Click Here

Haha, gotcha!

Unlike all of the "click here" advertisements all over the internet, this "click here" does not get you instantly scammed, a free cruise or a romantic match made in heaven.

When Christ calls us to follow Him, though, it is kind of like a "click here". You never know exactly what you are going to experience! 

Faith is centered around the idea that we do not know what Jesus is going to do in our life and we do not know all of the answers. All we know is that He cares for us and will not let us down.

I was reading Psalm 13 last night and the scripture really resonated with this idea that faith can be tested, but that God holds true to His promises. Check it out:

"'How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me." 
-Psalm 13

Whew, I don't know about you, but I sure have felt that way sometimes! God does not always make His plans clear and sometimes we may feel distant. Following Christ is not promised to be easy, but no matter how distant or confused we feel at a moment in time, faith tells us to trust in His unfailing love. 

Trust in Christ's love for you and take the plunge; click into His path and follow His ways and He will care for you! Many times, His plans will surpass anything you could have even imagined for yourself!

Falcon Fabulous Friday! Five Songs to Get You PUMPED!

Thank goodness it's Friday! Here at my college, we take part in "Falcon Fridays" to show our school spirit. 

Here are my top five songs to get you pumped for this weekend and to show some Jesus spirit. Click the titles for links to youtube:






"Tonight"- TobyMac feat. John Cooper of Skillet












"To Love You Back"- Jamie Grace










"Background"- Lecrae feat. Andy Mineo










"Press On"- Mandisa









"Should've Been Me"- Citizen Way

Happy listening and have a great weekend!

Flawed System: The Sunday-Only Mentality

"I want it all!" 

Yeah, Sharpay from High School Musical sang those words back in the day. I said them, too. Not out loud, but mentally.

Every Sunday I went to church, I left disappointed. I wanted more, but I didn't want the commitment. That Sunday-only mentality was a hugely flawed system, as I have recently learned!

Last year, I found a Bible study women's group that was a great fit. I started to see glimpses of what it could be like to know people during and outside of church, but my mistake was going to a Bible study in one organization and church through a different group. They didn't match; although I received great information from both, the topics and people did not align.

That system did not work with my schedule this past fall, which put me into a weird category of kinda-churchgoer-kinda-not. It was hit or miss if I made it.

Well, that had to change when I realized I was in desperate need of someone to lean on this past February! (check out Spongebob Isn't the Only One Hitting Rock Bottom post). I was feeling lonely, rejected, and isolated at times and the best thing I could come up with to do in response was start looking for some new Christian friends. I had no idea what God would bless me with when I took the plunge and got re-connected at a church, so thank goodness He led me to make this decision!

Tonight, I was reaffirmed that my thoughts earlier this year of feeling disappointed at church were actually a sign I needed to get more involved. I wanted to know people and have people to talk with about the services, but I was only making room for church activities on Sunday. I was a hit-or-miss follower of Christ, only making it important when convenient.

Christ calls us to follow Him at all times and to have fellowship with other believers, not just on Sunday, but as much as possible:

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." -Hebrews 10:24-25

I think my experience of now feeling incredibly welcomed, appreciated, and accepted is a great comparison for me. I now look forward to church and my Lifegroup. I've truly seen this as a learning experience for myself on the importance of getting plugged in completely. We can only fully experience the fellowship God desires for us to have if we make it a priority. I hope some of my readers can learn from my mistake. I pray that you all can experience the joy of being connected to a church and to other believers, much earlier on in your walk than I experienced!

The Big Fat Lie, aka "Forever Alone"

I used to think it. I have heard at least three different friends say it in the past year. I'm pretty sure advertisements for online dating sites and apps support the trend I've started to notice. There are an awful lot of people thinking they will be "forever alone" and that they need to do something to make their terrible fate change.

Just like how God knows how to push our buttons to move us to do and think positively, Satan knows how to poke and prod at our nerves to make us do and think negatively.

He makes us forget that God will make all of His promises and goodness clear within His own timing. He has a plan for our life, with meaningful and necessary timing worthy of our patience:

"He has made everything beautiful in its time..." -Ecclesiastes 3:11

Regardless of if it applies to being alone in a romantic sense or in a friendship sense, eternal loneliness is what I've deemed to be the "big fat lie" Satan places in our mindsets. God is always with us and is always leading us down a path He has created especially for us, yet Satan is really skilled at planting thoughts of inadequacy and isolation into our brains. Next time you sense Satan placing one of these feelings of loneliness into your life, take note:

Life with God = Life without Loneliness

Not going to lie to you all, though, that is a concept much easier said than done. Nights sitting alone, school dances without a date, exclusion from social invitations, and other experiences people might have in this category seem to only encourage the "big fat lie". The physical loneliness makes it easy to forget that we are never alone spiritually. Feeling the hurt of being excluded or uninvited can make us feel unworthy of love and can make it seem that God doesn't have a significant other or friendships in our plan.

There are a lot of smaller elements that lead to difficulty with accepting, believing, and trusting Christ's truth that He has plans for our futures in relationships. Here is just a short list of the mini-lies that play into Satan's "forever alone" trap, in no particular order, along with some of God's word to counter them:

Mini-lie 1:
I must have misunderstood God or He lied to me. He placed a desire for a significant other, a future family, or a friend in my heart with no intention to actually fulfill that promise.

Response:
"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made." -Psalm 145:13

Mini-lie 2:
There is no chance for me to meet someone. My life has no opportunities for positive friendships and relationships to develop.

Response:
In Matthew 15:29-39, Jesus fed four thousand, while in a remote location with no access to additional food, from seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. "They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over." 
From this story, we can clearly see that Christ can make anything possible!

Mini-lie 3:
I'm too old and missed the boat. Everyone has their friends and relationships developed so there is no hope for me.

Response:
In Genesis 21:1-7, the Lord blessed Sarah with pregnancy in her old age. Her husband Abraham was a hundred years old! "'Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." And she added, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borned him a son in his old age."
From this story, we can clearly see that Jesus doesn't place an age limit on finding love and having a family.

Mini-lie 4:
I am not strong enough in faith, not educated enough, not attractive enough, etc. for anyone to want to spend time with me. I'm essentially inadequate and undeserving of love.

Response:
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." -Psalm 139:13-14
...and...
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." -1 Timothy 4:12
From these verses, we can clearly see that Christ has created all of us with beauty and care. He intends for us to be valued, no matter how young/old, skilled/unskilled, or weak/strong we might feel.

Mini-lie 5:
I am too shy to even talk to people. How am I going to fall in love, let alone form meaningful friendships, if I can't even hold a conversation?

Response:
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." -Philippians 4:13


That's just a short list of all of the related issues that can tie into the "big fat lie". If you cannot personally relate, I think it is fairly safe to say that you will meet someone with these thoughts or have already met someone with these feelings.

With that in mind, remember that God placed a desire for intimacy, acceptance, and companionship as a model for how He wants to relate to us. God will always be our companion, our life partner, and our supporter. His grace and love are endless. 

Seeking Him is the perfect way to learn how to love and how to see ourselves the way He sees us. Pursuing Christ not only gives us contentment in our present scenario, but also in the future to come:

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." -1 Timothy 4:8

Take a moment to realize your value and acceptance with Christ, as well as the importance of seeking a relationship with Him before pursuing relationships with others. You are never alone, as long as you accept Jesus into your life.

Let Jesus worry about your love story and friendships. Keep yourself open to hear His guidance and He will lead you down paths you never could have imagined on your own.

Between a Thought and a Hard Place

God sure knows how to push our buttons. He never said following Him would be comfortable, but good golly does it push me past my comfort zone at times!

I know God is my rock, which I guess puts me "between a rock and a hard place." The scenario I experienced last night, however, more accurately put me "between a thought and a hard place." 

I literally could not fall asleep. Although I had been through a long day of some difficult RA and friend scenarios, my body randomly decided midnight was the perfect time for an energy burst. Oh great...

Then it got better (or worse, depending which way you spin it). As I was laying in bed, I started getting all antsy inside for no good reason. A thought popped in my head to reach out to someone, regarding Jesus, with whom I really did not know all that well. 

I do not do well with random social interaction and middle-of-the-night calls to spread the word of Jesus. It is not comfortable for someone like me, who is slightly introverted and still not totally sure about how to have random conversations about Jesus with people besides close friends. 

My thoughts were going crazy with ideas like "this is just my mind wandering", "I really don't know what to say", "I'm going to seem like such a creep", and so on.

Then God, as He always does, answered my prayers for clarity. He sure is good at that! He made it almost mindless for me to know what to say, the hardest part was just having the courage to type it and send it. Literally every concern I had, He had an answer that pushed me closer and closer to sending the message. 

So I did. 

As soon as I hit the send button, it was like a wave of peace came over my previously anxious and on-edge body. Can't say I've had anything that drastic happen spiritually before, but it sure was amazing! 

God is truly remarkable with how He can guide us to follow His will. Thoughts can become actions and I've quickly learned from this unusual experience that when God places a thought in our head, it is a good idea to take action with it! Whether it helps someone, pushes you into deeper relationship with Him, or simply teaches how to listen to His guidance, it is totally worth the awkward, anxious feelings it might bring in the process. 

God is the best reason to break social norms, so the next time you are stuck "between a thought and a hard place", know that God is placing you in that situation for a reason. You might not know why; what matters is that you trust in His guidance.

And with that, goodnight blog world!

Join a Movement to Spread Some Love

I've been trying to think of good ways to get more reader interaction. A blog is great, but putting words to action is an entirely different step! 

So here's a challenge for my readers, Facebook friends, and acquaintances:

Join a movement to spread some love to those around you!

Small actions, big actions, safe actions, risky actions...the list goes on with what to expect from this challenge!

But regardless of how safe or risky you play it, know that sharing unconditional love and acceptance with those around you will bless you, them, and the world. 

Christ gave His life for you! Now it is time to glorify His name and share that love with others!

"I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave." -Psalm 86:12-13

Here is a link to the Facebook page. I hope and pray that even if you don't like the page, you take the time to share some of God's love with someone each and every day!

Click here for the link: Spread Some Love

Where is the beauty in this corrupted college world?

It's so difficult to sit and watch. People streaming down the hallways, headed out for a night on the town. If I knew for a fact they'd all come back uninfluenced and unharmed, it would be so much easier. Yet all there is to lean on is a prayer for their well-being. I can't make those people, friends, and acquaintances make the choices I would make. I have to respect their differences in values, morals, and standards. It's a personal belief, it's a job commitment as a resident advisor, and it's an act of understanding and grace. Everyone has freedom to do as they wish. 

Feeling comfortable with the potential outcomes those differences in decisions could bring is immensely difficult. Thank goodness that little prayer, specifically directed for the safety and well-being of those headed into the college night-life scene, holds immense value in God's eyes.

Where, in that corrupt college world of excessive drinking and compromised morals, is the beauty? Where is the goodness, where is the unconditional love and acceptance? 

I see and hear stories of the corruption of God's beautiful world. Spring break stories, outings of the people in my building, and observations of the people roaming drunkenly across campus on weekend nights are plenty of examples to make one believe their is little hope. Sometimes, those stories make it really difficult to see beyond Satan's grasp on the college age bracket. He is placing so many temptations and people fall for them as part of the social norms. Go out. Go party. Get drunk. Where does God fit into all of that? And what can I do from my non-partying, atypical room?

There is no easy answer. Mostly, I have learned that I have to find reassurance in scripture that even the negative situations will be worked for the better. Underneath the misguiding and tempting atmosphere of the college night-life scene, God is at work. We might not always see Him and it might not be obvious that He is at work. But that is where faith does its wonders. 

In the Bible, Christ spent time with the poorest of the poor and the most corrupt of the corrupt. He did not discriminate and offered His healing, gracious influence on everyone's life. Even the least likely people and places were led to Him and were provided signs of His goodness. 

In Luke 7:36-50, Jesus did not judge a sinful woman, as another had recommended for Him to do. He forgave instead and recognized her faith.

In Mark 7:24-30, Jesus went secretly to a home and drove a demon out of a child.

Faith means we have to trust that in the corrupt college world, Christ is still working to make His way known. He will give us the words to speak, the actions to take, and the courage to do. Jesus provides His followers with all they need to engage in the spiritual turmoil and warfare necessary to overcome Satan's attempts to steal beauty from God's creations, we just might not always clearly see it. 

Faith being tested amid the college chaos is actually a beautiful thing in and of itself:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
-James 1:2-3

Keeping faith and hope when surroundings say otherwise can be incredibly difficult, but that does not mean it is impossible. Seek the beauty where you least expect it and know that Christ is always working for goodness.