The LORD will fight for you, you need only to be still.

Photo by: Allyson Wall- church pew in Uganda

I stumbled across Exodus 14:14 the other day:

The LORD will fight for you, 

you need only to be still. 

I know I've heard this verse before, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't taking it out of context before I got too excited about the peace this verse brings just reading it. Sure enough this verse is AWESOME! I came across the commentary below and thought it was so great. (From www.enduringword.com)

 Exodus 14:13-14 Moses responds with great courage.

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

a. Do not be afraid: At this point, Moses had no idea how God would help them in the situation. All he knew was God certainly would help. In a sense, Moses knew he was in such a bad situation that God had to come through.

i. When we see that our only help is God, we are more likely to trust Him. Sometimes it is the little things - the things we think we can do in our own strength - that get us down, not the big things that we know only God can do.

b. Stand still: Moses told the people of Israel to stop. This is often the Lord’s direction to the believer in a time of crisis. Despair will cast you down, keeping you from standing. Fear will tell you to retreat. Impatience will tell you to do something now. Presumption will tell you to jump into the Red Sea before it is parted. Yet as God told Israel He often tells us to simply stand still and hold your peace as He reveals His plan.

c. See the salvation of the Lord: Moses didn’t know what God would do. Yet he knew what the result would be. He knew that God would save His people and that the enemies of the Lord would be destroyed. He could say to Israel, “the Lord will fight for you.”

I Married the Right One!

I walked out of the bathroom the night we got married and saw my new husband on his knees by the bed praying. 

My instant thought...I married the right one.

The first day on our honeymoon Ryan asked me if I'd like to go through the book Song of Solomon together and listen to a podcast each day that Tommy Nelson did on each chapter. At night we would read a chapter together and in the morning have our coffee and listen to the sermon. By the end of our honeymoon, week one of being married, we had read a book of the Bible together. 

I know...I married the right one.

Each morning Ryan reminds me that he loves me, that he thinks I am beautiful, and is so grateful I am his wife. I feel loved from the minute I wake up. 

I know...I married the right one.

The night before Ryan was leaving for his first work trip since we've been married, he went out to get us ice cream and came home with that AND a bouquet of flowers that I can have to look at while he is gone. He has brought me flowers consistently every month since he started pursuing me over a year ago. It still surprises me and makes me feel special. 
I know...I married the right one.

As I sat with the girls in my community group last night and gave them a brief update on life I realized, and shared with them, that we've been married less than three weeks and I have read 3 books in the Bible. That's a book a week, and more than I've read in the past each week. This has happened because I watch Ryan daily get into the Word. Waking up to your husband at his desk reading his Bible, and in free time he'll go and get into the Word is so awesome! Seeing him lead out in this has encouraged me and helped me to be more diligent in my time with the Lord. 

I know...I married the right one.

I know we are in our "honeymoon phase", but I love being Ryan's wife, and the way the Lord is growing me already. I thank God that I put the crosshairs on godliness and ended up marrying the right one. He makes me fall more in love with him and Jesus.

Crosshairs on Godliness Blog Post

"The Product of Rape"

Whenever abortion comes up people always say, "What about if a girl gets raped?" This is a great question and I can't pretend to imagine what being in that tragic situation would be like, but my sweet friend Carly was and she wanted to share her story...

"This face is truly the face of pro-life. He is a gift from our Heavenly Father, but he is also the product of a rape. Yes, my rape was a date rape. Some guy didn't hijack me in my car and rape me. I sometimes feel that it was worse. I trusted this person enough to go out on a date with him. Do I wish it wouldn't have happened? Sometimes, but am I glad that I chose the right decision? Yes! 

Max Noah, my son, has been the hardest and easiest decision I have ever made. In one way, I had to face what happened to me and give up the lifestyle I thought I "needed" to be happy. My decision was also very easy. His life was an innocent life. He didn't choose to be conceived in the way he was. I had an amazing pregnancy due to the fact that I forgave his father, from afar, and surrounded myself with beautiful believers who poured Truth into my life. Yes, abortion would have been the "easy" fix to bandage up my broken, Godless life, but instead, I shallowed my pride, exposed my sin and came to Christ. I, not only, saved Max's life but he saved mine. I don't look at Max and think about that horrible night. I look into my sweet boy's eyes and see hope and future. God wanted this miracle on this earth. Yes, every rape and situation is different, but there are other options. Kissing my son to sleep at night, teaching him how to speak, taking him to the park are all things I wouldn't have had the pleasure to do if I would have picked the "easy" way out. 

I want to apologize to Max and to The Lord daily for allowing abortion to cross my mind. Being a single mom is hard. I wish our circumstances were different, but God knows what we need and blesses us daily. This plan wasn't ideal, but God never forsakes us and we are never alone. 

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV)"

*Note: Less than 2% of abortions are from rape situations. Carly is one of a few friends I know who have chosen life when finding out they were pregnant after being raped. I am so proud of these beautiful women and that they chose life going through such a heartbreaking time. Their children are beautiful and I've witnessed how, although it's been hard, they truly see their child as a gift. 
I've also met women who chose abortion from rape and have shared with me that they now see how the abortion didn't help fix or heal anything, but only put them into further depression, guilt, and shame. They have told me that the rape was someone doing something terrible to them, but that the abortion was them doing something terrible to their child. I praise God that his grace and love abounds and that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, and like Carly shared, that our God never leaves us nor forsakes us. 
I am praying that women who have been raped and chosen either life or abortion would find healing, love, and hope. Our church has an incredible ministry called Shelter from the Storm if rape is apart of your story, and also has a ministry called Someone Cares if abortion is. I pray that women wouldn't feel like they have to keep these things secret and "deal with it on their own", but be surrounded by other women who have been in the same situation and can help one another. Here are links to these ministries:

Shelter from the Storm
Someone Cares

Thank you Carly for sharing your story. I love that our God can take something so tragic and make something beautiful- YOU and precious Max Noah. 

Stop Yelling Please

I sat with Ryan last night and for the first time tried to put into words my heartache. I still don't think I can put into words everything I am feeling inside.There is so much yelling going on from both sides that we are drowning out the hurting and brokenhearted. We are silencing the scared. As our voices get louder, the ones we should hear from are getting quieter, and I'm not ok with that. I'm talking about the Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life debate and can't sit silent as our state rallies around a woman because she can speak for half a day wearing sneakers. Anyone who knows me, knows I could talk all day long, and I love tennis shoes. I don't think what Wendy Davis did was anything special, I could talk all day long too. I've sat with women for the last three years who have had abortions or are thinking about having one. Their stories break my heart. I have a lot I'd love to share, but for today I'll just share some of the stories of the women who have chosen abortion...

THE CHURCH GIRL

My heart breaks for the girl who's grown up in church and is too afraid to tell her parents she is pregnant. Her parents have never really talked to her about sex, and don't really ask her questions about her relationships with guys. She's overheard them say things about others who have gotten pregnant and she feels embarrassed to come to them with the news that she is pregnant. What will they think? Will she ruin the "perfect church family" appearance they have going on? She doesn't want to let them down and is afraid of how they might respond. She aborts her child.Growing up she misunderstood the Gospel and God's grace. She thinks she's committed an unforgivable sin. She ends up walking away from the church out of shame, guilt, and fear. Her parents have no idea what all their daughter has gone through. She losses apart of herself. 

THE HIGH SCHOOL GIRL

My heart breaks for the girl who gets pregnant in high school and her parents are too prideful to help their daughter. The parents are too afraid of what the neighbors might think. They care more about what people might think, than the grandchild they could have. One of her parents drives her to the clinic to "get rid of the problem" and tells her never to tell anyone. Her parents, maybe even thinking what they are doing is loving, put guilt and shame on their daughter.Their daughter ends up pregnant again and this time she doesn't tell her parents because she knows the advice they will give her. She feels like the only option is abort her child. By the time she is 25 she's had four. She's numbed herself to the world. She losses apart of herself.

THE CAREER DRIVEN GIRL

My heart breaks for the girl in college or out of college with a great career path. She finds out she's pregnant and thinks there are really only two options: have a child and put her career on hold or even lose her job, or get rid of the child and keep on like nothing happened. She doesn't see how it would work to have both. Years later she's become successful and starts to wonder what life would have been like if she would have chosen to have her child. She's been a success at everything else and starts to realize that she could have probably been a success as a mother too. She puts all her efforts into work, even letting go of possible relationships along the way, because she has to make sure she does well enough to validate her decision to abort her child. She wakes up 40 years old, yes financially successful, but alone. She losses apart of herself. 

THE GIRL WITH A PASSIVE BOYFRIEND

My heart breaks for the girl who's boyfriend is passive and doesn't protect his girlfriend and child when she find's out she's pregnant. She doesn't know what to do and prays that he'll step up and help her. He doesn't say much, or really take a stand either way so she feels he doesn't want the child. Even up the point of taking the pills or having the surgery she isn't sure she is making the right decision, won't he help her? She aborts their child. They don't talk about it again, and slowly she starts to resent his passivity. Slowly he starts to resent her. Their relationship is broken. She losses apart of herself. 

THE GIRL WITH AN AGGRESSIVE BOYFRIEND

My heart breaks for the girl who finds out she is pregnant and her boyfriend doesn't want a child. He doesn't want the financial burden. He curses her, even beats her if she won't go to the clinic. He drives her and sits in the car outside while she goes in. She rationalizes this decision because she "can handle him", but can't bring a child into this situation. Or she is legitimately afraid for her life. She aborts her child and in her mind thinks she is worth nothing. She looses apart of herself. 

THE QUICK FIX BOYFRIEND

My heart breaks for the girl who is in a sexual relationship, finds out she's pregnant, and the guy casually and almost in a loving way let's her know it's ok he can give her money for an abortion. He lets her know he loves her and it will be ok. He tells her that once they get married they can have a family together, but for now they should wait. She wants his love so desperately that a large part of her feels like this is him taking care of her and loving her well. She aborts her child. A year later they break up and it hits her she's lost him, and she lost a child. She starts to regret the decisions she's made. She looses apart of herself. 

THE UNLOVABLE GIRL

My heart breaks for the girl who's had guy after guy leave her or cheat on her. She's never known what love really looks like. She finds out she is pregnant and goes to tell the guy she has been dating, only to learn he has also been dating someone else. She decides to stay silent and doesn't tell him she is pregnant. In her mind he obviously doesn't love her and doesn't want him to chose her just because she might have his child. She can't take the heartache any more. She feels completely unlovable and alone. She aborts her child and tells no one. She continues looking for love in all the wrong places. She looses apart of herself. 

My heart breaks for the 1 in 3 women who have an abortion. 

My heart breaks that a majority of them have not experienced the love, forgiveness, healing, and redemption found in Jesus Christ.

My heart breaks for the women who have kept this secret for such a long time they have numbed themselves to it and have convinced themselves it hasn't affected their lives. 

My heart breaks for the women as they hear the church people calling them murderers and other horrific names that places them more and more into places of guilt and shame. How can they ever speak up and say they are hurting and want help with all the condemnation?

My heart breaks for women as mother's day comes around every year and apart of them wants to cry as they realize this is their day too. They had a child, but they try to get that knot out of their throat, possibly even still trying to convince themselves what others told them- it wasn't a child.

My heart breaks for the men that have been apart of abortions and have just as much hurt, guilt, and shame. No one really thinks of them or how this has affected them. This was their child too. 

My heart breaks...

I pray that your heart breaks too. 

Church yes, absolutely, let's stand up for life, but let's stand up and also love our daughters, sisters, and friends well. 

Be a place of love and forgiveness. 

Be the hands and feet of Christ before girls end up pregnant, while they are pregnant, and if they have made a decision that they often wish they could take back...

I am pro-life. I believe that there are two lives lost when abortion is chosen, the child and apart of the mother. I believe we should stand up for the unborn children and love well those who have not chosen life.

I'm a Piece of...Silver.

The last two weeks of June I just felt down to be honest. I have had a lot on my mind and was feeling like the Lord was showing me even more how sinful I am. I can be selfish, insecure, and fearful. I can start trying to white knuckle change in my life, instead of abiding in Christ and asking Him to change me...and trusting that He is faithful to do so. 

I don't know if any of you are like me, but sometimes I'll realize I am being ridiculous, or know that how I am feeling isn't from the Lord, and then I get frustrated with myself for acting/feeling that way when I know better. I know the truth and almost start beating myself up for not walking in the truth. 

I've learned though that this is often when God is working on me. He is refining me. He is getting rid of the things in me that do not reflect Him. Instead of getting frustrated with myself I've started to become grateful of the work the Lord is doing in me. He is making me more like Him. He's not done with me yet! 

Last week my friend Liz shared this awesome story that totally applies to this refining process...

Some women were studying Malachi 3:3 where it says, 

"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." 

They were curious about the text and how it related to the character and nature of God. So one of the women called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention the reason for her visit beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities/dross. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot and reflected on the scripture, "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She watched as sweat poured from his brow due to the intensity of the heat from the fire he sat so close to. She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. 

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. 

The woman was silent for a moment. The she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy- when I can see my reflection in it."

You see as God refines and purifies us it is often times painful, but God doesn't leave us. He sits with us and hold us by our hand and tells us "Do not fear; I will help you." (Isaiah 41:13) What I love is that God can take something with tons of imperfections and impurities, purify it, and make it BEAUTIFUL. When He is finished He will see His reflection in us. Christ in us. 

I don't know what you feel like God is trying to work on in you, but I do know that He is always at work for our good and His glory. 

Praising God He is not done with me yet. I'm happy to still be in the fire, being shaped and refined. Thanking the Lord for patient and loving people in my life who help encourage me when I'm feeling down. God is good!

For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. - Psalm 66:10
Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel -Proverbs 25:4

The Old Refiner

He sat by a fire of seven-fold heat,

As He watched by the precious ore,

And closer He bent with a searching gaze

As He heated it more and more.

He knew He had ore that could stand the test,

And He wanted the finest gold

To mould as a crown for the King to wear,

Set with gems with a price untold.

So He laid our gold in the burning fire,

Tho’ we fain would have said Him ‘Nay,’

And He watched the dross that we had not seen,

And it melted and passed away.

And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright,

But our eyes were so dim with tears,

We saw but the fire—not the Master’s hand,

And questioned with anxious fears.

Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow,

As it mirrored a Form above,

That bent o’er the fire, tho’ unseen by us,

With a look of ineffable love.

Can we think that it pleases His loving heart

To cause us a moment’s pain?

Ah, no! But He saw through the present cross

The bliss of eternal gain.

So He waited there with a watchful eye,

With a love that is strong and sure,

And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat,

Than was needed to make it pure.

(From Streams In The Desert devotional)

Our Father, who seeks to perfect His saints in holiness, knows the value of the refiner’s fire. It is with the most precious metals that the assayer takes the most pains, and subjects them to the hot fire, because such fires melt the metal, and only the molten mass releases its allow or takes perfectly its new form in the mould. The old refiner never leaves his crucible, but sits down by it, lest there should be one excessive degree of heat to mar the metal. But as soon as he skims from the surface the last of the dross, and see his own face reflected, he puts out the fire.—Arthur T. Pierson

Love Thy Neighbor

A couple week's ago I was at Ryan's house and him and his roommates Paul and John were talking about helping their neighbor. The neighbor is handicap and lives with his mom in a home that has been in the family for around 100 years. The guys have started building a relationship with their neighbor this past year, and through conversation saw that one way they could help out was to re-paint the outside of the house.

They asked me and some of our friends to join them. They got material, bought food and drinks, and had our church partner 2nd Saturday help with supplies that we could use for scrapping, painting etc. So this past weekend we spent all day Saturday and Sunday re-doing this family home.  

While we were working on Saturday the lady that lived across the street came by to see what was going on and spent time chatting with some of our crew about how the guys saw a need and knew they were able, so they decided to help. 

The next day the neighbor on the other side of them had seen us working on Saturday so he came on Sunday wanting to help us. Up the ladder he went and he spent some of his day helping us paint. 

At the end of the day Sunday some people who live several blocks over drove to the house because they had seen us working all weekend and knew it had to "be something special going on". They decided to bring our crew dinner and drinks! 

I then went by the house last night after my bible study got out to say hi to Ryan and saw Paul and John up on ladders until after 10pm continuing to work on the house. I was in awe. 

These guys are living out this scripture:

One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 

- Matthew 22:35-40

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:14-16

It was awesome that in helping one family, others around saw their "good deeds" and even more opportunities were given to share Christ and point back to Him. 

As I reflect on this weekend I am encouraged and challenged by Ryan, Paul, and John. I am challenged by how they slowed down enough to get to know their neighbor, and looked for a way they could help. I am encouraged by how selfless they were in wanting to do this without anything in return. 

I thank the Lord for these guys and the way they are loving their neighbor and reflecting Christ to their neighborhood. I am thankful for the way they are sharing Christ with me. 

I pray that we all would be encouraged by this to look for opportunities big and small (it doesn't have to be painting an entire house), to love and help those around us. I pray that God is given much glory and praise because of us as believers being the hands and feet of Christ. 

Thank you guys for letting me help your neighbor, it truly was a blessing for me as well.

I said YES!

Ryan and I are going through Merge at Watermark, which is a pre-marital class that you can do if you are seriously dating or engaged. They told us the first night that the most important decision you make in your life is to accept Christ as your Lord & Savior. The second most important decision you will make in your life is who you choose to marry. When Ryan asked me to be his bride, it was the easiest question I've ever been asked...

Before the proposal- I had no idea that Ryan went to my parent's house on Monday to chat with them and ask them if he could propose. I'm so glad they said yes! We had talked about rings only a few times and I told him that I loved the oval or pear shape, and my dream would be to have a yellow diamond. What I didn't know is that Ryan had been ring shopping for a couple weeks. He had designed my ring with Scott Polk and the ring came in just in time, 5pm on Friday. Ryan picked up the ring, dropped it off at this house, and then picked me up for my birthday dinner. We went to Tillman's in Bishop Arts and it was amazing. I had no clue what was coming the next day. When he left me that night his sister called him and informed him that the March of Dimes actually had a walk the next day at White Rock Lake where he wanted to propose. There were 40,000 people signed up to be there! Ryan spent the rest of the evening and early Saturday morning trying to figure out if he would even be able to take me to "our spot" or if he would have to come up with something else. Fortunately he got information of a parking lot near by that we would be able to get to. He still wondered what it would be like to propose with all that going on. Ryan had told me he wanted to take me for a birthday picnic at White Rock and that we'd be going after to a nicer birthday lunch for his mom so I could wear something cute if I wanted. His mom's birthday was the day before mine and we hadn't gotten to celebrate her yet so this made total sense to me. We have gone out to White Rock for picnics throughout our relationship so that wasn't out of the ordinary either. He also had told me that week that he had Sunday planned for us to go look at rings, so I had no idea that he already had one and was going to be proposing. 

Photo by Chris Landry

The proposal- Ryan picked me up and we went out to White Rock Lake around 9am. He brought my picnic basket that my Aunt Diane & Uncle Dale gave me for Christmas and Ryan knows how special it is to me. We sat down and he started taking breakfast out of the basket, I still had no clue. He then pulled out a bottle of champagne and said something about celebrating my 30th birthday. This was the first moment I thought, wait champagne? At 9am? He took out his phone and showed me a picture of this exact spot that he had taken last summer. He started telling me how this was the exact spot he first prayed about whether or not he should pursue me, and he knew the answer to that was yes. I already started tearing up. He then pulled out his journal I had bought him while we were in Haiti out of the basket. He said he wanted to read me some of what he had written these past nine months. He shared with me prayers he had prayed, scripture that he read that made him think of me, and moments when he knew he loved me and wanted to marry me. He talked about what biblically a marriage looks like (Ephesians 5:21-32) and that he wanted to love me the way Christ loved the church. He quoted this from Song of Solomon to me and I couldn't hold back my tears...

"How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh how beautiful...Like a lily among thorns is my darling among young women...you have stolen my heart, my bride, you have stolen my heart..." 

He got down on one knee and for the first time in our relationship told me he loved me. This was something he wanted to wait and say until he could promise us forever. He reached into the picnic basket and pulled out the ring box and opened it up. He asked me, "Will you be my bride?" 

Right as he got on one knee all the March of Dimes people must have stopped behind me, I was facing the lake with my back to everything going on, but you could hear them saying "look he is proposing", "they are getting engaged", "look!" As soon as I said yes and gave him a kiss you could hear probably 100 people start clapping and cheering. It was awesome. After a few moments of telling Ryan for the first time that I love him I realized our dear friend Chris Landry had been there the whole time capturing it all in pictures. He took some amazing shots and I can't wait to see all of them. 

Photo by Chris Landry

The ring- He got me the most beautiful oval yellow diamond I have ever seen. It has a halo and diamonds on the band. It's more than I ever could have dreamed of.

My nephew Garrett

After the proposal- We called our families and had some time to ourselves. Ryan said we needed to head up to my sister's house that he had talked to her about us going to see them. When we got there I was so surprised he had both of our families all there for a celebration lunch. It meant so much to me to get to have our families all sit around the table together and just hang out. So special. 

We then went to my friend Brittany's house for what I had thought was going to be a 30th birthday party. It was that and so much more! My friends had already bought "She said Yes" cakes for us and had pictures printed and framed, including one from the proposal in a frame for everyone to sign! They had food catered in and I was overwhelmed by all the sweet cards and gifts. I've never felt so loved in my life. 

I promise I'll stop taking pics with hand in the air :)

It truly has been overwhelming taking in how much the Lord has blessed me with an amazing family, and now family that I get to be apart of. Incredible friends that I don't know what I would do without. Ryan, the most godly man I know who wants to spend the rest of his life with me. He has lead me so well in every area of our relationship: physically, emotionally, spiritually. He has been consistent, honest, patient, forgiving, and always comes through. I can't think of a day where he hasn't made me feel cherished and cared for. He's been an example to me of seeing me the way Christ sees me, and I am a better Christ-follower because of him. He is truly my best friend. I love him so much and am so happy I finally get to tell him every day! I tear up even now writing this. God has been so good to me and I just pray that Ryan and I's relationship/marriage would always glorify Him. I pray that we love each other selflessly and continue to seek God first.

Thank you all for the sweet calls, text messages, facebook messages etc. Ryan and I have been overwhelmed by everyone's love and support. Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

~The future Mrs. Wall! 

30 for 30 (#16-30)

30 for 30

16. God's hand is in everything. 

Even when things don't make sense in life. You can find peace knowing the you are in the Lord's hands and he is sovereign.

Psalm 71:16

17. There are angels on earth. 

It seems like whenever I am going through something tough God has someone in my life that is there to help see me through. Friends, family, and even sometimes strangers have truly been angels on earth for me. 

2 Corinthians 1:4

18. God is the hound of Heaven.

I heard this once and love it. When you look at scripture you will see that even those who have been the biggest enemies of the cross Christ recklessly pursues them, saves them, and uses them. Even when we don't want to turn to Him, He continues to pursue us.

Romans 5:8

19. Our worries and anxiety come from a lack of trust in the Lord. Always.

Matthew 6 

20. The opposite of loving God is loving self. 

We too often want to be our own god, not worship the One True God. We make ourselves the center of everything and think it's all about us, instead of realizing that our lives are all about Christ.

Luke 22:42

21. It is often the poor that are rich. 

Being on mission around the world I've realized that the people the world would consider poor are often the most rich because they have less to distract them from realizing their hope and joy is found in Jesus Christ. 

Mark 10 (rich young ruler)

22. Take time to celebrate the small things. 

I love doing toast at meals. Just to cheers to the good things in life. Celebrating the small things helps find joy each day.

23. Take time to simply encourage someone. 

Often we call people for a purpose. To share something, get advice, or just to chat. What I've realized though is sometimes a simple phone call or note or email just to encourage someone randomly can truly bless them. Try it, you'll be blessed too.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 

24. Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. 

Just because everyone is doing something like our parents told us as kids, doesn't mean that it is right. Just because our society or culture changes, that doesn't mean that truth has changed. Be careful that just because something is permissible, it doesn't mean it is beneficial or good for you. 

1 Corinthians 6:12

25. Comparison is the thief of all joy. 

(stop. it.)

John 10:10

26. Guard your heart. 

Don't let your heart inform you, inform your heart. We were made to love, but too often we give our heart away too easily. Be careful in thoughts, words, and actions. 

Proverbs 4:23

27. God is love. 

Love is a decision and an action. It isn't simply a feeling. Love is demonstrated to us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us on the cross. Love is sacrificial and selfless.

1 John 4:8 & 1 Corinthians 13 

28. Community is a game changer. 

If you want to truly experience life and grow find a group of other believers and do life with them. Study God's word together, pray together, share what's going on in your life, hold each other accountable, and encourage one another towards love and good deeds. Being in community has truly changed my life.

Proverbs 13:20 & Hebrews 10:19-25 

29. Forgive. 

Forgive as Christ has forgiven you. Forgive not only the people in your life that have hurt you, but also how that has affected you. You will never find more peace and healing then when you let go and let God. Holding onto bitterness, anger, etc usually weighs you down and keeps you from peace and joy. 

Colossians 3

30. There is only one true Gospel. 

Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. Jesus lived a sinless life because we cannot. He died on the cross because it takes a perfect sacrifice to satisfy a perfect God. Through his death our sins are buried, and in his resurrection we too can have eternal life. We can't earn our way to heaven, we will never be good enough when the standard is perfection. There are both good and bad people in heaven and hell. The difference in the two is that those who are in heaven are the forgiven. Those who declare with their mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in their heart that God raise him from the dead. 

John 14:6 & Romans 10:9-10

Praying that all will come to know and love their Savior and experience the abundant life of peace, love, joy, and hope that I have found. I pray that the Lord would use me these next 30 years for His glory and my good. 

30 for 30 (#6-15)

30 for 30

6. The only advice you should rely on is Scripture. 
Often times we give advice from our experience or what we think/feel, or we don't want to "hurt" someone so we don't speak truth. The most loving & best advice you can give someone is to give them God's Word. That is loving, that is where life is found.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

7. We miss out on life because of busyness. Life is found in the margin.

Our society is always in a rush. It reminds me of the country song that says "rushin rushin till life's no fun..." When we are busy, even with good things, we miss out on building relationships. We put off having time with the Lord; we run out the door with out giving our loved one a hug and kiss; we miss the opportunity to ask someone how they are doing...and give them time to genuinely respond. We miss out on life. The sweetest moments are when we stop and are still. 

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that has to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed- or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

8. "It's ok to be hurt, but remember hurt people hurt people and it's not ok to hurt people."
Blog post:Looking in the Rear View Mirror

9. Breakups are a good thing.

Someone said this to me and at first I thought they were crazy. Breakups are so painful. You experience a loss of something: a dream, a friendship, a hope, a love. However you end up with either a better version of that person if for some reason in the future you get back together, or you end up with someone better for you. Either way it's better. Hopefully you draw near to the Lord during the process and grow in your dependence on Him and your awareness that He is enough. God's always up to something. Trust Him. 

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

10. Own your role in conflict. 

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Matthew 7:3-5

11. Communicate. 

Most often conflict comes from not communicating well. Expectations aren't communicated. Assumptions are made instead of asking for clarity. Don't be afraid of what you think might be an awkward conversation. Communicate well. Communicate often.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20

12. Life feels short, but is eternal. What you do with your days matter. Don't waste them.

13. We are nearsighted. God is farsighted. Trust in Him.

Often times we can only see what is right in front of us. We can't see the big picture. God is always us to something bigger than us. He knows what is coming next. Trust in Him. His plan. His timing. 

Blog post: Walking by Faith

14. Throw your list out the window and seek God's best for you.

Blog post: Crosshairs on Godliness 

15. Never will He leave you, never will He forsake you.

For a long time I wondered where was God when bad things were happening to me and those around me. I realized 3 years ago God has never left me. He has always been there waiting for me to turn to Him and trust Him. He doesn't promise to keep us from the fires and storms, just to carry us through.

Blog post: I'm Not Strong Enough

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

30 for 30 (#5)

30 for 30

5. Your greatest disappointments come from your expectations. 

When we feel let down, frustrated, or disappointed it's most likely because we had an expectation that wasn't met. The big problem with that is we often don't communicate our expectations. Clear expectations are key. Whether it is in a relationship, at work, or with friends communicating expectations will benefit you and those around you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 

30 for 30 (#4)

30 for 30

4. Your identity should be in Christ. 

Just like your past, sins, and failures do not define you like #3, in the same way your success, relationship, career, etc should not define you. When you look for your identity in other things they become idols in your life and you end up starting to work harder for those things at the expense of your relationship with God. We should be identified as Christ followers first before we are labeled as CEO, mom, girlfriend, teacher, runner, husband, wife, or top sales associate. The first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. When we stand before the Lord it will be our identity in Him that matters. 

Galatians 2:20-21

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

30 for 30 (#3)

30 for 30 

3. Nothing is bigger than the cross. 

Your past, your sin, your failures do not define you. God redeems ALL. For us to say that God couldn't possibly forgive something is to say the cross wasn't enough. It is to say that Jesus died for nothing. There is no sin bigger than the cross. That is the Good News, that is the Gospel. When God looks at you, as a believer, He sees His Son Jesus, not your sin. Be forgiven, be set free.

Psalm 103:1-12

Praise the Lord, my soul;

    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives ALL your sins

    and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

    and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness

    and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses,

    his deeds to the people of Israel:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

    slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,

    nor will he harbor his anger forever;

 he does not treat us as our sins deserve

    or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

    so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

30 for 30 (#2)

30 for 30

2. Your biggest mess, can be your greatest message. 
I used to let guilt and shame keep me from being open about painful experiences in my life. As I've been transparent with people about my past it has helped others find healing too. I can truly say that the biggest messes in my life, are what God has used the most not only to show me how great and faithful He is, but also to help comfort and push others to Christ too.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 

30 for 30 (#1)

I will turn 30 in 30 days and thought it would be fun to share 30 things I've learned in my 30 years. I have to be honest that most of these I did not learn earlier in life and am still really learning to live them out fully. I also have to give credit to those in my life who have helped me learn these lessons along the way. Thank you for being patient with me, forgiving me, encouraging me, and loving me. God has truly blessed me with amazing people in my life these past thirty years.

30 for 30

1. Let truth dictate your actions and feelings, not the other way around. 
Do not go by your feelings and emotions, stick to what is true. My feelings can change by the hour. If I make decisions or react off of emotions I often regret what I've said or done. If I stop in the moment and focus on what I know to be true I tend to capture my thoughts, react well, and hurt others less. 

Philippians 4:7-9
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.