I've come to realize that society - especially that of America - has an unreasonable standard of measuring one's identity and success. The first thing someone will ask you is "What do you do for a living?" or "What did you major in?" In America, you need a degree to be looked at in a positive manner. When you don't have a job or make the cash, our society tends to frown upon you.
Unfortunately, many people don't realize how wrong society is. Everything we do on this earth is meaningless. All the achievements we gain, the jobs we have, the money we make, the possessions we have...all absolutely meaningless.
Because our society places these pressures of degrees, and good jobs, and pay raises on us, we become anxious and worry about our lives. It's all such a meaningless cycle. Then we cope with our worries and anxiety in destructive ways. Society's pressures destroy us. Unless we know the truth.
Luckily, my truth is that of Jesus Christ. Because I know He has placed a more important mission in my hands, I don't worry about the society's calling on me. If I simply live out the passion and gifts God has instilled in my heart to the best of my ability, everything else I live for is unimportant. So what if I don't get that raise or get an A in my class? God expects me to do my best in everything, but He will provide for me daily. I can't get bent out of shape over things that don't matter in the end.
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Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Lessons from God
This whole year has been one big blessing and amazing learning experience for me. Last January I was at such a low. I didn't know where I would live, how I would get by, and lived quite afraid for awhile. I spent a couple nights on the couch at church, then lived out in Hamlin with Jen. She is so wonderful for letting me live with her!
I still had to keep my chin up with the high school girls in my life. Though, I can't lie, there were tears shed with them as well. They are so awesome to me too! Doing the Lady in Waiting study with them has been one of the best ever. I can't even begin to tell you how much of a blessing that book has been to me! Even today.
This year's Dominican trip seemed almost as if it were in a fog for me. So much was going on at home, that to sit back and take in what God was doing in my life was near impossible. I had way too much going on with my family, my health, and other relationships. Trying to explain how intricately God works through people is hard, but He sure did - even on the plane home from the DR. I got into a great conversation with one of our team members, and things seemed to become so clear! I wrote my dad a letter about my feelings and how God has worked in me. I stood up for myself in another relationship, and I was put at ease about health concerns.
Jen and I finally moved into Wildwood in May and things were really looking up. Though, relationships were still quite strained with my family, especially my dad. With summer came house-warming parties, where I took a leap and invited Mark (the guy I've had a crush on for a year now). Surprisingly he accepted!
More summer fun came up with fishing, baseball games, Dominican team events, and hikes at the state park. Mark and I started dating officially, which was huge for us since feelings just seemed too hard to put out for either of us and our crazy shyness. Mark and I shared in many late-night conversations that really challenged my thinking about the situation I had been through all year. He barely even knew about it, but God had used him to open my eyes.
I was convinced that I was going to marry this man.
I wrote my dad another letter, telling him how much Mark meant to me and how much God had used him to open my eyes on how grateful I needed to be of my dad for raising me to be a strong, woman of God who decided to pursue a strong man of God. Mark reminds me so much of my dad - scary isn't it? He has that solid faith, traditional values, and strong morals that my dad has taught me are important, and I knew that finding another man like him this day in age would be near impossible.
God had placed people in my life all year that have pulled me up, and helped me out. He put people there to say the right things at the right times, show me what was right to do in difficult situations, and use even books to teach me about true security and contentment in Him only. What a great way to take pressure off of Mark!
Since Mark met with my dad to ask him permission to marry me, and since I wrote my dad that letter, the relationship has slowly healed, and I feel like God has brought me such grace and blessing in a difficult time. God has rewarded me for waiting for this man.
Ladies - WAIT for him. Don't just be with someone because you want to be with someone. I can't even tell you how big of a blessing this man is to me! He has taught me so much, even hard things that I used to be stubborn about. I love him. I love God. God is so amazing! Pin It
I still had to keep my chin up with the high school girls in my life. Though, I can't lie, there were tears shed with them as well. They are so awesome to me too! Doing the Lady in Waiting study with them has been one of the best ever. I can't even begin to tell you how much of a blessing that book has been to me! Even today.
This year's Dominican trip seemed almost as if it were in a fog for me. So much was going on at home, that to sit back and take in what God was doing in my life was near impossible. I had way too much going on with my family, my health, and other relationships. Trying to explain how intricately God works through people is hard, but He sure did - even on the plane home from the DR. I got into a great conversation with one of our team members, and things seemed to become so clear! I wrote my dad a letter about my feelings and how God has worked in me. I stood up for myself in another relationship, and I was put at ease about health concerns.
Jen and I finally moved into Wildwood in May and things were really looking up. Though, relationships were still quite strained with my family, especially my dad. With summer came house-warming parties, where I took a leap and invited Mark (the guy I've had a crush on for a year now). Surprisingly he accepted!
More summer fun came up with fishing, baseball games, Dominican team events, and hikes at the state park. Mark and I started dating officially, which was huge for us since feelings just seemed too hard to put out for either of us and our crazy shyness. Mark and I shared in many late-night conversations that really challenged my thinking about the situation I had been through all year. He barely even knew about it, but God had used him to open my eyes.
I was convinced that I was going to marry this man.
I wrote my dad another letter, telling him how much Mark meant to me and how much God had used him to open my eyes on how grateful I needed to be of my dad for raising me to be a strong, woman of God who decided to pursue a strong man of God. Mark reminds me so much of my dad - scary isn't it? He has that solid faith, traditional values, and strong morals that my dad has taught me are important, and I knew that finding another man like him this day in age would be near impossible.
God had placed people in my life all year that have pulled me up, and helped me out. He put people there to say the right things at the right times, show me what was right to do in difficult situations, and use even books to teach me about true security and contentment in Him only. What a great way to take pressure off of Mark!
Since Mark met with my dad to ask him permission to marry me, and since I wrote my dad that letter, the relationship has slowly healed, and I feel like God has brought me such grace and blessing in a difficult time. God has rewarded me for waiting for this man.
Ladies - WAIT for him. Don't just be with someone because you want to be with someone. I can't even tell you how big of a blessing this man is to me! He has taught me so much, even hard things that I used to be stubborn about. I love him. I love God. God is so amazing! Pin It
Monday, August 15, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
What Truly Matters
God has been SO stinkin' good to me! I can't believe how amazing He is and how amazing His works and blessings are! He is the ultimate sculptor of my life.
I've spent the last year of my life trying to abandon everything for Him - my job, my relationships, my money, my possessions, my time...everything. At first it was so hard and down right scary, but now I feel so free of everything. I have less worry because I know that He will provide and He won't fail me.
I've also been doing well at keeping myself busy instead of moping around and complaining about my situations (specifically singleness) over the last few months. And what do you know- He has sure shown me that when I do His work and put my faith in Him, and not worry about where my life will be and with whom, He sends such amazing blessings and such a great and unexpected time!
I can't even begin to explain just how blessed I am. This whole last year has been so hard and scary, yet I've been at such peace about everything. He has brought the right people into my life at the exact moments I needed them- even though I didn't realize I needed them at the time. Just one big WOW!
It's funny that when you let everything go, and stop worrying about having everything you need and desire, that is when God's provision truly comes out! I have seen this so much over the last few months!
The moral of the story, let go-let God. He is good and He won't EVER fail you. When you reach this true realization, He will bless you indeed. I wish many people could see this - especially those girls chasing after guys in fear of being alone their whole lives. It doesn't matter what I lose in this life, because I'll never lose what truly matters in this life. =) Pin It
I've spent the last year of my life trying to abandon everything for Him - my job, my relationships, my money, my possessions, my time...everything. At first it was so hard and down right scary, but now I feel so free of everything. I have less worry because I know that He will provide and He won't fail me.
I've also been doing well at keeping myself busy instead of moping around and complaining about my situations (specifically singleness) over the last few months. And what do you know- He has sure shown me that when I do His work and put my faith in Him, and not worry about where my life will be and with whom, He sends such amazing blessings and such a great and unexpected time!
I can't even begin to explain just how blessed I am. This whole last year has been so hard and scary, yet I've been at such peace about everything. He has brought the right people into my life at the exact moments I needed them- even though I didn't realize I needed them at the time. Just one big WOW!
It's funny that when you let everything go, and stop worrying about having everything you need and desire, that is when God's provision truly comes out! I have seen this so much over the last few months!
The moral of the story, let go-let God. He is good and He won't EVER fail you. When you reach this true realization, He will bless you indeed. I wish many people could see this - especially those girls chasing after guys in fear of being alone their whole lives. It doesn't matter what I lose in this life, because I'll never lose what truly matters in this life. =) Pin It
Monday, July 11, 2011
"Taste and see that I am good..."
I must say that this "mountaintop" experience from the GEMS Conference in Colorado has truly touched me. I am in awe of my Creator and appreciate little things He's placed before me day to day. I pray that this awe doesn't wear off too hastily and that I can be a leader growing in the fear of the Lord.
I long to be unashamed for my Father. I'm sick of sitting back and not standing up for what I believe is right or wrong. I'm sick of being walked on and allowing things to just slip by.
Why do we live in sin when we know that the most important thing in our lives is Christ? Why not live for Him when He is the sure option? We don't give Him the credit He deserves and we live like He has done absolutely nothing for us. I hate it. I'm so fired up against people who pretend they are what they aren't. How can we be positive examples of the Christian faith when we are doing what the world endorses?
Then there is the other side of the spectrum.
The Christians who think they are too good for the world. They walk with their noses up high all haughty like, ignoring the people who so desperately need to know who Christ is. They see Christians and think we are too good. Yet we are awful when we act this way. We are hypocrites.
Personally, I'm so afraid of the vulnerable things in my life right now. I'm afraid of drama that doesn 't even belong to me. I'm afraid of being thrown into drama that I don't want to be a part of. I don't know where I'll be in a year, or what I'll be doing, but I am certain of one thing:
God has always been so good to me. He is good. He will always be good.
My life on this earth is just that: life on earth. Heaven is the ultimate goal and prize. When I aim for things of this earth, all I will get is earth. When I aim for heaven, I'll get earth thrown in. CS Lewis tells us this. Forget the drugs, drinking, sex, swearing, and negative input. I'm done with any negativity in my life. I long to be done.
Why should I rely on people when they let down? God is unchanging. He is good.
I pray for discernment and direction. Only God knows me truly and only God knows where I need to be. Pin It
I long to be unashamed for my Father. I'm sick of sitting back and not standing up for what I believe is right or wrong. I'm sick of being walked on and allowing things to just slip by.
Why do we live in sin when we know that the most important thing in our lives is Christ? Why not live for Him when He is the sure option? We don't give Him the credit He deserves and we live like He has done absolutely nothing for us. I hate it. I'm so fired up against people who pretend they are what they aren't. How can we be positive examples of the Christian faith when we are doing what the world endorses?
Then there is the other side of the spectrum.
The Christians who think they are too good for the world. They walk with their noses up high all haughty like, ignoring the people who so desperately need to know who Christ is. They see Christians and think we are too good. Yet we are awful when we act this way. We are hypocrites.
Personally, I'm so afraid of the vulnerable things in my life right now. I'm afraid of drama that doesn 't even belong to me. I'm afraid of being thrown into drama that I don't want to be a part of. I don't know where I'll be in a year, or what I'll be doing, but I am certain of one thing:
God has always been so good to me. He is good. He will always be good.
My life on this earth is just that: life on earth. Heaven is the ultimate goal and prize. When I aim for things of this earth, all I will get is earth. When I aim for heaven, I'll get earth thrown in. CS Lewis tells us this. Forget the drugs, drinking, sex, swearing, and negative input. I'm done with any negativity in my life. I long to be done.
Why should I rely on people when they let down? God is unchanging. He is good.
I pray for discernment and direction. Only God knows me truly and only God knows where I need to be. Pin It
Friday, June 24, 2011
Pleas to my Father
Lord, give me strength to get through what's ahead, and to let go and be at peace for what is behind.
Send me strong people to keep me alive in you. Help me not to hold my tongue when I need to speak up. Don't let me settle. Challenge me.
Help me realize that some things I can't take responsibility for or please everyone that I encounter. Help me to realize that not making everyone happy doesn't make me a horrible person, but help me to say "no" more often.
I want to live a life unashamed of You. Who cares about earthly things when I can have eternity with You. I don't need the luxuries of this planet, when I can have an everlasting love with You.
I've been so tired lately, Lord. I've been frustrated more than usual, fed up with situations, and people. Please, please keep me going. I can't do it without You. I wish more people realized how much You are needed in their lives. I don't know how they do it without you - maybe just lame old pride.
I love You, Father. Pin It
Send me strong people to keep me alive in you. Help me not to hold my tongue when I need to speak up. Don't let me settle. Challenge me.
Help me realize that some things I can't take responsibility for or please everyone that I encounter. Help me to realize that not making everyone happy doesn't make me a horrible person, but help me to say "no" more often.
I want to live a life unashamed of You. Who cares about earthly things when I can have eternity with You. I don't need the luxuries of this planet, when I can have an everlasting love with You.
I've been so tired lately, Lord. I've been frustrated more than usual, fed up with situations, and people. Please, please keep me going. I can't do it without You. I wish more people realized how much You are needed in their lives. I don't know how they do it without you - maybe just lame old pride.
I love You, Father. Pin It
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
On the Same Page
I'm currently working my way through a book called "Lady in Waiting" with my high school girls, and it has been quite an rewarding experience to hang out with them and just listen to the things they are gaining from the study.
I'm looking into another book called "A Man Worth Waiting For" by the same author of "Lady in Waiting" and I am taking in a lot from that book as well. I feel like I'm at that point of life where any decent guy that walks into my life I would fall for, when in reality, I should wait for one that actually is designed for me and will help me in my faith walk rather than bring me down.
In Jackie Kendall's book, she lists things to look for in a decent dude and one reality that hit me was the following:
"If someone is her (right guy), she will not have to stop running (the race), she will not have to change her pace, and she won't have to look behind her, because before she knows it, he will be running beside her. He will keep up with her, and they will continue the race at a complementary pace. This will be her running partner for the journey ahead. They will encourage each other and not trip each other... (God will tell her) 'Ashley, you will only get married to a man who will enhance your devotion to Me. He will not compete with it." (pg 25-26)
Ladies need to ask themselves "Is he looking in the same direction as I am?" And for Christians, we know that direction is Who we run toward. We need to be careful not to let something or someone hinder our progress in the race of faith. In fact, it tells us in Hebrews to "throw off everything that hinders us."
Ladies, don't settle for just anyone. Make sure he will challenge you in your faith and run beside you in the race! You shouldn't need to slow down for him or stop. Missionary dating is NOT the answer. You can't change him, only God can. There's no reason to date and save when you can be friends and teach him. You'll be the one pulled down before you pull him up. Pin It
I'm looking into another book called "A Man Worth Waiting For" by the same author of "Lady in Waiting" and I am taking in a lot from that book as well. I feel like I'm at that point of life where any decent guy that walks into my life I would fall for, when in reality, I should wait for one that actually is designed for me and will help me in my faith walk rather than bring me down.
In Jackie Kendall's book, she lists things to look for in a decent dude and one reality that hit me was the following:
"If someone is her (right guy), she will not have to stop running (the race), she will not have to change her pace, and she won't have to look behind her, because before she knows it, he will be running beside her. He will keep up with her, and they will continue the race at a complementary pace. This will be her running partner for the journey ahead. They will encourage each other and not trip each other... (God will tell her) 'Ashley, you will only get married to a man who will enhance your devotion to Me. He will not compete with it." (pg 25-26)
Ladies need to ask themselves "Is he looking in the same direction as I am?" And for Christians, we know that direction is Who we run toward. We need to be careful not to let something or someone hinder our progress in the race of faith. In fact, it tells us in Hebrews to "throw off everything that hinders us."
Ladies, don't settle for just anyone. Make sure he will challenge you in your faith and run beside you in the race! You shouldn't need to slow down for him or stop. Missionary dating is NOT the answer. You can't change him, only God can. There's no reason to date and save when you can be friends and teach him. You'll be the one pulled down before you pull him up. Pin It
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