brought me so much closer to Him! You have to go through the fire and pain to be more like Him and so much closer to Him! He is so faithful to open your eyes and show you that He is working all things together for your good and for His glory! I didn't even care if this unbearable pain lasted forever because of the sweet fellowship that I was having with God through it!
Every time someone asked me how I was, I didn't know if I should say good or bad, because I was in so much pain, but I was so happy resting in the Lord and trusting in Him! I found that saying "yeah my head still is killing me but, God is awesome.. everything is full of mercy!" worked the best, pretty much summed it up. My eyes were opened SO much to the MERCY in this whole situation! like seriously, I have NO reason to ever complain!!! It was so humbling to me that God would even show me that! I deserve horrible pain in hell forever but He saved me!!! so bring on this pain that will only last a little while!! It is so worth it so suffer for my savior!! I know that He is doing something amazing in my life through all this that is going to count for heaven and for His glory! I just have to keep trusting in Him through every day as I suffer this pain.
On Friday morning I was just a mess. the pain had gotten so much worse and I felt like I was going to be sick every other minute! I just couldn't stop crying! I was crying from pain and of the amazing feeling of KNOWING that God was with me through it. I just remember telling myself that God calls me to be strong, and that He has amazing plans for my life, and I am not to lean on my own understanding of what is going on but instead trust in HIM! I was just saying out loud over and over that He is AWESOME, and that I will still love Him no matter how hard this gets! I could totally FEEL that He was putting those words in my mouth! they were comforting me to the max! I just cried all day Friday and Saturday through the pain. happy tears and tears from being in pain. I couldn't eat anything or even move. it was miserable.
but God put so many amazing people in my life like my sisters and my mom staying with me every second, and friends who would text me and call me praying for me and asking how I was and letting me know that they are there for me! SO SWEET.
On Sunday I went to the worship service at my church even though I was not feeling good at all, and one of my dear friends came up to me during worship in tears and just held my hand! She got me crying too! We were just praising Jesus with EVERYTHING in us! I needed that so much to remind me why I am not killing myself because of this pain. Its because Jesus went through SO much more! Every minute of pain that He is giving me is NOTHING compared to the pain He suffered for my sin!!! It is only a glimpse of what He went through! Praise GOD for giving me this horrible pain to remind me every minute that JESUS ROCKS AND HE DIED FOR ME!!!! Our perfect amazing savior went through torture for me... and He holds my hand and carries me through every second of this awful pain! I am SO IN LOVE WITH HIM! what a GREAT and WONDERFUL God! On top of that, it is ALL HIS work in me that I can worship Him through this pain, and that I can see His love, and that I can raise my hands and never give up! so cool... I cant even explain it!
I went to the doctor yesterday, my best friend came with my to hold my hand. They gave me some shots and new medicines, so far I just feel super loopy! haha and very calm. which is good. I am getting lots of sleep, but my head is still hurting. Praise God that I have peace in Him though.
I would totally appreciate prayers from everyone that this pain would go away. Its been about nine months now with pain in every day.. but I am still smiling.. because it is full of tidal waves of mercy! I hope that this super long story can be an encouragement to you!!! God will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.. and he loves you so much.. the pain or trials that you may be going through are only going to mold you more into who you need to be to further His kingdom! Just keep trusting in Him and He will give you the strength to get through it!
God bless!
-Val
P.S. one of my awesome blog friends did a post on pain that really helped me out! here is the link!! http://footprintsinthesand365.blogspot.com/2010/03/when-we-suffer.html
Please check it out if you can! Thanks so much! <3
Sunday, March 7, 2010
YOU ARE AWESOME!!!
Ahhhh!!!! haha thank YOU God!!!
I don't get it at all.. but I love it! I love this insane, joyful, craziness of a LIFE that you have graciously given me!! seriously!!! I absolutely surrender my life to You with open hands!!! I give you everything I AM! a filthy sinner is all I can offer to You God.. THANK YOU for sending Jesus to die for me.. so that You can take me as I am and see me as beautiful so that I fall on my knees giving You all the glory!! I've known this for as long as I can remember but my eyes are opened to a whole new sweet taste of YOUR love! I NEED You Jesus! I don't even deserve to be able to SEE that! I am nothing but DUST and You chose to save me!! I'm in so much awe!! You ROCK!!! haha! ahh!! I love You Jesus!!!! <3 <3 <3
holy cow I am going to explode from JOY!!! hahah I just had to get this out! I'm sooooooo in love with Jesus! I never ever need anything else! He is my everything!! and He deserves my everything!!!
God bless!!
- Val
I don't get it at all.. but I love it! I love this insane, joyful, craziness of a LIFE that you have graciously given me!! seriously!!! I absolutely surrender my life to You with open hands!!! I give you everything I AM! a filthy sinner is all I can offer to You God.. THANK YOU for sending Jesus to die for me.. so that You can take me as I am and see me as beautiful so that I fall on my knees giving You all the glory!! I've known this for as long as I can remember but my eyes are opened to a whole new sweet taste of YOUR love! I NEED You Jesus! I don't even deserve to be able to SEE that! I am nothing but DUST and You chose to save me!! I'm in so much awe!! You ROCK!!! haha! ahh!! I love You Jesus!!!! <3 <3 <3
holy cow I am going to explode from JOY!!! hahah I just had to get this out! I'm sooooooo in love with Jesus! I never ever need anything else! He is my everything!! and He deserves my everything!!!
God bless!!
- Val
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Devotion
I take a biblical world view class for school, and in the last class we were just learning about the basics of Christianity! Every once in a while there will be a quote on the page of something kinda random, and this weeks was a short story...
"A man in Kansas City was severely injured in an explosion. Evangekist Robert L. Summer tells about him in his book 'The wonder of the word of God'. The victim's face was badly disfugured, and he lost his eyesight as well as both hands. He was just a new Christian, and one of His greatest disappointments was that he could no longer read the bible. Then he heard about a lady in England who read braille with her lips. Hoping to do the same, he sent for some books of the bible in braille. Much to his dismay, however, he discovered that the nerve endings in his lips had been destroyed by the explosion. One day, as he brought one of the braille pages to his lips, his tongue happened to touch a few of the raised characters and he could feel them. Like a flash he thought, I can read the bible using my tongue. At the time Robert Summer wrote his book, the man had 'read' through the entire bible four times."
talk about devotion! seriously!! I love this story because the poor guy just never gives up! he keeps reaching for God and seeking God with His whole heart! He held onto God even though he was just a new Christian and it seemed almost impossible to read the word and learn more about God. but he kept trying and then once he firgured out that he could read it with his tongue... he read it four times! I have yet to read through my bible once. haha I am actually trying to right now. I love seeing all that God has in there for me. but yeah this made me want to dig deeper and really try with everything in me! I know that there is nothing I can do to be saved and that looking to what Jesus did for me is the only way to God and to heaven.. but its so amazing to learn about God and feel his intimate touch! haha so yeah.. I just thought I would share this with you guys. I would love to hear your thoughts on it! I hope that it can encourage you like it encouraged me!
God bless!!
-Val
"A man in Kansas City was severely injured in an explosion. Evangekist Robert L. Summer tells about him in his book 'The wonder of the word of God'. The victim's face was badly disfugured, and he lost his eyesight as well as both hands. He was just a new Christian, and one of His greatest disappointments was that he could no longer read the bible. Then he heard about a lady in England who read braille with her lips. Hoping to do the same, he sent for some books of the bible in braille. Much to his dismay, however, he discovered that the nerve endings in his lips had been destroyed by the explosion. One day, as he brought one of the braille pages to his lips, his tongue happened to touch a few of the raised characters and he could feel them. Like a flash he thought, I can read the bible using my tongue. At the time Robert Summer wrote his book, the man had 'read' through the entire bible four times."
talk about devotion! seriously!! I love this story because the poor guy just never gives up! he keeps reaching for God and seeking God with His whole heart! He held onto God even though he was just a new Christian and it seemed almost impossible to read the word and learn more about God. but he kept trying and then once he firgured out that he could read it with his tongue... he read it four times! I have yet to read through my bible once. haha I am actually trying to right now. I love seeing all that God has in there for me. but yeah this made me want to dig deeper and really try with everything in me! I know that there is nothing I can do to be saved and that looking to what Jesus did for me is the only way to God and to heaven.. but its so amazing to learn about God and feel his intimate touch! haha so yeah.. I just thought I would share this with you guys. I would love to hear your thoughts on it! I hope that it can encourage you like it encouraged me!
God bless!!
-Val
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Your love never fails
A song that is totally speaking to my heart!! Music is such a HUGE way that I express myself! I am so thankful for it! I've been singing this one a lot! God IS so beautiful and amazing in the way He works! His love is STRONG! He doesn't ever change! He is good today and He will be good tomorrow! Whatever we are going through we never have to be afraid or worried because HIS LOVE NEVER FAILS! He loved us FIRST and He will always love us no matter what! what an AWESOME God!!! I am so amazed Lord!!!! I give you my whole LIFE! I am nothing and You are EVERYTHING! You are beautiful God! You are WORTHY of PRAISE!!! I feel Your LOVE and I feel Your amazing grace! It is NOT of this world! You are so AMAZING!
Your Love Never Fails: Jesus Culture
Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails
I know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercies for me everyday
Your love never fails
Chorus:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There maybe pain in the night but joy comes in the morning
And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails
Verse 2:
The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails
The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I'd reach the other side
But Your love never fails
Bridge:
You make all things work together for my good
Here is the link if you want to listen to it! I would HIGHLY recommend it. this song is so full of passion!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoezWBPGRAc
God bless!
-Val
Your Love Never Fails: Jesus Culture
Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails
I know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercies for me everyday
Your love never fails
Chorus:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There maybe pain in the night but joy comes in the morning
And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails
Verse 2:
The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails
The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I'd reach the other side
But Your love never fails
Bridge:
You make all things work together for my good
Here is the link if you want to listen to it! I would HIGHLY recommend it. this song is so full of passion!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoezWBPGRAc
God bless!
-Val
Friday, February 5, 2010
John 17:17 "Your word is truth."
Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
I don't even know where to start. haha
Some of the events in my life this past week have been SO life changing for me! God has ways of making His glory SHINE that I can not even comprehend!
I was having a really hard time with a situation going on in my life.. I was trying not to have a crush on this guy, haha and I didn't see anything wrong with having a crush on him at all because he is a good guy, totally godly and very sweet and smart, someone I would marry for sure, haha but I didn't know what to think. I had never had to deal with something like that before and I didn't know what to do at all! All I knew is that I am so not ready for a relationship right now in my life! haha the wondering what was right to think and what was wrong to think was totally and completely consuming my thoughts! I knew that was a huge problem!
after like a week of just totally not knowing what to think, I just wanted to be single for the rest of my life!!! haha I wanted my feelings to just go away! I wanted God to be the center of my life and the only thing on my mind!!! Why was it so hard to just forget about the guy and move on with my life serving Jesus with my every breath instead of thinking about what could be!?!?!?
I started praying about it a lot more than I was before... and just asking God to please take away the distractions of stuff like that in my life so that I could see Him and keep my eyes on Him!! I was telling Him that I don't know what to think and I need Him to help me!
Our God is so faithful.
The next day I came to check out if anyone had posted on their blogs. (All of you writers are so amazing and such an encouragement to me!!)Turns out that I had some comments on my last post.(Check out the comments to see the amazing blogs of other Young girls who are striving for Jesus and SHINING!!! haha)These girls had no idea what I was going through at all... and God totally put them in my life RIGHT when I needed them! They just randomly told me to check out their blogs on purity.
OH. my. goodness. haha That is EXACTLY what I needed to hear!!! Of course I knew that staying pure and waiting meant not doing anything physical until marriage, and I had convictions in my heart not to date, and I wear a purity ring! haha but it totally hit me that the commitment that we have made to God to stay pure means more then just our bodies, but our HEARTS, our MIND, and our SOUL! When we say we are going to wait, we are saying that we are going to guard our hearts and not even THINK about crushes... even if they guy is awesome and could totally be our future husband... only God knows right now who that is going to be for each of us. We need to not give our hearts away to just anyone... and we NEED to dedicate our lives to God!!!
I could go on and on and on and into detail of what all this means to me now!! And how I have this whole new way to serve God in my life by staying pure and willing only one thing, Jesus Christ! the bible says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Pure can also mean that we focus entirely on only one thing, we give our whole lives to God and strive to make Him #1!!
God has really helped me to focus on Him these past couple of days and my eyes have been opened to His beauty in ways I can't even describe!! I feel free from worry and I have peace about everything!! The crush feeling totally went away! haha I see His Grace pouring out into my life through people and just the way that situations are being worked out perfectly and especially though Jesus work on the cross for our sins!! Gods word is truth!! I encourage you to pray to Him and give Him your whole life!!! Every situation that is going on, every thought, confess every sin, remember Jesus! haha God blesses us when we come to Him! Its ALL His grace alone that we are able to see this! and His grace ALONE that we want our lives to be for Him! We serve an AMAZING God! I praise Him and thank Him so much for you girls who have encouraged me! I hope this post can be an encouragement to you! haha He is awesome and worthy of worship and praise!!! <3 <3 <3
God bless!
-Val
I don't even know where to start. haha
Some of the events in my life this past week have been SO life changing for me! God has ways of making His glory SHINE that I can not even comprehend!
I was having a really hard time with a situation going on in my life.. I was trying not to have a crush on this guy, haha and I didn't see anything wrong with having a crush on him at all because he is a good guy, totally godly and very sweet and smart, someone I would marry for sure, haha but I didn't know what to think. I had never had to deal with something like that before and I didn't know what to do at all! All I knew is that I am so not ready for a relationship right now in my life! haha the wondering what was right to think and what was wrong to think was totally and completely consuming my thoughts! I knew that was a huge problem!
after like a week of just totally not knowing what to think, I just wanted to be single for the rest of my life!!! haha I wanted my feelings to just go away! I wanted God to be the center of my life and the only thing on my mind!!! Why was it so hard to just forget about the guy and move on with my life serving Jesus with my every breath instead of thinking about what could be!?!?!?
I started praying about it a lot more than I was before... and just asking God to please take away the distractions of stuff like that in my life so that I could see Him and keep my eyes on Him!! I was telling Him that I don't know what to think and I need Him to help me!
Our God is so faithful.
The next day I came to check out if anyone had posted on their blogs. (All of you writers are so amazing and such an encouragement to me!!)Turns out that I had some comments on my last post.(Check out the comments to see the amazing blogs of other Young girls who are striving for Jesus and SHINING!!! haha)These girls had no idea what I was going through at all... and God totally put them in my life RIGHT when I needed them! They just randomly told me to check out their blogs on purity.
OH. my. goodness. haha That is EXACTLY what I needed to hear!!! Of course I knew that staying pure and waiting meant not doing anything physical until marriage, and I had convictions in my heart not to date, and I wear a purity ring! haha but it totally hit me that the commitment that we have made to God to stay pure means more then just our bodies, but our HEARTS, our MIND, and our SOUL! When we say we are going to wait, we are saying that we are going to guard our hearts and not even THINK about crushes... even if they guy is awesome and could totally be our future husband... only God knows right now who that is going to be for each of us. We need to not give our hearts away to just anyone... and we NEED to dedicate our lives to God!!!
I could go on and on and on and into detail of what all this means to me now!! And how I have this whole new way to serve God in my life by staying pure and willing only one thing, Jesus Christ! the bible says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Pure can also mean that we focus entirely on only one thing, we give our whole lives to God and strive to make Him #1!!
God has really helped me to focus on Him these past couple of days and my eyes have been opened to His beauty in ways I can't even describe!! I feel free from worry and I have peace about everything!! The crush feeling totally went away! haha I see His Grace pouring out into my life through people and just the way that situations are being worked out perfectly and especially though Jesus work on the cross for our sins!! Gods word is truth!! I encourage you to pray to Him and give Him your whole life!!! Every situation that is going on, every thought, confess every sin, remember Jesus! haha God blesses us when we come to Him! Its ALL His grace alone that we are able to see this! and His grace ALONE that we want our lives to be for Him! We serve an AMAZING God! I praise Him and thank Him so much for you girls who have encouraged me! I hope this post can be an encouragement to you! haha He is awesome and worthy of worship and praise!!! <3 <3 <3
God bless!
-Val
Thursday, January 14, 2010
I've had enough...
Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Amen! This is totally my life line right now. Don't follow worldly things, but let God transform you!! These past couple of weeks, I haven't been in the word that much, and when I did read, I didn't really let it sink into my heart and mind, and I didn't memorize anything. My days seemed dark, like as if something weird had happen, or something was wrong. I kept thinking that it was my strange dreams from the night before tripping me up throughout the day, making me want to stop doing everything and not do anything at all. I would just sit around and think of different things and pray for different people, and think about how much I loved my sisters and friends. This went on for about 6 days straight before it hit me...
I had no devotion whatsoever to my LORD and savior! Yeah I would read my bible and pray, but there was no roots!! I had totally let go of Him, my thinking was as messed up as ever! I knew it was because I wasn't in the word. I would choose to do other things with my time, like read or play an instrument or even journal or call a friend, but I could FEEL that there was something so wrong! My eyes were so blinded by this world! God had to take away my desire to do all of those things before I realized that my time should be spent in getting to know HIM!
I mean.. I think about how much I love my sisters and how I know everything about them and still love them so much! Yesterday I was thinking about it in the car, and I just started tearing up and praying that God would keep them safe and not take them away from me! The feeling of being scared that God would take their life made me feel SO empty, and it was that moment that I realized I was putting my hope in this world to make me happy! My sinful flesh had thought my hope was in God because I was diligent in prayer and devotion, but I was really just looking at things with my heart, and my heart is sick! "the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9
You hear that?? DECEITFUL. Don't listen to it. This world is NOT permanent. This is just our temporary home. All of our time should really be spent in getting to know God more through His word until every moment our mind is filled up with thoughts of Him or about Him, and even our dreams are full of praise! I want so much for my life to be more about Him. I want thoughts of Him to pour like honey into my head and heart! Thick and sweet and there forever! I desperately need Him to change the way I think, and I need the spirit to help me memorize the commands which He has given me!
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."-Philippians 4:8
These are the things which should be on our minds, helping us to make decisions and go through our days with TRUST in the Lord!
I thank God that He has so much mercy and grace on me!! When we mess up and totally neglect Him, He still shows us the right way to go and He never ever leaves us! It was actually really hard for me to pray to God once I realized this, I can't even explain the smallness I felt in the moment, and the thoughts of how I have been SO awful. But God forgives when we ask Him to!!!! When we pour out our ugly hearts to Him, He sees us as BEAUTIFUL. How can He see me as so beautiful when I am the worst daughter, friend, sister, and servant to Him??? Because Of Jesus. Because of HIS blood I am washed white as snow and everything that went on yesterday stays in yesterday. The old has washed away and the NEW has come! Hallelujah!!! SO amazing!!! What a WONDERFUL God!
I am so thankful for everything that He is! He were created to worship God! Now that I see how much I was down the wrong road in my thoughts, I can get back on track because of His love and mercy and I am now ready to try and use my days to get to know Him better! Ive had enough of living life for only me. It totally drains me and makes me so scared! haha I feel like throwing all the secular things and anything that is taking control of the time in my life, out the window! Ohhhhh there is so much more I could say right now! So much on my mind! haha I will for sure be writing again soon. thanks for reading! I pray that you have already seen this and been transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you are able to live for God and give Him all the glory!! I also pray that you and I would continue to see it every day!
God bless
Val
Amen! This is totally my life line right now. Don't follow worldly things, but let God transform you!! These past couple of weeks, I haven't been in the word that much, and when I did read, I didn't really let it sink into my heart and mind, and I didn't memorize anything. My days seemed dark, like as if something weird had happen, or something was wrong. I kept thinking that it was my strange dreams from the night before tripping me up throughout the day, making me want to stop doing everything and not do anything at all. I would just sit around and think of different things and pray for different people, and think about how much I loved my sisters and friends. This went on for about 6 days straight before it hit me...
I had no devotion whatsoever to my LORD and savior! Yeah I would read my bible and pray, but there was no roots!! I had totally let go of Him, my thinking was as messed up as ever! I knew it was because I wasn't in the word. I would choose to do other things with my time, like read or play an instrument or even journal or call a friend, but I could FEEL that there was something so wrong! My eyes were so blinded by this world! God had to take away my desire to do all of those things before I realized that my time should be spent in getting to know HIM!
I mean.. I think about how much I love my sisters and how I know everything about them and still love them so much! Yesterday I was thinking about it in the car, and I just started tearing up and praying that God would keep them safe and not take them away from me! The feeling of being scared that God would take their life made me feel SO empty, and it was that moment that I realized I was putting my hope in this world to make me happy! My sinful flesh had thought my hope was in God because I was diligent in prayer and devotion, but I was really just looking at things with my heart, and my heart is sick! "the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9
You hear that?? DECEITFUL. Don't listen to it. This world is NOT permanent. This is just our temporary home. All of our time should really be spent in getting to know God more through His word until every moment our mind is filled up with thoughts of Him or about Him, and even our dreams are full of praise! I want so much for my life to be more about Him. I want thoughts of Him to pour like honey into my head and heart! Thick and sweet and there forever! I desperately need Him to change the way I think, and I need the spirit to help me memorize the commands which He has given me!
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."-Philippians 4:8
These are the things which should be on our minds, helping us to make decisions and go through our days with TRUST in the Lord!
I thank God that He has so much mercy and grace on me!! When we mess up and totally neglect Him, He still shows us the right way to go and He never ever leaves us! It was actually really hard for me to pray to God once I realized this, I can't even explain the smallness I felt in the moment, and the thoughts of how I have been SO awful. But God forgives when we ask Him to!!!! When we pour out our ugly hearts to Him, He sees us as BEAUTIFUL. How can He see me as so beautiful when I am the worst daughter, friend, sister, and servant to Him??? Because Of Jesus. Because of HIS blood I am washed white as snow and everything that went on yesterday stays in yesterday. The old has washed away and the NEW has come! Hallelujah!!! SO amazing!!! What a WONDERFUL God!
I am so thankful for everything that He is! He were created to worship God! Now that I see how much I was down the wrong road in my thoughts, I can get back on track because of His love and mercy and I am now ready to try and use my days to get to know Him better! Ive had enough of living life for only me. It totally drains me and makes me so scared! haha I feel like throwing all the secular things and anything that is taking control of the time in my life, out the window! Ohhhhh there is so much more I could say right now! So much on my mind! haha I will for sure be writing again soon. thanks for reading! I pray that you have already seen this and been transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you are able to live for God and give Him all the glory!! I also pray that you and I would continue to see it every day!
God bless
Val
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