9/25/2018 0 Comments Let go...This right here trips a lot of us up. We cling to what we know, even when we know we should say no. Not letting go of those long-held things God has been telling us to leave behind. Not accepting forgiveness for the things that are long behind us and repented of. These things keep us from moving forward and living in the freedom God so desires us to be in. Let go. Accept forgiveness. Offer forgiveness.
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9/23/2018 0 Comments Who you are & whose you areI’ve been pouring over the 300+ survey responses from college girls and recent grads sharing what most caught them off guard and their advice for girls starting college based on their experiences. So much is rooted in identity. My pastor @jobypmartin reminds us over and over, “You are not your sin, your past, your addiction or your mistakes....” I’ll add...you are not your sorority, your friend group, your major, your GPA, your social status, your appearance, your attendance at parties, your achievements, your last drink, your boyfriend, your social media likes. “...Jesus is the only one who gets to tell you who you are. And He says you are righteous and redeemed.” You are a child of God! You are created in His image and likeness. You are forgiven and free. You are an heir to the kingdom of God. You are beautiful. You are valuable. You have a purpose and calling that will bring Him glory. You have HUGE things to step into created just for you! You are so very loved...exactly how you are. Praying tonight that all of these girls — all of us —- root our identity in who God says we are.
9/21/2018 0 Comments WarriorSpeaking of that “live quietly” Paul taught us about in 1 Thessalonians 4... Quiet doesn’t mean powerless, that’s for sure! Who’s your quiet warrior sister? Give her a shout out!
9/18/2018 0 Comments Free IndeedLet this be your praise and anthem this morning! “In my Father’s house There’s a place for me. I’m a child of God. Yes I am. I am CHOSEN. Not forsaken. I am WHO YOU SAY I am. You are for me. Not against me. I am who You say I am.” @hillsongworship
9/15/2018 0 Comments God Sees & God Loves You
The picture quote was advice to new college students from a Michigan State University Senior 🧡 Advice for all of us! Earlier today I posted a survey to get feedback from college girls to help with a Bible study I am working on. And oh my...the responses I am getting are confirming big time why God put this project on my heart. Like THIS from a University of North Carolina at Charlotte Sophomore... “Going into college I was a very strong christian, highly involved in church; I graduated from a private christian high school. But none of that really prepared me for the pressures college had. Appearance, alcohol, and attention from boys were my down falls. I became a typical “party girl” in a matter of DAYS. And before a full month could go by I had given in too A LOT of things I had always told myself I wouldn’t do, or would wait for. The peer pressure and the desire to seem desirable was soooo overwhelming... I wish someone had been REAL and RAW and STRAIGHT UP with me... I was in no way prepared for what was coming. I had never really been in a situation where I had to learn to stand up for what was right, so when that situation did come I was so overwhelmed. I wish parents and schools were open to the truth of college- that kids are gonna be faced with these things and they need to know how to handle it. But they also need to know that if they do make a mistake it’s not the end game... To new college girls, I’d say this, ‘Don’t lose yourself. Don’t feel like the girls in the crop tops are having more fun than you. That the boys wearing greek letters and duck boots are the only ones you can date. Throw your hair in a pony tail and binge watch The Office on a friday night. Peer pressure is a REAL thing. As I look back now I know that if I had just stayed in a couple more nights, and hadn’t listened to the girls I barely knew on my hall, I probably wouldn’t have made a habit of making mistakes.’”🧡 I’m even more fired up about this study. If you are a college girl or recent grad, I would love your thoughts. Here is a LINK to the survey. 🧡 9/13/2018 0 Comments Look to the scars of Jesus“The enemy wants to define you by your scars. Jesus wants to define you by His.” @louiegiglio • Y’all, this is so huge to recognize and call out! Get behind me, Satan! He reminds us of our scars from our mistakes, our flat out blatant-and-knowing-it-while-we-were-doing-it sins, our scars of things done to us, our scars of past failures. And just as aggressive, he creates scars of questioning our calling, our worth, our qualifications, our value. • But Jesus... Jesus defines us by His scars. His power, His ability, His righteousness, His qualifications. • Don’t shy away from who you are and who you are called to be and do. The devil has nothing on the One on your side. You are so worthy and able! • 📷 background pic @abide.collective ... one of my favorite encouraging pages. 9/11/2018 0 Comments Little HelpersA friend posted adorable pictures of her toddler son and the various ways he tries to “help” in all the things. Such is the life of toddlers and toddler moms, right?! And while it’s exhausting and anything but truly helpful, it is all good. Because we love them. They are ours. Our heart is so full and protective of them and eager for them to learn. We are So. In. Love. And I think this is how God is with us. We constantly try to “help” Him. And He patiently loves us. He picks up the tornado of a mess our “helping” has left behind. He is eager to watch us do hard things. He loves to teach us and do life with us. And most of all, He loves us. He is So. In. Love. 9/8/2018 0 Comments God's got this!“She was unstoppable. Not because she did not have failures or doubts, but because she continued on despite them.” Beau Taplin @gritandvirtue posted this a few days ago and I had to go find it today. Because failures? Yes! Doubts? Oh my...where do I start! This is my background music. I’ve been a bit obsessed with calling lately and the one thing that stands out the most in studying stories is the value of failures. No one wants them...no one prays for them...no one likes going through them. But the consistent theme is the way the failures shaped, taught, humbled, developed, confirmed, changed the trajectory in a way they could clearly see God work and bring them to the calling they hadn’t seen prior. When the devil says, “you can’t do that!” God says, “yep, that’s why I’m with her. I’ve got this one!” 9/2/2018 0 Comments Rest“If you get tired learn to rest, not to quit.” I love this reminder because often we run ourselves so ragged we just want to QUIT. ALL. THE. THINGS. But sometimes all we need is some rest. It’s in our DNA. It’s how we were created. God modeled it and even commanded it. Girl, get some rest! I’ve been thinking about, praying about, and even working on a project about purpose and calling….that desire planted in all of us by God when He formed us. Wherever you are on your path of this purpose and calling – whether not even on the radar, still trying to figure it all out, deep in planning, or glorious execution – take time to rest in it. On this Sabbath day and Labor Day weekend, soak in the beauty of rest and REKINDLE that passion. Whatever RECHARGES you, do it. A long walk, sitting by a lake or on a blanket at a part or in a cozy corner of a quiet coffee shop. Perhaps with a cup of coffee, worship music quietly playing, and journal in hand. Take time to REST your soul with your Savior. Take time to REFLECT on where you have been and where you want to go. Take time to REMEMBER your passion and goals. Take time to RE-ALIGN where things may be veering off course. Take time to RE-FOCUS on things that really matter. Take time to REJOICE in victories, no matter how small. Take time to RE-VISIT your vision…or create one! Take time to RE-PRIORITIZE where yes’s have slipped in that should have been no’s…or vice versa. Take time to RE-COMMIT to surrendering to God’s will and to pursuing your passion. Take time to REVIVE that flame that sometimes dims in the daily grind. Go where you need to go this long weekend. Carve out 2-3 hours. Girl, get some rest! Your soul will thank you. And speaking of that little project about purpose, I would love if you would answer a few questions. Click on the button below to take the survey. Thank you, friends!!! |