What 2 months with a concussion has taught me.....

After an accident at dance, I ended up with a severe concussion and it has now been 8 weeks and counting with this silly concussion. It's been a rough 8 weeks, but God has really taught me a lot through all of this!


Two of the biggest lessons that God has taught me these past 2 months

 Prayer 
      &
 Being quiet and still 


I am a very busy girl, always doing something, going somewhere with a never ending to-do list. My life is full of lots of noises and too often I do not take the time to rest and refresh, and God has given me this time where all I have been able to do is rest. He has also shown me the importance of being still and quiet before God. When I consistently have the noise of the world surrounding me how do I expect to hear from God. I need to take time to listen for his still small voice and to simply sit and be in his presence. I complain that God doesn't answer me, but in reality I am the one who doesn't take the time to actually listen to Him.

Prayer: I wanted to grow in praying more this year, and because of my concussion I cannot read or have Jesus time, but the one thing I can do is pray. So God has given me so much time just to talk to him and come into his presence with thankfulness as well as requests and just to talk with him as i spent hours laying him my bed.

As hard, challenging and frustrating as this past month has been I am so very grateful for how God has used this to teach me, and bring me closer to himself.

I am grateful for the love and care that I have received from all of my amazing friends, they dropped everything to care for me, and serve me, bring me food, drive me to doctors appointments and tests and have taken notes for me in my classes. I have felt very blessed this past month.

Now, as I slowly recover and being to start therapy sessions, and begin attending classes again. I don't want to forget what I have learned to remember that God is with me to give me strength and patience to male it through the next couple of challenging weeks.

"The only way you will ever run to the Helper is by running away from the delusion of Independence"  ---- grateful that God reminded me that I am not independent that I NEED Him! Because too often I try to be in charge of my life and live like I'm the one who is in control, but in reality I am finite and weak, and thankfully God who is good, gracious and all powerful is the ruler of my life.

God never ceases to amaze me!

Look up!

This month I've been studying the book of Exodus, which is not in my top 10 favorite books of the Bible in case you were wondering, and I've read it probably a dozen times before. But I've really been listening to God lately and really seeking to try and read and meditate on his words and God has been teaching me SO much through it!

My most recent lesson was from Exodus 4, when God called Moses.
It's a great reminder to LOOK UP!

When God called Moses, he was worried that he wasn't qualified and I would have been too I mean a Holy Perfect God that showed up in a burning bush is calling me to lead his people? That's just a little intimidating to say the least! Moses knew that he wasn't qualified and so he tried to remind God of his weaknesses

"Oh my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and tongue."  (v. 10)

Moses wanted to remind God of why he couldn't be a leader, but God looked at him and said:

"Who has made the man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?"

God knew exactly who Moses was when he called him! God already knew all of his weaknesses, but he wanted to work in those weaknesses! 

"Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."

God told Moses that he would be with him and would speak through him, but moses wasn't willing to go, he was so caught up looking at himself and his weaknesses and failures that he failed to look UP to God and see that God was capable and able to use moses even IN the midst of his weaknesses. Instead Moses was caught in the trap of sizing up the situations to his own abilities instead of look up to God and seeing that he was the one who would give him the Strength and skills needed to lead God's people.

So Moses argued with God and told him to choose someone else to speak for God, and so God did and he chose Aaron. How often do I do that in my own life? Do I tell God he should chose someone else. How often do I fail to follow the tugging of the spirit on my heart, because I'm fixing my eyes on myself, my own fears and weaknesses and not on my Savior who is able to do abundantly more than I could ever ask or imagine! 

Instead of looking at life with a focus on myself and on what I think I can or cannot do I want to live my life with a focus on God and who he is! That the one who has called me is faithful and he wants to use me and glorify himself in the midst of my weaknesses!

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 

 2 Corinthians 12:19

New Year!

I am so excited for this year and the things God is going to do! I began this year by surrendering my life to God, and I pray that this year I am daily surrendering my life more and more to his will. I don't want control over my life, I don't want to my own plans, dreams and desires anymore I'm done trying to live my own life instead I want God to come in and wreck my heart to take all my hopes and dreams and replace them with his beautiful and perfect plan for my life! Because his plan is more wonderful than anything I could ever imagine on my own! 

This year I'm working on fiercely loving others and putting them ahead of myself, I want to fall more in love with my king and savior Jesus Christ every day! I want to keep my eyes on eternity and not the fading jewels of this world! To follow the wisdom of God and not this world! To be okay with the unknown and trusting enough to walk out into the waves with a heart that's confident and trusting instead of fearful! 
So this year I'm not making any New Years resolutions...I'm done trying harder instead I'm letting myself rest in my saviors arms and I'm focusing on my own personal relationship with him seeking him first and everything else in my life will fall into place, he'll bring peace and clarity & comfort and direction and lasting change that's from the heart something that no amount of resolutions or plans can bring. 
So here's to a year of daily falling more in love with Jesus! 

Give up on yourself

When you give up on yourself you begin to rely on him. When you are willing to abandon your own little dreams you begin to get excited about his plan. When your way has blown up in your face again you are ready to see the wisdom of God's way 

This is something that I really need to remember, I want to start embracing those moments when I feel like I'm at the end of my rope, and I'm confused, and don't know what to do and I feel like I've done everything that I can and things seem out of my control, to seize them as an opportunity to completely trust and rely on God. To be excited about moments where God has to be the one to move and come through, where I can totally let go of control and realize that he's the one in charge and he has a bigger, more magnificent plan that I could ever imagine. To remember that his way is always better than mine and that even though I might fail, feel hopeless, defeated and want to give up, God is all powerful, never tires and his plans always come through! 

With God there is no better place to be then at the end of myself ...when I am willing to confess how weak I am I am most ready to reach out for the grace that can only be found in Christ

"I'll sing of the wonderful promise

that Jesus has given to me;

'My strength is made perfect in weakness,

My grace is sufficient for thee.'

And lest my poor heart should forget it,

Or ever forgetful should be, 

He still keeps repeating the promise,

My grace is sufficient for thee.

Yes, over and over and over 

My savior keeps saying to me;

My strength is made perfect in weakness,

My grace is sufficient for thee."

"The Least of These"

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

Matthew 25:35-40

In today's world it's so easy to get caught up in the materialistic society. To get so caught up in yourself, your family and your own wants, needs and desires that you forget to notice those around you, those who are hurting and in need. We walk right by them & without a second thought. Instead of showing God's love to others we are more concerned with our own selfish wants and desires.

Yesterday I made a quick trip to Walmart to grab a couple ingredients that I needed for my brother's birthday cake. It was a simple trip I ran in got everything I needed & was on my way. My plan was to hurry  and get back home as fast as I could so I had time to finish baking the cake. (God had other plans). It started as I walked out of the store there was a guy standing there from an organization that helped women who were abused after seeing the two people in front of me completely ignore him and walk by I felt bad so I stopped to listen and rummaged through my wallet and found a dollar to stick in the jar. He thanked me profusely and I walked away to my car thinking what a nice person I was haha :P  

Then I got in my car and as I was leaving the parking lot the light was red, I looked around and saw a lady and a small boy sitting on the grass and she had a sign next to them "Single mom, in need of some help God bless!" I thought maybe I'll give her some of my spare change, but then the light turned green, as I drove off I had a nagging feeling in my heart that God really wanted me to go help the lady out, but I argued in my head about how I was on a time crunch and how I had to have the cake done before my brother came home, how I needed to save money since I'm going back to school in a few weeks  etc. etc. but even with all the excuses I was coming up with I still felt God telling me to go back, that she needed help and more than that hope. So I turned around and I sat in the McDonald's parking lot, realizing I had no cash I was trying to figure out what I should give them so I thought I'll just get them some food from McDonald's but I didn't know what type of food to get them, so instead I went back to Walmart, ran in and grabbed a Walmart giftcard, & God even blessed me the lady in front of me in line had a cart full of groceries and she told me to go in front of her since all I had was one thing, God's great like that.

Anyways, after I grabbed the card I drove over to them & I decided to park the car and go up and talk to them I figured I might was well make it personal, when I walked over there I looked at her and I could see the desperation in her eyes, I said that I wanted to give her this giftcard the little boy eagerly snatched it out of my hand and stared at it with a big smile. The mom burst into tears, I said some compassionate words and she thanked me over and over and I almost left with that, but the Holy Spirit kept nudging me and before I walked away I asked her if I could pray for them, so right there in the grass with 2 complete strangers I prayed for them for protection and help and most importantly that they would learn how much God loved and cared for them. As I walked away to leave she looked at me and said "thank you for giving me hope." 

That right there was worth the extra 15min, to be able to bless and help someone in desperate need and show them God's love. Seeing their gratitude and the smiles on their faces blessed me so much. They may think that I helped them, but really today they reminded me how amazing it is to give to others. I re-learned how to show God's love to those around me in practical ways, instead of being selfish and only thinking about myself. 

Too often I think about my needs, how I'm a poor college student, my loans, gas, textbooks, etc. instead of realizing how amazingly blessed I am! God has given me way more then most people and yet everyday I take it for granted, I take the fact that I have a family, a nice house, a car, a job, the ability to go to school, a laptop, phone and all my other blessings for granted. God has blessed me so much so I want to be a blessing to others and show them his deep amazing, unending love! 

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" 2 corinthians 9:7

Treasuring Life

Summer is almost over, & I want to savor and soak in all the little details & live in the moment instead disconnecting for the rest of the summer and looking to the new school year. 

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19   
I want to be like Mary and treasure the moments of life, so here are some things from this past week little moments that I'm grateful for and  want to remember 

- Talking and laughing in the driveway at 7 in the morning with my brother before we both head off to work for the day 

-My big brother calling me "little sis"  always makes me smile

-Cuddling up in my bed reading a good book while listening to my brother play the guitar

-Dance parties in the car with the little siblings 

-Spending the afternoons baking 

-Cuddle time with my sweet niece Jalese

-Spontaneous roadtrips with friends 

-My little nephew gasping with excitement when he saw me and running up to give me a hug and kiss 

-Morning hugs from my mummzy 

-Sitting on the porch gazing at the stars 

-Working out, and being able to do 100 push ups

-Comfy blankets and pillow pets 

-A new set of beautiful baby twins being added to the family (can't wait to meet sweet Addison and Lucas)

-Playing the piano for the first time in a month


These are all simple everyday little moments that often I overlook, but really these are moments in life that make it so beautifully wonderful and these are the moments that I don't want to miss or take for granted, instead I want to treasure them up and enjoy the present without trying to rush into the next thing!

The truth will set you free

Sometimes it's so easy to believe lies that our hearts or the world tells us, instead of believing the truth of God's word and what he says. We all have lies that we listen to, so I challenge you to figure out what lies you've been believing and see what God has to say about it, start telling yourself the truth and memorizing scripture to help remind and encourage you and free you from the lies of satan. 



Recently I made this list of lies v. truth for a friend and it ended up encouraging me, so I thought I'd share! 

God will never forgive me for what I've done 
 Truth- "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) 
  We are fully forgiven in Christ 

God can never use me 
Truth- "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
   God will empower you to accomplish the plans he has for your life  

I am full of fear 
Truth- "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self‑discipline." (2 Tim. 1:7)
  When I am in Christ I have nothing to fear 

If God loved me he wouldn't let bad things happen to me 
Truth- “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
  God has my best interested at heart in all he does 

I'll never stop hurting 
Truth- "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3)
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 24:12)
  God will heal our broken hearts

I'll never be good enough 
Truth- "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork,created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:8-10)

" How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[b] so that we may serve the living God!" (Hebrews 9:14)

  Because of Grace we are viewed through Christ's perfection 


No one will ever love me 
Truth- "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)
  God's will always love us, with an everlasting love

I'm not strong enough
Truth- "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."(2 Corinthains 12:9)
"Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary."
 God will give us grace and strength when we are weak." (Isaiah 40:31)

I'll never change 
Truth- "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Corinthians 5:17) 
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6) 

God will finish the work that he has started