What if all we Spoke was Truth?

In today's world, so many Christian character traits -- even good moral traits -- are lost. One, out of many, is honesty. Honesty is the basis of so much in life. Out of honesty comes trust, relationship, and love.
Even closer than in the world, is in the church. How many times have you gossiped talked to her about him, because of something he did to you? How often does someone ask our opinion, and we say we don't care, when really, we did want to do it?
In a perfect world, I tell you your breath reeks, and you say thanks, and you chew two pieces of gum. I told you because it bothers me, and you accepted it, because you want the best for those around you.
If I told you the truth all the time (and I am called to do so), I would tell you that I appreciate when you dress up to go to town; I don't think you should talk to your mom like that because I don't think it's respectful; I wish you wouldn't wear those tight jeans because they draw my eyes where I don't want to look; I think you need to ask God to help you forgive, and forgive over and over again, because Jesus asked it of you; I will share my heart and be open to you, because that is openness, and I trust you; your dress is really tight, and for the guys' sake, I wish you wouldn't wear it.
Why can't I speak more truth? Why do I always try to morph the truth and twist it a little to make it less obvious or less harsh? Truth is truth. Truth does not need to be defended. We only need to let truth out and embrace the truth.

God Kisses II



via pinterest



 

 

::being part of an awesome group of people who love God and make an effot to love eachother with a love that comes from God and we call it unity. i love my church.

::running

::the blue sky and the sunshine make so many things happier

::a job and money to spend

::awesome friends who are there for me and my family

::delia who makes me smile

::the trust i earned from my parents

::uniqueness and the fact that no one is exactly like me

::God always working things out according to his plan

::relaxing with my great family

 ::vacation and seeing my bestie for the next 10 days!!!

::customers who make me smile just by being themselves

::white water rafting

::trusting God for the future, because i don't know what it holds

abandon

There's this thing in life that every single person desires. Freedom.

Everyone finds freedom somehow. Whether that is swimming at a nude beach. Or dressing weird and being ok with that. Some people simply live by themselves and try not to be involved in the rest of the universe. The only true freedom is found in Christ. He gives us freedom from the bondage of our sin and from so much more.

When I think of freedom, I think of a girl, running through a field. Her hair is flying behind her and is caught in the wind. She is laughing, throwing her head to the sky. She is running free. The evening sun is sparkling in her eyes and her laughter warbles with the birds. She is alone, with her God. Nothing can mar this time with Him. She is feeling peace, and freedom, and nothing can rob her of it.

I love freedom. I want more freedom in my life. There is a deep pulling in my heart that screams for more and more freedom in my life. I feel like I need freedom to be myself in the midst of a society that tries to make me somebody else. I need freedom to be different, and to be ok with that. I need freedom to rest in Christ, and to realize that nothing else matters, except what He thinks.

this life.

i am a pebble. lying on the ocean floor.

i am suddenly tossed aside by a shattering wave. now i am falling. falling through the graves of the water. finally, finally, i am washed ashore. but then i am washed back. i cannot stay. the waves grope at me and pull me out again. again, and again, i am pushed, pulled, rolled around. i once again reach the shore and try as hard as i can to stay on the ground. i made it, and i relax. trying to live life here where i am. it is ok. i know life here. and i am comfortable.

all too soon, though, another huge wave comes crashing towards me. it pulls me down, and nothing i do can hold me back. once again, i have to relocate and change my life. my circumstances are such a huge part of what i'm feeling. one day, i find myself far up on the shore. there is no way the wave can reach me. i am really loving life and enjoying it where i am. suddenly, a hand reaches out and flings me back to sea.

why? why does life have to be such a series of changes? why can't i live where i like it?

and i have noticed that the waves are shaping me. i am not who i used to be. every time another wave pushes me, i let a little bit of myself in that place. slowly, i am changing, and there's nothing i can do, but change along with my life and circumstances. because all of life is a process of changing. and i am grateful i can change. but why does it have to be so hard?

i am a pebble. rolling in the waves. waiting to see where else i will be thrown.

God Kisses

::screaming with my bestie about our upcoming trip

::bright colors

::jamming out in my little car with the windows down

::sitting outside by myself with my journal and my Bible and sorting out my thoughts and connecting

with my Creator

::beautiful full moon

::prayer, and the fact that God hears me

::laughing with my friends

::good hair days

::God speaking to me, exactly when i needed to hear Him

These are only a few things that have made my week more bearable. I like to think of these things as "God Kisses." Things that God sent my way, just to make my day a little brighter.

vision

Recently, I've wondered what my purpose is. Why am I living? What brings me joy and fulfillment? Sure, the quick answer is to glorify God and serve Him with everything I do. Going deeper than that though, really, what am I living for?
In Proverbs 29:18, it says that where there is no vision, the peopel perish. I think it's talking about the vision for a group of people. But I also think it means in an individual's life. If I don't have vision in my life, my life will perish. It will be meaningless.
I need vision.
I am not a visionary person. I never have been. I have always taken life step by step and taken the future every day as it comes. I don't have great plans or dreams for my future.
But I think, in order to fulfill God's plan, I need to have vision. Vision for my future. For teh work of God in my life. For those younger than I, who are following my example.
Vision comes from God. I need to ask Him, and He has promised to give it to me. It sounds so simple, but it's not really. Asking God for vision is also saying, "I will follow that vision." That, in itself can be pretty scary, because of the fact that we have no idea where God may lead us.
I want vision in my life. I want to live for a purpose. But I have to ask myself, what am I willing to put down so that I can pursue the vision God places in my heart?

on the love of God.

This morning in church, God really hit me. Lately, I have been feeling like I need input in my life. Lots of it. Now that it’s summer vacation, I don’t get spiritual input in my life daily like I used to in school. And I really miss it. So I was looking forward to church, because I wanted to be filled, and I knew that God will fill me.

The sermon was about the love of God. We, as humans, deserve death and punishment. Why? Because we have chosen to live like this. We choose sin. We choose death. People ask how God can be a loving God and yet send people to Hell. But that should not be the question. We chose death and our punishment is Hell. But God, in his awesome love for us, gave us a gift. A gift of life. And it is our choice. We can choose to accept his gift and have eternal life. Or we can choose to ignore that gift, and suffer the consequences. It is up to us to choose our destination.

I bless God. For his awesome love for us. We don’t deserve it. We were born in sin, and that is how we would live, if it weren’t for the gift God has offered to us. This gives me hope. I want to live my life differently because of this. I want to live with this joy. I need you, Jesus.