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.