God Knows

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Though sometimes hard or frustrating things happen and it's hard to understand why...God knows.

He has the best plan for us no matter what waves roll up on the shores of life. The real question is this: where is our trust? Is it in our own thoughts (or doubts) of the situations we find ourselves in, or is it in the Sustainer, Provider, and Friend we find in Jesus?

It doesn't matter what it concerns, each one of us are loved and of priceless value in God's eyes and He wants nothing but for us to be happy. That being said, however, He may still allow us as His children to go through trials which may work for building and strengthening character as well as developing reliance on Him, our Heavenly Father.

Don't give into despair, you are being well taken care of even when you can't seem to see.. put your hand in Jesus' hand and He will take you all the way.

Little Things

...have you ever stopped to notice the beauty around you? It's not just in the lush forests, blue skies, or grassy plains that it can be found...

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...it is often in the small things, 
the things that often go unnoticed in the rush of life...

✿ ❀ ✿

Sabbath Rest

“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” {Genesis 2:2-3} 

HAPPY SABBATH! 

No Compromise

We live in a world full of compromise. That's just one of the sad facts. God tells us, however, not to compromise. It's in the small things that we do this...that makes it easier to do in the big things.

Be not of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). How can we know what God's will is unless we are striving to be more like He wants us to be? 

Stand apart. Be different. Be the leader. Be the example. Stand firm to conviction. Hold your standards high and let nothing shake you.

Is this even possible by any person alone? Absolutely not! It is only by the power of Christ that change can take place in our lives. Satan is desperate that we would compromise. He seems to push us to the edge little by little...until we see how far the fall really is...and it is sad, but some actually make the jump, falling into a pit of self-centeredness, disrespect...sin.

Who do you want to follow? Are you going to give into Satan and say, "Oh, but it's just a little thing, it doesn't really matter this time..." or are you going to say, "No! By the grace of Jesus Christ and through His power alone, I will not, absolutely cannot compromise! No, not even in the smallest thing!"

It is my hope and prayer that you choose the latter. I know, it's not an easy thing to stand firm when it seems like everyone else is doing the opposite, but you know the verse in Philippians that says you can do all things through Christ (4:13). It's possible to do the right thing, even when it's hard, because we have Christ to help us along the way.

I want to be the one who will only make choices to uplift standard and character...won't you choose the same thing? 

To Be a Woman of God - Part 1

What does it mean to be a “Woman of God”? Often I have heard of people preaching sermons on being a “Man of God” as if it’s something more important, but only rarely have I heard anything said about women. I want to start my own journey to find out what it really means to be the young woman that God wants me to be (as well as the wife I should be someday should I get married), so why not come along and discover (or be reminded) with me? I won't be sharing anything too hard to comprehend, just a few of my own personal thoughts/how I understand...I like to keep things simple. If you want to study out more for yourself, go ahead, that door is open! =)

 

I am starting in Proverbs 31:10 because this is where the real practical stuff begins. 

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”

~*x~*x~ {Proverbs 31:10} ~x*~x*~

 

What is this telling us? Essentially, it is telling us that virtuous women are extremely hard/rare to find. Often it is even easier to find a virtuous man. If we read Ecclesiastes 7:28 we can see such a thing indicated: “Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.” 

Anyhow, back to the verse of topic, Proverbs 31:10 - let’s look into this statement! It could get pretty basic, but I want to make sure that everyone understands, so let me ask a question—what does “virtuous” even mean? 

vir·tu·ous /ˈvərCHo͞oəs/ Adjective

1. Having or showing high moral standards

To carry virtues, to have standards; Practically speaking, what does this mean to us, today? It means to have integrity, honesty, respect, to be truthful, etc. What does it mean to you? :)

Short, sweet, and to the point. Don’t you want to be one of those rare rubies? Don’t you want to be known as a virtuous woman? (Or a virtuous man! This is not a women-only thing!) Not only to those around you, like your friends and family, but even to those who don’t know you.  I know I do, but since I am also just an erring human, I know that of my own strength I can do nothing…Christ has to work this very thing in me. It is Him who enables me to have those high standards and to be more like Him. Never settle for less than what you are able to be through Him! 

Just a Thought

Sometimes I wonder about something...

If more people were to stop in the rush of busyness and think during the day; specifically if more people would take the time to be thankful each day, even if it's for something small...

What would the world we now live in be like?

Would we have less impatience? Less disrespect? Less crime? I'm not sure. 

It still makes me wonder, though... 

Personally, I'm striving to be more thankful and I see a change in myself when I do this. Once I realize all the things that God has given me, life just becomes that much brighter! 

And why wouldn't I want that? :)

Hidden in Christ

“A woman’s heart should be so hidden in Christ, that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.” 

- Maya Angelou

♥ ♥ ♥

Be Still

I don't know about you, but so often I can get caught up in the busyness of the world, sometimes leaving no room for me to even think! It is different for various people, though. Some get busy with work, others with friends, and yet others who are out there trying to find their meaning in life..

Jesus calls us to be quiet. In Mark we are told the story of how Jesus calmed the seas when His disciples were panicing and afraid...and in Mark 4:39 the Bible says, "Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace, be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm."

I just find it amazing how God can speak and the wind and waves obey Him - perhaps today He is calling you and me to be quiet, to be still. We may not be able to calm the storms in our lives, and of our own strength we may not even be able to stop and rest a while, to hear His voice. He calls us in Psalms to be still as well. In Psalm 46:10 He says, "Be still, and know that I am God." 
 
Perhaps this is because if we are rushing all the time, we fail to hear His voice...we fail to recognize that He is the only one full of wisdom and truth, and that He is right here with us every moment of the day. By the grace of our Heavenly Father, however, we will be able to take some time to just be still, to rest in Jesus love and to realize all the wonderful things He wants to offer us, and to thus draw closer to Him.