Contentment

In this day and age contentment is not something that comes easily to people. Naturally I am always looking at what I think I need or things that would make my life better instead of seeking to be content in all circumstances I feel the need to complain and instead of being grateful I always find something that could be changed to make thing better. Or I look at the awesome things other people are doing and I wish that my life was more like theirs  Being content doesn't just have to do with things/possessions/money either it encompasses all of our life, it means being content with what we have, who we are and where we're going.

But God has called us to be content in all circumstances.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. -Philippians 4:11-12

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.   -1 Timothy 6:6-8 


Contentment means being satisfied and at peace with God's will in all situations. True contentment comes by comparing what we have to what our sins deserve and not by simply being thankful that you're better off than someone else. When we are content we are resting in the gospel and the fact that God has orchestrated all of our situations and that he has provided for us all that we need, and that everything that happens in our life will be for our good and God's glory.

I'm back!

It's been a while since I've posted....last semester was crazy, but great! Now that it's summer though hopefully I'll be posting more often! For now here's some truth that I've been mulling over. 

"When feedback hurts, angers you, makes you cry, puts you on the defense or offends you – that’s when you know it’s good. It hurts because it’s true, and you get the obnoxious privilege of deciding whether you’d like to remain indignant, in denial and a fake kind of strong or risk looking momentarily weak in order to find true strength and healing and be more Christ-like. It’s an art we’re all trying to master. Feedback takes an extra measure of humility."

You Have Me

Out on the farthest edgeThere in the silenceYou were there

My faith was torn to shredsHeart in the balanceAnd You were there

Always faithful, always goodYou still have meYou still have my heart

I thought I had seen the endEverything brokenBut You were there

I've wandered at heaven's gatesI've made my bed in hellYou were there still

Always faithful, always goodYou still have meYou still have my heartYou have me, You have meYou have my heart completely

Refreshed

Have you ever had those days and even weeks where you just feel so far away from God? Where you feel weighed down and overwhelmed by the world? Where the closeness of God and his peace are the last things that you feel? But then when I'm at my lowest point where I want to cry and can't go on anymore, when God points me back to himself and gives me the boost that I need. God never ceases to amaze me and show up. Today was no exception. God placed a friend in my life who noticed that I wasn't doing well and took the time to take me on a walk and she just listened as I poured out my heart and struggles to her.  Then later at night we had an impromptu Jesus talk and ended up walking to a lake and it was dark and foggy, but it was gorgeous with the lights beaming through the fog and the trees and we just stood there and admired God’s glory and majesty and I could just feel his peace overwhelming me and his presence was just so tangible I could feel it. We just stood out there admiring God and his beauty and singing songs and praise and worship to our creator. It was simply amazing! One of the best nights that I have ever had at college by far, just being able to let everything go and focus solely on God and take time just to sit in his presence and be encouraged it was so refreshing and amazing. I love it and I am so grateful for the amazing friends that God has placed in my life and for all the ways that they encourage me and point me back to my savior. I just want more of God and more of his greatness and love and presence in my life. I want to be filled with him, and I don’t just want it to be a Jesus high moment, I want it to be a way of life where I am constantly living passionately and in reckless abandon for my savior and loving him and feeling his presence. God knew exactly what I needed tonight and he showed me his love and care for me in a very tangible way through all the amazing friends he has brought into my life. My heart is full of gratitude and full of contentment and happiness as I sit in his presence and remember how awesome my God truly is! He is all I need! 

 "Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the LORD Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations."

Psalm 100:1-5

It's November, which means that it's gratefulness month! 

Today i'm super grateful for my Jazzers! 

My crazy little drool monster!

This little guy makes my day everyday! 

Love seeing his smile and big eyes! 

Can't wait to snuggle with him in 2 weeks!  

3 months later....

Soo...no one in the world probably still even looks at this blog, and for a good reason it's been months since i've even posted on here, but that's okay this blog isn't about other people it's really for me.

To document my life and watch the ways that God is working in and through me.
To remember the simple, little details that bring me joy
To see how things change and yet how they are the same all at once
To watch myself grow, mature and become the person God created me to be
To watch my dreams unfold before my eyes
To capture the moments of my life that make me smile, cry and laugh
To remember my family and friends
To freeze moments of my life

So for now here's a little update on my life :)

I have been a college student for 8 weeks now, and it has been a crazy 8 weeks! I LOVE it here, the amount of friends I've made here is ridiculous and it's overwhelming how much they love and care about me. Classes are crazy, but so good at the same time. I learn so much everyday, there are always new things to wrap my mind around and of course boatloads of homework to do every night, and as much as I hate it, it's soo worth it! I love that I get the opportunity to tutor kids and help them to succeed, that Thursdays are tator tot day! best day of the week. How beautiful the campus is in the fall. The peaceful fountains. Walking to classes and being able to say "hi" to half the people I walk by. Having the opportunity to meet new people everyday and spend time with your friends 24/7. Learning to schedule and organize and keep yourself on track. Having fun being apart of dance, LSO, RHA and especially CRU. Yesss these first 8 weeks have seriously flown by! I cannot believe that my first semester of college is almost over, and as much as I complain about the workload, the late nights, little sleep, gross cafeteria food, long lines, annoying professors etc.....I wouldn't trade it for the world. The good far outweighs the bad and tonight I'm just grateful that I get to have such a wonderful oppertunity and experience and that I get to spend the next 4 years of my life with my CapFamily at Capital University.

Desires of your Heart

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of  your heart." Psalm 37:4

I used to think that this verse meant that if I was a "good girl" and followed God and obeyed his commandments and spent time with him, then he would give me everything that I wanted.
He would give me my hopes and dreams and desires, and allow them to become a reality.
But you know what? I've come to realize that I was wrong. I've realized that it's not about
God making my dreams come true, but instead it is about God changing my heart and
turning my dreams into HIS dreams for my life. & that makes me so excited!
I'm excited for God to take my heart and desires and turn them into his and to make
my heart completely his.....it's not going to happen over night. It's going to be
a lifelong process of learning to seek and follow God and watching him transform
my dreams & heart, but I simply cannot wait, because God's plans are always WAY better
than mine!    :)